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Updated July 31, 2023 at 5:05 PM ET
A rising star in American cycling, 17-year-old Magnus White, has died after a driver hit him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.
White had been preparing to head to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the Junior Men's Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships next week.
A member of USA Cycling's junior men's national team, White won the 2021 USA Cyclocross Junior Men's National Championship. He represented the U.S. in his first cyclocross world championship last year in Fayetteville, Ark., and competed in his second earlier this year in the Netherlands. (USA Cycling describes cyclocross as a combination of "road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase.")
"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved son, Magnus White," his parents Michael and Jill White said in a statement Monday.
"Magnus was dedicated to his family and friends and loved to surround them with laughter. He had an amazing smile that always lit up the room, bringing joy to those around him."
White's passion for cycling started at the age of two on a strider bike, they said, and he began racing at age 8. He grew up in Boulder and trained with Boulder Junior Cycling. He was also an avid skier and a committed student who aspired to attend business school, according to his website. He planned to graduate from high school a semester early so he could focus on international competition in spring 2024.
In addition to his parents, White is survived by his brother Eero. A family friend has set up a GoFundMe to support the family, USA Cycling confirms.
"Magnus was taken from us while doing what he loved most, riding his bike," writes Christine Lipson, the fundraiser's organizer.
"He began cycling when he was eight and quickly rose through the cycling ranks. Magnus's journey in cycling was driven by a tireless work ethic and a deep desire to achieve his personal best. He was proud to represent his community and country around the world," writes Lipson, whose son was a close friend and teammate of White's.
White was riding on the shoulder of Highway 119, known as the Diagonal, in Boulder on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a 23-year-old woman driving a Toyota Matrix. The driver crossed from the right-hand lane onto the shoulder, striking White from behind before she crashed into a fence, according to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol. White was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. The car's driver was uninjured.
Neither drugs, alcohol nor excessive speed are suspected factors in the crash, according to the state patrol.
USA Cycling said in a statement Sunday that White was a rising star in off-road cycling and "his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community."
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time," the statement continued. "We ride for Magnus."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/2023-07-31/top-american-cyclist-magnus-white-17-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car
| 2023-07-31T21:48:15
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https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/2023-07-31/top-american-cyclist-magnus-white-17-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car
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Anchor Brewing, the oldest craft brewing company in the nation, officially closed Sunday. But some workers say they are not giving up on the efforts to buy Anchor and reopen the doors.
The company raised itself from the rubble after the 1906 earthquake and survived the great depression, prohibition and two world wars.
People from across the Bay Area made their way to Anchor Brewing and its neighboring public taproom Sunday for a final chance to buy some Anchor Steam beer and Anchor Brewing merch.
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“Anchor Steam. Christmas ale is one of my favorites. I got one of their taps,” said San Francisco resident Mark DiGiorgio.
Anchor’s owner Sapporo Breweries announced on July 12 that it’s turning over all of Anchor’s assets to a liquidator and closing by Aug. 1.
A group of employees expressed interest in buying the company, but their union rep said Sapporo won’t share financial records, so they can make an educated bid.
“A lot of us feel like we’re getting shut out because they didn’t take us seriously,” Anchor Brewing employee union rep. Patrick Machel.
A company spokesman told NBC Bay Area by phone Sunday that the employee bid came too late and a deal was already struck to liquidate everything, from the brand name and recipes to the equipment and buildings.
He said the workers will have the same opportunities to bid on all of the assets as other bidders. but only through the liquidator.
“We’re weighing our options on what that’s actually going to look like. But Ideally, we would like to keep public taps and the brewery itself,” Machel said.
Machel added the workers have hired a legal team and have funding sources and they have the same fighting spirit that helped anchor brewing survive more than a century of hardships.
They also have a lot of customers in their corner who want to see the San Francisco staple to live on and brew another day.
“I hope the employees get a chance to match any offer that Sapporo is going to get from any outside bidders. It’s only fair,” DiGiorgio said.
“Hopefully someone buys them,” said South Bay resident Jonathan Pan.
Anchor Brewing released the following statement on Sunday:
"Anchor Brewing Co. is being fair and equal in its treatment of all parties interested in purchasing its assets.
We welcomed the union employees offer to participate in the liquidation process.
We have made it clear since we announced the closure of the brewery on July 12 that its assets would be turned over to an Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors (liquidator) at the start of August.
The employees can bid for the assets as part of the liquidation of the business. Once the liquidator is in place the union and other interested parties can gain access after signing a non-disclosure agreement to business information to inform their bids for Anchor Brewing Co. either in whole or in part.
The brewery has no flexibility to extend its operations for another month. The business is unfortunately out of money and out of time.
Anchor remains hopeful that of the many bidders who have expressed interest in buying all or some of Anchor’s assets that one of them will keep the company going for future generations.
It was a tremendously sad and difficult decision to cease operations for a brewery and company whose history dates back to the Gold Rush. The decision, however, of what happens next to Anchor will be in the hands of the ABC/liquidator."
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https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/san-francisco-anchor-brewing-officially-closes/3615121/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:16
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Inmate found dead in Tucson prison from apparent suicide
An inmate in Tucson died on Sunday from an apparent suicide, according to corrections officials.
Gabriel Vavages, 34, was sentenced out of Pima County for attempted burglary and attempted aggravated assault, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry. He was housed at Arizona State Prison Complex Tucson.
Prison staff discovered Vavages unresponsive and conducted life-saving measures until paramedics from the Tucson Fire Department arrived onsite, according to the department. Paramedics pronounced Vavages dead.
Officials provided no further information and said all inmate deaths are investigated in consultation with the county medical examiner’s office.
The number of suicide attempts in Arizona prisons for the 2021 fiscal year totaled 52, which was 39 less than the year before, according to data from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/31/inmate-found-dead-in-tucson-prison-from-apparent-suicide/70500279007/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:16
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/31/inmate-found-dead-in-tucson-prison-from-apparent-suicide/70500279007/
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High prices ‘disproportionately pinching’ younger Americans, data shows
30% of Gen Z, 28% of millennials have no emergency savings
(InvestigateTV) — More than seven in 10 younger Americans are saving less because of inflation when compared to Gen X and baby boomers, a recent Bankrate.com survey found.
Sarah Foster is a principal writer for Bankrate.com. She said this is a time for younger Americans to be very mindful of how much they are spending and to hyper analyze their budgets.
Foster said the ultimate goal for Gen Z and millennials should be to make sure they are living within their means. She added there are several advantages to being young right now, especially when it comes to retirement contributions.
“Really the best way to gain wealth and beat inflation in the long run is to make sure that you’re holding a diverse portfolio of assets, including stocks,” Foster explained. “And so, we know that even if someone were to stop investing for three years because of inflation and they’re in their mid-twenties, they’d leave almost $200,000 on the table by the time they were 70.”
Foster said don’t stop retirement contributions during inflation. The amount can be reduced, but consistent contributions is key.
She said another reason younger Americans are being hit hard is they are early in their careers and haven’t reached their peak earnings.
Foster advised them to put any raises or extra money in savings or retirement accounts.
Bankrate has 11 tips for young Americans trying to reach financial goals during high inflation, including:
- Look for high-yield savings accounts that offer much better returns that traditional accounts
- Automate savings to build an emergency fund
- Wait 24 hours before any unnecessary purchases
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.1011now.com/2023/07/31/high-prices-disproportionately-pinching-younger-americans-data-shows/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:17
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Updated July 31, 2023 at 5:05 PM ET
A rising star in American cycling, 17-year-old Magnus White, has died after a driver hit him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.
White had been preparing to head to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the Junior Men's Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships next week.
A member of USA Cycling's junior men's national team, White won the 2021 USA Cyclocross Junior Men's National Championship. He represented the U.S. in his first cyclocross world championship last year in Fayetteville, Ark., and competed in his second earlier this year in the Netherlands. (USA Cycling describes cyclocross as a combination of "road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase.")
"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved son, Magnus White," his parents Michael and Jill White said in a statement Monday.
"Magnus was dedicated to his family and friends and loved to surround them with laughter. He had an amazing smile that always lit up the room, bringing joy to those around him."
White's passion for cycling started at the age of two on a strider bike, they said, and he began racing at age 8. He grew up in Boulder and trained with Boulder Junior Cycling. He was also an avid skier and a committed student who aspired to attend business school, according to his website. He planned to graduate from high school a semester early so he could focus on international competition in spring 2024.
In addition to his parents, White is survived by his brother Eero. A family friend has set up a GoFundMe to support the family, USA Cycling confirms.
"Magnus was taken from us while doing what he loved most, riding his bike," writes Christine Lipson, the fundraiser's organizer.
"He began cycling when he was eight and quickly rose through the cycling ranks. Magnus's journey in cycling was driven by a tireless work ethic and a deep desire to achieve his personal best. He was proud to represent his community and country around the world," writes Lipson, whose son was a close friend and teammate of White's.
White was riding on the shoulder of Highway 119, known as the Diagonal, in Boulder on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a 23-year-old woman driving a Toyota Matrix. The driver crossed from the right-hand lane onto the shoulder, striking White from behind before she crashed into a fence, according to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol. White was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. The car's driver was uninjured.
Neither drugs, alcohol nor excessive speed are suspected factors in the crash, according to the state patrol.
USA Cycling said in a statement Sunday that White was a rising star in off-road cycling and "his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community."
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time," the statement continued. "We ride for Magnus."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kanw.com/npr-news/2023-07-31/top-american-cyclist-magnus-white-17-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car
| 2023-07-31T21:48:18
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https://www.kanw.com/npr-news/2023-07-31/top-american-cyclist-magnus-white-17-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car
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Updated July 31, 2023 at 4:09 PM ET
Pee-wee Herman, the comic creation of actor/writer Paul Reubens, would often toss taunts of the schoolyard into his casual conversation. It was one of the character's go-to bits.
"Why don't you take a picture? It'll last longer!"
"That's my name! Don't wear it out!"
And, most iconically,
"I know you are, but what am I?"
Of course, when it came to Pee-wee himself, with his tight gray suit, red bow tie, crew cut, rouged cheekbones and ruby-red lips, "What am I?" was the real question – it was the one he posed merely by existing.
Reubens died Sunday of cancer at the age of 70. He was an actor – but for a long time, he tried to convince the public that Pee-wee was a real person, not a character.
Folks didn't know what to make of Reubens' petulant man-child at first. Created in 1977, while Reubens was a member of the Los Angeles sketch troupe The Groundlings, Pee-wee was part prop comic, part brat and part trickster spirit. There was something fearless in Pee-wee, something unapologetic and brash that took you a second to process. The character was very obviously and intentionally what folks used to call a sissy – but how could a sissy own the stage like he did? Bask in the spotlight like he did? How could a sissy so confidently and explicitly dictate the terms for his audience on how to experience him?
The Pee-wee Herman Show at The Groundlings Theatre soon had LA hipsters lining up around the block for a midnight show that mixed puppets and parody with archival educational films – the precise fuel mixture that powered Reubens' later CBS Saturday morning show, Pee-wee's Playhouse.
It was never Peter Pan, what he was doing. Yes, Pee-wee was a boy who never grew up, but he was more than that — he was one singular adult's remembrance of what it was like being a kid. Specifically, of those parts of childhood we pretend not to see in our own children — the narcissism, the selfishness, the utter lack of basic human empathy. The monstrous bits.
In Pee-wee's Big Adventure, it manifested in his hilariously obsessive drive to recover his stolen bike — a quest which would cause him to trample on the feelings of friends like Amazing Larry (Lou Cutell) and Dottie (E.G. Daily). On Pee-wee's Playhouse, it took the form of gleeful admonitions to his viewers to "scream real loud" whenever anyone said the week's secret word. (Spare a thought for the long-suffering parents who'd hoped that sitting their kids in front of the TV would allow them a moment's peace to finish their coffee.) On 1988's magnificent holiday staple Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special, Reubens zeroed in kids' ravenous greed for presents, turning Pee-wee into a monster who only reluctantly sees the light once guilted into it. (Like Scrooge, he's a lot more fun to hang around with before his last-minute epiphany.)
To watch Pee-wee was to re-experience childhood the way we'd forgotten it actually was – pure, concentrated, distilled to its essence, when riding your bike and playing with your toys and screaming real loud was all it took to fill a day. Pee-wee was a creature of impulse, anarchy and id – which is probably why Reubens' frequent appearances on Late Night with David Letterman helped launch him to stardom.
Reubens' silliness worked on a different frequency than Letterman's – Pee-wee was wilder and far less inhibited than Letterman could ever hope to be, and Letterman knew to play up his own tetchy, aggrieved discomfort at Pee-wee's hijinks for comedic effect. The two men vibrated at opposite ends of the comedic spectrum, but they worked together brilliantly. In those interview segments, which quickly devolved into Pee-wee's signature giggles, you laughed at Reubens' ability to take complete control of the experience, and at Letterman's entirely uncharacteristic willingness to give over the reins.
In the coming days, our social media feeds will fill up with a lot of Pee-wee's greatest hits – Large Marge; "Tequila!"; Jambi the Genie; Chairy; Reubens' extended and entirely improvised death scene in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie; "I'm a loner, Dot. A rebel."; and, of course, "Come on, Simone. Let's talk about your big 'but.'"
Me, though, I'll be putting on the aforementioned Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special, because it will remind me of one of Reubens' most overlooked talents – his ability to sneak an artisanal blend of fey subversiveness into the mainstream. That special injected a defiantly, yet matter-of-fact, queer sensibility into the CBS primetime airwaves of Reagan's America: The Del Rubio Triplets! Zsa Zsa Gabor! Little Richard! Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon! KD Lang! Charo! The LA Men's Chorus dressed up as a Marine choir! And, most indelibly, Grace Jones as green Gumby, drag singing a club mix of "The Little Drummer Boy."
Keep your "I meant to do that." Keep your dancing on the biker bar to "Tequila." The image of Reubens that I'll be holding closest to my heart over the next few days is of him rocking out in the background as Jones sings in the glare of the spotlight.
Because I swear you can see, in just the way he holds his body, the mischievous delight he's taking in what he's unleashing on an unsuspecting public: Grace Jones, ladies and gentlemen, delivered unto your living rooms, pulling up to the bumper of your cozy family holiday special, an entirely singular brand of weirdness served up to you hot and fresh, with a high, unselfconscious giggle.
Jennifer Vanasco contributed to earlier versions of this story.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/but-what-am-i-pee-wee-herman-creator-paul-reubens-dies-at-70
| 2023-07-31T21:48:21
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JUSTIN, Texas, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canoo (Nasdaq: GOEV), a high-tech advanced mobility company, today announced that it will report its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 after market close on Monday, August 14, 2023. The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 5:00 pm ET to discuss the results, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Those interested are invited to listen to the live webcast online here. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly afterwards here.
Date: Monday, August 14, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm ET
U.S. Dial-in: 877-407-9169
International Dial-in: 201-493-6755
Access ID: 13740414
An audio replay of the call will be available shortly after its conclusion through August 28, 2023.
Toll-free Replay Number: 877-660-6853
International Replay Number: 201-612-7415
Replay ID: 13740414
About Canoo
Canoo's mission is to bring EVs to Everyone. The company has developed breakthrough electric vehicles that are reinventing the automotive landscape with bold innovations in design, pioneering technologies, and a unique business model that spans the full lifecycle of the vehicle. Distinguished by its experienced team from leading technology and automotive companies – Canoo has designed a modular electric platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space that is customizable across all owners in the vehicle lifecycle to support a wide range of vehicle applications for consumers and businesses.
Canoo has teams in California, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. For more information, please visit www.canoo.com. For Canoo press materials, including photos, please visit press.canoo.com. For investors, please visit www.investors.canoo.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Canoo
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https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/canoo-announce-second-quarter-2023-financial-results/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:21
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Who’s the best Sixer ever?
Clearly, that’s a question with more than one valid answer. Statistical production as a Sixer, playoff success in Philadelphia, and overall career accomplishments are a few of the many reasonable factors one could consider.
Comparing across eras is especially difficult. An All-Star is an All-Star, but there’s so much beyond numbers and achievements that are impossible to fully appreciate unless you saw it yourself. Hal Greer’s mid-range jumper, Allen Iverson’s crossover, Mo Cheeks’ steadiness, and Wilt Chamberlain’s profound dominance all come to mind.
Though James Harden was a deserving member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team and is obviously among the best players to wear a Sixers uniform, he’s only done that 79 times in the regular season. It seems fair enough to remove him from consideration while acknowledging the 10-time All-Star is an excellent player. Along the same lines, Chris Webber (114 games), Dikembe Mutombo (106 games) and Bob McAdoo (29) had relatively brief stints as Sixers during Hall of Fame careers.
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With all of that said, here’s how we ranked the top 20 Sixers of all time on the Sixers Talk podcast. You can listen below for a more in-depth rationale behind the rankings.
Danny Pommells’ top 20
1. Julius Erving
Philadelphia 76ers
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers and their rivals in the NBA from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
2. Allen Iverson
3. Charles Barkley
4. Moses Malone
5. Joel Embiid
6. Wilt Chamberlain
7. Hal Greer
8. Billy Cunningham
9. Ben Simmons
10. Mo Cheeks
11. Bobby Jones
12. Andrew Toney
13. Andre Iguodala
14. George McGinnis
15. Darryl Dawkins
16. Hersey Hawkins
17. Doug Collins
18. Aaron McKie
19. Steve Mix
20. Dolph Schayes
Noah Levick’s top 20
1. Wilt Chamberlain
2. Julius Erving
3. Moses Malone
4. Charles Barkley
5. Allen Iverson
6. Joel Embiid
7. Dolph Schayes
8. Hal Greer
9. Billy Cunningham
10. Bobby Jones
11. Chet Walker
12. Mo Cheeks
13. Doug Collins
14. Red Kerr
15. Andrew Toney
16. George McGinnis
17. Larry Costello
18. Andre Iguodala
19. Jrue Holiday
20. Ben Simmons
Subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | Youtube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | RSS | Watch on YouTube
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https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/nba/philadelphia-76ers/ranking-the-20-best-sixers-in-franchise-history/3615199/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:22
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https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/nba/philadelphia-76ers/ranking-the-20-best-sixers-in-franchise-history/3615199/
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This article was written by a human.
That's worth mentioning because it's no longer something you can just assume. Artificial intelligence that can mimic conversation, whether written or spoken, has been in the news a lot this year, delighting some members of the public while worrying educators, politicians, the World Health Organization, and even some of the people developing AI technology.
Misuse of AI is part of what actors and writers are striking about in Hollywood, and the threat of AI is something Hollywood was imagining long before it was real.
In 1968, for instance, the year before humans first set foot on the moon — and a time when astronauts still used pencils and slide rules to calculate re-entry trajectories because their space capsules had less computing power than a digital watch has today — Stanley Kubrick introduced movie audiences to a sentient HAL-9000 computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
HAL (for Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic Computer) introduced itself early in the film by saying, "No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error."
'Open the pod bay door, HAL'
So why was HAL acting so strangely? He (it?) was responsible for maintaining all aspects of a months-long space flight, ferrying astronauts to the moons of Jupiter. Programmed to run the mission flawlessly, the computer's behavior had become alarming, and two of the astronauts had decided to shut down some of its functions. Their plan was short-circuited when HAL, lip-reading a conversation they'd managed to keep him from hearing, cast one of them adrift while he was outside the ship repairing an antenna and refused to let the other back on board.
"Open the pod bay door, HAL" became one of the most quoted film lines of the decade when the computer responded, "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it."
It's hard to articulate what a genuine shock this was for 1960s movie audiences. There'd been films with, say, robots causing havoc, but they were generally robots doing someone else's bidding. Movie robots, at that point, were about brawn, not brain.
And anyway, malevolent robot stories were precisely the sort of B-movie silliness Kubrick was trying to avoid. So his intelligent machine simply observed (with an unblinking red eye) and, when addressed directly, spoke with a calm, modulated voice, not unlike the one that would be adopted four decades later by Siri and Alexa.
Darwin Among the Machines
Earlier literary notions of "artificial" intelligence — and there were not a lot of them at that point — hadn't really caught the public's imagination. Samuel Butler's 1863 article Darwin Among the Machines, is generally thought to be the origin of this species of writing, and it mostly just notes that while humankind invented machines to assist us — and remember, a really sophisticated machine in 1863 was the steam locomotive — we were increasingly assisting them: tending, fueling, repairing.
Over tens of thousands of years, Butler wondered, might humans not evolve in much the same way Darwin's study of natural selection had just established the rest of the plant and animal kingdoms do, to the point that we would become dependent on our devices?
But even when he incorporated that idea a decade later into a satirical novel called Erewhon, expounding for several chapters on self-replicating machines, Butler barely touched on the notion that those machines would develop consciousness. And neither did the influential 19th-century science fiction writers who followed him. H.G. Wells and Jules Verne invented plenty of unorthodox devices as they sent characters to the center of the Earth, and into space and the recesses of time, without ever considering that those devices might want to do things on their own.
The term "artificial intelligence" wasn't even coined (by American computer scientist John McCarthy) until about a dozen years before Kubrick made his Space Odyssey. But HAL made an impression on the public where scientists had not. Within just a couple of years, movie computers didn't just want spaceship domination; in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), they wanted to take over the world.
Malignant machines gone viral
And then this notion of technology-run-wild, ran wild. A high school student played by Matthew Broderick nearly started World War III in WarGames (1983) when he thought he was hacking a computer company's website but accidentally challenged the Pentagon's defense network to a quick game of "global thermonuclear war." The problem, it soon became clear, was that no one told the defense network they were just "playing."
Elsewhere, mechanical men stopped being all-brawn and got a new dispensation to think for themselves, something fiction had granted them before Hollywood got around to it.
In the 1940s, sci-fi novelist Isaac Asimov came up with "Three Laws of Robotics" that would theoretically keep "independent" machines in line. When Asimov's story I, Robot, was turned into a film a half-century or so later, those laws should have reassured Will Smith as he stared down thousands of bots. But he had good reason to be skeptical; he was fighting a robot rebellion.
The Terminator movies effectively put all these themes on steroids — cyborgs in the service of a computerized, sentient, civil-defense network called Skynet, designed to function without any human input. A "Nuclear Fire" and three billion human deaths later, what was left of humanity was engaged in a war against the machines that has so far consumed six films, a TV series, a pair of web series, and innumerable games.
And nuclear blasts weren't necessary to make machine intelligence alarming, a fact cyberpunk-noir established definitively in Blade Runner with its "replicants," and in a Matrix series that reduced all of humanity to a mere power source for machines.
Hollywood's still fighting that vision. Who knows what "The Entity" wants in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (presumably we'll find out next year in Part Two), but whatever it is, it won't bode well for humanity.
Hollywood concentrates on exploiting our fears — in the late 20th century, we worried about ceding control to technology. In the 21st century, we worry about losing control of technology.
It seems not to have occurred to Tinseltown that AI might do the things it's actually doing — make social media dangerous, or make undergrad writing courses unteachable, or screw up relationships by auto-completing incorrectly. None of those are terribly cinematic, so Hollywood concentrates on exploiting our fears — in the late 20th century, we worried about ceding control to technology. In the 21st century, we worry about losing control of technology.
Bring on the droids
Have there also been friendlier film visions of AI? Sure. George Lucas came up with lovable droids R2-D2 and C-3PO for Star Wars, and Pixar gave us Wall-E, a bot who was pluckily determined to clean up an entire planet we'd despoiled.
Spike Jonze's drama Her imagined a sentient, Siri-like personal assistant as a digital girlfriend. Star Trek's Data was not just a Next Generation android version of Mr. Spock, but also a sort of emotion-challenged Pinocchio.
And another Pinocchio — this one fashioned to stand the test of time — would have been Stanley Kubrick's own answer to the question he'd posed with HAL in 1968.
Kubrick labored for decades to hone the script for A.I. Artificial Intelligence, then just two years before he died, handed the project off to Steven Spielberg — the story of David, a robot child who has been programmed to love, and who ends up going beyond that programming.
"Until you were born," William Hurt's Professor Hobby told the bionic child he'd modeled on his own son, "robots didn't dream, robots didn't desire unless we told them what to want." The miracle, he went on, was that though David was engineered rather than born, he shared with humans "the ability to chase down our dreams...something no machine has ever done, until you."
That may not have been enough to make David a real boy, but it put a gentle face on what is perhaps our greatest fear about AI – that we are mortal, and it is not.
In the film, David outlives all of humanity, never growing up, never changing. And perhaps because he was played by Haley Joel Osment, or perhaps because Spielberg was calling the shots, or perhaps because the music swelled ... just so — it didn't feel the least bit threatening.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/open-the-pod-bay-door-hal-heres-how-ai-became-a-movie-villain
| 2023-07-31T21:48:22
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DL Michael Matus returns from injury, advises new group of ASU football players
A year ago Arizona State defensive lineman Michael Matus made his way into the interview room in the student-athlete facility at Sun Devil Stadium with the aid of crutches, having torn an ACL days earlier. It is unusual for a player to address the media about an injury, particularly after sustaining one so severe.
Matus wanted to do so and for about 15 minutes talked about the injury in an eloquent manner. At that time he hadn't decided whether he would use his extra season of eligibility and return but did talk about staying close to the team and tutoring the younger players while he was on the shelf.
But Matus has indeed returned and looks forward to being a leader for a revamped Sun Devil team which will boast more than 50 new players when it opens the regular season on Aug. 31 against Southern Utah at Sun Devil Stadium.
He was a limited participant in spring drills back in March but was going full throttle when the Sun Devils opened fall camp Monday morning at the Kajikawa practice fields.
"It’s exciting. Now that I look at it, 11 months has gone by like that," he said, snapping his fingers. "But 11 months ago I was standing in that room over there about to cry my eyes out saying I wasn’t playing again. This is the day I was looking forward to and tell you guys, yeah I'm going to be out there. It’s like a relief."
"It’s more of a shock to the system now because last year I transitioned into this role of trying to help and coach and stuff like that so now it's time to put the cleats back on and get back to work."
Matus, a native of Katy, Texas, is the most experienced player on the squad, first arriving as a three-star prospect in 2018 and working his way into a full-time starting role by 2020. He's on his seventh defensive coordinator, if you count Phil Bennett who first recruited him while on staff under Todd Graham.
Matus has seen his share of defensive line coaches too — four.
He jokes about being the elder statesman of the team, soon turning 24. That's not that much younger than first-year head coach Kenny Dillingham who just turned 33 and is the youngest head coach at a Power 5 program.
"We were in a leadership (text) chat and he sent us a Pop Warner photo in there and we were all laughing," Matus said. "I was saying we were probably playing there together."
The decision to return was not one made hastily. The injury wasn't the only thing that made the 2022 campaign difficult. There was the departure of Herm Edwards three games into the season, with the reins handed to running backs coach Shaun Aguano on an interim basis.
The team finished with an abysmal 3-9 record, capped off by the first Territorial Cup loss to rival Arizona in six years. It was the worst record since a 3-8 mark in 1994.
In came a new coaching staff, led by Dillingham. After meeting with the new coach and positive interactions with others under Dillingham's umbrella including new defensive coordinator Brian Ward, the 6-foot-2, 260-pounder made the decision to return.
"I can say yes I wanted to come back but they had to sign off on me and want me back," Matus said. "I really liked everything he (Dillingham) had to say and I could see the energy he was going to bring and how much he wanted to be here and I knew that was going to be contagious."
Matus added that the defensive scheme Ward brought with him from Washington State was also a factor. The Sun Devils lost to Ward's Cougars 28-18 and it was a game Matus remembered quite well even though it was as a spectator.
"Who wouldn't want to play in that defense," Matus said. "Eleven guys just flying to the ball. There is nothing scarier for an offense than that. I saw that firsthand last season."
Matus is providing the same leadership he did last year, embracing the chance to mentor the younger players. The defensive front has some other experienced veterans in Anthonie Cooper, B.J. Green and Michigan State transfer Dashaun Mallory. But there are some promising rookies as well in true freshmen, most notably C.J. Fite and Ashley Williams.
From FCS to ASU:Arizona State football hopes to see impact from transfers
But no one is more versed in the ins and outs of the program than Matus. He was one of the first people new defensive line coach Vince Amey turned to upon his arrival. He asked about errors of the past as well as what Matus thought was needed moving forward. Amey acknowledges it's nice to have a respected voice in the locker room that isn't coming from a coach.
"He (Matus) is going to be able to do whatever he wants in life. He’s a very bright, intelligent dude. My meeting with him when I first got here was probably my best meeting because he filled me in on everything," Amey said. "He’s very articulate, very smart. He knows the defense already, picks things up quick. The guys respect him and look up to him. It helps to have that voice in a locker room that isn't a coach."
Matus says being relegated to a coach while injured helped him see the game from a new perspective.
"Coaches have an extremely hard job. I don’t want to be a coach," he laughed. "What I learned is the appreciation for how everything collectively has to work. Everything from safeties, corners, linebackers D-Line. Anything you learn about offense too. Schemes. When you’re on the field it’s really hard to see the bigger picture. And when you’re sitting on the sideline and you’re watching you see how much of a chess match is it. And what pieces go where. And how do I combat this? How do I scheme against that? That’s honestly what I learned. You’re just one piece in the puzzle trying to accomplish the end goal."
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2023/07/31/asu-football-michael-matus-acl-injury-return/70490981007/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:22
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Impeached Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks to have most charges dismissed before September trial
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lawyers for impeached Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday sought to have most of the charges against him dismissed, arguing that they rely on alleged acts of corruption before he was reelected to a third term in 2022.
In motions filed with the Senate, where Paxton’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5, his attorneys said they believe state law bars the removal of an official for conduct that occurred before their most recent election. Paxton was first elected attorney general in 2014 and the impeachment charges include alleged conduct since then.
“The Articles allege nothing that Texas voters have not heard from the Attorney General’s political opponents for years,” Paxton’s attorneys wrote. They accused the GOP-dominated Texas House of Representatives of seeking to oust Paxton because they were unable to unseat him by popular vote.
“Texas voters rendered their judgement by re-electing Attorney General Paxton to serve a third consecutive term. As a matter of both common sense and Texas law, that should be the end of the matter,” his attorneys wrote.
Only one of the 20 impeachment charges — an allegation that Paxton settled a whistleblower lawsuit in an effort to hide from the public corruption allegations against him — would not have to be dismissed under the so-called “prior term doctrine,” Paxton’s attorney said. Paxton asked state lawmakers this year to have the state pay the proposed $3.3 million settlement.
In a second filing, Paxton’s attorneys said the trial should exclude any evidence of alleged conduct that occurred prior to January 2023, when his third term in office began.
The motions from Paxton’s attorneys are similar to moves in a criminal or civil legal cases when defense attorneys seek to have charges or lawsuits dismissed before trial.
In this case, the presiding officer over Paxton’s impeachment trial will be Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a powerful Republican who also serves as the president of the state Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate will consider the evidence and decide whether to convict or acquit Paxton in the first impeachment trial of a statewide official since 1917.
Patrick has already issued a sweeping gag order over the parties and attorneys involved ahead of the Senate trial. Attorneys for House of Representatives managers prosecuting Paxton did not immediately respond to the motions filed Monday.
Paxton has been suspended from office since the House first approved the articles of impeachment on May 27. He could be permanently removed if convicted by the Senate.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.1011now.com/2023/07/31/impeached-texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeks-have-most-charges-dismissed-before-september-trial/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:23
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https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/a-highly-anticipated-throwback-kelly-green-eagles-jerseys-are-back/3615187/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:28
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Total new annualized premiums up 11%; strong capital position
CARMEL, Ind., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) today reported net income of $73.7 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, in 2Q23 compared to $233.3 million, or $1.99 per diluted share, in 2Q22. Net operating income (1) was $62.3 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, in 2Q23 compared to $135.1 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, in 2Q22.
"Production was strong in both our Consumer and Worksite Divisions, with notable sales increases in Life, Medicare Supplement and Supplemental Health, driven by continued growth in producing agent counts," said Gary C. Bhojwani, chief executive officer.
"Variable investment income results improved sequentially, yet reflect a tough comparable in the second quarter of 2022 when results reached a five-year high. Health claims impacted our results in the quarter. We expect this elevated claims experience to moderate in the second half of the year, based on leading indicators. Our long-term view of the Health business remains positive."
"New money rates were once again strong in the quarter at 6.34%, which drove continued improvement in the earned yield on investments allocated to insurance products. Our consolidated risk based capital (RBC) ratio of 386% was comfortably above our target as was our holding company liquidity of $176 million. Free cash flow generation in the quarter was robust."
Second Quarter 2023 Highlights (as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year where applicable)
- Total Health insurance new annualized premiums ("NAP") (4) up 15%; total Life insurance NAP up 8%
- Medicare Supplement NAP up 29%; Consumer Division field agent-sold Life insurance NAP up 20%
- Consumer Division field producing agent count up 8%; Worksite Division producing agent count up 32%
- Returned $47.4 million to shareholders
- Book value per share was $17.56; book value per diluted share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss,(2) was $32.34
- Return on equity ("ROE") of 14.8%; operating ROE, as adjusted,(6) of 8.0%
Adoption of New Accounting Standard
As previously disclosed, we adopted ASU 2018-12 related to targeted improvements to the accounting for long-duration insurance contracts effective January 1, 2023. We selected the modified retrospective transition method except for market risk benefits where we were required to use the full retrospective approach. All prior periods presented herein have been recast in accordance with the new standard. As a result of the adoption of the new guidance, shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2022, increased $368.0 million and was comprised of increases to retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of $232.2 million and $135.8 million, respectively. Net income and operating earnings (1) for the second quarter of 2022 increased $97.2 million and $35.0 million, respectively. Concurrent with the adoption of the new guidance, we also updated the method of determining non-operating earnings for our fixed indexed annuities to better isolate the volatile non-economic accounting impacts of that line of business.
INSURANCE OPERATIONS
Annuity products accounted for 26 percent of the Company's margin for the quarter and annuity premiums collected decreased 8 percent in 2Q23 compared to 2Q22.
Health products accounted for 48 percent of the Company's insurance margin for the quarter and 63 percent of insurance policy income.
Life products accounted for 26 percent of the Company's insurance margin for the quarter and 36 percent of insurance policy income.
Sales of health products were up 15 percent and sales of life products were up 8 percent in 2Q23 compared to 2Q22.
Total allocated expenses were $149.5 million, down 2 percent from 2Q22.
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The fair value of CNO's available for sale fixed maturity portfolio was $21.0 billion compared with an amortized cost of $23.6 billion. Net unrealized losses were comprised of gross unrealized gains of $106.1 million and gross unrealized losses of $2,710.8 million. The allowance for credit losses was $66.1 million at June 30, 2023.
At both amortized cost and fair value, 94 percent of fixed maturities, available for sale, were rated "investment grade".
Non-Operating Items
Net investment losses in 2Q23 were $31.3 million including the unfavorable change in the allowance for credit losses of $9.9 million which was recorded in earnings. Net investment losses in 2Q22 were $27.1 million including the unfavorable change in the allowance for credit losses of $23.7 million which was recorded in earnings.
During 2Q23 and 2Q22, we recognized a decrease in earnings of $4.0 million and $21.7 million, respectively, due to the net change in market value of investments recognized in earnings.
During 2Q23 and 2Q22, we recognized an increase in earnings of $50.4 million and $160.6 million, respectively, resulting from changes in the estimated fair value of embedded derivative liabilities and market risk benefits related to our fixed indexed annuities. Such amounts include the impacts of changes in market interest rates and equity impacts used to determine the estimated fair values of the embedded derivatives and market risk benefits.
In 2Q22, other non-operating items included an increase in earnings of $14.0 million for the mark-to-market change in the agent deferred compensation plan liability which was impacted by changes in the underlying actuarial assumptions used to value the liability. We recognize the mark-to-market change in the estimated value of this liability through earnings as assumptions change.
Statutory (based on non-GAAP measures) and GAAP Capital Information
Our consolidated statutory risk-based capital ratio was estimated at 386% at June 30, 2023, reflecting estimated 2Q23 statutory operating income of $37 million (and $76 million in the first six months of 2023) and the payment of insurance company dividends (net of capital contributions) to the holding company of $40.5 million during 2Q23 (and $74.7 million in the first six months of 2023).
During 2Q23, we repurchased $30.0 million of common stock under our securities repurchase program (including $0.9 million of repurchases settled in 3Q23). We repurchased 1.4 million common shares at an average cost of $22.28 per share. As of June 30, 2023, we had 113.7 million shares outstanding and had authority to repurchase up to an additional $641.8 million of our common stock. During 2Q23, dividends paid on common stock totaled $17.4 million.
Unrestricted cash and investments held by our holding company were $176 million at June 30, 2023, compared to $167 million at December 31, 2022.
Book value per common share was $17.56 at June 30, 2023 compared to $15.47 at December 31, 2022. Book value per diluted share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (2), was $32.34 at June 30, 2023, compared to $31.89 at December 31, 2022.
The debt-to-capital ratio was 36.3 percent and 39.2 percent at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Our debt-to-total capital ratio, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (3) was 23.4 percent at both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Return on equity for the trailing four quarters ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, was 14.8% and 20.9%, respectively. Operating return, excluding significant items, on equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and net operating loss carryforwards (6) for the trailing four quarters ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, was 8.0% and 12.7%, respectively.
In this news release, CNO includes non-GAAP measures to enhance investors' understanding of management's view of the business. The non-GAAP measures are not a substitute for GAAP, but rather a supplement to increase transparency by providing broader perspective. CNO's definitions of non-GAAP measures may differ from other companies' definitions. More detailed information including various GAAP and non-GAAP measurements are located at CNOinc.com in the Investors section under SEC Filings.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. These prospective statements reflect management's current expectations, but are not guarantees of future performance. Accordingly, please refer to CNO's cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements, and the business environment in which the Company operates, contained in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and any subsequent Form 10-Q or Form 10-K on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and on the Company's website at CNOinc.com in the Investors section. CNO specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future developments or otherwise.
EARNINGS RELEASE CONFERENCE CALL WEBCAST:
The Company will host a conference call to discuss results on August 1, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. During the call, we will be referring to a presentation that will be available at the Investors section of the company's website.
To participate by dial-in, please register at https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=5ac4628b&confId=53584. Upon registering, you will be provided with call details and a registrant ID used to track attendance on the conference call. Reminders will also be sent to registered participants via email.
For those investors who prefer to listen to the call online, we will be broadcasting the call live via webcast. The event can be accessed through the Investors section of the company's website: ir.CNOinc.com. Participants should go to the website at least 15 minutes before the event to register and download any necessary audio software.
ABOUT CNO FINANCIAL GROUP
CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) secures the future of middle-income America. CNO provides life and health insurance, annuities, financial services, and workforce benefits solutions through our family of brands, including Bankers Life, Colonial Penn, Optavise and Washington National. Our customers work hard to save for the future, and we help protect their health, income and retirement needs with 3.2 million policies and $34 billion in total assets. Our 3,400 associates, 4,600 exclusive agents and 4,000 independent partner agents guide individuals, families and businesses through a lifetime of financial decisions. For more information, visit CNOinc.com.
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SOURCE CNO Financial Group, Inc.
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https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/cno-financial-group-reports-second-quarter-2023-results/
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Arizona golf notes: Grant takes over top spot in Solheim standings; Rahm leads FedEx list
Following her tie for 16th at the Amundi Evian Championship, the fourth of five LPGA majors in 2023, former Arizona State standout Linn Grant has ascended to the top spot of the European team’s Solheim Cup standings.
Grant, who won her first LPGA tournament two weeks ago, is rising fast in the Rolex Rankings as well, checking in at No. 20.
Fellow ASU alum Carlota Ciganda is fourth on the European squad standings. A five-time Solheim Cupper, Ciganda was disqualified from the Evian for signing an incorrect scorecard, a situation that arose out of a slow-play penalty assessed on her final hole of her first round. After being put on the clock and then being penalized the two shots, she refused to acknowledge the penalty and signed her card without adding the two shots, leading to her disqualification.
Jon Rahm maintains lead in FedEx Cup standings
Former ASU golfer Jon Rahm has maintained his spot atop the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs standings with one regular-season tournament left.
Rahm is not playing in this week’s Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina. In fact, most of the Tour’s big names are taking the week off in preparation for the three-week playoffs, starting with the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis in two weeks.
Rahm is likely to be the only former Sun Devils golfer in the playoffs. Kevin Yu is 94th in the standings while Chez Reavie is 98th.
Thomas Lehman makes PGA Tour debut
Thomas Lehman, son of veteran pro golfer and Scottsdale resident Tom Lehman, made his PGA Tour debut last week at the 3M Open near Minneapolis. Lehman, originally from Minnesota, was at TPC Twin Cities with other family members rooting on his son, who got into the field on a sponsor exemption. Thomas opened with a 76 but rebounded to shoot a 68. However, that only got him to 2 over and he missed the cut by six shots.
Seven Arizona teens ready for Junior PGA
The fields are set for the 47th Junior PGA Championships in Hot Springs, Arkansas. There are 156 boys and 156 girls in the two divisions, with seven golfers from Arizona participating: Adam Miller of Phoenix, Alexis Vakasiuola of San Tan Valley, Ashley Shaw of Litchfield Park, Dylan Boenning of Phoenix, Gracie McGovern of Scottsdale, Owen Bolles of Chandler and Tyler Spielman of Cave Creek.
Previous participants of the Junior PGA include Tiger Woods, Rose Zhang, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Lexi Thompson, Yuka Saso, Scottie Scheffler and Inbee Park.
O’Neal part of TV milestone
Former Tempe Corona del Sol and ASU golfer Blair O’Neal will be part of TV history this week when the 400th episode of School of Golf debuts.
The golf instruction show started a decade ago on Golf Channel and is now exclusively on Golf Pass, part of the NBC Sports family. The milestone episode, according to NBC Sports, will feature co-hosts Martin Hall and O’Neal “building new tips and drills as they recall some of the best instruction and visited some of golf’s most famous venues over the course of 400 School of Golf episodes.”
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/golf/2023/07/31/arizona-golf-notes-linn-grant-atop-solheim-standings-jon-rahm-leads-fedex-cup-playoffs-list/70501287007/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:28
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Memphis police shoot suspect after he fired shots outside Jewish school, authorities say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis police on Monday said officers shot a suspect after he attempted to enter a Jewish school with a gun and fired shots after he couldn’t get into the building.
Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe said the suspect, whose identity has not been released, approached Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South around 12:20 p.m. He fired several shots and then left in a maroon truck.
“Thankfully, that school had a great safety procedure and process in place and avoided anyone being harmed or injured at that scene,” Crowe said.
Officers soon located the suspect’s vehicle “shortly after that,” Crowe said, adding that officers then shot the suspect after he exited the truck with a firearm in hand. The suspect was sent to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.
It was not immediately clear if school was in session.
When asked if law enforcement believe the shooting was a hate crime, Crowe said officers were still on the scene and collecting information.
“It’s way too early for that. Again, we’re very early in this investigation,” said Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case.
U.S. Rep. Seve Cohen, whose district includes Memphis, said in a statement that he was “shocked” to hear about the incident at the school and noted that acts of “violent antisemitism” are on the rise across the country.”
Monday’s shooting comes nearly four months after a shooter opened fire at a private Christian school in Nashville and killed six people, including three nine-year-old children. That tragedy has sparked closer scrutiny of Tennessee’s relaxed gun laws and renewed calls to strengthen security at both public and private schools across the state.
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Kimberlee Kruesi contributed to this report from Nashville, Tennessee.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.1011now.com/2023/07/31/memphis-police-shoot-suspect-after-he-fired-shots-outside-jewish-school-authorities-say/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:29
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Diamondbacks-Giants pitching matchup for Monday night's game at San Francisco
The Diamondbacks open a week-long road trip with four games in San Francisco. Monday's game against the Giants starts at 6:45 p.m. and can be seen on YurView AZ.
Monday's Diamondbacks-Giants pitching matchup
Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (6-5, 4.97) vs. Giants LHP Alex Cobb (6-3, 2.97).
Nelson gave up five runs in six innings against the Cardinals in his most recent start, an outing in which pitching coach Brent Strom believed Nelson might have been tipping pitches. … Nelson faced the Giants in San Francisco on June 25 and turned in one of his better starts of the year, giving up just one run on three hits in seven innings. … Opponents have done damage against Nelson primarily off both his fastball (.298 average, .525 slugging) and cutter (.337, .566). … Cobb fired six scoreless innings against the Athletics, with one walk and nine strikeouts, in his most recent outing. … He has logged a 2.87 ERA over his past six starts, with the Giants coming away with wins in five of those games. … He threw seven scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks in his lone start against them this year, an outing that took place in May.
Coming up
Tuesday: At San Francisco, 6:45 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (11-5, 3.36) vs. Giants TBA.
Wednesday: At San Francisco, 6:45 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Giants RHP Logan Webb (8-9, 3.49).
Thursday: At San Francisco, 12:45 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (0-4, 8.20) vs. Giants TBA.
What to know about the San Francisco Giants
The Giants entered Sunday in second place in the National League West, three games back of the Dodgers. It’s not a bad place to be in, but after getting swept in three games by the Nationals and dropping another to the Tigers in recent days, the Giants have to feel like they missed a chance to gain more ground in the division and wild-card races. The Giants are averaging 4.5 runs per game, ranking eighth in the NL, but their pitching staff is third with a 3.94 ERA. 1B Wilmer Flores is having a strong year at the plate, hitting .297/.357/.534; he has been especially hot in recent weeks, hitting .413 with five homers over his past 18 games. DH Joc Pederson has also hit well, with a .837 OPS and 11 homers in 204 at-bats. 2B Thairo Estrada is on the injured list with a fractured left hand. OF Mitch Haniger also is out with a fractured forearm. RHPs Alex Cobb (2.97) and Logan Webb (3.49) have led the way in the rotation. RHP Anthony DeSclafani is on the injured list with an elbow strain.
More early Diamondbacks reading
Critical stretch:August could make or break struggling Diamondbacks as schedule shifts to division foes
Just 3 hits:Diamondbacks plunge further into slump, drop series to Mariners
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2023/07/31/arizona-diamondbacks-san-francisco-giants-news-updates-monday-game/70500680007/
| 2023-07-31T21:48:35
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For Q2 2023, revenue increased 15% to $19.4 million and customer locations increased 7% to 124,000. Q2 net loss dropped 75% from $3.9 million in Q2 2022 to $978,000 in Q2 2023, and ARR* for TTM** increased $11.8 million from $59.3 million as at June 30, 2022 to $71.1 million as at June 30, 2023, growth of 20%.
TORONTO , July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Givex Corp. ("Givex") (TSX: GIVX) (OTCQX: GIVXF), is pleased to present its financial results for the three-month period and six-month period ending June 30, 2023.
Givex reports in Canadian dollars and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").
"In Q2 2023, Givex continued to increase adjusted EBITDA by increasing gross profit and keeping a tight rein on payroll costs," said Don Gray, CEO of Givex. "Net loss decreased 75%, from $3.9 million to $978,000. We are working hard to continue this trend for the rest of the year."
Second Quarter Financial Highlights
Three-month period ending June 30, 2023 (with comparisons relative to the three-month period ending June 30, 2022)
- Revenue increased $2.6 million from $16.8 million to $19.4 million, 15% growth.
- Gross Profit increased $1.9 million from $12.2 million to $14.1 million, 16% growth.
- Adjusted EBITDA*** increased $0.7 million from $1.0 million to $1.7 million, 69% growth.
- Net Loss decreased $2.9 million from $3.9 million to $978,000, 75% decrease.
- Total Gross Transactional Value**** increased approximately $0.35 billion from $1.77 billion to $2.12 billion, 20% growth.
- POS Gross Transactional Value***** increased approximately $128 million from $347 million to $474 million, 37% growth.
- Customer Locations****** increased approximately 8,000, from 116,000 to 124,000, 7% growth.
Six-month period ending June 30, 2023 (with comparisons relative to the six-month period ending June 30, 2022)
- Revenue increased $5.4 million from $33.2 million to $38.6 million, 16% growth.
- Gross Profit increased $4.2 million from $23.1 million to $27.3 million, 18% growth.
- Adjusted EBITDA*** increased $0.4 million from $2.3 million to $2.7 million, 18% growth.
- Net Loss decreased $4.3 million from $6.5 million to $2.2 million, 66% decrease.
- Total Gross Transactional Value**** increased approximately $0.65 billion from $3.05 billion to $3.7 billion, 21% growth.
- POS Gross Transactional Value***** increased approximately $295 million from $584 million to $879 million, 51% growth.
Operational Highlights
- Payroll costs are the key focus to improved EBITDA and positive net earnings. For the 12-month periods ending June 30, 2023 and 2022, Employee Compensation******* as a % of Gross Profit was 53% and 54%, respectively. The company believes that its ability to reduce Employee Compensation as a % of Gross Profit is an indicator of its success in managing costs and profitability.
- ARR* (which is both recurring and reoccurring revenue) for TTM** increased $11.8 million from $59.3 million as at June 30, 2022 to $71.1 million as at June 30, 2023, growth of 20%.
More Information
Additional financial information, such as the audited annual Consolidated Financial Statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
More information about Givex, including the Management Presentation and Overview, are posted on the company's investor relations website at investors.givex.com.
About Givex
The world is changing. Givex is ready. Since 1999, Givex has provided technology solutions that unleash the full potential of engagement, creating and cultivating powerful connections that unite brands and customers. With a global footprint of 124,000+ active locations across more than 100 countries, Givex unleashes strategic insights, empowering brands through reliable technology and exceptional support. Givex's integrated end-to-end management solution provides Gift Cards, GivexPOS, Loyalty Programs and more, creating growth opportunities for businesses of all sizes and industries. Learn more about how to streamline workflows, tackle complex challenges and transform data into actionable insights at www.givex.com.
Non-IFRS Measures and Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures
The information presented includes certain financial measures such as "Adjusted EBITDA" (see below for definition), which are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. These non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We also believe that securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Our management also uses non-IFRS measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to, the risk factors described under the "Risk Factors" section in the Annual Information Form (AIF) dated March 21, 2023, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" in the Filing Statement.
Additional Notes
*ARR is defined as Annual Recurring Revenue, which is both recurring and reoccurring revenue.
**TTM is trailing twelve months from the defined period.
***Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net profit (loss) excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") as adjusted for share-based compensation and related expenses, foreign exchange gains and losses and transaction-related expenses including those related to going public and acquisitions.
****Gross transaction volume ("GTV") means the total dollar value of stored and point-of-sale ("POS") transactions processed through our cloud-based SaaS platforms in the period, net of refunds, inclusive of shipping and handling, duty, and value-added taxes. We believe GTV is an indicator of the success of our customers and the strength of our platforms. GTV does not represent revenue earned by us.
*****POS gross transactional volume ("POS GTV") means the total dollar value point-of-sale ("POS") transactions processed through GivexPOS, our cloud-based POS SaaS platform, in the period net of refunds, inclusive of shipping and handling, duty and value-added taxes. We believe POS GTV is an indicator of the success of our customers and the strength of our platforms. POS GTV does not represent revenue earned by us.
******Customer Location means a billing customer location for which the term of services has not ended, or with which we are negotiating a renewal contract. It includes both merchant locations that have transactions processed through our cloud-based SaaS platform, as well as merchant locations not on our platform but for which we provide other Givex services. A single unique customer can have multiple Customer Locations including physical and eCommerce sites. We believe that our ability to increase the number of Customer Locations served by our platform and products is an indicator of our success in terms of market penetration and growth of our business.
*******Employee Compensation as a % of Gross Profit means the total employee compensation for a period divided by the gross profit for the same period. Employee Compensation means total employee compensation including salaries and benefits, excluding both government assistance and share-based compensation. Gross Profit means revenue less direct cost of revenue.
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News magazine program InvestigateTV+ debuts this fall
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Gray Television has announced plans to launch a new weekday news magazine program called InvestigateTV+.
Beginning on Sept. 11, the program will showcase groundbreaking investigations featuring Gray’s award-winning InvestigateTV unit, plus consumer, health and original content curated from Gray’s 113 local markets.
The program will air Monday-Friday at 3:30 p.m. on 10/11 (KOLN).
In light of the tremendous audience reaction to Gray’s InvestigateTV weekend show, including average viewership of 1.2 million households per week, Gray decided to launch InvestigateTV+ weekdays. Gray’s local stations will air both the weekday program (InvestigateTV+) and the weekend program (InvestigateTV) across all of its markets.
In addition, Gray will make these programs available to non-owned local television stations in markets outside of its station footprint.
“Gray is the leading source of stories that make a difference in every market we serve, while InvestigateTV is known for innovative journalism that gets results,” said Sandy Breland, Gray Senior Managing Vice President. “The InvestigateTV+ program will allow us to connect even more viewers to impactful storytelling from coast to coast.”
InvestigateTV+ will be hosted by Lee Zurik and Tisha Powell. Zurik is Vice President of Investigations for InvestigateTV and works as an anchor and Chief Investigative Reporter at WVUE in New Orleans. He has been honored with journalism’s top honors including two George Foster Peabody Awards and twelve National Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Tisha Powell is an anchor at WAFB in Baton Rouge and a veteran journalist with experience reporting across the country and interviewing newsmakers including Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Jill Biden.
InvestigateTV+ will combine the strength of Gray’s network of local newsrooms with a dedicated reporting team to provide a daily resource of information that empowers viewers.
Managing Editor Greg Phillips will lead daily production and a dedicated editorial team. He was most recently Executive Producer of Investigations for InvestigateTV and has been a part of teams that won Peabody, duPont, and National Murrow Awards.
Award-winning Executive Producer Jennifer Nickels joins Phillips on the management team.
“Storytelling is our North Star,” Zurik said. “We have assembled a team of experienced, community-focused journalists who will work closely with Gray’s local stations to deliver in-depth stories from around America that inform and inspire every day.”
Copyright 2023 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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It turns out Lillyanna Rodriguez isn't the only Kenosha softball superstar heading to Oklahoma.
In fact, one of her best friends gets to join her Aug. 10-13 at the Team USA All-American games at the site of the College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Together, Janiyah Robinson and Rodriguez are two of only 10 girls chosen to represent the state of Wisconsin in this prestigious tournament, and they both happen to live in Kenosha.
Robinson, like Rodriguez, lives in the Bradford district and has dreams of being a star Red Devil one day.
For now, the 12-year-old Robinson is one of the youngest players on her Puma Academy 14U squad, and she is eager to showcase her skills in front of scouts and coaches alike at the grandest stage for softball in the country - the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma.
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This event will provide national exposure to elite athletes in the 12U age division and has been designed to identify and highlight the best athletes from across the country.
The Oklahoma Sooners softball team is a pretty big deal, and Sooner red is everywhere in Oklahoma City. So getting the opportunity to play in the softball hotbed of America is quite the treat.
The Sooners recently beat Florida State in the College World Series to win their 53rd consecutive game, an NCAA Division I record, and they’ve now won three consecutive national championships. In fact, their last win came in Oklahoma City in the same stadium where Janiyah will be competing in August.
Only 12 years old, Robinson isn't afraid of the big stage and actually can't wait to show everyone that she belongs playing against some of the best players in the United States.
"Being selected to play in the All-American games is awesome because it is great exposure to some good colleges, and I get to play with other very talented girls my age from around the country," Robinson said. "It is exciting and humbling that I was one of only 10 girls chosen to represent Wisconsin in this tournament."
Rodriguez, who was featured in the Kenosha News last week, has had a fun softball history with Robinson.
The girls first met during the Bullen Middle School softball season in sixth grade. This past travel season, they were both wearing the same jerseys as the two youngest players on the Puma Academy 14U Golf team.
Robinson, 12, and Rodriguez, 13, both decided to go for it and try out for this prestigious showcase together.
The power of friendship was in full effect, as both girls were selected to play in the Team USA All-American games - on the same team.
They now have the precious opportunity to represent their country together in one last tournament together as 12U players.
Robinson is no stranger to being one of the youngest players on her team. She started playing the game she loves at 6 years old, and she hasn't slowed down since.
By age 8, she joined the Puma Academy 12U team. The organization is located locally in Kenosha. Rodriguez also plays for Puma.
Janiyah's older sister is a Puma girl as well.
"My older sister was on the 14U Puma team at the time (when she started Puma as an 8-year-old), and I was allowed to join in their practices, which played a big part in my development as a player," Robinson said. "I have been blessed with great coaches Alyssa Roberts, Josh Colon and John Ruffolo, who have taught me so much about the game."
So what's Robinson planning on doing with softball in the future?
Well, she's dabbled in other sports, but it's clear she believes softball is something she wants to do for a long time.
"My primary focus is on softball, but I have also recently started playing volleyball and really enjoy it," Robinson said. "My goal is to play softball for Bradford High School and eventually play in college."
Robinson is definitely on the right path, and in terms of her softball future, the sky truly is the limit.
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https://kenoshanews.com/sports/local-softball-star-robinson-will-showcase-skills-at-usa-softball-all-american-games/article_3c53bf40-2fdd-11ee-a730-27dfc3632071.html
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Sources: Arizona Diamondbacks working on trade for Seattle Mariners’ reliever Paul Sewald
The Diamondbacks are making progress in talks to acquire reliever Paul Sewald in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, sources said.
According to a source, the Diamondbacks will be sending outfielder Dominic Canzone, infielder Josh Rojas and infield prospect Ryan Bliss to the Mariners.
Sewald, 33, has a 2.93 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 43 innings. He has converted 21 of 24 save opportunities this year. Over the past three seasons, he owns a 2.88 ERA with 236 strikeouts in 171 2/3 innings.
The bullpen has been a major trouble spot for the Diamondbacks this year, particularly in recent weeks, as relievers Andrew Chafin, Miguel Castro and Scott McGough have struggled. All three have seen time working the ninth inning, but all have failed to hold down the job. More recently, reliever Kevin Ginkel has served as the closer of choice.
The Diamondbacks have fallen on hard times in recent weeks, losing 18 of their past 26 games overall and 11 of 14 since the All-Star break. Once atop their division, they are now in fourth place in the NL West and are one game out of a wild-card spot. They are set to open a key four-game series against the Giants on Monday night in San Francisco.
Sewald is making $4.1 million this year in his second year of arbitration. He has one year to go before being eligible to hit free agency after the 2024 season.
Sewald relies on a two-pitch mix, throwing each pitch roughly equally: a fastball that averages 92 mph and a sweeper. He induces healthy whiff rates of 31.4 percent and 32.8 percent on the two pitches, respectively.
Canzone, 25, is a left-handed-hitting outfielder — a type of player the Diamondbacks had in abundance. But unlike many of the others, his calling card is his bat. In 257 at-bats in Triple-A Reno this year, he hit .354/.431/.634. During his brief time in the majors over the past month, he went 9 for 38 (.237) with a homer and eight RBIs, and of late he had been delivering key hits with regularity.
As recently as the start of the year, Rojas was viewed as the type of player the Diamondbacks wanted to build around, a scrappy, heady player with versatility and who is aggressive on the bases. But he struggled at the plate this year and was sent to Triple-A Reno in June, only recently returning. With Emmanuel Rivera’s emergence this year, the club apparently felt it had adequate coverage at third base.
Bliss, 23, struggled badly in his first full professional season last year but has bounced back in a big way this year, hitting .358/.414/.594 in 293 at-bats in Double-A before a recent promotion to Reno. Scouts seem to view him as a likely utility type with a chance to be an everyday second baseman.
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2023/07/31/sources-arizona-diamondbacks-moving-closer-deal-seattle-mariners-reliever-paul-sewald/70501711007/
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ST. LOUIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, today reported that it set a new quarterly record for net sales in the second quarter of 2023.
Graybar's net sales for the second quarter of this year totaled $2.8 billion, an increase of 4.5% compared to the same period last year. Net income attributable to Graybar for the quarter finished at $124.2 million, a 2.7% decrease from the second quarter of 2022.
For the first half of 2023, the company reported net sales of $5.5 billion, an 8.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Net income attributable to Graybar for the first six months of 2023 increased 8.4% to $249.0 million.
"Thanks to the hard work of our employees, we continue to achieve positive results," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. "We remain focused on providing exceptional service to our customers every day, while we make strategic investments to transform our business and strengthen our long-term position as an industry leader."
Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 325 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network, automate and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR.
Media Contact:
Tim Sommer
(314) 578-7672
timothy.sommer@graybar.com
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Police respond to gunshot wound report at Crete Area Medical Center
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:01 PM CDT|Updated: 45 minutes ago
CRETE, Neb. (KOLN) -The Crete Police Department responded to a Crete Area Medical Center after receiving a report of a gunshot wound to the foot on Saturday.
According to LSO, during a barbeque at a residence two miles west of Crete in Lancaster County, a 22-year-old man showed his Glock pistol to a friend and set it on the table. The 29-year-old friend picked up the gun, pulled the trigger and accidently shot himself in the foot.
The 29-year-old was treated and released from the medical center.
LSO determined the incident was accidental and no one was cited.
Copyright 2023 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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AUSTIN, Minn., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, invites interested parties to participate in a webcast and conference call with Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer; Jacinth Smiley, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Deanna Brady, executive vice president, Retail; to discuss the company's third quarter financial results. The company will issue its earnings release before the markets open on Thursday, August 31, 2023, and will host a conference call at 8 a.m. CT (9 a.m. ET).
The webcast, replay and other information related to the event can be accessed on the company's investor website, http://investor.hormelfoods.com.
ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin's®, WHOLLY®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus®, Jennie-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com.
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San Francisco prosecutors lay out murder case against consultant in death of Cash App’s Bob Lee
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — DNA from a bloody knife and video footage are crucial pieces of evidence against a tech consultant charged with murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, who was found bleeding on a deserted San Francisco street in April, prosecutors argued Monday.
The San Francisco prosecutor’s office began laying out its case against Nima Momeni, 38, at a preliminary hearing in which a judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to go to trial.
Prosecutors say Momeni planned the attack, drove Lee to a secluded spot and stabbed him three times after a dispute related to Momeni’s younger sister.
They have not spelled out a motive, but previously offered a timeline in a case that has drawn outsized media attention, partly due to Lee’s status in the tech world. Lee created Cash App, a mobile payment service, and was the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency MobileCoin.
Momeni, who has been in jail since his arrest April 13, has pleaded not guilty. He faces 26 years to life if convicted.
The arrest came more than a week after Lee, 43, was found in a deserted part of downtown San Francisco early April 4. He later died at a hospital.
On Monday morning, Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai introduced evidence, including photos of a knife that prosecutors say Momeni used to stab Lee, a trail of blood left by Lee as he staggered for help, and video footage showing the two men leave Momeni’s sister’s condo building before the stabbing.
Talai said at a May hearing that the weapon was part of a unique kitchen set belonging to his sister and that analysis showed Momeni’s DNA on the weapon’s handle and Lee’s DNA on the bloody blade. Police recovered a knife with a 4-inch (10-centimeter) blade at the scene.
Saam Zangeneh, one of Momeni’s lawyers, suggested to reporters Monday during a break that the investigation conducted by the San Francisco police was far from thorough.
He questioned why the rubber handle of the knife was tested for only DNA and not fingerprints. SFPD crime scene investigator Rosalyn Check said that it is difficult to get prints off rubber.
“When you want to see if someone’s touching something, you do fingerprint analysis, right?” he said. “And they weren’t done on the handle, which is the most important, relevant portion of who, if any, was handling that item.”
Zangeneh has yet to elaborate on the defendant’s version of events.
Momeni brought in Zangeneh and Bradford Cohen, both based in Florida. His first attorney, Paula Canny, withdrew in late May, citing a conflict of interest that she declined to disclose.
At prosecutors’ urging, Momeni has been held without bail. In arguing for release pending trial, Canny said that Momeni was not a flight risk and would not leave the two people he loves most, his sister and mother. She said Momeni needs to fight the charges or face deportation to Iran, a country that his mother fled when the children were younger to escape a violent husband.
An unnamed friend of Lee told homicide investigators they had been hanging out and drinking with Momeni’s sister the day before the stabbing, prosecutors said in their motion to deny bail.
The friend said Momeni later questioned Lee about whether his sister was doing drugs or otherwise engaging in inappropriate behavior and Lee said she had not.
Surveillance video showed Lee later entering the posh Millennium Tower downtown, where Momeni’s sister Khazar lives with her husband, prominent San Francisco plastic surgeon Dino Elyassnia. Video footage then showed Lee and Momeni leaving the building together shortly after 2 a.m. and driving off in Momeni’s car.
Lee was found shortly after 2:30 a.m. in the Rincon Hill neighborhood, which has tech offices and condominiums but little activity in the early morning hours.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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University of Nebraska names next chief lobbyist with roots in business and agriculture
LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) - After the departure of Heath Mello as chief lobbyist for the University of Nebraska, a new face will step into the role this week.
NU President Ted Carter announced Friday that Kristen Hassebrook, an attorney and current associate at Mueller Robak, a lobbying and government relations firm in Lincoln, will be the next chief lobbyist effective Aug. 16. She has been admitted to practice law in the state since 2011.
Hassebrook, a Laurel native who earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her law degrees from the NU College of Law, will also take on the role of associate vice president for government relations and report to Carter on local, state and federal engagement for the NU system and its campuses.
Mello, a former state senator, was recently named as CEO and president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and will begin effective Aug. 2.
In a statement, Hassebrook said NU is a “symbol of leadership” in the fields of education, research and economic advancement for the whole state.
“The chance to help chart the path forward for my alma mater, which has done so much for me and my family, is the opportunity of a lifetime,” she said. “I’m excited to join President Carter and the team and continue to advocate for strong workforce growth and a prosperous future for Nebraska.”
According to a university spokesperson, Hassebrook is not related to Chuck Hassebrook, a former NU regent who ran for governor and the Legislature in the past decade.
Prior to Mueller Robak, Hassebrook had experience lobbying for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Nebraska Cattlemen. While serving as executive director of the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, she developed strategies to help lobby for and expand livestock opportunities. She is a former development director for the NU Foundation.
Copyright 2023 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 3:15 PM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
Second Quarter Highlights
Second quarter 2023 net income attributable to Huntsman of $19 million compared to $228 million in the prior year period; second quarter 2023 diluted earnings per share of $0.11 compared to $1.10 in the prior year period.
Second quarter 2023 adjusted net income attributable to Huntsman of $39 million compared to $250 million in the prior year period; second quarter 2023 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.22 compared to $1.21 in the prior year period.
Second quarter 2023 adjusted EBITDA of $156 million compared to $410 million in the prior year period.
Second quarter 2023 net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $40 million. Free cash flow from continuing operations was a use of cash of $11 million for the second quarter 2023 compared to a source of cash of $178 million in the prior year period.
Repurchased approximately 3.8 million shares for approximately $98 million in the second quarter 2023.
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) today reported second quarter 2023 results with revenues of $1,596 million, net income attributable to Huntsman of $19 million, adjusted net income attributable to Huntsman of $39 million and adjusted EBITDA of $156 million.
Peter R. Huntsman, Chairman, President, and CEO, commented:
"During the quarter, business activity in each of our core regions remained under pressure, although we did see demand fundamentals in many of our core markets stabilize, albeit at a lower level than the prior year. We continued to drive efficiencies in our cost structure which will ensure we are well positioned to improve profitability once demand returns to a more normalized level. We remain positive on the long-term trends and value we will capture in energy efficiency and lightweighting in the construction, transportation, and industrial markets. Over the past several years we have made a significant effort to reduce leverage and drive capital discipline. The output of this effort is now allowing us to return significant amounts of capital to shareholders during a year which for the chemical industry may end up being just as, if not more, challenging than the pandemic year 2020. Our financial strength is also allowing us to evaluate both organic and in-organic investment opportunities to strengthen our Company for the long-term, however, we will continue to be disciplined with our available capital and protect our investment grade rating."
Segment Analysis for 2Q23 Compared to 2Q22
Polyurethanes
The decrease in revenues in our Polyurethanes segment for the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was primarily due to lower sales volumes, lower MDI average selling prices and the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rate movements against the U.S dollar. Sales volumes decreased primarily due to lower demand, primarily in the Americas. MDI average selling prices decreased primarily due to less favorable supply and demand dynamics. The decrease in segment adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to lower sales volumes, lower MDI margins, the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rate movements against the U.S. dollar and a gain from an insurance settlement received in the second quarter of 2022, partially offset by higher equity earnings from our minority-owned joint venture in China and cost savings achieved from our cost optimization programs.
Performance Products
The decrease in revenues in our Performance Products segment for the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was primarily due to lower sales volumes and reduced average selling prices, partially offset by improved sales mix. Sales volumes decreased in all regions primarily due to slowing construction activity, and reduced demand in coatings and adhesives, lubes and other industrial markets. The decrease in segment adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to decreased sales volumes and lower average selling prices.
Advanced Materials
The decrease in revenues in our Advanced Materials segment for the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was primarily due to lower sales volumes, partially offset by higher average selling prices. Sales volumes decreased primarily due to reduced customer demand in our infrastructure markets and the deselection of lower margin business. Average selling prices increased largely due to improved sales mix. The decrease in segment adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to lower sales volumes.
Corporate, LIFO and other
For the three months ended June 30, 2023, adjusted EBITDA from Corporate and other was a loss of $38 million, which remained the same as a loss of $38 million for the same period of 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During the three months ended June 30, 2023, our free cash flow from continuing operations was a use of cash of $11 million as compared to a source of cash of $178 million in the same period of 2022. As of June 30, 2023, we had approximately $1.9 billion of combined cash and unused borrowing capacity.
During the three months ended June 30, 2023, we spent $51 million on capital expenditures from continuing operations as compared to $65 million in the same period of 2022. During 2023, we expect to spend between $230 million to $250 million on capital expenditures.
Income Taxes
In the second quarter of 2023, our effective tax rate was 46% and our adjusted effective tax rate was 39%. We expect our 2023 adjusted effective tax rate to be approximately 26% to 29%. We expect our long-term adjusted effective tax rate to be approximately 22% to 24%. Our second quarter 2023 tax expense was negatively impacted by an $8 million non-cash valuation allowance increase.
Earnings Conference Call Information
We will hold a conference call to discuss our second quarter 2023 financial results on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET.
The conference call will be accompanied by presentation slides that will be accessible via the webcast link and Huntsman's investor relations website, www.huntsman.com/investors. Upon conclusion of the call, the webcast replay will be accessible via Huntsman's website.
Upcoming Conferences During the third quarter 2023, a member of management is expected to present at: UBS Chemical Conference on September 6, 2023 Jefferies Industrials Conference on September 7, 2023
A webcast of the presentation, if applicable, along with accompanying materials will be available at www.huntsman.com/investors.
About Huntsman: Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2022 revenues of approximately $8 billion from our continuing operations. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 60 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 7,000 associates within our continuing operations. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenue or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to acquisitions, divestitures or strategic transactions, business trends and any other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "likely," "projects," "outlook," "plans," "intends," "believes," "forecasts," or future or conditional verbs, such as "will," "should," "could" or "may," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends and data, are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions and beliefs. In particular, such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, prices and other factors as discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, increased energy costs in Europe, inflation and resulting monetary tightening in the US, geopolitical instability, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of the Company's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions and manufacturing optimization improvements in the Company's businesses and to realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, operational, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. Any forward-looking statement should be considered in light of the risks set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which may be supplemented by other risks and uncertainties disclosed in any subsequent reports filed or furnished by the Company from time to time. All forward-looking statements apply only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.
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As work begins on the largest US dam removal project, tribes look to a future of growth
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The largest dam removal project in United States history is underway along the California-Oregon border — a process that won’t conclude until the end of next year with the help of heavy machinery and explosives.
But in some ways, removing the dams is the easy part. The hard part will come over the next decade as workers, partnering with Native American tribes, plant and monitor nearly 17 billion seeds as they try to restore the Klamath River and the surrounding land to what it looked like before the dams started to go up more than a century ago.
The demolition is part of a national movement to return the natural flow of the nation’s rivers and restore habitat for fish and the ecosystems that sustain other wildlife. More than 2,000 dams have been removed in the U.S. as of February, with the bulk of those having come down within the last 25 years, according to the advocacy group American Rivers.
When demolition is completed by the end of next year, more than 400 miles (644 kilometers) of river will have opened for threatened species of fish and other wildlife. By comparison, the 65 dams removed in the U.S. last year combined to reconnect 430 miles (692 kilometers) of river.
Along the Klamath, the dam removals won’t be a major hit to the power supply; they produced less than 2% of power company PacifiCorp’s energy generation when they were running at full capacity -- enough to power about 70,000 homes. Though the hydroelectric power produced by dams is considered a clean, renewable source of energy, many larger dams in the U.S. West have become a target for environmental groups and tribes because of the harm they cause to fish and river ecosystems.
The project will empty three reservoirs over about 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers) near the California-Oregon border, exposing soil to sunlight in some places for the first time in more than a century.
For the past five years, Native American tribes have gathered seeds by hand and sent them to nurseries with plans to sow the seeds along the banks of the newly wild river. Helicopters will bring in hundreds of thousands of trees and shrubs to plant along the banks, including wads of tree roots to create habitat for fish.
This growth usually takes decades to happen naturally. But officials are pressing nature’s fast-forward button because they hope to repel an invasion of foreign plants, such as starthistle, which dominate the landscape at the expense of native plants.
“Why not just let nature take its course? Well, nature didn’t take its course when dams got put in. We can’t pretend this gigantic change in the landscape has not happened and we can’t just ignore the fact that invasive species are a big problem in the west and in California,” said Dave Meurer, director of community affairs for Resource Environmental Solutions, the company leading the restoration project.
PacifiCorp built the dams starting in 1918 to generate electricity. The dams halted the natural flow of the river and disrupted the lifecycle of salmon, a fish that spends most of its life in the Pacific Ocean but returns to the chilly mountain streams to lay eggs. The fish are culturally and spiritually significant to a number of Native American tribes, who historically survived by fishing the massive runs of salmon that would come back to the rivers each year.
A combination of low water levels and warm temperatures in 2002 led to a bacterial outbreak that killed more than 34,000 fish, mostly Chinook salmon. The loss jumpstarted decades of advocacy from Native American tribes and environmental groups, culminating last year when federal regulators approved a plan to remove the dams.
“The river is our church, the salmon is our cross. That’s how it relates to the people. So it’s very sacred to us,” said Kenneth Brink, vice chairman of the Karuk Tribe. “The river is not just a place we go to swim. It’s life. It creates everything for our people.”
The project will cost $500 million, paid for by taxpayers and PacifiCorps ratepayers. Crews have mostly removed the smallest of the four dams, known as Copco No. 2. The other three dams are expected to come down next year. That will leave some homeowners in the area without the picturesque lake they have lived on for years.
The Siskiyou County Water Users Association, which formed about a decade ago to stop the dam removal project, filed a federal lawsuit. But so far they have been unable to stop the demolition.
“Unfortunately it’s a mistake you can’t turn back from,” association President Richard Marshall said.
The water level in the lakes will drop between 3 feet and 5 feet (1 meter to 1.5 meters) per day over the first few months of next year. Crews will follow that water line, taking advantage of the moisture in the soil to plant seeds from more than 98 native plant species including wooly sunflower, Idaho fescue and Blue bunch wheat grass.
Tribes have been invested in the process from the start. Resource Environmental Solutions hired tribal members to gather seeds from native plants by hand. The Yurok Tribe even hired a restoration botanist.
Each species has a role to play. Some, like lupine, grow quickly and prepare the soil for other plants. Others, like oak trees, take years to fully mature and provide shade for other plants.
“It’s a wonderful marriage of tribal traditional ecological knowledge and western science,” said Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, the nonprofit entity created to oversee the project.
The previous largest dam removal project was on Washington state’s Elwha River, which flows out of Olympic National Park into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Congress in 1992 approved the demolition of the two dams on the river constructed in the early 1900s. After two decades of planning, workers finished removing them in 2014, opening about 70 miles (113 kilometers) of habitat for salmon and steelhead.
Biologists say it will take at least a generation for the river to recover, but within months of the dams being removed, salmon were already recolonizing sections of the river they had not accessed in more than a century. The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, which has been closely involved in restoration work, is opening a limited subsistence fishery this fall for coho salmon, its first since the dams came down.
Brink, the Karuk Tribe vice chair, hopes similar success will happen on the Klamath River. Multiple times per year, Brink and other tribal members participate in ceremonial salmon fishing using handheld nets. In many years, there have been no fish to catch, he said.
“When the river gets to flow freely again, the people can also begin to worship freely again,” he said.
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Associated Press writer Eugene Johnson in Seattle contributed.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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ARMONK, N.Y., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The IBM (NYSE: IBM) board of directors has elected Michael Miebach to the board, effective October 30, 2023.
Michael Miebach, 55, is the chief executive officer of Mastercard Incorporated and a member of its board of directors. An innovator and technologist, Mr. Miebach has led Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry, since January 2021. Previously Mastercard's chief product officer, Mr. Miebach has deep experience in digital transformation, cybersecurity and delivering data-driven insights.
Arvind Krishna, IBM chairman and chief executive officer, said: "We are delighted that Michael Miebach will join the IBM board of directors. Michael is an accomplished technologist and international business leader. His insights and experience will strongly benefit IBM and its shareholders."
Mr. Miebach is a member of the Business Roundtable, the Business Council and the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum. He is a trustee of the United States Council for International Business and also serves on the United States Treasury Advisory Committee on Racial Equity.
Mr. Miebach holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Passau in Germany.
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Impeached Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks to have most charges dismissed before September trial
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lawyers for impeached Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday sought to have most of the charges against him dismissed, arguing that they rely on alleged acts of corruption before he was reelected to a third term in 2022.
In motions filed with the Senate, where Paxton’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5, his attorneys said they believe state law bars the removal of an official for conduct that occurred before their most recent election. Paxton was first elected attorney general in 2014 and the impeachment charges include alleged conduct since then.
“The Articles allege nothing that Texas voters have not heard from the Attorney General’s political opponents for years,” Paxton’s attorneys wrote. They accused the GOP-dominated Texas House of Representatives of seeking to oust Paxton because they were unable to unseat him by popular vote.
“Texas voters rendered their judgement by re-electing Attorney General Paxton to serve a third consecutive term. As a matter of both common sense and Texas law, that should be the end of the matter,” his attorneys wrote.
Only one of the 20 impeachment charges — an allegation that Paxton settled a whistleblower lawsuit in an effort to hide from the public corruption allegations against him — would not have to be dismissed under the so-called “prior term doctrine,” Paxton’s attorney said. Paxton asked state lawmakers this year to have the state pay the proposed $3.3 million settlement.
In a second filing, Paxton’s attorneys said the trial should exclude any evidence of alleged conduct that occurred prior to January 2023, when his third term in office began.
The motions from Paxton’s attorneys are similar to moves in a criminal or civil legal cases when defense attorneys seek to have charges or lawsuits dismissed before trial.
In this case, the presiding officer over Paxton’s impeachment trial will be Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a powerful Republican who also serves as the president of the state Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate will consider the evidence and decide whether to convict or acquit Paxton in the first impeachment trial of a statewide official since 1917.
Patrick has already issued a sweeping gag order over the parties and attorneys involved ahead of the Senate trial. Attorneys for House of Representatives managers prosecuting Paxton did not immediately respond to the motions filed Monday.
Paxton has been suspended from office since the House first approved the articles of impeachment on May 27. He could be permanently removed if convicted by the Senate.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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President Biden overturned a decision from the Trump administration to relocate the temporary headquarters of Space Command to Alabama, deciding instead to keep the base in Colorado.
The decision was made because Biden believes keeping the HQ in Colorado Springs, rather than relocating it to Huntsville, would maintain stability and not impact readiness, according to a senior U.S. official.
The senior administration official said Biden consulted with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other military leaders before deciding to keep the base in Colorado permanently.
Gen. James Dickinson, the head of Space Command, also helped to convince Biden to not relocate the base, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Space Command headquarters is set to achieve “full operational capability” at Colorado Springs later this month, according to the senior administration official.
The official said moving the headquarters to Alabama would force a transition process that does not allow the new base to open until the mid-2030’s.
“The President found that risk unacceptable, especially given the challenges we may face in the space domain during this critical time period,” the official said. “Locating Headquarters U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs ensures peak readiness in the space domain for our nation during a critical period.”
Biden’s reversal is likely to spark the fury of Alabama Republicans who have for months feared the administration would scrap the relocation plan.
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers (R), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has been investigating the delay behind the relocation plan, which was first put in motion when Space Command was resurrected in 2019.
Former President Trump’s decision to temporarily establish a headquarters in Colorado and relocate Space Command to Alabama was criticized as a political choice based upon a more favorable constituency in the Yellowhammer state.
Since coming into office, the Biden administration ordered reviews of the decision, none of which found anything improper in Trump’s decision, though they found the former president could have followed better practices in the process.
The delayed relocation reached new heights over the spring when NBC News reported the Biden administration was considering scrapping the relocation plan because of restrictive abortion laws in Alabama.
Rogers and other Alabama Republicans objected to any such plan, saying Huntsville, also known as Rocket City, was selected based on its merits and in a fair process, while pointing to the reviews that found nothing improper.
The House version of the annual defense bill that passed earlier this month includes provisions that slash funding for the Air Force Secretary until the administration makes a final decision. It’s unclear whether Rogers will be satisfied with a reversal.
Other Alabama politicians, including Gov. Kay Ivey (R), quickly blasted the the decision as political. Alabama overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the 2020 election and has two GOP senators, while Colorado voted for Biden and has two Democratic senators.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said the base Redstone Arsenal in Alabama was the correct location based on its merits, arguing “Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics.”
“The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief,” she said in a statement.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby reiterated during an interview with CNN on Monday that the president’s decision was entirely due to national security considerations, pointing specifically to the rising threat from China.
“This was really a decision based on one thing and one thing only for a president and that was operational readiness,” Kirby said. “He took the inputs of many leaders across the Department of Defense that when it came down to it, he believes that it’s in the best national security interest of the country if we leave Space Command in Colorado.”
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett (D) joined officials from his state in celebrating Biden’s decision.
“Over the past two and half years, we have repeatedly made the case that the Trump administration’s decision to relocate U.S. Space Command was misguided,” the senator wrote on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Today’s decision restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and sends a strong message that national security and the readiness of our Armed Forces drive our military decisions,” he added.
Updated at 5:34 pm ET.
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NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS – SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0825 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of July 13, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on June 30, 2023, and payable on July 31, 2023. No action is required on your part.
The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable July 31, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund has declared the July 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0825 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.
About John Hancock Investment Management
A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
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Memphis police shoot suspect after he fired shots outside Jewish school, authorities say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis police on Monday said officers shot a suspect after he attempted to enter a Jewish school with a gun and fired shots after he couldn’t get into the building.
Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe said the suspect, whose identity has not been released, approached Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South around 12:20 p.m. He fired several shots and then left in a maroon truck.
“Thankfully, that school had a great safety procedure and process in place and avoided anyone being harmed or injured at that scene,” Crowe said.
Officers soon located the suspect’s vehicle “shortly after that,” Crowe said, adding that officers then shot the suspect after he exited the truck with a firearm in hand. The suspect was sent to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.
It was not immediately clear if school was in session.
When asked if law enforcement believe the shooting was a hate crime, Crowe said officers were still on the scene and collecting information.
“It’s way too early for that. Again, we’re very early in this investigation,” said Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case.
U.S. Rep. Seve Cohen, whose district includes Memphis, said in a statement that he was “shocked” to hear about the incident at the school and noted that acts of “violent antisemitism” are on the rise across the country.”
Monday’s shooting comes nearly four months after a shooter opened fire at a private Christian school in Nashville and killed six people, including three nine-year-old children. That tragedy has sparked closer scrutiny of Tennessee’s relaxed gun laws and renewed calls to strengthen security at both public and private schools across the state.
___
Kimberlee Kruesi contributed to this report from Nashville, Tennessee.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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(KRON) — A father of four from Concord drowned in Lake Tahoe on Friday afternoon, and now his family is raising funds to cover the cost of the emergency medical care during his attempted rescue as well as his burial.
Bill Siu, was a loving husband and father to his four children, the family’s GoFundMe page said.
Siu worked as a coach at P2P Transformation Center in Concord. He had a love of fitness, and he used it impact hundreds of people on their journeys towards health, his family said. The company shared a statement on Siu’s work:
“Bill Siu started at P2P in support of his beautiful wife Alexie, not long after he was a member did we approach him about becoming a coach with us. Bill dedicated his love and passion for coaching to the P2P community. He was a kind and gentle man who had a heart of gold but he always knew how to push and motivate people to be their best.
After he left his coaching position, he continued on and off throughout the years as a P2P member alongside his wife, they were a powerhouse together and always supported each other’s fitness journey! Bill will always be remembered by everyone in the P2P Community. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and his wife Alexie as well as his beautiful children.” — P2P Transformation Center
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a drowning around 4:10 p.m. on the east short of Lake Tahoe on Friday. The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, United States Coast Guard and Sand Harbor lifeguards also responded to the scene. Siu was found in the water unresponsive.
“This unexpected and devastating loss has left his family stunned. We need your help with the costs of Bill’s emergency medical care and funeral and memorial expenses for his family. If you knew Bill, he was never one to ask for help. Yet, he was always the first one to volunteer to help. — GoFundMe
He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital in Sand Harbor where he was declared dead. Siu’s death is under investigation as an accidental drowning.
“Please help us bid our beautiful, amazing and humble Bill goodbye,” Siu’s loved ones wrote. So far, Siu’s family has raised more than $25,000, but they still have a ways to go to meet their goal.
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NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS – SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.1380 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of July 13, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) with important information concerning the distribution declared on July 3, 2023, and payable on July 31, 2023. No action is required on your part.
The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable July 31, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund has declared the July 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.1380 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.
About John Hancock Investment Management
A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
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| 2023-07-31T21:49:15
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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The San Francisco Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 12-year-old girl. Mayra Espinoza was reported missing on Tuesday, July 25.
She was last seen at her residence located on Persia Avenue in SF at around 4 a.m., police said. Later that morning, she was no longer at home.
She is described as a 12-year-old girl, 5 foot 2 inches tall, 85 pounds with black hair and black eyes.
Anyone who has information about Mayra is asked to contact the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444.
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| 2023-07-31T21:49:19
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LINKBANCORP, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 3:30 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LINKBANCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNKB) (the "Company"), the parent company of LINKBANK (the "Bank") reported net income of $1.35 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Excluding merger related expenses, adjusted earnings were $1.60 million1, or $0.101 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2023.
Second Quarter 2023 Highlights
Total deposits grew $50.3 million, or 20.5% annualized during the second quarter over the prior quarter end, including an increase in noninterest bearing deposits of $36.2 million, and $14.1 million in interest bearing deposits. Estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized public funds and affiliate company accounts, totaled $378.7 million, or 36.7% of total deposits as of June 30, 2023, compared with $387.8 million, or 39.4% of total deposits as of March 31, 2023.
The Company enhanced its on-balance sheet liquidity, with cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2023 of $123.2 million, up from $51.7 million at March 31, 2023 and $30.0 million at December 31, 2022. Total liquidity, including all available borrowing capacity and brokered deposit availability, together with cash and cash equivalents and unpledged investment securities, totaled approximately $507.4 million as of June 30, 2023.
Total loans grew $24.2 million during the second quarter, representing a 10.3% annualized growth rate, driven primarily by commercial and industrial and commercial real estate loan activity.
Net interest income for the second quarter of 2023 was $8.1 million, compared to $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2023. Net interest margin was 2.81% for the second quarter of 2023, compared to 2.95% for the first quarter of 2023. The linked quarter decrease was primarily due to higher interest expense on deposits continuing to outpace the increase in interest income from loans.
The Company recorded a $493 thousand negative provision for credit losses for the second quarter of 2023, resulting in an allowance for credit losses of $10.2 million, or 1.05% of total loans at June 30, 2023. The negative provision for credit losses was primarily driven by refinement of the population of loans individually assessed for impairment under the current expected credit losses ("CECL") accounting standard, improvements in internal credit metrics and external forecast indexes, as well as $97 thousand in net recoveries, offset by loan growth in the period.
On June 22, 2023, shareholders of the Company and Partners Bancorp ("Partners"), each approved the merger of Partners with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 22, 2023. The merger is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and certain other customary closing conditions.
"We are pleased to report results that evidence continued balance sheet strength, including increased on-balance sheet liquidity, a growing core deposit base, and excellent credit quality." said Andrew Samuel, Chief Executive Officer. "Although significant uncertainty remains in the external environment, we are optimistic that the pace of margin compression will continue to stabilize. Our teams are highly focused on providing superior service to meet our clients' needs and we believe the Company is well positioned to successfully navigate through this climate."
Income Statement
Net interest income before the provision for credit losses for the second quarter of 2023 increased to $8.1 million compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2023. Net interest margin was 2.81% for the second quarter of 2023 compared to 2.95% for the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in net interest margin for the current quarter was due to the higher average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, which outpaced the increase in the average yield on interest earning assets. The overall rate and yield increases were driven by the multiple federal funds rate increases that occurred over the preceding twelve months, coupled with competition for deposits in the market. The rate of increase in the cost of funds moderated to 30 basis points in the second quarter of 2023, primarily resulting from strong growth in the average balance of non-interest bearing deposits, which increased approximately $17.0 million to $209.1 million, compared to $192.1 million for the first quarter. The 30 basis points increase in the cost of funds to 2.29% during the second quarter of 2023 was partially offset by a 15 basis point increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 5.00%. The increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets was primarily due to the increase in the average yield on loans of 11 basis points to 5.20% during the second quarter of 2023.
During the second quarter, the Company continued to recognize results from its increased internal focus and strategy on core deposit generation, including 123 net new checking accounts opened for a total of $38 million in new deposits. Additionally, further momentum in executing the Company's strategies to service the needs of professional services firms resulted in 58 new accounts opened during the quarter, which are expected to fund over the course of the third quarter. As a result of these positive trends, the Company expects to allow higher cost brokered deposits to mature, replaced by core accounts at a lower cost, contributing to further stabilization in net interest margin.
Noninterest income (expense) improved from a $1.9 million expense in the first quarter of 2023, driven by recognition of a loss upon the sale of debt securities of $2.37 million, to $886 thousand in income in the second quarter of 2023. Excluding the first quarter loss on the sale of debt securities, adjusted noninterest income for the second quarter of 2023 increased $369 thousand to $886 thousand, primarily due to gains on the sale of Small Business Administration ("SBA") loans of $296 thousand and $57 thousand in commercial loan-related interest rate swap fees.
Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2023 increased to $7.8 million compared to $7.7 million for the first quarter of 2023. Excluding one time charges relating to the pending merger with Partners Bancorp of $587 thousand in the first quarter of 2023 and $315 thousand in the second quarter of 2023, adjusted noninterest expense increased by $351 thousand in the second quarter, impacted by increased equipment and data processing expense as the Company continues to enhance its technology platform, as well as elevated accrual of fraud and operating losses.
Balance Sheet
Total assets were $1.31 billion at June 30, 2023 compared to $1.21 billion at March 31, 2023 and $1.06 billion at June 30, 2022. Deposits and net loans as of June 30, 2023 totaled $1.03 billion and $959.3 million, respectively, compared to deposits and net loans of $984.5 million and $934.8 million, respectively, at March 31, 2023 and $902.4 million and $786.5 million, respectively, at June 30, 2022.
Total loans increased $24.2 million from March 31, 2023 to June 30, 2023, or 10.25% annualized, with the average commercial loan commitment originated during the second quarter of 2023 totaling approximately $500,000.
The Company has proactively taken additional steps during the quarter to enhance its on-balance sheet liquidity. Cash and cash equivalents increased to $123.2 million at June 30, 2023 compared to $51.7 million at March 31, 2023 and $30.0 million at December 31, 2022. In addition to growth in core deposits, this position was supported by an additional $43.7 million in borrowings related to $75.0 million in wholesale funding in connection with the execution of a pay-fixed/receive-floating interest rate swap. The interest rate swap has a fixed rate of 3.28%, a maturity of five years and is designated against either a mix of one-month FHLB advances or brokered certificates of deposits. Classified as a cash flow hedge, the market fluctuations will not impact future earnings, but will impact accumulated other comprehensive loss.
Deposits at June 30, 2023 totaled $1.03 billion, an increase of $50.3 million compared to $984.5 million at March 31, 2023. Average deposits increased by $17.0 million during the quarter, or 6.9% annualized, driven by a 35.3% increase in average noninterest bearing deposits from $192.1 million for the first quarter of 2023 to $209.1 million for the second quarter of 2023.
Shareholders' equity increased from $141.6 million at March 31, 2023 to $142.5 million at June 30, 2023. The increase included an increase in retained earnings due to net income for the current quarter, and a decrease in other comprehensive loss resulting from changes in the interest rate environment, offset by dividends paid of $1.2 million.
Asset Quality
In the second quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a negative provision for credit losses, calculated under the CECL model, of $493 thousand, compared to a provision for credit losses of $293 thousand in the first quarter. The negative provision for credit losses included the impact of reductions in the allowance for credit losses due to refinement of the population of loans individually assessed for impairment under CECL, improvements in internal credit metrics and external forecast indexes, as well as $97 thousand in net recoveries, offset by loan growth in the period.
Asset quality metrics remain strong. As of June 30, 2023, the Company's non-performing assets were $2.9 million, representing 0.22% of total assets. Non-performing assets at June 30, 2023 excluded purchased with credit deterioration ("PCD") loans with a balance of $2.1 million. Loans 30-89 days past due at June 30, 2023 were $1.8 million, representing 0.18% of total loans.
The allowance for credit losses-loans was $10.2 million, or 1.05% of total loans at June 30, 2023, compared to the allowance for credit losses-loans of $10.5 million, or 1.11% of total loans, at March 31, 2023. The allowance for credit losses-loans to nonperforming assets was 358.12% at June 30, 2023, compared to 438.95% at March 31, 2023.
The Company's risk management function incorporates extensive diversification, monitoring and hold limits with respect to the commercial real estate loan portfolio and management closely monitors concentration reports and related analyses. The commercial real estate loan portfolio is well-diversified, with limited exposure to higher risk segments such as hotels and retail. Management believes that the office space portfolio, which includes medical and mixed-use space, and does not involve properties in major metropolitan business districts, is stable and does not pose excessive risk. Specifically, at June 30, 2023, the Company had 68 loans related to office space, with an average loan size of $1.8 million and total current outstanding balances of $103.0 million. The largest exposure relating to office space is $8.8 million for a construction loan that will constitute owner-occupied real estate upon completion. Eighty-four percent (84%) of office space loans are guaranteed by high-quality principals and no office loans are past due 30 days or greater.
Capital
The Bank's regulatory capital ratios are well in excess of regulatory minimums to be considered "well capitalized" as of June 30, 2023. The Bank's Total Capital Ratio and Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 13.55% and 12.94% , respectively, at June 30, 2023, compared to 13.53% and 12.32%, respectively, at March 31, 2023 and 12.89% and 12.41%, respectively, at December 31, 2022. The Company's ratio of Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets was 8.31%2 at June 30, 2023.
ABOUT LINKBANCORP, Inc.
LINKBANCORP, Inc. was formed in 2018 with a mission to positively impact lives through community banking. Its subsidiary bank, LINKBANK, is a Pennsylvania state-chartered bank serving individuals, families, nonprofits and business clients throughout Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania through 10 client solutions centers and www.linkbank.com. LINKBANCORP, Inc. common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "LNKB". For further company information, visit ir.linkbancorp.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of current or historical fact and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "projects," "may," "will," "should," and other similar expressions can be used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the following: costs or difficulties associated with newly developed or acquired operations; risks related to the proposed merger with Partners; changes in general economic trends, including inflation and changes in interest rates; increased competition; changes in consumer demand for financial services; our ability to control costs and expenses; adverse developments in borrower industries and, in particular, declines in real estate values; changes in and compliance with federal and state laws that regulate our business and capital levels; our ability to raise capital as needed; and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions taken by governments, businesses and individuals in response. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as required by law. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
LB-E LB-D
Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This document contains supplemental financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Management uses these non-GAAP measures in its analysis of the Company's performance. These measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures nor should they be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP. Management believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the impact of specified items provide useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the Company's financial condition and results. Non-GAAP measures are not formally defined under GAAP, and other entities may use calculation methods that differ from those used by us. As a complement to GAAP financial measures, our management believes these non-GAAP financial measures assist investors in comparing the financial condition and results of operations of financial institutions due to the industry prevalence of such non-GAAP measures. See the tables below for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
Contact: Nicole Ulmer Corporate and Investor Relations Officer 717.803.8895 IR@LINKBANCORP.COM
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.
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(BCN) — Authorities in San Francisco are seeking the public’s help in finding a missing elderly man considered at risk. Xun Qi Lu, 83, was last seen about 2 a.m. Sunday leaving his residence in the 1800 block of Pine Street in San Francisco.
Lu, whose primary language is Cantonese, is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 113 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He is considered at-risk because of a medical condition. Mr. Lu’s primary language is Cantonese.
Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.
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| 2023-07-31T21:49:25
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Celebrate the Blooms with Inaugural National Sunflower Day on August 5
BISMARCK, N.D., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In late July and into August, vast fields of brilliant yellow sunflowers blanket North Dakota during the peak growing season and visitors are awed by the landscape awash in summery hues. This year, North Dakota Tourism invites visitors to celebrate these picturesque fields with the inaugural National Sunflower Day on August 5, 2023.
The National Day Calendar recognition, slated for the first Saturday each August, is a collaboration between the National Sunflower Association and North Dakota Tourism and recognizes the inherent happiness the sunflowers evokes and the prominence of North Dakota's agricultural industry in growing the cheerful blooms.
For visitors planning a picture-perfect road trip for National Sunflower Day and beyond, North Dakota Tourism has launched the state's 2023 Sunflower Blooms Guide detailing the location of more than a dozen stunning sunflower fields. Weekly bloom updates will highlight the progress of the seasonal color as it unfolds across the state making the map a perfect tool for making the most of the waning days of summer. North Dakota Tourism is also making an ideal road trip snack available to visitors with packets of savory sunflower seeds in mailboxes at select fields.
To capture the iconic blooms in photos and videos, keep the following tips in mind:
- In general, visitors are welcome to stop by fields included on the Sunflower Blooms Guide as long as they are respectful and don't enter or drive into the fields.
- Scout the field location early to capture that golden hour image or video just-after sunrise or just-before sunset. Visitors will want to set up early to take advantage of the golden hues.
- Keep in mind that cloudy days are often some of the best times to capture vibrant close-ups and more subtle variations in shadows.
- Tag your photos and videos on social media using #BeNDLegendary to celebrate your love of the sunny blooms.
- Fuel your photoshoot with a beloved North Dakota snack with Fargo's irresistible SunButter made from roasted sunflower seeds or Wahpeton's Giants Snacks with original and kettle roasted flavors of sunflower seeds.
As the top sunflower producing state last year, North Dakota farmers planted 702,000 acres of the beautiful blooms in 2022, and the state is the top producer of edible sunflower seeds in the U.S. More sunflower recipes, videos and little-known facts are available at Brighten Your Day with the Amazing Sunflower. For more on planning a trip to North Dakota, visit NDtourism.com.
Follow North Dakota Tourism on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TravelND, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northdakotalegendary/ on or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NorthDakota and get tips on what to see and do all year long.
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SOURCE North Dakota Tourism Division
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| 2023-07-31T21:49:29
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(KTLA) – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the discovery of a body inside a 55-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon on Monday.
A park worker first saw the drum floating by the Pacific Coast Highway bridge Sunday night but didn’t think much of it at the time, a spokesperson for the L.A. County Fire Department told Nexstar’s KTLA.
When lifeguards arrived at work Monday morning, they saw the drum in the lagoon and tried to pull it out at which point they discovered the body inside, officials said.
No information about the victim was immediately known.
KTLA helicopter footage showed the black plastic drum standing upright in shallow water and the beach appeared to be closed for the investigation.
Late last spring, a body was found in a barrel in Nevada’s Lake Mead. Authorities said the body may have been there for four decades but have not yet identified the victim, despite identifying other bodies that appeared due to receding water levels.
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| 2023-07-31T21:49:31
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WATKINSVILLE, Ga. and ELBERTON, Ga., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oconee Financial Corporation (OTCQX: "OSBK") ("Oconee") announced today it has completed its acquisition of Elberton Federal Savings & Loan Association ("Elberton Federal") of Elberton, GA, and its related common stock offering, in a conversion merger transaction, effective July 31, 2023.
As a result of the conversion merger, Elberton Federal converted from a mutual savings association to a stock savings association and immediately merged with and into Oconee's wholly owned subsidiary, Oconee State Bank. On August 1, 2023, Elberton Federal's financial center on East Church Street in Elberton will open as a branch of Oconee State Bank.
In the stock offering required by regulations applicable to the merger conversion, Oconee sold 149,015 shares of common stock, at a discounted price of $28.94 per share, to depositors and borrowers of Elberton Federal in a subscription offering, and to stockholders of Oconee and members of the general public in a community offering. Gross offering proceeds totaled approximately $4.3 million. The stock offering was oversubscribed.
"We are thrilled by the overwhelming interest we received from investors in the offering," remarked Oconee President and CEO Neil Stevens. "The transaction closed at the maximum of the authorized offering range and generated a lot of interest in the banking experience we are bringing to our customers."
Stevens continued: "We welcome the addition of Elberton Federal President and CEO Daniel Graves, a number of new teammates, and our newest customers in Elbert County. We aim to provide them the same high level of service and care our current customers enjoy."
Graves will serve as Senior Vice President and Community President of the Northeast Georgia market.
"It is a privilege to join such a high-quality institution and group of people in partnering with Oconee," Graves said. "Neil and I talk often about the importance of culture, and this is a perfect fit. We are thrilled about the opportunity this presents for our people and our customers, and we look forward to being an even more meaningful part of the next chapter of prosperity in Elbert County."
Performance Trust Capital Partners assisted Oconee, on a best-efforts basis, in selling its common stock in the subscription and community offerings and served as financial advisor to Oconee in connection with the merger. RP Financial LC provided the conversion appraisal. Alston & Bird LLP served as legal counsel to Oconee, Fenimore Kay Harrison LLP served as legal counsel to Elberton Federal, and Luse Gorman PC served as legal counsel to Performance Trust Capital Partners.
About Oconee Financial Corporation
Oconee State Bank was established in 1960 and is headquartered in Watkinsville, Georgia. It operates six full-service financial centers in Georgia, located in Oconee, Athens-Clarke, Gwinnett, and Macon-Bibb counties, including its newest location in Elbert County. Pro forma for this transaction, the bank has approximately $556 million in assets. The bank is the only locally owned and operated community bank headquartered in Oconee County. Oconee State Bank proudly serves its communities, providing unparalleled commitment to personalized service, innovative products and solutions, and brings exceptional value to all stakeholders, through local ownership, involvement, and decision making. The bank strives to be essential to those it serves, by creating remarkable experiences that significantly mark the lives of others. Oconee Financial Corporation was established in January 1999 to serve as the holding company of Oconee State Bank.
Please visit Oconee State Bank's website, www.oconeestatebank.com for a full listing of products and services.
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SOURCE Oconee Financial Corporation
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| 2023-07-31T21:49:35
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PORT ANGELES, Washington (WJW) – An 8-year-old child was attacked by a cougar at Olympic National Park’s Lake Angeles on Saturday evening.
The child was with their family at Lake Angeles, south of Port Angeles, when the attack happened Saturday night, the National Park Service said Monday.
“The cougar casually abandoned its attack after being yelled and screamed at by the child’s mother,” NPS wrote in a news release. The child suffered only minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Park officials then evacuated the remaining campers in the Lake Angeles area, closing the space and Heather Park to the public. Olympic National Park wildlife biologist Tom Kay said in a statement that the decision to close the Lake Angeles Trail, Heather Park Trail, Switchback Trail, and the entire Klahhane Ridge Trail was made “out of an abundance of caution.”
Early Sunday morning, park law enforcement and wildlife personnel who specialize in cougar tracking were dispatched to the last known location of the cougar at Lake Angeles, the park service reported. If located, the cougar will be euthanized and removed from the park for a necropsy.
“This may provide clues as to why the animal attacked since cougars are rarely seen and attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare,” park officials said. “Olympic National Park has extensive protocols in place for wildlife observations, interactions, and attacks and the lethal removal of this cougar is in line with these protocols.”
Because Olympic National Park is considered “cougar territory,” NPS recommends visitors be prepared for the encounter. They should not hike or jog alone, and children should remain near adults. Pets should also be left at home.
Should you encounter a cougar, you should remain calm and avoid running, according to wildlife experts. Do your best to appear as large as possible, continue watching the animal, and be loud. NPS also recommends throwing items like rocks or sticks at the cougar.
There have been no recent deaths caused by cougars in Olympic National Park, according to NPS data.
It’s not the first wildlife attack in the national parks this year, though.
Last week, a woman was found dead after an “apparent bear encounter” near Yellowstone National Park. Earlier this month, a woman in the park suffered “significant injuries” after being gored by a bison.
The park warns that between mid-July and mid-August, bison are in mating season and “can become agitated more quickly.”
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| 2023-07-31T21:49:37
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A one-day sales event unlike any other invites customers to stock up on used books for just one cent per page.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The busiest day of the year at 2nd & Charles is officially on the docket: Penny-A-Page, happening on Saturday, August 12, at all 2nd & Charles locations nationwide.
Where miles of books are surrounded by pure, boundless energy, customers can purchase up to five books for just one cent per page during 2nd & Charles' first-ever Penny-A-Page.
This unique and rare promotional event applies to all used books, giving customers the opportunity to fill their shelves with lengthy, expensive, and well-loved volumes – all for a fraction of the price. Yes, on a 250-page book, 2nd and Charles customers will pay just $2.50.
"Our loyal customers love it when we offer a discount on multiple books at the same time," says Eric Bishop, Senior Vice President at 2nd & Charles. "This is a 'can't miss' day! We are opening early at 9 a.m. to accommodate all our impassioned readers wanting to get a head start on their summer reading," he says.
Communities across the nation now have a remarkable opportunity to find their next stack of great books at an extraordinary price. Arrive early for the best selection! Come in, get lost, and find yourself at 2nd & Charles.
ABOUT 2ND & CHARLES
2nd & Charles is a unique retail concept specializing in an ever-changing inventory of new and used books, music, games, toys, collectibles, decor, accessories, and pop culture merchandise. Since its first store opened in Birmingham, AL, in 2010, 2nd & Charles has expanded to include more than 40 stores in 18 states—and counting.
A sister store to Books-A-Million, the nation's second largest book retailer, 2nd & Charles has established itself as a hip and fun-loving purveyor of passions catering to readers, gamers, and collectors of all ages. Through the store's buyback program, customers can sell their gently used merchandise in exchange for cash or store credit.
Click here to find your nearest 2nd & Charles store, and follow 2nd & Charles on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
CONTACT
Olivia Anderson McDaniel
Vice President of Marketing, Omnichannel
205.909.3563
mcdanielo@booksamillion.com
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida is seeing a rise in leprosy cases that could mean the disease has become endemic in the Sunshine State, according to a letter published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The letter, which was published in mid-July, said while leprosy is historically uncommon in the United States, cases more than doubled in the South over the last 10 years.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and is characterized by discolored patches of skin, ulcers, lumps and damage to the nerves.
The CDC said if untreated, the disease can progress to paralysis, blindness, the loss of one’s eyebrows, physical disfigurement, and even the “shortening of toes and fingers due to reabsorption.”
The Florida Department of Health said the disease first appeared in the state in 1921. The National Hansen’s Disease Program found that 159 cases of leprosy were reported in 2020. Florida was at the top of the list of states with the most new cases.
According to the Florida Health Charts, the state had 26 reported cases in 2019, 27 in 2020, and 14 in 2021.
“Central Florida, in particular, accounted for 81% of cases reported in Florida and almost one-fifth of nationally reported cases,” the letter said. “Whereas leprosy in the United States previously affected persons who had immigrated from leprosy-endemic areas, [about] 34% of new case-patients during 2015–2020 appeared to have locally acquired the disease.”
A disease becomes endemic when it occurs regularly within a certain community or area.
The CDC letter said multiple cases showed no sign of animal-to-human transmission or “traditionally known risk factors.”
One patient, a 54-year-old man in Central Florida, was treated at a dermatology clinic for a progressive rash caused by leprosy.
When asked, the man said he had lived in Central Florida his whole life, did not travel domestically or internationally, had no exposure to armadillos (which can carry the disease), had no contact with immigrants with endemic leprosy, and had no connection to someone with the disease.
Experts said there was some support for the theory that an increase in migration from other countries to the United States may have caused the disease to enter non-endemic areas. However, while leprosy cases are increasing in the U.S., the rate of new cases in people born outside of the U.S. had been on a decline since 2002.
“This information suggests that leprosy has become an endemic disease process in Florida, warranting further research into other methods of [local] transmission,” the letter said.
In the state of Florida, medical practitioners must report leprosy by the next business day so contact tracing can be done and reduce further infections.
“In our case, contact tracing was done by the National Hansen’s Disease Program and revealed no associated risk factors, including travel, zoonotic exposure, occupational association, or personal contacts,” the letter said. “The absence of traditional risk factors in many recent cases of leprosy in Florida, coupled with the high proportion of residents, like our patient, who spend a great deal of time outdoors, supports the investigation into environmental reservoirs as a potential source of transmission.”
The CDC said travel to Florida must now be considered when conducting contact tracing for leprosy in any state.
Leprosy, when contracted, can be treated by a combination of different antibiotics to prevent it from developing resistance to the medication, according to the CDC. Leprosy can be cured after one or two years of treatment.
However, even when cured, any nerve damage and disfigurement caused by the disease will be permanent.
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DENVER, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Principal Real Estate Income Fund (NYSE:PGZ) announces the sources of a distribution paid on July 31, 2023 of $0.1050 per share to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 18, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and includes the notice below sent to shareholders regarding the source of the distribution.
Statement Pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
The following table sets forth the estimated amount of the sources of distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the related rules adopted thereunder. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Fund estimates the following percentages, of the total distribution amount per share, attributable to (i) current and prior fiscal year net investment income, (ii) net realized short-term capital gain, (iii) net realized long-term capital gain and (iv) return of capital or other capital source as a percentage of the total distribution amount. These percentages are disclosed for the current distribution as well as the fiscal year-to-date cumulative distribution amount per share for the Fund.
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income'.
The timing and character of distributions for federal income tax purposes are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. As such, all or a portion of this distribution may be reportable as taxable income on your 2023 federal income tax return. The final tax character of any distribution declared in 2023 will be determined in January 2024 and reported to you on IRS Form 1099-DIV.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this 19(a) Notice are only estimates and not for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Presented below are return figures, based on the change in the Fund's Net Asset Value per share ("NAV"), compared to the annualized distribution rate for this current distribution as a percentage of the NAV on the last day of the month prior to distribution record date.
While the NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's Managed Distribution Plan.
Furthermore, the Board of Trustees reviews the amount of any potential distribution and the income, capital gain or capital available. The Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the Fund's distribution level, taking into consideration the Fund's net asset value and the financial market environment. The Fund's distribution policy is subject to modification by the Board of Trustees at any time. The distribution rate should not be considered the dividend yield or total return on an investment in the Fund.
Please retain this document for your records.
ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund.
Principal Real Estate Investors LLC is the investment sub-adviser to the Fund. Principal Real Estate Investors LLC is not affiliated with ALPS Advisors, Inc. or any of its affiliates.
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the FINRA Member.
PRE000386 7/31/2024
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — A KXAN viewer said she saw baby foxes, also known as kits, playing on a trampoline in her garden Sunday in the north Austin, Texas, area.
That was only a couple of weeks after another viewer said she saw a family of foxes playing on the St. Edward’s University campus in Austin.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, it’s not unusual to see foxes in cities and towns, where food sources are easily found, including in your garbage.
While foxes live around the world in many different types of habitats, according to the Texas Wildlife Association, including the Arctic, the desert and even in trees, some foxes have also adapted to life in such urban environments as neighborhoods.
“Next time you are outside in a park, remember to look up, because if you are lucky, you might see a fox up in the trees,” TWA said.
TWA said three types of foxes live in Texas, including the swift fox, the red fox and the gray fox.
The swift, or kit fox, lives in the northwestern part of the state, the red fox inhabits the eastern and central parts, and the gray fox, the most common variety, can be found statewide, the TWA said.
The Humane Society said foxes are scared of people and are not typically dangerous except when they are rabid, which the society says is rare.
“Even then, a fox’s natural tendency is to flee rather than fight,” the Human Society stated.
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Hip-hop superstar Cardi B drew attention on social media over a video showing her lashing out during a Las Vegas performance after someone threw a drink at her while she was onstage.
Video circulated online over the weekend after a TikTok user posted footage of the incident at Drai’s Beachclub on the Las Vegas Strip.
The clip shows the hip-hop performer onstage during the event when someone in the audience hurls liquid, splashing the rapper. Cardi B can be seen retaliating by throwing her microphone into the audience in the direction from which the liquid was launched.
According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a woman came into a police station on Sunday to report a “battery.” She told officers that she had been struck by an item thrown from the stage on Saturday. Police said the incident had been documented, but no arrest or citations had been issued.
It’s unclear if that woman, who has not been identified, threw the drink at Cardi B.
The event made waves on social media as many excoriated the person who threw the liquid. They compared the situation to similar events that have happened in recent weeks: Bebe Rexha suffered a black eye after being struck by a cellphone, country singer Kelsea Ballerini was hit in the face by a bracelet, rapper Sexyy Red ended a show early when fans refused to stop throwing water bottles on stage, a fan threw their mother’s ashes at Pink while she was performing, Ava Max was slapped while performing in Los Angeles, and Harry Styles was hit in the eye with an object during a Houston performance.
Others noted humorously that although Cardi B had thrown her microphone, her song “Bodak Yellow” – and her recorded vocals – continued uninterrupted.
“The song didn’t stop. Y’all listening to an iPad,” said one X (formerly known as Twitter) user.
There was no indication if charges would be filed in the Cardi B incident.
Cardi B recently completed 15 days of community service in New York after pleading guilty to multiple charges filed against her following a 2018 fight at a strip club in Queens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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MENLO PARK, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Half Inc. (NYSE: RHI) announced today that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.48 per share. The cash dividend will be paid on Sept. 15, 2023, to all shareholders of record as of Aug. 25, 2023.
Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm that connects people with meaningful work and provides companies with the talent and subject matter expertise they need to confidently compete and grow. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti®, a global consulting firm that provides internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named to the Fortune® Most Admired Companies™ and Most Innovative Companies lists and is a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity. Robert Half has talent solutions and consulting operations in more than 400 locations worldwide.
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Los Angeles renters soon could face eviction if they don’t pay back the rent they owe from early in the pandemic.
Los Angeles put in place COVID-19 policies that protected many tenants from eviction if they were not able to make rent. But those protections have now expired, and Tuesday marks the deadline for tenants to pay back any rent owed from March 2020 through September 2021.
Government officials and tenant advocates have been raising concerns about the looming deadline as the city faces another economic crisis with historic strikes of SAG-AFTRA and the WGA.
“I am very worried about the deadline,” LA Mayor Karen Bass (D) said in an interview with LAist. “I’m concerned that we’re going to have another spike in homelessness.”
“As the August 1 deadline of certain tenant protections are coming to expire, my office is working with our partners on the City Council and [Los Angeles Housing Department] to prepare resources for Angelenos that may be impacted in the City of Los Angeles,” Bass wrote Saturday on X — formerly known as Twitter — along with a graphic illustrating key dates and resources for residents to know.
LAist reported that eviction filings are on the rise in Los Angeles County and are likely to grow further, according to landlord advocates, who oppose many of the renter protections in place, saying they pose a financial hardship for them.
Bass has been working to tackle the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles and recently renewed the homelessness emergency declaration for the city. Recent numbers, however, show homelessness is still on the rise.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority conducted an annual point-in-time count released Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported, that showed a 9 percent increase in homelessness in Los Angeles County and a 10 percent increase in homelessness in the city of Los Angeles.
The 2023 count of the county estimated 75,518 people do not have permanent housing, including those living in a tent, car, van, RV, or makeshift shelter. In 2022, the number was 69,144.
The Los Angeles Times reported that, since the 2015 estimation, homeless has increased by 70 percent in the county and by 80 percent in the city.
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Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 3:30 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Business highlights include $50 million share repurchase, continued progress integrating recent acquisitions, ongoing development and implementation of organic growth and customer experience initiatives including our new University Park, IL service center, and eighth consecutive increase in the quarterly dividend. Quarterly results include strong cash flow generation.
CHICAGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryerson Holding Corporation (NYSE: RYI), a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Highlights:
Achieved Net Income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation of $37.6 million with Adjusted EBITDA1, excluding LIFO of $70.1 million
Earned Diluted EPS2 of $1.06 on revenue of $1.3 billion
Generated Operating Cash Flow of $115.3 million and Free Cash Flow of $69.1 million
Maintained Net Leverage ratio within target range at 1.4x, debt of $396 million and net debt3 of $366 million as of June 30, 2023
Repurchased 1.4 million shares directly from an affiliate of Platinum Equity, concurrent to their secondary public offering, creating value for shareholders and contributing to free float increasing to 77% as of June 30, 2023
Announced third quarter 2023 dividend of $0.1825 per share, a 1.4% increase from the prior quarter
A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measure is included below in this news release.
Management Commentary Eddie Lehner, Ryerson's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "I want to thank all of my Ryerson teammates for their continued dedication to operating safely and productively, and I want to thank our customers for the opportunity to create and deliver better customer experiences which we never take for granted. Counter-cyclical industry conditions, particularly within our stainless-steel products franchise, arrived mid-quarter and were evidenced by industrial metals bellwether price index declines and demand contraction in Ryerson's later-cycle end markets. Counter-cyclical conditions as experienced during the second half of last year re-emerged in the second quarter of this year for a myriad of reasons. Shifting consumer spending patterns, higher interest rates, quieted but still present financial system stress and tightening as well as an economic recovery in China that has failed to materialize all contributed to a subdued manufacturing macro environment during the quarter. Ryerson is investing in and preparing for the next synchronized manufacturing upturn whose secular characteristics around the necessity of above trend growth in fixed-asset investment with greater supply-chain resiliency remain intact. We are confident that carrying our growth and operating model investments across counter-cyclical waters as expressed through our recent acquisitions, greenfield service centers and facility modernizations and capital expenditures around value-added fabrication as well as ongoing investments in digitalization, future-state systems and additive manufacturing will position Ryerson well for both the next cyclical upturn and the longer term secular growth in North American manufacturing activity that is underway. As we have during past counter-cycles, we will take out non-value-added costs, flex expenses down, and better optimize our industrial metals inventories as we move through the third quarter and back-half of the year."
Second Quarter Results Ryerson generated net sales of $1.3 billion in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 4.5%, compared to the first quarter of 2023. This was largely driven by sequentially lower volumes, which decreased 4.4%, while average selling prices remained unchanged, compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Gross margin expanded sequentially by 60 basis points to 19.4% in the second quarter, compared to 18.8% in the first quarter. Gross Margins reflected LIFO income of $9M, as the commodity price curves for our metals products sales mix decreased resulting in a LIFO credit in costs of goods sold.
Excluding the impact of LIFO, gross margin contracted 40 basis points to 18.7% in the second quarter, compared to 19.1% in the first quarter. This was primarily driven by a decrease in stainless steel commodity prices coupled with continued high inventories in the channel that put downward pressure on average selling prices. Warehousing, delivery, selling, general and administrative expenses increased 4.3% to $202.6 million in the second quarter, compared to $194.2 million in the first quarter, primarily driven by expense related to acquisitions, higher depreciation expense driven by higher capital expenditures on growth initiatives, reorganization expenses related to an ERP systems implementation and start-up costs associated with the University Park service center, which were partially offset by lower fixed operating expenses.
Net income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation for the second quarter of 2023 was $37.6 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, compared to net income of $47.3 million, or $1.27 per diluted share in the previous quarter. Ryerson generated Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO of $70.1 million in the second quarter, compared to the first quarter Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO of $90.1 million.
Liquidity & Debt Management Ryerson generated $115.3 million of cash from operations in the second quarter of 2023, supported by net income attributable to Ryerson Holding of $37.6 million and working capital release of $37.8 million. The Company ended the second quarter of 2023 with $396 million of debt and $366 million of net debt, sequential increases of $1 million and $15 million, respectively, compared to the first quarter. Ryerson's leverage ratio as of the second quarter was 1.4x, within the Company's target leverage range. Ryerson's global liquidity, composed of cash and cash equivalents and availability on its revolving credit facilities was $790 million as of June 30, 2023.
Shareholder Return Activity
Dividends. During the second quarter of 2023, Ryerson paid a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.1800 per share, amounting to a cash return of approximately $6.2 million. On July 31, 2023, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1825 per share of common stock, payable on September 14, 2023, to stockholders of record as of August 31, 2023.
Share Repurchase. On May 8, 2023, Ryerson repurchased 1,369,300 shares of common stock for approximately $50.0 million directly from an affiliate of Platinum Equity. Additionally, over the course of the second quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased 12,872 shares for $0.4 million in the open market. In total, Ryerson repurchased 1,382,172 shares of common stock resulting in a return to shareholders of approximately $50.4 million for the second quarter of 2023. Ryerson made these repurchases in accordance with its share repurchase authorization, which allows the Company to acquire up to an aggregate amount of $100.0 million of the Company's common stock through April of 2025. As of June 30, 2023, $49.6 million of the $100.0 million remained under the existing share repurchase authorization.
Outlook Commentary For the third quarter of 2023, Ryerson expects a continuation of slowing demand conditions, with customer shipments expected to decrease approximately 2% to 4%, quarter-over-quarter. The Company anticipates third-quarter net sales to be in the range of $1.25 billion to $1.30 billion, with average selling prices decreasing 1% to 2%. LIFO income in the third quarter of 2023 is expected to be $2 million. We expect adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO in the range of $43 million to $47 million and earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.31 to $0.43.
Earnings Call Information Ryerson will host a conference call to discuss second quarter 2023 financial results for the period ended June 30, 2023, on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. The live online broadcast will be available on the Company's investor relations website, ir.ryerson.com. A replay will be available at the same website for 90 days.
About Ryerson Ryerson is a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China. Founded in 1842, Ryerson has around 4,300 employees in approximately 100 locations. Visit Ryerson at www.ryerson.com.
Notes: 1For EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA excluding LIFO please see Schedule 2 2EPS is Earnings per Share 3Net debt is defined as long term debt plus short term debt less cash and cash equivalents and excludes restricted cash
Legal Disclaimer The contents herein are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute an offer to sell or buy, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security ("Security") of the Company or its affiliates ("Ryerson") in any jurisdiction. Ryerson does not intend to solicit, and is not soliciting, any action with respect to any Security or any other contractual relationship with Ryerson. Nothing in this release, individually or taken in the aggregate, constitutes an offer of securities for sale or buy, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any Security in the United States, or to U.S. persons, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful.
Safe Harbor Provision Certain statements made in this presentation and other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates, objectives, or projections relating to the future. Such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "objectives," "goals," "preliminary," "range," "believes," "expects," "may," "estimates," "will," "should," "plans," or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. The Company cautions that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and may involve significant risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may vary materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Among the factors that significantly impact our business are: the cyclicality of our business; the highly competitive, volatile, and fragmented metals industry in which we operate; the impact of geopolitical events, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and global trade sanctions; fluctuating metal prices; our indebtedness and the covenants in instruments governing such indebtedness; the integration of acquired operations; regulatory and other operational risks associated with our operations located inside and outside of the United States; the ownership of a significant portion of our equity securities by a single investor group; work stoppages; obligations under certain employee retirement benefit plans; currency fluctuations; and consolidation in the metals industry. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various factors, including those set forth above and those set forth under "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022,our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, we caution against placing undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, new information or otherwise.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.
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POMPANO BEACH, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Auto Finance Company, LLC ("SAFCO") today announced a Chief Financial Officer transition. Jason Person has been named as SAFCO's new CFO.
Most recently, Mr. Person served as the Vice President and Treasurer of Regional Management Corporation, a diversified consumer finance company, where he managed a team responsible for liquidity management, investor relations, and financial analytics. Prior to Regional Management Corporation, Mr. Person served as the Director of Treasury and Capital Markets at Global Lending Services and as Assistant Vice President of Finance for Exeter Finance Corporation. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Anderson University and an MBA from Texas A&M University.
The company's current CFO Gary Stein is retiring after 22 years of dedicated service to SAFCO. Mr. Stein will remain in an advisory capacity for several months to help with the transition.
Commenting on the transition, SAFCO's CEO George Fussell, Sr. conveyed his heartfelt appreciation for Mr. Stein's contributions during his tenure, stating "We owe Gary a great debt of gratitude for his years of service. His remarkable leadership, financial acumen, and mentorship of the team have been instrumental in shaping the very foundation of our company's success. We wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement." Mr. Fussell further stated, "Jason represents a significant addition to our executive leadership team. He brings a wealth of expertise in treasury/capital markets, financial planning, and analytics that will undoubtedly contribute to SAFCO's continued success as we move forward."
About SAFCO
SAFCO is an industry-leading auto finance company with the power to see creditworthiness where others don't. Our proprietary originations system, complete with deep machine learning, enables us to see beyond credit scores and basic alternative data and instead base our decisions on unique, realistic insights that reveal the full credit potential of applicants. SAFCO is headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Contact: Drew Pickens
Vice President of Human Resources
954-745-2529
apickens@gosafco.com
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BALTIMORE, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ-GS: TROW) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.22 per share payable September 28, 2023, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 15, 2023.
ABOUT T. ROWE PRICE
Founded in 1937, T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ: TROW) helps people around the world achieve their long-term investment goals. As a large global asset management company known for investment excellence, retirement leadership, and independent proprietary research, the firm is built on a culture of integrity that puts client interests first. Investors rely on the award-winning firm for its retirement expertise and active management approach of equity, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset investment capabilities. T. Rowe Price manages $1.40 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2023, and serves millions of clients globally. News and other updates can be found on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and troweprice.com/newsroom.
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LONDON (CNN) — UNESCO has recommended that one of the most popular and fragile tourist destinations in Italy be added to its heritage danger list.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is calling on the Italian government to “ensure the utmost dedication” to address “long-standing problems” in Venice, which has been grappling for years with too many tourists and the effects of climate change.
Venice is one of 1,157 places currently designated a World Heritage Site, which have “outstanding universal value” because of their cultural or natural offerings.
The recommendation to put Venice on the World Heritage in Danger list was made by UNESCO and advisory body experts in its provisional agenda ahead of the 45th session of the agency’s World Heritage Committee, which is scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September.
The draft resolution argues that there has not been a “significant level of progress in addressing the persistent and complex issues related in particular to mass tourism, development projects and climate change.”
The draft resolution stated that these issues are causing “deterioration and damage to building structures and urban areas, degrading the cultural and social identity of the property and threatening the integrity of its cultural, environmental and landscape attributes and values.”
Weather and tourism issues in Venice
Venice has been coping with a veritable seesaw of weather-related problems in recent years.
Back in February of this year, the city was in the grips of a drought so bad that it was impossible for gondolas, water taxis and ambulances to pass through some canals. In November 2019, flooding was so bad that historical treasures and buildings were endangered.
Overtourism in Venice has been an ongoing issue, and UNESCO noted some of the efforts in place to combat that, such as the ban on large ships from entering the San Marco Basin – Giudecca Canal. Still, the report said “the effects of the continuing deterioration due to human intervention, including continuing development, the impacts of climate change and mass tourism threaten to cause irreversible changes to the OUV [outstanding universal value]” of Venice.
According to a report from CNN affiliate SkyTG24, the Municipality of Venice said it “will carefully read the proposed decision published today by the Center for Unesco’s World Heritage Committee and will exchange views with the government, which is the State Party with which UNESCO interacts.”
CNN reached out to Italian Culture Ministry, which said it had not released a statement on the UNESCO recommendation. CNN has also reached out to the Italian Tourism Ministry and the Municipality of Venice, but neither had responded by Monday evening.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten Oaks Group, a recognized family office and standout in the corporate carve out sector, proudly announces the addition of four exceptional professionals to its esteemed team of Operating Partners. The recent hiring of James Deng, Greg Warren, David Izquierdo, and Lauren Celano underscores Ten Oaks Group's commitment to bringing accomplished talent with diverse capabilities and amplifying its capacity for turnaround, legal, and international investment exceptionalism.
James Deng assumes the position of Operating Partner at Ten Oaks Group. Prior to joining, he was a Vice President at Audax Private Equity supporting value creation initiatives. James has also served as Director of Revenue Growth Management at Keurig Dr Pepper and a management consultant at Ernst & Young focused on Corporate and Growth Strategy.
Greg Warren brings a wealth of legal and restructuring knowledge as he joins as Assistant General Counsel and Operating Partner. Greg previously was a member of White & Case LLP's financial restructuring and insolvency practice, representing debtors and creditors both in and out of bankruptcy. Greg has experience in operational, corporate, and financial matters, as well as litigation and acquisitions.
David Izquierdo joins as an Operating Partner focused on Ten Oaks Group's European portfolio companies. Prior to Ten Oaks, David focused on designing and implementing strategic and transformation programs across a wide variety of industries in roles in corporate development at Selenis and management consulting at Monitor Deloitte and PwC.
Lastly, Lauren Celano joins the team as Associate Operating Partner, leveraging her vast experience from the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, where she also led business development efforts. Additionally, she has experience at Alvarez & Marsal and other private equity and venture capital firms.
"At Ten Oaks Group, we believe that attracting top-notch talent is essential for leading value creation efforts for our portfolio," said Kendall Thurlow, head of value creation at Ten Oaks Group. "Lauren, James, David, and Greg embody the caliber of professionals we seek to bring on board, and we are excited to welcome them as valuable members of our team of Operating Partners."
Ten Oaks Group is committed to cultivating a dynamic and growth-oriented environment for its practitioners. With a commitment to fostering private equity careers, the company offers comprehensive opportunities for professional development and advancement.
To learn more about the background and expertise of the newly hired Operating Partners and explore potential career opportunities with Ten Oaks Group, visit www.tenoaksgroup.com.
About Ten Oaks Group:
Ten Oaks Group is a family office focused exclusively on investing in corporate divestitures. It brings speed, flexibility and certainty to divestitures of non-core businesses that no longer fit their parent company's corporate strategy. Following acquisition, Ten Oaks Group leverages its experienced team of Operating Partners to manage the transition and separation process and implement operational strategies that reveal and optimize the underlying potential of each business.
Each company within Ten Oaks Group operates independently under its own dedicated management team and receives management support services from Ten Oaks Management, LLC. Ten Oaks Group was founded by Matt Magan and Mike Hahn and has closed 25 carve-out transactions across 10 countries since inception.
To learn more about Ten Oaks Group's unique approach to corporate divestitures, please visit www.tenoaksgroup.com.
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WATERTOWN, Wis. -- Gov. Tony Evers spoke out Monday after a group of Nazi protestors were seen at a "Pride in the Park" event in Watertown on Saturday.
According to the Watertown Daily Times, a group of about a dozen men wearing all black "waved flags bearing the swastika symbol, gave the Nazi salute to onlookers and yelled homophobic rhetoric," during the event at Riverside Park.
One man was reportedly carrying a rifle.
This weekend’s Nazi presence at a Watertown LGBTQ Pride event was a disgusting and direct attack on our state’s LGBTQ community, communities of color, and Jewish Wisconsinites.This is unacceptable and unwelcome in Wisconsin. Period. pic.twitter.com/hyBsKkBsFg
"This is a disgusting and direct attack on our state’s LGBTQ community, communities of color, and Jewish Wisconsinites," Gov. Evers said. "LGBTQ Wisconsinites deserve to be treated with dignity, decency, kindness, and respect just like every other Wisconsinite."
Evers also criticized people, including some elected officials, who he said "continue to push radical rhetoric, divisive legislation and litigation, and falsehoods and disinformation about the LGBTQ community."
"Pride in the Park" was an LGBTQ+-focused event organized by Unity Project of Watertown that featured vendors, artists and drag performers.
Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R -- Oconomowoc) in a since-deleted post on "X" (formerly Twitter) said Saturday that the event should have been held in a private space without children.
"While I do not represent the city, I DO represent the town and have many friends who live in the city," Rep. Ditrich wrote. "They find this completely unacceptable in their community."
On Monday, Rep. Dittrich said that she "was unaware that there were masked members of a known hate group" at the event when she made her "X" post.
"I find that loathsome, disgusting, and condemned it the minute I learned of it," she said in a statement. "One can both find adult performances unsuitable for children at the same time they find hate groups to be vile."
COPYRIGHT 2023 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
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Funding by California Transportation Commission and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
LONG BEACH, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of opening the nation's largest public charging depot for electric commercial trucks at the Port of Long Beach, WattEV announced today it has secured $40.5 million in grants to further expand its growing network of electric truck stops into Northern California and Oregon.
WattEV, the industry leader in heavy-duty freight electrification, has been awarded two separate grants: one for a solar-powered truck charging depot across Interstate 5 from the airfreight hub adjacent to Sacramento International Airport, and another for a grid-connected charging depot along Interstate 5 in Salem, Ore.
WattEV has secured a $34 million federal grant through the California Transportation Commission to build and operate what will become the nation's largest electric charging depot on more than 100 acres of land immediately south of Sacramento International Airport (SMF) on Interstate 5.
The SMF project is expected to open in mid- to late-2025 with 15.6 MW of solar power supplemented by 7.2 MW of grid power supplied by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
The SMF depot will have 30 DC fast chargers for passenger vehicles, 90 high-power CCS-1 cords for medium- and heavy-duty commercial electric vehicles, and 18 megawatt cords for pass-through charging of HD trucks using the upcoming Megawatt Charging Standard (MCS).
"We're proud to partner with WattEV as they continue to advance transition of U.S. trucking transport to zero emissions," said Cindy Nichol, Director of Sacramento County Department of Airports. "Sacramento International Airport's proximity to one of largest goods distribution centers in the state makes this an ideal location to serve California's 'electric highway.'"
WattEV was also awarded $6.5 million from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to build a 6-acre EV charging depot. The Salem, Ore., site will be grid-connected in cooperation with Portland General Electric.
Planning for the Salem electric truck stop includes 30 CCS 240 KW chargers and six MCS 1200 KW chargers. It's expected to open in 2025 as well.
"These grant awards will allow us to meet our plans to expand our network of electric-truck charging depots from the Mexican border to Portland, Oregon, via Interstate 5, on what government planners and industry stakeholders are calling the 'electric highway,'" explained WattEV co-founder and CEO Salim Youssefzadeh.
The grant for the SMF project comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Trade Corridor Enhancement Program," which distributes funding through state transportation agencies.
"We're building out the West Coast corridor while also reaching eastward along the I-10 toward Arizona and Texas and, eventually, to the East Coast," Youssefzadeh said. "To expand the WattEV network, we'll match our grants with private capital to fund this massive infrastructure buildout."
WattEV selects the locations of its charging depots based on analysis of freight routes, range of electric trucks and energy supply.
"We picked our site in Sacramento because of its strategic location next to the Metro Air Park Logistics Center, where more than 10-million square-feet of warehouse space is planned," said Youssefzadeh, "and its close proximity to downtown Sacramento – just 10 minutes away."
Sacramento County and surrounding areas contain one of the largest concentrations of California's goods distribution centers, serving many of the largest shippers in the country.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (Sac Metro Air District) has committed to working closely with WattEV on the project as it will have significant air quality benefits for Sacramento.
"Emissions from fossil-fuel powered cars and trucks are the largest source of air pollution in the Sacramento region," said Sac Metro Air District Transportation and Climate Change Program Manager Raef Porter. "Over the past 25 years, the Air District has invested $300 million in clean air projects. We're proud to continue that commitment by partnering with WattEV on this transformative solar-powered, electric charging depot. Building new electric vehicle infrastructure is imperative to the successful transition to clean transportation and ensuring a clean air and low carbon future for all."
The SMF depot will initially serve as a charging hub for local and regional distribution centers, and later as a depot serving the north-south freight corridor stretching from WattEV's newly opened charging depot in the Port of Long Beach, connecting to Oregon and Washington state.
"We not only have the demand for regional distribution in Sacramento County," Youssefzadeh explained, "but we also have existing shippers asking us to transport freight from their logistic centers in the Los Angeles area to distribution centers of retailers in Sacramento."
About WattEV
WattEV's mission is to accelerate the transition of U.S. trucking transport to zero emissions. It relies on a combination of business and technology innovations to create charging infrastructure and data-driven workflow that provide truckers and fleet operators the lowest total cost of ownership. WattEV's goal is to get 12,000 heavy-duty electric trucks on California roads by the end of 2030, exceeding existing forecasts. More information is available online at www.WattEV.com.
About the Sac Metro Air District
The Sac Metro Air District is the leading Sacramento region agency responsible for monitoring air quality, reducing air pollution, enforcing air quality regulations, and promoting decarbonization efforts through innovative incentive programs and projects. The Air District also works to ensure clean air and meet National Ambient Air Quality standards. For more information about the Air District, please visit www.AirQuality.org.
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From left, Gabrielle Roitman, Kayla Seffing, Maddy Hiller and Casey Myer take a selfie in front of an "Oppenheimer" movie poster before they attended an advance screening of "Barbie," on July 20 at AMC The Grove 14 theaters in Los Angeles.
Advertisements for the films "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" appear at AMC Theaters at The Grove, July 20, in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello/AP
Advertisements for the films "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" appear at AMC Theaters at The Grove, July 20, in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello/AP
From left, Gabrielle Roitman, Kayla Seffing, Maddy Hiller and Casey Myer take a selfie in front of an "Oppenheimer" movie poster before they attended an advance screening of "Barbie," on July 20 at AMC The Grove 14 theaters in Los Angeles.
(CNN) — AMC Theaters (AMC) hit a revenue record last week, driven by the overwhelming success of the “Barbenheimer” pop culture craze.
In a news release on Sunday, the world’s largest theater chain announced that from July 21-27, it earned its largest single-week admissions revenue since the company’s founding in 1920. AMC attributed this 103-year high to the incredible opening weekend of both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” as well as the strong momentum that continued to carry them along.
“Barbenheimer” had tremendous staying power in its second weekend in theaters, with “Barbie” grossing $93 million and “Oppenheimer” almost $47 million, according to official studio numbers.
Last weekend was AMC’s busiest since the pandemic forced theaters to close in 2020, the company said, and this weekend marked the chain’s third-busiest worldwide since reopening. It reported that 65 AMC locations across 19 states and Washington, DC, set their own box office records this week as well. AMC shares were up about 7% in late-afternoon trading, to about $4.99.
In its opening weekend, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” had raked in a stunning $162 million domestically, giving the film the biggest debut of 2023. It’s also the largest-ever for a female director. Meanwhile, “Oppenheimer” opened at $82.5 million, according to media analytics company Comscore.
Combined, the movies have made more than a billion dollars globally in just 10 days.
(CNN and Warner Bros., which distributed “Barbie,” are both owned by Warner Bros. Discovery).
– CNN’s Ramishah Maruf contributed to this report.
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Delivered record-breaking second quarter performance in Total Revenues, Operating Profit and net new adds
Total Revenues up 25%; System Sales grew 32% in constant currency; Operating Profit increased 216%
Store openings accelerated, 655 net new adds in the first half, on track for full-year net new store target
SHANGHAI, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987) today reported unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Second Quarter Highlights
- Total revenues increased 25% year over year to $2.65 billion from $2.13 billion (a 32% increase excluding foreign currency translation ("F/X")).
- Total system sales increased 32% year over year, with increases of 32% at KFC and 30% at Pizza Hut, excluding F/X. Growth was mainly attributable to same-store sales, new unit contribution and lapping of temporary store closures in the prior year.
- Same-store sales increased 15% year over year, with increases of 15% at KFC and 13% at Pizza Hut, excluding F/X.
- Opened 422 net new stores during the quarter; total store count reached 13,602, as of June 30, 2023.
- Operating Profit increased 216% year over year to $257 million from $81 million (a 228% increase excluding F/X), primarily driven by sales leveraging and margin expansion.
- Adjusted Operating Profit increased 215% year over year to $259 million from $82 million (a 227% increase excluding F/X).
- Restaurant margin was 16.1%, compared with 12.1% in the prior year period.
- Effective tax rate was 24.7%.
- Net Income increased 138% to $197 million from $83 million in the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in Operating Profit.
- Adjusted Net Income increased 137% to $199 million from $84 million in the prior year period (a 207% increase excluding the net loss of $9 million in the second quarter of 2023 and net gain of $16 million in the second quarter of 2022, from the mark-to-market equity investment in Meituan; a 219% increase if further excluding F/X).
- Diluted EPS increased 135% to $0.47 from $0.20 in the prior year period.
- Adjusted Diluted EPS increased 135% to $0.47 from $0.20 in the prior year period (a 206% increase excluding the net loss from the mark-to-market equity investments in the second quarter of 2023 and net gain in the second quarter of 2022; a 219% increase if further excluding F/X).
Key Financial Results
CEO and CFO Comments
Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China, commented, "We achieved outstanding results, delivering substantial growth in the top-line and bottom-line, in the second quarter, thanks to our teams' dedication and creativity. This once again demonstrates our anti-fragile business model and ability to capture opportunities in good times and stay resilient in bad times. Our innovative products and compelling value captured customer demand and drove double-digit same-store sales growth. KFC's "K-zza" and Pizza Hut's new menu items were hugely popular. Our exciting campaign with Genshin Impact and fun toy offerings with Sanrio and Pokemon spurred strong demand and brought consumers moments of joy. We registered record daily transactions of 8.5 million on Children's Day. Our amazing operations team, robust end-to-end digital capabilities and agile supply chain enabled us to flexibly handle surges in customer traffic through holiday periods and special marketing campaigns, while maintaining consistent quality and customer service. As a result of these collective efforts, our operating profit for the first half of this year already exceeded the entire year of 2022."
Wat continued, "We accelerated the pace of new store openings in the second quarter and celebrated two milestones. Pizza Hut surpassed 3,000 stores in China and KFC exceeded 500 stores in Shanghai alone. With 655 net new stores in the first half of 2023, we are on track to meet our expansion goals for the year. Importantly, new store payback periods remain healthy. Furthermore, we see abundant white space in China. With a presence in 1,900 cities, we are still tracking over 800 cities without a KFC. Similarly, Pizza Hut has a great potential for expanding its footprint. With our flexible store formats, we continue to expand addressable markets across city tiers. By actively pursuing our RGM (Resilience-Growth-Moat) strategy and leveraging our industry-leading strengths, we are confident in our ability to capture long-term growth opportunities."
Andy Yeung, CFO of Yum China, added, "We delivered record second-quarter revenues and profits, despite challenging macro conditions and an uptick of COVID infections during the quarter. When customer demand softened in May, we adjusted nimbly to address consumer needs, captured holiday spending and successfully regained sales momentum. Sales growth and proactive cost structure rebasing helped us improve operating leverage, expanding restaurant margins and delivering record operating profit in the quarter. Even though same-store sales remained below 2019 levels, our revenue in the second quarter has increased by 25% and operating profits have risen by 26% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019."
"As we move into the third quarter, driving sales remains our top priority. We have lined up exciting marketing campaigns and resources to seize sales opportunities in the peak summer season. Our efforts on efficiency improvement and cost structure rebasing should continue to benefit profitability in the long run. But, it is worth noting that last year's record third-quarter restaurant margins set a relatively high benchmark, due to austerity measures and temporary reliefs. We will continue to stay agile through evolving market conditions, expand our store network and fortify our competitive moat to drive sustainable long-term growth," Yeung concluded.
Share Repurchases and Dividends
- During the second quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 1 million shares of Yum China common stock for $62 million at an average price of $60.23 per share. As of June 30, 2023, approximately $1 billion remained available for future share repurchases under the current authorization.
- The Board declared a cash dividend of $0.13 per share on Yum China's common stock, payable on September 18, 2023 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 28, 2023.
Digital and Delivery
- The KFC and Pizza Hut loyalty programs exceeded 445 million members combined, as of quarter-end. Member sales accounted for approximately 66% of system sales in the second quarter of 2023.
- Delivery contributed approximately 35% of KFC and Pizza Hut's Company sales in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 3% compared with the prior year period.
- Digital orders, including delivery, mobile orders and kiosk orders, accounted for approximately 90% of KFC and Pizza Hut's Company sales in the second quarter of 2023.
New-Unit Development and Asset Upgrade
- The Company opened 422 net new stores in the second quarter of 2023, mainly driven by development of the KFC and Pizza Hut brands.
- The Company remodeled 171 stores in the second quarter of 2023.
Restaurant Margin
- Restaurant margin was 16.1% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with 12.1% in the prior year period, driven primarily by sales leveraging and ongoing benefits of cost structure rebasing efforts; partially offset by lapping austerity measures in the prior year, higher promotion costs, and wage inflation.
2023 Outlook
The Company's fiscal year 2023 targets remain unchanged:
- To open approximately 1,100 to 1,300 net new stores.
- To make capital expenditures in the range of approximately $700 million to $900 million.
Company Updates
- On July 17, 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. David Hoffmann to the Board of the Directors. With this appointment, the Board is now comprised of 10 directors, nine of whom are independent.
Note on Non-GAAP Measures
Reported GAAP results include Special Items, which are excluded from non-GAAP adjusted measures. Special Items are not allocated to any segment and therefore only impact reported GAAP results of Yum China. See "Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Adjusted Measures" within this release. In addition, for the non-GAAP measures of Restaurant profit and Restaurant margin, see "Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Profit to Restaurant Profit" under "Segment Results" within this release.
Conference Call
Yum China's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, July 31, 2023 (8:00 a.m. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Tuesday, August 1, 2023).
A live webcast of the call may be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4rchbbk4/.
To join by phone, please register in advance of the conference through the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, a passcode and a unique access PIN.
Pre-registration Link: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10031360-wcv829.html
A replay of the conference call will be available one hour after the call ends until Tuesday, August 8, 2023 and may be accessed by phone at the following numbers:
Additionally, this earnings release, the accompanying slides, as well as the live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at Yum China's Investor Relations website at http://ir.yumchina.com.
For important news and information regarding Yum China, including our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, visit Yum China's Investor Relations website at http://ir.yumchina.com. Yum China uses this website as a primary channel for disclosing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including under "2023 Outlook." We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "belief," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "likely," "will," "continue," "should," "forecast," "outlook," "commit" or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future strategies, growth, business plans, investment, dividend and share repurchase plans, earnings, performance and returns of Yum China, anticipated effects of population and macroeconomic trends, the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, pace of recovery of Yum China's business, the anticipated effects of our innovation, digital and delivery capabilities and investments on growth and beliefs regarding the long-term drivers of Yum China's business. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Numerous factors could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: whether we are able to achieve development goals at the times and in the amounts currently anticipated, if at all, the success of our marketing campaigns and product innovation, our ability to maintain food safety and quality control systems, changes in public health conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to control costs and expenses, including tax costs, as well as changes in political, economic and regulatory conditions in China. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.
About Yum China Holdings, Inc.
Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company has over 400,000 employees and operates over 13,000 restaurants under six brands across 1,900 cities in China. KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China, respectively. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has also partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee concept in China. Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world's most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com.
In this press release:
- The Company provides certain percentage changes excluding the impact of foreign currency translation ("F/X"). These amounts are derived by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates. We believe the elimination of the F/X impact provides better year-to-year comparability without the distortion of foreign currency fluctuations.
- System sales growth reflects the results of all restaurants regardless of ownership, including Company-owned, franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurants that operate our restaurant concepts, except for non-Company-owned restaurants for which we do not receive a sales-based royalty. Sales of franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurants typically generate ongoing franchise fees for the Company at an average rate of approximately 6% of system sales. Franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurant sales are not included in Company sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income; however, the franchise fees are included in the Company's revenues. We believe system sales growth is useful to investors as a significant indicator of the overall strength of our business as it incorporates all of our revenue drivers, Company and franchise same-store sales as well as net unit growth.
- Effective January 1, 2018, the Company revised its definition of same-store sales growth to represent the estimated percentage change in sales of food of all restaurants in the Company system that have been open prior to the first day of our prior fiscal year, excluding the period during which stores are temporarily closed. We refer to these as our "base" stores. Previously, same-store sales growth represented the estimated percentage change in sales of all restaurants in the Company system that have been open for one year or more, including stores temporarily closed, and the base stores changed on a rolling basis from month to month. This revision was made to align with how management measures performance internally and focuses on trends of a more stable base of stores.
- Company sales represent revenues from Company-owned restaurants. Company Restaurant profit ("Restaurant profit") is defined as Company sales less expenses incurred directly by our Company-owned restaurants in generating Company sales, including cost of food and paper, restaurant-level payroll and employee benefits, rent, depreciation and amortization of restaurant-level assets, advertising expenses, and other operating expenses. Company restaurant margin percentage is defined as Restaurant profit divided by Company sales.
- Certain comparative items in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation to facilitate comparison.
Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Adjusted Measures
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") in this press release, the Company provides non-GAAP measures adjusted for Special Items, which include Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings Per Common Share ("EPS"), Adjusted Effective Tax Rate and Adjusted EBITDA, which we define as net income including noncontrolling interests adjusted for equity in net earnings (losses) from equity method investments, income tax, interest income, net, investment gain or loss, certain non-cash expenses, consisting of depreciation and amortization as well as store impairment charges, and Special Items. We also use Restaurant profit and Restaurant margin (as defined above) for the purposes of internally evaluating the performance of our Company-owned restaurants and we believe Restaurant profit and Restaurant margin provide useful information to investors as to the profitability of our Company-owned restaurants.
The following table set forth the reconciliation of the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP adjusted financial measures. The reconciliation of GAAP Operating Profit to Restaurant Profit is presented in Segment Results within this release.
Net income, along with the reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA, is presented below:
Details of Special Items are presented below:
(1) In February 2020, the Company granted Partner PSU Awards to select employees who were deemed critical to the Company's execution of its strategic operating plan. These PSU awards will only vest if threshold performance goals are achieved over a four-year performance period, with the payout ranging from 0% to 200% of the target number of shares subject to the PSU awards. Partner PSU Awards were granted to address increased competition for executive talent, motivate transformational performance and encourage management retention. Given the unique nature of these grants, the Compensation Committee does not intend to grant similar, special grants to the same employees during the performance period. The impact from these special awards is excluded from metrics that management uses to assess the Company's performance.
(2) The tax expense was determined based upon the nature, as well as the jurisdiction, of each Special Item at the applicable tax rate.
The Company excludes impact from Special Items for the purpose of evaluating performance internally. Special Items are not included in any of our segment results. In addition, the Company provides Adjusted EBITDA because we believe that investors and analysts may find it useful in measuring operating performance without regard to items such as equity in net earnings (losses) from equity method investments, income tax, interest income, net, investment gain or loss, depreciation and amortization, store impairment charges, and Special Items. Store impairment charges included as an adjustment item in Adjusted EBITDA primarily resulted from our semi-annual impairment evaluation of long-lived assets of individual restaurants, and additional impairment evaluation whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If these restaurant-level assets were not impaired, depreciation of the assets would have been recorded and included in EBITDA. Therefore, store impairment charges were a non-cash item similar to depreciation and amortization of our long-lived assets of restaurants. The Company believes that investors and analyst may find it useful in measuring operating performance without regard to such non-cash item.
These adjusted measures are not intended to replace the presentation of our financial results in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the Company believes that the presentation of these adjusted measures provides additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present results, excluding those items that the Company does not believe are indicative of our ongoing operations due to their nature.
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SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc.
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Rapper Cardi B was on stage at Drai's Beach Club in Las Vegas when an audience member appeared to throw a drink at her, as seen in video footage posted to TikTok.
Rapper Cardi B was on stage at Drai's Beach Club in Las Vegas when an audience member appeared to throw a drink at her, as seen in video footage posted to TikTok.
Jm Haedrich/SIPA/Shutterstock
Cardi B is pictured here in Paris at the Fendi runway show in July.
(CNN) — A concertgoer has filed a report with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) after being “struck by an item that was thrown from the stage,” police said in a statement to CNN Monday.
Police did not mention Cardi B in their statement, but the address on the incident report matches the location where she was performing on Saturday.
“According to the victim, she was attending an event on July 29, 2023, at a property located in the 3500 block of Las Vegas Boulevard. During a concert, she was struck by an item that was thrown from the stage,” authorities said.
No arrest or citation as been issued, according to police.
CNN previously reported that Cardi B was performing at Drai’s Beach Club in Las Vegas over the weekend, when an audience member threw a drink toward the stage, as see in video footage posted to social media.
In the clip, the rapper is seen getting splashed with liquid from the cup while performing her 2018 hit “Bodak Yellow.” Cardi B quickly reacted by throwing her microphone into the audience as security guards rushed to the stage and into the crowd.
In another video shared to social media from the concert, Cardi B and her DJ are seen asking the crowd to “splash” her with water due to the heat. It’s unclear if this occurred before or after the incident with the microphone.
CNN has reached out to the Clark County District Attorney’s office for comment, and have reached out to the LVMPD public records department for a copy of the police report.
The incident in Las Vegas on Saturday is just the latest in a slew of similar scenes at concerts where artists have become the target of objects thrown at them while on stage, with some artists suffering injuries as a result.
Only recently have performers gotten involved with their audience members when seeing behavior they do not approve of.
CNN has reached out to a representative for Cardi B for comment.
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https://www.channel3000.com/news/national-and-world-news/concertgoer-files-police-report-after-cardi-b-s-las-vegas-show/article_4515c991-9955-5c21-a7f4-540efcf8a842.html
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Eugene School District 4J agenda: Filling the vacancy left by O'Rourke
The Eugene School District 4J Board of Directors during its Wednesday public meeting will discuss the board vacancy created by Laural O'Rourke's resignation and the process of appointing a temporary replacement.
This will be the first regular school board meeting with the board's four newly elected members − Tom Di Liberto, Rick Hamilton, Jenny Jonak and Morgan Munro.
Board vacancy
It's been more than three weeks since O'Rourke submitted her resignation from the board on July 8, alleging racism and harassment.
O'Rourke's departure leaves a vacancy on the seven-member board, as her term was set to end in 2025. The board will begin the process of filling the role.
In the past, the district would ask for applications from the public, then invite applicants to speak briefly or be interviewed at a public meeting. The board would then appoint an applicant to fill the vacancy.
The appointee must be a legally registered voter and a resident within the district for at least one year immediately preceding the appointment. Current 4J employees and employees of charter schools within the district are not eligible to serve on the school board.
Whoever is appointed would serve in Position 2 until June 30, 2025.
Also on the agenda
Other items on Wednesday's agenda include:
- Update board organization vote.
- Schedule board retreats.
- Committee assignments.
- Board meeting calendar revisions.
- Determine board meeting model.
How to participate in the board meeting
The regular board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The board will meet in closed executive session beforehand, starting at 5:30 p.m. The meetings will be held at the 4J district office, 200 N. Monroe St., with some board members attending virtually.
The meeting also will be streamed online at 4j-lane-edu.zoom.us/j/91225128314. The recorded meeting will be uploaded to 4J's YouTube channel in the following days.
Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.
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https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/education/2023/07/31/eugene-school-district-4j-agenda-filling-the-vacancy-left-by-orourke/70500864007/
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(CNN) — When the Supreme Court left for its summer recess in June, the justices were at a stalemate on adopting a formal ethics code.
Chief Justice John Roberts has been seeking unanimity among the nine justices for firm ethics standards, CNN has learned, but such agreement has eluded him. It is not clear what standards a majority might be considering and the reasoning of the holdouts.
Justice Samuel Alito’s new comments in a Wall Street Journal interview suggest why he and perhaps other justices might be resisting and rebuffing outside pressure related to ethics, despite escalating controversy over justices’ lavish travel and other off-bench behavior.
Alito said he “voluntarily follows disclosure statutes that apply to lower court judges,” and he expressed disdain for congressional efforts to persuade the justices to adopt their own ethics rules.
“I know this is a controversial view, but I’m going to say it,” Alito said. “No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court – period.”
Alito’s broader remarks reflected a belief that outside critics, not the justices themselves, are the source of legitimacy concerns engulfing the high court.
Yet even as Alito brushed aside controversy over justices’ luxury travels and other extracurricular activities, including his own, he revealed a potential new conflict of interest by granting a lawyer involved in court business hours of personal access for the interviews.
Appellate lawyer David B. Rivkin Jr., one of the two writers who interviewed Alito for the WSJ opinion section, currently represents litigants in a pending tax case at the high court. Rivkin also last week wrote a letter to two Democratic senators that defended Alito’s travel and the activities of Leonard Leo, a conservative activist who has influenced presidential choices for the Supreme Court and who has helped arrange travel and other benefits for sitting justices.
Rivkin’s connection to the tax case was disclosed in the WSJ’s report on Friday; his representation of Leo and defense to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders of Alito’s 2008 trip to Alaska with a hedge fund billionaire was not.
After the new interview was published, CNN asked Alito for any explanation regarding his dealings with Rivkin and potential conflicts of interest. He did not respond to questions. CNN wrote and spoke to Rivkin, requesting any comment, but he declined.
The developments last week added to drama over the justices’ lack of formal safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest and their overall lack of transparency related to off-bench behavior.
Alito’s comments offered a window into the resistance and sense of aggrievement that persists. He told the WSJ writers that he was speaking out to defend himself and the Supreme Court because “nobody else” would.
Republicans in Congress have defended the justices, however, as have conservative allies. Further, in giving the conservative Wall Street Journal writers special access – four hours over two sessions – Alito reinforced the appearance that justices on the right want to answer only to one side.
Alito and other justices routinely decline to answer questions from news reporters about their off-bench activities, including the financing of their travel with wealthy benefactors or about the details of their money-making enterprises, including book publishing.
Alito previously turned to the Journal, which editorializes in favor of the court’s conservative trend and criticizes any deviation, to try to preempt a ProPublica report on his 2008 Alaska fishing vacation and private jet travel with Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager involved in litigation that reached the court. Alito did not disclose the travel on his annual financial disclosure forms.
ProPublica reported that Leo, who for decades led the Federalist Society and influenced Republican presidents’ judicial selection, had helped organize the trip and asked Singer to fly Alito on his jet.
In responding to Senate Democrats’ inquiry into the travel last week, Rivkin, writing on behalf of Leo, rejected any suggestion of misconduct. “Even assuming that trip is somehow relevant to present concerns about Supreme Court ethics, the connection is highly attenuated, focused on ‘an object remote’ from purported ‘legitimate concerns’ about ethics standards,” Rivkin wrote.
ProPublica earlier this year reported that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose travel and other gifts received from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Crow also purchased Thomas’ family home in Georgia and paid tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew, neither of which Thomas disclosed on annual financial disclosure forms. A separate Associated Press investigation recently focused on liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s use of Supreme Court staff to coordinate and promote the sale of her books.
Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation that would create a code of ethics for the justices, but the bill is bound to stall. The 11 committee Democrats voted for the measure, the 10 Republicans against. The bill is likely to lack the necessary votes to advance to Senate floor consideration, and it would be doomed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Still, public concern over the justices’ conduct has been rising as the justices have been reshaping of American life with their rulings.
In the past two years, the conservative-dominated bench has overturned precedent on abortion rights and campus affirmative action. It has enhanced gun ownership and the interests of religious conservatives.
At the same time, there has been a record loss of public confidence in the court, according to numerous public opinion polls.
The justices have been struggling with how to respond to public and congressional concerns. Roberts has in private been trying to obtain consensus among his colleagues for formal rules.
In his WSJ interview, Alito acknowledged that Roberts on cases “puts a high premium on consensus.”
Asked if other justices agree with Alito’s declaration that Congress has no constitutional authority on judicial ethics, the justice said: “I don’t know that any of my colleagues have spoken about it publicly, so I don’t think I should say. But I think it is something we have all thought about.”
In the past, ethics controversies have faded, and the Supreme Court has carried on with business as usual. But newsroom investigative teams are increasingly scrutinizing the justices’ extracurricular enterprises. And Democratic members of Congress have continued to vow action.
After Alito’s interview was published, Democrats in the Senate and House intensified their public criticism.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut called Alito “stunningly wrong” in the view that Congress must stay out of judicial ethics.
“It is just wrong on the facts to say that Congress doesn’t have anything to do with the rules guiding the Supreme Court,” Murphy said, adding, “it is even more disturbing that Alito feels the need to insert himself into a congressional debate.”
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Española public health office to offer free back-to-school vaccinations
The New Mexico Department of Health's Rio Arriba County Public Health Office will offer free back-to-school vaccinations in Española for children age 18 and younger with or without insurance on Wednesdays throughout August.
Vaccination clinics will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Parents should bring children's vaccination records and health insurance card, if they have insurance. Youth won't be turned away if they don't have insurance.
The public health office is located at 2010 Industrial Park Road. For more information, call 505-753-2794.
City to host after-school program for 2023-24 school year
The city of Santa Fe's recreation division will host an after-school program featuring sports, swimming, ice skating, games, food projects and arts and crafts at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center throughout the 2023-24 school year.
The after-school program begins Aug. 21 and will continue with monthly sessions through May 2024. Sessions, open to children ages 6 to 12 and costing $50 per child, will take place from 3:15 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 1:15 to 6 p.m. Fridays.
Transportation to the program will be provided from Amy Biehl Community School, Piñon Elementary School, Carlos Gilbert Elementary School and Gonzales Community School.
Registration for the program is first come, first served in-person at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. starting Aug. 7. Parents must bring a birth certificate, immunization record or passport to verify their child's age.
Kellogg Foundation announces cohort of New Mexico community leaders
The Center for Creative Leadership and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation — yes, the one founded by the cereal magnate — announced Wednesday that it has selected 22 leaders from across New Mexico to join its Community Leadership Network, a program intended to strengthen local leadership for the benefit of children and families.
The cohort of fellows includes nonprofit, state, tribal and advocacy leaders across the state.
The New Mexican leaders will join dozens of others from Michigan, Mississippi and New Orleans for an 18-month fellowship intended to grow leadership skills and build networks to advance equity.
"The heart of this fellowship is the leaders and the relationships they build across different cultures, sectors and geographies to work in solidarity for authentic change," said Shera Clark, program director at the Center for Creative Leadership.
A full list of fellows is available at wkkfcln.org/class-3-fellows/.
New Mexico Music Educators Association honored with nationwide award
The National Association for Music Education in June recognized the New Mexico Music Educators Association with the 2023 Excellence in Advocacy Award.
The award honored the state association for generating leadership opportunities, building community among music educators in both urban and rural areas and strengthening communications with lawmakers, National Association for Music Education President Scott R. Sheehan said in a news release.
"We offer our deepest congratulations and thanks to the New Mexico Music Educators Association for all of their work in bringing a spotlight to music education this past year in their state," Sheehan said.
Salazar Elementary School student sculpture
A sculpture created by fifth graders at Salazar Elementary School will grace the halls of the Public Education Department's Jerry Apodaca Education Building throughout the next month.
The piece, built from interlocking laser engravings and cuttings created in Santa Fe Public Schools' STEAM lab, was inspired by Charles Eames' "House of Cards," a similarly constructed stack of cards and a "beloved staple of the Eames Office."
"My students are remarkable young artists, and I am always trying to increase the authentic audience for their work," Salazar art teacher Anna Gibson said in a news release announcing the placement of her students' work.
"I am incredibly pleased that they will have the opportunity to show what they have done at a venue representing the heart of our educational system in New Mexico," she added.
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/smartboard/smartboard-july-31-2023/article_519d5502-2bc1-11ee-b8f6-a34920dd9580.html
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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Two people will be receiving the National Constitution Center's prestigious Liberty Medal this year.
Acclaimed journalist Judy Woodruff and philanthropist and business leader David Rubenstein will receive the honor.
Woodruff is an advocate for women in journalism and covered every presidential election and convention since 1976.
The Center says Rubenstein has worked tirelessly to preserve American history.
"Judy Woodruff and David Rubenstein have convened and inspired conversations across America about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution" National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement. "As we prepare to celebrate America's 250th birthday, their work is a model of civil dialogue and civic education about the past, present, and future of the American Idea."
The Liberty Medal ceremony will take place on October 27.
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Kayaker died Saturday on the Willamette River downriver from the Middle Fork Boat Ramp
The Lane County Sheriff's Office said a man died Saturday afternoon while kayaking on the Willamette River downriver from the Middle Fork Boat Launch.
The kayak flipped about 4:30 p.m. after striking a log and the man did not resurface, the sheriff's office said in a release. The kayaker was not wearing a lifejacket, but one was attached to the kayak.
Lane County Sheriff's Marine Patrol Search and Rescue teams located the kayaker and attempted lifesaving techniques but were unable to revive him.
His identity is being withheld until notification of next of kin.
A second individual floating on an inner-tube tethered to the kayak made it to shore safely, the sheriff's office said
Charles Gearing is a breaking news and public safety reporter. He may be contacted at cgearing@gannett.com or at (708)262-7626.
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A turkey vulture perches atop a stake while displaying its wings near a fence. The scavenging vultures are a social species and can be seen roosting with up to several hundred individuals.
We see them every day in New Mexico soaring overhead, holding their wings in a shallow V-shape, tipping side to side causing their gray flight feathers to appear silvery, stretching from the “armpit” area to the tips of their wings. They stay aloft for hours without flapping their wings, circling and using thermal updrafts to climb higher. This incredible ability to utilize thermals has evolved due to the characteristically unpredictable deceased food source they are constantly on the search for. They need to travel great distances of up to 200 miles and have developed a very energy efficient way to do so. They aren’t as pretty or elegant as other birds, but their remarkable intelligence and interesting habits make turkey vultures a favorite of birders.
Turkey vultures scavenge and eat carrion, whether that be roadkill, byproduct of another predator’s kill or even disease-ravaged animals. Carrion is found either by sight (up to 4 miles away), as they have incredible vision as all raptors do, or uniquely by smell (up to a mile away). Vultures are one of the few categories of birds that are equipped with a keen sense of smell. Vultures have a strong stomach acid that is capable of destroying lethal bacteria and diseases, including rabies, tuberculosis, botulism and anthrax. Vultures are an important part of the ecosystem and considered a keystone species.
Vultures have a unique way of feeding, tearing open the carcass with their beak and using a long, pointed tongue to extract the meat. If you see a group of turkey vultures feeding on a carcass, many times the most dominant vultures can be seen eating first while the subservient individuals wait their turn. They can easily pick the body of an animal clean in less than an hour. Vultures have the reputation of being ugly, but their features are actually adaptations to keep themselves clean as they feed on dead prey. The bald head, long featherless legs and nostrils that are larger and open from one to the other are ways to decrease carrion from sticking to the feathers or in the nose, eventually becoming a host for bacteria. They will sunbathe with their wings outstretched to warm themselves after a cool, rainy night and to bake-off bacteria and ectoparasites. The body of a vulture, inside and out, is adapted for their lifestyle and the carrion that they eat.
Vultures are a social species and can be seen roosting with up to several hundred individuals. They also have a unique way of roosting that involves standing on their tip toes, leaning froward to rest their chest on a branch so as to conserve energy while roosting. Vultures lack a syrinx, the vocal cord of birds, and are usually silent, sometimes hissing and grunting when feeding or at their nest.
Turkey vultures nest in cliff ledges, rock crevices, fallen tree logs, buildings, abandoned nests and sometimes simply on the ground. Their clutch size is typically 2 eggs with 1 brood per year. Incubation is by both parents, taking 34 to 41 days. Both feed the young by regurgitation. The age of the young at first flight is 9 to 10 weeks.
A special thanks to Rachael Brunton, Senior Raptor Trainer at New Mexico Wildlife Center. She provided me valuable information and insight into the remarkable features of turkey vultures. She also provided me great photos of Sol, a 30+ year old turkey vulture at the Center. My favorite is Sol sunbathing.
Sol was just a young bird when kids found him on the ground hopping along, learning to become a vulture, plucked him from his natural home and took him to become a “pet.” Obviously, this did not bode well for the family or for Sol. He was quickly imprinted on by humans, making him forever ineligible to be returned to the wild. The family that illegally acquired him most likely got a hefty fine and Sol was confiscated. Though he is a very good ambassador for his species and does enjoy spending time with his trainers, as we feel with all of our birds that were once wild, there is a slight sadness that his wild life was interrupted by humans, and it cannot be undone. That is why we encourage everyone to contact wildlife rehabilitation before involving themselves with wildlife that may be in a troublesome situation to ensure we aren’t acting in an ultimately negative way. There is much good news for the conservation of turkey vultures. They were once victims of DDT pesticide but have now rebounded to healthy population levels. Their numbers are stable, and they can be found from southern Canada through South America. Currently, lead shot from hunters left behind in a carcass is the greatest threat to these birds. Thankfully, there are easy replacements for lead shot, and a movement to transition away from lead is underway.
Stop by the Wildlife Center to meet Sol and Rachael. You will enjoy the interaction and have the opportunity to view first hand the great work that the New Mexico Wildlife Center does in connecting people and wildlife through conservation education and rehabilitation because a world with wildlife is a better world.
Ken Bunkowski and his son, Matt, are co-owners of Wild Birds Unlimited in Santa Fe and look forward to sharing the joy that birds bring into our lives.
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/health_and_science/turkey-vultures/article_ac9f01c8-2db8-11ee-a8c4-fb78ba8e8e5c.html
| 2023-07-31T21:50:54
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/health_and_science/turkey-vultures/article_ac9f01c8-2db8-11ee-a8c4-fb78ba8e8e5c.html
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Police have opened a battery investigation after Cardi B threw her microphone into the crowd when a concertgoer tossed a drink at her during a recent show.
In a video making the rounds on social media, the Grammy-winning rapper is seen throwing a microphone at an audience member who tossed a drink at her during her performance at Drai's Beachclub in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Cardi B was performing her 2017 hit "Bodak Yellow" in the clip when she gets a good dousing of the liquid, then angrily throws the mic at them while appearing to have words with the person. The fan was escorted out by security.
RELATED: Drink tossed at Cardi B on stage - she fires back with her microphone
A separate video showed that Cardi B told fans she was hot and to throw her some water. It's unclear at what point in the show this video was recorded.
Cardi B addressed the incident Sunday on Stationhead, saying, "A (bleep) got (bleep) assaulted. When water and ice get thrown in your (bleep) face and hit you mad hard. What happened yesterday was blatantly disrespectful."
This is just the latest example of fans throwing things at artists while they're performing onstage. It has happened in recent weeks to artists like Bebe Rexha, Harry Styles, Kelsea Ballerini and more.
"Artists have had enough. I mean, I think that's evident," said Kelley L. Carter, an ABC News entertainment contributor and senior entertainment reporter for Andscape.
Carter added, "So much remains to be seen about how incidents like this might change the concert experience, but I do ... I think there's definitely going to be a zero-tolerance policy that's officially going to be put in place."
The video in the media player above is from a previous report.
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https://6abc.com/cardi-b-microphone-throwing-mic-las-vegas-drais-beachclub/13578714/
| 2023-07-31T21:50:54
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https://6abc.com/cardi-b-microphone-throwing-mic-las-vegas-drais-beachclub/13578714/
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Eva Newsom, age 105, of Wisconsin Dells, crossed over Friday, May 12, 2023 at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, WI surrounded by her family.
Eva’s Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at the Dells Delton United Methodist Church with Pastor Lee Bushweiler officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:30 a.m.
Eva was born March 17, 1918 in Anoka-Osceola, MN, the daughter of Louis and Caroline (Christiansen) Gragert. She married her southern gentleman Mahlon Newsom on February 24, 1940 in Shreveport, LA. They enjoyed 56 years together before his passing in 1996. Eva was a talented artist. She studied art under Marie Hull in Jackson, Mississippi; with Enrique Alferez and Hans Mangledorf in Louisiana; and at the Minneapolis school of art. She worked as an artist in natural history museums in Jackson, Mississippi and in New Orleans, and was a diorama artist in the Louisiana Exhibits Museum in Shreveport, Louisiana. Along the way she did many pastel portraits. Mahlon and Eva moved to Wisconsin Dells in the summer of 1960. Eva’s lifetime interest in art, religion and nature helped her create her greatest artistic achievement, Biblical Gardens in Wisconsin Dells. She created the lay out of the Gardens and sculpted 31 statues and 14 scenes of the life of Christ. Her advice was “If you want to be an artist you must draw every day.” And she did. Mom I know you are continuing your art work in heaven.
Eva is survived by her children; Patricia Hoesly of Wisconsin Dells, WI; Mike (Penny) Newsom of Cokato, MN; 10 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and one on the way; a dear brother, Oliver and special niece, Vicki. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mahlon Newsom; son-in-law, Tom Hoesly; 9 brothers and sisters along with other relatives and friends.
The family wishes to send a heartfelt thank you to Agrace Hospice care and staff at St Clare hospital in Baraboo, WI. Their professionalism and warm demeanor will never be forgotten.
COPYRIGHT 2023 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
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https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/eva-elaine-newsom/article_ac7742ca-2fe1-11ee-8e0d-bbd712fd10a9.html
| 2023-07-31T21:50:57
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https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/eva-elaine-newsom/article_ac7742ca-2fe1-11ee-8e0d-bbd712fd10a9.html
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Shrouded in bubble wrap, labeled with tape and piled in mounds, a massive collection of Native American, Oceanic and African art — including pieces believed by some to date back more than 3,000 years — is at the center of a court battle pending in the state’s First Judicial District Court since 2012.
Described in court documents as “a culturally significant ethnographic collection” worth millions of dollars, the collection of “approximately 30 tons (60,000 pounds) of delicate art and artifacts of various materials and age” has been the subject of multiple court actions filed in state District Court, plus the New Mexico Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, as well as U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
A couple in their 70s spent more than three years in the Santa Fe County jail on a contempt of court charge before agreeing in 2021 to allow some of the artifacts to be sold to satisfy a $900,000 civil court judgment against them.
But two years later, reports from a court-appointed receiver reveal liquidating the collection has proven more difficult than anyone thought — in part because establishing provenance for the items is challenging and ensuring sales comply with evolving federal and international restrictions can be complicated.
Meanwhile, one of the original plaintiffs in the case has died, leaving the collection in the sole control of his elderly widow.
The woman’s attorney declined to comment, but thousands of pages of court documents filed in five different courts tell the tale of an arguably priceless collection of ancient artifacts gathering dust in storage lockers in Albuquerque; Austin, Texas; and Cherry Hill, N.J.
Collector Al Luckett Jr.; his wife, Christine McCarthy; and “various investor entities” amassed the collection over the past three-plus decades, according to records in the state District Court case, which began as a landlord-tenant dispute in 2012.
Some of the works are larger than a man. Others could fit it in the palm of a hand.
There are primitive tools, utensils, weapons and religious and decorative items. Some might appear to be little more than lumps of clay to the untrained eye, but receipts included in online court records in the case indicate Luckett paid as much as tens of thousands of dollars for some of the objects.
The collection includes about 110 masks, 50 stone objects, 50 African sculptures, two boxes of carved stone heads and 15 boxes of “geological specimens,” according to more than 200 pages of photographs submitted as evidence.
There also are two boxes containing “hundreds of small artifacts (including things such as Native American wampum and arrowheads),” a Mayan bowl, South American stone carvings, Eskimo stone clubs and a whale bone spear, according to the court records.
According to reports from the receiver, there also are paintings in the collection — including two that may be by famed Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros, a contemporary of Diego Rivera.
Repeated attempts to contact Luckett and McCarthy have been unsuccessful. Their son Jonathan Luckett has not responded to several calls seeking comment. It’s unclear whether any members of the family still live in New Mexico.
Receipts entered as evidence in the long-running civil dispute indicate Al Luckett lived in Santa Fe for years and purchased much of the collection from or with the assistance of local dealers. He was particularly active in the early and mid-2000s, documents show, acquiring objects in the name of Cultural Assets LLC II, a company set up by the family.
Tribal Art and Design owner Taylor A. Dale said in a recent phone interview Luckett “loved stone objects.”
“His top interest was probably stone objects, mostly prehistoric,” Dale said. “He also liked Pueblo fetishes ... and he had a good eye.”
Dale declined to comment further on Luckett or the collection. A half-dozen other artifact dealers The New Mexican spoke to declined to comment on Luckett or the artifacts.
A complex saga
The events that led to the collection being placed in receivership began in 2011 when Luckett and his wife rented a home in Las Campanas from Michael and Kay Coughlin in the name of Cultural Assets II, according to a 2012 petition the Coughlins filed in state District Court attempting to collect what they alleged at the time was $11,000 in unpaid rent.
The litigation has dragged on for years. The court ordered Luckett and McCarthy to vacate the home in March 2013, according to an order of restitution. But they were still there in August 2013, and Luckett interfered with the Coughlins’ attempts to sell the property, according to a September 2013 order finding Luckett in contempt of court.
State District Judge Francis Mathew in 2016 issued a final judgment, ordering Cultural Assets, Luckett and McCarthy to pay the Coughlins $630,242, which included compensatory damages for unpaid rent and the loss of the sale of their house, punitive damages, attorney fees and still-accruing interest.
Later that year, the Coughlins filed an application asking the court to freeze the defendants’ assets, including a “significant and substantial inventory of business and/or personal property contained in storage units ... which can be easily liquidated to meet [defendants] obligations under the judgement.”
In 2017, Matthew ordered the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office to take eight storage lockers filled with art and artifacts into custody to be sold to satisfy the judgment, which by then had ballooned to more than $771,000, thanks in part to continued litigation and accruing interest.
But when deputies went to a storage facility to collect the pre-Columbian artifacts, they discovered the units had been cleared out, according to an emergency motion for criminal contempt the Coughlins filed Sept. 22, 2017.
Matthew issued an order in October 2017 declaring Luckett and McCarthy — who had moved to Maine — in contempt of court and ordered they be arrested in that state and returned to Santa Fe to be held at the Santa Fe County jail until the artifacts were returned.
Al Luckett, McCarthy and Jonathon Luckett fought relinquishment of the collection.
The family — and attorneys representing a series of companies they had created — argued in legal filings the couple didn’t own the artifacts and didn’t have the authority to hand them over to secure their release from jail.
Jonathon Luckett said at the time the treasures belong to a series of companies over which he had only partial control.
Those companies, referred to collectively as IDA, or Information Dock Analytics, filed a separate case in federal court, challenging the designation of the collection as collateral in the landlord-tenant case.
As the cases crawled through the courts, Al Luckett and McCarthy remained in jail.
The parties finally reached a compromise in 2021.
Jonathan Luckett and the IDA companies were joined as parties to the proceeding and collectively entered into settlement negotiations. In February 2021, the Luckett family and the Coughlins agreed the collection would be put in receivership and parts would be sold to satisfy the judgment, after which the remainder would be returned to the control of IDA.
Under the terms of the agreement, Jonathan Luckett and IDA would work with an appointed receiver to sell some of the works, toward the goal of paying off the judgment in two $450,000 installments over the course of two years.
Court-appointed receiver William Chapman did not respond to calls seeking comment. His status reports to state District Court indicate Jonathon Luckett has made attempts to sell pieces from the collection.
“Jonny reports that he has been in contact with curators at the following museums: the Metropolitan Museum of Art. the Los Angeles County Museum of Art the Dallas Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Denver Art Institute. the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. the Minneapolis Museum of Art as well as art museums at Princeton and Harvard University.” Chapman wrote in a March 2021 report. “Jonny advised that he has received significant interest in the two paintings from Latin American Curators and contemporary curators at these institutions. Jonny has provided the curators with images of the paintings and other information related to the paintings.”
As of June 2022, Chapman reported “Mr. Luckett has not been able to finalize any sales.”
“The insurance matter continues to be a challenge and despite my best efforts, I have not been able to obtain an insurance policy for the entire collection,” Chapman wrote.
Under the terms of the agreement, if the $900,000 judgement had not been paid within two years, the “Coughlins shall have the sole and exclusive right to sell the Art and Artifacts.”
According to a December 2022 report from the receiver to the court, custody and control over the items was transferred to the Coughlins.
Michael Coughlin died in January, according to a notice in state District Court, which leaves his widow, Kay Coughlin, in control of the collection.
In the December 2022 report, the receiver wrote Kay Coughlin continues to work to establish provenance of the two most valuable paintings, which were in the custody of an auction house.
A tough sell
Experts say the buying and selling of artifacts and antique Native American items is complicated.
“The value of such collections can be affected by changing laws and the seller’s ability to provide documentation of when and how the items were acquired,” said Authentic Tribal Arts Dealers Association President Will Hughes.
Carla M. Sinopoli, director of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, agreed, noting while she didn’t know about the collection or the lawsuit, private collections can sometimes be problematic.
“Archaeological objects that reach the market are often looted,” she wrote. “For the communities from which those objects were removed, this results in the loss of irreplaceable history and heritage. And for archaeologists, context is critical — knowing where objects come from and what they were associated with is essential to being able to understand the lives and histories of the past peoples who made and used them. That information is lost through the looting and sale of objects.”
She added: “Museums today are confronting our own histories of collecting and our legal and ethical obligations to repatriate human remains and artifacts to source communities.”
Hughes said that since the passage of laws aimed at combatting illegal trade in cultural items, many collectors want documentation about the provenance of a piece showing it was collected or traded prior to 1970, and museums require documentation even to accept such items as donations.
Dr. Nui Loa Price, who orchestrated the sale of at least 97 Hawaiian stone sculptures to Cultural Assets II LLC in 2004, said in an interview he had heard the buyer of the stones had run into some legal trouble and hopes he might buy them back, though no one has reached out to him.
Price said he originally purchased many of the stones from a Hawaiian man who was selling them from the trunk of his vehicle.
“Whatever became of the stones, I’m still very concerned in recovering them if I can,” he said. “I’m always connected to those pieces, in a sense, because they came to me and the great spirit revealed them to me and I slowly had to let them go.”
Court documents indicate Cultural Assets purchased at least $33,000 worth of stones from Price, but it’s not clear from public records if there were additional transactions.
For now, the majority of the ancient artifacts continue to gather dust. In the receiver’s last report, he wrote Kay Coughlin has the keys to three storage units. She’s making monthly payments on them while working with an auction house to establish provenance of the two paintings.
The paintings, the receiver wrote, have been insured “in an amount in excess of the debt due to the Coughlins.”
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/long-winding-santa-fe-rent-case-led-to-couple-losing-control-of-art-collection-worth/article_c36b9906-03b6-11ee-a424-877ee1ab286f.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:00
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/long-winding-santa-fe-rent-case-led-to-couple-losing-control-of-art-collection-worth/article_c36b9906-03b6-11ee-a424-877ee1ab286f.html
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Are your Christmas displays brighter than the rest? Now's your chance to be a contestant on ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight!"
ABC is casting season 12 of the reality competition show, searching for America's biggest and brightest holiday displays on residential and commercial properties.
"The Great Christmas Light Fight," hosted by celebrity judges Taniya Nayak and Carter Oosterhouse, features families and neighborhoods from across the U.S. as they transform their homes into a festive wonderland for the holidays.
In each episode, four families compete for the $50,000 prize and coveted "Light Fight" trophy. A total of $300,000 is given away each season.
"Light Fight" hopefuls can apply or nominate displays in their neighborhood at Lightfightcasting.com.
Season 11 of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" will return to ABC this winter. Meanwhile, the hunt continues for more shimmering displays to compete in Season 12.
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https://6abc.com/great-christmas-light-fight-casting-call-season-12-when-do-they-film/13578070/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:00
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https://6abc.com/great-christmas-light-fight-casting-call-season-12-when-do-they-film/13578070/
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To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Nancy J. Anderson please visit our Sympathy Store.
Nancy J. Anderson
Nancy Anderson (1941-2023) of Monroe and formerly of Mineral Point passed away on Saturday, July 29, 2023. She worked for many years in healthcare. She and her late husband Art owned and operated the Kozy Rest Motel in Montello WI for Ten years. Nancy leaves behind her sons Vincent (Laura) Duecker of Monroe, Jeff (Betty) Duecker of Florida and Chris (Laurie) Duecker of North Carolina, seven grandchildren, three great grandchildren, cousin Richard, many nieces and one nephew. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Arthur, son Greg Duecker, brothers John & Hank, sister Ursula, sister-in-law Marge, cousin Barb and niece Dianna. Private graveside services to be held at a later date. Memorial cards can be sent to the Nancy Anderson Family % Vince Duecker at W4474 Middle Juda Rd, Monroe, WI 53566 or to the Gorgen Funeral Home at 310 Ridge St. Mineral Point, WI 53565.
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https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/nancy-j-anderson/article_a4c0168e-2fe0-11ee-bf7a-af6e9221792b.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:03
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https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/nancy-j-anderson/article_a4c0168e-2fe0-11ee-bf7a-af6e9221792b.html
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Alyssia Lovato has been riding the city buses in Santa Fe on and off for several years now, but since taking in her two young nephews recently, she said it has become a necessity.
“They always ask to ride the bus now,” she said, adding they love going to places like the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.
But taking the bus is also necessary for Lovato to get to work each day since the battery in her car started having problems.
While the coronavirus pandemic and a shortage of bus drivers have led to reduced service for Santa Fe Trails, riders like Lovato who depend on the buses are hoping for a return to normal soon.
Lovato takes Route 6 to her job at La Fonda. The route is one of several that currently offers only on-demand service, meaning riders must call in to request a ride.
The longest she has waited for on-demand bus service has been about an hour, she said, as opposed to the regular service, which came every half-hour.
Of the 10 bus routes in the city, five were reduced from regular stops to on-demand service in 2021 because of the driver shortage.
The vacancy rate in the city’s transit division has remains among the highest in city government, along with other areas that have struggled to recruit like the Finance Department and Parks and Recreation. The vacancy rate for drivers in the division was just over 50% in recent weeks.
Currently, the division is down 31 drivers for fixed routes, out of a desired 56, and down seven drivers out of 18 for the wheelchair-accessible vans that pick up riders as part of the Santa Fe Ride program.
City officials point to ongoing recruitment efforts to hire drivers, such as a citywide 3% pay raises for all employees who make less than $100,000 per year.
Many of the city’s bus drivers, however, belong to the city employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3999, which remains in contract negotiations with the city and has not approved the raise for members. While nonunion employees in the city began to get 3% raises beginning July 1, unionized employees will not receive the raises unless the union votes to approve them.
Transit Division Director Thomas Martinez said his staff would be recruiting drivers at two upcoming events in Santa Fe and would soon be hosting a “rapid-hire” event, which the department has held in years past along with other city departments looking to recruit.
The ongoing shortage of drivers also means longer hours for the current drivers.
Johhny Doubleday has worked as a driver for Santa Fe Trails for almost four years. He said the extra work — 20 hours of overtime per week typically — is taking its toll.
“At times I appreciate the overtime because it got me a place to rent, but it kind of burns you out when you’re working that many hours,” he said.
Bus drivers for Santa Fe Trails currently earn between $17 to $20 per hour.
Doubleday said while he has seen new drivers coming on in recent months, they have also lost some to retirement. He believes a pay increase could help to entice new recruits, but he said housing costs in Santa Fe make things harder.
“We really need some people,” he said. “We’re like a family there. ... You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do.”
A “multimodal transition plan” adopted by city councilors in 2022 calls for expanding bus service to Santa Fe Regional Airport as well as expanding residential developments Tierra Contenta and Las Soleras. The planning document also recommends extended hours Saturdays and the implementation of flexible “microtransit” services in some parts of the city.
Driver Edward Montoya — who has worked in transit in Santa Fe for 17 years — said he believes the expansions are “absolutely” possible but only if the division can hire more drivers.
“We’re only serving a small part of the city,” he said. “We could be doing a lot more if we had the personnel.”
While he is driving his routes, Montoya said, he is “always recruiting,” asking riders to apply to become bus drivers if they have valid licenses and can pass a background check.
Montoya said many of his fellow drivers have grown frustrated with the union, as they watch their nonunion coworkers receive raises that started July 1. Several have been talking about jumping ship, he said.
Montoya said he currently works 45 hours per week but most of his fellow drivers work more than 50 hours per week, with schedules that run from early morning to past dinnertime.
Drivers working the on-demand routes work hard to deliver the service, too, he said, “zipping around town” to get residents to work in the morning where the services are not currently offered on a fixed route.
“Our guys are top notch,” he said. “We try our best to keep the wheels rolling.”
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-bus-services-not-up-to-full-speed-despite-big-recruiting-push/article_72328f90-19b4-11ee-a90b-676aaf16102b.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:06
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-bus-services-not-up-to-full-speed-despite-big-recruiting-push/article_72328f90-19b4-11ee-a90b-676aaf16102b.html
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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia therapist is taking to the road for a mental health mission.
Sarah Andrew's new mobile therapy unit is going into underserved communities, and she is hoping to fight stigma and violence with conversations.
It was an idea three years ago, turned into a reality.
Andrews, a licensed therapist, is taking her new mobile therapy unit to the people who need it most: in under-resourced Black and Brown communities.
The North Philadelphia native's first stop was a health and wellness fair with Dr. Ala Stanford this month.
Equipped with couches, art and powered by solar panels, Andrews cut the ribbon on the new set of wheels in July.
When she isn't seeing patients, Andrews is working with her nonprofit Dare 2 Hope, aimed at educating people about mental wellness. Her mission began after her friend died by suicide.
"My goal is to normalize mental health, the conversations, normalize talking about our issues," she said.
Especially as neighborhood beefs, followed by trauma from what's playing out on Philadelphia's blocks coincide with the deadly shootings gripping the city.
"When I think about gun violence, we're dealing with so much stuff on the inside, we don't know what to do with it, so a lot of it plays out as anger. A lot of times it plays out as 'I can't resolve conflict,'" she said.
"So this will be a tool, I hope, to help curb the gun violence. If we allow people to process their emotions, to process PTSD, we might be better off as a city."
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https://6abc.com/philadelphia-mobile-therapy-unit-sarah-andrews-mental-health-resources-dare-2-hope/13578535/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:06
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https://6abc.com/philadelphia-mobile-therapy-unit-sarah-andrews-mental-health-resources-dare-2-hope/13578535/
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ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) – Starting Tuesday, expect increased police patrols to prevent stop-arm violations, speeding and other forms of reckless driving around school buses and in school zones, according to the Allen County Sheriff’s Department.
Overtime for the increased patrols is being funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
This past April, thousands of bus drivers across the state participated in a one-day survey where they counted every stop-arm violation they observed, whether that ensued in a police stoppage or not.
They counted 2,091 total violations. When multiplied by the number of school days, that would add up to a potential 376,380 violations during the school year, according to a media release from the sheriff’s department.
“Passing a stopped school bus is against the law and could have fatal consequences,” said Sgt. Adam Griffith of the Allen County Sheriff’s Department. “We need every driver to pay attention, because children’s lives are on the line.”
Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A Infraction in Indiana, meaning violators could pay a fine of up to $10,000, have their license suspended for up to 90 days for the first offense or up to one year for a second offense, the sheriff’s media release said.
If a person disregarding a school bus stop arm causes bodily injury to a person, the offense becomes a Level 6 felony, meaning a violator could spend anywhere from six months to 2 1/2 years in prison.
If someone is killed, the offense becomes a Level 5 felony, which carries a sentence between one and six years in prison.
“It is disheartening that we still have people who are willing to put the lives of students and bus drivers at risk,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director, in the sheriff’s media release. “Law enforcement cannot be everywhere, so it is up to drivers to do the right thing and exercise caution around school buses. Students’ lives depend on it.”
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https://www.wane.com/top-stories/police-school-bus-stop-arm-enforcement-to-increase/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:09
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https://www.wane.com/top-stories/police-school-bus-stop-arm-enforcement-to-increase/
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NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with actor Richard E. Grant about his memoir Pocketful of Happiness and how he has dealt with the grief of losing his wife to cancer after 38 years together.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with actor Richard E. Grant about his memoir Pocketful of Happiness and how he has dealt with the grief of losing his wife to cancer after 38 years together.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/after-losing-his-wife-richard-e-grant-has-found-a-daily-pocketful-of-happiness
| 2023-07-31T21:51:09
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/after-losing-his-wife-richard-e-grant-has-found-a-daily-pocketful-of-happiness
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https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/patricia-pat-a-boehmer/article_54db6d0c-2fe1-11ee-9926-f774a5e5d86f.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:09
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https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/patricia-pat-a-boehmer/article_54db6d0c-2fe1-11ee-9926-f774a5e5d86f.html
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On the loudest, most maddening nights, Patrick Grace knows he will have no peace.
Grace, 79, discounts any possibility of sleep. He walks the few blocks from his home to Cerrillos Road and St. Francis Drive, a prime location to collect evidence of lawbreakers stealing his town’s tranquility.
He pulls out his cellphone and records speeding drivers in cars whose revved-up mufflers are designed to damage eardrums. Grace last week sent his recordings to three city councilors.
He says his frustration has boiled over because a small percentage of motorists break noise laws with impunity.
“This is how people go crazy. I can’t relax at night in my own home,” Grace said.
He admits fantasizing about taking a BB-gun to the busy intersection and firing at thundering cars.
That’s a bad idea. Grace knows it, but he says noise pollution has damaged his health and his outlook.
“I’m angry. I have stress, and I have hate,” Grace said.
Many more residents have called or written me about obnoxious noise caused by equally obnoxious drivers. Like Grace, they say laws are on the books to silence scofflaws but they aren’t being enforced.
I decided to check. In the first week of June, I made a public records request for all citations Santa Fe police officers issued to motorists for violating noise laws in the first five months of the year.
After seven weeks, I haven’t received a single record. On two occasions, the city records custodian sent me a standardized statement: “Your request is excessively burdensome or broad and we need additional time to respond.”
Thanksgiving might arrive before any records are turned over. So I made an end run around the bureaucracy in hopes of shaking loose at least some data.
I asked Police Chief Paul Joye for any records or statistics he had regarding drivers causing excessive noise.
Joye called me back within a day. The chief at his fingertips had an overview to share.
From the beginning of this year through July 27, police officers issued 77 citations for excessive vehicle noise. Twenty-nine of those tickets were handed out during the start of summer, between June 23 and July 27.
The number of citations in seven months exceeded the total of the last two years combined. Police in 2022 issued 35 tickets for vehicle noise. They handed out 32 in 2021.
Those numbers seem paltry compared to the nightly disruptions.
“There are people who think we’re not taking this seriously, which is not true,” Joye said.
In his view, the statistics reflect the reality of police work rather than lax enforcement.
The chief points to a surge this year in total calls for police services as one reason his officers might not be available to enforce traffic offenses, including noise, speeding and drivers running red lights and stop signs.
Joye said Santa Fe police handled 47,813 calls for service from the beginning of the year through July 27. That was an increase of 6,800 compared to the same period of 2022.
The upside for Joye was staffing improved this year. His department is budgeted for
169 sworn officers. Twenty-two jobs are unfilled. Thirty-eight were vacant last year.
Staffing levels on certain days allow police officers to be deployed for traffic enforcement. Joye said that system is tenuous, as calls with higher priority can redirect officers at a moment’s notice.
Joye believes his department could use technology to get roaring vehicles off the road. Noise cameras are being deployed in New York City; Knoxville, Tenn.; and other communities.
The devices combine a camera with a meter measuring sound. The camera zooms in to photograph the license plate of vehicles that exceed the allowable noise level.
Joye has had “very introductory conversations” with Mayor Alan Webber and City Manager John Blair about additional spending for noise cameras.
City Councilor Carol Romero-Wirth and her husband, state Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, this year briefly pursued a more sweeping plan.
The Wirths proposed state legislation to enable noise inspections of vehicles. Their bill would have enabled local governments in Santa Fe and four other populous counties to require drivers to pay for a noise inspection in order to register their vehicles.
Most drivers operate quiet cars. Requiring the masses to incur another expense because of a few lawbreakers riled Grace.
“I don’t want [the] middle-income and poor stuck with another fee,” he said.
There was another deficiency with the Wirths’ pitch.
Santa Fe’s city government fails to complete audits on time. The city has yet to remove the drab brown box that sits on the Plaza, where the 152-year-old Soldiers’ Monument stood until a mob destroyed it in October 2020.
With basic services lacking, no one should trust the city to oversee an inspection program of vehicles.
Sen. Wirth got his bill through two legislative committees. But he let it die without receiving a vote of the full Senate. That was a solid indication the measure would have been defeated.
At City Hall, the mayor and councilors this year quadrupled the fine for drivers who violate the noise ordinance once. The penalty rose to $100. It escalates further for repeat offenders.
Every roaring vehicle makes noise cameras look like a smart investment. They aren’t diverted for other duty, and they don’t charge for overtime.
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/sound-and-fury-noisy-scofflaws-enrage-senior-citizen/article_f0f279c4-2af0-11ee-aaa4-cbc707b5beca.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:12
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/sound-and-fury-noisy-scofflaws-enrage-senior-citizen/article_f0f279c4-2af0-11ee-aaa4-cbc707b5beca.html
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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with author C.K. Chau about her new book, Good Fortune — a Pride and Prejudice retelling with some delicious twists set in Chinatown in New York City during the early 2000s.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with author C.K. Chau about her new book, Good Fortune — a Pride and Prejudice retelling with some delicious twists set in Chinatown in New York City during the early 2000s.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/c-k-chaus-take-on-pride-and-prejudice-takes-readers-to-2000s-new-york-chinatown
| 2023-07-31T21:51:15
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/c-k-chaus-take-on-pride-and-prejudice-takes-readers-to-2000s-new-york-chinatown
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It is with extreme sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Trina Stammen (Rogers). She was a bright spark in the world and will be deeply missed by many. Trina’s family was unprepared for this heartbreaking loss, and she has touched the lives of so many.
Trina was born to Patrick Rogers and Jeanette Domke (Rogers, Jackson) in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, on Sept. 2, 1961. We know that Trina is enveloped by the love of her parents, Jeanette Jackson and Patrick Rogers, who passed before her. She is survived by her daughters (Cheryl Rogers, Melinda Mootz, and Rebecca Walker), her grandchildren, great grandchildren, her siblings; Tammy Therkelsen (Rogers), Jesse Rogers, Lisa Schaefer (Rogers), James Rogers, Trudy Demith (Rogers), her fiancé Scott Westburg, as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins who loved her dearly.
Trina met Michael Stammen during her high school years and eventually welcomed two daughters; Cheryl Rogers (1980) and Melinda Mootz Stammen(1982), before marrying in 1985 and then being blessed with a third daughter, Rebecca Walker Stammen (1985). Cheryl has 3 children: Tristin, Tye, and Trianna Schwersenska, and 6 grandchildren (Athena, Peyton, Waylon, Duke, Cameron, and Huxley). Melinda has 4 maternal children (Destiny, Earl, and Abel Cavanaugh, and Swae Mootz), and has 2 grandchildren (Jackson and Jasper). Rebecca has one child (Aiden Walker-Cochems).
In the year of 1997, Trina met the love of her life, Scott Westburg “Wes”, and had a special, yet wild romance that will last through the ends of time, which led to their engagement. Scott’s family loved her deeply, as well as their many friends.
Trina loved spending time with her family and friends, cooking (which included her homemade barbecues and dumplings) and grilling, being at the beach, jamming out and dancing to her rock-n-roll music, motorcycles, and fishing. Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving because it always brought everyone together at that one time of year. You could always go to her for an ear to listen, or a shoulder to cry on. She had a heart of gold, a free spirit, and a “you do you” attitude.
Trina's Celebration of Life will be held Aug. 26th from 11am-5pm at Adam's County Castle Rock Park (2397 Cty. Rd. Z, Friendship, wi. 53934). Rain or Shine. Indoor seating available. Food provided by her daughters. BYOB and/or refreshments. While not expected, if you are interested in bringing food, please reach out to one of her siblings or her daughter, Cheryl, so we can keep track of what is being served.
COPYRIGHT 2023 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
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https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/trina-l-stammen/article_f3eedf78-2fe1-11ee-b92b-5f316c3bddf6.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:15
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https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/trina-l-stammen/article_f3eedf78-2fe1-11ee-b92b-5f316c3bddf6.html
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Keep Santa Fe Beautiful backing off on caboose logo idea, July 27
"It looks good just as it is. If the red paint needs refreshing, OK. But, otherwise, no changes or additions or deletions needed — including fonts." Bob Novak
"I love the caboose. Thank you, Rick Martinez, for planning ahead and [obtaining] the caboose for the Railyard area." Alasdair Lindsay
"Regarding the little caboose, at St. Francis and Cerrillos, please do not get rid of the Zia symbol. Please leave the font and the colors as they are. This modest sign, as it is today, is now a part of our visual history, and 'refreshing' it with some of the ideas the Keep Santa Fe Beautiful board chairman, [Chris] McLarry, has mentioned ... sound as if he were leading a wrong-headed fight, and a very unnecessary one, too. Sometimes leaving well enough alone is beautiful. (And at this point, with all the public attention, leaving the design alone will prove to be positive advertising for Keep Santa Fe Beautiful.)" Elizabeth West
"Come on! Some slogans would be good. Perhaps even one of those electronic signs with changing slogans. 'Santa Fe: Stop, Spend, Go Away,' or, 'You probably can't afford to live here — and we like it that way,' or maybe, 'This is the caboose. The train left the station a long time ago.' " Walter Howerton
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/evoices/e-voices-july-31-2023/article_c3499cae-2d99-11ee-bd77-1789b8fbb1ff.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:18
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/evoices/e-voices-july-31-2023/article_c3499cae-2d99-11ee-bd77-1789b8fbb1ff.html
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EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The City of El Paso and a human-rights nonprofit have announced events to honor the victims of the racially motivated Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting and their families.
Mayor Oscar Leeser, Mexican Consul General Mauricio Ibarra Ponce de Leon and other dignitaries will participate in a bell-tolling ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Crime Victims Memorial Park, 610 San Paulo Drive. The bell will ring for each of the 23 fatal victims of a gunman who drove 10 hours from North Texas to “kill Mexicans” almost four years ago.
Twenty-two other people were wounded in the attack. Most of the victims were American citizens. A federal judge earlier this month sentenced the gunman to 90 consecutive terms of life in prison for hate crimes in connection to the massacre.
Members of the El Paso City Council and the El Paso County Commissioners’ Court are scheduled to join a coalition of civil rights organizations in a procession with crosses from Ponder Park, 7500 Burges Drive, to the Walmart near Cielo Vista Mall, the site of the massacre.
The El Paso Firme events begin at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday.
“As we approach the fourth anniversary of this horrific, white supremacist attack, we hope to offer a space of community healing and resistance,” said Fernando Garcia, executive director of Border Network for Human Rights, the event organizer. “We cannot forget that this massacre occurred as a result of weak gun-control laws and the spread of hateful, white supremacist and xenophobic rhetoric toward immigrants of color and minorities.”
County officials will lead the Day of Resilience Ceremony, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the El Paso Healing Garden at Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta Drive. It begins with a meditation, yoga and sound bath session, a performance by ProMusica at 7 p.m., and the 8 p.m. name-reading and light beam ceremony.
County Commissioners Court on Monday approved a resolution declaring next Thursday as “El Paso Day of Remembrance.” County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said it’s important to remember and honor the victims every year and that the Healing Garden stands as a “beacon of hope” for the community.
“More than just a memorial, the Healing Garden is a testament to an undying spirit of unity and resiliency that arises in the face of tragedy,” Samaniego said as he read from the resolution.
Other events, some of them ongoing, include:
- Unite with Light, in which some city landmarks, bridges and buildings will be illuminated at night with orange light in remembrance of the victims. The lights are on through August 5.
- Art displays in honor of crime victims at Judge Marquez Library, 610 N. Yarbrough Drive (August 3), El Paso Museum of Art, 1 Arts Festival Plaza (Aug. 3-Aug. 31), and the Armijo Branch Library, 620 E. 7th Ave. (Aug. 3).
- Live Active El Paso and United Way of El Paso County are having meditation and sound bath sessions nightly at various locales through August 2.
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https://www.cenlanow.com/border-report-tour/we-cannot-forget-victims-of-mass-shooting-remembered/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:18
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https://www.cenlanow.com/border-report-tour/we-cannot-forget-victims-of-mass-shooting-remembered/
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to security and counter-terrorism Asfandyar Mir about how instability in the Taliban's Afghanistan has spilled into Pakistan, after a suicide bombing that killed dozens.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to security and counter-terrorism Asfandyar Mir about how instability in the Taliban's Afghanistan has spilled into Pakistan, after a suicide bombing that killed dozens.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/how-a-suicide-bombing-in-pakistan-shows-spillover-effect-from-talibans-afghanistan
| 2023-07-31T21:51:21
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/how-a-suicide-bombing-in-pakistan-shows-spillover-effect-from-talibans-afghanistan
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WHAT WE'RE TRACKING: As humidity levels rise later this week, there will be a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday night and Saturday, and a slight chance lingering into Sunday. Temperatures will be seasonably warm for the most part, although very warm weather is expected from Wednesday through Friday of this week. Humidity levels will be a little higher on those days, with afternoon heat index readings in the upper 80s to the middle 90s possible.
PLANNING THE NEXT 24 HOURS: Tonight will be mostly clear and comfortable. Temperatures will fall to the upper 60s by late evening; overnight low temperatures will fall to around 60 degrees by morning. On Tuesday, skies will become partly sunny, and it will be warm. Temperatures will climb to the upper 70s by noon; afternoon high temperatures will be in the lower 80s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: It will be very warm and a little more humid from Wednesday through Saturday There will be a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evening. Heat index readings could reach the lower to the middle 90s in the afternoon. There is a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm Friday afternoon, with a little better chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday night and Saturday, with a slight chance lingering into Sunday. The humidity will move out for next week and temperatures should return to seasonably warm levels for next week as well. There will be a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday night and Thursday of next week..
TONIGHT: Mostly clear and comfortable. Low: 60 Wind: Light and Variable
TUESDAY: Becoming partly sunny and warm. High: 83 Wind: SE 5-10 MPH
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny, very warm, and becoming more humid with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. High: 86; Heat Index: 87 to 92 Wind: S 8-15 MPH
THURSDAY: Partly sunny, very warm, and humid with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Low: 65 High: 87; Heat Index: 89 to 94
FRIDAY: Partly sunny, very warm, and humid with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon (a chance of showers and thunderstorms at night). Low: 65 High: 86; Heat Index: 88 to 93
SATURDAY: Partly sunny, warm, and humid with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low: 64 High: 82
SUNDAY: Partly sunny and warm with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low: 62 High: 82
MONDAY: Partly sunny and warm with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low: 60 High: 80
TUESDAY: Partly sunny and warm. Low: 60 High: 80
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny and warm (becoming partly cloudy with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm at night). Low: 58 High: 82
THURSDAY: Partly sunny and warm with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Low: 61 High: 81
COPYRIGHT 2023 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
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https://www.channel3000.com/weather/forecast/humidity-climbs-some-rain-chances-ahead---gary/article_a1211afa-86c8-5443-b891-835dd6b621fd.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:21
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https://www.channel3000.com/weather/forecast/humidity-climbs-some-rain-chances-ahead---gary/article_a1211afa-86c8-5443-b891-835dd6b621fd.html
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LABADIEVILLE, La. (BRPROUD) – Korey Jacobi Davis, 23, of Thibodaux was arrested in connection with a shooting that left multiple people injured on Sunday, June 11.
The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about shots fired at a Labadieville business on that date.
During the investigation, deputies learned that a fight between Davis and another person led to the shooting. Davis was accused of firing his weapon into a crowd. Seven people were hurt as a result of this shooting. APSO said all of their injuries were considered non-life threatening. The shooting victims did receive treatment for their injuries.
Davis was arrested on Friday, July 28. The Thibodaux man was charged with these crimes:
- 7 counts of attempted first degree murder
- illegal carrying of weapons
- possession of a firearm on premises of an alcoholic beverage outlet
- illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities
Davis is being held without bond in the Assumption Parish Detention Center.
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https://www.cenlanow.com/crime/louisiana-man-facing-7-counts-of-attempted-first-degree-murder/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:24
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https://www.cenlanow.com/crime/louisiana-man-facing-7-counts-of-attempted-first-degree-murder/
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I’m for expanding and continuing the Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act. I’m all for a Flagstaff, Ariz., office of the Environmental Protection Agency to oversee uranium cleanup on the Navajo lands. We need to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells. I’m glad we have such compensation acts as the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act and the Super Fund or Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. We need these and more, but the taxpayers pay for damage done by industry that lied to them and walked away with huge profits while the people’s water, land, air and bodies were contaminated. I worked at the Church Rock, N.M., yellow cake mill in 1979, the site of the devastating tailings dam break. I was able to leave that behind, while others can’t and should not be expected to.
Industry should not be allowed to continually lie to us and walk away.
Mike Neas
Santa Fe
Not the same
I’m responding to Milan Simonich’s column: (“Pols in Alabama, New Mexico bonded by gerrymandering,” Ringside Seat, July 24). The best description for his column attacking New Mexico’s new congressional map — bizarrely wrong. According to Simonich, “The politics of redistricting in New Mexico are no better than Alabama’s.” That’s a bizarre claim, given that New Mexico’s new map made all three congressional districts more competitive. Alabama’s did the opposite. Moreover, New Mexico’s map was created with significant community input.
Simonich reminds us of Alabama’s reprehensible history — a racist record of repressing Black political participation. Fast forward. Little has changed. Alabama’s map was so bad the U.S. Supreme Court — yes, the most conservative SCOTUS in almost 100 years — ruled it violated the Voting Rights Act. Contrast that with New Mexico’s map, which strengthened the voting power of Hispanics, while responding to the needs of our tribal communities. Bad analogies are the product of the “both sides do it” frame. This one was horribly bad.
Oriana Sandoval
CEO, Center for Civic Policy
Albuquerque
Death by the Second
Our well-regulated militia is responsible for approximately 167,000 deaths (not including 2022’s suicide by gun total) since 2019. This militia, designed to keep the armed forces and the federal government under control if they should get uppity, has so far only managed to shoot each other and innocent people. Like the Republican Party that shoots itself in the foot daily, gun owners, mostly insecure men living in a Rambo fantasy world, go about using their weapon as if they are doing something noble, like avenging school kids who have wronged them, or killing that guy who cut them off at an intersection. These “noble” deaths are some how justifiable to our senators and congressmen of both parties because of their fear of the National Rifle Association. Though it is true many Democrats are throwing caution to the wind and bravely promoting gun control legislation, others are cowering under their desks with their fellow Republicans and allowing death by Second Amendment to continue right under their very privileged noses.
Sandy Woolworth
Santa Fe
Hard to prosecute
Regarding Don Clark’s July 25 letter (“Charge the fakes,”) asking why the New Mexico Republicans’ fake electors were not being prosecuted like those in Michigan, the likely answer is that of the seven state GOPs that tried this scheme, only two — New Mexico and Pennsylvania — had the, um, “good sense” to specify that the fake slate was meant to apply only if the real electors were ruled bogus for some reason. This would probably make the New Mexico case much harder to prosecute.
John P. King
Santa Fe
No to the hunt
Regarding (“Let experts decide,” Letters to the Editor, July 24): I do not agree with the decision to allow hunting bears and mountain lions. Are they going to be eaten? I’ve never seen either on a restaurant menu, while I have seen elk and venison. What if this were an animal with cubs or kittens? Please leave these beautiful animals to live their lives out in peace.
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/make-industry-pay-for-damage-done/article_bd0d0010-2c9f-11ee-b8ae-2bf564e7c61e.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:24
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/make-industry-pay-for-damage-done/article_bd0d0010-2c9f-11ee-b8ae-2bf564e7c61e.html
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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with trucker Alex Mai, who runs a YouTube Channel about trucking news, about how 30,000 workers are losing their jobs as the shipping company Yellow has shut down operations.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with trucker Alex Mai, who runs a YouTube Channel about trucking news, about how 30,000 workers are losing their jobs as the shipping company Yellow has shut down operations.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/how-the-shutdown-of-transport-company-yellow-could-have-ripple-effects-for-truckers
| 2023-07-31T21:51:27
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/how-the-shutdown-of-transport-company-yellow-could-have-ripple-effects-for-truckers
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All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD) — On Sunday, July 30, 2023, deputies of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle traveling on White Street with excessive front window tint. Once the traffic stop was initiated, the driver of the vehicle, 28-year-old Ali Charles Moore, allegedly exited the vehicle prior to deputies making contact with him.
According to the affidavit, Moore was advised of the reason for the traffic stop and authorities observed a large amount of marijuana and a Glock handgun in Moore’s vehicle. Moore was placed in handcuffs and deputies searched the vehicle.
During the search of the vehicle, deputies allegedly found over two pounds of marijuana in a black tote bag in the trunk of the vehicle. Authorities also located a digital scale and black plastic bags.
According to deputies, Moore took ownership of the narcotics, the narcotic equipment, and the firearm that was located by authorities. Moore was arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Illegal Carrying a Weapon in the Presence of Narcotics, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and View Outward or Inward Through Windshield or Windows.
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https://www.cenlanow.com/crime/man-arrested-after-ouachita-parish-authorities-find-over-2-pounds-of-narcotics-during-traffic-stop/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:30
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Mahnaz Akbari, former commander of the Afghan military's Female Tactical Platoon, about the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Mahnaz Akbari, former commander of the Afghan military's Female Tactical Platoon, about the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/members-of-an-female-afghan-military-platoon-now-face-uncertain-fate-in-the-u-s
| 2023-07-31T21:51:34
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President Biden overturned a decision from the Trump administration to relocate the temporary headquarters of Space Command to Alabama, deciding instead to keep the base in Colorado.
The decision was made because Biden believes keeping the HQ in Colorado Springs, rather than relocating it to Huntsville, would maintain stability and not impact readiness, according to a senior U.S. official.
The senior administration official said Biden consulted with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other military leaders before deciding to keep the base in Colorado permanently.
Gen. James Dickinson, the head of Space Command, also helped to convince Biden to not relocate the base, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Space Command headquarters is set to achieve “full operational capability” at Colorado Springs later this month, according to the senior administration official.
The official said moving the headquarters to Alabama would force a transition process that does not allow the new base to open until the mid-2030’s.
“The President found that risk unacceptable, especially given the challenges we may face in the space domain during this critical time period,” the official said. “Locating Headquarters U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs ensures peak readiness in the space domain for our nation during a critical period.”
Biden’s reversal is likely to spark the fury of Alabama Republicans who have for months feared the administration would scrap the relocation plan.
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers (R), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has been investigating the delay behind the relocation plan, which was first put in motion when Space Command was resurrected in 2019.
Former President Trump’s decision to temporarily establish a headquarters in Colorado and relocate Space Command to Alabama was criticized as a political choice based upon a more favorable constituency in the Yellowhammer state.
Since coming into office, the Biden administration ordered reviews of the decision, none of which found anything improper in Trump’s decision, though they found the former president could have followed better practices in the process.
The delayed relocation reached new heights over the spring when NBC News reported the Biden administration was considering scrapping the relocation plan because of restrictive abortion laws in Alabama.
Rogers and other Alabama Republicans objected to any such plan, saying Huntsville, also known as Rocket City, was selected based on its merits and in a fair process, while pointing to the reviews that found nothing improper.
The House version of the annual defense bill that passed earlier this month includes provisions that slash funding for the Air Force Secretary until the administration makes a final decision. It’s unclear whether Rogers will be satisfied with a reversal.
Other Alabama politicians, including Gov. Kay Ivey (R), quickly blasted the the decision as political. Alabama overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the 2020 election and has two GOP senators, while Colorado voted for Biden and has two Democratic senators.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said the base Redstone Arsenal in Alabama was the correct location based on its merits, arguing “Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics.”
“The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief,” she said in a statement.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby reiterated during an interview with CNN on Monday that the president’s decision was entirely due to national security considerations, pointing specifically to the rising threat from China.
“This was really a decision based on one thing and one thing only for a president and that was operational readiness,” Kirby said. “He took the inputs of many leaders across the Department of Defense that when it came down to it, he believes that it’s in the best national security interest of the country if we leave Space Command in Colorado.”
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett (D) joined officials from his state in celebrating Biden’s decision.
“Over the past two and half years, we have repeatedly made the case that the Trump administration’s decision to relocate U.S. Space Command was misguided,” the senator wrote on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Today’s decision restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and sends a strong message that national security and the readiness of our Armed Forces drive our military decisions,” he added.
Updated at 5:34 pm ET.
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https://www.cenlanow.com/hill-politics/biden-overturns-trump-decision-to-move-space-command-hq-from-colorado-to-alabama/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:36
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July 31, 1923: The Santa Fe Fiesta for 1923 is getting into the most encouraging shape, President Carl Bishop of the Chamber of Commerce, stated at the Kiwanis club luncheon today when called on for a report by President O.W. Lasater of the Kiwanians. Bishop said, Dr. Hewitt reported, after a tour of Indian pueblos with Lansing Bloom, hed of the Indian section of the Fiesta, that the Indian dances program would undoubtedly be the best and most elaborate ever given, judging by the interest shown .... .
July 31, 1948: Chief of Police Manuel Montoya said today that signs directing one-way northbound traffic on Burro alley and on Grant avenue from Palace avenue to Johnson street will be up by Wednesday. Orders for signs were placed yesterday.
The proposal to close the narrow alley to southbound traffic was approved by the council at Thursday night’s meeting.
July 31, 1973: Voters will go to the polls tomorrow to decide the fate of an area vocational school for Santa Fe and to vote on the mill levy to finance it.
The polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Anyone living in the Santa Fe school district who registered to vote by July 2 is eligible to cast a ballot.
July 31, 1998: Santa Fe Mayor Larry Delgado said Thursday he is working with city officials to put together a quick plan of action for city management of the 50-acre rail-yard property.
The City Council voted 4-to-3 Wednesday night to reject a 40-year least that would have turned the rail yard over to a nonprofit management corporation.
“We chose to go in this direction, now it’s time to get to work,” Delgado said, pointing out that he began holding meetings on the subject first thing Thursday morning.
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/past_100_years/the-past-100-years-july-31-2023/article_288d624e-2d9a-11ee-9c41-ff539534546c.html
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-07-31/unlikely-heroes-are-stepping-up-at-the-womens-world-cup
| 2023-07-31T21:51:40
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The Louisiana Board of Ethics is allegedly investigating Youngsville Police Chief Rickey Boudreaux for his involvement in a November crash involving former council member Kayla Reaux.
Boudreaux was recently interviewed by an investigator with the Louisiana Board of Ethics, according to his attorney, Pat Magee.
"Rickey did have a meeting with an investigator from the board of ethics late last week," Magee said Monday. "And we feel certain the board will clear him of any ethical misconduct based on these malicious allegations."
A board investigator also recently interviewed two of the Youngsville officers who responded to the Nov. 12 wreck in Sugar Mill Pond, according to their attorney, Allyson Melancon.
Youngsville officer Bailee Romero and former officer Justin Ortis spoke with an investigator July 24, Melancon said. A third officer who responded to the crash, Tim Mikhael, is expected to speak with an investigator later this week.
Carolyn Abadie Landry, the board's executive secretary, said she could neither confirm nor deny the existence of a complaint or investigation concerning Boudreaux. The only way the private investigation could become public is if the subject of the investigation sent a written request to make the findings public, Landry said.
Ortis was fired by the police chief less than three weeks after the publication of an Acadiana Advocate story concerning the handling of the wreck. An appeal hearing is scheduled Aug. 10 before the Youngsville Municipal Police Civil Service Board.
Boudreaux allegedly wrote a threatening text message to Mikhael over the weekend, according to a letter Melancon sent to Magee.
"Watch what is coming," Boudreaux allegedly wrote at 12:06 a.m. Saturday to Mikhael. "Now I have a few phone calls to make. It's my turn to make those that turned on me pay for what they have done. You just might be number 1 on the list. Be proud that you have become one of them. But remember I still make the decisions. Enjoy your little time trashing me. I don't get even I always get ahead."
Boudreaux has faced increasing pressure from the public, the mayor and the city council since The Advocate's March 26 story about how a former council member may have received special treatment from the police chief after a wreck in Sugar Mill Pond. Reaux did not cooperate with responding officers after she crashed into a parked vehicle late one November night. Instead, Reaux called the police chief, who quickly arrived at the scene; she left in his vehicle without receiving a sobriety test or citation.
Public outcry over how the crash was handled resulted in Reaux's March 30 resignation from her elected position and the Youngsville City Council's decision to investigate Boudreaux and his police department.
Since then, Boudreaux has sued the City Council over its plans to investigate him, and the City Council ordered an audit into Boudreaux that found he collected more than $24,000 in taxpayer dollars for unauthorized personal vehicle expenses on top of the approved $1,000 monthly allowance he receives for such expenses. The council has since eliminated the monthly allowance from the chief's budget.
Fifteenth Judicial District Court Judge Kristian Earles has not yet issued a ruling in Boudreaux's lawsuit, which alleges that two of the city council's resolutions violate the Lawrason Municipal Corporations Act that limits the authority of the mayor and council over an elected police chief.
Last week, a formal complaint was filed with the city's civil service board that alleges Boudreaux engaged in ticket fixing, extortion, retaliatory conduct, concealment of records, election rigging and improper complaint handling.
The police chief is also allegedly the subject of a criminal investigation by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office after methamphetamine was discovered earlier this month near his office at the Police Department.
Boudreaux was scheduled for a medical procedure on Friday to stretch open a blocked artery, but the angioplasty was rescheduled for Monday, Magee said.
"His blood pressure was extremely elevated and they were unable to go forward with the procedure on Friday," Magee said. "He was given medications and told to return (Monday) morning in order to assess what is going on and move forward."
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https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/louisiana-board-of-ethics-allegedly-investigating-rickey-boudreaux-over-kayla-reaux-wreck/article_3484dcde-2fc6-11ee-b009-ff0677669587.html
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Country singer Craig Morgan reenlists in military while on Grand Ole Opry stage
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Gray News) – Country singer Craig Morgan reenlisted in the military Saturday night while on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in hopes of encouraging others to enlist.
According to a news release, Morgan was sworn into the U.S. Army Reserve on stage by U.S. Army Forces Command Gen. Andrew Poppas.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn joined them on stage.
After the ceremony, Morgan returned to the microphone to perform his song “Soldier.”
Morgan previously served in the Army for 17 years, with certifications including Airborne, Air Assault and Rappel Master.
“I’m excited to once again serve my country and be all I can be in hopes of encouraging others to be a part of something greater than ourselves,” Morgan said in a news release. “I love being an artist, but I consider it a true privilege and honor to work with what I believe are the greatest of Americans, my fellow soldiers. God Bless America. Go Army.”
Morgan plans to continue touring and releasing new music while serving in the Army Reserve.
The 59-year-old singer is known to frequently perform at military bases both in the U.S. and abroad. In 2006, Morgan was awarded the USO Merit Award for his support.
Morgan began his music career in 2000. He is best known for his No. 1 single “That’s What I Love About Sunday” from 2004.
He was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/country-singer-craig-morgan-reenlists-military-while-grand-ole-opry-stage/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:40
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A Baton Rouge man will become the first hearing-impaired contestant in CBS' "Big Brother" history.
Matt Klotz, 27, a former student and swim team member at LSU, is a native of Cameron Park, California. Klotz is a Deaflympics gold medalist and was part of LSU's 200 Free Relay team that broke the school record at the SEC Championships.
Klotz will join 15 other houseguests on the series' 25th season, which premieres live at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+, where fans can watch the 24/7 live feed and find exclusive content throughout the season.
In the series, the contestants share the "Big Brother" house located on a Hollywood studio lot. Their every move is recorded by video cameras throughout the house. They also compete in a series of weekly challenges, and nominate and vote on a fellow houseguests for eviction each week.
"Big Brother" will again air three weekly episodes. Beginning Sunday, the series will air at 7 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays and 8 p.m. Thursdays, when the live eviction show unfolds.
Julie Chen Moonves is returning as host. The contestants will be competing for $750,000.
Through the years, Louisiana has had a number of contestants on Big Brother, including Krista Stegall from Opelousas and Victor Arroyo from Slidell. In 2012, Tulane student and residence assistant Ian Terry won the season and the $500,000 grand prize.
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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/louisiana-man-will-compete-on-big-brother-this-season/article_51598552-2fd1-11ee-9e18-73f76098608d.html
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High prices ‘disproportionately pinching’ younger Americans, data shows
30% of Gen Z, 28% of millennials have no emergency savings
(InvestigateTV) — More than seven in 10 younger Americans are saving less because of inflation when compared to Gen X and baby boomers, a recent Bankrate.com survey found.
Sarah Foster is a principal writer for Bankrate.com. She said this is a time for younger Americans to be very mindful of how much they are spending and to hyper analyze their budgets.
Foster said the ultimate goal for Gen Z and millennials should be to make sure they are living within their means. She added there are several advantages to being young right now, especially when it comes to retirement contributions.
“Really the best way to gain wealth and beat inflation in the long run is to make sure that you’re holding a diverse portfolio of assets, including stocks,” Foster explained. “And so, we know that even if someone were to stop investing for three years because of inflation and they’re in their mid-twenties, they’d leave almost $200,000 on the table by the time they were 70.”
Foster said don’t stop retirement contributions during inflation. The amount can be reduced, but consistent contributions is key.
She said another reason younger Americans are being hit hard is they are early in their careers and haven’t reached their peak earnings.
Foster advised them to put any raises or extra money in savings or retirement accounts.
Bankrate has 11 tips for young Americans trying to reach financial goals during high inflation, including:
- Look for high-yield savings accounts that offer much better returns that traditional accounts
- Automate savings to build an emergency fund
- Wait 24 hours before any unnecessary purchases
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/high-prices-disproportionately-pinching-younger-americans-data-shows/
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(The Hill) — The Department of Education released a beta website on Monday for the Biden administration’s new income-driven student loan repayment plan, known as the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.
“A beta version of the updated [Income-Driven Repayment (IDR)] application is now available and includes the option to enroll in the new SAVE Plan – the most affordable repayment plan yet,” the department said on the site.
Previously, the administration had numerous IDR options for borrowers, which advocates have said led to a confusing system for borrowers.
The new SAVE plan will replace the Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment (REPAYE) plan, one of the most widely used out of the four IDR options available to borrowers. The other three IDR plans will be phased out by the department or limited in the future.
The SAVE plan will make three significant changes this year compared to the REPAYE option. The first raises the income exemption from 150 percent above the poverty line to 225 percent, meaning a single person earning less than $32,800 would have $0 monthly payments under the plan.
The plan also won’t allow unpaid interest to grow if a person is making their monthly student loan payments. Lastly, spousal income for borrowers who are married and file separately will not be included.
The website – first reported by CNN — shows a demo of the application process, where some information such as tax returns can be automatically inserted due to information the government has on file for a borrower.
“We will be able to show borrowers their exact monthly payment amount and give them the ability to choose the most affordable repayment plan for them,” one official told CNN.
Officials told the network the full website launch will happen in August after the department has time to assess the site’s performance during the beta launch. Those who apply for SAVE during the beta period will not have to reapply after the full launch.
Those on the previous REPAYE IDR plan will be automatically enrolled in the new plan and do not need to use the launched application.
The Hill has reached out to the Department of Education for comment on the beta launch.
Other aspects of the SAVE program will be implemented next year such as payments getting reduced from 10 percent to 5 percent of income above 225 percent of the poverty line for undergraduate loans.
The SAVE plan, touted as the most generous IDR plan by the administration, is expected to cost between $150 billion to $350 billion a year, according to varying estimates.
The launch of the SAVE plan comes two months before borrowers end their three-year-long pause on student loan payments and begin President Joe Biden’s “on-ramp” repayment system.
Under the system, interest will still accrue, but borrowers will not be penalized in other ways such as credit score ratings for not paying their student loan payments up until Sept. 2024.
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https://www.cenlanow.com/hill-politics/new-income-driven-student-loan-repayment-plan-available-to-borrowers/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:42
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The news isn’t all bad for the Santa Fe Fuego. The team’s sprint to the Pecos League regular season finish line was a positive one for one player. Entering Sunday’s finale against Blackwell, Fuego centerfielder Parker DePasquale had a night worthy of a video game junkie.
He launched five home runs (a league record) and finished his night 5-for-7 with 11 runs batted in.
Santa Fe scored 21 of its 34 runs (yes, 34) in the first inning. And that’s where it gets really wild for DePasquale. He went 3-for-3 in the frame, all home runs. The first was a solo shot to lead things off, the second a two-run blast and the third a three-run dinger.
A mid-season pickup, he had 11 home runs entering Sunday’s finale and was just two shy of the team’s career standard set by Chevas Numata.
As a team, the Fuego had won eight of 13 games following a disastrous 15-game losing streak that ran from June 25 to July 14. Strip that skid out of there and they’d have been hovering at the .500 mark for the season.
Oh, yeah, Saturday’s 34-5 win over Blackwell at Fort Marcy Ballpark featured a 21-run first inning that had 17 hits, five walks and five homers. It was the largest single inning in team history.
Now the bad news: Statistically speaking it wasn’t the worst season in Santa Fe history — but it was close.
The Fuego finished with the fewest wins in team history and once again finished well outside the playoff picture. Before Sunday’s game, Santa Fe was 12 1/2 games behind fourth-place Garden City for the final postseason spot in the Mountain Division.
It extends the Fuego’s playoff-less streak to eight years. Not since the 2015 team lost in the finals has the club given fans something to cheer about when the Pecos League stage is at its biggest.
• • •
The football season begins Monday, but Bryce Melton hasn’t yet quit making a name for himself on the track.
The Santa Fe High junior capped his season in grand style over the weekend at the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics Championships in Eugene, Ore. He placed second in the 100 meters in the 17-18 age group Sunday, running it in a time of 10.77 seconds. Melton finished sixth in Saturday’s 200, which he ran in 21.63 seconds. His time was 0.08 seconds faster than fellow New Mexican Tanner Montano of Albuquerque La Cueva, who was second in the 15-16 age group. Montano also took second in his age group’s 100 (10.81).
Melton wasn’t the only Northern New Mexico athlete at the event. Raina Passalacqua, a freshman at Los Alamos, was ninth in the 13-14 pentathlon, and Academy for Technology and the Classics senior Charli Koseoglu was 13th in the 17-18 javelin.
• • •
ATC has a new girls basketball coach, and he’s a familiar face — albeit in the boys program. Ben Martinez, who was the school’s boys assistant coach for the past three seasons, agreed to become the girls head coach earlier this month.
Martinez was part of a boys squad that reached the Class 2A championship game in its first postseason appearance. He takes on a girls program that has reached the state tournament in two of the past three seasons. Last year, the Phoenix went 20-8 and shared the District 2-2A title with Albuquerque Menaul and Estancia before losing in the opening round of the Class 2A bracket.
Martinez replaces legendary head coach Ron Drake, who resigned after guiding the program to a 65-26 overall record in four seasons.
• • •
If last weekend’s showing is any indication, Lobos fans are in for a treat.
Incoming transfer Mustapha Amzil, a 6-foot-9 forward who played last season at Dayton, scored 18 points and grabbed a dozen rebounds in his first game at the World University Games in China. His effort helped Finland beat Azerbaijan 105-43 in the Saturday opener for both teams. A native of Kotka, Finland, he will be a senior with the Lobos next season.
Amzil had another brilliant game Sunday, an 80-56 win over South Korea. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds with five assists. In two games he has made 15 of the 24 shots he has taken from inside the 3-point line. He’s 2-for-9 beyond the arc.
Finland went 2-0 to finish atop Pool D and earn a spot in the quarterfinals, which starts Wednesday. The tournament runs through Sunday’s championship game.
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https://www.santafenewmexican.com/sports/fuego-centerfielder-depasquale-blasts-league-record-5-homers/article_7f2f31f6-2f2d-11ee-b8f0-d72527772d6e.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:42
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Country singer Craig Morgan reenlists in military while on Grand Ole Opry stage
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Gray News) – Country singer Craig Morgan reenlisted in the military Saturday night while on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in hopes of encouraging others to enlist.
According to a news release, Morgan was sworn into the U.S. Army Reserve on stage by U.S. Army Forces Command Gen. Andrew Poppas.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn joined them on stage.
After the ceremony, Morgan returned to the microphone to perform his song “Soldier.”
Morgan previously served in the Army for 17 years, with certifications including Airborne, Air Assault and Rappel Master.
“I’m excited to once again serve my country and be all I can be in hopes of encouraging others to be a part of something greater than ourselves,” Morgan said in a news release. “I love being an artist, but I consider it a true privilege and honor to work with what I believe are the greatest of Americans, my fellow soldiers. God Bless America. Go Army.”
Morgan plans to continue touring and releasing new music while serving in the Army Reserve.
The 59-year-old singer is known to frequently perform at military bases both in the U.S. and abroad. In 2006, Morgan was awarded the USO Merit Award for his support.
Morgan began his music career in 2000. He is best known for his No. 1 single “That’s What I Love About Sunday” from 2004.
He was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kmvt.com/2023/07/31/country-singer-craig-morgan-reenlists-military-while-grand-ole-opry-stage/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:44
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An example of the way kids make up their own language is provided by Alan R. Crnko, of Holden, who has given me a new word to add to my vocabulary for use on certain occasions:
"Living in the country, my grandkids and I have an affinity for identifying birds of all kinds.
"I am proud of them both for being able to identify so many birds by sight, since they are rather young, 8 and 10.
"The 8-year-old recently said, 'Grandpa, come look, there are two redbirds out there, and they are marinating!'
"Well, I jumped up — having never seen that before, but unfortunately, they flew away before I got to be a witness.
"I know many of your readers are birdwatchers, and was wondering has anyone seen birds marinating before?"
Brooklyn cuisine
"A recent entry in your column about a $1 breakfast of coffee and beignets inspired this memory," says Marlene Pedesclaux, of Marrero:
"Back in the late '50s, early '60s, storefront pizzerias were everywhere in Brooklyn, especially in little strip malls.
"On Saturdays, my mother would give me 30 cents for a huge slice of cheese pizza and a soda — 15 cents each.
"These storefronts always had big windows to watch the pizza guys form the dough, flinging it up in the air and catching the high-flying circle with their closed fists. It fascinated me to see this.
"Brooklyn etiquette (possibly an oxymoron) decreed that pizza slices not be folded in half to eat them. Every kid seemed to know this."
Asian 'maters
Our recent tales of the joy of homegrown tomatoes brought this report from Tina Soong, of Covington:
"Tomatoes have different interesting names in China, where they were introduced, likely via the Philippines or Macau, in the 1500s.
"It was named 'foreign eggplant' in the south of China and 'foreign red persimmon' in the north.
"They are cultivated as ornamentals, for herb medicine, for food and for export. China exported $341 million in tomatoes in 2021, making it the ninth-largest exporter.
"There are many Chinese tomato recipes and dishes!"
Tina also discusses Chinese versions of rice and gravy, which we'll present at another time.
Hushing the kids
"My mother and her best friend announced one night that we were going to see the movie 'Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte' at the drive-in theater in Marrero," says Pat Plaisance, of New Orleans:
"We had never been, so we were very excited. There were five of us kids in that old Comet, ranging in age from 8 to an infant.
"The ladies were worried we wouldn’t be able to sit still that long, but I’m here to attest that we were so mesmerized that we barely moved a muscle.
"That movie is still one of my favorites. The haunting music takes me right back to that old drive-in."
Which reminds me
I'm also a fan of "Hush...Hush" for two reasons — it was shot at an old mansion downriver from Baton Rouge, and Bette Davis delivered a line that made me laugh out loud.
When Olivia de Havilland, as Bette's younger cousin, comes to stay with her, she told the unstable older woman that she was in public relations.
Bette sneers as only she could, and says, "Public relations? That sounds dirty!"
In 1964, when the movie came out, I had been in the public relations field for a couple of years and enjoyed quoting Bette to my fellow PR people.
Forgot what?
Linda Dalferes tells of the joy of aging:
"'Are you talking to me?' I asked.
"'No, I was having a conversation with myself,' said he. 'Made me laugh out loud.'
"'So, what were you saying to yourself?'
"'I forgot.'
"Then we both laughed out loud.
"It’s hell to get old, Smiley, but sometimes it can be pretty entertaining."
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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/smiley_anders/smiley-young-birder-makes-a-rare-sighting/article_94a863c8-2f22-11ee-82ef-bb93455d5edd.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:46
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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/smiley_anders/smiley-young-birder-makes-a-rare-sighting/article_94a863c8-2f22-11ee-82ef-bb93455d5edd.html
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Impeached Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks to have most charges dismissed before September trial
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lawyers for impeached Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday sought to have most of the charges against him dismissed, arguing that they rely on alleged acts of corruption before he was reelected to a third term in 2022.
In motions filed with the Senate, where Paxton’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5, his attorneys said they believe state law bars the removal of an official for conduct that occurred before their most recent election. Paxton was first elected attorney general in 2014 and the impeachment charges include alleged conduct since then.
“The Articles allege nothing that Texas voters have not heard from the Attorney General’s political opponents for years,” Paxton’s attorneys wrote. They accused the GOP-dominated Texas House of Representatives of seeking to oust Paxton because they were unable to unseat him by popular vote.
“Texas voters rendered their judgement by re-electing Attorney General Paxton to serve a third consecutive term. As a matter of both common sense and Texas law, that should be the end of the matter,” his attorneys wrote.
Only one of the 20 impeachment charges — an allegation that Paxton settled a whistleblower lawsuit in an effort to hide from the public corruption allegations against him — would not have to be dismissed under the so-called “prior term doctrine,” Paxton’s attorney said. Paxton asked state lawmakers this year to have the state pay the proposed $3.3 million settlement.
In a second filing, Paxton’s attorneys said the trial should exclude any evidence of alleged conduct that occurred prior to January 2023, when his third term in office began.
The motions from Paxton’s attorneys are similar to moves in a criminal or civil legal cases when defense attorneys seek to have charges or lawsuits dismissed before trial.
In this case, the presiding officer over Paxton’s impeachment trial will be Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a powerful Republican who also serves as the president of the state Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate will consider the evidence and decide whether to convict or acquit Paxton in the first impeachment trial of a statewide official since 1917.
Patrick has already issued a sweeping gag order over the parties and attorneys involved ahead of the Senate trial. Attorneys for House of Representatives managers prosecuting Paxton did not immediately respond to the motions filed Monday.
Paxton has been suspended from office since the House first approved the articles of impeachment on May 27. He could be permanently removed if convicted by the Senate.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/impeached-texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeks-have-most-charges-dismissed-before-september-trial/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:46
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/impeached-texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeks-have-most-charges-dismissed-before-september-trial/
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ALEXANDRIA, La. (WNTZ) – On July 28, 2023, LaBorde Earles served over 700 families in the Avoyelles and Rapides parishes with their Project Backpack Giveaway. Our WNTZ team was able to catch a glimpse this hustle and bustle firsthand at the law firm’s Alexandria location.
Braving the beating heat, LaBorde Earles employees were excited to meet the many families that came to 100 Versailles Blvd. with cheery children in tow. The energy of this event was radiating with genuine connections and excitement at the possibilities these donated school supplies offer.
With the average price of school supplies rising over 30% in the past year, LaBorde Earles’s backpack giveaway truly enriches the Rapides and Avoyelles community by creating an access to necessary tools for our youth and relieving some financial burden of parents who applied.
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https://www.cenlanow.com/local-news/laborde-earles-backpack-give-away/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:48
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https://www.cenlanow.com/local-news/laborde-earles-backpack-give-away/
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