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Burglars crashed a Ford pickup truck into a Prairieville gun store before dawn Monday and stole several weapons, sheriff's deputies said.
Ascensions Parish deputies are looking for the five males who rammed the entrance of Hebert Guns shortly before 4:21 a.m., Sheriff Bobby Webre said in a statement.
The burglars stole handguns and long guns before fleeing the store on Airline Highway. The crash caused extensive damage to the store, deputies added.
Anyone with information who can help detectives can call the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office anonymously at (225) 621-4636 or by texting 847411 to the sheriff’s anonymous tip line from any cellular device.
Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-STOP (7867). Tipsters must call Capital Region Crime Stoppers to receive a cash reward.
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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/burglars-crashed-truck-into-prairieville-store-stole-guns/article_af29d1ee-2fe7-11ee-8e18-6781a19e70bd.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:49
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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/burglars-crashed-truck-into-prairieville-store-stole-guns/article_af29d1ee-2fe7-11ee-8e18-6781a19e70bd.html
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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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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/memphis-police-shoot-suspect-after-he-fired-shots-outside-jewish-school-authorities-say/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:49
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/memphis-police-shoot-suspect-after-he-fired-shots-outside-jewish-school-authorities-say/
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The number of passengers who have flown through Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport during the first six months of 2023 is up 16.5% over the first half of 2022.
The passenger count as of the end of June was 360,584, according to figures released Monday by airport officials.
Passenger numbers are closing in on pre-COVID figures. There were 66,827 passengers who went through the airport in June, 93.3% percent of what the figures were for June 2019.
In June, daily nonstop flights from Baton Rouge to Washington, D.C. were launched. Airport officials said nearly 74% of the seats on those American Airlines flights were filled, which they said was a respectable number. Interest for the flights to Washington Reagan National Airport is expected to grow.
Airport officials are expecting passenger numbers will continue to stay strong in the second half of the year. The number of available seats on planes coming to and from the airport is projected to be 22% higher than in the second half of 2022. The increase is due to more flights servicing Baton Rouge and airlines bringing larger planes to the city. So far, the number of available flights in the second half of the year is within 2% of the capacity in 2019.
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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/baton-rouge-metropolitan-airport-passenger-numbers-up-16-5-over-2022/article_7f1a68a2-2fe6-11ee-82f0-437225f2d8b7.html
| 2023-07-31T21:51:49
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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/baton-rouge-metropolitan-airport-passenger-numbers-up-16-5-over-2022/article_7f1a68a2-2fe6-11ee-82f0-437225f2d8b7.html
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San Francisco prosecutors lay out case against consultant in killing 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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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/san-francisco-prosecutors-lay-out-murder-case-against-consultant-death-cash-apps-bob-lee/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:49
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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.kmvt.com/2023/07/31/impeached-texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeks-have-most-charges-dismissed-before-september-trial/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:50
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https://www.kmvt.com/2023/07/31/impeached-texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeks-have-most-charges-dismissed-before-september-trial/
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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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https://www.cenlanow.com/national/body-found-inside-55-gallon-drum-in-malibu/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:54
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https://www.cenlanow.com/national/body-found-inside-55-gallon-drum-in-malibu/
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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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https://www.kmvt.com/2023/07/31/memphis-police-shoot-suspect-after-he-fired-shots-outside-jewish-school-authorities-say/
| 2023-07-31T21:51:56
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https://www.kmvt.com/2023/07/31/memphis-police-shoot-suspect-after-he-fired-shots-outside-jewish-school-authorities-say/
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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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https://www.cenlanow.com/national/child-8-attacked-by-cougar-in-olympic-national-park-saved-by-mother/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:00
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https://www.cenlanow.com/national/child-8-attacked-by-cougar-in-olympic-national-park-saved-by-mother/
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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.
___
Associated Press writer Eugene Johnson in Seattle contributed.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/work-begins-largest-us-dam-removal-project-tribes-look-future-growth/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:00
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/31/work-begins-largest-us-dam-removal-project-tribes-look-future-growth/
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San Francisco prosecutors lay out case against consultant in killing 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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https://www.kmvt.com/2023/07/31/san-francisco-prosecutors-lay-out-murder-case-against-consultant-death-cash-apps-bob-lee/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:03
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https://www.kmvt.com/2023/07/31/san-francisco-prosecutors-lay-out-murder-case-against-consultant-death-cash-apps-bob-lee/
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(Our Auto Expert) – The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is here to redefine the legacy of the world’s best-selling sports car. As the latest addition to the Mustang family, this remarkable vehicle marks a new chapter in its 59-year history. With its powerful engine, cutting-edge technology, and captivating design, the Mustang Dark Horse is set to wow both existing fans and a new generation of sports car enthusiasts.
The Mustang Dark Horse boasts the first new Mustang performance series title in 21 years. It is also the most powerful non-Shelby edition ever created, thanks to its unique 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine that churns out an impressive 500 horsepower. However, the Dark Horse is not just about raw horsepower; it is a vehicle designed for both street and track use.
Equipped with available carbon fiber wheels from Carbon Revolution and the Handling Package, the Mustang Dark Horse is the most track-capable 5.0-liter V8 street-legal Mustang ever produced. Its performance is further enhanced by the specially designed blue ember metallic paint, adding exclusivity to this exceptional vehicle.
The Mustang Dark Horse exudes a menacing presence with its bold shadow graphic surrounding the darkened LED headlamps, lower side skirts, rear fixed rear wing, new race-inspired diffuser, and darkened quad exhaust tips. Its design is a testament to the Mustang’s storied motorsports history, combining aggression and elegance in one stunning package.
This powerhouse of a car comes equipped with a full suite of next-gen technology specifically designed to enhance performance. The standard MagneRide shocks, capable of monitoring wheel and tire movement 1,000 times per second, ensure an unparalleled driving experience. The Mustang Dark Horse is not just a pretty face; it’s a technologically advanced beast.
For those who prefer manual control, the Mustang Dark Horse comes standard with a unique six-speed TREMEC manual transmission and a special Mustang Dark Horse transmission oil cooler to keep the stallion cool under pressure. Alternatively, there is the option to choose Ford’s advanced 10-speed automatic transmission for seamless gear changes.
The Mustang Dark Horse is not just a car; it’s a symbol of Mustang’s storied motorsports history. With its unique design, powerful engine, and advanced technology, it is set to make history itself. This street and track performance Mustang is sure to be a fan favorite for years to come.
Conclusion:
If you’re in search of a car that combines style, performance, and innovation, the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is the ultimate choice. Its powerful engine, track-ready capabilities, and advanced technology are a testament to the Mustang’s legacy. Whether you’re an existing fan or a new sports car lover, the Mustang Dark Horse is sure to ignite your excitement. Get ready to experience the thrill of the road like never before.
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https://www.cenlanow.com/national/ford-introduces-the-most-powerful-non-shelby-mustang-ever/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:06
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https://www.cenlanow.com/national/ford-introduces-the-most-powerful-non-shelby-mustang-ever/
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ATLANTA, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) today released its second quarter 2023 financial results. Complete financial results are available at investor.aarons.com. Highlights of those results are included below and in the attached supplement.
Second Quarter 2023 Consolidated Results1:
- Revenues were $530.4 million, a decrease of 13.1%
- Net earnings were $6.5 million, an increase of 222.0%; Non-GAAP net earnings2 were $12.2 million, a decrease of 50.6%
- Adjusted EBITDA2,3 was $42.4 million, a decrease of 17.0%
- Diluted EPS was $0.21; Non-GAAP diluted EPS2 was $0.39
- Write-offs were 5.4% in the Aaron's Business, an improvement of 30 basis points
- Reduced debt $36.1 million in the quarter and $124.3 million since the prior year quarter-end
- Updates 2023 full year outlook; lowers revenues, maintains adjusted EBITDA, and increases adjusted free cash flow
Second Quarter 2023 Key Items:
The Aaron's Company
- Earnings were ahead of internal expectations largely due to ongoing expense controls, despite lower revenues in both business segments
- Ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $38.4 million and debt of $186.1 million, resulting in a net debt2 reduction of $30.2 million in the quarter primarily due to strong cash provided by operating activities
Aaron's Business
- Earnings before income taxes were $30.8 million; adjusted EBITDA was $49.5 million, which exceeded internal expectations and increased 3.0% as compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to lower total operating expenses and lower write-offs
- Personnel and other operating expenses benefited from cost optimization initiatives and ongoing investments in technology platforms and marketing analytics
- Ended the quarter with 230 GenNext stores, 101 hubs, and 101 showrooms
- GenNext stores accounted for approximately 29% of lease revenues & fees and retail sales
- E-commerce revenues increased 5.5% as compared to the prior year quarter and represented 17.9% of lease revenues
BrandsMart
- Earnings before income taxes were $1.1 million; adjusted EBITDA was $4.5 million, which exceeded internal expectations despite lower revenues due to continued pressure on customer demand
- Began construction on first new BrandsMart store planned to open in Augusta, GA in Q4 2023
The Company will host an earnings conference call tomorrow, August 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Lindsay will host the call along with President Steve Olsen and Chief Financial Officer C. Kelly Wall. A live audio webcast of the conference call and presentation slides may be accessed at investor.aarons.com and the hosting website at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/457512107. A transcript of the webcast will also be available at investor.aarons.com.
About The Aaron's Company, Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands: Aaron's, BrandsMart U.S.A., BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron's offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,260 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance retailers in the country with ten retail stores in Florida and Georgia, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is the Company's furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com.
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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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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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CHICAGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of ACG – the premier midmarket mergers and acquisitions association – announces the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Brent Baxter, effective July 31, 2023.
An executive search committee, led by ACG Chairman Christine Nowaczyk, launched a national search through Korn Ferry to find an innovative leader who can keep up with the growth of the industry while listening and truly understanding the needs of ACG's chapters and members. "We found that person in Brent," said Nowaczyk, "and we are excited for the organization's next chapter. I want to thank my board colleagues and our committee for their contributions toward the extensive search."
Baxter has a long career in middle market M&A, ACG's core focus, with more than 25 years of sell-side and buy-side advisory experience, closing more than 200 transactions with a combined value of more than $1 billion. He also has a long and dedicated history supporting ACG in a volunteer capacity, serving in multiple positions on the ACG Board of Directors, and was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 DealMAX event.
Brent served as ACG Chairman in 2021 and has been a member of the Executive Committee for the past six years – four years with the Office of the Chair, and two years as Finance Chair.
Beginning in 2015, Brent spearheaded many key membership strategies, including a growth initiative targeting corporate/strategic acquirer members, which flourished in 38 of ACG's local chapters. He also co-chaired the first national Strategic Acquirer Summit, which drew 120 high-value corporate attendees in Dallas in 2019. The program was suspended during COVID but successfully returned in 2023 in an invigorated form during ACG's largest event, DealMAX.
Brent has been an active participant in numerous chapter leadership events for 20+ years, forming deep connections with ACG's chapter network. He has attended more than 250 ACG events throughout the U.S. and has been a key member of his local ACG St. Louis chapter, serving in multiple positions, including Board President, Membership Chair, Chair of the Corporate Peer Group, as well as Chair of a key multi-chapter Midwest event, the Growth Conference.
"Brent has played a vital role in the success of ACG for many years, and has a deep familiarity with ACG's strategic plan, leadership and staff, member segments and, most importantly, actionable areas for growth," said Nowaczyk. "He not only embodies the values of ACG but also brings a fresh perspective and innovative ideas. With his experience and passion, we have full confidence that Brent will further enhance ACG's global reputation as a hub for middle-market growth, dealmaking, and thought leadership."
Baxter comes to ACG most recently from Nolan & Associates, a leading boutique investment banking firm with a focus on the middle market, where he has been Managing Director since 2019.
Prior to joining Nolan, Brent spent 18 years as Managing Director of a St. Louis independent investment bank. He also has extensive experience growing private companies through acquisitions, serving as CEO of a food manufacturing company that more than quadrupled its sales in eight years, and is currently on the boards of several privately held companies.
"I am eager to work even more extensively with our board of directors, our dedicated chapter boards and volunteers and our amazingly talented team of ACG professionals as we continue to provide our middle-market M&A community with best-in-class member benefits, innovative resources and expanded, relevant networking opportunities," said Brent Baxter. "ACG's mission is more relevant today than ever. In this dynamic economic landscape, supporting and amplifying middle-market growth is not just a responsibility—it is an opportunity to shape the future of business. I am ready and committed to lead ACG on this exciting journey."
The new CEO will direct all areas of ACG's operations, including several initiatives that are at the core of ACG's mission.
This includes overseeing ACG's expansive chapter network, which offers members a wealth of networking opportunities through more than 2,000 annual meetings and events as well as DealMAX, ACG's annual conference and premier networking opportunity for middle market professionals.
Moreover, Baxter will oversee ACG's media division, which includes the Middle Market Growth suite of publications and digital products (Middle Market Executive, Middle Market DealMaker, and several special reports), GrowthTV, an online media channel providing engaging and insightful content for the middle-market community, and the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast.
Mid-market private equity valuation and deal terms database GF Data, ACG's first acquisition, is also a key part of the future plans for a revitalized and more robust ACG under Baxter's leadership.
The ACG Board expresses its sincere gratitude to Lisa Harris, the organization's CFO and Interim CEO, for her exceptional leadership and dedication during this transitional period.
We also extend our appreciation to the search firm Korn Ferry for their professional assistance in this pivotal CEO search, and to the entire ACG staff for their unwavering dedication to our organization and its mission.
Please watch a GrowthTV video where Brent Baxter discusses what's next for ACG.
About ACG (Association for Corporate Growth)
Founded in 1954, ACG is the premier M&A dealmaking community with a mission of driving middle-market growth. ACG's global network operates within 61 local markets worldwide and comprises more than 100,000 middle-market professionals who invest in, own and advise growing companies. Learn more about ACG and become a member at www.acg.org.
Media Contact: Sue Ter Maat, ACG, 847-772-4354 or stermaat@acg.org
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ATLANTA, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) today released its second quarter 2023 financial results. Complete financial results are available at investor.aarons.com. Highlights of those results are included below and in the attached supplement.
Second Quarter 2023 Consolidated Results1:
- Revenues were $530.4 million, a decrease of 13.1%
- Net earnings were $6.5 million, an increase of 222.0%; Non-GAAP net earnings2 were $12.2 million, a decrease of 50.6%
- Adjusted EBITDA2,3 was $42.4 million, a decrease of 17.0%
- Diluted EPS was $0.21; Non-GAAP diluted EPS2 was $0.39
- Write-offs were 5.4% in the Aaron's Business, an improvement of 30 basis points
- Reduced debt $36.1 million in the quarter and $124.3 million since the prior year quarter-end
- Updates 2023 full year outlook; lowers revenues, maintains adjusted EBITDA, and increases adjusted free cash flow
Second Quarter 2023 Key Items:
The Aaron's Company
- Earnings were ahead of internal expectations largely due to ongoing expense controls, despite lower revenues in both business segments
- Ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $38.4 million and debt of $186.1 million, resulting in a net debt2 reduction of $30.2 million in the quarter primarily due to strong cash provided by operating activities
Aaron's Business
- Earnings before income taxes were $30.8 million; adjusted EBITDA was $49.5 million, which exceeded internal expectations and increased 3.0% as compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to lower total operating expenses and lower write-offs
- Personnel and other operating expenses benefited from cost optimization initiatives and ongoing investments in technology platforms and marketing analytics
- Ended the quarter with 230 GenNext stores, 101 hubs, and 101 showrooms
- GenNext stores accounted for approximately 29% of lease revenues & fees and retail sales
- E-commerce revenues increased 5.5% as compared to the prior year quarter and represented 17.9% of lease revenues
BrandsMart
- Earnings before income taxes were $1.1 million; adjusted EBITDA was $4.5 million, which exceeded internal expectations despite lower revenues due to continued pressure on customer demand
- Began construction on first new BrandsMart store planned to open in Augusta, GA in Q4 2023
The Company will host an earnings conference call tomorrow, August 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Lindsay will host the call along with President Steve Olsen and Chief Financial Officer C. Kelly Wall. A live audio webcast of the conference call and presentation slides may be accessed at investor.aarons.com and the hosting website at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/457512107. A transcript of the webcast will also be available at investor.aarons.com.
About The Aaron's Company, Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands: Aaron's, BrandsMart U.S.A., BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron's offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,260 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance retailers in the country with ten retail stores in Florida and Georgia, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is the Company's furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com.
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BOISE, Idaho (KTVX) – Lori Vallow Daybell, convicted of murdering her children, among other crimes, was sentenced to five life sentences in prison Monday with no possibility of parole. This sentencing brings closure to nearly four years of investigation and a trial.
Daybell, 49, was found guilty of murder, and conspiracy to commit murder of her children Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. She was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Tammy Daybell, the former wife of her husband, Chad Daybell. Additionally, Lori was found guilty of grand theft.
Lori was sentenced to five life sentences without the possibility of parole, three of which will run consecutively, for her involvement in their murders and the conspiracy to commit murder. While many called for the death penalty, it was ruled out by a judge in March 2023 prior to her murder trial.
The case began in 2018 when Lori and Chad met at a religious conference in St. George. They became close friends, and even lovers, though both were married to other people. In July 2019, Lori’s husband Charles Vallow was killed by her brother, and it was declared self-defense, but later identified as a homicide.
Then in late-2019, Lori’s two children went missing — a case that captivated the United States. And while investigators were frantically searching for the kids, Lori and Chad were in Hawaii getting married.
Chad’s wife Tammy died a few weeks before Lori and Chad ran to Hawaii, but after the children went missing. Her death was originally ruled natural causes but later declared asphyxiation at the hands of another after her body was exhumed.
In February 2020, Lori was arrested on charges of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. In April, Lori and Chad were both under investigation for conspiracy, attempted murder, and murder. They both pleaded not guilty.
During the final stages of the investigation leading up to their scheduled trials in January 2023, Tylee and JJ’s remains were found buried on Chad’s property.
Because of the large amount of evidence discovered, and the fact that Chad waived his right to a speedy trial, he will face his charges in April 2024. However, Lori did not waive her right to a speedy trial and appeared in court on April 2023, where she was found guilty on all charges.
Now, in July 2023, nearly four years after Lori’s children were murdered, she was sentenced to life in prison on all counts.
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(WKBN) — August begins with a full moon – and what’s more, it’s a supermoon.
The next full moon will occur at 2:32 p.m. ET Tuesday, Aug. 1. The moon will be below the horizon at that time, so you will have to wait until later in the day to catch the full moon.
Tuesday’s moon is the second of this year’s four “supermoons,” which appear bigger and brighter in the sky due to the distance of the moon from the Earth.
It is also the second of three full moons that will occur during the summer season.
What is the August full moon called?
According to NASA, the August full moon is called the “sturgeon moon,” a name that was published in the 1930s in the Maine Farmer’s Almanac.
According to the publication, the Native American tribe Algonquin gave the August full moon that name because it was easier for them to catch the prehistoric-looking sturgeon fish in larger bodies of water during this time of year.
NASA says another name for the August full moon is the “green corn” moon.
When can you see the Sturgeon supermoon?
The sturgeon moon will be nearly full when it rises Monday evening, July 31, but it will reach full illumination Tuesday afternoon, hitting its peak at 2:32 p.m. ET. However, it will be below the horizon at the time that 100% illumination is achieved.
You can catch a glimpse of the moon rising on Tuesday evening by looking toward the southeast after sunset.
The moon phase Monday evening through Tuesday morning is called the Waxing Gibbous, when the illuminated part of the moon goes from 50.1% to 99.9%.
The moon will still appear nearly full when rising Wednesday, Aug. 2.
What is a supermoon?
NASA defines a supermoon as any full moon occurring around the same time as the moon’s perigee, or closest point of orbit with the Earth. In contrast, an apogee is the point where the moon is farthest from the Earth.
The moon takes about 27 days to orbit the Earth, with its perigee occurring during each 27-day cycle.
NASA says there are roughly three to four supermoons each year, and they usually occur back to back. When the full moon occurs during its perigee, it will appear about 17% bigger and about 30% brighter than when it is at its apogee. To be considered a supermoon, the full moon has to occur when the moon is within at least 90% of its perigee.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the moon’s perigree can vary slightly from “month to month and year to year,” meaning the distance from Earth may not be the same each time.
Incidentally, the Farmer’s Almanac stated, this year’s new moon (the opposite of a full moon) on Jan. 21 was at its closest distance to Earth “in nearly 1,000 years (992 to be exact).”
A blue supermoon, one of 2023’s rare celestial occurrences, is coming later this month on Aug. 30. A blue moon occurs when there are two full moons in one month.
The last time two full supermoons graced the sky in the same month was in 2018. It is not expected to happen again until 2037.
This year’s first supermoon was in July. The fourth and last will be in September. The two in August will be closer than either of those.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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BOGOTA, Colombia, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Considering the information known to public, the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC, "Ecopetrol" or the "Company") reiterates the press release issued by the company yesterday, which stated that Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have actively collaborated with the different authorities for the execution of the "Bunkering Imperio" operation.
- Based on external verifications and information coming from the collaborative efforts between the Ecopetrol Group, the Judicial Investigation Directorate and the Carabineros and Environmental Protection Directorate of the National Police, to date, there is no evidence implicating either the administrations or the officers of the Ecopetrol Group;
- Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have been recognized as victims in the corresponding criminal proceedings; and
- The company will continue to work with the authorities to sanction and prevent the smuggling and theft of hydrocarbons.
Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice.
This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
Head of Capital Markets (a)
Carolina Tovar Aragón
Email: investors@ecopetrol.com.co
Head of Corporate Communications
Marcela Ulloa
Email: marcela.ulloa@ecopetrol.com.co
View original content:
SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/board-directors-ecopetrol-sa-announces-execution-operation-sanction-theft-smuggling-hydrocarbons/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:20
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CHICAGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of ACG – the premier midmarket mergers and acquisitions association – announces the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Brent Baxter, effective July 31, 2023.
An executive search committee, led by ACG Chairman Christine Nowaczyk, launched a national search through Korn Ferry to find an innovative leader who can keep up with the growth of the industry while listening and truly understanding the needs of ACG's chapters and members. "We found that person in Brent," said Nowaczyk, "and we are excited for the organization's next chapter. I want to thank my board colleagues and our committee for their contributions toward the extensive search."
Baxter has a long career in middle market M&A, ACG's core focus, with more than 25 years of sell-side and buy-side advisory experience, closing more than 200 transactions with a combined value of more than $1 billion. He also has a long and dedicated history supporting ACG in a volunteer capacity, serving in multiple positions on the ACG Board of Directors, and was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 DealMAX event.
Brent served as ACG Chairman in 2021 and has been a member of the Executive Committee for the past six years – four years with the Office of the Chair, and two years as Finance Chair.
Beginning in 2015, Brent spearheaded many key membership strategies, including a growth initiative targeting corporate/strategic acquirer members, which flourished in 38 of ACG's local chapters. He also co-chaired the first national Strategic Acquirer Summit, which drew 120 high-value corporate attendees in Dallas in 2019. The program was suspended during COVID but successfully returned in 2023 in an invigorated form during ACG's largest event, DealMAX.
Brent has been an active participant in numerous chapter leadership events for 20+ years, forming deep connections with ACG's chapter network. He has attended more than 250 ACG events throughout the U.S. and has been a key member of his local ACG St. Louis chapter, serving in multiple positions, including Board President, Membership Chair, Chair of the Corporate Peer Group, as well as Chair of a key multi-chapter Midwest event, the Growth Conference.
"Brent has played a vital role in the success of ACG for many years, and has a deep familiarity with ACG's strategic plan, leadership and staff, member segments and, most importantly, actionable areas for growth," said Nowaczyk. "He not only embodies the values of ACG but also brings a fresh perspective and innovative ideas. With his experience and passion, we have full confidence that Brent will further enhance ACG's global reputation as a hub for middle-market growth, dealmaking, and thought leadership."
Baxter comes to ACG most recently from Nolan & Associates, a leading boutique investment banking firm with a focus on the middle market, where he has been Managing Director since 2019.
Prior to joining Nolan, Brent spent 18 years as Managing Director of a St. Louis independent investment bank. He also has extensive experience growing private companies through acquisitions, serving as CEO of a food manufacturing company that more than quadrupled its sales in eight years, and is currently on the boards of several privately held companies.
"I am eager to work even more extensively with our board of directors, our dedicated chapter boards and volunteers and our amazingly talented team of ACG professionals as we continue to provide our middle-market M&A community with best-in-class member benefits, innovative resources and expanded, relevant networking opportunities," said Brent Baxter. "ACG's mission is more relevant today than ever. In this dynamic economic landscape, supporting and amplifying middle-market growth is not just a responsibility—it is an opportunity to shape the future of business. I am ready and committed to lead ACG on this exciting journey."
The new CEO will direct all areas of ACG's operations, including several initiatives that are at the core of ACG's mission.
This includes overseeing ACG's expansive chapter network, which offers members a wealth of networking opportunities through more than 2,000 annual meetings and events as well as DealMAX, ACG's annual conference and premier networking opportunity for middle market professionals.
Moreover, Baxter will oversee ACG's media division, which includes the Middle Market Growth suite of publications and digital products (Middle Market Executive, Middle Market DealMaker, and several special reports), GrowthTV, an online media channel providing engaging and insightful content for the middle-market community, and the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast.
Mid-market private equity valuation and deal terms database GF Data, ACG's first acquisition, is also a key part of the future plans for a revitalized and more robust ACG under Baxter's leadership.
The ACG Board expresses its sincere gratitude to Lisa Harris, the organization's CFO and Interim CEO, for her exceptional leadership and dedication during this transitional period.
We also extend our appreciation to the search firm Korn Ferry for their professional assistance in this pivotal CEO search, and to the entire ACG staff for their unwavering dedication to our organization and its mission.
Please watch a GrowthTV video where Brent Baxter discusses what's next for ACG.
About ACG (Association for Corporate Growth)
Founded in 1954, ACG is the premier M&A dealmaking community with a mission of driving middle-market growth. ACG's global network operates within 61 local markets worldwide and comprises more than 100,000 middle-market professionals who invest in, own and advise growing companies. Learn more about ACG and become a member at www.acg.org.
Media Contact: Sue Ter Maat, ACG, 847-772-4354 or stermaat@acg.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Association for Corporate Growth
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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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| 2023-07-31T21:52:24
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Arizona man arrested for murder after allegedly hit ex-girlfriend with go-kart
MEADVIEW, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — A northern Arizona man is accused of murdering a woman in a crash involving a go-kart-style vehicle and an ATV late last week.
Around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, July 28, Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Driftwood and Boathouse drives in Meadview for reports of a collision. Meadview resident 32-year-old Sally Minard, the alleged ATV driver, was found with severe injuries and flown to a Las Vegas hospital. She died a short time later. The alleged go-kart driver, 40-year-old John Stettler of Meadview, was not seriously hurt.
The Sheriff’s office says detectives and members of the Accident Reconstruction Team responded and later determined the collision was intentional. They also learned that Stettler and Minard had been in a prior relationship.
Deputies arrested Stettler and booked him into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility, where he faces a second-degree murder charge.
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Copyright 2023 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
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https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/31/arizona-man-arrested-murder-after-allegedly-hit-ex-girlfriend-with-go-kart/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:25
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https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/31/arizona-man-arrested-murder-after-allegedly-hit-ex-girlfriend-with-go-kart/
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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.kfyrtv.com/2023/07/31/country-singer-craig-morgan-reenlists-military-while-grand-ole-opry-stage/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:25
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/07/31/country-singer-craig-morgan-reenlists-military-while-grand-ole-opry-stage/
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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.wkyt.com/2023/07/31/country-singer-craig-morgan-reenlists-military-while-grand-ole-opry-stage/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:25
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Billionaires forget they owe their wealth to their underpaid employees
With the celebrations of millionaires and billionaires, it is beneficial to put some things into perspective. Wealth on such immensely unfathomable levels calls into question these businesses’ moral and ethical reverence and requires investigation into the systems that allow such cosmic capital to develop.
The wealth gap has been immensely significant since the 1990s and has seen its most consequential growth in the last two decades, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a time when America’s wealthiest broke records. Sequencing the timeframe of these events, from Jan. 1, 2020, to April 28, 2021, precisely 483 days, American billionaires’ collective wealth rose 35 percent, or about $1.2 trillion, according to Forbes. At the start of 2023, the top ten percent of earners possessed about 69 percent of the wealth in the U.S. That leaves the remaining ninety percent of the U.S. population to distribute approximately 31 percent of the country’s wealth.
It’s almost laughably ironic that the wealthiest country in the world is also suffering from wage stagnation. Since the 1970s, wage and productivity have developed a concerning disconnect. However, wage gains only benefit the top earners. In contrast, an hourly wage of $23.68 has about the same purchasing power as a $4.03 hourly wage from 1973, according to The Pew Research Center.
This means that most Americans’ hourly wages peaked about 50 years ago. Many Americans still struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, which left 57 percent of working-age Americans unemployed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With income inequality growing rapidly, it is surreal that our daily news has headlines about the exploits of the wealthy gone wrong, like the OceanGate Expedition implosion or the breaking down of the many million-dollar watches spotted at Michael Rubin’s birthday party. The foolish and condescending behavior of the ultra-wealthy carries real societal impacts that have been ignored and silenced for far too long. We are now seeing a do-or-die scenario where change must happen for the working class.
There has been increasing coverage of the writer’s strike of the SAG-AFTRA union this past week, yet some walkouts by screenwriters began in May 2023. The writers have noted requesting job security from AI, but more importantly, congruous compensation. The last strike in Hollywood was in 2007. This strike lasted 100 days and cost the Los Angeles economy an estimated $2.1 billion, according to The New York Times. Even so, the Hollywood studios claim they are doing their best to compensate their actors and writers appropriately, as they argue that the changing methods of entertainment, such as streaming, are something they are still working out. Some even go as far as to argue that those on strike are greedy in their demands.
There is a discordant narrative around many multi-billion-dollar companies claiming that underpaying employees is only a means to recovering from COVID-19. There is an evident disconnect between the CEOs and the daily lives of their employees. There have been strikes beyond simply Hollywood. Amazon employees had a strike in Seattle at the end of May 2023, there is a looming UPS strike and a recent nurses strike in Austin over a money-saving scheme that resulted in chronic under-staffing.
The reality of billionaires in a country leisurely crashing and burning from late-stage capitalism is the working-class pay the price. Employees of multi-billion-dollar companies are the first to go when CEOs can no longer afford their 3rd vacation house. Not only this, but the employees who survive layoffs must compensate for these losses. While many argue that these companies foster jobs, boost the economy and improve the status of the U.S., it is clear that the everyday lives of the laborers are blatantly ignored. Research from the Socio-Economic Review found that the tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy have failed to trickle down and only worsened the income inequality gap.
Clearly, there is a genuine disconnect between working-class Americans with their yacht-enjoying bosses. However, many people are still reaping these benefits and ensuring that many of these laborers are too exhausted from trying to match record levels of productivity to create a consequential strike. Despite these efforts, workers are finding meaningful ways to get the attention of their higher-ups. Laborers hold the power. Without the working class, companies will feel the weight of their actions as their 0’s disappear. It is more important now than ever that we remain united with others – billionaires do not exist for their workers, they exist because of them, and that is the collective power that direly needs to be recognized.
Featured Illustration by Isabella Isquierdo
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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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| 2023-07-31T21:52:27
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BOGOTA, Colombia, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Considering the information known to public, the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC, "Ecopetrol" or the "Company") reiterates the press release issued by the company yesterday, which stated that Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have actively collaborated with the different authorities for the execution of the "Bunkering Imperio" operation.
- Based on external verifications and information coming from the collaborative efforts between the Ecopetrol Group, the Judicial Investigation Directorate and the Carabineros and Environmental Protection Directorate of the National Police, to date, there is no evidence implicating either the administrations or the officers of the Ecopetrol Group;
- Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have been recognized as victims in the corresponding criminal proceedings; and
- The company will continue to work with the authorities to sanction and prevent the smuggling and theft of hydrocarbons.
Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice.
This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
Head of Capital Markets (a)
Carolina Tovar Aragón
Email: investors@ecopetrol.com.co
Head of Corporate Communications
Marcela Ulloa
Email: marcela.ulloa@ecopetrol.com.co
View original content:
SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
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| 2023-07-31T21:52:29
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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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| 2023-07-31T21:52:30
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Emergency Management hosts a seminar to educate local sports organizers on sports preparedness
MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) - When you’re at a sporting event and someone gets hurt, it is easy to assume medical attention is on its way.
However, some small schools and most extracurricular sports teams lack access to immediate emergency care.
That’s why Ward County Emergency Services is hosting a sports preparedness seminar Tuesday.
This event is the first of its kind in Ward County, and it will happen again before winter sports begin.
Concussions, heat illnesses, what to do when you call 911 and more will be discussed.
Organizers said it’s important that coaches and other sports administrators understand when to pull an athlete out for evaluation.
“What are you doing from the time that kid dropped to the time that that ambulance shows up? That’s the crucial moment,” said Roby Gust, Sports Management Liaison for Ward County Emergency Management.
Gust said all buildings should keep a clear path to all emergency exits.
Anyone calling 911 should also be as detailed as possible regarding the specific location and status of the patient.
It is nearly impossible for first responders to do their jobs adequately with limited information.
“Review the calls and look for areas we can improve whether it be patient care or what not. It’s always changing, and you know, you’re trying to improve all the time,” said Marcy Kuhnhenn, Clinica Analyst for Trinity Health First Response Ground Ambulance.
Even though varsity sports tend to have a medical professional available, they aren’t at all practices.
Gust also said there is a huge need for education among junior high and grade school sports because medical professionals aren’t often available for these games.
The seminar will be hosted from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ward County Admin Building.
Copyright 2023 KFYR. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/07/31/emergency-management-hosts-seminar-educate-local-sports-organizers-sports-preparedness/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:32
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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.azfamily.com/2023/07/31/country-singer-craig-morgan-reenlists-military-while-grand-ole-opry-stage/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:31
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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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| 2023-07-31T21:52:32
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Daily’s Dose #96: Nuclear Kenergy
July 28
18:00
2023
Welcome back to the Daily’s Dose podcast. Join Sam and Ayden as they recount Barbenheimer weekend, debate which celebrities have the “Kenergy” and list their favorite “Oppenheimer” cameos.
Featured illustration: Jazmine Garcia
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https://www.ntdaily.com/dailys-dose-96-nuclear-kenergy/
| 2023-07-31T21:52:33
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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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View original content:
SOURCE CNO Financial Group, Inc.
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| 2023-07-31T21:52:34
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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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| 2023-07-31T21:52:35
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The new ‘Barbie’ dolls’ sales reflect the movie’s success
The “Barbie” movie is a huge hit, not only setting box-office records for a movie directed by a woman but launching major successes for dolls inspired by the film. Most of the dolls are versions of Barbie and Ken as portrayed by various actors in the film, coming at the heels of other recent Mattel releases, such as one portraying Anna May Wong and the brand’s first doll with Down syndrome. Some of the dolls are sold out, but retailers are restocking them as fast as they can.
The ‘Barbie’ movie continues to roar ahead
The “Barbie” movie follows Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken as they leave Barbie Land and enter our real world, interacting with other Barbies and Kens as well as Mattel’s “chief executive officer” in the film, as portrayed by Will Ferrell. Not only did the movie helmed by Greta Gerwig get rave reviews and set records in its first weekend, but it was No. 1 at the box office in its second weekend, with a robust $93 million this weekend at the U.S. box office alone.
Who else is in the ‘Barbie’ movie?
The cast of the “Barbie” movie is packed with big-name comedic actors and rising stars. Versions of Barbie beside Robbie’s version are portrayed by actresses such as Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Emma Mackey and Dua Lipa. Other versions of Ken beside Gosling’s take are portrayed by Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa and John Cena.
Besides the central duo, other characters include a Mattel employee, played by America Ferrera, a forgotten doll from Mattel history named Allen, played by Michael Cera and the film’s narrator, voiced by Academy Award winner Helen Mirren.
What you can still get
While a few of the dolls are sold out, you can still see them below. And most are still available, as are the toys and games based on the movie.
Best ‘Barbie’ dolls and playsets from the new movie
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Doll, Margot Robbie As Barbie In Gold Disco Jumpsuit
Saturday Night Fever never dies in Barbie Land, as evidenced by this fabulous disco outfit worn by Robbie’s take on the character. It includes accessories, such as gold earrings and bracelets.
Sold by Walmart
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Doll, Margot Robbie As Barbie In Pink Western Outfit
This rootin’ tootin’ cowboy shootin’ version of Robbie’s Barbie is a perfect gift for the country-loving person in your life. It comes with a stand for easy display, too.
Sold by Target
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Doll, Margot Robbie As Barbie In Pink Gingham Dress
This version of Robbie’s Barbie is a bit of a throwback with its retro 1950s-style dress. It’s perfectly accessorized with period-appropriate pieces, such as a pearl necklace and earrings.
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Doll, Margot Robbie As Barbie In Plaid Matching Set
This version of Robbie’s Barbie is perhaps the cutest with her pastel colors in plaid styling. It’s the outfit she wears when she makes it back home to Barbie Land.
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Doll, President Barbie In Pink And Gold Dress
This President Barbie doll is modeled after Issa Rae’s take on the power-wielding character. Her stunning dress makes it clear she’s to be both feared and respected.
Sold by Amazon
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Gloria Doll Wearing Pink Power Pantsuit
This Gloria doll is modeled after America Ferrera’s character in the movie. The suit and accessories, such as her gold hoop earrings, help her make a big impression.
“Barbie The Movie” Ken Doll Wearing Pastel Striped Beach Matching Set
This Ryan Gosling Ken doll is ready for a fashionable day at the beach, and he comes with a surfboard so he can stay cool riding the waves.
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Ken Doll Wearing Denim Matching Set
This Ryan Gosling Ken doll oozes style thanks to the flared denim and Ken-branded boxer shorts peeking out from his waistband. The doll is fully articulated for easy posing.
Sold by Walmart
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Ken Doll In White And Gold Tracksuit
This Ken is modeled after Simu Liu’s version of the character. The zipper actually works and you can place Ken’s hands into the pockets to show some attitude.
Sold by Mattel
“Barbie The Movie” Collectible Car, Pink Corvette Convertible
This collectible Corvette from the “Barbie” movie can be used as a decoration, but it’s also a fully functioning toy including working doors, wheels and even a trunk.
Sold by Walmart
Hot Wheels RC Barbie Corvette, Remote Control Corvette From “Barbie The Movie”
Remote-controlled cars have been a cherished toy for many a growing child. This version is modeled after the 1956 Corvette Stingray Margot Robbie’s Barbie drives in the film. It can hold two full-sized Barbie dolls.
Sold by Amazon
“Barbie The Movie” Fashion Pack With Three Iconic Film Outfits And Accessories
This accessory pack is the perfect way to celebrate the launch of the “Barbie” movie with dolls you already own. The three outfits are a pajama set and two outfits for hitting the town.
Sold by Target
Little People Collector “Barbie: The Movie” Special Edition Set For Adults And Fans, Four Figures
This set of figures includes two Kens and two Barbies. They’re 2.5 inches tall and make excellent toys for kids on the go, or desk and bookcase decorations for older fans.
Sold by Amazon
Mega “Barbie The Movie” Replica Dreamhouse Building Kit For Collectors
This Mega brand building set has 1,795 pieces, more than enough to keep fans of any age busy for an afternoon. It folds open once built so you can play with it like any other Barbie dreamhouse.
Sold by Amazon
Uno “Barbie The Movie” Card Game
This is the same Uno game that you know and love, except for a special “played with too much” rule. Each card features a picture of Barbies from the movie, as portrayed by various actors.
Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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| 2023-07-31T21:52:36
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Former Washburn teacher sentenced to five years
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:12 PM CDT|Updated: 39 minutes ago
WASHBURN, N.D. (KFYR) - A Washburn school teacher will serve five years in prison for having an inappropriate relationship with a student.
Administrators told investigators last November that Joshua Eddy had been communicating inappropriately with a 15-year-old.
Prosecutors say Eddy told deputies the interactions with the student had gone “too far” and had become sexual.
He had taught in Washburn for about ten years.
Copyright 2023 KFYR. All rights reserved.
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| 2023-07-31T21:52:38
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METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — With fans cheering New Orleans Saints players took the field in 95-degree heat on Monday, and for the start of the second week of training camp, the pads came on.
Head coach Dennis Allen addressed the media after practice, as did the following players: rookie Bryan Bresee, offensive lineman James Hurst, linebacker Zack Baun, defensive lineman Malcolm Roach, and former Tulane standout Nick Anderson.
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| 2023-07-31T21:52:38
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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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| 2023-07-31T21:52:38
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Denton becomes first North American city to use LiDAR technology
Denton has become the first North American city to work with Singapore-based company Greehill and their light detection and ranging technology for urban tree inventories.
Greehill was founded in 2017 and helps cities “analyze and manage trees to tangibly improve the lives of citizens,” according to its website. After its success in Singapore, the company opened locations in Berlin, Budapest, Paris and San Francisco. Recently, the company reached North America.
“We just entered the North American market last year,” said Gabor Goertz, co-founder and chief executive officer of Greehill. “Denton is the first city in North America to be able to better manage its urban forest through Greehill’s Smart Tree Inventory.”
The company specializes in creating technology to keep a better environment.
“Overall, Greehill’s mission is to help cities thrive and become ‘cities in a garden,'” Goertz said. “This means becoming greener, safer, healthier, more resilient and providing the best natural environment for their citizens.”
The partnership, which began June 26, utilizes technology developed at Greehill to create a complete inventory of trees for the cities they work for. What once took up to a year to complete can now be accomplished in a matter of weeks, Haywood Morgan, urban forester and Denton Parks and Recreation staff member said. Greehill uses a special vehicle equipped with a high-performance laser-based system called LiDAR, light detection and ranging, along with high-resolution cameras to scan a city.
“The result of this step is a huge database of terabytes of data that contains a centimeter-accurate copy of the entire city,” Goertz said.
The company uses the data to create the 4D Digital Tree Twin. This gives an exact shape and detail of a tree, distinguishing it from other objects that can be found within a city park. The Digital Tree Twin shows the position, height, stem diameter, crown size, and species of the tree.
“But we go much further,” Goertz said. “For example, we calculate a safety factor for each tree, which indicates the wind speed at which the tree will break. We also check for disease, assess the vitality of each tree and analyze whether branches are interfering with the visibility of traffic signs or growing across roads or into infrastructure such as cables.”
The information gained from this technology helps a city make better decisions regarding urban trees.
“A tree inventory helps our staff make decisions on how to direct our financial and staffing resources to maintain our urban tree canopy,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Gary Packan. “We are excited to integrate this new technology into our Parks system by using best practices to improve the services to our residents.”
The process leading to partnership between Denton and the Greehill company began over a year ago when a representative of the company contacting the city of Denton’s Parks and Recreation department.
“I got an email also wanting to talk to me about their software and their technology for inventory and trees,” Morgan said. “Initially I was a little skeptical. I ended up setting up a meeting with the representative here in Denton [and] invited a couple of other cities where I know some people that may be interested. After seeing the demo of the program and their method for inventory and trees, it sold me.”
The purpose of a tree inventory is to keep a “snapshot in time,” Morgan said. It allows cities to manage urban trees more effectively and shows the overall size and condition of the tree, which ones are healthy or sick and which trees need to be managed and pruned. This allows for city planning while being more conscious of the environment.
“Today, in some major cities, up to 60 percent of trees have low vitality or are unhealthy,” Goertz said. “Unhealthy trees lose their ability to cool a city, filter fine particles from the air and absorb [carbon dioxide] from the environment. In addition, we see more tree-related accidents that injure citizens and damage infrastructure. At the same time, the cost of maintaining these unhealthy trees increases significantly.”
According to a press release from the city of Denton, the LiDAR system will collect data within 30 days, and a second data set will be collected in a couple of years to see the “analysis of the growth of public trees.”
Featured Image: A line of trees stand in a City of Denton public park on July 5, 2023. Makayla Brown
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| 2023-07-31T21:52:39
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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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| 2023-07-31T21:52:39
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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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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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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana State University has banned a grad student from teaching as of Thursday, July 20, after he reportedly left a tirade against a state lawmaker in a voicemail shared online.
State Senator Mike Fesi (R-Houma) shared an explicit voicemail left after the Louisiana Legislature overturned Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto of a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. It was the only veto overturned in the one-day special session.
Marcus Venable is a grad student who was teaching some classes in the sociology department. His special research interests are listed as criminology, sexual assault, sex offender recidivism and sex offender registries.
Fesi reportedly sent the recording to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
Louisiana State Police said they are, “aware of the voicemail, and we are currently investigating the complaint. It is active and ongoing.”
A transcript of the message was as follows:
“I just wanted to say congratulations to our state senator, Big Mike Fesi. And that f***ing moron voted to make things worse for people who are already suffering. You fat f***ing piece of s***. You did not produce any god****ed evidence to support the claims you made about people being harmed by transgender care, yet we’ve had tons of empirical evidence telling us there’s an increased suicide risk when people don’t get this care. So you, you big fat-headed motherf***er, I can’t wait to read your name in the f***ing obituary. I will make a god**** martini made from the tears of butthurt conservatives when we put your f***ing a** in the ground, you fat f***ing useless piece of s***. F*** you. I hope you have a terrible day. Go f*** yourself.”
A statement from LSU reads:
“As a university, we foster open and respectful dialogue. Like everyone, graduate students with teaching assignments have the right to express their opinions, but this profanity-filled, threatening call crossed the line. This does not exhibit the character we expect of someone given the privilege of teaching as part of their graduate assistantship. The student will be allowed to continue their studies but will not be extended the opportunity to teach in the future.”
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| 2023-07-31T21:52:44
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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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| 2023-07-31T21:52:45
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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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Dominic Fike’s ‘Sunburn’ is the ultimate summer album
The album of the summer is finally here with Dominic Fike’s newest project, “Sunburn.” Released on July 7, Fike’s sounds elevate what regular listeners are already used to, showing his growth as an artist from when he first started and gained popularity back in 2018 for his hit song “3 Nights.”
Fans of Fike can also look towards the authenticity the singer brings to his music through this album, touching on themes of heartbreak, regret and the lows of being a superstar. Mix that and the 3-year-long anticipation of another Fike album, “Sunburn” is the ultimate summer album with the upbeat yet laidback beats paired with the vulnerability of being a complex human under a spotlight.
To those who aren’t familiar with the celebrity, 27-year-old Fike was born in Naples, Florida, a place he references a lot in his songs. His first EP, “Don’t Forget About Me, Demos,” was initially released on SoundCloud in 2018, and after gaining popularity, he signed with Columbia Records.
In 2020, he released his debut album, “What Could Possibly Go Wrong,” which garnered positive reception from both critics and fans alike. He’s done multiple collaborations with huge artists, such as Halsey, Justin Bieber and even Sir Paul McCartney. More recently, Fike’s had two of his songs featured on popular summer movie soundtracks: “Mona Lisa” for “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and “Hey Blondie” for “Barbie.”
After Fike’s 2020 release, the artist went dormant and took a step back from the spotlight while working on music behind the scenes. His acting career took up his time as well. With his newfound stardom on “Euphoria,” his following grew massively, which made the anticipation around new music intensify.
“Sunburn” is a raw project with the goal to “let the world know who Dom is,” according to Jim-E Stack, the primary producer of the album. The album was also produced by Devin Workman, Henry Kwaipis and Fike himself. A press release described the album as a mixture of “heartbreak and regret, addiction, and jealousy” in a way that doesn’t romanticize the highs of being a celebrity.
Instead, it shows the more negative effects of stardom with “vulnerable revelations of a young artist still growing and putting their best foot forward.” Fike himself has called the album “very honest” and said he thinks “the world is missing honesty.” Tying everything together, Fike still stays true to who he is, which makes his work stay authentic despite his growing popularity and fame.
The way the singer stays candid about his life, experiences and emotions through his songs is through the lyricism. For example, in the first song off the album, “How Much Is Weed?,” he touches on his mother’s absence in his life due to being in and out of jail, as well as how he was in jail himself. For old fans, this isn’t new. He’s always been candid about this part of his life all throughout his career in both his songs and in interviews, and it reminds people that no matter the level of fame, he is a person as well.
This grounds listeners in reality more firmly when compared to other celebrities, which sets him apart from the sea of musicians. Another notable example of Fike’s candidness is with his collaboration with Weezer, “Think Fast.” In the only collaboration of the album, Fike mentions how “this place was bad for [him].” It’s inferred that he’s referencing his home in Naples due to the instability of his home life when he and his brother were younger.
However, in the title track, he sings a love letter to Florida, knowing that he will always love and appreciate his home until the day he dies, despite all that he had to go through. While he holds a special place for his childhood and his home, he doesn’t romanticize it and sees it for what it is, which is a way Fike claims his authenticity as a singer.
“Sunburn” expands on what we already know about Fike as an artist and as a person, and so far, it’s gathered an extremely positive reaction among listeners. He is currently on tour in the United States, and he’s also going on tour abroad for the first time, a milestone for the rising superstar.
Reya’s rating: 5/5
Featured Illustration by Allie Garza
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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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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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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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Jury poised to deliberate death penalty or life sentence for gunman in Pittsburgh synagogue massacre
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A jury is set to deliberate whether to impose the death penalty or a sentence of life in prison without parole on a man who spewed antisemitic hate before fatally shooting 11 worshippers at a synagogue in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community.
The same jurors who convicted 50-year-old Robert Bowers in June on 63 criminal counts listened to closing arguments Monday in the penalty phase of his federal trial, held nearly five years after the truck driver from suburban Baldwin perpetrated the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.
The extent to which mental illness and Bowers’ difficult childhood played a role in the massacre dominated the lawyers’ arguments for and against capital punishment. The jury is expected to get the case and begin deliberations on Tuesday.
Speaking for the government, U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan said Bowers was clearly motivated by religious hatred when he entered the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, and opened fire with an AR-15 rifle, shooting everyone he could find.
The gunman raved incessantly on social media about his hatred of Jewish people — using a slur for Jewish people some 400 times on a platform favored by the far right — and remains proud that he killed Jews, the prosecutor reminded jurors.
“Do not be numb to it. Remember what it means. This defendant targeted people solely because of the faith that they chose,” Olshan said.
He added: “This is a case that calls for the most severe punishment under the law: the death penalty.”
Bowers’ lead defense attorney, Judy Clarke, acknowledged the horror of his crimes but urged jurors to opt for mercy and a life sentence.
Bowers’ attorneys have argued that he has schizophrenia, a serious brain disorder whose symptoms include delusions and hallucinations, and that Bowers attacked the synagogue out of a delusional belief that Jews were helping to bring about a genocide of white people by coming to the aid of refugees and immigrants. On Monday, Clarke recounted Bowers’ history of psychiatric hospitalizations, including an extended stay in a residential juvenile mental health program.
The defense also presented evidence of Bowers’ difficult childhood.
“What has happened cannot be undone. We can’t rewind the clock and make it that this senseless crime never happened. All we can do is make the right decision going forward. We are asking you to make the right decision, and that is life,” Clarke said in her closing argument.
A life sentence would mean that “prison is where Mr. Bowers will die in obscurity, not as a hero and not as a martyr,” she said.
Olshan, the prosecutor, disputed the defense experts’ diagnosis of schizophrenia, asserting that Bowers was not suffering psychosis but had chosen to believe white supremacist rhetoric. And while acknowledging that Bowers was a depressed, neglected child, Olshan downplayed the significance of it, noting that Bowers had held jobs, paid bills, and was an otherwise functioning adult.
“He was not a child, he was a grown man. He was responsible for his actions, not his family and things that happened decades earlier. He was, he is responsible for his actions,” Olshan said.
Clarke retorted that “childhood matters.”
“It defies reality to say he got better, he’s fine, he’s just an evil guy. What it does is reflects a complete misunderstanding of serious mental illness,” she said.
In order to impose death, jurors must find that aggravating circumstances, which make the crime especially heinous, outweigh mitigating factors that could be seen as diminishing his culpability. Those aggravating circumstances could include the vulnerability of Bowers’ elderly and disabled victims and his targeting of Jewish people.
Olshan played a composite of 911 calls made from inside the synagogue, including audio of people being shot and a survivor’s horrified screams.
He said Bowers had taken “11 people, 11 full lives, 11 people who loved their families, 11 people who loved their friends, 11 people who were loved. ... How do you measure the impact of all of that loss?”
The prosecutor spoke about 75-year-old Joyce Fienberg’s care for her family and 65-year-old Richard Gottfried’s devotion to his faith. He said Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, had the ethos of a country doctor: “He loved delivering babies but he never delivered judgment.” David Rosenthal, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59, intellectually disabled brothers, “loved life,” Olshan said. “But maybe more than anything, they loved Tree of Life.”
The other deceased victims were Rose Mallinger, 97; Bernice Simon, 84, and her husband, Sylvan Simon, 86; Dan Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 87; and Irving Younger, 69.
The attack also wounded seven people, including five responding police officers. Bowers was shot three times before surrendering when he ran out of ammunition.
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Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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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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Netflix’s premature cancellation of several LGBTQ+ shows raises concerns about allyship
There are 629 million people worldwide that turn to Netflix for their everyday entertainment due to the platform currently housing numerous successful and critically acclaimed series. The streaming platform canceled a disproportionate number of shows centered on queerness after just one season, raising questions about the platform’s commitment to diverse queer representation.
According to GLAAD’s “Where We Are on TV” study, out of 596 LGBTQ+ characters, 29 percent of those, or 175 characters, have had their shows canceled across all streaming platforms this year. The study shows that the series that continue to stream are just the bare minimum, which is insufficient and shows the lack of diverse queer representation in media.
The show “First Kill” – which starred a Black lesbian lead character played by Imani Lewis – was terminated due to not meeting thresholds for viewing and completing episodes. The excuse is far from credible – the Netflix Top 10 site shows statistics proving that the series quickly cleared almost 100M hours viewed in the first 28 days of release.
Those statistics are doubled compared to the critically acclaimed queer show “Heartstopper,” which follows the story of Nick and Charlie and their blossoming relationship and continues to stream on Netflix with a new season release scheduled for this August.
According to Statista, by the last quarter of 2022, 179 original content titles were released on Netflix and only 28 of those were LGBTQ+ shows. Of those 28 shows, only seven have yet to be canceled or could stream three or more seasons. Such a disproportionate cancellation rate for queer shows within Netflix’s diverse selection is unsettling.
The cancellation rate is strikingly high when it comes to shows featuring lesbian characters or relationships. From “Everything Sucks!” to “One Day At A Time” and “Teenage Bounty Hunters,” Netflix appears to have a disturbing pattern of discontinuing shows with lesbian representation. Even shows like “I Am Not Okay With This” and “Atypical,” which centered around lesbian characters, met the same unfortunate fate.
While it’s essential to recognize that the cancellations aren’t limited to lesbian-focused shows, as various other diverse queer shows have suffered a similar fate, the clear bias toward gay men as the standard of the LGBTQ+ community in media cannot be ignored. Shows like “Young Royals,” “Heartstopper,” “Queer Eye,” “Umbrella Academy,” and “Sex Education” have been renewed, whereas others with similar viewership and critical acclaim haven’t received the same treatment.
This bias has led to a fetishization of gay couples, perpetuating the stereotype that gay men are more marketable and appealing to audiences. In doing so, Netflix dismisses the importance of showcasing a variety of LGBTQ+ perspectives and experiences, limiting the representation of the queer community to a narrow and often objectified portrayal.
The positive portrayal of queer characters in TV shows is a significant step forward for healthy representation of the LGBTQ+ community. These shows challenge stereotypes and foster understanding by presenting multi-dimensional characters with diverse experiences. They address important social issues and inspire both LGBTQ+ youth and wider audiences.
The positive representation offered by these shows also served as a source of inspiration and empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community. Seeing characters on screen who shared their identities and faced similar hurdles instilled a sense of hope and belonging. For those grappling with their identities, these shows acted as a lifeline, reassuring them that they were not alone and that their stories mattered.
The impact of these shows extended beyond the community. They played a pivotal role in educating and sensitizing wider audiences about the diversity of human experiences. By challenging preconceived notions and showcasing the strength and resilience of LGBTQ+ individuals, these shows foster empathy and understanding among viewers from all walks of life.
While celebrating the renewal of shows that promote positive representation is necessary, it is equally crucial to advocate for the diversity and inclusion of all queer stories. Netflix must acknowledge the impact of its content on shaping societal perceptions and take the responsibility to uplift and empower all queer voices.
By offering a platform for diverse queer narratives and supporting a wide range of LGBTQ+ shows, Netflix can become a true ally to the community it claims to represent. Embracing diversity benefits marginalized groups, enriches storytelling and creates a more inclusive and empathetic society. As viewers and advocates, we must continue to demand better representation and hold Netflix accountable for its choices. By doing so, we can ensure that the platform’s allyship extends to all members of the LGBTQ+ community, not just a select few.
Featured Illustration by Allie Garza
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San Francisco prosecutors lay out case against consultant in killing 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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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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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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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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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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The future of Hollywood is on strike
For the first time in 43 years, writers and actors are on strike together in what is becoming one of the largest labor disputes since the Hollywood strikes of 1960. Without any screenwriters or actors working on upcoming movies and TV shows, many productions have been delayed or are currently lying dead in the water. Now more than ever, Hollywood’s biggest studios are in major trouble as the strike continues with several controversies from major studio executives.
Due to the lack of an agreement between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writer’s Guild of America, writers went on strike on May 2, 2023, beginning the labor protest. Soon after, in July, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the picketing. As the strikes continue each day, the core reasoning remains the same: residuals and artificial intelligence.
Residuals are payments made to an actor, screenwriter and those who worked on a film or television show based on network reruns, DVD and digital sales or streaming services. Whenever a movie is released on a streaming platform or a rerun airs on a television channel, those who worked on the episode are paid an amount determined by several different factors. Such factors include the contract in place during production, where the product will appear, and more.
However, making a living based on residuals often doesn’t work for many involved in a production. For example, 50 Cent makes only $16 annually for reruns of his “The Simpsons” cameo on television or Disney+.
Additionally, the rise in AI technology, such as ChatGPT, poses a threat to the jobs of writers inside and outside of Hollywood. It does not help that these programs are designed to use or even copy pre-existing material from other writers, and usually without consent.
AI programs can result in a huge loss of creative control for writers as more screenplays end up being more generic and formulaic without any human emotion, values or themes to make the content truly stand out. Ultimately, it can lead to creating less original content to draw audiences’ attention in favor of a simple cash grab, rather than taking the risk of hiring talented writers to storyboard and write.
There is also the threat of AI for actors, where studios can use it to scan an actor’s face to create entirely digital performances and steal an actor’s voice for voice-over lines without consent. Many movie and TV characters have grown to become so beloved by their respective fans because of these talented actors in their roles. Without them, no one would care about nor relate to these fictional characters, whether human, alien or a talking raccoon. Using AI to replicate an actor’s voice and performance is robbing that character of its personality.
By not paying the talent responsible for creating the content filling these studio executives’ and CEO’s bank accounts, the Writer’s Strike has really begun to show the true colors behind these massive studios.
Disney CEO Bob Iger stated in an interview with CNBC that writers and actors on strike are being “unrealistic” with their demands and expectations. Meanwhile, Iger is one of the highest-paid studio executives in the last 5 years, earning nearly $200 million. Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav earned nearly $500 million and canceled the “Batgirl” movie in favor of “The Flash,” which cost over twice as much and definitely was not the lowest-grossing DC film since “Green Lantern.”
To rub even more salt in the wound, rumors state the plan for studio executives is to ride out the strike until October when writers and actors “start losing their homes and can’t afford to pay rent,” which the AMPTP quickly denied.
Despite this, there is no denying the fact that Hollywood is sinking as fast as the Titanic due to the lack of newly scripted shows and halted productions, causing millions of dollars in losses for the studios. Recently, Cillian Murphy and Matt Damon walked off the premiere of “Oppenheimer” because actors cannot promote their upcoming movies or TV shows during the strike. Without any of the talent behind their content, all of Hollywood’s studios like Disney, Universal and Warner Bros. will ultimately take another tremendous hit financially alongside trying to recover from debt due to the pandemic and mergers.
To put it simply, actors and writers can ride out the strike as long as it takes, in one way or another. Executives like Iger and Zaslav however, can’t without putting the studio in bankruptcy or being ousted sooner or later whether. Like it or not, they need the talent more than the talent needs them.
Featured Illustration by Isabella Isquierdo
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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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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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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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The North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board urges Governor Burgum to accept their new strategy
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Typically student teachers are assisted by a collaborating veteran teacher who helps guide them, but some say that system needs to change because of the teacher shortage.
The North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board held an emergency meeting last Thursday to discuss the problem.
The Board crafted a letter to Governor Burgum, asking him to allow more education students to lead a classroom on their own.
“The content of the letter was asking for an emergency ruling related to student teachers, also known as pre-service teachers. And so the board was asking that for pre-service teachers that the university felt were ready, they could become the teacher of record,” said Rebecca Pitkin, executive director.
The letter specified that the students would act as the teacher of record for one semester.
The board says they think this is the course of action that will be best in the short term, but other educational organizations, like North Dakota United, don’t agree with this approach.
“There is an art and a science to teaching and people that are fully trained and fully licensed. Understand that, and they are able to put their skills to work for the betterment of the children in their care,” said Nick Archuleta, NDU President. “When you start putting people in the classroom that aren’t trained, they aren’t licensed to teach, that puts that child at a disadvantage.”
He acknowledges there are more than 200 open teaching positions in North Dakota, and he wants a task force rather than taking a Band-Aid approach.
If the governor approves it, it will fall under a sunset clause, which means it expires after a certain date. It would also be used to collect data.
“Our board attempted to find something that was the least way of lowering the standards. We believe in high standards. We believe in pre-service teaching. Our office has received a lot of calls about the district’s inability to fill the shortage,” said Pitkin.
Keeping teachers in the classrooms once they start is also a big concern.
“Mentored teachers are much more likely to stay in the profession long-term. For those teachers that are already in the field. They’ll be teaching alongside people without a license, without a degree,” said Archuleta.
The letter also asked for the students to have a mentor in the building to answer their questions.
The students considered would be those who have finished all their coursework before beginning their internship.
The board is still waiting to hear back from the governor on what his decision will be.
Copyright 2023 KFYR. All rights reserved.
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San Francisco prosecutors lay out case against consultant in killing 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 artist uses talents to uplift women
Studio art and art history senior Carina Hernandez is a local multimedia artist whose work centers around the complex experiences of womanhood.
“I make art about my identity for other people to identify with,” Hernandez said. “I’ve been in so many conversations with other girls about shared traumas that we have faced as women in this world, that my art has really become my way to resonate with these other women who may have gone through something similar or see something in my art that they connect to.”
Hernandez enjoys experimenting with different mediums of art such as welding, woodworking and inking. As an art student, she employs various materials, styles, color palettes and subjects in her work, and does not attempt to limit herself to one specific style of expression.
“It’s clear that art is a language that truly speaks to Carina, as seen by her immense care and enthusiasm,” said Lauren Reird, Hernandez’s friend and literature and history senior. “Witnessing her growth this summer certainly feeds into my perception of Carina’s ever-growing appreciation of art as well as her blossoming skill as an artist.”
Hernandez’s mother was an art enthusiast herself, and always taught her children about the value of creative expression. It was not until high school that Hernandez began to take art more seriously. She started frequently creating spontaneous art to express her emotions, without throughly planning what she was going to make.
Now as a college student, Hernandez said she is able to recognize the pattern behind what she creates and makes pieces that are well-thought out and have clear messages behind them. She hopes her art will create a sense of community with her viewers and allow those who relate to her work to feel seen and heard.
“When I make my art I really am trying to also just open up these conversations that may be uncomfortable to have in a formal way,” Hernandez said. “By making things that confront these issues, I hope that my pieces allow others to be able to talk about them, break the stigma, and make some real change.”
Hernandez said nearly everything she creates is born in her thoughts about societal issues, particularly the way women have been mistreated in history and in the present day. This perspective serves as the connective tissue for her body of work.
“Carina is just so passionate about what she does,” said Katelyn Johnson, Hernandez’s friend and childhood education senior. “She pulls her inspiration from women both in her life as well as from the media and the past. It is great to be apart of her journey as an artist.”
One collection of her work, titled “Eve series,” includes a small garbage can made out of foil, along with crumbled collaged paper with harrowing statistics. One states that, “There has never been a female U.S. President. It would take 108 years to close the gender gap.” Another notable piece in the series is a painted apple with the phrase “Eve was framed.”
“I think every woman has this shared experience of having to navigate the patriarchy since birth and kind of facing our own challenges within that, that so many of us can relate to,” Hernandez said. “Whether that’s gender related power dynamics, sexual assault, or societal beauty or behavior expectations, being a woman will always be challenging. These are the kind of things that inspire me to make art today.”
Hernandez considers her art to not only communicate the complex and systemic issues faced by women, but to also take a more literal approach to womanhood. She often depicts naked female bodies in her work, in both abstract and traditional styles. This is a way for Hernandez to explore the topic about how women’s bodies are scrutinized and objectified by society from a young age.
“My upbringing in a feminine environment of my mom and my sister along with my own personal experience with sexual assault has shaped the way I make my art and perceive the world around me,” Hernandez said. “I employ the feminine figure in my works often to redefine the use of this motif through a feminist lens.”
Aside from her artistic studies, Hernandez’s double major in Art History is also apparent in her portfolio. She uses female artists of historical movements, particularly Surrealism, as inspiration for work. In a recent piece, she recreated the painting “Portrait of Leo” by Raphael, which she visited this summer during a trip to Italy. Her iteration of the Renaissance piece, titled ‘Legacy,” featured herself along with her mother and sister.
“When you study something famously filled with old white men it can be really discouraging as a woman practicing art today,” Hernandez said. “But the art history professors at UNT do a great job at reiterating the challenges that women have faced historically that has led to this drought of information on them, and have even gone out of their way to consistently include prominent women artists throughout history.”
Hernandez’s advice to artists trying to develop a specific “style” is to not worry too much about it, and instead identify the string that ties their pieces together. Looking inward instead of outward, she says, is the best way to find one’s artistic purpose. To follow Hernandez’s artistic journey, visit her instagram @carsartsy and her website, www.carinahernandez.com.
“No matter what you try to do, your experiences and your life will influence every decision you make and mark you make,” Hernandez said. “Once you know that, you can really lean into it and create a unified collection of work.”
Featured Image: Carina Hernandez poses with her art pieces in one of the College of Visual Arts and Design studios on July 19, 2023. Makayla Brown
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Luke Maile Player Prop Bets: Reds vs. Cubs - July 31
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:29 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
The Cincinnati Reds, including Luke Maile (batting .240 in his past 10 games, with a double, a home run, a walk and two RBI), battle starter Marcus Stroman and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Monday at 8:05 PM ET.
He had a one-hit showing in his most recent game (1-for-3) against the Dodgers.
Luke Maile Game Info & Props vs. the Cubs
- Game Day: Monday, July 31, 2023
- Game Time: 8:05 PM ET
- Stadium: Wrigley Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Cubs Starter: Marcus Stroman
- TV Channel: MARQ
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -133)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +900)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +250)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +180)
Looking to place a prop bet on Luke Maile? Check out what's available at BetMGM and use bonus code "GNPLAY" when you sign up with this link!
Explore More About This Game
Luke Maile At The Plate
- Maile is hitting .241 with eight doubles, four home runs and seven walks.
- In 45.2% of his games this season (19 of 42), Maile has picked up at least one hit, and in six of those games (14.3%) he recorded at least two.
- In four games this year, he has gone deep (9.5%, and 3.4% of his trips to the dish).
- Maile has an RBI in seven of 42 games this season, with multiple RBI in five of them. He has also driven home three or more of his team's runs in one contest.
- He has scored in 10 games this year (23.8%), but has had no multi-run games.
Ready to play FanDuel Daily Fantasy? Get in the game using our link.
Luke Maile Home/Away Batting Splits
Cubs Pitching Rankings
- The pitching staff for the Cubs has a collective 8.3 K/9, which ranks 22nd in MLB.
- The Cubs have the 12th-ranked team ERA across all MLB pitching staffs (4.07).
- The Cubs surrender the third-fewest home runs in baseball (111 total, 1.1 per game).
- The Cubs are sending Stroman (10-7) to the mound for his 23rd start of the season. He is 10-7 with a 3.51 ERA and 109 strikeouts through 125 2/3 innings pitched.
- The right-hander last appeared on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, when he threw 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs while giving up nine hits.
- This season, the 32-year-old ranks 21st in ERA (3.51), 28th in WHIP (1.202), and 47th in K/9 (7.8) among qualifying pitchers.
© 2023 Data Skrive. 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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SOURCE IBM
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Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 2:15 PM MDT|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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Several people taken to hospital as crews battle fire at Chandler business
CHANDLER, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - Crews from multiple agencies are working to extinguish a fire at a business in Chandler, where several people have been taken to hospitals.
The fire broke out around 2 p.m. at a business located just off 56th St. and Chandler Blvd. Crews from Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, and Guadalupe are also working to extinguish the fire, and initial reports say that multiple people have been taken from the scene to nearby hospitals for evaluation.
Video from the scene shows a large commercial building with a partial roof collapse. Other details are extremely limited.
Chandler police say 56th Street is shut down in both directions from Chandler Boulevard to Galveston. Check back for updates.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2023 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
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https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/31/several-people-taken-hospital-crews-battle-fire-chandler-business/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:10
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San Francisco prosecutors lay out case against consultant in killing 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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UNT Transportation Services prepares for upcoming year
As the fall semester approaches, there has been an increase in purchased parking passes and members of the community have been vocal about their experiences with Transportation Services.
Currently, 3,600 parking permits have been sold, most of which are resident permits, according to Director of Media Relations and university alumna Devynn Case. About 1,000 faculty staff permits and 1,000 Eagle Commuter passes have also been sold.
“We expect many more permits to be sold closer to the start of school,” Case said. “With a community as big as UNT, there are going to be changes by the dozens or hundreds depending on the time of year.”
Division Communications Strategist and university alumna Margarita Venegas said Transportation Services are especially busy during this time of year, especially with the large numbers of parking passes being sold.
The North Texas Daily asked members of the community on social media about their experiences with Transportation Services. Mansfield resident Dena Woodell, who is a parent of a student, found the process to be stressful and confusing.
“My son purchased his permit through UNT Transportation Services when the website was glitching […] however, I was able to speak to someone and was assured that I could get a refund,” Woodell said. “I did receive a request for a refund but received the permit in the mail and for a while, did not yet hear back regarding if the refund will be issued.”
After calling the office and being told to submit the permit form, Woodell publicly posted about her issue and received an answer back from Transportation Services through the Daily‘s post of inquiry.
“I hate to say it has been a negative experience, however, I am frustrated with the lack of communication and information given when contacting them about the issue,” Woodell said.
Audrey Perera, a biochemistry senior and commuter from McKinney, said despite their high service demands, she found the employees at Transportation Services to be attentive and the attainment of a commuter’s pass to be easy.
“I do think [the workers] are helpful — I think that if you’re willing to ask them for help they are good at answering questions,” Perera said. “For parking passes, I got mine this past year and it’s a pretty easy process. You can purchase online and they mail it to you. That was what I did, but you also can go to the office near the Highland parking garage and get passes during business hours which is convenient for some as well.”
Mathew Lemons, integrative studies graduate and former Transportation Services worker, said while the student workers want to be as attentive as possible to incoming students, the summer is a stressful time for workers in the office due to long hours and high turnover rate.
“I once had to work a 12 hour shift, which technically, isn’t illegal but we wouldn’t have to pull shifts like that if we could hire people without them quitting immediately,” said Lemons, who worked for Transportation Services until November 2022.
A lot of the increased stress for clients and workers alike is due to changes that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Venegas. To make the working environment less stressful, management has reworked their approach as of October 2022 to accommodate the change in employee needs.
“If you had an experience with the transportation system last year, it would look very different from what you experience would look like now,” Venegas said.
Rehiring for certain positions is one of the ways Transportation Services has made sure it can keep up with the increased demand for student assistance which has come with the increase in enrollment by hiring a new customer service manager. In addition, the department hired a new executive director who started on July 24.
“It was really about doing more work on our part to understand our student workers,” Venegas said. “It wasn’t that people didn’t care, there was just a bit of confusion and uncertainty in how to reach out to students. Following COVID, we did more study groups, more outreach to see what our community needs are.”
Through the challenges of figuring out how to best support their workers and clients alike, the Transportation Services offices have options for people who are unable to get the parking passes they want.
“UNT has a park and ride option where students can park for free and take the Colorado Express bus to the UNT Union,” Case said. “We keep this free option open to help students who cannot pay for a permit.”
Featured Image: A UNT transportation services bus parks next to the Highland Street parking garage on July 20, 2023. Makayla Brown
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PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A man is dead after he was hit by another driver who was speeding and trying to evade a police officer in Prince George County on Friday morning.
On Friday, July 28, 2023, at 11:39 p.m., Prince George County police tried to pull over a 1998 Dodge pickup that was driving over the speed limit on the 5700 block of Oaklawn Boulevard. Instead of pulling over, the driver of the pickup kept going down Oaklawn Boulevard and tried to get away from the officer.
The officer followed the pickup as it drove east down Oaklawn Boulevard and then continued into the City of Hopewell. The pickup crashed into a 2021 Toyota Camry at the intersection of Oaklawn Boulevard and Ashland Avenue shortly afterwards .
The driver of the Toyota Camry, identified as Andre Bassett Jr., 45, of Jacksonville, Florida, was taken to a local hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries.
The driver of the pickup has been identified as 34-year-old Tequan Devon Taylor of Petersburg. Charges against Taylor are currently pending, according to Prince George County Police.
The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team are currently investigating the crash. If you have any information, contact the Virginia State Police by calling 804-609-5656, dialing #77 on a cell phone, or emailing questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
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https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/man-hit-killed-by-pickup-truck-during-police-pursuit-in-prince-george-hopewell/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:12
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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.
View original content:
SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
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| 2023-07-31T21:53:14
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Strong thunderstorms possible tonight with dust, wind, rain
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - First things first. The record hot streak appears to have ended yesterday……31 days of 110 degrees or more for high temperatures in Phoenix. As of 2 p.m., the high was 102 degrees. And while it’s possible the temp could jump on us, it seems unlikely. So that’s something. And, yes, this will be not only the hottest July on record for Phoenix but the hottest month on record, way past August 2020. Also notable, the low was 83 this morning at Sky Harbor, the coolest morning temp since July 1st.
Now to the rain chances. They are significant tonight around the Valley, and we could get some intense storms. The timing indicates our best chances from 8-11 p.m. tonight around metro Phoenix, but the timetable could move up, and we could see some blowing dust beforehand. The chance for rain is about 40% for most folks around the Valley. The chances are higher in the southeast Valley. After tonight and tomorrow, the chance for storms goes way down, and it looks like we’ll heat up again.
As far as rain is concerned, most of the Valley has not gotten a lot of monsoon rain. Even the locations that have gotten summer rain are all under one inch. We are very, very dry.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2023 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
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https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/31/strong-thunderstorms-possible-tonight-with-dust-wind-rain/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:16
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St. Anthony woman pleads guilty to manslaughter
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:20 PM CDT|Updated: 30 minutes ago
ST. ANTHONY, N.D. (KFYR) - A St. Anthony woman has pleaded guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter in federal court.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs patrol officers say 20-year-old Trina Lily Hunt was intoxicated and driving recklessly without a license when she crashed into another vehicle in 2021.
Authorities say the other driver, Winter Skye Bigtrack, was also intoxicated and driving recklessly without a license. Three passengers died and another suffered serious injuries.
Bigtrack previously pled guilty and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Hunt is scheduled for sentencing in November.
Copyright 2023 KFYR. All rights reserved.
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| 2023-07-31T21:53:17
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/07/31/st-anthony-woman-pleads-guilty-manslaughter/
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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.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE IBM
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ibm-elects-michael-miebach-its-board-directors/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:16
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Virginia is less than 100 days away from an Election Day that will decide all 140 seats in the General Assembly, but a different election more than two years away is the race making headlines — the race for governor.
Politico is reporting Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-7th District) is planning to run for governor. Spanberger is expected to face competition for the Democratic nomination with Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and former House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, who is rumored to be considering a run.
“I’d say she is right at the top in terms of the most competitive candidates who have at least indicated they are interested in running,” VCU Political Science Professor Alex Keena said when speaking about Spanberger.
Republican incumbent Governor Glenn Younkin is limited to one term, but Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares could be Republicans candidates to replace him.
Keena says it will come down to how Republicans choose their nominee. In 2021, no primary was held and party leaders held to a convention to choose the nominee. But Keena says this time around, things could go differently.
“If they open it up to primary elections, we might get a completely different set of candidates who would do better in the circumstance,” Keena said.
Meanwhile, Politico says Spanberger won’t seek reelection in Congress next year, opening up a competitive seat that could affect the balance of power in the U.S. House. Spanberger won reelection in the 7th Congressional District by less than 13,000 votes (4.7%) in 2022.
“So much of it depends on the presidential election in 2024, whether a president can bring Democratic or Republican voters to the polls,” Keena said.
A spokesperson for Spanberger reiterated to 8News that “like every Virginia Democrat should be, Abigail is squarely focused on the 2023 General Assembly races.”
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https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/political-scientist-says-spanberger-is-right-at-top-of-candidates-for-virginia-governor/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:18
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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.
View original content:
SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/john-hancock-tax-advantaged-dividend-income-fund/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:21
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By LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has decided to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, overturning a last-ditch decision by the Trump administration to move it to Alabama. The choice ended months of thorny deliberations, but an Alabama lawmaker vowed to fight on.
U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Monday that Biden was convinced by the head of Space Command, Gen. James Dickinson, who argued that moving his headquarters now would jeopardize military readiness. Dickinson’s view, however, was in contrast to Air Force leadership, who studied the issue at length and determined that relocating to Huntsville, Alabama, was the right move.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of Biden’s rationale for the decision.
In announcing the plans, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said the decision was based on an “objective and deliberate process informed by data and analysis.” He said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin supported the president’s decision.
Reaction to the decision came fast and was sharply divided, as Colorado lawmakers praised it and Alabama officials slammed it as a political maneuver. “This fight is far from over,” warned Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Biden, said the U.S. officials, believes that keeping the command in Colorado Springs would avoid a disruption in readiness that the move would cause, particularly as the U.S. races to compete with China in space. And they said Biden firmly believes that maintaining stability will help the military be better able to respond in space over the next decade. Those factors, they said, outweighed what the president believed would be any minor benefits of moving to Alabama.
Biden’s decision enraged Alabama lawmakers and is sure to fuel accusations that abortion politics played a role in the choice. The location debate has become entangled in the ongoing battle between Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville and the Defense Department over the move to provide travel for troops seeking reproductive health care. Tuberville opposed the policy is blocking hundreds of military promotions in protest.
The U.S. officials said the abortion issue had no effect at all on Biden’s decision. And they said the president fully expected there would be different views on the matter within the Defense Department.
Tuberville, in a statement, said the top three choices for Space Command headquarters were all in Republican-leaning states — Alabama, Nebraska and Texas — and bypassing them “looks like blatant patronage politics.”
Formally created in August 2019, the command was temporarily based in Colorado, and Air Force and Space Force leaders initially recommended it stay there. In the final days of his presidency Donald Trump decided it should be based in Huntsville.
The change triggered a number of reviews.
Proponents of keeping the command in Colorado have argued that moving it to Huntsville and creating a new headquarters would set back its progress at a time it needs to move quickly to be positioned to match China’s military space rise. And Colorado Springs is also home to the Air Force Academy, which now graduates Space Force guardians, and more than 24 military space missions, including three Space Force bases.
Officials also argued that any new headquarters in Alabama would not be completed until sometime after 2030, forcing a lengthy transition.
Huntsville, however, scored higher than Colorado Springs in a Government Accountability Office assessment of potential locations and has long been a home to some of earliest missiles used in the nation’s space programs, including the Saturn V rocket. It is home to the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command.
According to officials, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who ordered his own review of the matter, leaned toward Huntsville, while Dickinson was staunchly in favor of staying put. The officials said Austin presented both options to Biden.
In a statement Monday, Kendall said the service will work to quickly implement Biden’s decision, adding that keeping the command in Colorado will “avoid any disruption to its operational capability.”
The decision was hailed as a victory in Colorado lawmakers and condemned in Alabama.
“For two and a half years we’ve known any objective analysis of this basing decision would reach the same conclusion we did, that Peterson Space Force Base is the best home for Space Command,” Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said in a statement. “Most importantly, this decision firmly rejects the idea that politics — instead of national security — should determine basing decisions central to our national security.”
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said the 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.”
Rogers, meanwhile, vowed that his committee will continue an investigation into the matter, calling it a “deliberate taxpayer-funded manipulation of the selection process.” He added, “It’s clear that far-left politics, not national security, was the driving force behind this decision.”
Republican Alabama Sen. Katie Britt echoed his sentiment, saying it was irresponsible for Biden to “yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics.” She said an Air Force evaluation of the potential locations ranked Huntsville first, adding that the decision ”should have remained in the Air Force’s purview.”
___
Associated Press writer Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Ala., contributed to this report.
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| 2023-07-31T21:53:22
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Past student members of various boards of education in Maryland filed an amicus brief supporting the voting rights of Howard County’s student board member, a statute being legally contested by two parents.
The parents filed the suit, which aimed to strip the student board member’s voting rights, in 2020 after the student was the deciding vote that prevented a return to in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic. The parents lost their suit last year and are now appealing their claim to the Fourth Circuit.
A total of 103 former student board members who served from 1974 to 2023 came together to submit the amicus brief, filed July 24. The brief asserts that the district court’s decision from 2021 should be upheld.
“Student members have voted on Maryland boards of education for nearly fifty years thanks to bipartisan state legislative efforts, and they have shown themselves to be an integral component of effective educational policymaking at the state and local levels,” Emily Wilson, an attorney representing the former student members, said in a statement. “Given this rich and well-settled legislative history, it could not be farther from controversial that the Howard County student member is chosen in part based on input from other students or votes on certain matters that come before the Board.”
Anthony M. Conti, an attorney for the plaintiffs, did not respond to an immediate request for comment.
Local student board members have voting rights in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, as well as Baltimore City, so more than 75% of Maryland public school students are represented by a local voting student member, the brief says. Additionally, a student board member, Howard County’s own Abisola Ayoola, votes on the Maryland State Board of Education.
In Howard County, the student member has had voting rights since 2007, the brief points out. Lamia Ayaz, a senior at Howard High School, is Howard County’s latest student member of the board and will serve until next June.
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https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-student-board-members-amicus-brief-howard-county-20230731-hk24qkd2mrbklmr5vmehf5kvle-story.html
| 2023-07-31T21:53:22
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Man hit by car after being pushed into traffic, witnesses tell Phoenix police
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Phoenix police are looking for a suspect after witnesses saw someone push a man into oncoming traffic in central Phoenix late Monday morning. That man was then hit by a car and seriously injured.
Phoenix police responded around 11 a.m. to the area of 5th Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Witnesses told officers that they saw a man being pushed into the road as a car was coming. After the man was struck, the suspect then took off and remains on the loose.
Authorities arrived and rushed the man to a nearby hospital where he remains in critical condition. No other information has been released, but a heavy police presence could be seen along Bethany Home Road.
Detectives are investigating.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2023 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
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https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/31/suspect-pushes-man-into-oncoming-traffic-phoenix-leaving-him-critical-condition/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:22
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https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/31/suspect-pushes-man-into-oncoming-traffic-phoenix-leaving-him-critical-condition/
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Watford City man arrested for gross sexual imposition, burglary
WATFORD CITY, N.D. (KUMV) - A Watford City man was arrested in connection to a pair of sexual assaults reported earlier this month.
The Watford City Police Department says Dylan Lobato tried to force himself on a taxicab driver around 12:30 a.m. on July 11.
They say Lobato then stole the vehicle after the driver fled and drove to another house, where he entered and attempted to sexually assault another individual. The resident fought back, and Lobato fled.
Officers said the individuals’ description matched Lobato, and a search warrant of Lobato’s house resulted in the department finding items from the sexual assaults.
Lobato was arrested on July 28. He was charged with gross sexual imposition, burglary, terrorizing, sexual assault and wearing a mask during commission of a criminal offense.
Lobato is being held on two $50,000 bonds.
The Watford City Police Department say they believe this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community.
Copyright 2023 KFYR. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/07/31/watford-city-man-arrested-gross-sexual-imposition-burglary/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:23
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/07/31/watford-city-man-arrested-gross-sexual-imposition-burglary/
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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.
View original content:
SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/john-hancock-premium-dividend-fund/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:23
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The man who was wanted in connection with fatally striking a 4-year-old boy in Hyde Park and then leaving the scene of the crash has turned himself in, according to Boston Police and the Suffolk County district attorney.
Olguens Joseph has been wanted on a warrant out of West Roxbury District Court for: motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation; leaving the scene of personal injury and death; and operation of an unregistered/uninsured motor vehicle.
Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden during a Monday evening National Night Out stop in Hyde Park thanked the community for its help in this investigation, which led to the arrest on Monday.
“It also happened as a result of some incredible police work… and incredible work by prosecutors in my office as well,” Hayden said.
Police responded to the fatal hit-and-run on Tuesday, July 18, in the area of 165 Wood Ave., in Hyde Park.
Officers at around 9:30 p.m., responded to a report of a child struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, officers found a 4-year-old boy suffering from life-threatening injuries.
The boy was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The family identified the boy as Ivan Pierre.
After the crash, the suspect drove away. Police later released photos and video of the suspect vehicle, described as a 2016-2022 gray Chevrolet Spark.
The Boston Police Department continues to investigate the incident. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at 617-343-4470.
Those who want to remain anonymous can call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).
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https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/07/31/boston-police-id-man-wanted-in-connection-with-fatally-striking-boy-in-hyde-park-leaving-the-scene-of-the-crash/
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During his pre-trade deadline news conference Friday, Mike Elias described the American League East as “arguably the strongest division of all time.”
After years in the division’s cellar, the Orioles are now leading it ahead of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline. But Elias, the club’s executive vice president and general manager, said going from worst to first in under two years hasn’t given him the confidence to sit on his hands while other AL East teams bolster their rosters.
On Monday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Rays, who entered the day 1 1/2 games back of the Orioles, acquired starting pitcher Aaron Civale from the Cleveland Guardians. The Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday acquired reliever Jordan Hicks from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Elias said what their top competitors in the AL and division do at the deadline could have an impact on how the Orioles approach potential trades.
“We’re keeping an eye on what our division’s doing,” he said. “Look, we’re a game and a half up in our division, there’s a long way to go. You’re not just worrying about the Rays in second place. We’ve got three other teams, and any one of those could challenge for the division. It’s certainly part of the equation is keeping an eye on what other teams are doing as it pertains to forecasting where we’re going.”
Ahead of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, here are the three types of players the Orioles could target.
Starting pitchers
Elias said he “would bet heavily” that any additions at the deadline would be for pitchers.
Adding a starting pitcher, especially one who can lead the rotation, is perhaps the club’s biggest need. It was made even more so after the Orioles optioned starter Tyler Wells to Double-A on Sunday after a string of ineffective starts.
“I think it’s no secret that that would be the areas of the team where we could A. either use more depth or B. look for upgrades,” Elias said. “We’re participating in that market, and we’ll see what comes of it, but those are obviously the conversations that are first and foremost for us on the pitching side when we’re looking to bring in help.”
Without Wells, who was the Orioles’ best starting pitcher in the first half, Baltimore is without a named starter Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. That spot in the rotation will either be given to left-hander Cole Irvin or an arm the Orioles acquire at the deadline.
While Kyle Bradish has been excellent the past two months, he’s still just in his second big league season. John Means could return from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery recovery in early September, but whether he’ll be able to start games and throw 90-plus pitches remains to be seen.
For those reasons, a top-line starting pitcher is the main way the Orioles can make a splash at the deadline.
Possible options: New York Mets right-hander Justin Verlander, San Diego Padres left-hander Blake Snell, Detroit Tigers left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, Tigers right-hander Michael Lorenzen, St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty.
Relief pitchers
The back end of the Orioles’ bullpen doesn’t need help, but they do need assistance in getting to the dynamic duo of Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista.
At times this season, Baltimore’s bullpen has struggled in the middle innings. Elias has already made one move to bolster the club’s middle relief corps, adding right-hander Shintaro Fujinami from the Oakland Athletics. But that doesn’t mean the Orioles can’t add another reliever.
Baltimore Orioles Insider
“We’ve got a great back half of the bullpen, but there’s a couple of spots that are in flux,” he said. “Any team can improve the middle part of their bullpen. By definition, you can always improve the middle part of your bullpen. Obviously, we’ve got the best closer in the game right now, and relative to him, the middle spots are an area that we can look around for and we’re doing that in addition to the Fujinami trade.”
While a reliever wouldn’t be as impactful as a starter, it would also cost less for the Orioles to acquire one.
Possible options: Padres left-hander Josh Hader, Washington Nationals right-hander Kyle Finnegan, Kansas City Royals left-hander Scott Barlow, Chicago White Sox left-hander Aaron Bummer.
Outfielders
Given the injuries to center fielders Cedric Mullins and Aaron Hicks, it’s possible the Orioles could be in the market for an outfielder who can play center field.
However, Elias said the goal for Hicks and Mullins is for them to spend “a large bit of August” back with the Orioles. He said their injuries aren’t influencing how the club is handling the deadline.
“We’re not that worried,” he said. “Obviously, they’re out for a few weeks, but we’ve got [Colton] Cowser, [Ryan] McKenna, [Austin] Hays. We’re in pretty good shape.”
Possible options: Nationals’ Lane Thomas, Mets’ Mark Canha, Seattle Mariners’ Teoscar Hernández, Mets’ Tommy Pham.
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https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-trade-deadline-player-types-20230731-4kv3rsue3navvaldebmrkd43pa-story.html
| 2023-07-31T21:53:28
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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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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/linkbancorp-inc-announces-second-quarter-2023-financial-results/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:27
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Traffic fatalities across Arizona rise again in 2022
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - The number of deadly car crashes across Arizona rose by 8.6% since last year.
Overall, the 2022 traffic death rate is the second-highest ever recorded in Arizona at 52,411. Crashes associated with unlawful speeding or driving too fast for road conditions resulted in 426 deaths, or nearly 33% of all deaths. Other high-ranking categories include seat belts, motorcycle helmets, and impairment.
“Every single traffic fatality is an unspeakable loss for families and for this state,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “ADOT and our law enforcement partners need every driver, pedestrian, bicyclist and motorcyclist working together to prevent crashes, injuries and deaths.”
There were 302 pedestrian deaths and 228 motorcycle driver deaths in crashes since 2021. You can check out the Arizona Department of Transportation’s annual Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report here. ADOT officials are encouraging all drivers to be patient, wear their seatbelts, and avoid all distractions while driving.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
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Copyright 2023 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
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https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/31/traffic-fatalities-across-arizona-rise-again-2022/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:28
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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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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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NBA superstar LeBron James finally addressed his son Bronny James’ terrifying collapse during a Monday workout in southern California — shortly before the 18-year-old phenom was released from a Los Angeles hospital.
“I want to thank the countless people sending my family love and prayers,” the 38-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward tweeted. “We feel you and I’m so grateful. Everyone doing great.”
His 18-year-old son suffered a cardiac arrest during a morning practice session with the University of Southern California Trojans team he recently joined as a freshman.
“We have our family together, safe and healthy, and we feel your love,” LeBron James told supporters. “Will have more to say when we’re ready but I wanted to tell everyone how much your support has meant to all of us!”
LeBron James has said he hopes to someday play with his son in the NBA. How Monday’s medical episode may impact Bronny James’ basketball career is unclear. The top-rated teenage guard is expected to be targeted by NBA teams after his first year of college ball.
A representative for the James family told TMZ Bronny James was “in stable condition and no longer in ICU” Monday following the teenager’s medical emergency. That statement thanked the USC medical staff and asked for “respect and privacy” as the matter unfolded. TMZ reported Thursday afternoon Bronny James was no longer under hospital care.
The 6′3″ prodigy is a four-star recruit trying to follow in the enormous footsteps of his dad, who made the leap straight from high school to the NBA in 2003 when his home state Cleveland Cavaliers made him the first pick in that year’s draft. LeBron James won the NBA’s 2004 Rookie of the Year award on his way to collecting four NBA titles in a career that remains productive.
Bronny James was born in Cleveland, but his father’s travels included a stop in Miami, Fla., a return to Ohio, then a 2018 move to Los Angeles where LeBron James won of his championship rings.
LeBron James and his wife Savannah James’ 16-year-old son Bryce James plays high school basketball in Los Angeles. He posted an Instagram photo showing himself with his big brother and a heart emoji Tuesday.
USC men’s basketball team is scheduled to open their 2023-2024 season with a Nov. 6 game against the Kansas State Wildcats in Las Vegas, NV.
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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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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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LINKBANCORP, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 2:30 PM MDT|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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By FARNOUSH AMIRI (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden’s former business partner insisted in testimony to Congress Monday that President Joe Biden was never directly involved in their financial dealings, though Hunter would often put his famous father on speakerphone to impress clients and business associates.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee conducted a more than-five hour interview with Devon Archer as part of its expanding congressional inquiry into the Biden family businesses as the GOP explores a potential impeachment inquiry into the president.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers inside the closed-door interview said Archer testified that over the span of 10 years, Hunter Biden put his father on the phone around 20 times while in the company of associates but “never once spoke about any business dealings.”
New York Rep. Dan Goldman, who was representing Democrats inside the room, told reporters after the interview that Archer testified that Hunter sold the “illusion of access” to his father by taking credit for things his father did as vice president that he had no part in.
But Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican member of the Oversight Committee, came out of the interview saying that testimony implicated the president directly. “I think we should do an impeachment inquiry,” the Arizona lawmaker told reporters.
Biggs, reading from his notes, said Archer testified that the Ukrainian gas company “Burisma would have gone out of business sooner if the Biden brand had not been invoked. People would be intimidated to legally mess with Burisma because of the Biden family brand.”
Focusing on that idea, Rep. James Comer, the GOP chairman of the Oversight Committee, said in a statement late Monday that “Joe Biden was ‘the brand’ that his son sold around the world to enrich the Biden family.”
“We are aware that all sides are claiming victory following Mr. Archer’s voluntary interview today,” Archer’s attorney, Matthew Schwartz, said in a statement. “But all Devon Archer did was exactly what we said he would: Show up and answer the questions put to him honestly and completely.”
He added, “Mr. Archer shared the truth with the committee, and we will leave to them and others to decide what to do with it.”
The White House saw the testimony as a falling short of House Republicans promise to deliver “bombshell evidence.”
“It appears that the House Republicans’ own much-hyped witness today testified that he never heard of President Biden discussing business with his son or his son’s associates, or doing anything wrong,” Ian Sams, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement.
Archer, who served with Hunter Biden on the board of Burisma, has long been seen by Republicans as a key witness in their search to directly connect the president to his son’s various international business transactions.
Comer had issued a subpoena to Archer in June, saying he “played a significant role in the Biden family’s business deals abroad, including but not limited to China, Russia, and Ukraine.” He said Archer’s testimony would be critical to the committee’s investigation.
Republicans have focused much attention on an unverified tip to the FBI that alleged a bribery scheme involving Joe Biden when he was vice president. The claim, which first emerged in 2019, was that Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor in order to stop an investigation into Burisma, the oil-and-gas company where Hunter Biden was on the board.
Democrats on the committee, including Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking minority member, have reiterated that the Justice Department investigated the Burisma claim when Donald Trump was president and closed the matter after eight months, finding “insufficient evidence” that it was true. Democrats have also highlighted the transcript of an interview with Mykola Zlochevsky, Burisma’s co-founder, in which he denied having any contact with Joe Biden while Hunter Biden worked for the company.
“Mr. Zlochevsky’s statements are just one of the many that have debunked the corruption allegations,” Raskin said.
On top of his relationship with Hunter Biden, who is currently facing federal tax charges, Archer has his own legal troubles stemming from a 2018 felony conviction for his role in a conspiracy to defraud a Native American tribe. That conviction was overturned later that year, but the court of appeals in New York reinstated it in 2020. His sentencing in the case has been repeatedly delayed by appeals.
Archer’s appearance before lawmakers had been scheduled and canceled several times since June. Republicans suggested it was about to be delayed again after the Justice Department over the weekend asked a judge to schedule a date for Archer to surrender to prison and begin serving out his one-year sentence in the unrelated fraud case.
Republicans — led by Comer — criticized that delay, calling it an effort by the Justice Department to intimidate a witness. But the Justice Department in a follow-up memo to the court noted Archer’s surrender was not imminent and asked a judge to ensure that he testified to Congress before reporting to prison.
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https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/07/31/hunter-biden-sold-illusion-of-access-to-his-father-former-business-partner-tells-congress/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:40
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https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/07/31/hunter-biden-sold-illusion-of-access-to-his-father-former-business-partner-tells-congress/
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Diamondbacks vs. Giants Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread - July 31
Monday's contest between the San Francisco Giants (58-48) and Arizona Diamondbacks (56-50) going head to head at Oracle Park has a projected final score of 5-3 (based on our computer prediction) in favor of the Giants, so it should be a competitive matchup. The game will start at 9:45 PM ET on July 31.
The Giants will look to Alex Cobb (6-3) against the Diamondbacks and Ryne Nelson (6-5).
Diamondbacks vs. Giants Game Info & Odds
- When: Monday, July 31, 2023 at 9:45 PM ET
- Where: Oracle Park in San Francisco, California
- How to Watch on TV: NBCS-BA
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM Sportsbook and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Diamondbacks vs. Giants Score Prediction
Our pick for this game is Giants 5, Diamondbacks 4.
Total Prediction for Diamondbacks vs. Giants
- Total Prediction: Under 8 runs
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Discover More About This Game
Diamondbacks Performance Insights
- In four games as the underdog over the last 10 matchups, the Diamondbacks have a record of 1-3.
- In its last 10 games with an over/under, Arizona and its opponents have combined to eclipse the total four times.
- The last 10 Diamondbacks games have not had a runline posted by bookmakers.
- The Diamondbacks have been victorious in 26, or 48.1%, of the 54 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
- This season, Arizona has come away with a win 11 times in 23 chances when named as an underdog of at least +125 or longer on the moneyline.
- Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Diamondbacks have a 44.4% chance of pulling out a win.
- The offense for Arizona is No. 8 in baseball, scoring 4.9 runs per game (517 total runs).
- The Diamondbacks have the 26th-ranked ERA (4.67) in the majors this season.
Put your picks to the test and bet on with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Diamondbacks Schedule
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved.
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| 2023-07-31T21:53:41
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https://www.azfamily.com/sports/betting/2023/07/31/diamondbacks-giants-mlb-picks-predictions/
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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.
View original content:
SOURCE Oconee Financial Corporation
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oconee-financial-corporation-completes-acquisition-elberton-federal-savings-amp-loan-association-related-common-stock-offering/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:41
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oconee-financial-corporation-completes-acquisition-elberton-federal-savings-amp-loan-association-related-common-stock-offering/
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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.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE North Dakota Tourism Division
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/north-dakota-landscape-awash-vibrant-yellow-sunflowers/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:43
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/north-dakota-landscape-awash-vibrant-yellow-sunflowers/
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As uncertainty swirls around the Sixers and the Knicks maintain their chest of trade assets, Joel Embiid acknowledged that achieving his goal may not happen in Philadelphia.
“I just want to win a championship. Whatever it takes. I don’t know where that’s going be,” Embiid said last week at the inaugural UNINTERRUPTED Film Festival. “Whether it’s in Philly or anywhere else. I just want to have a chance to accomplish that. I want to see what it feels like to win that first one and then you can think about the next one. It’s not easy. It takes more than one or two or three guys.”
Embiid’s comment, which was delivered after interviewer Maverick Carter asked about the center’s future, comes after the Sixers, a perennial playoff disappointment, were again eliminated in the second round, fired head coach Doc Rivers and James Harden requested a trade.
As the Daily News reported, Embiid has been mentioned for months around league circles as the Knicks’ ideal trade candidate. Leon Rose, who served as Embiid’s agent before taking over New York’s front office, has accumulated a bevy of future draft picks — although some are protected and losing value — while demonstrating restraint in negotiations for stars lesser than the reigning MVP.
Of course, hinting at pressuring the Sixers is much different than requesting a trade. Embiid, 29, still has four years and roughly $196 million remaining on his contract, including a $59 million player option in 2026-27.
The circumstances should make a trade unlikely, but a recent NBA trend suggests otherwise. Just in the last few years, Harden, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal worked out trades to desired destinations with multiple years left on their respective mega contracts. Dame Lillard is in the process of doing it.
Embiid, who was drafted by the Sixers in 2014, has struggled in the playoffs and never advanced past the second round. He recently expressed hope that Harden would reconsider his trade demand.
There has been no indication Harden has changed his mind, however. The Clippers are reportedly his top choice.
“Disappointed. But then, I also understand, it’s business,” Embiid told Showtime’s Rachel Nichols. “You know, people make decisions and I’m more appreciative of the way he’s handled the whole situation. We’re going to be boys forever. I want him to come back, obviously, so we can go out and accomplish what we want, which is to win a championship. So hopefully his mindset can be changed.
“But other than that, I’m just so happy to be his friend. You know, we close. We’ve grown since he got here. That’s what I’m excited about. I’m excited to keep that friendship for the rest of our lives.”
Embiid’s interview last week at the UNINTERRUPTED Film Festival was part of his new partnership with LeBron James’ multimedia company, The SpringHill Company.
The Knicks, meanwhile, navigated another quiet offseason after falling in the second round to Miami. They picked up Donte DiVincenzo in free agency and traded Obi Toppin.
But they kept all their draft assets in case a superstar like Embiid jars loose.
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https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/07/31/joel-embiid-would-leave-sixers-for-championship-goal-i-dont-know-where-thats-going-to-be-5/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:46
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How to Watch the Diamondbacks vs. Giants Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for July 31
Michael Conforto and the San Francisco Giants will look to do damage against Ryne Nelson when he starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday at 9:45 PM ET, in the first game of a four-game series at Oracle Park.
Sign up for Fubo to watch this matchup and make sure you don't miss any of the action all year long!
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Diamondbacks vs. Giants Live Stream, TV Channel and Game Info:
- Date: Monday, July 31, 2023
- Time: 9:45 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBCS-BA
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Venue: Oracle Park
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM Sportsbook and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Read More About This Game
Diamondbacks Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Diamondbacks rank 16th in Major League Baseball with 120 home runs.
- Arizona ranks eighth in the majors with a .428 team slugging percentage.
- The Diamondbacks rank seventh in MLB with a .258 team batting average.
- Arizona is among the highest scoring teams in baseball, ranking eighth with 517 total runs this season.
- The Diamondbacks have an on-base percentage of .326 this season, which ranks 11th in the league.
- The Diamondbacks have shown patience at the plate this season with the third-best rate of strikeouts per game (7.8) among MLB offenses.
- Arizona averages the 22nd-most strikeouts per nine innings (8.3) in the majors this season.
- Arizona pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.67 ERA this year, which ranks 26th in MLB.
- Diamondbacks pitchers have a 1.346 WHIP this season, 20th in the majors.
Diamondbacks Probable Starting Pitcher
- Nelson (6-5) will take to the mound for the Diamondbacks and make his 22nd start of the season.
- The right-hander gave up five earned runs in six innings pitched on Tuesday in his last outing, a matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals.
- In 21 starts this season, he's earned a quality start in six of them.
- Nelson has pitched five or more innings in three straight games and will look to extend that streak.
- He has two appearances with no earned runs allowed in 21 chances this season.
Diamondbacks Schedule
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved.
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| 2023-07-31T21:53:47
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https://www.azfamily.com/sports/betting/2023/07/31/diamondbacks-vs-giants-mlb-live-stream-tv/
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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
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Books-A-Million, Inc.
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/penny-a-page-hottest-used-book-promotion-happening-2nd-amp-charles/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:48
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/penny-a-page-hottest-used-book-promotion-happening-2nd-amp-charles/
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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.
View original content:
SOURCE Oconee Financial Corporation
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oconee-financial-corporation-completes-acquisition-elberton-federal-savings-amp-loan-association-related-common-stock-offering/
| 2023-07-31T21:53:50
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oconee-financial-corporation-completes-acquisition-elberton-federal-savings-amp-loan-association-related-common-stock-offering/
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