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2021 Report Highlights ESG Philosophy and Recent Achievements Supporting Mission to Drive the Energy Transition and Promote Sustainability Across the Energy Industry
DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tailwater Capital LLC ("Tailwater"), a private equity firm that takes a full immersion approach to investing in energy and growth infrastructure solutions, today published its inaugural ESG Annual Report highlighting Tailwater's environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") framework and recent achievements dedicated to driving the energy transition and promoting sustainability across the energy industry.
"Responsible investment is core to our philosophy at Tailwater. We have long been committed to incorporating ESG best practices into everything we do – from diligence and execution to partnering with industry-leading companies and management teams and supporting the next generation of energy professionals," said Jason Downie and Edward Herring, Co-Founders and Managing Partners of Tailwater Capital. "The importance of the entire energy value chain and the complementary role conventional and renewable, clean energy assets need to play to empower the long-term transition and a lower carbon future is more apparent than ever. We are committed to continuing to utilize our "all of the above" investment approach to partner with businesses that share these values and play an essential role in enhancing our energy security and building a more sustainable future."
Tailwater's proactive and committed approach to ESG is embedded at both the firm level and across the portfolio. The firm's leadership team is dedicated to acting as stewards of its ESG philosophy and leading from the front within the industry. Recent firmwide initiatives include:
- Established an ESG Steering Committee, led by Tailwater's Senior Leadership team, who launched the firm's ESG policy and playbook to set minimum standards for ESG performance at the firm and portfolio level;
- Became a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principals for Responsible Investing ("UN PRI"), a leading proponent of responsible investing across the globe;
- Formed Tailwater Innovation Partners, an in-house resource working across the portfolio to build better businesses and advance ESG and DE&I performance, led by Tailwater's Head of ESG, Roger Fox;
- Launched a partnership with the Women's Energy Network Foundation to provide two scholarships to support diversity and foster the career development of women in the energy finance sector;
- Engaged in charitable giving and volunteer engagement across the communities in which the Tailwater team lives and works, focusing on specific needs across Education, Healthcare and Community Development & Human Services; and
- Continued to build upon the firm's history of ESG investing by developing a robust ESG platform including integrated systems, a deep set of material metrics and engagement processes for portfolio stewardship.
"We are incredibly excited to build on our continued momentum to promote a more carbon neutral, sustainable future across the energy sector," said Roger Fox, Head of ESG at Tailwater Capital and CEO of Tailwater Innovation Partners. "The launch of Tailwater Innovation Partners earlier this year underscores the firm's commitment to building long-term, sustainable businesses that incorporate a strong ESG framework, and we look forward to setting – and achieving – even more ambitious ESG goals for the coming year and beyond."
Tailwater's ESG Report further outlines the firm's dedication to advancing ESG performance across its portfolio, leveraging both the energy sector expertise of its investment teams and the operational acumen of Tailwater Innovation Partners. Key achievements across the portfolio highlighted throughout the report include:
- Achieved a consistent year-over-year greenhouse gas emission intensity across its portfolio, despite increasing production volumes across all operations;
- Implemented formal safety procedures and onboarding processes, resulting in a 54% year over year decrease in Total Recordable Incident Rates (TRIR) across Tailwater's portfolio;
- Established a robust program for cybersecurity monitoring across the portfolio, implementing key cybersecurity protections with support from third-party experts; and
- Initiated its first Employee Pulse Survey to identify employee needs and advance all companies across Tailwater's portfolio as inclusive and attractive workplaces.
Tailwater Capital's full 2021 ESG report can be viewed and downloaded on the firm's website.
Dallas-based Tailwater Capital is an energy and growth infrastructure private equity firm with a well-established track record of working constructively with proven management teams to deliver value-added solutions. Tailwater has raised more than $3.8 billion in committed capital since inception and the team has executed more than 100 transactions representing over $23 billion in value. For more information, please visit www.tailwatercapital.com
Contact
Jill McMillan
Managing Director, Communications & Public Affairs
Phone: 214-489-7047
Email: jmcmillan@tailwatercapital.com
John Schaufele
Managing Director, Investor Relations & Fundraising
Phone: 214-489-7043
Email: jschaufele@tailwatercapital.com
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SOURCE Tailwater Capital LLC
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/tailwater-capital-publishes-inaugural-esg-annual-report/
| 2022-09-14T13:32:09Z
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NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for ADTX, SPRC, KERN, INM, and EOSE.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- ADTX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=ADTX&prnumber=091420221
- SPRC: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=SPRC&prnumber=091420221
- KERN: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=KERN&prnumber=091420221
- INM: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=INM&prnumber=091420221
- EOSE: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=EOSE&prnumber=091420221
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/thinking-about-buying-stock-aditxt-scisparc-akerna-inmed-pharmaceuticals-or-eos-energy/
| 2022-09-14T13:32:22Z
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Randolph, Clay and Quitman Counties Latest to Step Up Rural EMS/911
Services with Unique Public-Private Partnership with AmeriPro Health
ATLANTA, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeriPro Health LLC, a portfolio of healthcare companies committed to making patient logistics and last-mile healthcare delivery more efficient and valuable, today announced that three more rural Georgia counties have voted to transfer their EMS/911 services to AmeriPro EMS, an innovative operator of high-quality ambulance, mobile integrated health, and patient logistics services in the Southeastern United States. Implementation will take place over the next several months once the contracts are finalized.
"Rural America is struggling across the nation to meet the needs of their citizens with Emergency Services and provide access to affordable and sustainable health care," said Larry Richardson, Chief Business Officer at AmeriPro Health. "We are the answer to those struggles."
AmeriPro Health brings many benefits to rural communities, including state of the art ambulance services, increased clinical and diagnostic capabilities, last-mile health care and a unique public-private partnership with local healthcare providers and hospital facilities in the region.
"Clay County is a small rural community, so when they closed our nearest community hospital back in 2020, we became very dependent upon EMS services for our emergency healthcare needs," said James Davenport, Chairman of Clay County Georgia. "Unfortunately, under the current system, we were not receiving quality, reliable care. By joining forces with our surrounding communities and contracting with AmeriPro, we will be able to provide our community state-of-the-art, reliable EMS and emergency healthcare services."
"We look forward to a long-lasting, symbiotic relationship with AmeriPro Health," said Carvel Lewis, Chairman of Quitman County, Georgia. "Despite the economic woes of our area in Southwest Georgia, AmeriPro will enable us to improve the quality of life for our residents and strengthen our mission to improve economic development in our county and region."
In general, rural American has fewer opportunities, fewer resources, and less access to good health care, so by utilizing the AmeriPro Health broad service offerings, communities can gain better access to sustainable health care. AmeriPro strategically aligns with government counterparts to build better access to health care beyond the existing level of transportation services.
"Rural America should not have to compromise on health care," adds Richardson "Through these strategic public-private partnerships and collaboration with the local health care facilities, we can design a long-term sustainable solution to the challenges of rural America and provide an elevated level of Emergency Medical Services and better access to health care to counties like Randolph, Clay and Quitman County. We look forward to working with other rural communities in our country to fill the void and lack of quality healthcare. It is opportunities like these that allow us to bring additional service offerings like acute care to communities that have not had access to these services in the past and help provide a sustainable healthcare ecosystem."
AmeriPro Health is the new parent company of AmeriPro EMS. The company plans to continue expansion into other areas supporting its mission of patient centered, value-based services to provide sophisticated emergency, critical care and non-emergency medical transport and patient logistics. For more information about AmeriPro Health, please visit www.ameriprohealth.com.
AmeriPro Health LLC is a portfolio of healthcare companies committed to making patient logistics and last-mile healthcare delivery more efficient and valuable. These sophisticated emergency, critical care and non-emergency medical transport, patient logistics and high touch home centered care companies offer a complement of services across the entire patient care continuum that delivers better patient outcomes, more efficient care, and unprecedented access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Through its portfolio of companies, AmeriPro Health offers a customizable suite of patient-centered, value-based services to meet and exceed the needs of communities, health systems, health plans and employers. As an innovator in last-mile healthcare, our adaptability and foresight allow our companies to execute rapidly to meet the transformational needs of our customers.
Contact:
Paulette Brown
Carabiner Communications
+1 770.714.0678
pbrown@carabinercomms.com
View original content:
SOURCE AmeriPro Health
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/three-additional-rural-georgia-counties-vote-join-ameripro-health-ems911-platform/
| 2022-09-14T13:32:29Z
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Growing customer base includes fast-growing companies and enterprises evolving to meet demands of today's customers
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Totango, the industry's only Composable Customer Success (CS) platform that helps companies drive immediate value, today announced Trimble and Calix, as part of a series of the company's latest enterprise customer wins. As Totango kicks off its Customer Success Summit: Teams in Miami today, these recent wins mark a stellar year of growth since the company announced its $100M in funding in September 2021, with Totango tracking to double its customer count by the end of the year.
The company has also seen more than 58,000 customer success programs running on Totango, utilizing embedded best practices and KPIs through SuccessBLOCs. In the company's efforts to enable more leaders to compose customer journeys and drive customer outcomes using its technology, Totango's revamped freemium customer account model also netted a 57% increase in self-serve signups.
As part of a record-setting month of ARR growth in August, Trimble, a global provider of location-based industrial technologies, has gone live with Totango within its transportation sector as part of its corporate Connect and Scale digital transformation strategy.
"This move is part of the evolution of customer success at Trimble," said Kathleen Berryman, Director of Customer Success at Trimble. "We are focused on supporting thousands of our customers in their own digital transformation journeys as we work together to modernize and simplify the global supply chain."
In another enterprise win, Calix, a cloud and software platform service provider and winner of the Customer Service Team of the Year at the American Business Awards, demonstrates their commitment to customers by signing on with Totango to support their CS model at scale.
"Totango's strong growth across all sizes of company, but in particular small and large enterprise, exemplifies how businesses can invest in CS and become customer-centric using the only Composable platform, no matter how established they are," said Jamie Bertasi, President and COO of Totango. "Companies that are serious about scalable growth and long-lasting customer relationships in this decade are doubling down on CS technology."
Founded in 2010, Totango is the industry's only Composable Customer Success Platform. Totango's no-code, visual software enables businesses to deliver and quickly optimize best-in-class customer journeys, accelerate product onboarding and adoption, maximize customer retention, and increase user satisfaction leading to strong business results. Totango's ready-to-use journey templates (SuccessBLOCs) eliminate the friction of time and money spent on implementation and maintenance of old-school customer success platforms. As the only customer success software that combines a modern visual design and collaboration canvas, easy-to-use workflow orchestration tools, and out-of-the-box templates, Totango gives teams instant clarity and full control to create and consistently execute best-in-class customer journeys. Start where you are and go with a modular platform that provides immediate Day 1 value, continuous recalibration as needed, and predictable scale-up growth. For more information and to start Totango for free, visit Totango.com.
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SOURCE Totango
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/totango-announces-enterprise-client-wins-trajectory-double-customers-by-years-end/
| 2022-09-14T13:32:41Z
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The TikTok Favorite Brand's Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil Receives the Highest Honor in Beauty
COPPELL, Texas, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From fandom to stardom, Tree Hut, the makers of America's No. 1 Body Scrubs, was honored with the highly coveted 2022 Allure Best of Beauty Award for its innovative Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil. An iconic staple in the beauty industry for 26 years, the Allure Best of Beauty Awards celebrates brands known for efficacy, excellence and integrity. Following months of testing thousands of beauty products, the Allure team recognized the Tree Hut Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil as the best product in the category for its formula, delivery system, texture and scent.
A first-of-its-kind, Tree Hut's beloved Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil is unlike anything on shelves when it comes to getting the most luxurious shave, making it a standout product. Powered by a proprietary technology to prevent irritation, nicks and cuts from shaving, the Tree Hut Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil enhances contact between the razor and skin for a close, smooth shave. A top-selling formula, the Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil contains Certified Shea Butter and a blend of nourishing ingredients to cushion and hydrate skin such as argan oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, and Vitamin E.
Having been a cult favorite for years, the family-owned Tree Hut brand has been known amongst beauty aficionados for developing high-quality body and face care infused with efficacious ingredients. When the pandemic hit, Tree Hut quickly became a viral sensation as communities of people from all over the country began to elevate their self-care routines and share their favorite skin-loving products on social media. Now, with more than 600 million views for #TreeHut on TikTok, the brand has built an army of loyal followers and collectors that can't get enough of the brand's unique product flavors and formulations.
"When it comes to the beauty industry, Allure is an institution and we are beyond honored to receive such incredible praise from their team of knowledgeable and dedicated beauty experts for our best-selling Tree Hut Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil," said Senior Marketing Manager, Hazel Smith. "This award win is not only for our hardworking Tree Hut team but for all of our loyal fans who have loved us for years and have helped share our message of self-care and community on social media, propelling a new generation of consumers to join our enthusiastic fan base."
The Tree Hut Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil is currently available on shelves at Target, Ulta, and Walmart, as well as online for each retailer. The Tree Hut Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil comes in classic Coconut Lime, Tahitian Vanilla, Moroccan Rose, Tropic Glow and now, Watermelon. Each Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil is alcohol-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, vegan, contains no formaldehyde donors and is made in the USA. To learn more about the Tree Hut Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil and other products like Tree Hut's iconic Shea Sugar Scrubs, visit www.treehutshea.com or follow the brand on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook for more information.
About Tree Hut
Tree Hut believes that everyone deserves to take time in their day to feel good. The family-owned brand produces out of Texas and has spent twenty years making high-quality skin and body care at an affordable price. The now global Tree Hut brand has grown to include face, shave, lip, and body collections, known for delicious scents, bright packaging and premium ingredients. With an uplifting, inclusive approach to self-care, Tree Hut has built its brand largely via word of mouth, with customers and beauty influencers alike passionately sharing their favorite products and avidly anticipating seasonal launches.
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SOURCE Tree Hut
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/tree-hut-wins-prestigious-2022-allure-best-beauty-award/
| 2022-09-14T13:32:47Z
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Agreement envisions expansion of cutting-edge clinical services.
HOUSTON, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Imaging, a global leader in advanced medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment, announced that The Center for Quantitative Cancer Imaging at Huntsman Cancer Institute, part of the University of Utah health care system in Salt Lake City, has installed its first of two United Imaging PET/CT scanners, which brings state-of-the-art molecular imaging technology to the CQCI clinical research lab. Huntsman Cancer Institute is designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
According to Jeffrey Yap, Ph.D, Director of the Center for Quantitative Cancer Imaging at Huntsman Cancer Institute and Research Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Utah, "It was clear to us that United Imaging brings the best technology to help us deliver the the highest image quality, using FDA-approved PET radiopharmaceuticals as well as investigational compounds that we are evaluating in clinical trials. The passion we share for changing healthcare will significantly enhance our ability to use these molecular imaging technologies to deliver 'precision medicine' by utilizing the biologic information that we measure non-invasively to tailor the treatment for each individual patient." PET/CT imaging allows the initial evaluation and monitoring of the disease throughout treatment rather than requiring patients to undergo surgery or tissue sampling.
U.S. News and World Report recently announced its list of the top cancer programs in the nation and Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah was recognized again as one of the best in the country, ranking 33rd for cancer care out of more than 4,000 cancer centers.
"It's an extremely exciting time for us," commented Jeffrey M. Bundy, Ph.D, CEO of United Imaging Healthcare Solutions. "Our business is rapidly growing. We just finished our IPO. We're confident that we are improving healthcare in the United States. And, we're honored that an institution like Huntsman Cancer Institute, which has a strong tradition of innovation, chose us to change healthcare with them. We take that responsibility seriously and expect great mutual success."
United Imaging is celebrating its 11th year as a global business, and has achieved FDA clearance on well over two dozen scanners in the past few years as it continues to gain steam. It recently debuted on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange as its largest IPO of 2022. A highly vertically integrated company, United Imaging has structured itself to control innovation and quality to the highest standard in all its modalities. Its mission is Equal Healthcare for All™, which guides its innovation standards and its global culture. Its uMI® (molecular imaging) portfolio is cutting edge and enables clinical flexibility with digital technology that helps prevent obsolescence.
ABOUT UNITED IMAGING
At United Imaging, we develop and produce advanced medical products, digital healthcare solutions, and intelligent solutions that cover the entire process of imaging diagnosis and treatment. Founded in 2011, our company has subsidiaries and R&D centers across the world. Our North American headquarters in Houston includes our corporate offices, factory, product showroom, service training center, and service parts distribution center. With a cutting-edge digital portfolio and a mission of broader access to healthcare for all, we help drive industry progress and bold change. To learn more, visit united-imaging.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @UnitedImagingHC.
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SOURCE United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/united-imaging-announces-clinical-system-installations-huntsman-cancer-institute-university-utah/
| 2022-09-14T13:32:54Z
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RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Operation: Coming Home and Mattamy Homes held a raising of the flag ceremony as part of a celebration that honored U.S. Army Golden Knight SSG George Perez and his family.
At the ceremony on September 8, the former U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division soldier and his 16-year-old son raised a US flag in front of their future homesite, as Mattamy Homes continues construction on what will be their custom-built Hero Home 26 in Mattamy's Providence Creek community in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.
This flag-raising ceremony paid tribute to the veteran and his family, who was seriously wounded in Fallujah, Iraq. His company encountered a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) on September 14, 2003. The blast killed one of his team and left Perez with multiple injuries. Doctors had no choice but to amputate Perez's left leg below the knee joint.
Far from feeling defeated, Perez had no intention of retreating from duty. As soon as he recovered enough to try, he rejoined regular training using a prosthetic, despite the intense pain and debilitating swelling during daily maneuvers. Through intense effort and sheer willpower, he was soon able to continue regular operations with his fellow soldiers. He rejoined the 82nd Airborne in 2004 and became the first amputee to qualify for static line jumps.
"Our partnership with Operation: Coming Home is an extremely humbling opportunity," said Bob Wiggins, president of Mattamy Homes' Raleigh Division. "As a builder, Mattamy Homes is able to come together with multiple vendors and trades and donate a dream home for a truly deserving veteran -- and SSGT Perez is no exception. We are ready to come together to make this home everything it needs to be and present to SSGT Perez and his family in just a few months."
Key speakers such as Senator Jim Burgin (North Carolina State Senator, 12th District), Lewis Weatherspoon (Harnett County Commissioner) and other members of the HBA and builder team spoke to recognize their appreciation for the Perez family.
Mattamy Homes is building the Perez family's Clearwater / French Country ranch floorplan home with accommodations for the veteran including a study and an owner's suite super shower with seat. An open-concept floorplan will make Perez's everyday living and special gatherings more inspiring with an attractive and free-flowing gourmet kitchen, dining area, Great Room and screened-in porch — in addition to the exceptional design of the individual rooms, baths and other living areas.
Building materials, land, and labor will all be donated. The Mattamy Homes team, alongside veterans and trade partners will be helping throughout the coming months to create his dream home.
The Perez family will receive keys to their brand-new home at a ceremony on November 10, 2022.
About Mattamy Homes
Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with 40-plus years of history across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps more than 8,000 families realize their dream of homeownership. In the United States, the company is represented in 11 markets — Dallas, Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix, Tucson, Jacksonville, Orlando (where its U.S. head office is located), Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and Southeast Florida. In Canada, Mattamy Homes' communities stretch across the Greater Toronto Area as well as Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. Visit www.mattamyhomes.com for more information.
About Operation: Coming Home
Operation: Coming Home (OCH) is a partnership between members of the U.S. Veterans Corps (USVC), the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County (HBA) and various area nonprofits and businesses. Made up of veterans and non-veterans, this team is honoring the sacrifices of the severely wounded veterans of recent Middle Eastern wars by building homes for them at no charge. For more information, visit http://www.operationcominghome.com.
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SOURCE Mattamy Homes Limited
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/us-army-golden-knight-recognized-flag-raising-ceremony-operation-coming-home-mattamy-homes/
| 2022-09-14T13:33:00Z
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U.S. Gold Corp. submitted its Permit to Mine Application and Reclamation Plan to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, starting the formal steps for project review by Wyoming State Authorities
CHEYENNE, Wyo., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Gold Corp. ("U.S. Gold," the "Company," "we," "our" or "us") (NASDAQ: USAU) a gold exploration and development company, today reported that it has submitted an application for a Permit to Mine and the Mine Reclamation Plan to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality ("WDEQ") for its proposed CK Gold Project (the "Project"), 20-miles west of Cheyenne. The application and fees were delivered to the WDEQ office on Friday, September 9, 2022, and the initial electronic data transfer of the information supporting the application was provided on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, through access to a data site.
The proposed Project has reached an advanced state of engineering, following the publication of the Prefeasibility Study on December 1, 2021 (the "PFS"), which supports permit submissions. The key permit application is the Permit to Mine and Mine Reclamation Plan, both of which are now available for the WDEQ to start reviewing.
Initially, the WDEQ will conduct a completeness review and provide the Company with any deficiencies in content. Thereafter, the technical review process will start, addressing comments and questions that the department might have, which includes commentary that might come from other governmental agencies and the public. The Company, as applicant, may need additional time to respond to questions or provide clarification requested as part of the review. Hence, there is no definitive time as to when a decision will be made with respect to the outcome of the application.
While the Permit to Mine is a key part of the application process, it is by no means the only step. However, the Company understands that this permit has the longest lead-time and other permits can be obtained in a shorter period. Several other permit applications are either in-hand or in process, including applications with the State Engineer's Office for small impoundments for sediment and runoff capture, and wells.
For projects where the capital investment exceeds $253.8 million, approval is required by the Industrial Siting Division ("ISD"), a department within the WDEQ. While the PFS identified an initial capital investment of $221 million for the Project, capital expenditure contemplating the whole buildout of the facilities beyond initial capital expenditures, and other offsite facilities borne by third parties, as a consequence of the Project, puts the capital investment near to or above the threshold for a public hearing under ISD guidelines. As a consequence, the Company intends to submit an Industrial Siting Permit application in February 2023. Through this process, more specific information related to noise, traffic and social impacts of the areas affected by the proposed Project will be considered. The ISD mechanism in Wyoming is designed to help communities accommodate the impact of investments by providing state funds to assist affected communities with things like emergency services, housing, and infrastructure costs to accommodate the investment.
All development would be done under the applicable codes, regulations, and supervision of the various state, city, county and local agencies and regulatory bodies mandated to oversee various aspects of development.
In commenting on this major milestone for the Project, George Bee, President and CEO of U.S. Gold Corp. said, "We have put upwards of $2.5 million into the specific reports supporting the permit application, beyond several million dollars that support our studies that have allowed the Company to conclude that the CK Gold Project is both economically viable and safe, and will create significant benefits to shareholders, the state of Wyoming, and the community at large. We believe that we have a complete and well-supported application that should address concerns related to water resources and hydrology, chemical stability and a very low risk of contamination, wildlife impacts and impacts on the community. We look forward to providing any and all support and responses necessary to assist the Wyoming authorities in their review of our proposed Project sitting within their jurisdiction."
The following are highlights from the PFS:
- Mineral Reserves – 1.44 million AuEq ounces of Proven and Probable (P1 and P2) Reserves
- Mineral Resources (exclusive of Mineral Reserves) – 0.140 million gold equivalent ("AuEq") ounces of Measured and Indicated (M+I) Resources
- 10-year Mine Life at 20,000 short tons per day process rate
- Initial Capital: $221 million
- Robust Economics – 39.4% IRR before tax and 33.7% IRR after tax
- Upside Potential
- Permitting and Development
To view the interactive 3D model of updated information regarding the proposed Project from VRIFY Technology Inc., please use the following link or visit the US Gold Corp. website:
The CK Gold Project is located 20 miles west of Cheyenne, Wyoming. On December 1, 2021, we released the results of our PFS and published our Technical Summary Report in accordance with the guidance under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The PFS was prepared by Gustavson Associates, LLC with an effective date of November 15, 2021.
U.S. Gold Corp. is a publicly traded, U.S. focused gold exploration and development company. U.S. Gold Corp. has a portfolio of exploration properties. The CK Gold Project is located in Southeast Wyoming and has a Preliminary Feasibility Study technical report, which was completed by Gustavson Associates, LLC. Keystone and Maggie Creek are exploration properties on the Cortez and Carlin Trends in Nevada. The Challis Gold Project is located in Idaho. For more information about U.S. Gold Corp., please visit www.usgoldcorp.gold.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "estimated," and "intend," among others. These statements include the process for review by WDEQ of the Permit to Mine and Mine Reclamation Permit, timing of future permit applications, the planned open pit development of the CK Gold Project, our mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, mine life, capital estimates, NPV and IRR estimates, potential financing terms from equipment suppliers and development capital sources and aggregate sales from mine waste rock. These forward-looking statements are based on U.S. Gold Corp.'s current expectations, and actual results could differ materially from such statements. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks arising from: market and other conditions, the prevailing market conditions for metal prices and mining industry cost inputs, environmental and regulatory risks, COVID-19 uncertainties, risks faced by junior companies generally engaged in exploration activities, whether U.S. Gold Corp. will be able to raise sufficient capital to develop the CK Gold Project and implement future exploration programs, the success or failure of future drilling programs, and other factors described in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be reviewed at www.sec.gov. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory, and other risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no duty to correct or update any information contained herein.
For additional information, please contact:
U.S. Gold Corp. Investor Relations:
+1 800 557 4550
ir@usgoldcorp.gold
www.usgoldcorp.gold
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SOURCE U.S. Gold Corp.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/us-gold-corp-submits-key-permit-application-ck-gold-project/
| 2022-09-14T13:33:06Z
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Adds four executives to support growth in the public entity program, commercial property, and national account space
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Venbrook Group, LLC ("Venbrook"), one of the largest independent insurance, benefits, claims, and risk services firms in the U.S., today announced the appointment of Louis Pippin as Chief Claims Officer, Venbrook Claims Services. Venbrook Claims Services offers clients a single supplier option for Third Party Administrator (TPA) and Independent Adjusting (IA) claims to mitigate and reduce risks and losses on a global basis.
With nearly 30 years of experience and an extensive background in the areas of multi-line P&C liability lines, case management, cost control, compliance standards, and related service delivery of claims and claims handling, Pippin comes to Venbrook with vast expertise in claims management. Most recently with McLarens where he spent five years developing the commercial property claims program, Pippin also held positions at State Insurance Fund and Midlands Claims Administrators, Inc.
"Joining Venbrook was an easy decision," said Pippin. "It's an exciting company with an entrepreneurial ethos which is exactly what is needed to build a state-of-the-art 21st century claims organization. I couldn't be happier to oversee the claims business and continue to build on Venbrook's success."
"Louis brings a wealth of experience to the increasingly complex world of claims management," said Jason D. Turner, Venbrook founder and CEO. "Under his guidance, the Venbrook Claims Services team will provide an end-to-end service for our clients, allowing our managers to focus on geography and cost savings, regardless of claim type. We are excited to have him spearheading our claims division."
Additionally, Venbrook announced four key promotions to the leadership team:
- Sarah Novakovich becomes Chief Operating Officer, Venbrook Claims Services
- Angelique King becomes Executive Vice President, Carl Warren & Company
- Marc Pittinaro becomes Executive Vice President, Venbrook Claims Services
- Suzie Spencer becomes Vice President, Business Development for Carl Warren & Company
Venbrook Group, LLC is a holdings company with subsidiaries engaged in retail broking, wholesale broking, programs, and claims services. Venbrook caters to a national client base across myriad industries with divergent needs. Venbrook's team of experts and industry specialists' partner with their clients to manage their risks, create security, promote growth and add value by delivering best-in-class insurance products and programs.
Venbrook continues to build partnerships to expand its insurance platform while continuing to invest in its infrastructure and talent. Venbrook is headquartered in Los Angeles with various locations across the country. For more information, please visit www.venbrook.com.
For media inquiries only, please contact Rhonda Turner Gardner at rhonda@housecommunications.com or 408.316.9077
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| 2022-09-14T13:33:13Z
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SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive technology company Veoneer is hosting an Executive Briefing panel at the Detroit Auto Show's AutoMobili-D on Thursday, September 15 from 12:20 – 12:50pm EST.
The panel, titled "ADAS for Everyone – The Industry Responsibility to Make it Happen", will address how working towards a common goal requires the use of collective knowledge across the industry in order to rapidly improve technology and advance mobility. As vehicles and supporting infrastructure advance at lightning speed, a great deal of pressure is placed on all contributors within the automotive market to develop and adapt to the demand. OEMs and suppliers have a great responsibility to push the boundaries of technology and provide features that save lives and improve vehicle comfort, all while facing the challenge of doing it safely and predictably.
The panel, moderated by Tim Stevens (World Car Awards / previously CNET / AOL / Engadget), will include:
- Steven Jenkins, CTO and EVP Active Safety Integration, Veoneer
- Anshuman Saxena, Senior Director and Head of ADAS/AD Products, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
- CJ King, VP of Platform Engineering, HERE Technologies
AutoMobili-D is centrally located in Halls B and C on the main show floor at Huntington Place (1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226).
For more information please contact:
Thomas Jönsson, EVP Communications & IR,
thomas.jonsson@veoneer.com, tel +46 (0)8 527 762 27
Veoneer is an automotive technology company. As a world leader in active safety and restraint control systems, Veoneer is focused on delivering innovative, best-in-class products and solutions. Our purpose is to create trust in mobility. Veoneer is a Tier-1 hardware supplier and system integrator with products being part of more than 125 scheduled vehicle launches for 2022. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Veoneer has 6,100 employees in 11 countries. The Company is building on a heritage of close to 70 years of automotive safety development.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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| 2022-09-14T13:33:20Z
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MESA, Ariz., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM), a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, announced today that Craig Conti, Chief Financial Officer, is scheduled to present and participate in a fireside chat at the Deutsche Bank Leveraged Finance Conference on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. The live webcast as well as the replay of the presentation will be accessible from the Investor Calendar section of Verra Mobility's website at https://ir.verramobility.com.
Verra Mobility (NASDAQ: VRRM) is a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions that make transportation safer, smarter and more connected. The company sits at the center of the mobility ecosystem, bringing together vehicles, hardware, software, data and people to enable safe, efficient solutions for customers globally. Verra Mobility's transportation safety systems and parking management solutions protect lives, improve urban and motorway mobility and support healthier communities. The company also solves complex payment, utilization and compliance challenges for fleet owners and rental car companies. Headquartered in Arizona, Verra Mobility operates in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more information, please visit www.verramobility.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Verra Mobility's plans, objectives, expectations, beliefs and intentions and other statements including words such as "hope," "anticipate," "may," "believe," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "continue" and "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements herein represent the judgment of the Verra Mobility, as of the date of this release, and Verra Mobility disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. This press release should be read in conjunction with the information included in Verra Mobility's other press releases, reports and other filings with the SEC and on the SEC website, www.sec.gov. Understanding the information contained in these filings is important in order to fully understand Verra Mobility's reported financial results and our business outlook for future periods. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions and estimates used as a basis for the forward-looking statements.
We periodically provide information for investors on our corporate website, www.verramobility.com, and our investor relations website, ir.verramobility.com. We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor our website, in addition to following the Company's press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.
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| 2022-09-14T13:33:27Z
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DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VertexOne, the leading provider of cloud-based customer experience software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for the utility and energy industry, today announced its partnership with Crypto Power, a newly-formed division of Pumpjack Power, a Texas-based wholesale electricity provider.
Allocating 80% of its resources to powering cryptocurrency mining facilities, Crypto Power will use VertexOne's forward-thinking VXexchange and VXretail (formerly known as UtiliBill™) platforms. Both solutions are products from VertexOne's recently acquired EC Infosystems — a leading provider of billing, customer information systems (CIS) and electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions in North America.
Crypto data centers typically demand high levels of electric output. This usage requires complex billing engines that can accurately track and monitor large volumes of data from digital electric meters, or smart meters. With nearly 30 years of experience in the utility industry, VertexOne's advanced billing solutions can apply different rates during different times, even at 15-minute intervals.
"VXexchange and VXretail are designed to meet the diverse needs of enterprises like Crypto Power," said VertexOne Senior Vice President Ananda Goswami. "This powerful duo provides both commercial and industrial businesses with customized billing options, working off smart meter data uploaded by TDSPs [transmission and distribution service providers]."
"VertexOne is undoubtedly emerging as a leader in the Texas retail market," added VertexOne CEO Andrew Jornod. "We're committed to being on the forefront of addressing the needs of our customers and the utility industry at large."
Along with VXexchange and VXretail, VertexOne's EC Infosystems can efficiently manage data-deploying invoices for high-energy usage data centers, which are expanding rapidly across the industry and country. This allows customers to save money while utilizing a customizable and advanced bill rating engine.
"VertexOne's forward-thinking products were a major factor in our decision-making process," said Pumpjack Power's Executive Vice President Scooter Womack. "EC Infosystems has supported Pumpjack Power over the years, and the commitment VertexOne has shown to our market and our unique business model showed us that they are the perfect partner for this venture."
VertexOne is the leading provider of cloud-based SaaS software solutions, powering the next generation of customer experience for utilities, energy retailers, and energy transition providers. With more than 30 years of experience and 350 customers in the cloud, we capitalize on our deep expertise to provide a wide range of innovative solutions for digital transformation, revenue optimization, and data-driven efficiency operations surrounding the customer. From customer information systems (CIS) and mobile workforce management (MWM) to electronic data interchange (EDI) and self-service customer engagement portals, we empower our customers to deliver a compelling customer experience, reduce costs to serve, increase operational efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction. For more information on how VertexOne allows you to enhance the digital customer experience, improve revenue management, and leverage data analytics, visit https://www.vertexone.net.
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| 2022-09-14T13:33:33Z
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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivian Health, an IAC (NASDAQ: IAC) company and the leading healthcare jobs marketplace serving healthcare professionals first, today announced an agreement with Lume, a banking platform for healthcare workers, which allows Vivian to leverage Lume's technology to create new banking and financial services for the more than 800,000 registered clinicians on the Vivian platform. As part of the agreement, Lume co-founders Christopher Chang and Shantanu Joshi will join Vivian Health to lead product and engineering efforts focusing on developing new financial products and value-added services that directly benefit healthcare professionals, furthering Vivian's mission of building the most aligned solution for America's healthcare workers.
"Chris and Shantanu's entrepreneurial energy, passion for building products which truly serve those who serve others, and Lume's core technology offering will significantly accelerate Vivian's ability to provide millions of healthcare professionals the most candidate-centric experience in healthcare hiring," said Parth Bhakta, co-founder and CEO of Vivian Health. "Chris and Shantanu will help build the foundation of Vivian's rewards and loyalty offering to healthcare professionals, and they will ultimately help retain more of America's healthcare workforce in an era of persistent staff shortages and a shrinking labor force. The Lume team knows firsthand the unique challenges and barriers that healthcare workers face today, and together, we are poised to create better experiences, fundamentally aligned with clinicians' interests, that can ultimately help alleviate systemic staff shortages in healthcare."
Founded in 2019 and backed by Y-Combinator, Lume is a new kind of banking experience built from the ground up for nurses and those working in the healthcare industry. Lume features such as on-demand pay, student loan and debt refinancing, and personalized job recommendations are all designed to help healthcare workers live better lives.
"It was clear ever since our first meeting with Parth that we were both on a mission to build a best-in-class experience for clinicians and we aligned on a strategy to do that. It very much felt like a natural partnership," said Mr. Chang.
"Having previously run a healthcare staffing firm ourselves, we were already deeply familiar with Vivian's customers, product offerings, and vision. We're incredibly excited to hit the ground running by bringing banking and financial products to every nurse on the Vivian platform," added Mr. Joshi.
As the first jobs marketplace built for healthcare professionals, Vivian offers healthcare employers nationwide, including both staffing agencies and large health systems, a fast and effective way to fill a variety of healthcare jobs across permanent roles, per-diem shifts, local contracts, and travel positions. Vivian has seen significant adoption among healthcare professionals, with over 800,000 registered clinicians using its jobs marketplace. Much of this growth has come through organic channels and word-of-mouth. Vivian Health recently announced a $60 million equity investment led by Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm, with participation from IAC and Collaborative Fund, to further accelerate its growth.
Vivian Health, an IAC company (NASDAQ: IAC), is the leading healthcare job marketplace that serves healthcare professionals first. Vivian Health empowers a broad range of healthcare professionals to find jobs they love across many types of healthcare work, including permanent roles, per-diem shifts, local contracts, and travel positions. Built on intelligent matching, transparent information, and the widest selection of job opportunities, Vivian Health offers healthcare job seekers an unrivaled solution for finding their next role. For employers, Vivian Health helps fill roles 50% faster than traditional recruiting practices and at a fraction of the cost, saving them millions of dollars, and helping alleviate labor shortages in healthcare. Vivian Health is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver. To learn more about Vivian Health, visit www.vivian.com
Lume is a technology platform dedicated to helping healthcare professionals build wealth. The platform offers multiple financial solutions and products all designed to help healthcare providers and clinicians eliminate loans and debt and maximize their hard-earned income. Learn more at uselume.com.
Media Contact
vivian@theblissgrp.com
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| 2022-09-14T13:33:40Z
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New leaders bring decades of experience building platforms at high-growth companies
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wheel, the health tech company powering the next generation of healthcare, today announced Sameer Merchant as Chief Technology Officer and Steve Manning as Senior Vice President, Product. The new executives will be focused on expanding Wheel's white-labeled enterprise platform to help companies build high-quality, consumer-driven healthcare experiences and unlock more virtual-first care delivery opportunities for their patients. Merchant and Manning will also grow Wheel's product and engineering organization.
Wheel's platform enables companies to build cohesive, connected, and personalized patient experiences across virtual care, labs, and pharmacies. As virtual-first care becomes the norm, Merchant and Manning will accelerate development of Wheel's enterprise platform and expand its capabilities as the underlying infrastructure for the industry. By doing so, Wheel will accelerate everyone's ability to access high quality care on-demand — at any time, from anywhere, and on their own terms.
Wheel empowers the most innovative companies in healthcare to deliver high-quality virtual care by providing both the technology infrastructure and access to a nationwide clinician network. Over the past four years, the company has built a strong business by delivering care to millions of patients while providing clinicians with a new and better way to work in healthcare.
"The healthcare industry is at a critical inflection point as companies race to deliver comprehensive, virtual-first care experiences for their patients," said Michelle Davey, CEO and Co-Founder of Wheel. "Sameer and Steve's professional track record, coupled with their philosophy on how to develop and deliver an exceptional platform experience, will be critical as we unlock even more virtual-first care delivery opportunities for our clients."
Merchant and Manning have worked together over the last 20 years building tech platforms and leading high-growth companies across a range of industries including early-stage startups and public companies. Prior to Wheel, they served as VP and Global Head of Product Development and Senior Director, Product Management at Autodesk, a technology software and platform company. There they led a team of over 900 product and engineering experts and drove platform growth and product integration strategy. They also founded, launched, and scaled AdMarvel, the industry's first mobile advertising platform, which was eventually acquired by Opera Software.
"What excites me about Wheel is the opportunity to invest in the platform powering the future of care," said Sameer Merchant, Chief Technology Officer at Wheel. "By expanding our enterprise platform, we'll accelerate our client's ability to build and deliver high quality, comprehensive healthcare offerings for their patients."
As a clinician-focused organization, 4 in 5 clinicians agree Wheel's platform is designed with their experience in mind and 2 in 3 clinicians say working with Wheel has decreased their burnout. Merchant and Manning will continue to invest in the platform experience for Wheel clinicians so they can focus on providing great patient care.
"I was drawn to Wheel by its commitment to provide clinicians with a new and better way to work in healthcare," said Steve Manning, Senior Vice President, Product at Wheel. "By investing in the platform experience for clinicians, we can make it even easier for them to focus on what matters most: delivering great patient care."
For those interested in learning more about Wheel, please visit wheel.com.
Wheel is the health tech company powering the next generation of healthcare. Wheel provides companies and clinicians with everything they need to deliver care virtually. Today Wheel powers virtual-first care for the most forward-thinking organizations in healthcare — including digital health companies, clinical lab networks, retailers, and tech companies. To learn more about Wheel, visit wheel.com.
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| 2022-09-14T13:33:46Z
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TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- xtype, the DevOps platform that accelerates ServiceNow app development, announced today $5.8 million in seed funding in a round led by Columbia Capital with participation from Inner Loop Capital and SaaS Ventures. The company will use the funds to accelerate its product roadmap by growing the development team, as well as increase its presence in the US market, expanding its sales and customer success teams.
As enterprises undergo digital transformation, the need for business apps has skyrocketed. According to a recent report, Gartner expects that 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code or no-code technologies by 2025. Enterprises widely use ServiceNow's application development platform as it enables the rapid development of robust and secure apps. However, as applications built using low-code technologies take on an increasingly important role in supporting business-critical functions, there is a need for modern DevOps practices to be adopted.
"ServiceNow is the most robust platform for managing IT and developing enterprise applications," said Ron Gidron, founder and CEO of xtype. "However, without the agility that modern DevOps brings, it can take weeks or months to deploy ServiceNow updates. Manual deployment processes create inefficiencies, delaying releases and leading to costly errors. It's common practice for releases to be scheduled and performed during off-hours in anticipation of downtime."
xtype's deployment and release automation platform dramatically increase enterprises' ability to deliver new features and applications on ServiceNow. The platform boosts the productivity of development teams and reduces the number of errors and escalations by combining modern DevOps practices with advanced automation and synchronization technology. Using xtype, app releases are automated, and new versions are deployed with a single click, allowing teams to adopt a Continuous Delivery approach. Additionally, the platform provides 360° real-time command and control of an organization's ServiceNow ecosystem that prevents unwanted changes from being included in a release and provides cross-instance transparency on what's been updated, where, and by whom.
"xtype helps development teams get the most out of the ServiceNow platform," Gidron said. "Moving from manual release processes managed in spreadsheets and documents to a fully automated CI/CD pipeline enables our customers to go from deploying every few weeks to multiple times a day. We see this creating a positive feedback loop for our users, with a wide-ranging impact on everything from reducing merge conflicts and cutting deployment times to increasing development quality and boosting employee satisfaction."
"Hundreds of millions of business apps will be built in the next few years alone to support digital transformation efforts of enterprises," said Jason Booma, Partner at Columbia Capital. "Traditional software development cannot meet this demand, and we see solutions like ServiceNow continuing to play a key role in addressing critical needs of the world's largest enterprises. xtype provides tremendous value by meeting enterprises where they are and dramatically enhancing their ability to build digital tools and products on their platform of choice. Acting as a force multiplier for companies by boosting their development teams' productivity means xtype gives its customers a decisive competitive edge."
About xtype
xtype, a deployment and release automation platform native to ServiceNow, was founded in 2020 by Ron Gidron, Peter Szulman, and Tobias Stanzel. The platform is already used by dozens of leading enterprises and technology companies, including HP, Zurich Insurance, Bank of Montreal, and Playtika.
Media Contact:
Jasmin Siloni
Head of Marketing
jasmin@xtype.io
+972-548184656
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| 2022-09-14T13:33:53Z
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Tom and Mary Jo York are a health-conscious couple, who faithfully go in for annual physicals and periodic colorectal cancer screening tests. Mary Jo, whose mother and aunts had breast cancer, also gets regular mammography tests.
The Yorks, who live in New Berlin, Wis., are enrolled in Chorus Community Health Plans, which, like most of the nation's health plans, is required by the Affordable Care Act to pay for those preventive services, and more than 100 others, without charging deductibles or copays.
Tom York, 57, says he appreciates the law's mandate because, until this year, the deductible on his plan was $5,000, meaning that without that ACA provision, he and his wife would have had to pay full price for those services until the deductible was met. "A colonoscopy could cost $4,000," he says. "I can't say I would have skipped it, but I would have had to think hard about it."
Recent court decision may increase consumer health costs
Now health plans and self-insured employers — those that pay workers' and dependents' medical costs themselves — may consider imposing cost sharing for preventive services on their members and workers. That's because of a federal judge's Sept. 7 ruling in a Texas lawsuit filed by conservative groups claiming that the ACA's mandate that health plans pay the full cost of preventive services is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor agreed with them. He ruled that the members of one of the three groups that make coverage recommendations, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, were not lawfully appointed under the Constitution because they were not nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
If the preventive services coverage mandate is partly struck down, the result could be a confusing patchwork of health plan benefit designs offered in various industries and in different parts of the country. Patients who have serious medical conditions or are at high risk for such conditions may have a hard time finding a plan that fully covers preventive and screening services. Instead they'd have to pay a copayment or high deductible before their insurance plan would kick in to help cover the cost of expensive preventive screenings or services. Health plans that cover preventive services without requiring beneficiaries to first meet an annual deductible are said to have "first dollar coverage" for those health services.
In the same ruling last week, O'Connor held that requiring the plaintiffs to pay for HIV prevention drugs violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. He's also considering throwing out the mandate for first-dollar coverage for contraceptives, which the plaintiffs also challenged under that statute. O'Connor postponed ruling on that and legal remedies until after he receives additional briefs from the parties to the lawsuit on Sept. 16. No matter what the judge does, the case is likely to be appealed by the federal government and could reach the Supreme Court.
Screening tests for cancer, diabetes, depression and STDs would be in jeopardy if the decision holds
If O'Connor were to order an immediate end to the no-cost coverage mandate for services that won approval from the preventive services task force, nearly half the recommended preventive services under the ACA would be in jeopardy. These include screening tests for cancer, diabetes, depression and sexually transmitted infections.
Many health plans and self-insured employers would likely react by imposing deductibles and copays for some or all the services recommended by the task force.
"Larger employers will evaluate what they cover first-dollar and what they don't cover," says Michael Thompson, CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, a nonprofit group of employer and union health plans that work together to help reduce prices. He thinks health insurance companies and employers with high employee turnover are the likeliest to add cost sharing to their health plans.
'It reintroduces the chaos that the ACA was designed to fix'
That could destabilize the health insurance markets, says Katherine Hempstead, a senior policy adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Insurers will design their preventive service benefits to attract the healthiest people so they can reduce their premiums, she predicts, saddling sicker and older people with skimpier coverage and higher out-of-pocket costs. "It reintroduces the chaos that the ACA was designed to fix," she says. "It becomes a race to the bottom."
The most probable services to be targeted for cost sharing are HIV prevention and contraception, says Dr. Jeff Levin-Scherz, population health leader at WTW (formerly Willis Towers Watson), who advises employers on health plans.
Studies have shown that eliminating cost sharing boosts the use of preventive services and saves lives. After the ACA required that Medicare cover colorectal cancer screenings without cost sharing, diagnoses of early-stage colorectal cancer increased 8% per year, improving life expectancy for thousands of seniors, according to a 2017 study published in the journal Health Affairs.
Adding cost sharing could mean hundreds or thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket spending for patients because many Americans are enrolled in high-deductible plans. In 2020, the average annual deductible in the individual insurance market was $4,364 for single coverage and $8,439 for family coverage, according to eHealth, a private, online insurance broker. For employer plans, it was $1,945 for an individual and $3,722 for families, according to KFF.
O'Connor upheld the constitutional authority of two other federal agencies that recommend preventive services for women and children and for immunizations, so first-dollar coverage for those services is not in jeopardy.
If the courts strike down the mandate for the preventive services task force's recommendations, health plan executives will face a tough decision. Mark Rakowski, president of the nonprofit Chorus Community Health Plans, says he strongly believes in the health value of preventive services and likes making them more affordable to enrollees by waiving deductibles and copayments.
But if the mandate is partly eliminated, he expects that competitors would establish deductibles and copays for preventive services to help make their premiums about 2% lower. Then, he says, he would be forced to do the same to keep his plans competitive on Wisconsin's ACA marketplace. "I hate to admit that we'd have to strongly consider following suit," Rakowski says, adding that he might offer other plans with no-cost preventive coverage and higher premiums.
The ACA's coverage rule for preventive services applies to private plans in the individual and group markets, which cover more than 150 million Americans. It is a popular provision of the law, favored by 62% of Americans, according to a 2019 KFF survey.
Spending on ACA-mandated preventive services is relatively small but not insignificant. It is 2% to 3.5% of total annual expenditures by private employer health plans, or about $100 to $200 per person, according to the Health Care Cost Institute, a nonprofit research group.
Several large commercial insurers and health insurance trade groups did not respond to requests for comment or declined to comment about what payers will do if the courts end the preventive services mandate.
Health disparities could increase
Experts fear that cost sharing for preventive services would hurt growing efforts to reduce health disparities.
"If it's left up to individual plans and employers to make these decisions about cost sharing, underserved Black and brown communities that have benefited from the removal of cost sharing will be disproportionally harmed," says Dr. A. Mark Fendrick, director of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, who helped draft the ACA's preventive services coverage section.
One service of particular concern is preexposure prophylaxis for HIV, or PrEP, a highly effective drug regimen that prevents high-risk people from acquiring HIV. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit in Texas claimed that having to pay for PrEP forces them to subsidize "homosexual behavior" to which they have religious objections.
Since 2020, health plans have been required to fully cover PrEP drugs and associated lab tests and doctor visits that otherwise can cost thousands of dollars a year. Of the 1.1 million people who could benefit from PrEP, 44% are Black and 25% are Hispanic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many also are low-income. Before the PrEP coverage rule took effect, only about 10% of eligible Black and Hispanic people had started PrEP treatment because of its high cost.
O'Connor, despite citing the evidence that PrEP drugs reduce HIV spread through sex by 99% and through injection drug use by 74%, held that the government did not show a compelling governmental interest in mandating no-cost coverage of PrEP.
"We're trying to make it easier to get PrEP, and there are plenty of barriers already," says Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute. "If first-dollar coverage went away, people won't pick up the drug. That would be extremely damaging for our efforts to end HIV and hepatitis."
Robert York, an LGBT activist who lives in Arlington, Va., who is not related to Tom York, has taken Descovy, a brand-name PrEP drug, for about six years. Having to pay cost sharing for the drug and associated tests every three months under his employer's health plan would force changes in his personal spending, he says. The retail price of the drug alone is about $2,000 a month.
But York, who's 54, stressed that reestablishing cost sharing for PrEP would affect people in lower-income and marginalized groups even more.
"We've been working so hard with the community to get PrEP into the hands of people who need it," he says. "Why is anyone targeting this?"
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national, editorially independent program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation).
Copyright 2022 Kaiser Health News. To see more, visit Kaiser Health News.
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| 2022-09-14T13:59:54Z
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WEDNESDAY
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Open loom hours at University of Wyoming Art Museum: 3-5 p.m., 2111 Willett Drive. Free to participate.
Albany County Planning and Zoning Commission meets: 5 p.m., Albany County Courthouse, 525 E. Grand Ave., or via Zoom. For agenda and information on how to participate on Zoom, visit co.albany.wy.us.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
THURSDAY
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Open loom hours at University of Wyoming Art Museum: 3-5 p.m., 2111 Willett Drive. Free to participate.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Fly fishing rod building for veterans: 7-9 p.m., Laramie Chamber Business Alliance office, 528 S. Adams St. For more information, call 307-745-4429 or 307-399-1801.
FRIDAY
Albany County CattleWomen meet: 11:30 a.m., location tbd. Visit wyaccw.com in the week before the meeting for location and more information.
Open loom hours at University of Wyoming Art Museum: 3-5 p.m., 2111 Willett Drive. Free to participate.
SATURDAY
Walk to End Alzheimer’s: 9 a.m., Optimist Park, with music and food following the walk.
Higher Ground Fair: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie. A celebration of the six Rocky Mountain states and the native first nations that also call the region home. Proceeds from ticket sales (kids admitted free) help support Feeding Laramie Valley. Fore more information or to volunteer, call 307-223-4300 or email info@highergroundfair.org.
SUNDAY
Higher Ground Fair: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie. A celebration of the six Rocky Mountain states and the native first nations that also call the region home. Proceeds from ticket sales (kids admitted free) help support Feeding Laramie Valley. Fore more information or to volunteer, call 307-223-4300 or email info@highergroundfair.org.
Walk with a Doc: 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Washington Park west shelter No. 3. Bring walking shoes and a friend. For more information, email questions@ivinsonhospital.org.
UW Faculty Recital Series free performance: 3 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall. This free performance features Nicole Riner on flute and Chi-Chen Wu on piano.
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
MONDAY
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Veterans service office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Service Center at the UW Student Union, 1000 E. University Ave.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
TUESDAY
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Sept. 21
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Open loom hours at University of Wyoming Art Museum: 4-6 p.m., 2111 Willett Drive. Free to participate.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
Sept. 22
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Fly fishing rod building for veterans: 7-9 p.m., Laramie Chamber Business Alliance office, 528 S. Adams St. For more information, call 307-745-4429 or 307-399-1801.
Sept. 25
UW Faculty Recital Series presents oboist Jennier Stucki: 3 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall. Free to attend.
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Sept. 26
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
America Sewing Guild Laramie Chapter meets: 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 1215 E. Gibbon St.
Sept. 27
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Sept. 28
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Open loom hours at University of Wyoming Art Museum: 3-5 p.m., 2111 Willett Drive. Free to participate.
Sept. 29
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Fly fishing rod building for veterans: 7-9 p.m., Laramie Chamber Business Alliance office, 528 S. Adams St. For more information, call 307-745-4429 or 307-399-1801.
Sept. 30
Downtown Laramie Farmers Market: 3-7 p.m., parking lot north of Depot Park on South 1st Street.
UW Music presents Duo Cintemani: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall. This free performance features a critically acclaimed flute-guitar group.
Oct. 2
Walk with a Doc: 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Washington Park west shelter No. 3. Bring walking shoes and a friend. For more information, email questions@ivinsonhospital.org.
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Oct. 3
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Veterans service office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Service Center at the UW Student Union, 1000 E. University Ave.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Oct. 4
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Oct. 5
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
Casper Aquifer Protection Draft Plan public comment: 6-8 p.m., in-person at Laramie Municipal Operations Center at 4373 N. 3rd St. and online at Zoom; meeting ID: 85445790677, passcode: 626454.
Oct. 6
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Diabetes Support Group meets: 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Email questions@ivinsosnhospital.org for the link.
Fly fishing rod building for veterans: 7-9 p.m., Laramie Chamber Business Alliance office, 528 S. Adams St. For more information, call 307-745-4429 or 307-399-1801.
Oct. 8
12th annual Kids Pumpkin Walk: Noon to 4 p.m., Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site. A fun family event featuring outdoor activities, indoor games, education, candy, treats and plenty of pumpkins. Cost is $4 for adults, 17 and younger admitted free.
Oct. 9
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Oct. 10
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Veterans service office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Service Center at the UW Student Union, 1000 E. University Ave.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Oct. 11
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Albany County Republican Party meets: 6 p.m., Albany County Public Library.
Oct. 12
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
Oct. 13
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Fly fishing rod building for veterans: 7-9 p.m., Laramie Chamber Business Alliance office, 528 S. Adams St. For more information, call 307-745-4429 or 307-399-1801.
Oct. 16
Walk with a Doc: 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Washington Park west shelter No. 3. Bring walking shoes and a friend. For more information, email questions@ivinsonhospital.org.
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Albany County Historic Preservation Board meets: 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month via Microsoft Teams. To attend and receive an invite, email a request to kcbard@charter.net.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Oct. 17
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Veterans service office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Service Center at the UW Student Union, 1000 E. University Ave.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Oct. 18
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Oct. 19
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
Oct. 20
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Fly fishing rod building for veterans: 7-9 p.m., Laramie Chamber Business Alliance office, 528 S. Adams St. For more information, call 307-745-4429 or 307-399-1801.
Oct. 21
Albany County CattleWomen meet: 11:30 a.m., location tbd. Visit wyaccw.com in the week before the meeting for location and more information.
Oct. 22
Laramie Foster Closet Fall Fest: Noon to 5 p.m., Albany County Fairgrounds.
Oct. 23
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Oct. 24
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Veterans service office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Service Center at the UW Student Union, 1000 E. University Ave.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
America Sewing Guild Laramie Chapter meets: 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 1215 E. Gibbon St.
Oct. 25
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Oct. 26
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Oct. 27
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Fly fishing rod building for veterans: 7-9 p.m., Laramie Chamber Business Alliance office, 528 S. Adams St. For more information, call 307-745-4429 or 307-399-1801.
Oct. 30
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Oct. 31
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Veterans service office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Service Center at the UW Student Union, 1000 E. University Ave.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Nov. 1
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Nov. 2
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
Nov. 3
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Diabetes Support Group meets: 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Email questions@ivinsosnhospital.org for the link.
Fly fishing rod building for veterans: 7-9 p.m., Laramie Chamber Business Alliance office, 528 S. Adams St. For more information, call 307-745-4429 or 307-399-1801.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/announcements/whats-happening-sept-14-2022/article_6963de52-3371-11ed-b574-dfb5e0ee1572.html
| 2022-09-14T13:59:54Z
|
JACKSON — The flow of the Snake River will dip next week and drop sharply beginning Sept. 26, according to the schedule laid out by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for managing Jackson Lake Dam.
The bureau plans to reduce the release of water from the current 2,600 cubic feet per second to 2,000 cfs the week of Sept. 19. Starting Sept. 26, the agency will reduce the release from Jackson Lake incrementally to reach the winter flow of 280 cfs by Oct. 3.
The dam release will drop to 1,500 cfs on Sept. 26 and 1,100 on Sept. 27, followed by smaller cuts thereafter.
Although the schedule could change slightly due to weather or irrigation demand, the bureau is “95%” likely to stick with the plan, said Brian Stevens, operations manager for the agency’s office in Burley, Idaho.
Stevens and his colleagues presented the schedule Thursday during a meeting with officials from state and federal agencies, including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
When the bureau would begin its final cutback to winter flows had been the subject of much speculation, after a sharp reduction last year left fish, and the food fish eat, stranded in side channels. Grand Teton National Park, where the river is braided with many of the side channels in question, requested a two-week taper to reach the winter flow.
But Stevens said the need to keep more water flowing into Palisades Reservoir tied the bureau’s hands.
Palisades will continue to release water for irrigation downstream in Idaho throughout October, and the reservoir will be at its lowest after the Jackson Lake Dam release is reduced to winter flow.
“The pressure point there is how low Palisades is going to get,” Stevens said.
As of Saturday, Palisades was at 21% of capacity. The bureau projects it will be drained to 4 to 6% in October. When the reservoir gets that low, sediment can wash through the dam, possibly affecting the fishery downstream, and the bureau has been trying to mitigate that by moving extra water from Jackson Lake to Palisades in recent weeks.
Jackson Lake was 24% full as of Saturday, and the bureau projects it to be about 15% full by early October.
Last year’s sharp drawdown raised an outcry in the river community in Jackson Hole, as citizens and guides rallied to rescue stranded fish. With the help of Trout Unlimited, they documented the effects of the quick reduction in flows.
The bureau responded by holding a public meeting in Jackson in February and pledging better coordination with stakeholders, including the National Park Service and Wyoming Game and Fish.
While the coming cutback won’t be as gradual as some stakeholders would have liked, Stevens said, “It’s not going to be as drastic as last year.”
Flow statistics back up that assessment. In 2021, the release from Jackson Lake Dam was as high as 5,000 cfs for one month and 4,000 or more for two months, then cut abruptly from 3,000 cfs on Sept. 30 to 280 cfs by Oct. 5.
This year, for June, July and August, the dam release from Jackson Lake varied between 1,750 and 2,500 cfs, mostly around 2,000. But the bureau raised the release to 3,000 cfs on Aug. 25, citing the need to move more water to Palisades. It has been declining steadily and slowly to the current 2,600 cfs.
Reynolds Pomeroy, a former fishing outfitter and river guide, was disappointed to hear of the bureau’s plans. Pomeroy was impressed at the public meeting last winter at what he perceived as a sincere effort on the part of the bureau to do better managing the resource.
“I’m not the water guy, but that just seems absurd,” Pomeroy said. “Last year was lame. Quite frankly, I don’t know if the local fishing community spoke up loudly enough last fall.”
Pomeroy competed in the Jackson Hole One Fly fishing competition over the weekend, and the talk among the guides and participants was that the recent boost in river flows sent fish migrating to the side channels — precisely the places where they may be stranded come late September.
“For them to repopulate all that fringe water, and then they drain it — that’s just crazy,” Pomeroy said. He asked why the bureau couldn’t have sent more water to Palisades much earlier in the season.
Stevens said the agency is open to a more gradual cutback, as the Park Service requested, but it needs to see several years of data showing the effects on the river. Some fish mortality is to be expected with operating a dam, he said.
“It could happen — it’s just not going to work this year,” he said. “We’d have to look at the research over multiple years.”
While needs at Palisades were the main factor behind the bureau’s decision, the agency also was pressured by rafting outfitters who sought to continue running trips later in September, Stevens said.
Pomeroy, an emeritus board member of the Snake River Fund, which promotes stewardship and includes a host of rafting and fishing outfitters among its ranks, said the river community needs to find common ground.
Given more demand for less water, “this is going to happen year after year after year,” he said. “In the face of a diminishing resource, we’ve all got to pull for the resource.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/another-sharp-drawdown-for-snake-river-planned/article_d6593960-3373-11ed-9201-a3c7bc3564c7.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:00Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
POWELL — Braver Angels, a national organization with hopes of facilitating civil political discourse, has recently become active in Park County with its first Wyoming workshop in Cody last fall and more in the works.
The organization pulls its name from Lincoln’s first inaugural address which references the “better angels of our nature.”
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection,” Lincoln said in his inaugural address. “The mystic chords of memory will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
Braver Angels was founded following the 2016 presidential elections which, according to the Braver Angels website, was “one of the most divisive elections in our history.”
Braver Angels’ goal is to encourage calm discussion between members of differing political views.
One way its members work toward accomplishing this goal is through Red/Blue workshops. These workshops invite local leaders from different ages, professions and political affiliations. The invited participants are equally balanced between Republicans and Democrats, and they’re encouraged to discuss their viewpoints without being defensive or persuasive.
The workshops also take participants through training and activities designed to help them learn how to discuss viewpoints and understand differing viewpoints.
Right now, Braver Angels has event coordinators in every state.
There is also a Braver Angels podcast, along with numerous other events hosted by Braver Angels.
The Cody workshop at the Irma Hotel was sponsored by Wyoming Rising, a local nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that encourages civil discourse and participation in government.
The workshop had 15 participants that were invited with the purpose of having diverse viewpoints in the same room, according to Ronn Smith who was a volunteer organizer for the workshop.
Smith is currently helping to organize a Powell workshop this October that already has 13 participants signed up. Smith expects that 15 or 16 people will end up participating come October.
“The Braver Angels just allowed us to do something here,” Smith said. “I think the solution to polarization starts locally and it starts with local leaders.”
While the in-person workshops in the Park County area are by invitation only, Smith said that anyone can participate in workshops online. People who are interested in attending an event, learning more or volunteering can visit braverangels.org
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/braver-angels-brings-its-brand-of-political-discourse-to-wyoming/article_84de62cc-3378-11ed-bc57-bb5dd6fe00d6.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:06Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
Janelle Jones, in the foreground, waves at the start of the ForMak 5K run Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Lions Park. Michael Smith/For the Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – Members of the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee on Monday rejected a draft bill that would have increased the penalty for hitting and killing someone with a vehicle in a crosswalk or school zone.
The bill would have created a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $10,000 or both for someone who “operates or drives a vehicle in a criminally negligent manner, and his conduct is the proximate cause of the death of another person” in a crosswalk or school zone. It failed during the first day of a two-day interim meeting in Casper.
Such a bill was first discussed during the committee’s last meeting in May, prompted by the death of 13-year-old Makaili “Mak” Evans, who was hit and killed in a Cheyenne school crosswalk last year, as well as activism by his mother, Janelle Jones, surrounding crosswalk safety and distracted driving since his death.
Kelly Lynn Gaskins, 39, of Cheyenne was later charged with misdemeanor vehicular homicide in Mak’s death. Gaskins pleaded not guilty in March, and the case is ongoing.
Cheyenne legislators Sen. Tara Nethercott and Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, both Republicans, accounted for two of the draft bill’s four “yes” votes. Eight committee members voted “no,” including Rep. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne. Two were excused.
Nethercott later made a motion for a bill to be drafted “appropriating $10 million as a placeholder ... for the purposes of pedestrian bridges and school safety crosswalks.” Nethercott said the appropriation amount could be debated at the committee’s next interim meeting in November in Cheyenne.
A similar motion was originally introduced by Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, with the specific purpose of building a pedestrian bridge at the McCormick Junior High School crosswalk where Mak was killed. However, other members of the committee said creating a bill for such a specific purpose was unlawful.
Yin seconded Nethercott’s motion, which was adopted unanimously.
Before the vote on the bill draft that would have increased vehicular homicide penalties in crosswalks and school zones, Rep. Art Washut, R-Casper, said he didn’t like the idea of enhancing penalties in such limited scenarios. Washut, who voted “no,” made similar comments at the committee’s last interim meeting.
“I just have a hard time thinking of talking to a parent whose child gets off a school bus and is going across traffic, and a car goes past that school bus with a flashing light and strikes that child, and we say, ‘Well, that’s different than if your child had been hit in a crosswalk at school,’” the representative said. “So, it seems to me that if we’re going to address vehicular homicide, we ought to look beyond just the school zone/crosswalk scenarios, that there are equally tragic situations.”
Jones also spoke prior to the vote on the penalty enhancement draft bill. She voiced her support for making homicide by vehicle in a crosswalk or school zone a felony, as she had at the May committee meeting. She said she believes an increased penalty would help deter people from distracted driving.
She added that she has ongoing concerns about the McCormick crosswalk, where her son was killed more than 10 months ago. Jones said she’d spent many mornings at the crosswalk since school started in Laramie County, and that it was clear to her that the drivers are the problem, not the children. She said she’d almost been hit on two occasions at the crosswalk while trying to help children safely cross the street.
“I’m out there every day, yelling at drivers and telling them to slow down, because we’ve got a 20-mile-an-hour school zone, and people are going well over 20,” she said. “It’s like a suggestion to them.”
Jones said she’d recently invited Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco to join her out at the crosswalk “so he can see firsthand the challenges that I am facing daily.” She attributed the issue to a lack of enforcement at the crosswalk.
The committee also heard presentations about crosswalks and alternative ways for pedestrians to safely get across roads, including pedestrian bridges or overpasses, including from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
David Fraser, executive director of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, was one of a few individuals during the discussion to mention that law enforcement’s manpower shortages across the state make it difficult to consistently enforce safe driving in school zones.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/committee-rejects-increased-penalty-for-some-vehicular-homicides/article_9c4b44a4-3376-11ed-97b3-97d036882f08.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:12Z
|
CASPER — In January 2013, then-Gov. Matt Mead signed into law sweeping changes that effectively made Wyoming’s schools superintendent a ceremonial position.
It had taken lawmakers only 12 days to pass Senate File 104, which removed the elected superintendent from day-to-day management of the state’s Department of Education in favor of a director appointed by the governor.
Lawmakers had a strained relationship with the superintendent at the time, Cindy Hill, with many legislators critical of how she was running the education department.
Hill and her supporters countered that by stripping away the superintendent’s powers, the Legislature had effectively nullified the will of the voters who had elected her two years earlier.
Hill attended the governor’s signing ceremony. Afterward, she accompanied her attorney in serving Mead with a lawsuit challenging the new law’s constitutionality. A year later, the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down the law.
But its impact continued to reverberate in the form of disagreements between the Republican who backed the law and those who viewed it as a usurping of the voters’ will.
Eight years later, a similar movement is now being discussed among state lawmakers.
This time, its target is the secretary of state — Wyoming’s No. 2 elected official and the person responsible for overseeing the state’s elections.
Last month, a legislative committee moved to take elections administration out of the purview of the secretary of state. Instead, elections would be run by a separate agency with an appointed director.
The move by the Joint Corporations Committee came in response to Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, securing the GOP nomination in the August primary.
Gray, who is running unopposed in the general election, called President Joe Biden’s election illegitimate and fraudulent and made voter fraud and banning ballot drop boxes a key focus of his campaign — although cases of voter fraud in Wyoming are exceedingly rare.
The committee’s vote has parallels to the so-called “Hill Bill,” with its backers saying the change is needed to address a critical part of state government — this time around, the administration of elections.
“I’m concerned based on some of the rhetoric and some of the mailers I saw in regards to our most likely upcoming secretary of state that we may be in a precarious position when it comes to election administration for the next four years,” said Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, who proposed the change and who voted for Senate File 104 when it was adopted in 2013.
But other veteran lawmakers have cautioned against pursuing a similar path, one that raises constitutional questions about the Legislature’s role in deciding executive branch duties.
“We’ve been down this road before in the education area,” Sen. Charlie Scott, R-Casper, said during the committee’s meeting.
Scott, who supported Senate File 104 at the time, called the consequences “most unfortunate.”
While there are clear parallels between the Hill Bill and the recent bill draft, some observers say the current effort is different — and this time, possibly constitutional.But while the Wyoming Constitution lays out the superintendent’s duties, it leaves the duties of the secretary of state up to the Legislature to decide.
As Zwonitzer sees it, that provides room for lawmakers to take elections oversight away from the secretary.
“You don’t have a similar provision regarding the secretary of state, what you have is the provision ... that creates the office and says the powers and duties should be prescribed by law,” said University of Utah law professor Bob Keiter, an expert on the Wyoming Constitution.
The bill draft would likely amend part of the state’s election code (22-2-103), which deems the secretary of state “the chief election officer” and says that the officeholder “shall maintain uniformity in the applications and operations of the election laws of Wyoming.”“What the Legislature can grant, the Legislature can take away,” said David Adler, a constitutional scholar and lecturer.
Casper attorney and outgoing Sen. Drew Perkins put forward a similar line of reasoning, saying that if the Legislature has the power to assign something, it also has the power to “reassign” it.Hill, who finished out her term in 2014 before mounting an unsuccessful run for governor against Mead, argues that the Legislature is misinterpreting its role in scenarios like these.
“Legislators who support these efforts do not understand the constitutional principle of separation of powers,” she said in a statement to the Star-Tribune. “The Legislature must confine itself to its constitutionally prescribed role and must not seek to take unto itself powers belonging to other branches.”
If Zwonitzer’s proposal is successful, Gray would still be in charge of the state’s entire business division, among other important duties.
But though it isn’t named in the state constitution, election supervision may be one of the secretary’s “inherent powers” — basically, generally accepted duties traditionally associated with the office, Keiter said.
“When most people think of the secretary of state, they think of election responsibilities more than providing a seal on business filings,” he said.
It would be up to the courts to decide whether this bill infringes on those inherent powers.
But until Gray is sworn in and a bill is successfully passed and enacted, it can’t face a legal challenge.
“Chuck Gray might have standing once the general [election] is over,” Perkins said. “There’s nothing to sue about yet. Legislators talk about ideas.”
If a case is brought, the argument will likely center around just how far the Legislature can go in setting the powers of the office, Adler said.
“When is the Legislature using its statutory authority to govern the office in a way that does not eclipse the constitutional authority? That would always be the question. That would be the subject of constitutional law cases,” he said.
Gray, for his part, said the attempt would violate the constitution. He indicated he would push back on efforts to change the office.
“It’s nothing more than another unconstitutional power grab by leftist politicians who don’t care about the people’s right to direct their government,” he said in a statement. “I’ll do all I can to give voters the power to govern and not let these sold-out insiders get away with this.”
Gray beat Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, by nearly 13,000 votes to secure the Republican nomination. He earned around half of the total votes cast in the primary.
Opponents of the proposal point out that Gray was legitimately elected by the voters of Wyoming, something that should be respected by lawmakers.
“Elections are the means by which a democracy can function,” Hill said in her statement. “Transferring duties away from elected offices nullifies the vote, making our system into something other than a democracy.”
Hill said that if lawmakers do strip the secretary’s election powers, they would essentially be claiming to “know better than the voters as to who should occupy the office.”
In Hill’s case, she and two people who voted for her brought the the lawsuit that ended up overturning the law that removed most of her powers.
Keiter, the Wyoming Constitution expert, said he would expect voters to be involved in any similar lawsuit that could be filed on Gray’s behalf.
“This would essentially nullify their choice,” Keiter said.
There may also be a “very strong” argument to be made that taking away election powers could be a violation of the separation of powers between the Legislature and the secretary’s office, which falls under the executive branch, Keiter said.
Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, voted against Senate File 104 in 2013, but is in favor of moving forward with the secretary of state bill.
“There is a bit of right and wrong in the world,” said Case, who serves on the corporations committee. “I’m sorry, the elections weren’t stolen.”
Case partly voted against the Hill Bill because it was drawn up during the session in a hasty process that left less time for the public to weigh in. That won’t be the case this time.
The draft bill will likely return to the corporations committee for a future vote. If it succeeds in that venue, it would be months before the full Legislature considers the matter, giving the public time to speak out either for or against.
The bill limiting Hill’s power cruised through the lawmaking process, but legislation targeting the secretary’s office likely won’t have as smooth a path.
Since 2014, the Wyoming Legislature has moved farther to the right, and the part of the Republican Party angered by Senate File 104 now make up a larger faction within the statehouse.
“I think putting it on the table to talk about it is not just disrespecting the voters. Putting it through in a week in a regular session, without public input, that would be disrespecting the voters,” Case said. “We can talk about ideas in Wyoming. It’s still OK to talk about ideas.”
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/effort-to-strip-power-from-sos-similar-to-school-superintendent/article_317660c6-3373-11ed-9412-9769a8644ab7.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:19Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
1 of 2
Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, speaks during the morning Senate special session Nov. 2, 2021, at the Capitol.
CASPER — The Wyoming GOP State Central Committee will vote Saturday on a resolution to censure Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, following his recent attempts to solicit an independent candidate to challenge the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for secretary of state in the upcoming general election.
“Unfortunately, Wyoming’s problem is not only the Democratic and Republican parties,” the resolution, as shared in a Friday email with members of the Republican Party, states. “Our problem stems primarily from individuals who identify as Republican yet vote and act contrary to the platform of the Wyoming Republican Party.”
The resolution says that the members of the State Central Committee will deny Case “any financial or physical support” in “any political endeavors…” and requests Case to change his party affiliation.
Park County GOP State Committeeman Vince Vanata said the resolution, which, unusually, is formatted as a letter, was initially passed “unanimously” at a GOP state executive committee meeting on Aug. 29 and has received an endorsement from the Park County GOP.
Wyoming GOP Executive Director Kathy Russell confirmed that Friday’s version of the resolution is the most current draft.
“I really probably won’t do anything, to be honest,” Case said regarding the resolution. “I can’t change their minds.”
He said the State Central Committee hasn’t directly notified him of the resolution.
Wyoming National Committeeman Corey Steinmetz didn’t respond to the Star-Tribune by deadline to confirm this, or whether the State Central Committee plans to officially notify Case before the meeting.
Case, known for his libertarian bent and willingness to deviate from party lines, is one of several more traditional and moderate-leaning Republicans who have garnered the ire of some far-right party members.
He’s already been censured once by the Fremont County GOP for acting “contrary to the will of the governed and the Wyoming Republican Party platform.”
That followed a guest column Case wrote for the Cowboy State Daily encouraging Wyoming Republicans to return to “Big Tent” politics and denouncing the politics of “hate and disparagement” that he said has come to characterize the Wyoming GOP.
“At every turn, the Republican State Party leadership gives voice to a minority viewpoint that will not tolerate disagreement,” Case wrote in the column, urging people to get involved in politics and run in the primaries.
The resolution cites the column as one grievance, but it particularly targets Case’s recent involvement in attempts to find an independent challenger to Republican Secretary of State candidate Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, who defeated his most prominent challenger, attorney Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, by roughly 9 points in the August primaries.
Case tried to convince former Republican representative Nathan Winters to run against Gray in the general election, but Winters declined, saying that it’s important for the GOP to unite behind Gray.
Case was joined by a group of traditional, moderate-leaning Republicans and some Democrats in the search for an independent challenger. The endeavor ultimately failed.
“The idea that an elected ‘Republican’ would undermine the will of the Republican voters of this State is beyond the pale,” the resolution says, regarding Case’s push to get an independent on the November ballot. “If he’s going to do things contrary to the Republican Party platform, or if he’s going to appease those people in a different party, than Cale Case should just remove the ‘R’ from after his name, run as an unaffiliated, and then see if the voters truly want to elect him for the person he is,” Vanata said.
The effort to limit Gray’s power as secretary of state hasn’t stopped there.
Last month, the Joint Corporations Committee sought to draft a bill that would strip elections administration from among the secretary of state’s duties. Elections would be run by a separate agency with an appointed director instead.
Case is in favor of moving forward with the secretary of state bill, which, the resolution says, is “tantamount to an abuse of power and position.”
Gray has called President Joe Biden’s election fraudulent and illegitimate. His platform focuses on voter fraud and banning ballot drop boxes, even though voter fraud is extremely rare in Wyoming.
The Secretary of State is Wyoming’s No. 2 elected official and oversees the state’s elections. Gray is running unopposed in the general election, so he is almost guaranteed to succeed current Secretary of State Ed Buchanan.
Case questioned whether Gray would win the Republican nomination if he were to go head-to-head with Nethercott in a runoff election, which some states require when no candidate receives a majority vote. (Gray won 49.8% of the Republican vote, while Nethercott and another candidate, Mark Armstrong, got 41% and 9.1% of the vote, respectively).
“I think he’d probably lose,” Case said of Gray’s prospects in a theoretical runoff election. “These people that insist on their legitimacy, they’re missing the most important thing; democracy doesn’t exist to further partisan politics. We want to further a result where the majority are in power.”
Case said he wasn’t really worried about the resolution itself hurting him politically, given his experience with being censured by Fremont County GOP, which he thinks may have actually helped him in the primary. He won by 10 points over challenger Shawn Olmstead.
“Believe it or not, I’ve heard a lot more positives than negatives,” he said. “I think it helped my election. I really do. It was a nasty election, the nastiest one I’ve ever been in, but I think it probably helped me.”
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/gop-aims-to-censure-case/article_fd917534-3377-11ed-ab93-970738433d8b.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:25Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
1 of 4
Harriet Hageman gives a speech shortly after being announced the winner of the Wyoming GOP primary during the Primary Night Celebration with Harriet Hageman at the Frontier Days Event Center in Cheyenne on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. Alyte Katilius/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Democratic U.S. House candidate Lynnette GreyBull will face Republican primary candidate Harriet Hageman in the general election on Nov. 8. Hageman defeated incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, in the Republican primary on Aug. 16. Courtesy
Harriet Hageman gives a speech shortly after being announced the winner of the Wyoming GOP primary during the Primary Night Celebration with Harriet Hageman at the Frontier Days Event Center in Cheyenne on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. Alyte Katilius/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Democratic U.S. House candidate Lynnette GreyBull will face Republican primary candidate Harriet Hageman in the general election on Nov. 8. Hageman defeated incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, in the Republican primary on Aug. 16. Courtesy
CHEYENNE – Republican U.S. House of Representatives primary winner Harriet Hageman has declined an invitation to debate Democratic contender Lynnette GreyBull next month.
WyomingPBS confirmed Monday that officials had provided two dates in October for Hageman to participate in the general election debate, and she declined both. For the first date, she said there was a scheduling conflict, and when given a second available date, Hageman said she would not participate at all.
“Since announcing her candidacy, Harriet Hageman has traveled over 40,000 miles across Wyoming, held more than 200 events and spoken with thousands of voters. This is a much more effective way of communicating with Wyomingites, and it’s how she will continue,” her campaign responded in a statement. “We thank you for your invitation, but respectfully decline.”
Democratic primary winner GreyBull said Hageman’s decision not to join her on the debate stage showed a lack of dedication to her role as a representative. She said it’s a tactic of the privileged class to not participate in debates, and to not have an open dialogue about issues concerning Wyomingites. She said constituents deserve to hear Hageman’s plan for the state, and compare them to the position GreyBull has on various issues.
“I do hope she would consider changing her mind,” GreyBull said.
WyomingPBS Senior Producer for Public Affairs Steve Peck told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle it was disappointing that Hageman was not going to take part, because the debates are a key component in educating constituents. He said WyomingPBS had been hosting the live statewide debates for many years, and noted that Hageman took part in the Republican primary debate earlier this year.
“We’re the only ones that do it consistently in this way, and we’re sorry that not everyone is going to be participating,” he said.
Although he has not reviewed every single debate WyomingPBS has hosted, he said it is extraordinarily rare that a major party candidate would decline a general election debate invitation.
Jasmine Hall is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s state government reporter. She can be reached by email at jhall@wyomingnews.com or by phone at 307-633-3167. Follow her on Twitter @jasminerhphotos and on Instagram @jhrose25.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/hageman-declines-to-debate-democratic-contender-greybull/article_759d95cc-3377-11ed-9bd6-47f55528782f.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:31Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
The Higher Ground Fair, now in its fifth year, is a celebration of rural life in the West. This year’s event will feature demonstrations, live music and more.
Food, music and social justice will combine this weekend at the fifth annual Higher Ground Fair, a fundraiser for Feeding Laramie Valley.
The fair is returning after a two-year hiatus and will feature special performances and presentations from a variety of musicians, educators and advocates.
“The real underlying thrust of the fair is to become a self-sustaining event that’s several days long and offers an opportunity for people to come together and discuss some really important issues and some problem solving around them,” said Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for Feeding Laramie Valley.
The event will include historical reenactments from the Black American West Museum and Heritage Center and presentations on Indigenous treaty rights, food and environmental justice and animals like horses, raptors and goats.
It also will include gardening and agricultural demonstrations, live music from local and regional bands and an array of food truck dining options.
Some of the acts include the Wind River Dancers, Rex Peoples & X Factr, Pluck! and the Hazel Miller Band.
The event aligns with Feeding Laramie Valley’s mission, which focuses on expanding food access throughout the community while taking into account its root causes.
“It creates a whole environment of everyone eating together as a community and getting food as a community,” Cox said. “A lot of what Higher Ground Fair is building around is equitable and just food systems.”
The attractions at the event are aimed to celebrate a variety of aspects of Western living, according to a press release from Feeding Laramie Valley.
This year the two-day event will be hosted at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site. People can buy tickets online for a lower price than at the door. Anyone older than 65 gets a discount, and admission for children 12 and younger is free.
Volunteers are needed for the event and can sign up by sending an email to info@highergroundfair.org.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/higher-ground-fair-seeks-to-lift-community-this-weekend/article_ae0e93f0-32de-11ed-8619-b39ef3321753.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:37Z
|
GILLETTE — A shrill whistle cut through the air.
“There’s a white pickup pulling up,” said Natalie Perkins, from her post looking out of the hotel room’s window.
The room full of people went still. The air conditioner hummed and traffic was heard from the road outside the Gillette hotel.
Then a few moments later she signaled again: “He just made a full circle.”
The 15 or so people spaced between the neighboring hotel rooms, conjoined by the open partition door on the wall separating them, fell quiet. A few Gillette police officers shuffled into position, including two in the waiting room, as the other officers stationed themselves in the operation room and spoke in hushed tones.
The rest happened in a blink, starting with a knock at the door.
The two officers in the other room shot into the hallway. Handcuffs clicked and clasped and the officers resurfaced in the neighboring operation room, escorting the man they had just detained.
The onlookers from the waiting room — a group of human trafficking victims advocates, and Uprising Wyoming employees, including trafficking survivors — peered into the other room through the partition as the man was patted down.
The 38-year-old Gillette man, still in handcuffs, was then seated on the edge of the bed, facing a mirror and two trafficking advocates, Terri Markham, the nonprofit executive director, and Julie Johnson, a survivor of trafficking herself.
“I could have been in this room,” Johnson told him. “I was in this room at a different point in my life, against my will. I was being sold to buyers.”
They talked to the Gillette man about the prevalence of sex trafficking and the lesser known implications of it.
The majority of people who are bought for sex are forced and coerced into it. By the organization’s metrics, 85-90% of those selling sex do so against their will.
“Most people think that I’m trying to prevent new victims of trafficking, which I absolutely am, but more than that, I’m trying to prevent new buyers of sex,” Markham said to him.
Then she asked whether he knew, or ever thought about, whether the people advertising sex did so by choice.
“No, not really. I mean, I haven’t thought about that part, I guess,” he said. “You don’t figure that would happen around here, I guess.”
On Friday, as part of a joint training with Uprising Wyoming and the Gillette Police Department, officers caught four men in a sting operation. Each man responded to an online post to buy sex and unknowingly communicated with law enforcement and arranged to pay for sex in a Gillette hotel.
Two men were from Gillette and another came from Casper. All three were ticketed and released. A fourth man came from South Dakota and was arrested for soliciting a minor. Based on his conversations leading up to the meeting, he believed the woman would be 16 years old.
Between last Wednesday and the time of the sting Friday afternoon, 79 potential buyers responded to the posts and 10 made plans to show up at the hotel, with some backing out for various reasons.
“We have seen a lot of activity in Gillette,” Markham said.
For Uprising Wyoming, its training helps law enforcement learn hands-on through the sting operation and aims to shift the policing focus from a victim-focused lens to one focused on the offenders, or buyers, Markham said.
“Focusing more on the offender side, the buyers and the exploiters, accomplishes so much more and can actually start to chip away at the problem, versus where it’s historically just been all of the focus on the victim side of things,” she said.
For police, the training was informative and the sting operations could serve as a deterrent, alerting the public that the department will be monitoring online buyer activity and undergoing more sting operations.
“We’re going to keep doing these, so you never know when it’s us,” said Police Sgt. Derek Weinhardt to the second Gillette man who was detained Friday.
Uprising Wyoming, the anti-trafficking organization, is based in Sheridan and was founded in 2019. The organization aims to increase awareness and education about human trafficking, including sex and labor trafficking.
One educational component focuses on changing the preconceived notions many have about what sex trafficking is and what it looks like.
The sensationalized images from popular culture can obscure what the reality of trafficking looks like, Markham said. Those who are forced or coerced do not always visibly appear so. There are many who are trafficked through familial trafficking and other ways that don’t align with antiquated language and tropes surrounding ideas of trafficking.
In Wyoming, the organization sees the most trafficking cases from Casper, Gillette and Rock Springs. Markham said that the transient nature of extraction industries and other jobs in Campbell County may contribute to its prevalence.
Johnson and Charlie Falkis, both with Uprising Wyoming, have been trafficked for sex in their own lives.
For Johnson, who was trafficked by her then husband when living in another state, she said that facing the men caught trying to buy sex that day brought her a mix of emotions. It was nerve-wracking, challenging, frustrating and healing.
“In some aspect it’s healing,” she said. “Empathy is important to have in this world because people struggle with stuff and it turns them into monsters. We want to prevent that.
“We want to try to get to the root of the problem, so we can bring more awareness to what the root of the problem is, so we can prevent it.”
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/human-trafficking-sting-brings-training-and-awareness/article_56548f62-3378-11ed-a24e-b715636c3f07.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:43Z
|
A Laramie man faces a felony DWUI charge after his arrest Sunday, the Laramie Police Department reports.
Police were dispatched at about 6:20 a.m. to the 2400 block of Sunrise Court for a report of a domestic disturbance.
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON... The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the Wyoming Department of Health. WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke. WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap. WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today. IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires. HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause respiratory health effect. Although these people are most susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality conditions. CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at http://www.wyvisnet.com/
A Laramie man faces a felony DWUI charge after his arrest Sunday, the Laramie Police Department reports.
Police were dispatched at about 6:20 a.m. to the 2400 block of Sunrise Court for a report of a domestic disturbance.
After arriving and investigating, Sean W. Costin, 33, was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence, his fourth such offense, the LPD reports. He also was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery.
Under Wyoming law, a fourth driving while impaired conviction within 10 years is a felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
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|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/local_news/arrest_record_and_police_calls/felony-arrest/article_c5409bf2-3394-11ed-9dec-6712b1b77b34.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:50Z
|
The following calls were included in the Albany County Sheriff’s Office responses:
SATURDAY, SEPT. 10
• 12:51 a.m., intersection of N. 6th St. and E. University Ave., possible impaired driving
• 3:25 p.m., Wyoming Highway 230, emergency
SUNDAY, SEPT. 11
• 1:53 p.m., 200 block of W. Ivinson Ave., fighting
• 2:22 p.m., 2000 block of PFE Rd., theft/unauthorized use of vehicle
• 3:10 p.m., Albany County Area, emergency
The following calls were included in the Laramie Police Department responses:
FRIDAY, SEPT. 9
• 5:58 a.m., 2100 block of Harrison St., emergency
• 7:59 a.m., 1200 block of E. Palmer Dr., emergency
• 10:27 a.m., 700 block of E. Canby St., trespassing
• 11:16 a.m., 900 block of N. 5th St., accident
• 1:12 p.m., 500 block of S. 13th St., extortion
• 1:42 p.m., 900 block of N. McCue St., trespassing
• 2:47 p.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., shoplifting
• 2:49 p.m., 200 block of W. Snowy Range Rd., traffic hazard
• 2:55 p.m., 400 block of N. 15th St., wildlife
• 4:33 p.m., Albany County Area, theft/unauthorized use of vehicle
• 5:14 p.m., 3900 block of E. Grand Ave., traffic hazard
• 7:07 p.m., 1500 block of N. McCue St., accident
• 8:06 p.m., 400 block of N. 3rd St., emergency
• 8:34 p.m., 500 block of E. University Ave., possible domestic disturbance
• 9:53 p.m., 1900 block of Van Buren St., theft
SATURDAY, SEPT. 10
• 7:58 a.m., 500 block of S. 10th St., theft
• 9:22 a.m., intersection of N. 4th St. and E. Fremont St., accident
• 9:43 a.m., 300 block of N. Buchanan St., emergency
• 11:43 a.m., 700 block of Beaufort St., possible domestic disturbance
• 12:16 p.m., 600 block of E. Grand Ave., shoplifting
• 1:03 p.m., 2100 block of E. Hancock St., vandalism
• 1:47 p.m., 500 block of N. 3rd St., hit and run
• 4:31 p.m., intersection of N. 22nd St. and Armory Rd., hit and run
• 5:44 p.m., intersection of Television Rd. and Armory Rd., accident
• 6:52 p.m., 2500 block of E. Grand Ave., accident
• 8:39 p.m., intersection of S. 4th St. and E. Grand Ave., possible impaired driving
• 8:58 p.m., 400 block of E. Grand Ave., false ID
• 9:37 p.m., intersection of S. 20th St. and E. Grand Ave., possible possession of controlled substance
• 10:18 p.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., hit and run
• 10:37 p.m., 600 block of E. Ivinson Ave., emergency
• 11:11 p.m., 400 block of E. Boswell Dr., emergency
SUNDAY, SEPT. 11
• 12:46 a.m., 900 block of E. Fetterman Dr., possible domestic disturbance
• 1:27 a.m., 300 block of S. 5th St., fighting
• 1:53 a.m., 200 block of E. Ivinson Ave., fighting
• 2:05 a.m., 2100 block of Harrison St., emergency
• 9:46 a.m., 1700 block of Walsh Ct., animal bite
• 11:23 a.m., 200 block of Wister Dr., accident
• 11:31 a.m., 3000 block of E. Grand Ave., accident
• 12:37 p.m., 2100 block of Reynolds St., vandalism
• 12:46 p.m., 2100 block of Wyoming Ave., possible domestic disturbance
• 2:50 p.m., 700 block of Downey St., vandalism
• 6:05 p.m., 2100 block of E. Grand Ave., emergency
• 6:15 p.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., shoplifting
• 6:22 p.m., 2400 block of Sunrise Ct., possible domestic disturbance
• 9:25 p.m., 3200 block of E. Grand Ave., accident
• 9:43 p.m., 1300 block of S. 3rd St., possible impaired driving
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/local_news/arrest_record_and_police_calls/on-the-record-sept-14-2022/article_d53b6748-32c8-11ed-8c15-db766db79d83.html
| 2022-09-14T14:00:56Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
Medical workers seek protections
By Ellen Gerst
Casper Star-Tribune
Via Wyoming News Exchange
CASPER — Wyoming lawmakers are working on a bill that could increase criminal penalties for attacking health care workers.
A similar bill was attempted in 2013, but failed after passing the senate. But health care workers who testified to the Joint Judiciary Committee in May said that attacks have become more frequent since then, and so have instances of verbal abuse and threats.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated that trend, said Josh Hannes, vice president of the Wyoming Hospital Association, during a committee meeting.
“Never has the violence been as escalated as it has been these last couple of years,” said Tracy Garcia, chief nursing officer at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.
Between January 2021 and April of this year, Garcia said, the Cheyenne hospital has recorded 34 assaults. She said those include patients hitting, slapping, grabbing or kicking staff members, as well as sexual harassment, pulling hair and making threats to employees’ lives. In about a third of those cases, Garcia said, the patient was intoxicated or mentally ill.
“I strongly believe that it’s the right time to change the belief… that it’s an expected part of our work,” said Nicole Rooney, chief nursing officer at Laramie’s Ivinson Memorial Hospital, at the May committee meeting.
The current draft of the bill, which is set to be discussed at a committee meeting next week in Casper, would make assault or battery against healthcare workers doing their job a misdemeanor offense. Simple assault or threats would carry a penalty of up to $750, and battery would carry the same plus the potential of up to six months incarceration.
“Verbal assault, while nasty and mean … is a far different thing than physical abuse,” Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, said at the May meeting.
Of course, assault and battery are already crimes, lawmakers pointed out. But health care workers are seeking a special carveout within those crimes, similar to those already in place for assaults against police or detention officers.
Health care workers told the committee that cases of worker attacks are likely under reported, and are often only prosecuted when law enforcement officers responding to the scene are attacked themselves.
“It’s already difficult to staff our facilities,” Hannes said, “and I think it’s important that as a state we stand up and we say that this behavior is not going to be tolerated ever.” While hospitals around the state have increased security, adding officers or cameras to deter attacks, Hannes said funding is tight everywhere and often can’t cover additional measures.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/medical-workers-seek-protections/article_ab27e926-3373-11ed-b405-931f95ee19e6.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:02Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
1 of 2
The City of Laramie’s rental housing ordinance is under the microscope again as the Albany County District Court ruled the habitability standards legal, but the enforcement procedures of the ordinance unconstitutionally vague.
Laramie’s rental housing ordinance is under the microscope again as the Albany County District Court ruled the city’s habitability standards legal, but the enforcement procedures of the ordinance unconstitutionally vague.
The City of Laramie’s rental housing ordinance is under the microscope again as the Albany County District Court ruled the habitability standards legal, but the enforcement procedures of the ordinance unconstitutionally vague.
Laramie’s rental housing ordinance is under the microscope again as the Albany County District Court ruled the city’s habitability standards legal, but the enforcement procedures of the ordinance unconstitutionally vague.
The next phase of a legal battle over rental housing regulations has a local leasing company appealing an August court decision that was issued partly in its favor.
Bell Leasing LLC owns 64 rental units in Laramie and sued the city of Laramie earlier this year over a new set of rental housing habitability standards set to go into effect Jan. 1.
The ordinance establishes a method for tenants to file complaints with the city if landlords fail to supply them with minimum services such as working heat, basic appliances and repairs. It also requires landlords to register their rental properties with the city and pay an annual fee.
Bell Leasing claims the city of Laramie did not have the authority to implement the ordinance because it violates the Wyoming and U.S. Constitutions.
Initial ruling
In a judgment issued Aug. 1, Albany County 2nd Judicial District Judge Tori Kricken upheld the city’s right to create such an ordinance. But in a partial win for Bell Leasing, she also ruled the methods of enforcing this ordinance are unconstitutionally vague in their wording.
The ordinance states that if landlords fail to follow the requirements outlined in the regulations, tenants can file a complaint with the city, but only after giving the landlord 10 days written notice of the issue. Only 48 hours notice is required if the complaint involves a lack of essential services.
After conducting an investigation, the city manager may issue a notice with a time frame in which a landlord must make necessary repairs to the property, the ordinance says. Failure to do so could result in a fine of at least $100 a day past the deadline and revocation of the city rental license.
The court found multiple issues with wording in this section of the ordinance that leaves questions about what constitutes a violation and how penalties for violations will be issued.
It is unclear whether failure to comply with the city manager’s notice is a violation of the ordinance itself, Kricken wrote. She also noted that the ordinance fails to indicate whether municipal court hearings on these violations would be civil or criminal in nature, along with what rules and procedures would apply in this process.
The appeal
Now Bell Leasing is appealing the court’s decision, presumably to gain a more comprehensive rebuttal of the entire ordinance.
The notice of appeal filed Aug. 30 does not include arguments as to why the appeal has merit. It does note that transcripts from the initial ruling are not available, meaning this tool won’t be used in the appeal process.
Legal representatives for Bell Leasing from Brown & Hiser LLC did not respond to a request for comment.
The appeal will bring the case to the Wyoming Supreme Court. The city of Laramie has a limited number of days from the filing date of Aug. 30 to decide whether or not it will file a cross-appeal, said City Attorney Robert Southard.
While the Bell Leasing appeal is challenging the court’s decision to uphold the ordinance in whole, an appeal from the city would challenge the decision that the language outlining its enforcement as unconstitutional.
As of Monday, the city had not decided whether or not to file an appeal, Southard said.
As the legal process surrounding the ordinance continues, the city is still accepting rental housing registrations from landlords, Southard said. While the ordinance was set to go into effect Jan. 1, it is unclear whether or not that will happen.
“What would be going into effect is enforcement, and that is certainly up in the air given … where things are sitting in the supreme court,” Southard said.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/rental-company-appeals-ruling-on-housing-regs/article_1352e508-32c2-11ed-9c1a-93639684193f.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:08Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
Sheridan schools turn away more out-of-district requests
By Kristen Czaban
The Sheridan Press
Via Wyoming News Exchange
SHERIDAN — Sheridan County School District 1 has faced an unusual problem in recent years, with more individuals living outside the district wanting to attend school in Big Horn or Tongue River, but less space for those students to do so.
According to SCSD1 Superintendent Pete Kilbride, the district turned away approximately 25 students for the 2022-2023 school year, an increase from past years.
Kilbride said the increase is largely due to the increase in homes being built in Sheridan County.
“Big Horn schools see the largest request for out-of-district placement due to their proximity to Sheridan, but all of our schools have requests each year,” Kilbride said.
He added that 15 years ago, Big Horn Elementary was made up of 50% out-of-district students, and with the growth currently taking place, that percentage is down to about 30%.
Reasons for the high demand to attend schools outside of where families live vary.
Some parents, for example, work in SCSD1 but live in Sheridan. Other times, families seek a smaller school environment like those found in Big Horn or the Tongue River Valley.
“Many of the families that have moved in recently tour the various schools in the county, and if they came from a small town, they often feel more comfortable with a similar sized school,” Kilbride said. “We've asked for feedback and a 'family atmosphere' is often cited as one of the major factors for choosing to attend. People in Sheridan County are lucky to have such great schools to choose from across all three districts.”
In SCSD2, which includes Sheridan and Story, families from outside the district are asked to fill out an application to attend classes in the district. Rebecca Adsit, assistant superintendent at SCSD2, said the high caliber of academics, activities and athletics, often draws families to the larger school system.
The decision to turn students away that live outside the district, like what has been happening in SCSD1, is primarily based on class size.
“We try to keep our class sizes low so students can receive more personalized attention,” Kilbride said. “This is especially true at the elementary grade levels.
“Principals must look at the impact additional students will have in the classroom and once we are at the number we can comfortably serve, the class is capped,” he continued. “It's always hard to turn people away, but if we don't, the very reason they are wanting to come here (small school, small class sizes etc.) no longer exists.”
Kilbride said the state Legislature identifies a student/teacher ratio of 16:1 at the primary grades as ideal, and SCSD1 administrators try to keep numbers close to that.
Turning students away impacts more than the children, though. Districts are funded based in part on the number of children they serve. So when SCSD1 turns potential students away, it also turns away the dollars that come with them.
“But for schools in Sheridan County, it's not about the money, it's about being able to serve our students well,” Kilbride said. “We've had to turn kids away who have parents that work for us, or we can take one of their kids but not all of them because that grade is full. It's hard, but parents have been understanding.”
SCSD1, according to the State Construction Department School Facilities Division’s annual report and supplemental budget request, has seen a nearly 11% increase in brick-and-mortar enrollment between 2012 and 2021. In comparison, SCSD2 has seen an 8.5% increase and Sheridan County School District 3, located in Clearmont, has seen an increase of nearly 7%. Overall, the statewide average increase is 3.398%.
The Wyoming Department of Education compiles student enrollment data from each school district reports on Oct. 1 of each year, but administrators from local school districts have already shared anecdotally that numbers continue to climb.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/sheridan-schools-turn-away-more-out-of-district-requests/article_315814d0-3374-11ed-a5c6-771911c465bb.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:14Z
|
When it comes to election integrity, the only thing that really matters is that the will of the voters prevail.
But in Wyoming, some of those who most heartily defend the integrity of our elections can’t help but confuse the issue every few years when they are confronted with the fact that the will of the voters won’t always match their own.
It seems the Wyoming Legislature is again questioning the wisdom of voters when it comes to their choice for a statewide office, and before you could even say “disenfranchise,” they began plotting to erase the effects of your apparent poor judgment in last month’s Republican primary election.
Immediately after the votes were counted in the race for Wyoming’s suddenly vacant seat for secretary of state, some lawmakers were working feverishly to reverse the “mistake” we made in choosing state Rep. Chuck Gray over state Sen. Tara Nethercott.
Voters obviously made a mistake because a majority of legislators and other supposedly really important people in Wyoming politics had endorsed the losing candidate. Wyoming’s leaders simply can’t believe you ignored their wisdom and didn’t elect the candidate they told you to vote for.
A feverish effort was immediately launched to correct your error and recruit an independent to run against Gray in November’s General Election, but the chosen recruit objected to the idea.
Then the state’s political insiders began drafting legislation that would strip the secretary of state of the power to oversee elections by putting that power in the hands of an appointed “expert.”
Sound familiar?
The Wyoming Legislature has gone down this road before and been rebuffed by both the Wyoming Supreme Court and governor in the process, but they appear ready and willing to ignore the state Constitution and take yet another wild ride on the taxpayers’ dime.
It was less than 10 years ago, in the Powers vs. Mead case, that the Wyoming Supreme Court preserved the balance of power in Wyoming government by finding that the Wyoming Constitution prohibited the Legislature from passing laws that stripped powers from an elected member of the executive branch of state government — namely then Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill.
Hill had been elected over a state senator who had received a slew of endorsements from his counterparts in the Legislature and was supported by a number of other “really important people in Wyoming politics.” When Hill upset those plans and defeated their favorite colleague in the general election, the Legislature and Gov. Matt Mead responded by passing a bill (Senate File 104) that took away most of her authority and put the responsibility for running the department in the hands of an appointed director.
The state Supreme Court defended the voters’ right to choose our own leaders, but only after the well-being of Wyoming students was put on hold for a couple of years while the taxpayers picked up the tab for a costly court case to overturn the legislative power grab.
Earlier this year the Legislature again tried to ignore the constitution by stripping power away from the state treasurer you elected four years ago — and re-elected overwhelmingly last month.
Curt Meier was chosen in 2018 over a candidate who was endorsed by numerous legislators and “really important people in Wyoming politics,” and those legislators eventually scratched their itch by sneaking a little footnote into the massive 2022 budget bill that would have given much of the state treasurer’s power to an appointed CEO or COO.
Fortunately, Gov. Mark Gordon saved us the cost of the Supreme Court providing another constitutional lesson to the Legislature when he exercised his line-item veto to remove the offensive language from the bill — thus preserving the checks and balances that are an integral part of both Wyoming and America’s system of government.
Now, just a few months later, legislative leaders again think they need to save the voters of Wyoming from themselves.
In an ironic twist, legislators apparently feel Chuck Gray is not fit to serve as Wyoming’s chief election officer because he has been hesitant to accept the results of past elections. In an ultimate “do as I say, not as I do” maneuver, they want to assure the citizens of the integrity of our elections by replacing the man voters just chose to oversee elections.
And they wonder why “we the people” are angry and confused…
If our elected leaders want their constituents to accept the outcome of our elections, they should provide a better example of the practice themselves. When an election is over, they should immediately begin to work with the winning candidate, and support him or her in executing the duties of the office to the maximum benefit of the constituents they all serve.
Period.
And if the legislature truly wants the ability for a “mistake” by the voters to be fixed, then we suggest they give voters the power to fix those mistakes themselves — by drafting and passing a more functional recall provision for Wyoming elected officials and making sure that voters aren’t discouraged from using it.
But that is another editorial for another day.
Newcastle News Letter Journal
Sept. 9
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/editorials/sore-losers-in-the-wyoming-legislature/article_7f6fdc6c-338c-11ed-b8ac-e75309351eff.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:21Z
|
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – Three out of the four candidates for the Area 3 seat on the Laramie County School District 1 board are parents searching for change.
They have children who attend schools in Area 3, which closely aligns with the district’s Central triad. Many said during separate interviews this week it was their motivation to run.
“As a parent with three children in our school system, I have a vested interest in seeing our schools maximize the potential of each student,” incumbent Christy Klaassen told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. “The board also needs members who will be responsive and effective voices for families and the community. As a conservative, I feel that it is important to manage our resources responsibly and to plan for challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.”
Klaassen, 52, is one of two trustees seeking re-election in LCSD1. Trustee Rich Wiederspahn, 75, is campaigning in Area 2, also described as the East triad. There is another incumbent’s seat open after Marguerite Herman decided to run as a Democrat for the House District 11 seat in the Wyoming Legislature.
Twenty candidates filed to run for the board; 15 remain. Three dropped out of the Area 3 race, including Michelle Tonacchio, who announced she didn’t want to split conservative votes between herself and Klaassen.
Incumbent
Klaassen is part of a joint “vote conservative” campaign with trustee candidates Susan Edgerton, Hank Bailey and Brooke Humphrey in different areas. Klaassen said she believes she has added an “important conservative voice to the board, and I hope to continue that representation.”
This was Klaassen’s first term after her 2018 election. Her husband, Mark Klaassen, previously held the seat, and resigned in 2017 to become U.S. attorney for Wyoming. She applied to fill his open seat and wasn’t selected.
She moved to Cheyenne just over a decade ago from California, and got her introduction to LCSD1 schools while working as a substitute teacher. She is a Wyoming Community College Commission policy analyst.
Some accomplishments Klaassen cited in a statement were lifting COVID-19 mask requirements and “changing an unnecessarily restrictive quarantine policy,” reducing unnecessary expenditures and a ban on personal use of cellphones in class. She noted “removing unapproved materials that had been posted on the district website that include divisive content related to critical race theory.”
Her goals include a policy change for checking out library books, improving safety and security, and revisiting the decision to cut elementary school sports. She said she reluctantly made the decision based on a dire financial forecast.
“I want to also ensure the district remains focused on the basics of education, rather than cultural or political indoctrination,” she said. “It is concerning to me that so many of our institutions are being used to dictate a particular worldview or partisan viewpoints, when what we need to do is to fairly present issues and information and help children develop the skills necessary to think for themselves.”
New candidates
Melissa Therliault, 42, said she doesn’t believe Klaassen has been as big an advocate for her constituents’ desires as was expected. Therliault said her experience advocating for people with disabilities and an attorney who represents parents gives her a track record to get change.
“You create an echo chamber, and there’s no one there to tell you that you’ve gone too far,” she told the WTE. “I’ve never been afraid to say what is right, regardless of whether I win or lose.”
She was born and raised in Wyoming before moving to Nebraska after high school, and she returned to go to school at Casper College. She attended the University of Wyoming Law School, and she’s now a lawyer and a case manager for individuals with developmental disabilities.
She said she decided to run because she wants to ensure the best education for all students. She worries about the disconnect between low assessment scores and the graduation rate, and she wants to look at curriculum and how reading is taught.
“I’m looking forward to taking a hard look at the testing and figure out what is going on there, because the national rhetoric has been too controlling of our current school board,” she said. “I just want to focus on the Wyoming kids.”
Her complaints with the current board refer to a concentration on national issues. One of those topics is about books.
“Every parent has the right to say what books they think their child should have,” she said. “No parent has the right to tell me what book my child can’t have.”
Todd Reynolds, 48, is similarly critical of the LCSD1 trustees. He wants to see them follow board policy on ethics, which states that outside groups and political parties will not influence how trustees vote and conduct themselves.
“It’s guiding how they think, so those trustees have become more focused on party adherence than they have on the education of the 14,000 kids here,” he told the WTE.
Reynolds is a Cheyenne native who went to school in the Central triad and got his first teaching job in English at Central High School. He is now a UW assistant professor of secondary English education, and he received his doctoral degree in literacy education there.
“We have a fantastic district here. We have amazing teachers,” he said. “I just want to keep giving back to the community that gave me so much.”
He would refocus the board on issues important to the district, implementing the new strategic plan in the next few years, and making literacy education is a priority. He said his background in college student literacy will help him work with curriculum coordinators and teachers to make sure students are supported.
He said this wouldn’t be done through micromanaging, but rather communicating with district officials and getting the necessary materials.
“Arts education is another one that’s really important to me, and making sure we maintain our great arts program,” he said. “We have a wonderful instrumental program from fourth grade through high school. We have a great choir program, we have some amazing visual artists and visual art teachers.”
Tara Russell is a candidate for the Area 3 seat. She didn’t comment.
Area 2
Trustee Rich Wiederspahn didn’t respond in time to be included in WTE’s first article in this series. He reached out after it was published.
This was his first term on the board, and he has more than three decades of experience in public education, serving as a teacher, principal and central office administrator across the state. He moved to Cheyenne after accepting a position in the district as the assistant director of special education, and then as principal at Dildine Elementary.
He resigned to run for state superintendent of public instruction, and after losing, he was elected to the Cheyenne City Council. He then moved on to serve as an LCSD1 trustee for Area 2.
Wiederpahn said he can’t think of anything more important than kids’ education. He said he is proud of work he has done on the strategic plan, placing an emphasis on literacy and student readiness.
Meanwhile, “we were distracted by the mask issue. We were distracted by this issue of library books. We were distracted by the issues related to the National School Boards Association,” he said. “I’m not saying those things aren’t important, because they’re important to a lot of people, but I just think sometimes we devoted way too much time to them.”
He wants to continue implementing the district’s plan, to make significant progress in literacy for primary grades and to continue to get parents more involved with schools.
“The board really needs to specifically be focused on issues related to students, supporting teachers, creating healthy environments and engaging our community,” he said.
Jasmine Hall is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s state government reporter. She can be reached by email at jhall@wyomingnews.com or by phone at 307-633-3167. Follow her on Twitter @jasminerhphotos and on Instagram @jhrose25.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/elections/election_2022/central-triad-trustee-candidates-are-parents-looking-for-change/article_b9d7ca82-33b3-11ed-8ef7-53c91a70fa52.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:27Z
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Seven independents, seven Libertarians and three Constitution Party candidates will be on the ballot for the Legislature in November’s general election. It's the highest number of minor-party and unaffiliated candidates since at least 1998, according to Secretary of State records.
Those numbers align with recent election patterns, according to Jim King, a professor of political science at the University of Wyoming.
Most of these candidates are running in districts lacking a two-party competition. Some candidates say their choice to run outside the two-party system is in response to the statehouse’s declining decorum and a fractured supermajority Republican party.
Brenda Lyttle is running as an independent for House District 8, a new district encompassing much of North Cheyenne. Her sole opponent is Republican and former legislator Dave Zwonitzer, who served as a state representative from 2006-2016.
“I don’t have to worry about the party labels. I can just say, ‘Here’s me, here’s what I’m for,’” said Lyttle, who works as a private practice attorney. She previously worked for the Wyoming Department of Family Services, a job that introduced her to the Legislature.
“I saw a lot of work getting done and I saw Democrats and Republicans being able to work together,” Lyttle said. But name calling, dissension and party infighting have since gotten in the way of productivity, Lyttle said.
Lawmakers expressed concern this spring that despite spending more time and money to meet, they are passing fewer committee bills into law. During the 2022 budget session, 59% of introduced committee bills survived to become law — a 23-year low, according to the Legislative Service Office.
Teton County
Despite being a lifelong Republican, Bob Strobel said he’s running as an independent because of the political diversity of House District 22. Before redistricting, it included parts of Teton, Lincoln and Sublette counties. It now comprises parts of the first two.
As an independent, Strobel said he’ll be able to bring together progressive types from southern Teton County with Republicans closer to where he lives in Etna. While he sees his governing approach as less about his own political opinions and more about the will of voters, Strobel said there are some issues he won’t waiver on, like public lands. He does not support turning federal lands over to the state.
Strobel will face Republican Andrew Byron in the Nov. 8 general election.
Other independent candidates include Dan Brecht in House District 4, Todd Peterson in House District 5, Bruce Jones in House District 6 and Jeff Martin in House District 54.
After losing a Republican write-in campaign for Senate District 23, Patricia Junek will also run as an independent against Speaker of the House Eric Barlow, R-Gillette.
Barlow earned 3,355 votes in the primary election, while 814 were Republican write-ins. How many of those were for Junek is unknown, according to the Campbell County Clerk’s office, since write-ins were not processed when they did not exceed the number of votes for the candidate on the ballot.
Constitution Party
The Constitution Party of Wyoming was first organized in 2010. The 2022 general election will mark the most legislative candidates the group has ever had on a Wyoming ballot — one candidate running for the state Senate and two for the state House. All three candidates came to the party for the same reason, according to Chairman Jeff Haggit.
“They were disappointed, or upset or disillusioned, however you want to word it, with the Republican Party,” Haggit said. What sets his party apart from the GOP is a deeper commitment to “our God-given right of life, liberty and the ownership and control of property,” according to Haggit.
“We don’t try to test the winds of political change and maybe try to appease the general movement,” said Haggit, who feels the GOP has moved to the political left.
Overall, the Constitution Party’s numbers in the state have not changed significantly in the last couple of years, Haggit said, but he thinks this year marks the start of something.
The three Constitution candidates include Michael Ray Williams in Senate District 11, Matthew Freeman in House District 41 and Larry Williamson in House District 53.
Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party has made greater strides as a minor party in Wyoming in recent years.
In 2020, voters elected the first minor-party legislator in more than a century when Rep. Marshall Burt, L-Green River, beat incumbent Democrat Stan Blake for House District 39. Burt was also the first Libertarian anywhere in the country to win a state house race since 2002.
“Even with one of the most fiscally conservative voting records in the statehouse, I have built relationships with legislators with all ideologies to explore better ways forward,” Burt said in a July Facebook post.
During his first term, Burt was lead sponsor of Wyoming’s first “tri-partisan” piece of legislation. House Bill 81 – Operation of motorcycles-disabled persons, which is now law, updated motorcycle operation and equipment requirements to allow for use by persons with disabilities. Also a first, Barlow allowed Burt to form a caucus for the Libertarian Party during the 2022 session, despite being the body’s only member.
Burt will face Republican Cody Wylie in the general election.
Neither Burt nor the Libertarian Party of Wyoming commented.
Other Libertarian candidates include Patrick Gonzales in House District 15, Dennis Laughlin in House District 18, Misty Morris in House District 48, Carrie Satterwhite in House District 50, Bethany Baldes in House District 55 and Amanda Padilla in Senate District 17.
Libertarian and Constitution Party candidates are also in the running for governor and Wyoming’s U.S. House seat.
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/elections/record-number-of-independents-running-for-legislature/article_1ebff7ee-33c3-11ed-b55e-834b10793583.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:33Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
Laramie County School District 1 Administration Building, pictured April 27 in Cheyenne. Michael Smith/For the Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – The Laramie County School District 1 Math Department is holding a math tier 1 resources adoption at the kindergarten to 8th grade level. Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to participate in the adoption process by reviewing the prospective resources.
These are available for public review and receipt of public comments through Oct. 15. Materials will be available Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m to 4 p.m., in room 352 of the LCSD1 Administration Building located at 2810 House Ave.
Materials will also be available on the second floor of the Laramie County Library, located at 2200 Pioneer Ave. They will be there Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., as well as Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The resources and public comments will be collected on Oct. 16.
For more information about the K-6 materials, contact LCSD1 Elementary Math Coordinator Valerie Kerschner at 307-771-2499. For more information about the 7th and 8th grade materials, contact LCSD1 Secondary Math Coordinator Amy Kassel at 307-771-2454.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/lcsd1-seeks-comment-on-math-resources/article_c7da41a4-32d8-11ed-98aa-e3dc2f2e7e44.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:39Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
The Cheyenne Police Department is holding a Citizen’s Police Academy. Screenshot taken March 14 from CPD's website.
CHEYENNE – Registration for the Cheyenne Police Department's free Citizen’s Police Academy is now open.
The academy is an interactive program that takes citizens behind the scenes of the police department. It is designed to help increase awareness and understanding of how policing is conducted while strengthening the relationship between community members and police officers, according to a Monday news release from the CPD.
The program will take place Monday, Oct. 3, through Friday, Nov. 4. It will be at the Cheyenne Public Safety Center, 415 W. 18th St. The five-week academy will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will also be two Saturday field classes conducted for firearms and K-9 training.
The curriculum will include courses in constitutional law, criminal investigations, human trafficking and property crime. Additionally, students will learn about de-escalation and use of force, traffic enforcement, telecommunications/911 and vehicle pursuits. Several practical exercises will be conducted so that participants gain a working knowledge of the duties and responsibilities required to be a law enforcement officer in this city.
Applicants must be adults, agree to a background investigation, have a valid driver’s license and complete a waiver of liability. Citizens may apply online by going to cheyennepd.org/CPA.
Registration will be open from Monday, Sept. 12, through Monday, Sept. 26, or whenever the first 30 valid applicants sign up.
For more information, contact CPD Public Information Officer Alex Farkas at 307-637-6537, or afarkas@cheyennepd.org.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/cheyenne-pd-citizen-s-police-academy-registration-now-open/article_156d3aa8-32c9-11ed-8fa0-83f557d82f4d.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:45Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
1 of 2
State Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, sits at his desk on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, at the Capitol. Also that day, the House voted against advancing an action to look into his address in terms of where he resides. Rhianna Gelhart/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
State Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, sits at his desk on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, at the Capitol. Also that day, the House voted against advancing an action to look into his address in terms of where he resides. Rhianna Gelhart/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Screenshot from a YouTube video uploaded to Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove’s campaign website, July 21, 2021.
CHEYENNE – In its last piece of business in a two-day meeting, the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Tuesday afternoon to sponsor a bill clarifying the necessary qualifications for district attorneys in the state, as well as county and prosecuting attorneys.
A draft addressing this subject was suggested by Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, at the committee’s May meeting in Lander. At the time, Zwonitzer referenced the ongoing disciplinary proceedings involving Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove and her potential suspension or disbarment. If either of these were to occur, Manlove would not be able to practice law for at least a time, preventing her from carrying out vital functions, Zwonitzer said.
Wyoming statute 9-1-802(b) currently requires district attorneys to “have been a licensed attorney for at least four years and a member in good standing of the Wyoming State Bar immediately prior to his election.” Immediately following, the new bill would add: “Each district attorney shall be a licensed attorney and a member in good standing of the Wyoming State Bar throughout the term of office for which the district attorney was elected or appointed.”
Lawmakers also approved an amendment that would modify state statute 18-3-301(a). It would add that county and prosecuting attorneys must also be in good standing “at the time of his nomination and election and during his term of office,” and not only “a member of the bar of this state,” as that statute currently says.
A county and prosecuting attorney serves as the top prosecutor in 21 of Wyoming’s 23 counties. Only Laramie and Natrona counties have a district attorney.
There was no further discussion of the bill draft, nor was there any public comment.
Formal charges filed last year with the Wyoming State Bar alleged DA Manlove had mishandled the prosecution of cases and inappropriately dismissed certain cases, and that she created a hostile work environment.
Following an eight-day disciplinary hearing in February, a three-person panel chosen from the Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility recommended Manlove lose her ability to practice law in Wyoming. The BPR is the hearing body for attorney discipline in the state.
The Wyoming Supreme Court will ultimately decide on any consequences. The high court heard oral arguments on Aug. 17.
Manlove, who is not running for re-election, rejects the idea that disbarment would not remove her from her elected position as DA.
In its official recommendation to the state Supreme Court, the disciplinary panel said that, “once elected, Wyoming law does not require a district attorney to be licensed and in good standing with the (Bar).” It said Manlove’s assertion that she would be removed from office following a suspension or disbarment was “evidence of (Manlove’s) fundamental lack of understanding of the law governing her position as Laramie County district attorney.”
Hannah Black is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s criminal justice reporter. She can be reached at hblack@wyomingnews.com or 307-633-3128. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahcblack.
Hannah Black is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s criminal justice reporter. She can be reached at hblack@wyomingnews.com or 307-633-3128. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahcblack.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/committee-to-sponsor-bill-on-da-prosecuting-attorney-qualifications/article_27104a88-33bf-11ed-ad9c-2714183532b6.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:52Z
|
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – A draft bill to create specific offenses for assault, threat of violence and battery against health care providers failed a Tuesday vote.
Wyoming’s Joint Judiciary Committee rejected the measure. Testimony said incidences of such violence have increased in recent years. Witnesses sought stronger penalties.
After lengthy discussion, the committee entered five “yes” and eight “no” votes. It had requested the Legislative Service Office draft such a bill at the committee’s last meeting, in Lander in May.
The proposal used the same definitions of assault and battery currently in Wyoming law, as well as the penalties. Simple assault – an attempt to cause bodily injury – or a threat of violence against a health care worker would have been a misdemeanor punishable with a fine up to $750. Battery – “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly” causing another person bodily injury by using physical force – against a health care worker would have been a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months of incarceration and up to $750.
This would have required an offender to have “reasonably” known a person was a health care provider, and the provider must have been “performing duties within the scope of his authority or employment as a health care provider” during the incident.
Josh Hannes, vice president of the Wyoming Hospital Association, and others voiced concern that Wyoming not having this new law may put the state at a disadvantage for recruitment. The industry is struggling to fill existing positions, the committee heard.
Between January 2021 and June 2022, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services received 121 workers’ compensation claims following an alleged attack in a health care setting, according to Hannes.
Lisa Harry said that before she was a member of the Campbell County Health Board, she worked in emergency services.
“I’ve been spit on, I’ve been pushed, kicked, knocked over, had a lot of that, and, like I say, you expect that. But these kinds of incidents have increased so much that I have to question: Is this enough?” Harry testified. “We aren’t protecting our workers.”
Harry and others mentioned recent incidents, including a lab technician punched in the leg by a patient while drawing blood. Harry said an off-duty law enforcement officer become angry at a hospital and began throwing things at a nurse.
“We need to impose stronger penalties and send a message to these people who come in to emergency services, into the hospital, and knowingly and purposefully abuse our workers,” Harry continued. “It’s bad enough that we can’t get enough nurses, but to have people coming in there and fear for their safety ... The hospital should be their first place for safety.”
She added that state laws should also protect first responders like EMTs, as well as people like hospital receptionists, who are often the first to encounter patients.
CRMC
Tracy Garcia is the chief nursing officer at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. She said that even CRMC’s “very robust security program ... is not deterring people from misbehavior in our organization.”
Within four months, the local hospital saw 25 incidents of violence by patients, Garcia said. There were physical assaults and others involved 12 verbal threats, “a lot of them including threat of life.” Garcia and others said these incidents increasingly don’t involve substances or mental health conditions.
When asked about the rate of prosecution of these violent incidents, Garcia said it had seemingly been low in recent years.
Stakeholders argued health care workers should be afforded similar protections as law enforcement. Harry said such medical employees aren’t trained before they enter the workforce to deal with violence, and they don’t carry weapons.
Concerns
Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, said he’s concerned about the possibility of someone being “brought up on charges for looking at somebody wrong.”
“I’m worried about that bar being so low it’ll turn into, I’ll use the word, a ‘woke’ situation, where it’s perceived incorrectly,” the senator said.
Hannes and others rejected this idea, saying that the threats they’d encountered or heard from patients or patients’ families had been “explicit threats of violence.”
Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, and some other lawmakers had said they may not support this bill, because this penalty seemed unlikely to reduce violence.
Although states have recently enacted similar laws, Hannes said this type of legislation is too new to have sufficient data on whether it works. He added that such a law in Wyoming would simply be “a piece of braided initiatives.”
While the state doesn’t currently require health care facilities to have violence prevention programs in place, many do, Hannes said, and federal legislation is currently moving through congressional committees.
Backers
Some lawmakers favor the legislation.
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, said Wyoming seems “to be the only state that doesn’t have any type of, let’s say, enhancement or acknowledgment of violence toward people in the health care industry.”
“Some enhancement is appropriate (and) necessary,” Zwonitzer said.
An amendment by Rep. Ember Oakley, R-Riverton, to increase the penalty for battery to up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine, was widely supported by committee members. This is the same consequence as interference with a peace officer.
Sen. R.J. Kost, R-Powell, said such a law is “the right thing to do” and it bothers him someone could be cited for such an offense and “walk away.”
Hannah Black is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s criminal justice reporter. She can be reached at hblack@wyomingnews.com or 307-633-3128. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahcblack.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/committee-votes-down-specific-penalty-for-violence-against-health-care-workers/article_f5ebb584-33a3-11ed-b5a8-2f162fb871a9.html
| 2022-09-14T14:01:58Z
|
...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
Councilwoman Jessica Sell Chambers from Jackson. Courtesy photo
JACKSON (WNE) – St. John’s Health could break ground on a new 15-unit apartment building for hospital employees in Jackson this year.
The Jackson Town Council voted unanimously last week to approve the hospital’s three-story Karns Apartment Building development plan. The modern gray and white building will sit on 0.34 acres of vacant land at the corner of South King Street and East Karns Avenue, catty-cornered from StillWest Brewery and Grill.
The 15 units are intended to be rented to hospital staff, St. John’s Chief Communications Officer Karen Connelly told the Jackson Hole Daily.
There will be five studio units and 10 2-bedroom units, with three apartments that will be deed-restricted for the Teton County workforce. This means that even if the ownership changed hands, three apartments will still have to be occupied by people who work at least 30 hours a week in Teton County, among other restrictions.
The workforce units will include one studio and two 2-bedroom apartments.
The hospital will be able to build an extra 8,169 square feet beyond what’s typically allowed in the high density neighborhood zone. This is because the plan includes the three workforce deed restrictions under a regulation that exchanges more density for restrictions intended to make housing more accessible to local workers.
The project also will generate $39,715 for affordable housing through a mitigation fee paid by the developer.
While the project got councilors’ approval, it also brought up bigger questions about the direction of development in Jackson. Of the three units deed restricted as workforce housing, Councilor Jessica Sell Chambers said, “Thank you, I just think we can do better.”
The units aren’t “capital ‘A’ affordable,” she said, meaning they’ll never be restricted to people making less money.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/jackson-hospital-ready-to-build-15-apartments-for-its-employees/article_069b6d9a-33c0-11ed-97d9-3bd120dccbb5.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:04Z
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Recently arrested by the Cheyenne Police Department:
Tina M. Dawes, 46, transient, for misdemeanor duty upon colliding w/unattended vehicle/property and public intoxication at 7:48 p.m. Saturday at Rock Springs Street and Amber Trail.
Christopher P. Espinoza, 41, of Rollins Avenue for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and driving without an interlock device at 4:21 p.m. Saturday at South Arp Avenue and West Jefferson Road.
Justin A. Rhodes, 28, of Cheyenne (address redacted) for misdemeanor domestic battery at 2:30 a.m. Saturday in Cheyenne (address redacted).
Anne M. Mawk, 34, transient, for misdemeanor disturbing the peace/property at 5:06 p.m. Friday in the 1300 block of West 17th Street.
Joseph J. Carrera, 51, of West Sixth Street for felony endangering a child (methamphetamine use), misdemeanor driving under the influence (controlled substance with child passenger) and driving without a valid license at 4 p.m. Friday at West Sixth Street and O’Neil Avenue.
Lena M. Carrera, 38, of West Sixth Street for felony endangering a child (methamphetamine use), misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine/amphetamine-type drug and possession of marijuana at 2:39 p.m. Friday at West Sixth Street and O’Neil Avenue.
Christopher L. Grant, 22, of West Lincolnway on a misdemeanor warrant for probation violation at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the 1400 block of West Lincolnway.
Melissa D. Goodwine, 53, of Thomes Avenue on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to pay at 6:30 a.m. Friday in the 2300 block of West Lincolnway.
Kelvyn W. Curby, 23, of Darnell Place for misdemeanor DUI (alcohol, second in 10 years), headlights required (conditions and time) and possession of marijuana (greater than 1/4 oz.) at 1:56 a.m. Friday at Powderhouse Road and Prairie Avenue.
Patrick D. Ramos, 57, of Torrington on a felony hold for community corrections rejection at 4:25 p.m. Thursday at Cheyenne Transitional Center, 322 W. 17th St.
Ricky J. Scott, 50, transient, for misdemeanor public intoxication at 12:25 p.m. Thursday at West 22nd Street and Pioneer Avenue.
Tyson J. Smith, 34, transient, on a felony warrant for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon at 12 p.m. Thursday in the 1700 block of Fleischli Parkway.
Brandon C. Serini, 37, of East 19th Street on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 8 a.m. Thursday at Missile Drive and Westland Road.
Jarrod S. Toutjian, 32, of East Sixth Street for misdemeanor domestic battery at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday in Cheyenne (address redacted).
Susan G. Sargent, 67, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant out of Weld County, Colorado, for failure to appear at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of West Sixth Street.
Amanda M. Miller, 40, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant out of Fort Collins, Colorado, for contempt of court/failure to comply at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday at the Cheyenne-Laramie County probation and parole office, 1934 Wyott Drive.
Malikai J. McKinzie, 20, of Ridgeland Street on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 11:54 a.m. Wednesday at East Fifth Street and Interstate 180.
Aaron B. Kelley, 46, transient, on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for bond violation at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday in the 3900 block of East Pershing Boulevard.
William H. Hill, 66, of East Lincolnway for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a felony; misdemeanor destruction of property (less than $1,000); and reckless endangering with a firearm at 3 a.m. Wednesday in the 2000 block of East Lincolnway.
Dennis B. Keding, 58, transient, for misdemeanor violation of a temporary protection order at 12:39 a.m. Wednesday at Ridge Road and East Lincolnway; and by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Laramie County jail.
Meliyo D. Lovato, 18, of Riverton for felony motor vehicle theft (greater than $1,000), misdemeanor fleeing/eluding and reckless driving at 12:26 a.m. Wednesday at West Fifth Street and O’Neil Avenue.
Connor L. Cathcart, 23, of Carpenter for misdemeanor DUI (alcohol, first in 10 years) at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday in the 2500 block of East Lincolnway.
n
Recently arrested by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office:
Nicomedes A. Limache, 54, of Murray Road for misdemeanor domestic battery at 7:22 p.m. Sunday at his residence.
Latasha M. Gladden, 40, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 5:32 p.m. Friday in the 12000 block of Interstate 80 Service Road.
Danielle L. Anderson, 46, of Lafayette, Indiana, on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for probation violation at 11:15 a.m. Friday at the Laramie County jail, 1910 Pioneer Ave.
Nicolas J. Ossipoff, 35, of Happy Jack Road for felony possession of schedule I and II narcotics at 5:44 p.m. Thursday at his residence.
Shawna M. Ornelaz, 45, of Christine Circle on a misdemeanor warrant for probation violation at 12:20 p.m. Thursday at the Laramie County jail.
George E. Wederski, 40, of Christine Circle on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply at 4:15 a.m. Thursday at the Laramie County jail.
Joe B. Jaure, 42, of 27th Street on misdemeanor warrants for failure to comply and domestic battery at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday at the Laramie County Governmental Complex, 309 W. 20th St.
Isiah C. Lambert-Martin, 18, of South Greeley Highway on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 1:50 p.m. Wednesday at the Laramie County jail.
Robert W. Jahn, 41, of Wyoming (address redacted) for misdemeanor domestic battery (less than five years since last conviction) at 7:51 a.m. Wednesday in Cheyenne (address redacted).
Thomas Cisneros, 22, of Cribbon Avenue for misdemeanor DUI (alcohol) at 12:17 a.m. Wednesday in the 1600 block of South Greeley Highway.
n
Recently arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol:
Luis R. Ochoa Magana, 38, of Yakima, Washington, for felony possession of a schedule I controlled substance, felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, felony conspiracy to deliver controlled substances and felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance (greater than 3 grams) at 9:10 p.m. Sunday at mile marker 363 on eastbound Interstate 80.
Jsocorro Mendoza Dimas, 37, of Turlock, California, for felony possession of a schedule I controlled substance, felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, felony conspiracy to deliver controlled substances and felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance (greater than 3 grams) at 8:34 p.m. Sunday at mile marker 363 on eastbound Interstate 80.
Alioune Ndiaye, 18, of Manhattan, New York, for felony theft (possession of stolen property), misdemeanor open container violation and possession of alcohol under the age of 21 at 9:26 p.m. Saturday at mile marker 21 on southbound Interstate 25.
Daouda C. Cisse, 20, of New York, New York, for felony theft (greater than $1,000) at 9:25 p.m. Saturday at mile marker 21 on southbound I-25.
Mamadou D. Barry, 19, of New York, New York, for misdemeanor driving under suspension, speeding (104 mph in a 75 mph zone), open container violation and possession of alcohol under the age of 21 at 9:20 p.m. Saturday at mile marker 21 on southbound Interstate 25.
Dana Costa, 36, of Coos Bay, Oregon, for felony theft and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance (3 oz. or less) at 9 p.m. Wednesday at mile marker 16 on southbound I-25.
Shaun Prough, 36, of Wiley, Colorado, for felony theft and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance (3 oz. or less) at 9 p.m. Wednesday at mile marker 16 on southbound I-25.
Police blotter is a list of recent arrests compiled from public records in Laramie County. All people listed here are innocent until proven guilty. Anyone listed who has a charge dismissed or is acquitted of the charge may bring or mail a court document proving such to the WTE editor, 702 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/police_blotter/police-blotter-9-14-22/article_e783112e-32bb-11ed-9b9a-0bb524dfb689.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:10Z
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I have been writing and rewriting this in my head for many months. Almost as long as you have been practicing for your bar mitzvah.
I am so proud of you that this column will be hard to write in a way that is not 100% corny and trite. I think my feelings could be summarized in the fact that a family member said I was glowing today while looking at you go through this rite of passage.
Your mom and I definitely were glowing on the inside, as well as with how you handled yourself – both today and in the period of time leading up to this.
What has particularly impressed me is that when you started your religious journey to become an adult in the eyes of Jewish law, you approached it with critical thinking. So much so that you were completely skeptical, if not outright cynical, about both the process and the outcome.
Back when we rescheduled your bar mitzvah to be held today (the date this opinion column was written, this past weekend), delaying it for a year earlier in the pandemic, you would often say you did not even believe in God. Although I do not think you used these exact words, it seemed like what you were describing was yourself as a cultural-only Jew. Essentially, a nonbeliever.
One thing I absolutely love about Judaism is that it leaves a lot of room for just this sort of questioning and religious exploration. I have always felt that a person could be Jewish and yet not really believe in any sort of all-powerful being that at least sometimes has been pulling the strings of the world. So, while it might have been a little disconcerting to hear you declare with such certainty that you were not a believer and did not expect to become one, I also viewed it as part of your maturation process.
I wish I could point to exactly when you seemed to essentially suspend your cynicism about Judaism and to just kind of go with the bar-mitzvah-practicing flow. I think at the earlier stages of your preparation work, progress did not come easy. Both your mom and I often felt like it was a tug-of-war just for you to learn the necessary prayers, and especially the passage of the Torah and a related holy text that you just now have read in front of our congregation in Washington, D.C.
Maybe, in your case, becoming a bar mitzvah was about at least temporarily suspending your antagonism toward this process of learning. You surely did not toss critical thinking aside. I would hear you having spirited discussions with your Hebrew and religious teachers about Jewish ethics and norms.
As today approached, especially as soon as you moved to Cheyenne from Washington, you really became a lot more serious about this entire endeavor. You were more likely to discuss what you were practicing and the rationale in our religion for this than you were to discuss your potential atheism. It was a gradual transition – yet also one that traced a sort of arc from cynic to skeptic to ardent student.
There were times when you would finish working with one of our two rabbis from back home, and I could tell you felt a sense of accomplishment. To be sure, there were other occasions when you also seemed frustrated.
Nonetheless, and most important, you kept at it. You really became dedicated to doing a good job.
I said at the outset of this that I might get corny at times. I think that you showed yourself, and I know that you showed your parents and your larger family, as well as the community, that practice really does make perfect. Truly, in this instance, you did perform flawlessly. Even if it would not have been flawless, you still would have been able to look back at your hard work and say to yourself that it paid off.
As I said to you during the service, becoming a bar mitzvah is an accomplishment that no one can take away from you. People told me the same thing three decades ago when I, too, went through a similar experience as you. I don’t think I believed it at the time.
Now, however, I look back at my bar mitzvah, and it really is a milestone for me.
Of course, I cannot say for sure how you might end up looking back on today in many years’ time.
What I do know is that I will always feel intensely proud of you for what you accomplished, not just today, but over your years of Jewish learning.
Your maternal grandfather and your paternal grandmother, who both died during the course of your studies, would likewise have been proud. You incorporated their spirit into the bar mitzvah service. By using the prayer shawl of your late grandfather, you had a literal piece of him.
Both he and your late "Grandmom Belle" would have appreciated the person you have become. I cannot wait to see who you will grow into.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/my-side-of-the-story-a-column-for-my-son/article_00edf286-33a3-11ed-8379-7f9470bd1ae6.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:16Z
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The residents of Cheyenne demonstrated their compassion recently with an outpouring of generosity that should make us all proud.
Food insecurity is an existing and growing concern in our community, with 11% of households in Laramie County struggling with it. The number increases to 14% for households with children.
Recognizing this situation, an assemblage of service clubs (Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, Rotaract and Zonta) came together to hold a food drive to fill the shelves of three local food pantries: the Laramie County Community College student pantry, the food pantry at Needs Inc. and the pantry at Veterans’ Rock. The event was successful beyond all expectations, due to the overwhelming generosity of the Cheyenne community. A heartfelt thank you is offered to all who supported this critical need in our community.
Two important lessons were learned as a result of this joint community service project. The first is that we need to find a way to address the growing problem of food insecurity. Our community food drive collected an estimated six or more tons of nonperishable food. Yet, the six or more tons of food collected – an amount which is unfathomable to the average person – is a small percentage of the food distributed annually to individuals and families by Cheyenne’s large and small pantries. It won’t be long before the overflowing shelves of some of these pantries will again be bare.
First lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative has done amazing work throughout the state to raise awareness about hunger. As awareness is raised, our community has been very generous in supporting our friends and neighbors in need. One of many heartfelt stories from the food drive involved a man who could only afford to donate one dollar, but wanted “to do something.”
Yet, we must not stop or become complacent in our support. The little free pantries are emptied almost as quickly as they are filled. Friday Food Bags provides 1,100 bags each week to children in 39 schools who might otherwise not have a weekend meal. Hundreds of families are fed each week from the larger pantries associated with Needs, St. Joseph’s Church and Element Church. The support needed from individuals and local businesses will grow as government support (such as COVID-related grants) expire.
Until a longer-term, more global solution is found, please donate to or volunteer to help at the pantry of your choice as you can. We heard numerous stories during our food drive from individuals who recall being a “starving student” or whose family was helped by one of the pantries. There was immense gratitude for the safety net that is provided by these resources.
The second lesson learned is what can be accomplished when service clubs work together. The food drive involved a diverse collection of clubs. With each club focusing some of its efforts on this singular project, we were able to achieve a greater good for our community than any one individual or group likely would have achieved on its own.
Membership in service clubs has declined precipitously in America over the past few decades. There are a number of theories as to the reasons for this decline, including a popular one that surmises that people aren’t as interested in meeting as they are in doing. In other words, many people are interested in helping their neighbors, friends and community, but for a variety of reasons, have rejected the concept of joining clubs. As people become more aware of the work being done by local service clubs, it is my hope that the benefits of participating in one of these entities will be reconsidered.
Service club members do a tremendous amount of work and raise substantial amounts of money for projects to help with the betterment of our community and the lives of its citizens. Along the way, these volunteers learn leadership and communication skills that will help them in all aspects of life.
Our recent experience shows that we are better together, and that many hands make light work. As you ponder your passion and your skills, please think about what you might bring to an existing service club to help make our community a better place.
Meanwhile, planning has begun on how to make our 2023 joint service club community food drive even bigger and better. Whether you join us in the planning or buy one can (or a bag full) of food to donate, we hope to see you there!
Denise Parrish is a member of the Zonta Club of Cheyenne, and was one of dozens of volunteers who assisted with the 2022 Cheyenne community joint service club food drive. She is also an active member of the Zonta of Cheyenne Foundation, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Foundation, and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/parrish-cheyenne-service-clubs-combine-efforts-to-help-the-hungry/article_1ee1ecde-33a3-11ed-aae9-3b440bf0be2f.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:23Z
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Drivers beware! A dimpled white asteroid crashed into the windshield of my car while I was driving on Central Avenue on the Friday before Labor Day (Sept. 2) around 3 p.m.
The incident took place a few hundred feet west of the entrance to the Airport Golf Course. The point of impact was right in front of the steering wheel. Thanks to the laminated construction of modern windshields, it didn’t go all the way through, but it did leave a crater about an inch deep and a pattern of cracks denser than a spider web.
I pulled over, got out of my car and brushed off the tiny shards of glass that landed in my lap. I looked around for the asteroid, but my search was unsuccessful.
I was hoping to find an object from outer space, but my hunch is that whatever I had the close encounter with was launched into orbit from the golf course. If you happened to have hit a golf ball toward the road at the time and location mentioned above, don’t worry, I’m OK. I have stimulated the local economy by having a new windshield installed in my car, and I’m back on the road.
It would be great to get reimbursed for the repairs, but instead of going through the hassle of trying to track down whoever has a horrible golf swing, all I ask is that you do a favor for all of us brave motorists out and about on the roads; get yourself a good golf coach. We would all appreciate it greatly.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/dimpled-white-asteroid-hits-mans-windshield-helps-stimulate-economy/article_ded987f0-33a7-11ed-886e-e3e004d475c6.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:29Z
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Cost estimates for the proposed Alkali Creek Dam in Big Horn County have jumped to more than double the original $35 million price tag.
It will take some $70 million to $75 million to build the dam and reservoir, the interim director of the Wyoming Water Development Office told legislators at an August committee meeting in Afton. The anticipated cost has already jumped once — from $35 million to $59 million in 2020. The Legislature appropriated that amount for the project.
Now the price has been revised upward again.
“Obviously, we’re going to need other funding,” Jason Mead told members of the Select Water Committee last month. “To move forward, we really need to figure out the funding first.”
To cover the increase, the office will likely apply for federal funds, Mead said. The probable source is the Bureau of Reclamation’s Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects Program, he wrote in an email.
Wyoming could be eligible for $15 million to $20 million from that grant program, Mead said. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided a boost to that federal program.
Alkali Creek would be built from scratch on an intermittent stream in the Bighorn Basin above Hyattville. The reservoir would also use water diverted from Paint Rock and Medicine Lodge Creeks.
As originally envisioned, the dam would be 108 feet high and 2,600 feet long. It would impound 7,994 acre-feet over 294 acres, although there’s a possibility it could be designed to impound another 900 acre-feet, Mead said.
Irrigators would be responsible for paying back $2.1 million in loans, a figure that remains unchanged despite the increase in anticipated costs.
Complex geology, escalating costs
The original estimate for the dam’s cost increased as a result of studies that revealed complex underlying geology and poor embankment material, among other factors. Increasing construction costs also factor in, as they have at a neighboring dam enlargement proposal that stalled after the Water Development Commission rejected the sole, high-priced bid.
That happened earlier this year when the commission rejected a $70-million bid to expand the Upper Leavitt Reservoir, originally estimated to cost $39 million. Inflation, high fuel prices, a COVID-19-restrained supply line and a paucity of workers combined to increase the anticipated cost, lawmakers said.
The Shell Valley Watershed Improvement District is also planning to apply to the BOR program for funding, Mead said.
The Leavitt Reservoir is north of Shell. The proposed Alkali Dam is to its south.
Plans are to rebid the Leavitt project, possibly breaking the construction program into several smaller bid packages to encourage competition, Mead said. No timeline has been set for that, however.
Meantime the state is facing challenges securing necessary easements for the Alkali Dam. Problems have arisen for land under part of the planned reservoir pool and portions of existing ditches that would be enlarged to fill the pool.
“We’ve got new landowners that have moved into the area,” Mead told the Select Water Committee last month. “Some people sold and some people, new people, moved in that weren’t familiar with the project, and it’s been a bit challenging to bring everybody up to speed.”
Landowners who are reluctant are “generally not in favor of easements” or are worried about potential impacts to their property, Mead wrote. Some of their property is irrigated from the two creeks that would be tapped to fill the reservoir but are above the dam’s outlet and wouldn’t specifically benefit from reservoir water.
Project proponents are working to evaluate alternatives that would minimize impacts or provide offsetting benefits, Mead said. “We’re trying to help folks understand that we’re not here to impact their operation, we’re there to keep it whole, if not improve it,” he told the committee.
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/cost-of-proposed-alkali-dam-has-doubled-to-70m/article_f6e48fee-32a2-11ed-95e9-f3f995210b28.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:35Z
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“During COVID, when my two children were attending school online, I began to realize just how much of an impact technology has on children,” Dr. Lisa Strohman said at the beginning of her recent presentation at Davis Middle School. “I’m not against technology — I use it — but there is appropriate use and there is inappropriate use.”
Dr. Strohman was invited by Uinta County School District No. 1 and its Project AWARE Program to give a presentation titled “Parenting in a Tech Addicted World” first to middle and high school students during the day, and then to parents and family during the evening.
Strohman is a clinical psychologist who established Digital Citizen Academy to proactively prevent and educate students, educators and parents on the issues resulting from technology use.
She currently has a private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, and lives in Kave Creek, Arizona.
While in graduate school, Strohman worked with the FBI Honors Internship Program and eventually practiced law for a time before deciding that psychology was her strongest calling. Her area of specialty in psychology is to work with tweens, teens and adults who are suffering the adverse effects of technology overuse.
Strohman is the author of two books: “Unplug: Raising Kids in a Technology Addicted World” and, more recently, “Digital Distress: Growing Up Online” co-authored with Melissa J. Westendorf.
“We used to have a more stable environment influencing our children, family, school, church,” Strohman said, “and then 10 years ago, technology boomed and our kids are now being influenced by strangers.”
As an example of the effects of tech on family relationships, Strohman showed a video that demonstrated some negatives of technology use. The video showed a family sitting down to dinner and the mother asking the children to talk about their day at school. The father is on his cellphone but pretends to be listening by responding to the children’s comments, however inappropriately. At one point the teenage daughter, who is frustrated with her father’s responses, responds to his question about what she plans to do that evening by stating she is going to go to the basement to cook up some meth. The father’s response is that he thinks that is nice; it is evident he hasn’t listened to a word the daughter said.
Strohman said her presentation included a review of information on technology, learning the psychology behind the concerns and providing steps parents can take to protect their children from the negative effects of tech overuse.
“A lot has changed as to what we call addiction in today’s world,” Strohman said. “Studies show that teens today spend an average of 14 hours a day on tech. Children are gaining access to all kinds of technology at a much younger age — the average age for getting a first tech device is 7. Juveniles today have never known a world without tech.”
She then read current statistics regarding the negative use of tech and the results on children.
Statistics from 2021 show a 51% increase in suicide and self-harm among teens; one in six teens self-harm. Suicide is the leading cause of death for adolescents, she said, adding that 80% of children under the age of 18 are exposed to cyberbullying and shaming messages. Self-harm and the reporting of suicidal thoughts have increased by 225% in elementary and middle schools, and tech addiction contributes to a limited capacity for self-regulation.
“In my 20 years’ experience as a psychologist,” Strohman said, “I’ve discovered that kids just want to be noticed. They have a lot of anxiety about what to do with their feelings and when they self-harm; after the initial pain, they say they get a ‘runner’s high.’ That adrenalin rush can lead to more self harm.”
Strohman’s presentation showed a mass of social media sites and when she asked the young people in the audience how many knew a majority of the sites, most of them raised their hands.
Strohman then asked how many ever read the terms of service of any of the sites — no one raised their hand.
“There is no such thing as a secret app,” Strohman said. “All of these sites are shared and when you put something on one site, they have the right to share with anyone and can do whatever they want with the information. All sites can be used unsafely and can also be used safely.”
Strohman went over a paragraph in the “terms of service” from one of the social media sites which stated that the site can sell, share, change or do anything they want with the information placed on the site. As long as the person is 13 years of age, she said, the industry has automatic access to everything.
Strohman said she lists her two children’s ages as younger than they are on sites they use, so they are better protected, listing them as younger than 13 on tech sites.
TikTok is owned by a Chinese company, she said, and an interesting fact is that children in China are not allowed on TikTok.
She said the U.S. is more lenient regarding rules on technology than any other country.
Children under the age of 13 are not allowed access to SnapChat, and Strohman said it is the social media platform that traffickers use the most to find victims.
“An interesting fact about (Mark) Zuckerberg, who started Facebook, is that 10 years ago, he manipulated emotions on Facebook just to see if he could,” Strohman said. “Addiction is by design; it is intended; that is how these sites make money.”
Brain studies done with an MRI show the brain is damaged by overuse of tech, Strohman explained.
In teens with internet addiction, there is decreased functional brain connectivity and microstructure abnormalities. Studies show that tech addiction actually changes the brain.
An audience member asked at what age a child should get his or her own cell phone.
Strohman said that, in her opinion, a child should not receive a personal cell phone before reaching the eighth grade, and it should be monitored.
“The issue is that elementary students need to learn choices, and parents and teachers need to talk to them about this information,” Strohman said. “Ask your child about what is happening at school; monitor their tech time and what they are watching; search your own sites and your family sites at least once a month and clean off unwanted information. Have on-going conversations with your children about technology use.”
Strohman pointed to a triangle on a projector screen.
“Resilience is the triangle of well-being,” she said. “Resilience is the important connection between the mind, the brain and relationships that fosters well-being.”
At the earlier meeting with middle school and high school students, Strohman covered many of the same facts and warned them of the terms of service of social media sites.
She began by sharing her own personal history of an unstable home life, surviving bouts of homelessness, abuse and neglect. Strohman said her grandmother was the stable influence in her life and encouraged her to pursue education to better her life.
When she asked the teens how many had friends who had shared a personal photo, nearly all raised their hands and, when she asked how many read the terms of service on sites, they all responded with “no.”
“I understand why teens post things online,” Strohman said. “They don’t want to be left out; they may send something to their boyfriend because they don’t want to lose the relationship; or they are pressured into doing it by friends.”
Strohman talked about the dangers of human trafficking sites, child pornography and child sexual abuse materials online and then showed a video of a true story of a young girl who had shared a very personal photo of herself with her boyfriend who, in turn, shared it with his friends and it went viral. The young woman tried to get it removed to no avail and eventually was bullied, became depressed and took her own life.
“Just remember, whatever you post becomes your digital footprint,” Strohman said. “Remember, human relationships are not Hollywood TikTok; reality is hard. Talk to counselors and your parents before posting anything online. The past is behind you, learn from it. The future is ahead — prepare for it. The present is here — live it. This is your future.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/doctor-details-dangers-of-tech-for-teens/article_e851b4c6-32a1-11ed-a7ff-7ff725bbd84b.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:41Z
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JACKSON — A black bear walked through downtown Jackson. A moose scratched up a car in Wilson. And, in Yellowstone National Park, elk are beginning to rut, meaning humans need to give them a wide berth, no matter how eager they are to hear bulls bugle and to see them lock antlers in the annual quest for a mate — or many.
Wildlife activity should be starting to pick up in Jackson Hole, which typically sees more bears searching for food as berry crops dry out, and ungulates scratching the velvet off their antlers as they prepare to mate.
But south of Yellowstone National Park, the elk rut seems to be off to a slow start.
“It’s been so warm,” Mark Gocke said. “I don’t think we’ve had a lot of action.”
Gocke, a spokesman for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, said he took a ride Sunday morning through Grand Teton National Park and didn’t see elk where he usually does or hear them bugling.
Hunting also has been slow. People, he said, are waiting for a cold front to come through before getting out in the field.
“Generally, the animals just get more active when we get these cold, frosty mornings,” Gocke said. “We just haven’t had it here lately, and hopefully this warm spell breaks and we can get back to cooler fall temps.”
But that doesn’t mean animals aren’t active around Jackson. In the evenings, tourists have been taking pictures of elk herds resting on the ranches between Highway 22 and the Indian Trails subdivision.
On Saturday, a moose rubbed its paddles on a home, car and Wyoming Cowboys flag in Wilson, aiming to rub off its velvet. That’s the layer of skin that forms to provide vitamins and minerals to help antlers grow.
Moose, deer and elk typically rub that layer off in the fall, leaving blood and debarked trees behind. The moose’s rubbing left behind a scuffed vehicle and garage door, and a bloody flag, Gocke said.
To keep ungulates from getting their antlers stuck in loose, stringy objects such as hammocks, cables and Christmas lights, Gocke had a simple request: “Just put that stuff away. Make it unavailable.”
Then, Gocke said, on Tuesday a black bear cruised through the middle of Jackson, coming off East Gros Ventre Butte and passing through Miller Park and near Hatch Taqueria and Tequilas before heading off into the forest near Snow King. The bear was just passing through, Gocke said, and didn’t get food rewards.
“It’s just that time of year when we need to be mindful of wildlife getting more active, whether it’s the breeding season or in search of more food,” he said.
As far as food goes for bears, Gocke said that the berry crop has been “pretty good” this summer. August was the wettest on record, and east-facing slopes in Grand Teton have been littered with huckleberries.
“Those berries and vegetation are drying off, or will be in the coming weeks,” he said. “That’s when we start to see more bears showing up in residential areas.”
Teton County recently passed new regulations that, among other things, ban wildlife feeding and require bear-resistant trash cans countywide.
Those will go fully into effect Nov. 1, when county officials say they’ll start enforcing the regulations. The town of Jackson, meanwhile, is moving through multiple readings of its own ordinance that is set to require bear-resistant trash cans on the edge of town, but not the downtown area the black bear walked through Tuesday. The town’s regulations won’t go into effect until April 1, 2023.
Wildlife advocates have, however, been offering free and reduced price bear-resistant trash cans via a new nonprofit, Jackson Hole Bear Solutions. The idea is for people to lock up any attractants as much as possible to prevent bears from accessing them. (“Bear-resistant” trash cans are not called “bear proof” because they’re not 100% foolproof.)
After getting food rewards, black and grizzly bears can get used to accessing that food source — and become aggressive in trying to reach it, potentially posing a danger to humans they encounter. When that happens, wildlife managers often consider relocating or removing bears, either by euthanasia or live placement.
So, beyond getting bear-resistant canisters — and if homeowners and renters don’t have one — Gocke encouraged people not to put their trash out the night before haulers come to pick it up.
“It’s still an attractant and bears are going to smell it and they’re going to hang around longer,” he said. “It would just be a lot better for everyone if the garbage doesn’t go out until the morning of pick up.”
Yellowstone also sent out a press release Wednesday saying the elk rut has begun. While looking for a mate — or building a harem of cows — bulls can be unpredictable and dangerous. The animals have injured people in the past, and can change directions quickly while moving.
Park regulations require that people maintain a 25-yard separation from elk and other ungulates, as well as greater distances from bears, wolves and bison. If you’re charged, find shelter in a vehicle or behind a tall barrier. If shelter is not available, back away. Yellowstone visitors are responsible for their own safety, park officials stressed.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/fall-wildlife-activity-picks-up-in-jackson-hole-area/article_4e88643c-32a3-11ed-bfc3-ebde7ce438c9.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:47Z
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GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — Lynnette Grey Bull spent the last Thursday afternoon of August psyching up climate change activists who’d flocked to Jackson Lake Lodge to encourage the Federal Reserve to account for humankind’s warming of the planet as it examines domestic monetary policy.
Grey Bull, the Democratic Party nominee for Wyoming’s sole U.S. House of Representative seat and an activist herself, told the 350.org protesters gathered that their willingness to travel and make their voices heard was critical.
“It’s important that we gather, it’s important that we speak our voices, it’s important that we make our signs and make our shirts and come to these rallies and come to speak to these groups, because it’s important that we are stewards of Mother Earth,” Grey Bull told the 70 or so climate activists congregated outside the building where Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell would speak the next morning.
“Without stewards of Mother Earth,” she told the protesters, “not only will the climate and our land and our water continue to be toxified and used for resources to make millionaires and billionaires more money, but our grandchildren, our children and the generations behind us will not have the land to live on.”
Grey Bull, of Riverton, made those remarks on the eve of what she anticipates will be a two-month-long campaign-trail sprint around Wyoming. Her competition, the Republican Party’s U.S. House nominee, is Harriet Hageman, an attorney handpicked by Donald Trump to take on incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney. Hageman trounced Cheney in what many perceive as the real race determining who Wyoming will send to Congress.
Grey Bull’s challenge of Hageman is certain to lack the international attention that Cheney-Hageman garnered, and there are slim odds that she’ll persuade enough Wyoming voters to make it a tight race, let alone win. Those are the political realities in a conservative state that hasn’t elected a Democratic representative to Congress since Rock Springs journalist-turned-attorney Teno Roncalio left office in 1978, nor a Democratic senator since history professor Gale McGee was voted out in 1976.
Grey Bull’s own political history illustrates the difficulty of her task come the Nov. 8 general election. Cheney clobbered her in the 2020 general election for Wyoming’s U.S. House representative, beating her by a roughly 3-to-1 margin.
Sitting down with WyoFile after the Federal Reserve protest, Grey Bull said this campaign and race will be different.
“Last time I ran was solely just to bring an Indigenous issue to the forefront of the media, which I accomplished,” Grey Bull said. “That was the mission.”
That issue is spelled out in the name of the non-profit organization that Grey Bull founded and directs: Not Our Native Daughters, which focuses on educating the public about missing and murdered Indigenous females. As of 2016, there were more than 5,700 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, according to the National Crime Information Center.
Grey Bull’s 2022 campaign, she said, is geared more toward making the race a real contest.
“I’m going to be in every county, and some counties more than once,” Grey Bull said. “I have a busy schedule for the next couple of months, and I look forward to that.”
Grey Bull, a “divorced single mother of three beautiful children,” grew up in California and lived in Arizona in her early adult life, but is of Northern Arapaho and Lakota descent. She’s the first Native American woman to run for U.S. Congress in Wyoming’s 132-year history, according to Wyoming Humanities. Grey Bull said she’s a proud Democrat, but does not want her party affiliation to define her.
“I’m passionate about green energy, I’m passionate about the middle class, I’m passionate about meeting people between the aisles,” she said. “I’m big on just advocating for people … Most people in the working class feel like their voices are never heard, both on a state and federal level. So I think it’s important that their voices are at the forefront of policy and policy change.”
Grey Bull is not running an attack-style campaign against Hageman, she said. But she said that Donald Trump’s disproven claims that the 2020 election was stolen — which Hageman has parroted — are “dangerous for America” and she said she admired Cheney’s willingness to stand up against the former president and participate in the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
“I admire Cheney for what she did,” Grey Bull said. “It takes a lot of courage.”
Hageman’s campaign spokesman, Tim Murtaugh, and campaign manager, Carly Miller, did not respond to WyoFile’s request for comment.
Riverton resident and retired attorney Chesie Lee, who worked alongside Grey Bull in the fight to conserve the Red Desert, said that her fellow Democrat, whom she voted for in the primary, has “broad knowledge about the issues,” is “personable” and has what it takes to appeal to Wyoming voters in small-group settings. She also was forthcoming about the long odds Grey Bull — and any Democrat — faces in a statewide race.
“It seems like there’s been a steady decline,” Lee said of the Wyoming Democratic Party. “I would be very shocked if Lynnette Grey Bull won. For Democrats to win, really we need to get back and rebuild the base.”
The last time the party put up a true fight for a congressional seat was 16 years ago, when Gary Trauner lost by half a percentage point to 12-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin. Trauner tried to run for Congress two more times, but the outcomes kept tilting more toward the Republicans he was up against. Cynthia Lummis handily defeated Trauner by a 10-percentage-point margin for the same U.S. House seat in 2008, and incumbent U.S. Sen. John Barrasso topped Trauner’s vote total 67% to 30% a decade after that.
Trauner’s perception is that Wyoming’s move toward total Republican domination traces partly to the decline of labor unions that tended to be Democratic and also the state becoming “more beholden to legacy energy interests” that tend to align themselves with the GOP.
“I know this sounds crazy, but as long as our state tax structure is the way that it is — I’m a follow-the-money guy — that generally means Republican support,” Trauner said.
Trauner supports Grey Bull, he said.
“But it’s tough to be a viable, legitimate candidate when you haven’t raised any money,” Trauner said. “I view campaigns as, I call it the three Ms: message, media and money … To the best of my knowledge, she’s missing the last two Ms right now.”
As of July, the Grey Bull for Congress campaign had raised a little more than $11,000, according to its Federal Elections Commission’s filings. Hageman, meanwhile, has raised over $4.4 million.
Wyoming Democratic Party chairman Joe Barbuto said the plan of attack with the party’s nominee, Grey Bull, is to support her through a “coordinated campaign.” The concept, he said, is that instead of supporting Democrats like Grey Bull individually, party members support them as a collective, sharing resources, training and even volunteers and staff.
“The whole idea is that, when they’re all working together, rising tides raise all ships,” Barbuto said. “Most of the Democratic campaigns have joined the coordinated campaign, and that’s really exciting for us.”
Barbuto said that the Wyoming Democratic Party “has a lot of work to do” to bring itself back to prominence after a 44-year losing streak in Congress.
“It’s an uphill fight for any Democrat seeking statewide office in Wyoming, that’s pretty clear, but it’s not impossible by any means,” he said. “It wasn’t that long ago that you probably couldn’t get anyone to take a bet that Liz Cheney would become a pariah in her party and lose leadership posts and be successfully challenged from the right. But here we are in 2022 and everything that I said has just happened. So circumstances change, and they change quickly.”
Grey Bull used the word “daunting” to describe what it would take to win over the balance of Wyoming voters.
“However, all my life and all of my career I’ve always fought uphill,” Grey Bull said. “I don’t look at this race as, ‘Oh, we’re going to lose, this cannot be won.’ I don’t look at it like that. I don’t look at anything like that.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/grey-bull-aims-to-be-first-wyo-dem-in-congress-in-44-years/article_f2ec4dca-32a0-11ed-afd3-0381ecb3d4bf.html
| 2022-09-14T14:02:54Z
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SHERIDAN — Each year over the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends, individuals jump off of the cliffs at Sand Turn Interpretive Site and glide slowly down to the ground with a hang glider in the Bighorn Mountains.
Instructor Johann Nield is one of those individuals participating each year. He has been hang gliding since 1978 and conducts classes to train individuals in the sport of hang gliding.
“I encourage people to try it out whether it is a bucket list thing or a lifelong hobby you want to get into,” he said.
Nield starts instructional classes at ground level. Once participants understand and demonstrate basic knowledge of hang gliding and use subtle movements to steer on solid ground, Nield will gradually take them up the mountain, eventually gliding off Sand Turn.
Before traveling to Sand Turn, where there are only five steps to launch off of the mountain successfully, students must be able to take off and land without injury.
Nield compares hang gliding to riding a bicycle, where individuals eventually obtain the muscle memory to do it without thinking. To acquire that muscle memory, Nield recommends his students take three classes before trying it on their own.
Students use equipment such as a hang glider, harness, a quality certified helmet and a parachute, according to Kyle Fedden, who has been hang gliding since 2000.
Most modern hang gliders are stronger than a lot of small aircraft, being able to withstand plus or minus six G-force, which is the loading experienced by the aircraft and the pilot in flight, Fedden said.
While modern hang gliding is a relatively safe sport, the practice has come a long way since its development, when in the late 1940s many deaths were recorded from individuals crafting their own hang glider equipment.
Still, there are factors to consider that might jeopardize one’s safety.
When in the air, there are thermal pockets that are caused by cooling air along with a relatively warm ground. Signs of these pockets include cumulus clouds, where there is high humidity and pressure. These spots create a thermal bubble that, when hit, can cause a hang glider to gain elevation quickly. People who are not used to the turbulence and quick jerks can panic.
On Sand Turn, hang gliders will generally stay in the air for eight to 10 minutes, requiring the ability to control one’s equipment when coming into contact with thermal pockets.
While thermal pockets can cause distress for many, they also allow hang gliders to stay in the air for longer. Fedden has seen people travel for 410 miles just by hitting thermal pockets to stay in the air.
To be able to stay in the air for an extended amount of time, hang gliders will use variometers to help the pilot determine if they are rising or sinking, according to Sara Bowman, who has been a hang glider for 35 years and a part of the U.S. women’s hang gliding team.
Nield said it’s a good stress reliever from everyday life. For him, hang gliding is a way to escape from stressful situations but also gain that adrenaline of jumping off of a mountain.
“No two jumps are the same,” Nield said. “I have not lost the thrill of hang gliding and I have been doing this for a while.”
Nield said he always looks forward to seeing the crowd gather when they see the hang gliders at Sand Turn, and he enjoys talking to the public about his passion.
When he is ready to take on the challenge of jumping, though, he focuses his thoughts on only three things: wind, the glider and himself. Then he proceeds to jump.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/hang-gliding-provides-thrill-stress-relief/article_29a8b2b2-32a2-11ed-8dd3-57a6c0cc3cfc.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:00Z
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State and federal authorities overseeing oil and gas operations in Wyoming anticipate millions in federal funding to clean up wells, pipelines, pads and other related facilities left “orphaned” or otherwise un-remediated by operators.
There are more than 2,307 orphaned well sites in Wyoming, according to state and federal estimates.
The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which oversees facilities on state and private lands, lists 1,307 well sites in its orphaned well program and is set to receive $25 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The Bureau of Land Management, which oversees facilities that tap federal minerals in Wyoming, estimates more than 1,000 orphaned wells in the state. The federal agency will tap into $250 million set aside for federal orphaned well remediation nationwide.
“Orphaned wells are a legacy that we must address, as they can release methane, pollute groundwater, and pose a hazard to people and wildlife alike,” BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said in a press release.
For its part, Wyoming BLM estimates the cleanup work on federal wells in the state will create or sustain up to 300 industry-related jobs. Meantime, the WOGCC expects the federal funds to clean up state and private facilities will support what’s already a robust orphan-well-remediation program. The state has cleaned up more than 4,713 orphaned well sites since 2014, according to the agency. Of those, 186 were converted to water wells for nearby ranchers.
The federal push to clean up more orphaned wells is long overdue and will benefit landowners and others who suffer the environmental risks, according to advocacy groups. But, they say, the cost of clean up shouldn’t fall to American taxpayers.
“The people who drill the wells and profit from them are responsible for cleaning them up,” Powder River Basin Resource Council and the Western Organization of Resource Councils board member Bob LeResche said. The federal government is “doing something good for the environment and surface owners, but they’re doing it with taxpayer money, which is just wrong.”
When it comes to holding operators responsible for cleanup, the state has generally done a better job than the BLM, LeResche said. Of the $32 million the state has spent to remediate orphaned wells since 1997, $21 million was covered by bonds posted by operators, according to the WOGCC. The rest of the expense was covered by a conservation tax applied to all oil and gas operators in the state.
The BLM, however, still allows for a nationwide “blanket bond” of $150,000, just a fraction of actual remediation costs for many operators. The federal agency is also slow to add wells that are known to be inactive to its orphaned well list, LeResche said, sometimes waiting more than six years to pursue responsible parties.
The Powder River Basin Resource Council and others are pushing the BLM to revise its bonding rules to increase dollar amounts and speed up the timeline for remediation work, LeResche said.
Coal-bed methane gas wells, primarily in northeast Wyoming, make up most of the orphaned wells in Wyoming, according to state officials. The industry tanked beginning in 2010, mostly due to low natural gas prices and the proliferation of hydraulic fracking that redirected the industry to shale gas plays outside the state.
For a 20-year period before the coal-bed methane boom, the state had documented 500 orphaned wells. After the coal-bed methane bust, it documented 6,020 orphaned wells, according to the state. The CBM bust and the string of bankruptcies that followed added pressure on state officials to revise Wyoming’s bonding and reclamation rules.
The BLM needs to do the same, LeResche said, otherwise continuing to use federal taxpayer dollars “is bailing out the culprits who were leaving these wells unreclaimed and unplugged.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/millions-flow-to-plug-orphaned-oil-and-gas-wells/article_6aa12f7a-32a1-11ed-b266-5bcdc35c0a92.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:06Z
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Podcast host Carla Mowell first got into podcasting when “This American Life” started posting show episodes online in the mid-2000s.
“I had an office job, so when I was doing things that were more tedious I would put on an episode of ‘This American Life,’” she recalled.
“Ever since then, when I got really into podcasting, I realized I wanted more.”
Mowell was disappointed early on by the lack of Wyoming podcast content.
“When I searched, I didn’t find anything that scratched the itch I had,” she said.
Her podcast “Wyoming My 307” seeks to correct that absence, setting out to explore “the people, culture, wildlife, geology and history of the least populated, and most wonderful, state in the U.S.”
She released her 10th episode at the end of August.
“My goal is to highlight a diversity of voices from Wyoming. We have such a stereotype in Wyoming of what a Wyomingite looks like. And I love Western culture. We don’t have a lot of diversity, but we have a lot more than we highlight.”
Taking a page from “This American Life,” “Wyoming My 307” is a thematic podcast—each episode consists of three segments linked by a common theme. Those segments include a guest interview bookended by“WyomingWildlife,” where Mowell shares information on Wyoming species, and “Dot on the Map,” which highlights a town in Wyoming.
“My commitment is to have at least one episode for every town in Wyoming, every ‘Dot on the Map,’” Mowell said.
So far, her episodes have tackled subjects like World War II in Wyoming, Wyoming’s history of flight, the life of a game warden and growing up gay in Wyoming.
“I spent quite a bit of time even before I started the podcast just thinking through topics,” Mowell explained. She finds inspiration and possible guest speakers from a variety of sources including newspapers, magazines, books and accounts she follows on social media. “Then I start building out the idea as a whole.”
The collection of Wyoming books and publications in her home speaks to Mowell’s prolific research habits.
“I’m continuously researching, always. Borrowing, buying, or reading books at the library. That part is forever. I go down these rabbit holes that are fascinating.”
Mowell writes up her podcast’s show notes in a companion blog where she provides a summary of each episode and pictures of the places she references. Mowell noted the blog has been a better access point for an older generation and those with special needs.
“Explaining podcasting to people has been part of what I’ve had to do, especially the older generation who might not be as attached to their dang phone as the rest of us,” she said.
Mowell set some unofficial rules for her podcast early on. One is to never feature a town she hasn’t visited. She wants to immerse her listeners in the “vibe” of an area she’s personally explored rather than list information they can find online.
She also aims to interview Wyomingites, though she allows more leniency on that front.
Her fourth episode “Words of Wyoming” explores Western language with linguist Grant Barrett, co-host of NPR’s “A Way with Words” and one of Mowell’s podcasting heroes.
“I can’t believe I scored this interview. I was like, so fangirling,” Mowell laughed.
She emailed the show asking for book recommendations on Western language for her own podcast “and within half an hour, Grant Barrett himself was emailing my butt!” Barrett offered to come on as a guest.
“He was so gracious. He spent extra time, because I was still new to podcasting, and he helped me,” she said.
“Wyoming My 307” has amassed a “steadily growing” audience. As of this article, the show has over 5,500 downloads. Most of Mowell’s audience is in the U.S., but she’s collected a smattering of international listeners as well.
One show element she’s working to improve is regularly releasing episodes, a key to maintaining an audience’s attention.
Two new grandchildren have kept Mowell busy, so much so that eager listeners have messaged her about when to expect more episodes.
“I do love and appreciate that energy of eagerness, of people wanting to hear the next one, and that does give me a boost too. But it’s my passion project; it’s not my job,” Mowell said.
Unlike bigger productions, she doesn’t have a team behind her.
“I’m a solo podcaster…directing, producing, editing, fact checking, I’m doing all of that. I’m okay giving myself a little grace on how often it comes out.”
Future episodes will feature Wyoming bars, architecture, the Pony Express and how to read a cemetery. Mowell is currently at work on an episode about cryptocurrency, and she’s excited about an upcoming interview with Jordan Dresser, Chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council.
“I do feel like an ambassador for Wyoming,” Mowell said. “I hope my podcast helps both people from Wyoming and outside of the state learn more about Wyoming and our diversity. Those of us who live here, for us to appreciate it, and those of us who are just zipping through, to slow down a little bit. There’s a lot more to Wyoming.”
“Wyoming My 307” is available on multiple podcast platforms such as Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Podbean. The show can also be accessed from Mowell’s blog at wyomingmy307.blogspot.com.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/podcast-teaches-about-wyoming/article_09426586-32a2-11ed-b192-77e9921460fe.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:12Z
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Optimism is mounting at one of Wyoming’s nascent rare earths projects.
Early drilling results suggest the Halleck Creek deposit north of Laramie is larger than anticipated, and may rank among the most promising potential mines in the world, Western Rare Earths announced Sept. 1.
The company, a U.S. subsidiary of Australian exploration company American Rare Earths, acquired Halleck Creek a little over a year ago. It figured, from surface data, that the deposit’s roughly 350 million metric tons of mineralized rock contained up to a million metric tons of rare earths.
During preliminary drilling this spring, the company discovered that the rare earths extend farther east and deeper underground than it anticipated.
It has since expanded its estimate to encompass over a billion metric tons of mineralized rock and closer to 2 million metric tons of rare earths.
“The Halleck Creek project is shaping up to become a world class asset. The maiden drill campaign was a resounding success, and the new exploration target is massive,” Chris Gibbs, managing director and CEO of American Rare Earths, said in a written statement.
For rare earths, those numbers are huge.
A collection of 17 elements required for everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, rare earths are — despite their name — relatively common in nature.
They’re distributed thinly enough, though, that mineable deposits can be tough to find.
“Finding one that’s big enough to matter, and rich enough to be worthwhile, is actually quite rare in the global landscape of rare earths,” said Western Rare Earths CEO Marty Weems.
That’s what sets deposits like Halleck Creek apart.
Western Rare Earths believes that project, along with a similarly vast but less concentrated deposit the company is studying in Arizona, could — with further research — turn out to be one of the largest reserves ever found.
Rare Element Resources, the owner of the state’s other active rare earths project, determined following years of site study that its northeastern Wyoming resource holds roughly 500,000 metric tons of rare earths.
“Not many rare earth deposit discoveries around the world have more than a million tons of rare earth content in them,” Weems said. “We’re not guaranteeing that it does. We’re just saying, based on the limited data we have, it looks like it very well may have those kinds of volumes.”
Ranie Lands, a geologist at the Wyoming State Geological Survey, told the Star-Tribune via email that the agency has no independent way of verifying the size of the Halleck Creek deposit. It’ll take the company several years to verify those findings, Weems said.
But each round of drilling will bring it closer, starting with the samples it plans to extract between the end of this month and late October and finish analyzing by early 2023.
Most rare earth elements, considered essential to national function and vulnerable to supply chain disruption, are classified by the U.S. as critical minerals.
With the bulk of the country’s rare earths imported from China, establishing a domestic supply chain is a priority for the Biden administration and a target for subsidies intended to accelerate that development.
Western Rare Earths hopes that federal backing will help it turn the Halleck Creek project into a mine that supports hundreds of southeastern Wyoming jobs within a decade.
It’s also partnering with researchers in an effort to bring down the costs and environmental impacts of processing, challenges that have historically deterred U.S. investment in rare earths mining. (Rare Element Resources is also investing heavily in supply chain improvements.)
Meanwhile, Western Rare Earths has identified another advantage: The prevalence of radioactive elements at Halleck Creek — unlike most other mineable rare earths deposits — appears to fall well below the hazardous threshold. It still has to confirm that, too.
“There’s a lot of drilling in our future,” Weems said.
Which will be followed, he noted, by reclamation.
If all goes to plan, the very high concentration of rare earths and very low levels of radiation could enable Western Rare Earths to secure fewer permits, take fewer precautions and process smaller volumes of rock compared with many of its competitors.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/rare-opportunity-southern-wyoming-rare-earth-deposit-shows-promise/article_cc022e70-32a3-11ed-83cc-7bb0b14fa58e.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:19Z
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Queen Elizabeth II examines a Frederic Remington painting depicting a Western scene during an October 1984 tour of the Brinton Ranch House near Big Horn, Wyo.
Queen Elizabeth II examines a Frederic Remington painting depicting a Western scene during an October 1984 tour of the Brinton Ranch House near Big Horn, Wyo.
Courtesy Photo/The Brinton Museum
Queen Elizabeth II walks down Main Street in Sheridan in October 1984. Bob Zellar/Billings Gazette
The death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday morning sparked a global wave of nostalgia and reflections on her 70 years on the English throne, the longest reign in British history.
It also tapped into the memories of some in the Cowboy State who recall the four days the monarch spent vacationing in Wyoming.
The royals were guests of Lady Porchester at the 4,000-acre Canyon Ranch near Big Horn, according to an October 1984 report by United Press International. Porchester was the sister of then Wyoming Sen. Malcom Wallop. She also was the wife of Lord Porchester, a family friend.
UPI reports that during her brief stay in northern Wyoming, the queen spoke by telephone with President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan. She reportedly said she was “very grateful” for the low-key nature of her visit and that local residents and the media respected her private time.
Although logistics prevented the monarch from attending Sunday church services, the UPI report says the queen instead visited The Brinton Museum in Big Horn. She spent time talking with the museum’s assistant director Dan Nelson about its collection of art. She also visited with Brinton caretaker Andy Kukuchka.
Kukuchka reported that the queen “asked him about the area where she planned to picnic later in the day,” according to the UPI story. Also, “The queen hoped to see some elk and perhaps a moose in the area.”
The news agency also described some of Queen Elizabeth’s other activites while in Wyoming.
“The queen spent a most enjoyable day Saturday, first on a shopping trip in Sheridan and Big Horn, then a picnic on the Wallop ranch,” UPI reported. “The queen stopped at two Sheridan stores, Ritz Sporting Goods and King’s Saddlery. At Ritz Sporting Goods, store owner Stan Mavrakis, who had tied fishing flies for her husband, Prince Philip, 15 years (earlier) gave the queen a handmade graphite fishing rod and a box of flies to give to the prince.
“The queen was presented with a hand-tooled leather wastebasket and purchased a pair of leather gloves for herself and gifts for the rest of the royal family at King’s Saddlery.”
The UPI story also recorded that 96-year-old Ethyl Crawley of Casper gave her a hand-knitted coat made for the queen’s then-new grandchild, Prince Henry.
Via Twitter, Gov. Mark Gordon reacted to the queen's death, stating: "Queen Elizabeth was a steadfast leader and patriot whose legacy of duty and service will be recognized for generations. Jennie and I extend our condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom."
Immediately upon Queen Elizabeth II’s death, her oldest son Charles, 73, automatically became king, according to the Associated Press. He’ll be known as King Charles III, although it may be months before a formal coronation may take place.
At the direction of President Joe Biden, Gov. Mark Gordon has ordered both the United States and Wyoming flags to be flown at half-staff in honor and remembrance of the queen. Flags will remain at half staff until the day of interment.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/report-queen-elizabeth-ii-enjoyed-wyo-visit/article_9cc8adaa-32a3-11ed-b609-47dea0e28617.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:25Z
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Laramie County School District 1 is not only the state’s largest K-12 district, it has the biggest problem with school capacity overflow.
That was one of the messages to come from the State Construction Department School Facilities Division’s annual report and supplemental budget request. A group of state lawmakers were made aware of the problem across the state during a meeting Thursday of the Legislature’s Select Committee on School Facilities.
LCSD1 is the highest on the current capacity list with an overall district average of 95.6%. More than a third of the schools are over 100% capacity. Other school districts at the top of the current capacity list are in Natrona, Sweetwater, Lincoln, Sheridan and Teton counties.
“From a grandmother’s perspective, Laramie County School District 1 is totally overcrowded. Quite frankly, we’re bursting at the seams,” said Susan Edgerton, a trustee candidate in LCSD1. “We have many elementary schools that need complete tear-downs and rebuilds. Many were built in the ‘50s and ‘60s; their size and functionality no longer meets the needs of our community.”
She was one of the stakeholders who came forward to ask for solutions from the committee, as they considered the fiscal year 2023-24 supplemental budget request by the School Facilities Division. Although she and district officials from Teton County wanted legislators to take action as soon as possible, lawmakers said there is a process to go through and a limited amount of funds.
Condition and capacityThe School Facilities Commission creates condition, capacity and consolidated schedules that rank school district projects and renovations by priority.
Condition categorizes educational and non-conditional buildings based on an assessment that was last done in 2016, and $4 million was appropriated during the last budget session to complete the new Educational Facilities Condition Index before next summer. They identify facility needs that “impede the delivery of the prescribed statewide educational program” and remedies such as renovations, new buildings and demolitions.
LCSD1 has a significant number of schools built before the 1970s, and 10 out of the 20 schools in the state that are rated the poorest on the Facilities Condition Index are in Laramie County. Clawson, Hobbs, Fairview and Bain elementary schools are among the 10 worst. These scores are already six years old, and that doesn’t account for capacity.
There are eight schools at the top of the high-capacity needs list, which is calculated using projected enrollment and projected capacity. LCSD1 is the highest because Arp Elementary is currently at 154.2% capacity, and at a projected percentage for 2030 of 129.69%. Saddle Ridge Elementary, East High School and Sunrise Elementary School also are in the top of this list.
“They have two classrooms sharing a module. They have a reading specialist that is using a cleaned-out janitor’s closet. They have interventionists using tables set up in the foyer, where the bus drops off children before you technically get into the school building,” Edgerton said of Arp Elementary. “Ask them about their one faculty bathroom, the bathroom that, when it rains or snows, has a drip, drip, drip right over the toilet.”
Condition and capacity are calculated together to create the consolidated schedule that is used to decide which construction projects are funded first. The latest version has not been created because the newest conditions index is not finished. However, LCSD1 has nine out of the 10 buildings at the top of the most recent list. It puts Hobbs, Bain and Arp at the top.
Some legislators criticize the schedule and the formula that creates the list, though.
Sen. Stephan Pappas, R-Cheyenne, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle after the committee meeting that he asked the Legislative Service Office to draft a bill before the next meeting that removes the consolidated schedule from statute, and puts it into the hands of the commission.
“They will hopefully do the heavy lifting and sort out among the 48 districts and among the hundreds of schools that we have which needs the top priority and capacity, and which needs the top priority and facility condition, and then somehow come up with a way to determine in both lists which ones will be forwarded to us,” he said. “What we’re putting into numbers is really more subjective.”
He is concerned the numbers are skewed in the consolidated schedule, because if a new building is at more than 100% capacity, it drops far down on the list.
Scheduling issues
This is one of the reasons Teton County school officials came before the committee, asking for millions from the state to help fund an education center, interior renovations and a new bus facility. Although their facilities are not deteriorating like other districts, they are at capacity, and their enrollment numbers continue to grow.
“We have already taken measures to deal with capacity in our schools,” Teton County School District 1 Superintendent Gillian Chapman and Trustee Janine Bay Teske wrote in a memo to the committee. “We have closed enrollment to out-of-county students, investigated addresses and knocked on doors to verify enrollment, changed elementary attendance boundaries and refused to enroll students who are not truthful about their residences.”
They said these aren’t easy decisions, but these measures are no longer enough. They showed pictures of students packed into hallways eating lunch, and showed the growing numbers of students enrolling. The district has a 100% or higher “cohort survival rate,” meaning that they gain students each year in all grade levels, rather than the typical pattern of declining enrollment. Those students will carry on until they graduate from high school.
Despite this fact, it will likely take years based on the current consolidated schedule before a new building is constructed there. They’ve found other funding sources, such as the mills from the Teton County Recreation District, requesting $16.5 million for the Bronx Achievement Center on the specific purpose tax ballot by agreeing to allow the community to use the facility, and knocked on doors for bake sales, but they still need close to $40 million from the state.
Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, and Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, were both struck by the stories from LCSD1 and TCSD1. They agreed with other committee members that they must inform the Appropriations Committee of the funding needed, as well as the issues with the schedules.
Rothfuss said it was a challenging frustration that Teton County is prevented from solving its own facility setbacks through statute, but he appreciated they brought forward the best solutions they could find.
“It feels like our select committee needs to communicate and inform our Appropriations colleagues of the issues that we have in two different districts,” Landen said. “Frankly, they are startling and concerning.”
Lawmaker pushback
Not every lawmaker and facilities official agreed with the counties asking for solutions to the schedule, or seeking additional funding, however.
School Facilities Commission Chairwoman Holly Dabb said she has heard the arguments from school districts to be pulled out of the formula and “considered special” for six years. She said she struggles with the issue, because the projections for Cheyenne have been slow growth.
“My job on the commission is to ensure all the children in the state have equal education and equal opportunities and equal facilities,” she said. “And we’re constantly being asked by each district to be considered special.”
She criticized LCSD1 because she said they have to take into account the formula, and if they are unhappy with capacity, they need to work on it at a local level. She said the local district needs to take local responsibility, and the voters have to get frustrated enough to vote in new trustees “with new thoughts, who hire new superintendents … they’re stuck with what they’ve got.”
Dabb also said LCSD1 was getting creative in trying to get more funding, such as having the PTOs buy air conditioners for the schools, even though they have one of the largest major maintenance reserves. She said the district didn’t want to put the money in because they wanted to drive down the index score.
“Figures don’t lie, liars lie,” Dabb said. “And they’re trying to manipulate it, so their only remedy is a new school, when they went in over budget on … I don’t even remember which school, probably all of them.”
LCSD1 officials didn’t return calls for comment by press time.
Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper, didn’t specifically criticize districts, but said he did want to continue to use the commission’s process. He said that “unless we want to have week-long select school facilities committee meetings, we should continue with our process of letting the commission do their deep dive, do their investigative work and bring their suggestions to us.”
Walters also voiced his concern that if the Legislature meddled too much, it would result in lawmakers from Cheyenne, Casper and Gillette voting in the majority to put funds toward their communities. He said he wanted a well-balanced approach, and not to let individuals “verbally jump to the head of the line.”
He recommended a letter be sent to members of the Joint Appropriations Committee, educating them on the capacity issues and facility needs, but to otherwise leave things as they are. Walters pointed to the fact that they were also responsible for addressing the nearly $31 million the School Facilities Division requested in its supplemental budget to help with bids impacted by inflation, as well as major maintenance.
Next month is the last committee meeting before next year’s legislative session, and the lawmakers will have to make a final decision on its funding recommendations.
“I feel bias a little bit, at least from the chairman of the commission. I don’t know what the rest of the commission feels, but that concerns me,” Pappas said. “I don’t want to trump what they do, either. I think we have a system that needs to work, but we need the checks and balances, as well. I think we have to work hand in hand with them.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/school-capacity-concerns-brought-to-lawmakers/article_1d7ff492-32a1-11ed-9b4b-0fb2070331ba.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:31Z
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Wyoming lawmakers expect to navigate constitutional roadblocks on the path to creating a statewide school choice program.
Members of the Legislature’s Joint Education Committee heard the prohibitions and education obligations laid out in the Wyoming Constitution on Thursday as part of their meeting at the state Capitol. Legislative Service Office Operations Administrator Tania Hytrek told members of the committee that these could leave the state at risk of litigation if a school choice program were developed, and she presented relevant case law from other parts of the country.
Hytrek said it is a complicated issue due to the state’s unique 40-year history of school finance litigation, and the fact that the Legislature has not previously undertaken the act of creating a school choice program. There are different options, such as voucher programs, education savings account programs, individual tuition tax credits and public charters that could be considered.
“There are policy choices that the Legislature can make to minimize some of these risks – tying the educational standards to those required by public schools is one. Another may be setting aside funds that are not School Foundation Program dollars,” she said. “But what we cannot answer is if and when such a program were challenged, what the outcome would be under Article 3, Section 36 and Article 16, Section 6, nor do we know the outcome under the lengthy school finance history.”
Public funds and obligations
Regarding the expenditure of public funds, there are four specific sections that Hytrek said are relevant to the discussion of school choice programs.
According to Article 1, Section 19 of the Wyoming Constitution, “No money of the state shall ever be given or appropriated to any sectarian or religious society or institution.”
Article 3, Section 36 outlines that, “No appropriation shall be made for charitable, industrial, educational or benevolent purposes to any person, corporation or community not under the absolute control of the state, nor to any denominational or sectarian institution or association.”
There are also guidelines in Article 7, Section 8 that provisions have to be made by general law for the “equitable allocation of such income among all school districts in the state.” No appropriation can be made to any district or school that has not been maintained for at least three months, and no part of any public school fund can be used for an educational institution at any level that is controlled by a church or religious organization.
Hytrek noted that “the state or any county, township, town, school district or any other political subdivision” can’t loan, give credits or make a donation to any “individual, association or corporation, except for the necessary support of the poor.”
These don’t speak to the constitutional education obligations that have been set as the standard in the Campbell County school district cases, as well as Washakie County School District #1 v. Herschler. Hytrek said there may be arguments made that the Legislature hadn’t met its obligation to provide a uniform system of public instruction, or funds were being taken away from public schools.
“I would raise three basic issues in this realm,” she said. “The first is with adequacy and equity of funding, the second is fulfillment of the basket of educational goods and services, and the third is the impact on Wyoming’s public school finance system.”
Among the legal requirements that Hytrek presented, Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie, had her own concerns. She said she had dealt with stakeholders in the past who wanted to create charter schools that didn’t include special-education students or had extracurricular activities during the school hours that parents had to pay for. She said private schools having rules and regulations about who they admit or exclude could violate the Constitution.
“Any school that takes public money is obligated to educate all children equally and equitably,” she said.
School choice defense
Two national school choice advocates came before the Education Committee to show avenues to create a school choice program that works for Wyoming, as well as relevant case law if it resulted in litigation.
Corey DeAngelis, senior fellow at the American Federation For Children, said the state has an open field when it comes to enacting different types of school choice programs. He recommended pulling funding from the general fund or another appropriation not for public schools, or funding the program privately through a tax credit scholarship, or a tax credit funded education savings account program.
“Nineteen states expanded or enacted school choice programs that allow the funding to follow the child to a private school in 2021,” he said. “And in 2022, just a couple of months ago, Arizona passed the biggest school choice victory in U.S. history. Every single family, regardless of income, will be able to take their children’s state-funded education dollars to the education providers that they’re choosing.”
Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, asked whether these states faced legal battles after passing the legislation. Other legislators were doubtful if they could take action considering the extensive constitutional requirements, public education being guaranteed as a fundamental right and the funding systems in place connected to the mineral extraction industry.
DeAngelis said it was more likely than not that the states that enacted a program faced litigation because “teachers unions, in order to protect the status quo, will use every lever they can to try to trap kids in their schools, even if families want an exit option.”
However, he said the school choice movement has been successful at the Supreme Court level, and it is a friendly environment.
In Carson v. Makin, the court held that Maine’s exclusion of religious options from the state’s high school “tuitioning program” was a violation of the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution, and took away a parent’s choice to select a religious school for their student. Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue also held that states can’t prohibit families from selecting religious-affiliated schools in school choice programs.
EdChoice attorney Leslie Heiner, who has been involved with school choice litigation for the last 20 years, also saw an opportunity for Wyoming to take action.
She said the U.S. Constitution is supreme, and the two recent school choice cases declared that state constitutions that have provisions that are discriminatory against religious people or religious entities “are repugnant to the U.S. Constitution, and they cannot stand.” She also provided examples of other states that have been successful in providing equity and equality, as well as the right to choose an education institution.
“Each state is unique, there’s no question about it. But the one thing I’ve learned after all these years is that the school choice programs can be structured in a way that meets your constitutional obligations,” she said. “So yes, Wyoming has nuance, but it’s not fatal.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/school-choice-faces-constitutional-roadblocks/article_7b6eaeca-32a3-11ed-810d-c7ceadaac10d.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:37Z
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BUFFALO — It wasn’t quite the tourism season local business owners expected.
After a record season in Johnson County in 2021 in the wake of COVID-19, flooding in Yellowstone National Park and the park’s subsequent closure threw travel plans into disarray and threatened to derail tourism in the area.
But while business owners said Yellowstone’s brief closure had a definite impact, tourism remained strong.
“I think that there’s been a significant amount of people traveling this year,” said David Stewart, owner of the Historic Occidental Hotel and Blue Gables Motel. “I mean, it’s not a blowout, but it’s definitely been a good season.”
In mid-June, when officials evacuated Yellowstone National Park and shut its gates in the face of massive flooding, local hotels and campgrounds saw a raft of cancellations. Two months on, business owners said walk-in customers have largely made up for those cancellations, though not entirely.
Stewart said that the Occidental — a “destination” stop that often attracts repeat visitors — was able to carry on largely as normal, while Blue Gables saw a decrease from the previous year.
Likewise, traffic at the Deer Park Campground has been down compared with last year, said Ann Kavanagh, the campground’s owner.
“We did lose a lot of previous reservations for that period, because people were running scared and afraid they wouldn’t be able to get in somewhere else,” Kavanagh said.
The story was the same across the state, where hotel room demand was down 10% and hotel revenue was down almost 18%, according to the Wyoming Office of Tourism.
“This large decrease in June correlates with the drop in visitation to Yellowstone caused by the flooding,” wrote Piper Singer Cunningham, communications manager for the tourism office, in an email to the Bulletin.
Yellowstone was expecting a banner year with 150th anniversary events planned throughout the summer. The 150th anniversary came on the heels of a record year in 2021, when almost 4.9 million people visited.
Buffalo is a popular stop between the Black Hills and Yellowstone and often sees visitors heading in that direction.
But in June of this year — the month of the flooding — Yellowstone’s visitation fell by 43% compared with June 2021. By July, most of the park was open, yet the number of visitors fell by half, from almost 1.3 million in 2021 to about 650,000 in 2022.
That hasn’t necessarily led to the downfall of local tourism, though.
“We don’t even hear about Yellowstone now, and the people coming in now, most of them aren’t even concerned because they weren’t planning to go there anyway,” Kavanagh said. “There’s a lot of Wyoming that people come to see that doesn’t involve Yellowstone.”
While this summer still felt busy — especially with the COVID- 19 summer of 2020 still fresh in people’s minds — sales were noticeably down at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, said Sylvia Bruner, the museum’s director.
In July, the museum store made $9,076 in sales. That’s more than in July 2020, when the store made $8,255, but almost $2,000 less than the 2021 banner year, as well as $1,000 less than 2019, before the pandemic.
Bruner attributed the decline to Yellowstone’s closure and said she’d heard from other attractions in the area that their sales were similarly affected.
“I suspect it’s a pretty broad effect for tourism in general, but it’s definitely a bummer,” she said.
One bright spot was the northern border’s reopening.
Passage into and out of Canada was severely restricted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but travel has begun to pick up again. Business owners reported an abnormally large number of Canadians visiting Buffalo this summer.
Montana’s border crossings registered more than 170,000 people traveling into the U.S. from Canada in June and July of this year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That’s compared to fewer than 20,000 in June and July of 2021.
Longmire Day’s in-person return was also a shot in the arm for local tourism.
Jennifer McCormick, executive director of the Longmire Foundation, previously told the Bulletin that around 2,000 people traveled to Buffalo to enjoy the annual celebration of the Longmire book series and television series, the first time since 2019 the event wasn’t virtual.
Business owners said they appreciated that extra business.
“Anytime you have an event like that, it makes a difference,” Stewart said. “I’m thankful for the Longmire crowd that comes.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/tourism-ok-across-region-despite-yellowstone-closure/article_8c2202e6-32a1-11ed-8ffa-6f681d463fdf.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:43Z
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Fearing the state could be caught flat-footed by an impending U.S. Supreme Court decision, Wyoming lawmakers are considering enshrining certain aspects of tribal sovereignty into state law.
The Supreme Court this fall is set to review a case involving the Indian Child Welfare Act and some are concerned the court may overturn the federal law which prioritizes tribes’ rights in child custody cases.
Enacted in 1978, ICWA (pronounced ick-wah by experts in common conversation) created standards for states when handling “child abuse and neglect and adoption cases involving Native children” according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The act recognizes tribal jurisdiction in decisions concerning their children. If SCOTUS rules the federal law unconstitutional, each state’s child-welfare laws would hold sway and in states without ICWA laws certain protections would disappear.
The Supreme Court recently weakened a different form of tribal authority when it overturned a prior ruling limiting state prosecutorial powers on tribal lands in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta. With that decision in mind, and what it might portend for the ICWA challenge, lawmakers on the Select Committee on Tribal Relations met last Monday to consider, in part, whether they should write ICWA’s protections into state statute.
However, the timing of the court hearing may mean the Supreme Court will rule before any new state law can be enacted. “I’m very worried about it,” said Northern Arapaho Business Council Chairman Jordan Dresser. “This case is very pivotal. And it could potentially harm our Indian children because the purpose of the act is to keep Native children with Native families and to keep that connection with their culture.”
The case at hand, Brackeen v. Haaland, involves Texan foster parents seeking adoption of a Navajo child and custody of the child’s half-sister. The Navajo Nation intervened in the case and attempted to place the child with a tribal family instead, the New York Times reported. The family contends ICWA violates the constitution by considering placement of indigenous children solely based on race.
The protocols outlined in ICWA are based on tribal sovereignty not race, according to proponents of the statute. They also note ICWA followed decades of policies — including the Indian Adoption Project and forced placement of Native children in boarding schools — aimed at disconnecting indigenous children from their communities and culture.
“I tie it back to the Indian boarding schools,” said Dresser. “Where children were taken from their homes and forced to go to school at a place far away, and they got stripped of their cultural identity.”
He says revoking ICWA could have the same effect. “We want our children in safe homes,” Dresser said. “But we want them to have a connection to who they are as Native people.”
Other states have already enacted their own ICWA laws, meaning even if the federal statute is struck down custody cases involving tribes and Native children would likely still be subject to the same protections.
New Mexico passed a state ICWA law this year which not only cemented existing federal protections, but closed gaps by adding provisions like requiring that tribes are notified within 24 hours, as reported by Source New Mexico.
In 2021 Oregon passed a similar statute described by the state’s Department of Human Services in a press release
as strengthening “Oregon’s commitment to working with tribal nations to preserve tribal families.”
During the Select Committee on Tribal Relations interim committee meeting on Aug. 29 Clare Johnson, lawyer for the Northern Arapaho, explained the importance of the federal law to tribes in Wyoming, noting she was dealing with 62 child welfare cases at the time of the hearing.
“The Northern Arapaho tribe strongly believes in bringing these cases back to tribal court to attempt to reunify the child with their family,” Johnson said. “And if that’s not possible, to place them with other members of their family or their tribe.”
Kathryn Fort, a professor at Michigan State University specializing in Indian Child Welfare Act cases, is representing the four intervening tribes in the Haaland v. Brackeen case. Fort gave a presentation on the history of the child welfare law to the committee and explained how other states passed their own statutes.
“What we know today is that while ICWA works, we still see a disproportionate number of Native children being removed from their homes than non-Native children,” Fort said.
Legislators voiced interest in further researching state laws building off the federal statute, or creating a “trigger” bill (similar to the mechanism used when the state proactively banned abortion) which would temporarily put a halt to any major changes the Supreme Court decision could bring.
Sen. Affie Ellis (R-Cheyenne), an attorney and one of two Native Americans serving in the Wyoming Legislature, noted the difficulty of passing state ICWA laws. “I don’t see this being a fast moving endeavor if we’re going to do it right,” Ellis said.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/with-indian-child-welfare-act-at-risk-lawmakers-mull-action/article_19f54f78-32a3-11ed-9714-ef3082b79756.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:50Z
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CCHEC hosts open house meet-and-greet
The Carbon County Higher Education Center will hold an open house meet-and-greet to welcome new Executive Director Jennifer Moore. The event will be at the center, 1650 Harshman St., from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday. The public is invited.
Moore was announced the new executive director for CCHEC in March after being the interim director for eight months. During that time, she led CCHEC in the process of creating the new strategic plan that focuses on enhancing the programs that are being offered, engaging the community, growing partnerships and adapting to the ever-changing community and student needs.
The new plan highlights the core priorities for continued growth and success in serving the community. It also focuses on ways to meet and exceed the expectations of today’s students and helping them be successful in their educational goals.
“I am happy to provide our community with the details of our new strategic plan and about the exciting work that has gone on behind the scenes to bring this plan to life,” Moore said.
An open house also will be held at the CCHEC LSRV Education Center in Baggs on Oct. 13.
BLM OKs segments of Gateway West Transmission Line
The Bureau of Land Management announced Friday that the agency has issued the final construction approval for two 230-kilovolt segments of the Gateway West Transmission Line.
Each of the segments begin near Glenrock: a new 60-mile transmission line beginning at the Windstar Substation and a rebuild of a 58-mile line beginning at the Dave Johnson Power Plant. Both lines terminate at the Shirley Basin Substation in Carbon County, and will run parallel to each other through most of the project area.
These two transmission lines, commonly referred to as “D-1”, represent the second phase of the 1,000-mile Gateway West Transmission Line Project that will ultimately connect the substations near Glenrock to the Hemingway Substation near Boise, Idaho. The first phase of the project was constructed in 2019 and consists of 160 miles of 230-kilovolt and 500-kilovolt transmission lines that connect the Shirley Basin Substation to the Jim Bridger Substation in Sweetwater County. The remaining segments of Gateway West will be completed over the next few years.
The Gateway West Transmission Line Project will support approximately 90 construction jobs and help integrate up to 765 megawatts of new renewable energy resources into the grid while also ensuring reliability of existing generation resources. Building transmission lines will help deliver cleaner and cheaper electricity that lowers costs for families and consumers. The Gateway West project is part of PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway Transmission Expansion, a multi-year investment plan to add approximately 2,000 miles of new transmission lines across the West.
“Along with the Gateway South Transmission Line Project, this is the second transmission project I’ve been able to approve here in Wyoming, and I couldn’t be prouder of the BLM staff and our strong partnership with the state of Wyoming and the project’s proponent, PacifiCorp,” BLM Wyoming State Director Andrew Archuleta said in a news release. “These projects take years of work and coordination to ensure they are completed responsibly and with input from the public and our state and federal partners. Projects like this bring good-paying jobs to communities in Wyoming and across the West and illustrates the BLM’s commitment to modernizing the nation’s infrastructure.”The BLM worked with PacifiCorp, federal partners and the state of Wyoming to establish an innovative and collaborative approach to mitigating impacts caused by the construction of the lines, according to the release. This approach will fund and establish processes for selecting mitigation projects to offset impacts to wildlife, greater sage-grouse and other resources within the project area.
Additional information, including the National Environmental Policy Act documents, can be found on the BLM’s ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/65164/510. For more information on the Gateway West Transmission Line Project, contact BLM Wyoming Deputy State Director of Communications Brad Purdy at 307-775-6015
Wyo. Military Department to host Retiree Conference
On Friday and Saturday the Wyoming Military Department will host its annual Retiree Conference for Wyoming National Guard retirees, spouses and surviving spouses at the Joint Forces Readiness Center, 5800 Central Ave., Cheyenne.
Friday events begin at 3:30 p.m. with registration and a provider fair. A light dinner will be served at 5 p.m., followed by a brief for attendees from senior leaders on current events within the Wyoming National Guard at 6 p.m.
Saturday events include a light breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by updates from Wyoming AARP, Survivor Outreach Services, Tricare, the Wyoming Veterans Commission and the Cheyenne VA Medical Center. Staff from the Cheyenne Old West Museum will be present for a history lesson. Attendees will also be offered assistance with estate planning, and have the opportunity to receive an updated ID card, if coordinated in advance. Events will conclude at 2 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, or to RSVP, contact Kenton Franklin by email at kenton.franklin@wyo.gov or by phone at 307-630-4062. Saturday events will be livestreamed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NHY4XHaaC4.
Governor to convene Mental Health Summit
Gov. Mark Gordon’s office announced Thursday that the governor will convene a Mental Health Summit on Oct. 11 in Casper.
“Mental health continues to be a rising concern for many in our great state. In 2020, Wyoming, sadly, had the highest rate of death by suicide in the nation,” Gordon said in a news release. “In order to address the scope of the problem, we must be actively engaged in finding solutions. Building partnerships and enhancing collaboration will help deliver timely services to those experiencing difficulty accessing help.”
Encompassing a holistic approach, Gordon, alongside members of the legislative and judicial branches, is set to discuss the state of mental health in Wyoming. Bringing together various perspectives from community partners, private providers and state leaders, panel discussions will highlight current efforts and the development of a common agenda for addressing mental health and substance abuse in Wyoming.
The keynote speaker, Rob Anda, developer of the Adverse Childhood Experiences research and founder of ACE Interface, will lead a panel discussion highlighting the importance of establishing trauma-responsive communities.
The summit is scheduled to run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nicolaysen Art Museum, 400 E. Collins Drive, Casper.
With support from the Hughes Charitable Foundation and Align, the summit is free of charge and open to anyone with an interest in learning how we can collectively move forward to improve mental health for all Wyoming residents. Attendees are requested to register at https://bit.ly/governors-mh-summit.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/worth-noting/article_4c0729de-32a6-11ed-86fa-2710f4e9b297.html
| 2022-09-14T14:03:56Z
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Park County commissioners are opposing a proposal to rename Squaw Teats — a pair of peaks in the county’s very southeastern corner — as Crow Woman Buttes.
CASPER — More than 40 Wyoming places now have new names, after a federal effort to remove a slur aimed at Indigenous women from federal landmarks.
The term “squaw” has historically been used, often derogatorily, as an ethnic and sexist slur. The Department of the Interior, under the leadership of Laguna Pueblo member Secretary Deb Haaland, issued an order last year calling for more than 650 public places in the United States that use the term to be renamed.
The department also replaced the term with “sq———” in official communications.
“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,” Haaland said in a statement Thursday.
Haaland is the first Indigenous person to serve in a cabinet position in the U.S.
Forty-one places in Wyoming now have new names. About a third of those are creeks, including the waterway west of Casper that has now been dubbed Platte Creek, for the river it empties into.
A Carbon County canyon with the offensive name is now known as Continental Divide Canyon. The site known as “Sq——— Teats” outside Meeteetse is now Crow Woman Buttes.
Several new site names in Wyoming also borrow terms from Indigenous languages, such as Kuchunteka’a Toyavi for a peak in Park County, Pannaite Naokwaide for a well-traveled creek in the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Tuka Naa’iya Po’I Hunu’u for a canyon in Teton County.
The new names will go into effect immediately, according to a statement from the department Thursday.
Haaland’s order created a task force that included representatives from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and other federal agencies. Local naming boards were able to make recommendations, but most of the renaming happened on the federal level.
Tribal governments of “nearly” 70 tribes also participated in nation-to-nation consultations, resulting in “several hundred” recommendations for new names, Thursday’s statement said.
Many of the new names come from nearby landmarks, including mountains, streams or springs.
A full list of names changed under this order, as well as a map with each location, is available on the U.S. Geographical Survey website.
Before the Interior’s order, just one federal place with the derogatory term in its name — a lake in Yellowstone National Park — had been changed in Wyoming, to Indian Pond in 1981.
In June, a Yellowstone peak named after an Army lieutenant who led a massacre of Native Americans was renamed to First Peoples Mountain, after an unanimous vote by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
“Names that still use derogatory terms are an embarrassing legacy of this country’s colonialist and racist past,” said John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, in a statement following Haaland’s announcement. “It is well-past time for us, as a nation, to move forward, beyond these derogatory terms, and show Native people — and all people — equal respect.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/wyoming-places-undergo-name-changes/article_b10da2ae-32a1-11ed-9ba9-fbca2008dad1.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:02Z
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As statewide primaries continue through the summer, many Americans are beginning to think about which candidates they will support in the 2022 general election.
This decision-making process is fraught with difficulties, especially for inexperienced voters.
Voters must navigate angry, emotion-laden conversations about politics when trying to sort out whom to vote for. Americans are more likely than ever to view politics in moral terms, meaning their political conversations sometimes feel like epic battles between good and evil.
But political conversations are also shaped by, obviously, what Americans know – and, less obviously, what they think they know – about politics.
In recent research, I studied how Americans’ perceptions of their own political knowledge shape their political attitudes. My results show that many Americans think they know much more about politics than they really do.
Knowledge deficit, confidence surplus
Over the past five years, I have studied the phenomenon of what I call “political overconfidence.” My work, in tandem with other researchers’ studies, reveals the ways it thwarts democratic politics.
Political overconfidence can make people more defensive of factually wrong beliefs about politics. It also causes Americans to underestimate the political skill of their peers. And those who believe themselves to be political experts often dismiss the guidance of real experts.
Political overconfidence also interacts with political partisanship, making partisans less willing to listen to peers across the aisle.
The result is a breakdown in the ability to learn from one another about political issues and events.
A ‘reality check’ experiment
In my most recent study on the subject, I tried to find out what would happen when politically overconfident people found out they were mistaken about political facts.
To do this, I recruited a sample of Americans to participate in a survey experiment via the Lucid recruitment platform. In the experiment, some respondents were shown a series of statements that taught them to avoid common political falsehoods. For instance, one statement explained that while many people believe that Social Security will soon run out of money, the reality is less dire than it seems.
My hypothesis was that most people would learn from the statements, and become more wary of repeating common political falsehoods. However, as I have found in my previous studies, a problem quickly emerged.
The problem
First, I asked respondents a series of basic questions about American politics. This quiz included topics like which party controls the House of Representatives – the Democrats – and who the current Secretary of Energy is – Jennifer Granholm. Then, I asked them how well they thought they did on the quiz.
Many respondents who believed they were top performers were actually among those who scored the worst. Much akin to the results of a famous study by Dunning and Kruger, the poorest performers did not generally realize that they lagged behind their peers.
Of the 1,209 people who participated, around 70% were overconfident about their knowledge of politics. But this basic pattern was not the most worrying part of the results.
The overconfident respondents failed to change their attitudes in response to my warnings about political falsehoods. My investigation showed that they did read the statements, and could report details about what they said. But their attitudes toward falsehoods remained inflexible, likely because they – wrongly – considered themselves political experts.
But if I could make overconfident respondents more humble, would they actually take my warnings about political falsehoods to heart?
Poor self-assessment
My experiment sought to examine what happens when overconfident people are told their political knowledge is lacking. To do this, I randomly assigned respondents to receive one of three experimental treatments after taking the political knowledge quiz. These were as follows:
• Respondents received statements teaching them to avoid political falsehoods.
• Respondents did not receive the statements.
• Respondents received both the statements and a “reality check” treatment. The reality check showed how respondents fared on the political quiz they took at the beginning of the survey. Along with their raw score, the report showed how respondents ranked among 1,000 of their peers.
For example, respondents who thought they had aced the quiz might have learned that they got one out of five questions right, and that they scored worse than 82% of their peers. For many overconfident respondents, this “reality check” treatment brought them down to earth. They reported much less overconfidence on average when I followed up with them.
Finally, I asked all the respondents in the study to report their levels of skepticism toward five statements. These statements are all common political falsehoods. One statement, for example, asserted that violent crime had risen over the prior decade – it hadn’t. Another claimed the U.S. spent 18% of the federal budget on foreign aid – the real number was less than 1%.
I expected most respondents who had received my cautionary statements to become more skeptical of these misinformed statements. On average, they did. But did overconfident respondents learn this lesson too?
Reality check: Mission accomplished
The results of the study showed that overconfident respondents began to take political falsehoods seriously only if they had experienced my “reality check” treatment first.
While overconfident respondents in other conditions showed no reaction, the humbling nature of the “reality check,” when they realized how wrong they had been, led overconfident participants in that condition to revise their beliefs. They increased their skepticism of political falsehoods by a statistically significant margin.
Overall, this “reality check” experiment was a success. But it reveals that outside of the experiment, political overconfidence stands in the way of many Americans’ ability to accurately perceive political reality.
The problem of political overconfidence
What, if anything, can be done about the widespread phenomenon of political overconfidence?
While my research cannot determine whether political overconfidence is increasing over time, it makes intuitive sense that this problem would be growing in importance in an era of online political discourse. In the online realm, it is often difficult to appraise the credibility of anonymous users. This means that false claims are easily spread by uninformed people who merely sound confident.
To combat this problem, social media companies and opinion leaders could seek ways to promote discourse that emphasizes humility and self-correction. Because confident, mistaken self-expression can easily drown out more credible voices in the online realm, social media apps could consider promoting humility by reminding posters to reconsider the “stance,” or assertiveness, of their posts.
While this may seem far-fetched, recent developments show that small nudges can lead to powerful shifts in social media users’ online behavior.
For example, Twitter’s recent inclusion of a pop-up message that asks would-be posters of news articles to “read before tweeting” caused users to rethink their willingness to share potentially misleading content.
A gentle reminder to avoid posting bold claims without evidence is just one possible way that social media companies could encourage good online behavior. With another election season soon upon us, such a corrective is urgently needed.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/opinion/guest_column/americans-often-wrongly-think-they-know-a-lot-about-politics/article_7c877d2e-32a2-11ed-a585-1b88ca19cd7b.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:08Z
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Fifteen years ago this week I lost my son.
I never use that word — “lost”. I hate it. I have always said he passed as if passing into a new life on the other side, passing into heaven or passing through the white light explained where he went.
The term “lost” made me feel like I would forever be searching for him, that there would be a chance he would return, rejoin my life and tell stories of his adventures. When someone is lost there is always the hope that they will be found.
Death doesn’t work that way.
Grieving a child is an endless process; a roller coaster of heart-stopping drops and endless climbing. We climb to be strong enough to walk through life with the outward look of normality while covering the permanent inner change of our DNA. And we are changed. Every tiny molecule of our DNA is changed.
I remember a conversation with my older son after the funeral when he said, “Mom, what will it be like when he has been gone 10 years? What if we forget him?”
My response was, “Oh honey, 10 years is a long time away. And we will never forget him!”
Well, that marker came and went and here we are at 15 years. Sentiments like “getting over it,” “being done” or “forgetting” do not relate to my grief. If that were true, wouldn’t 15 years be long enough?
Fifteen years ago this week my son passed, but he isn’t lost. He sits with me when I write and stands with me when I speak. He giggles through the twinkle in his daughter’s eyes and belly laughs with us when we share stories of him. I can feel his baby hand wrap around my finger as I rocked him and hear his cries in the night. He comes back to me when I drive his truck and he sings along when Bob Dylan is played on the radio.
He would be 37 now, but he is not. My memories flash from his movements in my belly as I carried him to seeing him the last time when he was 22. Forever 22, as people say when talking about a loved one who has passed.
I remember my 22-year-old son with clarity as if he were sitting in front of me as I type this. His beard, his smile, his crooked baseball cap and his laugh. I remember how it felt to be hugged by him while the bristles of his beard brushed against my face.
For 15 years I have searched these memories. I have closed my eyes as I held his guitar to hear him sing as he played it. I have opened plastic bins to unfold and refold his favorite clothes, holding them tightly to my face in hopes of smelling a faint scent of him. I have driven his truck to feel his hands on mine as together we hold the steering wheel.
These memories don’t wear out and are never used up.
Fifteen years ago this week my son passed. Fifteen years is a long time, but not long enough to get over it, be done with grief or forget him. The reality is that I loved him from his first movements in my belly and I will grieve for him until the day I pass into a new life, into heaven or walk into the white light to join him.
When I do, I am sure he will say, “Mom, I never left you and now your grieving ends. It has been long enough.”
Pennie’s Life Lesson: When your loved one dies, they are never lost. They are always with you.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/opinion/guest_column/isn-t-15-years-long-enough/article_a0d14bce-32a2-11ed-bf3d-834c02214cf6.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:14Z
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After flirting with yet another FCS scare for the first 3½ quarters, the University of Wyoming put the possibility of an upset loss to rest with a strong finish Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium.
The Cowboys’ previous three games against FCS opponents were decided by less than a touchdown, but that wouldn’t be the case against Northern Colorado. Leading by only six midway through the fourth quarter, UW scored 17 consecutive points over the final seven minutes to beat the Bears 33-10.
“I’m not sure,” sophomore Joshua Cobbs said when asked about the source of the Cowboys’ struggles against FCS teams. “But we banded together and came out here and busted it open, so I think that’s the most important thing.”
Cobbs had one of the key plays that allowed the Pokes (2-1) to turn a close contest into a rout during the closing moments.
Following a three-and-out by UNC (0-2) in which Wyoming got pressure on the quarterback on three straight incompletions, the Cowboys took over at midfield with a chance to extend a 16-10 lead. They ran the ball four times for 24 yards to start the drive, and had another running play called on second-and-two from the Bears’ 34-yard line.
Junior quarterback Andrew Peasley checked to a pass, however, and Cobbs hauled in a one-handed, 17-yard reception just inside the sideline. A replay review confirmed that Cobbs landed one foot in bounds, with the catch setting up a 35-yard field goal by sophomore kicker John Hoyland that extended UW’s lead to nine points.
“I thought that was big,” Peasley said. “That’s just kind of a call with us. That’s a run play, and I’m checking to (Cobbs) to give him a chance. I thought I missed the ball a little too much to the sideline, and he made a spectacular catch. It was good. It sparked everyone.”
Added Cobbs: “We practice that a lot in practice – coming down, and making sure you stay in bounds for the catch. To be able to do something like that is always exciting.”
The Pokes forced a turnover on downs when UNC got the ball back, and junior running back Titus Swen busted a 22-yard touchdown run on the first play of the next possession to stretch the lead to 16 points with 3:45 remaining. Swen added his third rushing touchdown of the day from one yard out following an interception by sophomore linebacker Shae Suiaunoa that was returned to the 3-yard line, extending UW’s advantage to 23 points with just under two minutes left.
This marked one of three takeaways for the Cowboys, who won the turnover battle 3-0. Miles Williams forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow safety Wyett Ekeler on UNC’s final drive of the game, while sophomore cornerback Cam Stone picked off Northern Colorado quarterback Dylan McCaffrey early in the second quarter for his first career interception.
“It felt good,” Stone said of his interception. “I was actually thinking, ‘Why would he throw that?’ I wouldn’t have thrown it, but I was happy that it came my way.”
While UW finished the game strong, it got off to a rocky start on the offensive side of the ball. UNC – which allowed 512 yards and 46 points to FCS Houston Baptist the previous week – held the Cowboys to just 133 yards in the first half, while keeping them out of the end zone.
The Cowboys only got in the red zone once in the first two quarters, making it to the Bears’ 6-yard line on their first possession before being held to a field goal. They appeared to make it to the UNC 15-yard line just past the midway point of the second quarter on a seven-yard gain by Swen. However, a block in the back penalty pushed the Pokes back to a first-and-16 from the 28-yard line, and they failed to move the chains again on the drive.
“There were some good things, and there was some resolve, but there are certainly things (we need to get better at),” UW coach Craig Bohl said. “We have a young football team, and we have a long way to go. There are things to improve.”
Hoyland provided all of UW’s nine points in the first half, connecting on field goal attempts from 23, 39 and 41 yards, while the defense allowed no points and just 68 yards. All three of UNC’s first downs in the first two quarters came during the opening drive, which ended on a turnover on downs. The Bears proceeded to punt on four of their next five possessions, with Stone’s interception occurring on the other drive.
Northern Colorado got its first points of the game on a field goal midway through the third quarter, after calling a successful fake punt from its 44-yard line to extend the drive. However, this setback seemed to inject a sense of urgency into UW’s offense, which answered back with a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
With UNC honing in on the Pokes’ run-heavy attack, UW turned to the air. Peasley connected with Cobbs for a 15-yard gain across the middle on the second play of the drive, and junior wideout Wyatt Wieland hauled in a 26-yard catch despite defensive pass interference on the next snap.
Swen scored from six yards out seven plays later, UW’s first rushing touchdown of the season, to stretch the lead to 16-3.
“It was good,” Peasley said. “I said, ‘Where was this at in the first quarter?’ You could tell in the huddle that I was looking at dudes like, ‘Let’s go,’ and we were fired up. I think we just need to come out every game in the beginning with a mindset of, ‘We have to score.’ We have to get in there and get in the red zone, and finish plays.”
The Bears cut the lead to six again 12 seconds into the fourth quarter, as receiver Trevis Graham found quarterback Jacob Sirmon for a touchdown on a fourth-down reverse pass from the 6-yard line, but they were held to a total of 18 yards the rest of the way and didn’t score again.
UW out-gained UNC 293-147, with pressure on the quarterback making a difference down the stretch. Redshirt freshman defensive end Oluwaseyi Omotosho recorded three sacks, while Suiaunoa and sophomore linebacker Easto Gibbs added one sack each.
The Cowboys will go for their third consecutive win in Friday’s Mountain West opener against Air Force. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.
Josh Criswell covers the University of Wyoming for WyoSports. He can be reached at jcriswell@wyosports.net or 307-755-3325. Follow him on Twitter at @criswell_sports.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/sports/pokes-pull-away-from-unc-after-rocky-start/article_4044566e-32a4-11ed-b19e-8707d2902b71.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:21Z
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University of Wyoming junior tight end Treyton Welch, right, misses a catch during the Cowboys’ 33-10 victory over Northern Colorado on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.
University of Wyoming’s junior quarterback Andrew Peasley (6) runs out of the pocket and continues to look for a pass downfield during a football game at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
University of Wyoming junior tight end Treyton Welch, right, misses a catch during the Cowboys’ 33-10 victory over Northern Colorado on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.
University of Wyoming’s junior quarterback Andrew Peasley (6) runs out of the pocket and continues to look for a pass downfield during a football game at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
Coming off a performance in which it allowed Tulsa to throw for 460 yards and three touchdowns, the University of Wyoming’s passing defense was a driving force in Saturday’s 33-10 win over Northern Colorado.
The Cowboys – who entered the game ranked last in the Mountain West in both passing yards allowed and opponent’s completion percentage – forced a pair of interceptions, while holding the pass-happy Bears to 132 yards on 16 of 36 passing. UNC threw for 425 yards, four touchdowns and an interception on 65% passing the previous week against Houston Baptist.
Sixty-two of the Bears’ 132 passing yards came on three completions, while only one of their other 33 attempts went for more than nine yards.
“As a whole, we took (our struggles stopping the pass) into a great deal of consideration this week,” sophomore cornerback Cam Stone said. “Me personally, I expected way more for myself, and I was going to show it. I think we did that, and I think I did that. It’s all about consistency now.”
The Cowboys’ pressure on the quarterback also played a key role in Northern Colorado’s inability to establish the passing game.
They recorded a season-high five sacks and 10 quarterback hurries, with UNC failing to find a rhythm with either Dylan McCaffrey or Jacob Sirmon behind center. Junior defensive tackle Cole Godbout led the Pokes with three quarterback hurries, while redshirt freshman defensive end Oluwaseyi Omotosho – who recorded his first career sack Saturday – took down the quarterback three times.
“I think it played a big factor,” Omotosho said. “We were all getting pressure, and we were game planning for those tackles, specifically. I think that pressure did a great deal.”
FCS close calls
Coming into Saturday, the Pokes’ previous three games against FCS opponents had been decided by five points or less – with UW needing a last-minute touchdown to avoid an upset in two of these matchups.
While that wasn’t the case against UNC, it appeared this trend might continue until the latter stages of the fourth quarter. The Bears closed the gap to six with 14:48 remaining, and after forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, they got the ball back with a chance to take the lead. That’s as close as it would get, though, as UNC’s final four drives resulted in a punt, a turnover on downs, an interception and a fumble.
UW coach Craig Bohl, who won three consecutive national championships at North Dakota State from 2011-13, is well-versed in the types of challenges that FCS teams can present.
“What you have is it’s an opportunity for players to prove that they belong on a different stage, so you’re going to get max effort,” Bohl said. “We told our guys that. I think sometimes you go, ‘Yeah, the old coach doesn’t know what the heck he’s talking about,’ but every game that we’ve had has been somewhat challenging. We anticipated that today, and we certainly got that.”
Familiar foe
The Cowboys’ receivers had plenty of familiarity with one player in the opposing secondary, with UNC senior Cameron Murray transferring in from during the off-season after four years with Wyoming.
Murray finished with seven tackles, all solo stops, and one pass breakup.
“We used to work out together every day in the (Indoor Practice Facility) after practice, so it was a fun matchup,” sophomore receiver Joshua Cobbs said.
Injury update
While the Cowboys came away with a win Saturday, they might have incurred a loss in the injury department.
Veteran offensive tackle Frank Crum, one of only two returning starters on the offensive line, was helped off the field during the second quarter after suffering an injury. He did not return, and it was unclear immediately after the game what his status was for Friday’s game against Air Force.
Josh Criswell covers the University of Wyoming for WyoSports. He can be reached at jcriswell@wyosports.net or 307-755-3325. Follow him on Twitter at @criswell_sports.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/sports/uw-pass-defense-makes-strides-in-dominant-performance/article_77c1282e-32a4-11ed-b3b7-8bd054e7c347.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:27Z
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“We live in such an age of chatter and distraction. Everything is a challenge for the ears and eyes.”
– Rebecca Pidgeon
About two years ago during the peak of the pandemic, my wife, daughter Tiffany and I decided to put together a package of goodies for my son, Joshua, his wife Maca, daughter Sasa and sons, Cloud and Dasty (pronounced “Dusty”). We filled a plastic grocery bag with PEZ candy and some wooden jigsaw puzzles.
In an effort to comply with the CDC mandate of minimizing face-to-face contact, we planned on stealthily placing the bag on Joshua’s doorstep and calling him a few minutes later to let him know about the location of the surprise package.
We drove to Joshua’s house and I quietly placed the bag on his doorstep. Everything appeared to be proceeding as planned as we drove away from Joshua’s house. I did notice that a pizza delivery car passed by us as we were headed back home.
When we perceived that enough time had passed, Tiffany called Joshua and told him about the present that we left on his doorstep. Joshua told Tiffany that a pizza had recently been delivered to his house, but that he did not notice any package on his doorstep. Joshua returned to and opened his front door, but he did not see our present.
After Joshua spent a few minutes unsuccessfully searching for the package, our minds began to speculate on what possibly could have happened to our gift. We then told Joshua about the contents of the package. Shortly thereafter, Joshua laughed into his phone as he noticed that his then 4 year-old son Dasty was sitting on the couch eating PEZ candy while playing with a wooden jigsaw puzzle. Dasty (whose eyes were and are much closer to ground level) saw and advantageously appropriated our surprise package while Joshua was distracted by the pizza delivery.
It is easy to understand why Joshua did not initially notice our gift. Mortal life has lots of moving parts and it can be quite complicated and distracting at times. However, I do not understand why so many allow themselves to be distracted and absorbed by the internet.
I humbly ask that you not allow artificial distractions such as those provided by social media to cause you to be inattentive to the very real and fabulous gifts that await you in our mortal world. No, I’m not asking you to throw away your pads and smart phones. We all know that internet technology has become an integral part of our lives.
I am simply asking that you expend more of your precious time and energy focusing upon our real world. For example, rather than reaching out to family and friends via an internet messenger service, just call and speak to them in real time. Better yet, if they live within your vicinity, call and invite them to go to breakfast, lunch or dinner with you.
For the past year, I have had the opportunity to regularly visit and interact with each of my four sons (who all live and work in Cheyenne) while we eat lunch together. Our face-to-face conversations are so much more meaningful than text messages. I so despised the coronavirus pandemic because it greatly impeded my personal interactions with those whom I so love and cherish.
If you have a friend who lives near you, please promptly call and invite her/him to go to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Then, enjoy yourself as you eat a good meal while personally communicating with your friend.
The time has come for us to reengage our real world.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/the-time-has-come-for-us-to-reengage-the-real-world/article_95c4bf22-3388-11ed-8d90-33411c3a1f3e.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:33Z
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...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Much of southeast Wyoming. Some locations impacted include
but are not limited to Douglas, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Pine
Bluffs, Cheyenne, Laramie, Shirley Basin, and Muddy Gap.
WHEN...Through 1 PM MDT Today.
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from distant wildfires.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/today-tomorrow/article_7c7a55fe-3432-11ed-84ab-ff17aa71c5a1.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:39Z
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CHEYENNE – Through his days as a fan, a player and a coach, there isn’t much Chad Goff hasn’t seen happen during a football game.
That changed Friday when senior Dom Kaszas returned not one, but two punts for touchdowns during the first quarter of the Thunderbirds’ win at Thunder Basin. The first return spanned 50 yards, while the second covered 80 yards and gave No. 1-ranked East a 14-0 lead over the third-ranked Bolts.
“I rarely look at the statistics when we get them,” Goff said. “But I was told one of his TDs was labeled wrong, so I reached out to the statistician. I wanted to make sure our punt return team got credit for both, because – in all my years – I can’t remember someone returning two in a game, let alone two in a quarter.”
Kaszas’ contributions to the victory weren’t limited to special teams. He also caught five passes for 108 yards and intercepted a pass.
Those efforts helped the T-Birds leave Gillette with a 52-42 victory. They also earned Kaszas Prep Athlete of the Week honors from WyoSports’ Cheyenne staff.
Kaszas earned all-state honors for Class 4A state champion Sheridan last season. He led the Broncs in receiving, but his 37.8 yards per game ranked just outside the 4A top 10. Kaszas was a threat in the passing game, but made his name on special teams, where he ranked third in the state in kickoff return average (27.9 yards per attempt) and fourth in punt return average (18.1 ypa). He returned one of each for a touchdown.
“Both teams I’ve been on have been good with their schemes and execution,” Kaszas said. “They emphasize that you have to block and then get around the edge. Once you get around the corner they set, being fast helps. Returns are at least 80% on the guys in front of me.
“I know where things are supposed to develop. Once you read the defense and see what happens, that’s when speed and instincts take over.”
Kaszas has skills that can’t be coached, Goff said. The coach also echoed Kaszas’ sentiments about East’s return team.
“He broke a tackle and then broke two more tackles. That’s the kind of stuff that makes him special,” Goff said. “If you take (Kaszas’) speed and athleticism and combine it with the way the kids in front of him work hard to make great blocks, those are game-changers. Those other 10 guys in front of him and how they’re coached by coach (Jesse) Blunn is what made Friday such a special night.
“As a group, we’ve had great returns all year long. All 11 players on those units are doing a great job.”
Kaszas currently ranks sixth in 4A in receiving average at 60.3 yards per game. He leads the state in punt and kickoff return average at 41.5 and 30.5 yards per attempt, respectively.
“He hasn’t just been special on special teams,” Goff said. “He has had some great catches on offense. He sees cuts really well when he has the ball. He is so good about putting his foot in the ground and turning.
“He makes it look so fast and effortless. And he’s contributing on defense.”
Kaszas moved to Cheyenne after his mother and stepfather got jobs here. He embraced the change, despite the fact he was going into his senior year.
“I had a great group of friends up in Sheridan, and I miss them, but these guys took me in from day one and made me feel like I’ve lived here for years,” said Kaszas, who moved to Sheridan in elementary school. “I knew a couple of guys here outside of competing against them in sports before we decided to move.
“I started to get to know a couple more before we got here. It’s been a really smooth transition.”
Others recognized for their efforts include:
n Madisyn Baillie and Brooklynn Sullivan, volleyball, Cheyenne Central: Baillie had 13 kills and 11 digs in the Lady Indians’ five-set win over visiting Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Sullivan added 21 digs and 13 kills.
n Izzy DeLay and Brinkley Lewis, girls swimming and diving, Central: DeLay won all six individual events she swam on the week, including wins in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke at the Cheyenne Invitational.
Lewis won diving at all three meets she competed in.
n Quincy Dereemer, Ashli Smedley and Genesis Tyler, girls tennis, Central: Dereemer and Tyler went 2-0 during duals with Torrington and Rawlins. They were the Lady Indians’ No. 1 doubles tandem in one dual and No. 2 in another.
Smedley, Central’s No. 1 singles player, also went 2-0.
n Elysiana Fonseca, Gracin Goff, Boden Liljedahl and Bradie Schlabs, volleyball, East: Fonseca posted 13 kills and five blocks during the Lady Thunderbirds’ four-set win Tuesday at Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Goff dished out 28 assists, while Liljedahl finished with 29 digs.
Schlabs recorded 20 assists, 12 digs and 10 kills.
n Cam Hayes, football, East: The junior quarterback completed 16 of 32 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns to help the Thunderbirds to a 52-42 win at Thunder Basin. He also rushed for 58 yards and two touchdowns.
n Sydni Sawyer, girls swimming, East: The junior won three events and placed second in another during the week.
Jeremiah Johnke is the WyoSports editor. He can be reached at jjohnke@wyosports.net or 307-633-3137. Follow him on Twitter at @jjohnke.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/high_school/prep_athlete/dom-kaszas-impacted-easts-win-in-all-three-phases/article_fcde0e1a-3398-11ed-b413-8b5ca5d6be15.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:45Z
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Regional Overview
Fall has arrived. With the sudden cool down last weekend, warmer weather returned. This time it’s more seasonal, though, with rather nippy nights and warming in the day. Expect showers, especially today and then off and on through at least Friday. There’s a chance for breezes to kick up this weekend, but mostly not until the afternoons. It’s a great weekend to get outside to hike, bike, fish or maybe just lounge around. Leaves are changing, with some color in the Snowy Range and just getting going in areas of Pole Mountain.
Ranking Categories
H (One fish): to ensure fish dinner go to the local grocery store
HHHHH (Five fish): toss a line and get a fish; the fish aren’t picky
Granite, Crystal and North Crow reservoirs
HH½
The buzz: The fishing picked up with the cooler weather. The bike trails will be busy on Saturday with the Gowdy Grinder, the major fundraiser for the Cheyenne youth mountain bike teams. Racers can be expected on the trails throughout the morning. Give them a little space and cheer them on as they pass.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers
Salmon eggs
Mepps
Rapalas
Woolly worms and buggers
Hare’s ears
Damsel nymphs
Scuds
Sloans and Absarraca lakes
HH½
The buzz: For those looking to toss a line to start or end the day, these lakes are a great option. Both are fishing well and should get even better as temperatures cool.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Worms
Powerbait
Salmon eggs
Marshmallows
Adams
Copper Johns
Renegades
Pole Mountain
HHH
The buzz: The fishing is good across Pole Mountain. The leaves are starting to turn, with the color only improving as fall progresses. The trails at Happy Jack Recreation Area and Turtle Rock are great options for hiking and mountain biking.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Worms
Power bait
Kastmasters
Orange scuds
Elk hair caddis
Blue-winged olives
Hornberg
Copper Johns
Hot head leeches
Laramie Plains lakes
HH½
The buzz: The fishing is fair to good across the basin. The best action is at Meeboer, while it’s slower at Twin Buttes. Those willing to take a longer drive will find the fishing fair to good at Diamond Lake. Anglers report catching some nice rainbow at Lake Hattie and the kokanee action is picking up there as well. The action is good at Gelatt, while there is still a cyanobacterial bloom advisory at Leazenby.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers
Salmon eggs
Rapalas
Wooly buggers
Scuds
Bead head prince nymphs
Circus peanut
Laramie River
HH
The buzz: The river is running low, especially as it nears Laramie. The fishing is slow but fish are still being caught. Look for the deeper pools for those large brown trout that tend to become more active this time of year.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Worms
Salmon eggs
Panther martins
Grasshoppers
Elk hair caddis
Blue-winged olives
Hot head leech
Bead head pheasant tail
San Juan worms
Snowy Range
HHH
The buzz: The fishing is good to very good across the Snowy Range, and the leaf change is picking up. Lake Owen is fishing well while the action is slower at Rob Roy Reservoir. Those out on boats at Rob Roy are having better luck than those casting from the shore. Get to the high elevation lakes before snow arrives, which could happen any time now.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers
Panther martins
Elk hair caddis
Scuds
Parachute Adams
Ants
Zug bugs
Squirrel leeches
North Platte River and Encampment River – Saratoga Valley
HH
The buzz: The fishing action is on the slow side in the upper reaches of the North Platte River. The flows are low, making wading-fishing a good option from the state line up to Treasure Island. The Encampment River is also low, but anglers are having some luck early in the day.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Panther martins
Kastmasters
Worms
Chubby Chernobyls
Pat’s rubberlegs
Bead-head prince nymphs
Sparkle duns
Lightning bugs
North Platte River – Grey Reef
HHH
The buzz: The fishing is good to very good, although the moss requires good aim to avoid pulling in nothing but vegetation. That growth typically goes away with the cooler weather.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Grasshoppers
Tricos
Adams
Hot head leeches
San Juan worms
Sprout midges
Sparkle wings
Orange blossom specials
North Platte River – Miracle Mile
HHH
The buzz: The action is good to very good. Water levels can fluctuate with downstream water and electrical needs, but it tends to run around 500 cubic feet per second. This flow rate makes great conditions for wade-fishing.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
San Juan worms
Rock worms
Pheasant tails
Juju baetis
Hares ears
Scuds
Hot head leeches
Thin mints
Wheatland Reservoir No. 3
HH
The buzz: The fishing is good, but on the slow side in the middle of the day. The algal bloom continues near the dam. There’s still plenty of angling, but just be on the lookout for the algal and avoid those areas.
Suggest bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers
Marshmallows
Panther martins
Rapalas
Hornbergs
Wooly buggers
Damsel nymphs
Glendo
HH½
The buzz: The walleye fishing is on the slow side while the reservoir remains low. That is normal this time of year with water levels expected to gradually rise. The boat ramps at the Marina and Reno Cove are open. The ramp at Whiskey Gulch is under repairs.
Suggest bait, lures and flies:
Bottom bouncers
Nightcrawlers on worm harnesses
Shad raps in perch, shad
Spoons
Crank baits
Blood baits (for catfish in the liver and beef flavors)
Vertical jigging
Grayrocks Reservoir
HHH
The buzz: The fishing is quite good, and should get even better with the cooler fall temperatures. Anglers report catching everything from walleye to perch as well as crappie and bass. There’s something for everyone.
Suggest bait, lures and flies:
Worm harnesses with leeches
Nightcrawlers on worm harnesses (gold, silver, burnt orange blades)
Blood baits for catfish (chicken, liver, beef and cheese flavors)
Hawk Springs
HH½
The buzz: Both the walleye and catfish action is good to very good. With the changing season, the recreational activity in the middle of the day should be minimal, allowing good angling throughout the day.
Suggest bait, lures and flies:
Worm harnesses with leeches
Nightcrawlers with worm harnesses (gold, silver, burnt orange blades)
Blood baits (for catfish in the liver and beef flavors)
Cheese
Reservoir levels
Alcova: 98.1% full
Boysen: 88.0% full
Guernsey: 60.5% full
Glendo: 20.1% full
Grey Reef: 88.7% full
Keyhole: 64.1% full
Pathfinder: 28.4% full
Seminoe: 50.7% full
River flows
North Platte River at Northgate: 69 cubic feet per second
North Platte River above Seminoe Reservoir: 125 cfs
North Platte River near Miracle Mile: 539 cfs
North Platte River at Grey Reef: 2,260 cfs
Encampment River near town of Encampment: 24 cfs
Encampment River at Hog Park: 21 cfs
Laramie River near Laramie: 14 cfs
Boat ramp openings
Glendo Reservoir: The Marina and Reno Cove ramps are open.
Guernsey Reservoir: All ramps are open.
Boysen Reservoir: All ramps are open.
Seminoe Reservoir: All ramps are open.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/other_sports/community/fishing-report-for-sept-14-2022/article_e4435a40-3393-11ed-9a6f-9bb29d0b076b.html
| 2022-09-14T14:04:51Z
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Amber Alert issued for girl reportedly taken outside school in Missouri
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) - Authorities are searching for a missing 12-year-old girl who they say was taken from outside her school.
Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert for Natonja Holmes late Tuesday night, according to KMOV. Ferguson police are reporting Holmes was taken from outside Ferguson Middle School at about 2:30 p.m. Monday.
Holmes is described to be 4 feet, 7 inches tall with brown eyes and braided black hair. She weighs about 120 pounds and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.
According to police, two unidentified Black females abducted her. One suspect had long braids and was wearing a white T-shirt and red shorts while the other was wearing a pink hat and turquoise leggings.
Holmes was last seen in a blue minivan that police say is either an older model Blue Kia Sedona or Dodge van with no front or rear license plates.
The Ferguson Police Department initially reported her disappearance on Facebook Monday.
The case was updated Wednesday morning when police said investigators reviewed surveillance images and Holmes’ family indicated that they did not recognize the suspects nor the vehicle captured on camera.
Anyone with information about Holmes’ whereabouts should call 911 or the Ferguson Police Department at 314-522-3100.
Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/14/amber-alert-issued-girl-reportedly-taken-outside-school-missouri/
| 2022-09-14T14:08:23Z
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Birthdays: 9.14.22
Happy Birthday to all who celebrate on this day!!
Published: Sep. 14, 2022 at 9:23 AM EDT|Updated: 44 minutes ago
Birthdays: 9.14.22
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
Birthdays: 9.14.22
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/14/birthdays-91422/
| 2022-09-14T14:08:29Z
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Businesses, White House plan for possible rail strike Friday
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Business and government officials are bracing for the possibility of a nationwide rail strike at the end of this week while talks carry on between the largest U.S. freight railroads and their unions.
The railroads have already started to curtail shipments of hazardous materials and have announced plans to stop hauling refrigerated products ahead of Friday’s strike deadline. Now businesses that rely on Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern and other railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products have started planning for the worst.
Meanwhile, Biden administration officials are scrambling to develop a plan to use trucks, ships and planes to try to keep the most crucial chemicals and other goods moving if the railroads stop rolling. But the White House is also keeping the pressure on the two sides to settle their differences, and a growing number of business groups are lobbying Congress to be prepared to intervene and block a strike if they can’t reach an agreement.
“We have made crystal clear to the interested parties the harm that American families, business and farmers and communities would experience if they were not to reach a resolution,” White House press secretary Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. She said a shutdown is “not acceptable.”
In addition to all the businesses that rely on railroads to deliver their goods, passenger railroads are also affected because many of them operate on tracks owned by one of the freight railroads. Amtrak has already canceled several of its long-distance trains because there wouldn’t be enough time for them to reach their destinations before a strike or lockout would be allowed to begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
Amtrak already suspended its California Zephyr and Empire Builder lines that run from Chicago to the West Coast, and starting Wednesday it will stop running its City of New Orleans, Starlight and Texas Eagle lines along with several others.
Commuter railroads would also be affected. In Chicago, Metra warned its riders that it wouldn’t be able to run most of its trains if there is a strike.
The railroads have reached tentative agreements with most of their unions, including a ninth deal announced Tuesday, based on the recommendations of a Presidential Emergency Board Joe Biden appointed this summer that called for 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses in a five-year deal that’s retroactive to 2020. The deal also includes one additional paid leave day a year and higher health insurance costs.
But all 12 railroad unions must agree to prevent a strike. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union that represents engineers, and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers union that represents conductors want the railroads to address some of their concerns about unpredictable work schedules and strict attendance rules in addition to agreeing to the recommended wage increases.
Ron Kaminkow, general secretary of the Railroad Workers United labor coalition that includes workers from a variety of railroad unions, said he doesn’t think the unions are demanding much at this point — just the kind of things most U.S. workers already enjoy like the ability to take time off without being penalized.
“We have attendance policies that have gotten more and more and more draconian, that offer very, very little leeway for workers who need to take time off for doctor’s appointments, for time with family, to be rested,” Kaminkow said.
Starting Monday, all the major railroads put a hold on shipments of hazardous materials to ensure those dangerous chemicals wouldn’t be stranded along the tracks if there is a strike. Norfolk Southern told its customers that it will also stop accepting shipments of intermodal containers full of goods starting Wednesday evening as it prepares “for a controlled shutdown of the network.”
Some businesses would likely be affected more than others by a rail shutdown. For instance, nearly all ethanol and coal and most grain moves by rail.
___
Associated Press Writers Seung Min Kim and Zeke Miller contributed to this report from Washington D.C.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/14/businesses-white-house-plan-possible-rail-strike-friday/
| 2022-09-14T14:08:36Z
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Greece’s Irene Papas, who earned Hollywood fame, dies at 93
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Irene Papas, the Greek actress and recording artist renowned for her dramatic performances and austere beauty that earned her prominent roles in Hollywood movies as well as in French and Italian cinema over six decades has died. She was 93.
The Greek Culture Ministry confirmed her death Wednesday.
“Magnificent, majestic, dynamic, Irene Papas was the personification of Greek beauty on the cinema screen and on the theater stage, an international leading lady who radiated Greekness,” Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a statement.
Papas became known internationally following performances in “The Guns of Navarone” in 1961 and “Zorba the Greek” in 1964, acting alongside Hollywood stars Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. In all, she starred in more than 50 movies.
Born Irene Lelekou in a mountainous village near the southern Greek city of Corinth, Papas was the daughter of two schoolteachers. Her father was also a drama teacher.
Papas left home at 18 to marry Greek film director Alkis Papas despite her family’s disapproval. They divorced four years later. After the death of American Actor Marlon Brando in 2004, Papas revealed in an Italian newspaper interview that the two had been romantically involved.
A supporter of the Greek Communist Party, Papas was a vocal opponent of the military dictatorship that governed the country between 1967 and 1974 and lived much for life outside Greece, including in Rome and New York.
Papas was also known for her appearance in ancient Greek tragedies. Many of her iconic international movie roles were earned portraying Greek characters. But she also starred with Kirk Douglas in the 1968 crime drama “Brotherhood” and with James Cagney in the 1956 Western “Tribute to a Bad Man.”
Greek arts institutions thanked Papas for her support for younger actors. The Athens-based Greek Film Center described her as “The greatest Greek international film star,” adding: “Her image is a timeless imprint of Greek female beauty.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/14/greeces-irene-papas-who-earned-hollywood-fame-dies-93/
| 2022-09-14T14:08:42Z
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Man convicted of sending truck through family’s home in racial attack
STEARNS COUNTY, Minn. (WCCO) - A conviction is bringing comfort to a Minnesota family after racism drove hate directly into their home.
This week, a jury found a man guilty of tormenting a family in Cold Spring because of the color of their skin.
Just over a year after the Robinsons’ Ring doorbell caught a truck crashing through their home, a jury validated what the family knew. They were racially targeted.
“It’s incredibly hard to accept - we are a multi-racial family - that someone would want to harm my husband and my kids or me for simply being married to a Black man, that that level of hate exists,” said Andrea Robinson.
A jury found Benton Beyer guilty of stealing the truck, putting granite on the accelerator and letting it go with a teddy bear hanging from a noose inside.
It was the culmination of 80-plus days of stalking and harassment. Andrea Robinson had a restraining order against him.
“The experience has not only changed my life and my husband’s life, but it’s significantly impacted the lives of my children,” she said.
A year ago, her husband Philippe said, “How am I supposed to feel safe? My wife, my children don’t want to stay here, I understand ...”
But they did stay here, and Andrea Robinson said while they live with the trauma of what happened, now there is also relief.
“A year ago, we didn’t know we were supported and safe, but now we have a full neighborhood and community that has really stood behind us,” she said.
Andrea Robinson said her family wants to move forward while Beyer faces his punishment.
“I hope that whatever underlying issues Mr. Beyer has that he’s able to address those, and I hope the sentence gives him a long time to think about what he did,” she said.
Beyer will stay in custody at the Stearns County Jail until he is sentenced in mid-November.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/14/man-convicted-sending-truck-through-familys-home-racial-attack/
| 2022-09-14T14:08:49Z
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Multivitamins may be linked to better cognition in older adults, study says
(CNN) - A new study shows taking a daily multivitamin might help with brain function.
Over the course of three years, scientists talked to thousands of people 65 years old and older, and the ones who took a multivitamin slowed down cognitive aging by 60%, or nearly two years.
What’s more, there were even more benefits for people who had a history of heart disease.
Now scientists are questioning why multivitamins help.
They don’t have a clear answer yet. But it may be because multivitamins help out people who don’t have enough micronutrients, like vitamin C or magnesium, and that gets worse as people age.
Researchers said they’re not telling older adults to start taking multivitamins right away and recommended they talk to their doctor first.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/14/multivitamins-may-be-linked-better-cognition-older-adults-study-says/
| 2022-09-14T14:08:56Z
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Report: TikTok search results riddled with misinformation
(AP) - TikTok may be the platform of choice for catchy videos, but anyone using it to learn about COVID-19, climate change or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is likely to encounter misleading information, according to a research report published Wednesday.
Researchers at NewsGuard searched for content about prominent news topics on TikTok and say they found that nearly 1 in 5 of the videos automatically suggested by the platform contained misinformation.
Searches for information about “mRNA vaccine,” for instance, yielded five videos (out of the first 10) that contained misinformation, including baseless claims that the COVID-19 vaccine causes “permanent damage in children’s critical organs.”
Researchers looking for information about abortion, the 2020 election, the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, climate change or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on TikTok found similarly misleading videos scattered among more accurate clips.
The amount of misinformation — and the ease with which it can be found — is especially troubling given TikTok’s popularity with young people, according to Steven Brill, founder of NewsGuard, a firm that monitors misinformation.
TikTok is the second most popular domain in the world, according to online performance and security company Cloudflare, exceeded only by Google.
Brill questioned whether ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, is doing enough to stop misinformation or whether it deliberately allows misinformation to proliferate as a way to sow confusion in the U.S. and other Western democracies.
“It’s either incompetence or it’s something worse,” Brill told The Associated Press.
TikTok released a statement in response to NewsGuard’s report noting that its community guidelines prohibit harmful misinformation and that it works to promote authoritative content about important topics like COVID-19.
“We do not allow harmful misinformation, including medical misinformation, and we will remove it from the platform,” the company said.
TikTok has taken other steps that it says are intended to direct users to trustworthy sources. This year, for example, the company created an election center to help U.S. voters find voting places or information about candidates.
The platform removed more than 102 million videos that violated its rules in the first quarter of 2022. Yet only a tiny percentage of those ran afoul of TikTok’s rules against misinformation.
Researchers found that TikTok’s own search tool seems designed to steer users to false claims in some cases. When researchers typed the words “COVID vaccine” into the search tool, for instance, the tool suggested searches on key words including “COVID vaccine exposed” and “COVID vaccine injury.”
When the same search was run on Google, however, that search engine suggested searches relating to more accurate information about vaccine clinics, the different types of vaccines and booster shots.
TikTok’s rise in popularity has caught the attention of state officials and federal lawmakers, some of whom have expressed concerns about its data privacy and security.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on social media’s impact on the nation’s security. TikTok’s chief operating officer, Vanessa Pappas, is set to testify alongside representatives from YouTube, Twitter and Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of misinformation at https://apnews.com/hub/misinformation.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/14/report-tiktok-search-results-riddled-with-misinformation/
| 2022-09-14T14:09:02Z
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US wholesale inflation declines in August to still-high 8.7%
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation at the wholesale level jumped 8.7% in August from a year earlier, a slowdown from July yet still a painfully high level that suggests prices will keep spiking for months to come.
Wednesday’s report from the Labor Department also showed that on a month-to-month basis, the producer price index — which measures inflation before it reaches consumers — declined 0.1% from July to August, the second straight monthly decline.
Yet the better readings mostly reflect plunging gas prices and don’t necessarily point to a broader slowdown in inflation. A measure that excludes the volatile food and energy categories — so-called core prices — rose 0.4% from July to August and 7.3% in August compared with a year ago.
The cost of services — which are increasingly driving consumer inflation — rose 0.4% in August, driven by higher prices for public transportation, car rentals and some financial services.
Still, there were a few encouraging signs in Wednesday’s report: Wholesale food costs were flat from July to August, after a 1.3% spike the previous month. And wholesale goods prices overall fell 1.2%, suggesting that goods prices for consumers could soon decline.
On Tuesday, the government reported that consumer inflation was rampant across much of the economy in August. Apart from cheaper gas, consumer prices for everything from food and rents to furniture, medical care and new cars got pricier last month. The worse-than-expected consumer price spikes sent the stock market tumbling to its worst day in more than two years on fears that the Federal Reserve will turn even more aggressive in raising interest rates to fight inflation.
Wednesday’s producer price data captures inflation at an earlier stage of production and can often signal where consumer prices are headed. It also feeds into the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, which is called the personal consumption expenditures price index.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/14/us-wholesale-inflation-declines-august-still-high-87/
| 2022-09-14T14:09:09Z
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Man convicted of sending truck through family’s home in racial attack
STEARNS COUNTY, Minn. (WCCO) - A conviction is bringing comfort to a Minnesota family after racism drove hate directly into their home.
This week, a jury found a man guilty of tormenting a family in Cold Spring because of the color of their skin.
Just over a year after the Robinsons’ Ring doorbell caught a truck crashing through their home, a jury validated what the family knew. They were racially targeted.
“It’s incredibly hard to accept - we are a multi-racial family - that someone would want to harm my husband and my kids or me for simply being married to a Black man, that that level of hate exists,” said Andrea Robinson.
A jury found Benton Beyer guilty of stealing the truck, putting granite on the accelerator and letting it go with a teddy bear hanging from a noose inside.
It was the culmination of 80-plus days of stalking and harassment. Andrea Robinson had a restraining order against him.
“The experience has not only changed my life and my husband’s life, but it’s significantly impacted the lives of my children,” she said.
A year ago, her husband Philippe said, “How am I supposed to feel safe? My wife, my children don’t want to stay here, I understand ...”
But they did stay here, and Andrea Robinson said while they live with the trauma of what happened, now there is also relief.
“A year ago, we didn’t know we were supported and safe, but now we have a full neighborhood and community that has really stood behind us,” she said.
Andrea Robinson said her family wants to move forward while Beyer faces his punishment.
“I hope that whatever underlying issues Mr. Beyer has that he’s able to address those, and I hope the sentence gives him a long time to think about what he did,” she said.
Beyer will stay in custody at the Stearns County Jail until he is sentenced in mid-November.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/14/man-convicted-sending-truck-through-familys-home-racial-attack/
| 2022-09-14T14:11:12Z
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Multivitamins may be linked to better cognition in older adults, study says
(CNN) - A new study shows taking a daily multivitamin might help with brain function.
Over the course of three years, scientists talked to thousands of people 65 years old and older, and the ones who took a multivitamin slowed down cognitive aging by 60%, or nearly two years.
What’s more, there were even more benefits for people who had a history of heart disease.
Now scientists are questioning why multivitamins help.
They don’t have a clear answer yet. But it may be because multivitamins help out people who don’t have enough micronutrients, like vitamin C or magnesium, and that gets worse as people age.
Researchers said they’re not telling older adults to start taking multivitamins right away and recommended they talk to their doctor first.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/14/multivitamins-may-be-linked-better-cognition-older-adults-study-says/
| 2022-09-14T14:11:18Z
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Former Trump press staffer Karoline Leavitt has won the Republican primary in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, according to a race call by The Associated Press.
Leavitt, 25, is only the second member of Generation Z to win a House primary and the first Republican. The 2022 midterm season is the first time the eldest Gen Zers are eligible to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, where 25 is the minimum age to serve.
Leavitt will now face off against incumbent Democrat Chris Pappas, 42, to represent the district — a toss-up seat Republicans hope to flip as part of their goal of winning back the majority of seats in the House.
"They said I was too young, we could never raise the money to compete, and that we could never beat a former Republican nominee," Leavitt said in her victory speech Tuesday night.
"Over the last year we were outspent but we were not outworked," she exclaimed. "No way!"
Leavitt defeated former Trump State Department official Matt Mowers, 33, who ran for the seat in 2020 and lost to Pappas by 5 percentage points.
Mowers released a statement in which he pledged to "never stop fighting" for middle class families.
Though Mowers narrowly led in polls against Leavitt ahead of the primary, the most recent University of New Hampshire survey added uncertainty, finding that nearly a fourth of respondents were still undecided just two weeks from the election.
The two candidates also ran with similar platforms, branding themselves as staunch conservatives and political outsiders — while simultaneously promoting their time working in the Trump administration.
Where they differ is on the result of the 2020 election — Leavitt openly trumpeted the former president's lie that he won, while Mowers has not directly addressed it.
Trump did not endorse a candidate in the primary race, but the matchup divided support among Republican leaders in Congress.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the two highest-ranking House Republicans, threw their support behind Mowers. While New York Rep. Elise Stefanik — ranking third — backed Leavitt, who previously served as her spokeswoman in Congress.
Leavitt's connection to Stefanik partially links back to her historic start in Congress, when the New York Congresswoman made history in 2014 as the youngest woman ever elected to the House when she took office.
"[Stefanik] was one of the few people, frankly, in Washington that believed in me to do this," Leavitt told NPR in an interview earlier this summer.
"I know Elise received that same condemnation when she wanted to run, so she really believed in me and believed that I had what it took," she added.
Throughout her campaign, Leavitt framed her youth as an asset rather than a deterrent — arguing that younger voters need to hear from more conservative voices — even though a majority of those voters lean towards Democratic candidates.
"It's a very one-sided culture that we live in," Leavitt told NPR, "How do we break through that mold? It's by electing young people to office that can resonate with these voters, have a platform at the national stage, that can show them ideas, policies, values that they're not hearing elsewhere."
But for Mowers, who's 33 years old and would easily be considered a younger member of Congress, in this race, Leavitt is nearly a decade younger, putting generational differences in the political spotlight.
Leavitt's win comes less than a month after Democratic candidate Maxwell Frost made history as the first member of Gen Z to win a congressional primary.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-13/25-year-old-former-trump-aide-wins-gop-primary-in-new-hampshire
| 2022-09-14T14:49:01Z
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Updated September 14, 2022 at 10:21 AM ET
It's one thing to be homeless, but it's certainly another to be homeless as a child on the streets of New York with a mother suffering from severe mental illness.
That's what David Ambroz faced for much of his childhood – and now he has described that harrowing experience and how he overcame it in his new memoir, "A Place Called Home."
On a brutally cold night in New York when he was about four years old, Ambroz said he thought he might die.
"My sister and brother stopped speaking. We couldn't control our bowel movements and we started having fuzzy thoughts and collapsing," he told Morning Edition host Rachel Martin. "We sat on tops of grates so the subway air pushed out was warm until we couldn't. So there's moments of neglect. That certainly was a moment I thought my Mom, through her mental illness, might do that, might lead us to death."
A difficult realization that Ambroz and his siblings must enter foster care
There were many trying times that followed that cold night. When Ambroz was about 12, he and his older siblings, Alex (13) and Jessica (14), realized they needed to leave their mother and enter foster care.
"Right before I entered foster care was one particularly clear moment in my mind," he recalls. "My mom really lost control and became destabilized, and she brutally beat me to near-death, and that is when I put us in foster care for the final time."
"I was able to stand up and realize that my mom was going to kill me," Ambroz said.
Foster care certainly had its challenges for Ambroz and his siblings, but they had shelter, access to food, and some stability – and perhaps most important to the author, they began going to school on a regular basis.
"School was everything," he said. "I think schools today, and even then, have become so much more than a place where we learn – they are a place where kids are fed, where we access health care and where we're cool or we're warm, we're safe."
"I loved school [and] I mean, I would live for that free lunch. Teachers saw what was going on and did just a little bit more to help my siblings and I get through the day or the moment," Ambroz recalled.
Ambroz finds happiness and ways to support others
He credits foster care and the compassion he received from teachers as part of the reason he was able to turn his life around and get on the right track – and today, he's found happiness.
"I have the best life," he said. "I'm so happy. I'm in a home that I own. I have a beautiful foster son who's in graduate school [at Cornell University]. My brother and sister are thriving. They have advanced degrees and beautiful, healthy families. I care for my mom. She's no longer homeless, but she's still, you know, fighting her demons ... and I'm an active member of my community."
In the mid-1990s, he became a leading advocate for child welfare, and remains one to this day. In 2016, he was recognized by then-President Obama as an American Champion of Change, and Obama had this to say about him: "You will fall in love with David Ambroz, his beautifully-told, gut-wrenching story, and his great big heart."
Ambroz now lives in Los Angeles, where he works for Amazon as head of community engagement for the Western U.S.
He calls it "the best damn job you could possibly imagine."
"I'm literally charged with doing good in the community ... they want me to go out and do good in the community. And I think about that every day," Ambroz said.
"How could this kid that lived in Grand Central go out today with the resources of this company and try and change lives? And literally, my measurement of my success is that impact. How is that possible? And that's why I remain optimistic."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-13/a-place-called-home-is-a-vivid-account-of-david-ambrozs-harrowing-childhood
| 2022-09-14T14:49:07Z
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Emmys reach record-low audience of 5.9 million people
NEW YORK (AP) — The Emmy Awards hit a new low in viewership on Monday night, with its estimated audience of 5.9 million people even smaller than the COVID-19-disrupted ceremony two years ago.
The Nielsen company said the ceremony honoring television’s best work, where “Ted Lasso” was named best comedy and “Succession” best drama, was down from the 7.4 million people who watched in 2021.
Usually shown on a Sunday night, the Emmys were shifted to Monday to make way for NBC’s first “Sunday Night Football” game the night before. It couldn’t escape football, however, since it competed against a tight “Monday Night Football” game.
The Emmys were hosted by Kenan Thompson of “Saturday Night Live.”
The previous low point for the Emmys, with 6.1 million people, came with a drastically downsized show because of the pandemic in 2020.
While football had its impact, Emmys ratings have been on a steady slide since the awards began to be dominated by shows on cable and streaming services. With so many more television programs being offered, there are fewer that draw the big audiences that were routine in the days when broadcast television dominated.
The last time the Emmys exceeded 10 million viewers was 2018, when it reached an audience of 10.2 million. The Emmys had 21.8 million viewers in 2000, a level it will probably never reach again.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/14/emmys-reach-record-low-audience-59-million-people/
| 2022-09-14T14:54:44Z
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Announcement to Bring Total Comcast RISE Grants Awarded in D.C. to $2 Million Since 2021
Comcast RISE to Support 13,000 Small Businesses Owned by Women and People of Color, Including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American Owners, Among Others, by End of 2022
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today announced it will award an additional $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others, in Washington, D.C., bringing the total to $2 million to date as the company previously awarded $1 million in November 2021. These recipients are part of the more than 9,500 entrepreneurs nationwide – and more than 230 in The District alone – who have been selected as Comcast RISE awardees since November of 2020. Beginning October 3 through October 16, eligible D.C.-based small businesses can apply at www.ComcastRISE.com.
Washington, D.C. was one of five cities, also including Chicago, Miami, Oakland and Seattle, that was selected in the latest round to award a $10,000 grant to 100 local businesses from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, for a total of $5 million across 500 businesses, bringing the amount awarded nationwide to $21 million to date.
"These are the types of investments that are going to bring generational change to our city. Local businesses are the backbone of our economy and these grants can make a big difference for a small business," said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. "We are excited that for the second year in a row, Comcast is investing in local talent through the Comcast RISE Investment Fund and helping us give more Washingtonians a fair shot."
Added Monica Kang, a former Comcast RISE Investment Fund recipient and CEO of InnovatorsBox, a Washington D.C.-based creative leadership consultancy, "As the pandemic persisted, the support from Comcast RISE was crucial in helping my business make it through an incredibly tough stretch. I'm so thankful for all the support Comcast RISE provides to the community and I'm excited a new round of grants are available as D.C. small businesses continue to recover. I know there are other business owners like me who would thrive with this support, and I encourage all eligible businesses to apply."
In addition to InnovatorsBox, previous Comcast RISE recipients in Washington, D.C. include:
- 11:Eleven Gallery – an art gallery specializing in UK contemporary and urban art.
- Culture Coffee Too – a coffee shop that doubles as a community event space.
- DC Urban Living – a full-service firm real estate firm specializing in commercial, residential sales and property management.
- Mandu – a homestyle Korean restaurant from chef/owner, Danny Lee.
- Princess Mhoon Dance Institute – a company serving dancers in D.C. and the surrounding DMV area.
- Soup Up – a restaurant that offers healthy homemade soups and smoothies.
"Entering our second round of the Comcast RISE Investment Fund in D.C., we have seen firsthand how impactful these funds can be for small businesses owned by women and people of color in the city," said Michael Parker, Senior Vice President of Comcast's Beltway Region. "We are proud to strengthen our commitment to the Washington D.C. small business community and ensure underrepresented entrepreneurs have access to the funding and digital tools they need to thrive."
Comcast RISE also invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker's Legacy and Operation Hope.
"Ureeka is proud to partner with Comcast RISE to grow small businesses nationwide with coaching and digital services," said, Melissa Bradley, Co-Founder, Ureeka. "We know there are stark disparities in access to capital and resources for entrepreneurs of color and women entrepreneurs. The additional coaching and digital resources that these businesses receive, in addition to potential monetary funding, will help these businesses gain valuable skills and opportunities that will help them move from survive to thrive."
Comcast RISE was formed in late 2020 to give small businesses owned by people of color, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, the grants needed to not just survive, but thrive. The more than 9,500 recipients are from 704 cities across 37 states. In November 2021, Comcast RISE announced a major expansion to all women-owned businesses nationwide.
Comcast RISE Marketing and Technology Services
In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE, which stands for "Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment," provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women nationwide to apply for grants for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one.
- Marketing Services Grant: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including:
- Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.)
- Monetary Grants: In round one, which was announced in April of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit. In round two, which was announced in September of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $6 million in grants to 600 small businesses in six cities: Miami, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. In round three, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided an additional $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color and women in five cities: Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Twin Cities. As noted above, in round four, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses in Chicago, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
Through Comcast RISE, the company will support 13,000 small businesses, owned by people of color and women, with monetary grants; a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv; or computer equipment, Internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business by the end of 2022.
All eligible applicants will receive a monthly Comcast RISE newsletter with educational content, and all small business owners can visit the Comcast RISE destination on the X1 platform featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. Just say "Comcast RISE" into the X1 voice remote.
Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company's comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities.
More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, visit www.business.comcast.com or call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.
Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com.
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| 2022-09-14T14:54:50Z
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International Children's Gym Celebrates National Gymnastics Day with Complimentary Intro Class
DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Gym, the world's premier enrichment and physical development center for children ages four months through 12, is welcoming new and past faces to join their local gym to celebrate National Gymnastics Day Sept. 17, 2022.
"Gymnastics has numerous benefits for all children and sets a strong foundation for developing the body, mind and heart," said Taryn H. Parker, Director of Curriculum and Training. "We're thrilled to be able to celebrate with little ones across the country and watch them grow on this special day at our gyms."
Through gymnastic classes for children at The Little Gym, children grow their skills across three different developmental domains: Get Moving (Physical Skills), Brain Boost (Cognitive Development) and Citizen Kid (Social & Emotional Intelligence). All three of these make up The Little Gym's proprietary 3-Dimensional Learning Approach.
Below are five key reasons why gymnastics benefits children:
- Aspires Young Athletes - Gymnastics provides children with a strong foundation to pursue any sport. At The Little Gym, it's building blocks or 'ABCs of Fitness': agility, balance and coordination. Exposing your child to gymnastics at any age and stage is beneficial. Gymnastics is the true springboard in your child's life adventures, as kids learn transferable skills that will give them the confidence to try any sport and discover their passion.
- Improves Self-Confidence - Coupled with supportive instruction, gymnastics develops children's self-confidence. With every attempt at improving a cartwheel, kids learn how to try, and most importantly – to try again. The more children try new things and acquire new skills, the more confidence they have in themselves.
- Helps Maintain a Well-Balanced Lifestyle - Learning balance goes way beyond simple beam skills. Gymnasts learn how to balance their commitment to this sport along with the importance of self-care, their responsibilities in school and dedication to family and friends.
- Develops Leadership Mindset - At The Little Gym, a teaching philosophy is that, "It is OK to make mistakes" since every mistake is a future learning opportunity. When a child learns to master a specific gymnastic skill, like a handstand, they develop a solution-oriented mindset, by asking themselves, "What worked? What can I do better next time?" Mindset is a foundational skill in our next generation of leaders.
- Promotes Positive Body Image and Self-Esteem - In our non-competitive environment, every child is accepted for who they are. Gymnastics provides an opportunity for your child to feel fit, strong, capable and proud of their body. Everybody is different, and when these differences are celebrated in a safe, secure and healthy environment, children can truly unlock their potential.
The brand is currently offering complimentary introduction classes for families through this link: https://www.unleashedfamily.com/. The Little Gym prides itself on providing support to children in all areas of development. From motor and language development to social and emotional development, parents continue to bring their children to The Little Gym to hone the skills they may not learn elsewhere through three-dimensional learning.
With nearly 400 locations across 31 countries, The Little Gym teaches kids social and physical skills appropriate to each stage of childhood by creating opportunities to experience achievement and build self-confidence.
For more information about The Little Gym, class schedules, events, parties and to find your nearest location, please visit www.TheLittleGym.com. Also connect with The Little Gym on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Little Gym is an internationally recognized program that helps children build the developmental skills and confidence needed at each stage of childhood. The Little Gym's first location was established in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator with a genuine love for children. The Little Gym International, LLC., was formed in 1992 to franchise The Little Gym concept. The brand is part of Unleashed Brands, a global growth-focused platform company that curates and expands franchise brands that help kids learn, play and grow, including Snapology, Urban Air Adventure Park, Premier Martial Arts, Class 101 and XP League. The Little Gym International has nearly 400 locations in over 31 countries including the U.S., Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Thailand and more. For more information, visit The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com.
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| 2022-09-14T14:54:56Z
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ArcBest LTL carrier offering hiring bonuses for full-time city drivers
FORT SMITH, Ark., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ArcBest® (Nasdaq: ARCB), a leader in supply chain logistics, announced today that its less-than-truckload carrier, ABF Freight®, will host a two-day hiring event in Phoenix on September 21 and 22, seeking full-time city drivers. The company is offering signing bonuses of $7,500, available on the first day of employment.
"This is a great time to join the ABF team in Phoenix or one of our 240 service centers throughout North America," said Seth Runser, ABF Freight president. "Our people are at the heart of our success, and our values-driven culture has created an environment where people can grow and thrive. Working at ABF means you are part of a hard-working team that keeps supply chains moving. And here in Phoenix, as well as throughout our company, you can anticipate high levels of job satisfaction."
On September 21 and 22 ABF will host interested candidates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at its service center, located at 5215 West Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85043. No appointment is necessary. Driver candidates should be at least 21 years old.
At the event, candidates can expect:
- Assistance with job applications
- Interviews with ABF recruiters
- Potential job offers made that day
- On-site DOT physicals and drug screens
ABF Freight is one of the nation's largest and most trusted less-than-truckload carriers, operating in both short- and long-haul markets across North America. ABF employs more than 10,000 people across 240 locations, and over 53 percent of ABF drivers have been employed with the company for more than 10 years.
Full-time ABF drivers and dock workers receive Teamster Union Scale wages, 100 percent company-paid health insurance for employees and their families, personal days, sick leave and paid holidays, and they are covered by a pension plan at no expense to the employee.
For additional information about this hiring event, visit https://joinabf.com/hiring-event, or to view current job openings across the country visit jobs.abf.com.
ABOUT ARCBEST
ArcBest® (Nasdaq: ARCB) is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that helps keep the global supply chain moving. Founded in 1923 and now with over 15,000 employees across more than 250 campuses and service centers, the company is a logistics powerhouse, fueled by the simple notion of finding a way to get the job done. Through innovative thinking, agility and trust, ArcBest leverages its full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet customers' critical needs, each and every day. For more information, visit arcb.com.
Media Contact: Autumnn Mahar
Email: amahar@arcb.com
Phone: 479-494-8221
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:03Z
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If every gardener grows a little extra and donates the food, it would go a long way towards helping reducing hunger in America
CORONA, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Container Technologies, Inc (Ticker: ACTX), in association with GP Solutions, is developing a new series of GrowPods for home and commercial use. The new systems, called "GrowPod Habitat™" are smaller-sized and will enable virtually anyone to grow their own food.
The units are being made for the consumer market, as well as for schools, churches, non-profits, plus commercial organizations and businesses that want the benefits of growing their own clean, nutritious food, but also want a smaller size unit and reduced cost-of-entry that better matches their needs and budgets.
According to a report by Market Research Future, the home gardening tool market is estimated to reach over $112.09 Billion by the end of 2027. The report further predicts the market will expand at a healthy CAGR of over 4.51% during the review timeframe.
The market "is quite appealing, and established, with consistent growth," the report states.
GrowPods are hydroponic modular farms that can be located almost anywhere, and feature an automated and controlled environment that is finely tuned to grow a wide variety of leafy greens, fruits and vegetables. GrowPods feature a filtered and enclosed environment that makes it possible for virtually anyone to grow healthy, robust, exceptionally clean food.
Douglas Heldoorn, CEO of Advanced Container Technologies, Inc, said the company plans to have GrowPods Habitat™ ready for market by 1st quarter.
"Developing this innovative smaller system allows us to enter an enormous new market with tremendous potential" Heldoorn said. "Additionally, this ground-breaking form factor will allow people to take control of their food, feed their families, start a new business, or help fight hunger," he added. "This could be a game-changer for society in many ways."
For more information on Advanced Container Technologies or GrowPods, call: (951) 381-2555 or visit: www.advancedcontainertechnologies.com or www.growpodsolutions.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Statements about ACTX' beliefs and expectations, involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "could," "may," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," or other similar expressions. All information is as of the date of this press release, and ACTX undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:10Z
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AllspringET sets out to build the asset management
technology environment of the future.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allspring Global Investments™, a leading independent global asset management firm with $476 billion* in assets under management, today announced the addition of two senior hires and an internal promotion to the Allspring Engineering and Technology team (AllspringET). The team is designed to develop state-of-the-art technology, systems, and tools that enable Allspring to elevate investing to be worth more.
Ant Eggington joins the organization as Head of Applications. Ant most recently served as Global Head of Alternatives Technology at BlackRock and has 22 years of experience in investments technology. He will lead Allspring's software engineering function across investments, operations, distribution, and corporate systems to enhance capabilities and modernize the application development processes.
Stephen Vilke joins Allspring as Head of Technology. This role is central to building Allspring's technology-forward culture and maximizing productivity as a cloud-first organization. Stephen most recently served as Director of New Initiatives for AWS Applications at Amazon Web Services. He has 30 years of technology experience spanning finance, technology, and startup environments. Stephen started his career at NASA as a Software Engineer and Analyst.
Jalal Akhavein has been promoted to Head of Platform. In his new role, Jalal will lead the company's technical product management, data engineering and will oversee platform operations. Jalal has been with Allspring since 2018 and most recently served as Head of Quantitative Insights and Data Strategy. He has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services sector.
Ant, Stephen, and Jalal report to Allspring's Chief Technology Officer, Matt Wren. The team's objective is to develop a modern technology platform enabling the newly independent Allspring to place much more focus on investment decisioning, investment oversight, risk management, sales, and distribution. The increased engineering and technology investment intends to enable solving the "tomorrow challenge" faster and more efficiently than otherwise possible with legacy environments.
"Engineering, technology, and innovation will be central to elevating client outcomes at Allspring. Ant, Stephen, and Jalal's combination of deep technical and broad financial expertise is essential as we engineer the firm for a next-generation technology platform. I am thrilled that we are able to combine this caliber of talent to help us propel AllspringET forward," stated Matt Wren.
To learn more about Allspring, please visit our website, www.allspringglobal.com.
Allspring Global Investments™ is an independent asset management company with more than US$476 billion in assets under management*, offices around the world, and investment teams supported by 450 investment professionals. Allspring is committed to thoughtful investing, purposeful planning, and inspiring a new era of investing that pursues both financial returns and positive outcomes.
*As of June 30, 2022, AUM includes US$93 billion from Galliard Capital Management, an investment advisor that is not part of the Allspring Global Investments trade name/GIPS company.
This material is provided for informational purposes only and is for professional, institutional or qualified clients/investors. Not for retail use outside the U.S.
THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION AND IN ANY CASE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED IN ANY JURISDICTION OR TO ANY PERSON WHERE IT WOULD BE UNAUTHORISED OR UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.
Allspring Global InvestmentsTM (Allspring) is the trade name for the asset management companies of Allspring Global Investments Holdings, LLC, a holding company indirectly owned by certain private funds of GTCR LLC and Reverence Capital Partners, L.P. Unless otherwise stated, Allspring is the source of all data (which is current or as of the date stated); past performance is not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future results; all investments contain risk; content is provided for informational purposes only with no representation regarding its adequacy, accuracy or completeness and should not be relied upon; views, opinions, assumptions or estimates are not necessarily that of Allspring and are subject to change without notice; and this communication does not contain investment advice, an investment recommendation or investment research, as defined under local regulation of the respective jurisdiction.
PAR-0922-00315
© 2022 Allspring Global Investments Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:16Z
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Arkose Labs continues to accelerate growth and product innovation with notable and highly strategic hires
SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arkose Labs, the global leader in bot management, today announced that John Chirhart has joined the company as Cybersecurity Intelligence Officer, a newly created role. Formerly with Google's Cloud Security Unit, John is widely regarded as an expert in devising and implementing strategies that are essential for the private and public sectors to stop massive botnet attacks.
Cybersecurity trend information shows that volumetric bot attacks have reached epidemic proportions. Recent analysis reveals that 93 percent of attacks are bot-driven and bot attack signatures are 3x more complicated today than in years prior, creating greater detection complexity for businesses.
Chirhart's diverse experience includes relevant stints supporting covert and clandestine operations for the U.S. intelligence community, leading vulnerability management for the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as working alongside operating companies that were plagued with bot-perpetrated credential stuffing and account takeover attacks. "I first met John several years ago, and his well-rounded security experience impressed me, but even more important to me was his passion for solving the customer's pain in this space," said Kevin Gosschalk, founder and CEO, Arkose Labs. "He brings tremendous market credibility to bear and understands first-hand the challenges that CISOs face today and how to solve for them."
In his new role, Chirhart is tasked to help lead Arkose Labs' continued growth. He'll be in the field working closely with prospects and customers in the fintech, online gaming, travel, ecommerce, and the public sector to protect consumer online accounts.
"What's rare about Arkose Labs compared to other vendors is its ability to evolve products faster than bad actors can change-up their bot attacks," Chirhart said. "CISOs have told me that after six months other bot management vendors are no longer effective simply because they cannot out-innovate fraudsters. Today's adversary is highly incentivized and continues to deploy new types of bot attacks because they are incredibly profitable. The only way to beat bots for good is by increasing the fraudster's effort to attack thereby decreasing the ROI of each attack. And Arkose Labs is the only vendor out there that has figured out how to do that by having a regular cycle of product innovation."
Chirhart reports to long-time security executive and Arkose Labs go-to-market leader Richard Dufty. "I'm thrilled that our product roadmap and culture attracted John to the team," said Dufty. "Ingenuity is the bedrock that supports our culture and enables us to solve the biggest problems that CISOs face today, resulting in adversaries getting frustrated, giving up, and going away for the long-term."
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Tune in today to a live social media simulcast interview with Chirhart and Gosschalk at 2:30 p.m.ET/11:30 a.m.PT on Arkose Labs LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube channels. They will discuss new bot attacks emerging on the scene, Chirhart's decision to leave Google and join Arkose Labs, and the opportunities ahead.
Arkose Labs' mission is to create an online environment where all consumers are protected from malicious activity. Its AI-based platform combines powerful risk assessments with dynamic attack response that undermines the ROI behind attacks while improving good user throughput. The company offers the world's first and only $1 million credential stuffing warranty. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA with offices in Brisbane and Sydney, Australia, San Jose, Costa Rica, and London, UK, the company debuted as the 83rd fastest-growing company in North America on the 2021 Deloitte Fast500 ranking.
Contact
Jean Creech Avent
Global Head of Brand and Communications
Arkose Labs
j.creechavent@arkoselabs.com
+1-843-986-8229
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:23Z
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DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashland Greene Capital, a Dallas-based multifamily real estate investment firm, has announced its first 506(c) fund as it continues to grow its portfolio. Ashland Greene is a vertically integrated real estate company that currently owns and operates $1 billion of assets in more than 5,100 units in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Previously the investment arm of Ashland Greene has raised funding through 506(b) offerings.
Ashland Greene Value-Add Fund V, an investment opportunity for accredited investors, consists of two off-market properties located in Garland and Forney, Texas. The Garland property, Esencia Apartment Homes, has 200 units, while the Forney location, The Preserve at Gateway, is an active adult living community with 120 units. The Preserve at Gateway will represent another first for Ashland Greene – the acquisition of a 55+ property for active adults.
Ashland Greene is quickly establishing its name in the metro area by leveraging North Texas' ongoing population boom and the resulting need for housing by the many who continue to move to Texas. Forney ranked seventh in the top 10 hottest neighborhoods across the U.S., according to 2021 relocation data from digital homebuying platform Opendoor. Kaufman County, where Forney sits, was named by US News & World Report as the fastest growing county in the nation between 2020-2021.
"With an economy that is still strong despite inflation, especially compared to the rest of the country, people are moving to Texas in search of jobs and a more affordable cost of living," said Ashland Greene's CEO Shakti C'Ganti. "At Ashland Greene, we're experts on the Dallas-Fort Worth market because we live and work where we invest."
"These two properties represent an exciting opportunity for Ashland Greene investors," he added. "We're purchasing The Preserve at Gateway, which is a brand-new build with the potential for future construction, before stabilization. While it's at 75 percent occupancy now, our team understands the desires of North Texas' burgeoning senior population. With our years of property management experience, we're confident in our team's ability to quickly increase occupancy there. Meanwhile, we have a proven strategy for value-add properties, like Esencia, that delivers investor returns."
In early 2022, Ashland Greene purchased a property located less than two miles from Esencia that hit its five-year pro forma within six months.
The funding deadline for Fund V, with properties totaling 320 units, is October 5 with the fund expected to close mid-November. The firm will host a webinar for interested investors on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. CDT. Registration details can be found at agvafv.com.
Ashland Greene receives an average annual return of approximately 25 percent on their exits where the typical hold period is 2.8 years and averages 95 percent depreciation on Year One investments. In 2022, Ashland Greene plans to return about $90 million to investors.
Ashland Greene is a vertically integrated real estate company which seeks to identify and reposition undervalued multifamily investments in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our local focus, dedication to trustworthy, long-term relationship building, and commitment to community, enable Ashland Greene to create a unique investment experience which delivers long-term value for its investors, residents, and communities. For more information, visit ashlandgreenecapital.com/.
Past performance is not indicative of comparable future results. Market and economic conditions may change in the future producing materially different results than those shown here. All investments have inherent risks. Targeted returns are based on five-year hold for Class A & B Limited Partner Investment.
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:30Z
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BROADVIEW, Ill., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
Who: Black Men United Pastor John Harrell, Worldvision, Leaders Network, Illinois Leaders of Faith, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, and other Political Leaders.
What: Three 53-foot tractor trailers filled with disaster relief supplies including water, toiletries, diapers, disinfectant wipes and other essentials are being sent to the residents of Jackson, Mississippi
When: Today, September 14, 2022 for a press conference at 11 a.m.
Where: Black Men United Warehouse, 2000 S. 25th Ave. in Broadview, IL.
Black Men United is a national organization made up of Black men from the business community, entertainment industry, prison reform groups, ministry and homeless volunteers. Since March 2020, this alliance has been focused on helping the disadvantaged and easing the social and economic disparities that plague Black communities throughout America. Our goal is to build bridges, not walls while sharing a positive, progressive and productive narrative of Black men in this country.
LOVE CONQUERS HATE
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:36Z
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The dynamic, digital map of the supply chain world continues to provide unrivaled value and capability
PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blume Global, the only multimodal supply chain orchestration platform uniting end-to-end visibility, supplier management and logistics execution, announced it will be providing Blume Maps free of charge to all customers subscribed to its suite of solutions. This is in line with Blume's ongoing dedication to making industry leading, innovative solutions accessible to companies spanning various sizes and industries and increasing agility in the supply chain across all modes.
Blume Maps provides shippers with unparalleled supply chain visibility, and more importantly, value. Powered by patented data science technology, it is a dynamic map of the supply chain world running natively on Google Cloud that enables shippers to plan shipment routes, track progress in real time, receiving accurate ETAs for shipments sent via air, road, ocean and rail. What sets Blume Maps apart from the competition is its ability to provide users with alternative transportation modes, carriers or routes, should they encounter any problems or delays, helping deliver packages to their customers as quickly and cost-effectively as possible every time.
"Ongoing supply chain disruptions have emphasized the need for stakeholders to harness and utilize end-to-end visibility and execution through the power of logistics technology solutions," said Pervinder Johar, CEO of Blume Global. "As one of our flagship products, Blume Maps eliminates supply chain blind spots throughout the world, no matter the mode. Providing free access to Blume Maps to our customers is testament to our mission of democratizing technology for millions of small to medium businesses that make our global supply chains work."
Earlier this year, Blume announced updates to Blume Maps, including the launch Blume Interline Schedules, a cloud-native platform that allows companies that leverage railroad intermodal services to better coordinate cross-country rail freight deliveries. In partnership with Union Pacific Railroad, Norfolk Southern and CSX, Blume's complementary end-to-end rail freight scheduler gives users visibility around moving cargo from one railway to another. In concert with Blume Interline Schedules, Blume's asset management feature tracks details around intermodal rail shipments and how they interchange. It also validates the movement of freight delivery schedules with the ability to catch missing interchange points and improve accuracy with future deliveries.
For more information, or to request a demo on Blume Maps, please visit https://www.blumeglobal.com/blume-map/
Blume Global is a multimodal supply chain orchestration platform that unites end-to-end visibility, supplier management and logistics execution. As the single source of truth for logistics data, Blume provides visibility throughout the value chain, from sourcing to delivery, allowing customers to use Blume solutions to navigate disruptions and create agile plans amid supply chain uncertainty. Blume has the most extensive network among logistics technology providers. The company's direct connectivity to the ocean, air, rail, parcel, LTL and truckload carriers combines with Blume's solutions and 28 years of industry data to maximize transportation spend, improve customer service and reduce carbon emissions for users. By developing technology that streamlines the logistics world, Blume Global is leading the industry in creating supply chain sustainability solutions, fighting climate change by eliminating significant carbon emissions in a world where most freight is transported using fossil fuels.
CONTACT:
George Protopapadakis
george.proto@blumeglobal.com
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:42Z
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NAPLES, Fla., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bramshill Investments, an award-winning alternative asset management firm, has named Mona Daruwala Chief Compliance Officer. Ms. Daruwala has been working in Bramshill's headquarters (Naples, Florida), and going forward she will manage the firm's compliance, regulatory, and reputational risks.
Mona has over 20 years of relationship management, legal and compliance experience from both the buy and sell sides. Prior to joining Bramshill, Ms. Daruwala spent 7 years at Societe Generale with roles under the Global Markets COO Relationship Management team and then subsequently as an AML Compliance Officer focused on risk assessment, governance management and varying regulatory matters. Prior to her time at SG, she held similar roles at Deutsche Bank. During her 9-year tenure at DB she was responsible for managing strategic institutional client relationships focusing on onboarding, legal and compliance matters spanning from onboarding master agreements to any AML regulatory issues that would arise. She began her career working on the buy side specializing in entity formation, governance and legal agreements. Ms. Daruwala is ACAMS certified and has earned her BA in English and Criminal Justice from Rutgers University and her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School.
Media Contact:
Danielle Van Calcar
646-993-1648
danielle@bramshillinvestments.com
Bramshill Investments, LLC, is a fixed income investment manager with over $4.3 billion in assets under management (as of 8/31/2022). The firm was co-founded in 2012 by former GLG portfolio manager, Arthur DeGaetano. The team's core investment strategy has an established combined track record of over thirteen years with an absolute return objective that can be accessed through various vehicles. Bramshill also offers other alternative investment strategies. Bramshill is an investment adviser registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration as an investment advisor with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training of Bramshill or its employees. References to awards should not be construed as testimonials for our advisory services. For more information, please visit: https://bramshillinvestments.com
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:51Z
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MIAMI, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Canes Connection, an industry leading organization dedicated to facilitating NIL opportunities for University of Miami (UM) Student Athletes, has announced that they will be integrating and utilizing the ReserveBlock RBX (reserveblock.io) blockchain protocol for NFTs. The ReserveBlock Foundation will provide a pool of RBX masternodes to the Canes Connection that will allow participating UM Student Athletes to be part of the RBX Network, verify transactions, and earn randomized block rewards. The RBX Network will also enable Canes Connection and participating UM Student Athletes to issue interactive NFTs to sponsors and brands, increasing connectivity and utility within the Canes Connection community.
For the first time ever in NIL, Canes Connection will deploy a randomized block reward system for the exclusive benefit of all student athletes participating in the Canes Connection NIL program by distributing earned rewards on a monthly basis. The RBX masternode deployment allows the Connection to create fair and equitable potential earnings for every participating student athlete regardless of fame, notoriety or playing status.
Through the use of self-executing (SENs) RBX smart contracts, the Connection will also issue interactive and dynamic NFTs for sponsors and fans to connect, collect and engage in unique experiences directly with student athletes, as well as initiate ambassadorships for brands and businesses at the local and national level.
"We are excited to partner with RBX on this unique and exciting project," said Zach Burr, Co-CEO of Canes Connection. "Those student athletes opting into the Canes Connection will be a part of a best-in-class NFT platform, and will be able to easily create their own NFTs for their fans and sponsors."
Each UM student athlete within the program will also have access to a personal RBX core-wallet and web-wallet that will enable them to add additional masternodes on the network using block rewards, if they choose. With their personal RBX wallets, they can also create their very own NFTs without having to know or write code. Each participating student athlete will be able to easily create NFTs and market them directly to fans and followers simply by sharing on their very own social media accounts.
"We chose to partner with RBX because we believed their blockchain protocol will provide our student athletes the most convenient and stress-free way to create and market their own NFTs, but more importantly, an incredible opportunity to earn passive block rewards via our pool of RBX masternodes," said Brian Goldmeier, Co-CEO of Canes Connection.
The Canes Connection will also provide an "on-ramp" from its own website to a secondary marketplace, which will be powered by the RBX Network, for aftermarket NFT auctions as well as for special NFT drops. This first mover NIL program is expected to launch in October 2022 with additional details to follow in the coming weeks.
RBX is the first open-source decentralized NFT Centric Blockchain that enables true peer-to-peer operability for the minting and trading of NFTs with or without the need of a centralized authority. With an ecosystem that provides a full suite of on-chain tools, RBX reduces common frictions and burdens by providing an environment for anyone and everyone to participate with transparent trustless features all through a core wallet or web wallet by either validating on the network and / or writing a smart contract without the need-to-know code whatsoever. The RBX network is currently in mainnet beta.
For Canes Connection and RBX Further Inquiries:
Website: reserveblock.io
Discord: discord.com/invite/PnS2HRETDh
Twitter: twitter.com/ReserveBlockIO
Instagram: instagram.com/reserveblockio
Github: github.com/ReserveBlockIO
Canes Connection:
Website: canesconnection.com
Instagram: @canesconnection
Press Contact:
Chelsea Oliver – coliver@optimistconsulting.com
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| 2022-09-14T14:55:57Z
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Latest investments in Archilogic, Butlr and Transaera support decarbonization efforts
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions, has completed three new investments through its Carrier Ventures group. Archilogic, Butlr and Transaera – innovative startups in the healthy and green building space – are the newest additions to the Carrier Ventures investment portfolio of companies selected for their next-generation technology, high-growth potential and sustainability focus.
"Carrier is pleased to add three more disruptive companies to the Carrier Ventures investment portfolio that share our commitment to decarbonizing buildings and creating healthier, safer environments for the people who occupy them," Jennifer Anderson, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Business Development & Chief Sustainability Officer. "Our partnerships with Archilogic, Butlr and Transaera will help to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation technology, contributing to a more sustainable world."
Archilogic is the holistic spatial data platform for the internet. It provides product managers and software developers with infrastructure for building scaled, spatially aware apps that let end users interact with their spaces in the way they need. Archilogic's software will be used in Carrier's Abound cloud-based digital platform to give customers a clear and accurate view of their building interiors in one easy interface, allowing them to unlock and visualize building data to create healthier, more efficient spaces.
Butlr, a venture-backed startup spun out of the MIT Media Lab in 2019, was named one of the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers of 2022. The company's award-winning people-sensing platform uses body heat and machine learning to detect occupancy, headcount and activity, and generate accurate, real-time and historical spatial insights without collecting personally identifiable information. Butlr's thermal sensing technology will be embedded in the Abound digital platform. The combination of these cutting-edge technologies will provide building owners and operators with real-time insights to make confident decisions to improve energy efficiency while ensuring occupant wellness.
Transaera is developing a new class of affordable, energy-efficient, sustainable cooling systems. Buildings account for about 40% of global energy greenhouse gas emissions, and 40% of that is from HVAC. Current air conditioners consume more energy in humid conditions, and the majority of future cooling demand is expected to come from people living in hot and humid climates. Transaera's novel desiccant technology uses a unique sponge-like material that grabs moisture from the atmosphere to enable its air conditioner to cool air more efficiently. The heat generated by the air conditioner is then used – instead of being wasted – to dry the material for the next cycle. Transaera intends to use this technology in partnership with Carrier to develop ultra-efficient climate systems. The company was named one of eight finalists in the Global Cooling Prize, an international innovation competition to develop an affordable and sustainable residential air conditioner.
Launched in 2022 with a vision to accelerate the development of sustainable innovations and disruptive technologies, Carrier Ventures is an important accelerator of Carrier's 2030 Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Goal to help its customers reduce their carbon footprints by more than one gigaton. Carrier has also committed to investing more than $2 billion by 2030 to develop healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions that incorporate sustainable design principles and reduce lifecycle impacts.
For more information on Carrier Ventures, visit Corporate.Carrier.com/carrier-ventures.
As the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions, Carrier Global Corporation is committed to making the world safer, sustainable and more comfortable for generations to come. From the beginning, we've led in inventing new technologies and entirely new industries. Today, we continue to lead because we have a world-class, diverse workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. For more information, visit www.Corporate.Carrier.com or follow us on social media at @Carrier.
CARR-IR
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| 2022-09-14T14:56:04Z
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gold Key|PHR and the Cavalier Resort have confirmed its third and final luxury resort hotel: The Embassy Suites Resort Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel, is nearing completion. The new hotel will be an award-winner in its own right and complement the luxury caliber of the existing Cavalier Resort properties: the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel (Opened May 2020) and the Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club (Restored and Reopened March 2018).
With an additional 157 suites, conference and event space, luxury first-class amenities to include indoor and outdoor pool, fitness center and more, The Embassy Suites Resort Hotel is sure to be a beach-goers paradise.
The latest announcement, as construction nears its end, is that of the official names for the two new dining spaces offered at the hotel: A beachside "Tacos 'N Tequila" shack, better known as TNT, and the sporty "Arbuckle's Bar & Grill", named for historically recurring Cavalier Hotel guest Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. These new restaurant options bring two new and unique dining experiences to the resort that are sure to be favorites among travelers and locals alike.
Book your 2023 stay at the new Embassy Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront now! The hotel is currently accepting requests and reservations for meetings, events, and individual guestroom reservations for 2023. Secure your spot now and be among the first to experience this one-of-a-kind destination! Questions and booking inquiries can be made to Alison.Mcnaught@embassysuitesvb.com.
The Cavalier Resort is a collection of historic and modern hotels, a luxury beach club and private residences offering guests the finest accommodations, signature amenities, resort-wide charging privileges, and unparalleled views of Virginia's coast. Developed and operated by the region's largest hospitality employer, Gold Key|PHR, The Cavalier Resort includes the exquisitely restored Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the panoramic Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and the newest, equally impressive addition, Embassy Suites By Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The Cavalier Resort's $350MM masterplan has delivered an all-in one destination to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront with a vast collection of 547 guest rooms, over 40 idyllic meeting & event spaces, 6 indoor/outdoor swimming pools, 3 fitness centers, 9 restaurants, an on-site distillery (the first of its kind in the country), and an expansive full-service spa. While the recently restored Historic Cavalier Hotel blends classic southern charm with rich vibrant colors, complemented by elevated services and amenities, its newly constructed counterparts exude a less-formal luxury and contemporary aesthetic inspired buy their prominent beach front location. The three magnificent properties are connected by lush and meticulously manicured lawns, gardens, and outdoor social spaces, creating a one-of-a-kind resort experience, rivaled only by the finest destinations in the world.
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| 2022-09-14T14:56:11Z
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StarCompliance announces nominations for its inaugural Client Awards, recognizing their contributions in technical innovation, client-vendor collaboration, and cultural-influencing. Winners to be announced and formally recognized at Synergy '22 in Washington, DC this fall
ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- StarCompliance ("Star"), a leading provider of employee compliance technology solutions, today announced the nominees for its inaugural Client Awards program. Winners will be announced at the SaaS compliance platform company's fall conference, Synergy '22, to be held in Washington, DC: October 23, 24 & 25.
Star created the Client Awards program to recognize three important achievements in the field of regtech. The Star Innovator Award recognizes the exemplary use and implementation of innovative technologies or the establishment of new processes that have solved a business need or challenge in the last year, either by using the STAR Platform or otherwise. The Star Collaborator Award celebrates the organization that has given its time and resources over the last year to support and partner with Star to further the development and innovation of the STAR Platform. The Star Influencer Award recognizes the organization that has taken steps over the last year to weave compliance into its business culture: establishing itself as a business partner and influencing the organization's perception of compliance.
"Regulatory compliance is a complex and ever-evolving challenge for organizations. Our mission is to make it simple and easy," said Jennifer Sun, CEO of Star. "Part of that process is the tight collaboration we have with our clients. What this means is, as we innovate so do they. Collaboration between platform provider and platform user is a two-way street. We couldn't do what we do without the feedback and partnership from our customers. We wanted to formally recognize our clients' significant contributions to the field of regtech and regulatory compliance. Congratulations to all our nominees. We look forward to announcing the winners of these prestigious awards at Synergy '22 this fall."
Winners will be recognized on stage at Synergy '22, and Star will donate $1,000 to the charity of their choice. The nominees for the 2022 Star Client Awards are:
- AllianceBernstein
- Ariel Investments
- Bain Capital
- Capital One
- CIM
- Crestline Investment Management
- DraftKings
- Invesco
- Manulife
- NASDAQ
- State Street
- T. Rowe Price
StarCompliance is the world's leading provider of compliance technology solutions. Trusted globally by forward-thinking companies in 114 countries, Star's future-ready compliance platform delivers on-demand configurability, multi-jurisdictional integrity, and the actionable intelligence you need to monitor for conflicts, meet regulatory obligations, and reduce risk. Compliance no longer needs to be complex. Check out Star's intuitive, straightforward UX and give your employees the multi-layered protection they need to comply with confidence. www.starcompliance.com
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| 2022-09-14T14:56:17Z
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80 Percent Replica of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Coming to Tampa
TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chapters Health Valor Program, operated by the Chapters Health Foundation, today announced plans to host the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, 1001 N. Boulevard in Tampa from Thursday, October 13 through Sunday, October 16, 2022. This event, sponsored by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, is open to the public and free of charge.
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) is a veteran-owned organization operated by the non-profit, The Texas Freedom Tribute. The AVTT includes an 80% scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and tributes for every U.S. involved conflict since WWI, as well as a special 9/11 memorial. The AVTT travels the United States to honor American military Veterans and First Responders and educate communities about U.S. history.
On Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 3:00 p.m., Veterans' organizations including the American Legion and Patriot Guard Riders, will escort the Traveling Vietnam Wall from a staging location at Steinbrenner Field to Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
An opening ceremony begins on Thursday, October 13 at 1:00 p.m. with remarks from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and other community leaders. Opening remarks are followed by a performance of the national anthem and a wreath-laying ceremony. The Traveling Vietnam Wall and the Cost of Freedom Exhibit becomes available for visitors at 1:20 p.m.
The event includes a wide range of educational components for local students, supported by AECERN, focusing on the service and sacrifice of Veterans and First Responders. Featured speakers include Allie Braswell Jr., civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army – Florida.
"This wall is a testament to the valor, selfless sacrifice and commitment that our Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen made during the war in Vietnam," said Allie Braswell Jr., civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army - Florida. "As we look upon this wall, we must remember that our country's greatest value is our freedom. Our Freedom is not Free."
"It is important to acknowledge the sacrifice and service of veterans, first responders, and their families," said Dale Webber, shareholder and chair of the healthcare section at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. "The Traveling Tribute Wall gives the community an opportunity to celebrate, remember and honor them. We are proud to sponsor the event and support The Chapters Health Valor Program."
For more information on programming and a full schedule of events, please visit chapterstravelingtributewall.com.
The event coincides with the Chapters Health Foundation annual Rock the Dock event on Saturday, October 15. This year's event is a patriotic, rock n' roll themed fundraiser benefiting the Chapters Health Valor Program, which provides free services and support to Veterans and First Responders.
As a progressive leader and premier health system, Chapters Health System is dedicated to delivering innovative home health, palliative, and hospice care, along with durable medical equipment and pharmacy services. Since 1983 as a community-based, not-for-profit organization, Chapters Health has provided choices, education, and guidance through its managed affiliates. All offerings are provided in order to improve the patient and family experience well in advance of end-of-life needs. In 2022, Chapters Health is certified for the fifth consecutive year as a great workplace in the Aging Services category by the independent analysts at the Great Place to Work® Institute and in 2021, Chapters Health was named a Top Workplace by the Tampa Bay Times. To learn more, visit www.chaptershealth.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Chapters Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization committed to supporting Chapters Health System, a progressive leader in home health, palliative care, hospice, and grief support. Chapters Health Foundation provides more than $7.4 million annually to help offset the accumulated costs of unfunded and underfunded programming, including but not limited to, charity care, helping to meet the needs of patients and families who cannot afford hospice services. Chapters Health Foundation also provides $1.3 million in funding for the provision of grief support across Chapters Health and in 2020, provided more than $1 million to assist with underfunded pediatric and adult palliative care services.
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| 2022-09-14T14:56:24Z
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WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb has launched The ForeFront PortfolioSM, the latest evolution of its suite of management liability offerings, specifically designed to address the needs of private, not-for-profit, and healthcare organizations. Chubb's new product offers organizations the flexibility to decide which management liability coverages best suit their risk management program.
According to Chubb's claims data, costs to defend and settle directors' and officers' claims increased by 90% on a constant dollar-basis over the past decade. Employers also face potential litigation from employee-related claims such as harassment, wrongful termination, discrimination, or retaliation. Additionally, fraud and embezzlement occur even in the best work environments and the associated losses, often committed over a long period of time, can be meaningful.
"Organizations of all sizes are exposed to a more complex and costly legal and regulatory environment than ever before," said Scott Williams, Chief Underwriting Officer, Private/Not-for-Profit, North America Financial Lines, Chubb. "Chubb has been protecting private, not-for-profit, and healthcare organizations for more than two decades. Our new product is developed to specifically address feedback we've received from agents, brokers and policyholders, regarding the growing need for more comprehensive solutions. As a result, our new offerings help fill coverage gaps and provide substantive resources designed to protect organizations from existing and evolving threats."
The ForeFront Portfolio policies include clear coverage terms, relevant risk management solutions, and consistency of coverage to private, not-for-profit, and healthcare policyholders. The suite of products address a range of risks, including:
- Directors & Officers and Entity Liability – coverage to help protect the financial assets of an organization and the personal assets of directors & officers against lawsuits from third parties
- Employment Practices Liability – coverage for employment-related and third-party claims brought by or against past, present, and prospective employees and independent contractors
- Fiduciary Liability – coverage for third-party allegations regarding the mismanagement of an employee benefit plan and/or plan assets
- Crime – coverage for loss of money, securities, and property resulting from threats such as embezzlement, fraudulent electronic funds transfer, forgery, robbery, safe burglary, and credit card forgery
- Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion – coverage to protect an organization against a wide range of expenses associated with incidents of kidnapping and extortion, including the cost of optional crisis management expenses
- Workplace Violence Expense – coverage for expenses arising from post-incident crisis management services, including consulting and mental health specialists
- Employed Lawyers Liability – coverage for in-house attorneys from liability arising out of allegations of malpractice and errors and omissions while acting as corporate counsel
Backed by specialized underwriting, exceptional claims handling, and value-added loss prevention services, The ForeFront Portfolio offers more than just a new insurance option and is a valuable part of an organization's risk management program. To learn more, visit www.chubb.com/us/forefront.
About Chubb
Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 34,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com
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| 2022-09-14T14:56:36Z
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BOYERTOWN, Pa., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClimeCo, a leader in the management and development of environmental commodities, has partnered with Enaleia to remove plastic pollution from vital fishing areas. Enaleia is a non-profit that engages coastal communities to collect plastic on land and in the ocean to reduce pollution and improve marine biodiversity conservation. This partnership will support Enaleia's newest project in Kenya, contributing to the generation of plastic credits through Verra. With additional funding from ClimeCo and the sale of the credits, Enaleia estimates they will collect 1,000-3,000 tonnes of plastic annually in Kenya.
"A plastic credit is an environmental commodity that represents the collection or recycling of one tonne of plastic material, which can be used in companies' ESG, CSR, and sustainability programs," says Chris Parker, ClimeCo's Director of Plastic Program. "Our approach is to create a system solution to the ocean plastic challenge."
Enaleia, along with other professional entities that are experts in sustainable development, are collaborating with ClimeCo and the Kwale Recycling Center in Kenya to make sure that the plastic will not only be collected but also integrated into the circular economy.
The Kenya project supports over 350 fishers in Kwale County by empowering them to collect abandoned nets, gear, and marine litter. This number will increase to 800 people from the coastal communities in the following months. The waste is then taken to Kwale Recycling Center, a local collection and recycling company that transports and processes it into useful materials and products.
"Through the plastic credit model, we can set up large-scale plastic cleanup projects that can create a real impact on our oceans," says Lefteris Arapakis, Enaleia's Co-Founder and Director. "Taking into consideration that around 20% of ocean plastic is lost fishing gear, by empowering the fishing communities at this scale, we can not only clean up significant amounts of plastic but also prevent further ocean plastic pollution."
This project incentivizes and encourages the fishing community to use more sustainable fishing practices, including the reduction of overfishing by pausing and limiting their fishing activities while collecting plastic. It also provides a supplemental source of income to an area experiencing some of the highest poverty rates in the country.
To learn more, email us at info@climeco.com.
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| 2022-09-14T14:56:42Z
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SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Co-Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq-CM: CODX) (the "Company" or "Co-Dx"), a molecular diagnostics company with a unique, patented platform for the development of molecular diagnostic tests, announced today that the Company will be sponsoring, presenting and hosting a booth at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 66th Annual Health Research Conference, being held virtually and in-person on September 15-17 in Jamaica.
This year's theme for the conference is "COVID-19 and Digital Health: Transforming, Connecting, Informing Public Health." Co-Dx has been attending the CARPHA conference since 2016, and the Company's booth and presentation will showcase Co-Diagnostics' infectious disease and vector control products to conference attendees, along with its upcoming Co-Dx PCR Home testing platform.
The Company's presentation will take place on Friday, September 16 at 10:15 am local time. Additional details, including registration information, can be found on the conference website.
About Co-Diagnostics, Inc.:
Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation, is a molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art diagnostics technology. The Company's technology is utilized for tests that are designed using the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA). The Company also uses its proprietary technology to design specific tests to locate genetic markers for use in industries other than infectious disease and license the use of those tests to specific customers.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/co-diagnostics-inc-sponsor-present-host-booth-66th-annual-carpha-conference-sept-15-17-jamaica/
| 2022-09-14T14:56:48Z
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Copado's Fall 22 release delivers Continuous Quality by embedding end-to-end testing, security and compliance into CI/CD pipelines
CHICAGO, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Copado, the global leader in low-code DevOps, today launched its Quality Integration Framework which integrates AI-driven Robotic Testing and CI/CD within its DevOps platform for Salesforce. Designed for the new breed of non-technical and technical low-code delivery teams, Copado's Fall 22 release enables customers to integrate continuous quality into every branch of code deployed. One of the first companies to achieve this milestone, Copado ensures quality, security and compliance across every step of the software development lifecycle.
More than 150,000 businesses, including 90% of the Fortune 500, rely on Salesforce to build their digital business. Applications built on the Salesforce platform are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex. Yet rigorous, integrated and automated testing has not yet become commonplace: 84% of Salesforce teams report they are still relying on manual testing and most Salesforce teams lack the resources to test every change before deployment to production. At the same time, finding quality issues later in the release cycle is 640x more expensive.
"In order to achieve continuous quality, testing has to be accessible to both citizen and professional testers," said David Brooks, Senior Vice President of Products at Copado. "Copado has introduced a new click-based test creation and editing capabilities to improve collaboration across delivery teams. Businesses should shift-left and shift-right on testing to improve efficiency and achieve speed, security and quality."
In Forrester's Continuous Automation Testing Platforms Landscape, Q3 2022 report, Diego Lo Giudice wrote, "Software testing can't be an afterthought or a special event that happens once a quarter after a week-long integration. Enterprises recognize that the longer a defect lives, the more expensive the fix becomes. All forms of testing must be part of the continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline and 'shifted left' as early in the lifecycle as possible in order to identify and eliminate bugs before the overheads increase."
The Fall 22 release empowers citizen and technical testers to work collaboratively through a low-code platform. It offers a new Flow Editor so citizen testers can easily build regression and end-to-end test suites visually through a drag-and-drop interface. Teams can feel confident that tests are always up to date by leveraging AI-assisted test authoring with smart predictions and self-healing capabilities. Regardless of a user's skill level, they now have the flexibility to choose their preferred authoring mode all-in-one package that integrates tightly with Copado CI/CD pipelines.
Tests are viewable in the Copado Quality Integration Framework, giving customers a user-story centric view of the tests, quality gates, policies, security and compliance rules in the same place CI/CD pipelines are managed. This unique ability to centrally manage quality from the perspective of the pipeline gives Salesforce development teams unmatched visibility and control. The Copado Quality Integration Framework also enables customers to integrate any testing, security or compliance tool in the wider DevOps ecosystem into their pipeline.
"We needed to scale our Salesforce development and introduce structured, auditable processes for SOX compliance," said Derek Nelson, Lead Salesforce Administrator at Weave. "Copado gave us that scalability and structure, delivering great results. We used to dread deployment day but with Copado, it's stress-free. It's so easy that anybody can use it — even if they can't code. We just press a button, and if there's an issue, we can easily go back to our user stories to troubleshoot the problem. Now, we get to go home on time."
At Dreamforce 2022 in San Francisco, Copado will demonstrate key features of Fall 22 and show how Copado is redefining the standard of DevOps for Salesforce in booth 1300. Book a meeting here: https://www.copado.com/copado-at-dreamforce-22. Learn more about all the new innovations by visiting the Fall '22 Release Hub.
Copado is redefining how to achieve success with enterprise SaaS and low-code platforms with its data-driven approach to delivering faster, higher quality releases and improving trust across customer transformation projects. Organizations that implement DevOps and automated testing best practices have been shown to deploy more often, fail less often and recover faster. A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Copado found that a composite organization comprised of interviewees with customers with experience using Copado delivered 20x shorter lead times, 10x faster recovery times, 4x reduction in change fail rate and 5-7% higher productivity. Further, organizations using Copado's DevOps platform can achieve $4.5 million in value and an ROI of 307% over three years with payback in less than 6 months.
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/copado-solutions-s.l/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CopadoSolutions
Blog: https://www.copado.com/learning/blog/
About Copado
Copado is the leading DevOps and testing solution for low-code SaaS platforms that run the world's largest digital transformations. Backed by Insight Partners, Salesforce Ventures and SoftBank Vision Fund, Copado accelerates multi-cloud, enterprise deployments by automating the end-to-end software delivery process to maximize customers' return on their cloud investment. More than 1,000 companies rely on Copado to drive digital transformation with speed, quality and value including Boston Scientific, Coca-Cola, Fair Trade, Linde, MassMutual, Schneider Electric and Shell. Copado processes over 50 million DevOps transactions per month and is rated with a 100% score on the Salesforce AppExchange. More information can be found at: http://www.copado.com.
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SOURCE Copado
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/copado-launches-quality-integration-framework-deepen-cicd-ai-driven-testing-capabilities-within-its-devops-platform/
| 2022-09-14T14:56:55Z
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ZIBO, China, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Davinci Motor's small batch trial production of DC100 high-performance electric motorcycles rolled off the production line in Zibo, China, heralding a new start and new energy for the motorcycle industry, according to the Information Office of Zibo Municipal People's Government.
The DC100 rivals its 1,000cc gas-powered counterpart when it comes to performance, evidenced by outstanding technical data: acceleration 0-100 km/h in about 3 sec, top speed of 200 km/h, peak power of 100 kw, and peak torque of 850 Nm. On top of all that, the DC100 was designed using new energy vehicles (NEV) as a benchmark for range and charging method, elevating industry standards of two-wheeled electric vehicles. The DC100 is compatible with L3 DC Fast Chargers in the United States, Europe and China, which can deliver a full charge in about 30 minutes.
Designed with a robotic concept, the DC100 is capable of sensing, computing and executing. While riding, the DC100 has the capacity to track accurate information such as ambient temperature, battery and motor temperature, lean angle, traveling speed, wheel speed and road conditions. Furthermore, it combines this vehicle and environmental data and user commands to precisely control its power system. To address the difficulty of riding a heavy-duty motorcycle, the DC100 is designed with various assist features including the Hill Start Assist Control and Hill Descent Control, Reverse Assist, Combined Braking System, Traction Control System, all of which render the riding experience easier and safer. Hence, the DC100 is a two-wheeled dynamic robot in both appearance and performance.
Davinci Motor's intelligent manufacturing base, located in the Zibo Comprehensive Bonded Zone, is a modern factory featuring Industry 4.0 manufacturing. With the IoT systems, digitalized and intelligent operations are enabled in its production line in terms of supply, manufacturing and sales, making it easy to deliver fast, efficient and personalized offerings. In addition, the final assembly line of the DC100 consists of more than 20 AGV robots, realizing fully intelligent and flexible production. Riding the global electric wave to future mobility, Davinci Motor, together with Zibo, will lead the new energy motorcycle industry into a new stage of development.
Image Attachments Links:
Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=429355
Caption: Davinci DC100 High-Performance Electric Motorcycle
Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=429357
Caption: Davinci DC100 High-Performance Electric Motorcycle
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SOURCE The Information Office of Zibo Municipal People's Government
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/davinci-motors-dc100-high-performance-electric-motorcycle-debuts-zibo-china/
| 2022-09-14T14:57:02Z
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AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DealHub.io, the hyper-growth leader in the CPQ space today announced a partnership with RevOps Co-op, a community dedicated to advancing RevOps professionals by creating a hub for discussion, insight, best practices, etc.
The DealHub - RevOps Co-op partnership aims to build a community, supported by technology and expertise, and provide thought-leadership and insights into the CPQ & CLM best-practices of Innovative Revenue Operations leaders.
"RevOps roles are an integral part of business today," says Matt Volm, CEO and Co-Founder of RevOps Co-op. "Our partnership with DealHub will drive engagement within the community, and provide high-level expertise from some of the best RevOps professionals around."
"At its core, DealHub's vision is to remove friction from the sales process and create one fluid sales motion," says Eyal Orgil, DealHub's CRO and Co-Founder. "In that sense, we're all RevOps professionals at heart, sharing the goal of reducing friction at every touchpoint. We're proud to partner with RevOps Co-op to nurture this growing community and provide insight based on our own experiences."
DealHub's next-generation synergizes enterprise-grade CPQ solution, Subscription Management, Contract Lifecycle Management and Digital DealRoom into one unified, quote-to-cash platform, powered by the most engaging and personalized buyer experience. This consolidated platform empowers RevOps professionals to achieve better performance by streamlining sales processes, approval workflows, and overall deal management.
According to Gartner's, by 2025, 75% of the highest growth companies will utilize the RevOps model. Today's fast-changing market requires a focus shift from sales enablement to revenue enablement, to meet customer expectations, while providing the right tools to support that effort on the sellers' side.
About DealHub:
DealHub.io is an enterprise-grade CPQ platform that drives sales processes and outcomes more efficiently and effectively. DealHub's cutting-edge innovation increases revenue by shortening sales cycles, streamlining approval processes, and providing visibility and control. Fully integrated with leading CRM systems, DealHub's unified solution includes Contract Lifecycle Management, Subscription Management, and a unique customer experience.
About RevOps Co-op:
With a community 4000+ strong, RevOps Co-op is dedicated to promoting RevOps professionals with resources to support personal and professional growth. Our model of partnerships encourages open discussions, idea exchanges, and knowledge sharing, aimed at building a strong community of highly skilled RevOps professionals.
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SOURCE DealHub.io
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/dealhub-partners-with-revops-co-op-support-revops-professional-community/
| 2022-09-14T14:57:08Z
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Life Science Proves a Powerful Answer to Vacant Office Space
PASADENA, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The new headquarters for Doheny Eye Institute, affiliated with UCLA Stein Eye Institute, are now open. Located at the former Avery Dennison campus on North Orange Grove Boulevard, the new life science research center is dedicated to the conservation, improvement, and restoration of human eyesight. It also fulfills the community's hopes for the cherished 7-acre campus, which had sat vacant for several years.
Life sciences are quickly becoming a powerful solution for empty workspaces across the US. However, offices aren't built for the intricate needs of laboratories -- highly sensitive to temperature, vibration, and light, and often requiring special features like air balancing, biosafety cabinets, lasers, and cold storage.
To solve this puzzle for the 40-year-old building, Doheny Eye Institute brought on Abbott Construction early in the design process to innovate alongside Doheny's researchers and leadership staff, construction manager CMPG, and designer SWA Architects. Together they found solutions to create a best-in-class vision research center.
"An outcome like this was only possible through great collaboration," says Abbott Vice President Michael Sloane. "We were honored to be part of it, because Doheny Eye Institute will make a significant impact in our community."
The facility currently features several floors of dedicated research and laboratory space, plus an executive wing with c-suite conference room, reading library, and a 220-seat conference center. Like an expression of its mission to improve sight, the building offers unparalleled 360 degree views of the outside world. Plans are also underway to build out the first floor for the Doheny Eye Center UCLA, the patient care enterprise, to create a full vision sciences campus.
"Doheny, Stein, and UCLA have one of the nation's best teams to do this work," said Marissa Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of Doheny Eye Institute at its grand opening in June. "We celebrate this building's promise for the next generation of researchers and clinician scientists."
To learn more, visit https://www.abbottconstruction.com/projects/doheny-eye-institute/
Founded in 1983, Abbott Construction is a West Coast construction group known for superior management and field team, best-in-class standards and craftsmanship. Abbott's expertise runs deep in pre-construction, project planning, and the professional execution of construction in a variety of market sectors including healthcare, retail, office, non-profit, mixed-use, education, and seismic improvements. Abbott is a member of STO Building Group, and is headquartered in Seattle, with offices in Tacoma and Los Angeles. Learn more at abbottconstruction.com.
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SOURCE Abbott Construction
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/doheny-eye-institute-opens-its-headquarters-pasadena/
| 2022-09-14T14:57:15Z
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