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Delivered record-breaking second quarter performance in Total Revenues, Operating Profit and net new adds
Total Revenues up 25%; System Sales grew 32% in constant currency; Operating Profit increased 216%
Store openings accelerated, 655 net new adds in the first half, on track for full-year net new store target
SHANGHAI, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987) today reported unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Second Quarter Highlights
- Total revenues increased 25% year over year to $2.65 billion from $2.13 billion (a 32% increase excluding foreign currency translation ("F/X")).
- Total system sales increased 32% year over year, with increases of 32% at KFC and 30% at Pizza Hut, excluding F/X. Growth was mainly attributable to same-store sales, new unit contribution and lapping of temporary store closures in the prior year.
- Same-store sales increased 15% year over year, with increases of 15% at KFC and 13% at Pizza Hut, excluding F/X.
- Opened 422 net new stores during the quarter; total store count reached 13,602, as of June 30, 2023.
- Operating Profit increased 216% year over year to $257 million from $81 million (a 228% increase excluding F/X), primarily driven by sales leveraging and margin expansion.
- Adjusted Operating Profit increased 215% year over year to $259 million from $82 million (a 227% increase excluding F/X).
- Restaurant margin was 16.1%, compared with 12.1% in the prior year period.
- Effective tax rate was 24.7%.
- Net Income increased 138% to $197 million from $83 million in the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in Operating Profit.
- Adjusted Net Income increased 137% to $199 million from $84 million in the prior year period (a 207% increase excluding the net loss of $9 million in the second quarter of 2023 and net gain of $16 million in the second quarter of 2022, from the mark-to-market equity investment in Meituan; a 219% increase if further excluding F/X).
- Diluted EPS increased 135% to $0.47 from $0.20 in the prior year period.
- Adjusted Diluted EPS increased 135% to $0.47 from $0.20 in the prior year period (a 206% increase excluding the net loss from the mark-to-market equity investments in the second quarter of 2023 and net gain in the second quarter of 2022; a 219% increase if further excluding F/X).
Key Financial Results
CEO and CFO Comments
Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China, commented, "We achieved outstanding results, delivering substantial growth in the top-line and bottom-line, in the second quarter, thanks to our teams' dedication and creativity. This once again demonstrates our anti-fragile business model and ability to capture opportunities in good times and stay resilient in bad times. Our innovative products and compelling value captured customer demand and drove double-digit same-store sales growth. KFC's "K-zza" and Pizza Hut's new menu items were hugely popular. Our exciting campaign with Genshin Impact and fun toy offerings with Sanrio and Pokemon spurred strong demand and brought consumers moments of joy. We registered record daily transactions of 8.5 million on Children's Day. Our amazing operations team, robust end-to-end digital capabilities and agile supply chain enabled us to flexibly handle surges in customer traffic through holiday periods and special marketing campaigns, while maintaining consistent quality and customer service. As a result of these collective efforts, our operating profit for the first half of this year already exceeded the entire year of 2022."
Wat continued, "We accelerated the pace of new store openings in the second quarter and celebrated two milestones. Pizza Hut surpassed 3,000 stores in China and KFC exceeded 500 stores in Shanghai alone. With 655 net new stores in the first half of 2023, we are on track to meet our expansion goals for the year. Importantly, new store payback periods remain healthy. Furthermore, we see abundant white space in China. With a presence in 1,900 cities, we are still tracking over 800 cities without a KFC. Similarly, Pizza Hut has a great potential for expanding its footprint. With our flexible store formats, we continue to expand addressable markets across city tiers. By actively pursuing our RGM (Resilience-Growth-Moat) strategy and leveraging our industry-leading strengths, we are confident in our ability to capture long-term growth opportunities."
Andy Yeung, CFO of Yum China, added, "We delivered record second-quarter revenues and profits, despite challenging macro conditions and an uptick of COVID infections during the quarter. When customer demand softened in May, we adjusted nimbly to address consumer needs, captured holiday spending and successfully regained sales momentum. Sales growth and proactive cost structure rebasing helped us improve operating leverage, expanding restaurant margins and delivering record operating profit in the quarter. Even though same-store sales remained below 2019 levels, our revenue in the second quarter has increased by 25% and operating profits have risen by 26% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019."
"As we move into the third quarter, driving sales remains our top priority. We have lined up exciting marketing campaigns and resources to seize sales opportunities in the peak summer season. Our efforts on efficiency improvement and cost structure rebasing should continue to benefit profitability in the long run. But, it is worth noting that last year's record third-quarter restaurant margins set a relatively high benchmark, due to austerity measures and temporary reliefs. We will continue to stay agile through evolving market conditions, expand our store network and fortify our competitive moat to drive sustainable long-term growth," Yeung concluded.
Share Repurchases and Dividends
- During the second quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 1 million shares of Yum China common stock for $62 million at an average price of $60.23 per share. As of June 30, 2023, approximately $1 billion remained available for future share repurchases under the current authorization.
- The Board declared a cash dividend of $0.13 per share on Yum China's common stock, payable on September 18, 2023 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 28, 2023.
Digital and Delivery
- The KFC and Pizza Hut loyalty programs exceeded 445 million members combined, as of quarter-end. Member sales accounted for approximately 66% of system sales in the second quarter of 2023.
- Delivery contributed approximately 35% of KFC and Pizza Hut's Company sales in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 3% compared with the prior year period.
- Digital orders, including delivery, mobile orders and kiosk orders, accounted for approximately 90% of KFC and Pizza Hut's Company sales in the second quarter of 2023.
New-Unit Development and Asset Upgrade
- The Company opened 422 net new stores in the second quarter of 2023, mainly driven by development of the KFC and Pizza Hut brands.
- The Company remodeled 171 stores in the second quarter of 2023.
Restaurant Margin
- Restaurant margin was 16.1% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with 12.1% in the prior year period, driven primarily by sales leveraging and ongoing benefits of cost structure rebasing efforts; partially offset by lapping austerity measures in the prior year, higher promotion costs, and wage inflation.
2023 Outlook
The Company's fiscal year 2023 targets remain unchanged:
- To open approximately 1,100 to 1,300 net new stores.
- To make capital expenditures in the range of approximately $700 million to $900 million.
Company Updates
- On July 17, 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. David Hoffmann to the Board of the Directors. With this appointment, the Board is now comprised of 10 directors, nine of whom are independent.
Note on Non-GAAP Measures
Reported GAAP results include Special Items, which are excluded from non-GAAP adjusted measures. Special Items are not allocated to any segment and therefore only impact reported GAAP results of Yum China. See "Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Adjusted Measures" within this release. In addition, for the non-GAAP measures of Restaurant profit and Restaurant margin, see "Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Profit to Restaurant Profit" under "Segment Results" within this release.
Conference Call
Yum China's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, July 31, 2023 (8:00 a.m. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Tuesday, August 1, 2023).
A live webcast of the call may be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4rchbbk4/.
To join by phone, please register in advance of the conference through the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, a passcode and a unique access PIN.
Pre-registration Link: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10031360-wcv829.html
A replay of the conference call will be available one hour after the call ends until Tuesday, August 8, 2023 and may be accessed by phone at the following numbers:
Additionally, this earnings release, the accompanying slides, as well as the live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at Yum China's Investor Relations website at http://ir.yumchina.com.
For important news and information regarding Yum China, including our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, visit Yum China's Investor Relations website at http://ir.yumchina.com. Yum China uses this website as a primary channel for disclosing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including under "2023 Outlook." We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "belief," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "likely," "will," "continue," "should," "forecast," "outlook," "commit" or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future strategies, growth, business plans, investment, dividend and share repurchase plans, earnings, performance and returns of Yum China, anticipated effects of population and macroeconomic trends, the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, pace of recovery of Yum China's business, the anticipated effects of our innovation, digital and delivery capabilities and investments on growth and beliefs regarding the long-term drivers of Yum China's business. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Numerous factors could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: whether we are able to achieve development goals at the times and in the amounts currently anticipated, if at all, the success of our marketing campaigns and product innovation, our ability to maintain food safety and quality control systems, changes in public health conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to control costs and expenses, including tax costs, as well as changes in political, economic and regulatory conditions in China. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.
About Yum China Holdings, Inc.
Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company has over 400,000 employees and operates over 13,000 restaurants under six brands across 1,900 cities in China. KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China, respectively. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has also partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee concept in China. Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world's most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com.
In this press release:
- The Company provides certain percentage changes excluding the impact of foreign currency translation ("F/X"). These amounts are derived by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates. We believe the elimination of the F/X impact provides better year-to-year comparability without the distortion of foreign currency fluctuations.
- System sales growth reflects the results of all restaurants regardless of ownership, including Company-owned, franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurants that operate our restaurant concepts, except for non-Company-owned restaurants for which we do not receive a sales-based royalty. Sales of franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurants typically generate ongoing franchise fees for the Company at an average rate of approximately 6% of system sales. Franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurant sales are not included in Company sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income; however, the franchise fees are included in the Company's revenues. We believe system sales growth is useful to investors as a significant indicator of the overall strength of our business as it incorporates all of our revenue drivers, Company and franchise same-store sales as well as net unit growth.
- Effective January 1, 2018, the Company revised its definition of same-store sales growth to represent the estimated percentage change in sales of food of all restaurants in the Company system that have been open prior to the first day of our prior fiscal year, excluding the period during which stores are temporarily closed. We refer to these as our "base" stores. Previously, same-store sales growth represented the estimated percentage change in sales of all restaurants in the Company system that have been open for one year or more, including stores temporarily closed, and the base stores changed on a rolling basis from month to month. This revision was made to align with how management measures performance internally and focuses on trends of a more stable base of stores.
- Company sales represent revenues from Company-owned restaurants. Company Restaurant profit ("Restaurant profit") is defined as Company sales less expenses incurred directly by our Company-owned restaurants in generating Company sales, including cost of food and paper, restaurant-level payroll and employee benefits, rent, depreciation and amortization of restaurant-level assets, advertising expenses, and other operating expenses. Company restaurant margin percentage is defined as Restaurant profit divided by Company sales.
- Certain comparative items in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation to facilitate comparison.
Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Adjusted Measures
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") in this press release, the Company provides non-GAAP measures adjusted for Special Items, which include Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings Per Common Share ("EPS"), Adjusted Effective Tax Rate and Adjusted EBITDA, which we define as net income including noncontrolling interests adjusted for equity in net earnings (losses) from equity method investments, income tax, interest income, net, investment gain or loss, certain non-cash expenses, consisting of depreciation and amortization as well as store impairment charges, and Special Items. We also use Restaurant profit and Restaurant margin (as defined above) for the purposes of internally evaluating the performance of our Company-owned restaurants and we believe Restaurant profit and Restaurant margin provide useful information to investors as to the profitability of our Company-owned restaurants.
The following table set forth the reconciliation of the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP adjusted financial measures. The reconciliation of GAAP Operating Profit to Restaurant Profit is presented in Segment Results within this release.
Net income, along with the reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA, is presented below:
Details of Special Items are presented below:
(1) In February 2020, the Company granted Partner PSU Awards to select employees who were deemed critical to the Company's execution of its strategic operating plan. These PSU awards will only vest if threshold performance goals are achieved over a four-year performance period, with the payout ranging from 0% to 200% of the target number of shares subject to the PSU awards. Partner PSU Awards were granted to address increased competition for executive talent, motivate transformational performance and encourage management retention. Given the unique nature of these grants, the Compensation Committee does not intend to grant similar, special grants to the same employees during the performance period. The impact from these special awards is excluded from metrics that management uses to assess the Company's performance.
(2) The tax expense was determined based upon the nature, as well as the jurisdiction, of each Special Item at the applicable tax rate.
The Company excludes impact from Special Items for the purpose of evaluating performance internally. Special Items are not included in any of our segment results. In addition, the Company provides Adjusted EBITDA because we believe that investors and analysts may find it useful in measuring operating performance without regard to items such as equity in net earnings (losses) from equity method investments, income tax, interest income, net, investment gain or loss, depreciation and amortization, store impairment charges, and Special Items. Store impairment charges included as an adjustment item in Adjusted EBITDA primarily resulted from our semi-annual impairment evaluation of long-lived assets of individual restaurants, and additional impairment evaluation whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If these restaurant-level assets were not impaired, depreciation of the assets would have been recorded and included in EBITDA. Therefore, store impairment charges were a non-cash item similar to depreciation and amortization of our long-lived assets of restaurants. The Company believes that investors and analyst may find it useful in measuring operating performance without regard to such non-cash item.
These adjusted measures are not intended to replace the presentation of our financial results in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the Company believes that the presentation of these adjusted measures provides additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present results, excluding those items that the Company does not believe are indicative of our ongoing operations due to their nature.
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SÃO PAULO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zenvia Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENV), the leading cloud-based CX platform in Latin America empowering companies to transform their customer journeys, today announced that its fiscal 2023 second quarter and first half results will be released after the market close on Wednesday August 16, 2023.
Zenvia's senior management team will host a webcast to discuss the financial and operating results on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 10:00 am ET. To access the webcast presentation, click here.
Additional information regarding Zenvia, including a replay of the webcast when available, can be found at https://investors.zenvia.com.
Contacts
About ZENVIA
ZENVIA is driven by the purpose of empowering companies to create unique experiences for end-consumers through its unified CX SaaS end-to-end platform. ZENVIA empowers companies to transform their existing customer experience from non-scalable, physical and impersonal interactions into highly scalable, digital-first and hyper-contextualized experiences across the customer journey. ZENVIA's unified end-to-end CX SaaS platform provides a combination of (i) SaaS focused on campaigns, sales teams, customer service and engagement, (ii) tools, such as software application programming interfaces, or APIs, chatbots, single customer views, journey designers, documents composer and authentication and (iii) channels, such as SMS, Voice, WhatsApp, Instagram and Webchat. Its comprehensive platform assists customers across multiple use cases, including marketing campaigns, customer acquisition, customer onboarding, warnings, customer services, fraud control, cross-selling and customer retention, among others. ZENVIA's shares are traded on Nasdaq, under the ticker ZENV.
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| 2023-07-31T22:11:45
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LINKBANCORP, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 3:30 PM CDT|Updated: 2 hours 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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LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW® 2023 REGISTRATION OPENS FOR MEDIA AND INDUSTRY DAY AT AUTOMOBILITY LA® ON NOVEMBER 16
AutoMobility LA is the global Media Day and Industry Gathering taking place at the LA Convention Center prior to the show's public opening
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Auto Show®, the leading automotive and lifestyle in-person event, will open registration tomorrow for AutoMobility LA®; its annual preview day for both media and industry professionals.
Scheduled for November 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the LA Auto Show's press and B2B gathering is an opportunity for the global community and key decision makers to convene in Southern California for the latest debuts, product announcements, networking opportunities and more.
The 2023 LA Auto Show will continue to highlight the latest innovations in electrification, as well as exhibits and festivities that span California's automotive lifestyle and legacy of car culture. Visitors will have an opportunity to experience both indoor and outdoor driving tracks, which provide visitors with unparalleled access to comparison shop the latest offerings from major manufacturers.
Registration opens tomorrow on August 1 and is complimentary for accredited and approved media. Industry attendees will be offered an "early bird" registration fee of $75 through October 15. After that date, the full registration fee of $150 will apply to all approved industry registrants. Registration is accessible at automobilityla.com/register.
Taking place in the nation's foremost zero-emissions vehicle market, AutoMobility LA is the preeminent destination for media, automotive and tech companies, influencers, and policymakers to discuss and experience the latest in transportation innovation.
Celebrating its 116th year, LA Auto Show remains as influential to the North American automotive industry as any time in its history. At the center of the largest car-buying market in North America for both gas-powered and electric vehicles, LA Auto Show and AutoMobility LA offer vital perspective and foresight into how the rest of the country and the global market will soon look.
"Given the growing influence of electrification, the LA Auto Show will be the ultimate destination for car buyers looking to compare models and test-drive," said LA Auto Show President, Terri Toennies. "We'll also have the latest gas-powered vehicles as well as a fascinating array of special exhibits and attractions that highlight Southern California's impact on the global automotive landscape."
More comprehensive details pertaining to vehicle unveilings, manufacturer participation and significant announcements will follow. To learn more about AutoMobility LA, to book accommodations with the show's partner hotels, and for information about media and industry credentials, please visit: AutoMobilityLA.com.
Following AutoMobility LA, the 2023 LA Auto Show opens its doors for ten days from Friday, November 17 through Sunday, November 26 to welcome hundreds of thousands of consumers to comparison shop, test drive the latest vehicles, and immerse themselves in Southern California's largest annual car culture showcase. For information about the LA Auto Show and ticket purchases, please visit LAAutoShow.com.
About the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®)
Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®) is widely recognized as one of the most influential shows globally. Reflective of its location, the show celebrates the love affair Angelenos have with their cars and offers a global platform to industry technology and innovation, synonymous with California.
The show runs for 10 full days over the Thanksgiving period and is a must-attend destination for many industry influencers, car enthusiasts and families wanting to enjoy a day out over the holiday season. Held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the LA Auto Show contributes several-hundred-million dollars to the local economy, stimulates the local job market, and is the number one revenue generator for the LA Convention Center.
Taking place on November 16, AutoMobility LA media and industry days will include a range of groundbreaking industry announcements and reveals. Doors open to the public November 17-26. LA Auto Show is owned and operated by ANSA Productions. To receive the latest show news and information, follow the LA Auto Show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and sign up for alerts at laautoshow.com.
For press inquiries, email media@laautoshow.com.
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WATKINSVILLE, Ga. and ELBERTON, Ga., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oconee Financial Corporation (OTCQX: "OSBK") ("Oconee") announced today it has completed its acquisition of Elberton Federal Savings & Loan Association ("Elberton Federal") of Elberton, GA, and its related common stock offering, in a conversion merger transaction, effective July 31, 2023.
As a result of the conversion merger, Elberton Federal converted from a mutual savings association to a stock savings association and immediately merged with and into Oconee's wholly owned subsidiary, Oconee State Bank. On August 1, 2023, Elberton Federal's financial center on East Church Street in Elberton will open as a branch of Oconee State Bank.
In the stock offering required by regulations applicable to the merger conversion, Oconee sold 149,015 shares of common stock, at a discounted price of $28.94 per share, to depositors and borrowers of Elberton Federal in a subscription offering, and to stockholders of Oconee and members of the general public in a community offering. Gross offering proceeds totaled approximately $4.3 million. The stock offering was oversubscribed.
"We are thrilled by the overwhelming interest we received from investors in the offering," remarked Oconee President and CEO Neil Stevens. "The transaction closed at the maximum of the authorized offering range and generated a lot of interest in the banking experience we are bringing to our customers."
Stevens continued: "We welcome the addition of Elberton Federal President and CEO Daniel Graves, a number of new teammates, and our newest customers in Elbert County. We aim to provide them the same high level of service and care our current customers enjoy."
Graves will serve as Senior Vice President and Community President of the Northeast Georgia market.
"It is a privilege to join such a high-quality institution and group of people in partnering with Oconee," Graves said. "Neil and I talk often about the importance of culture, and this is a perfect fit. We are thrilled about the opportunity this presents for our people and our customers, and we look forward to being an even more meaningful part of the next chapter of prosperity in Elbert County."
Performance Trust Capital Partners assisted Oconee, on a best-efforts basis, in selling its common stock in the subscription and community offerings and served as financial advisor to Oconee in connection with the merger. RP Financial LC provided the conversion appraisal. Alston & Bird LLP served as legal counsel to Oconee, Fenimore Kay Harrison LLP served as legal counsel to Elberton Federal, and Luse Gorman PC served as legal counsel to Performance Trust Capital Partners.
About Oconee Financial Corporation
Oconee State Bank was established in 1960 and is headquartered in Watkinsville, Georgia. It operates six full-service financial centers in Georgia, located in Oconee, Athens-Clarke, Gwinnett, and Macon-Bibb counties, including its newest location in Elbert County. Pro forma for this transaction, the bank has approximately $556 million in assets. The bank is the only locally owned and operated community bank headquartered in Oconee County. Oconee State Bank proudly serves its communities, providing unparalleled commitment to personalized service, innovative products and solutions, and brings exceptional value to all stakeholders, through local ownership, involvement, and decision making. The bank strives to be essential to those it serves, by creating remarkable experiences that significantly mark the lives of others. Oconee Financial Corporation was established in January 1999 to serve as the holding company of Oconee State Bank.
Please visit Oconee State Bank's website, www.oconeestatebank.com for a full listing of products and services.
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A one-day sales event unlike any other invites customers to stock up on used books for just one cent per page.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The busiest day of the year at 2nd & Charles is officially on the docket: Penny-A-Page, happening on Saturday, August 12, at all 2nd & Charles locations nationwide.
Where miles of books are surrounded by pure, boundless energy, customers can purchase up to five books for just one cent per page during 2nd & Charles' first-ever Penny-A-Page.
This unique and rare promotional event applies to all used books, giving customers the opportunity to fill their shelves with lengthy, expensive, and well-loved volumes – all for a fraction of the price. Yes, on a 250-page book, 2nd and Charles customers will pay just $2.50.
"Our loyal customers love it when we offer a discount on multiple books at the same time," says Eric Bishop, Senior Vice President at 2nd & Charles. "This is a 'can't miss' day! We are opening early at 9 a.m. to accommodate all our impassioned readers wanting to get a head start on their summer reading," he says.
Communities across the nation now have a remarkable opportunity to find their next stack of great books at an extraordinary price. Arrive early for the best selection! Come in, get lost, and find yourself at 2nd & Charles.
ABOUT 2ND & CHARLES
2nd & Charles is a unique retail concept specializing in an ever-changing inventory of new and used books, music, games, toys, collectibles, decor, accessories, and pop culture merchandise. Since its first store opened in Birmingham, AL, in 2010, 2nd & Charles has expanded to include more than 40 stores in 18 states—and counting.
A sister store to Books-A-Million, the nation's second largest book retailer, 2nd & Charles has established itself as a hip and fun-loving purveyor of passions catering to readers, gamers, and collectors of all ages. Through the store's buyback program, customers can sell their gently used merchandise in exchange for cash or store credit.
Click here to find your nearest 2nd & Charles store, and follow 2nd & Charles on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
CONTACT
Olivia Anderson McDaniel
Vice President of Marketing, Omnichannel
205.909.3563
mcdanielo@booksamillion.com
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Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 3:30 PM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
Business highlights include $50 million share repurchase, continued progress integrating recent acquisitions, ongoing development and implementation of organic growth and customer experience initiatives including our new University Park, IL service center, and eighth consecutive increase in the quarterly dividend. Quarterly results include strong cash flow generation.
CHICAGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryerson Holding Corporation (NYSE: RYI), a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Highlights:
Achieved Net Income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation of $37.6 million with Adjusted EBITDA1, excluding LIFO of $70.1 million
Earned Diluted EPS2 of $1.06 on revenue of $1.3 billion
Generated Operating Cash Flow of $115.3 million and Free Cash Flow of $69.1 million
Maintained Net Leverage ratio within target range at 1.4x, debt of $396 million and net debt3 of $366 million as of June 30, 2023
Repurchased 1.4 million shares directly from an affiliate of Platinum Equity, concurrent to their secondary public offering, creating value for shareholders and contributing to free float increasing to 77% as of June 30, 2023
Announced third quarter 2023 dividend of $0.1825 per share, a 1.4% increase from the prior quarter
A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measure is included below in this news release.
Management Commentary Eddie Lehner, Ryerson's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "I want to thank all of my Ryerson teammates for their continued dedication to operating safely and productively, and I want to thank our customers for the opportunity to create and deliver better customer experiences which we never take for granted. Counter-cyclical industry conditions, particularly within our stainless-steel products franchise, arrived mid-quarter and were evidenced by industrial metals bellwether price index declines and demand contraction in Ryerson's later-cycle end markets. Counter-cyclical conditions as experienced during the second half of last year re-emerged in the second quarter of this year for a myriad of reasons. Shifting consumer spending patterns, higher interest rates, quieted but still present financial system stress and tightening as well as an economic recovery in China that has failed to materialize all contributed to a subdued manufacturing macro environment during the quarter. Ryerson is investing in and preparing for the next synchronized manufacturing upturn whose secular characteristics around the necessity of above trend growth in fixed-asset investment with greater supply-chain resiliency remain intact. We are confident that carrying our growth and operating model investments across counter-cyclical waters as expressed through our recent acquisitions, greenfield service centers and facility modernizations and capital expenditures around value-added fabrication as well as ongoing investments in digitalization, future-state systems and additive manufacturing will position Ryerson well for both the next cyclical upturn and the longer term secular growth in North American manufacturing activity that is underway. As we have during past counter-cycles, we will take out non-value-added costs, flex expenses down, and better optimize our industrial metals inventories as we move through the third quarter and back-half of the year."
Second Quarter Results Ryerson generated net sales of $1.3 billion in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 4.5%, compared to the first quarter of 2023. This was largely driven by sequentially lower volumes, which decreased 4.4%, while average selling prices remained unchanged, compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Gross margin expanded sequentially by 60 basis points to 19.4% in the second quarter, compared to 18.8% in the first quarter. Gross Margins reflected LIFO income of $9M, as the commodity price curves for our metals products sales mix decreased resulting in a LIFO credit in costs of goods sold.
Excluding the impact of LIFO, gross margin contracted 40 basis points to 18.7% in the second quarter, compared to 19.1% in the first quarter. This was primarily driven by a decrease in stainless steel commodity prices coupled with continued high inventories in the channel that put downward pressure on average selling prices. Warehousing, delivery, selling, general and administrative expenses increased 4.3% to $202.6 million in the second quarter, compared to $194.2 million in the first quarter, primarily driven by expense related to acquisitions, higher depreciation expense driven by higher capital expenditures on growth initiatives, reorganization expenses related to an ERP systems implementation and start-up costs associated with the University Park service center, which were partially offset by lower fixed operating expenses.
Net income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation for the second quarter of 2023 was $37.6 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, compared to net income of $47.3 million, or $1.27 per diluted share in the previous quarter. Ryerson generated Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO of $70.1 million in the second quarter, compared to the first quarter Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO of $90.1 million.
Liquidity & Debt Management Ryerson generated $115.3 million of cash from operations in the second quarter of 2023, supported by net income attributable to Ryerson Holding of $37.6 million and working capital release of $37.8 million. The Company ended the second quarter of 2023 with $396 million of debt and $366 million of net debt, sequential increases of $1 million and $15 million, respectively, compared to the first quarter. Ryerson's leverage ratio as of the second quarter was 1.4x, within the Company's target leverage range. Ryerson's global liquidity, composed of cash and cash equivalents and availability on its revolving credit facilities was $790 million as of June 30, 2023.
Shareholder Return Activity
Dividends. During the second quarter of 2023, Ryerson paid a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.1800 per share, amounting to a cash return of approximately $6.2 million. On July 31, 2023, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1825 per share of common stock, payable on September 14, 2023, to stockholders of record as of August 31, 2023.
Share Repurchase. On May 8, 2023, Ryerson repurchased 1,369,300 shares of common stock for approximately $50.0 million directly from an affiliate of Platinum Equity. Additionally, over the course of the second quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased 12,872 shares for $0.4 million in the open market. In total, Ryerson repurchased 1,382,172 shares of common stock resulting in a return to shareholders of approximately $50.4 million for the second quarter of 2023. Ryerson made these repurchases in accordance with its share repurchase authorization, which allows the Company to acquire up to an aggregate amount of $100.0 million of the Company's common stock through April of 2025. As of June 30, 2023, $49.6 million of the $100.0 million remained under the existing share repurchase authorization.
Outlook Commentary For the third quarter of 2023, Ryerson expects a continuation of slowing demand conditions, with customer shipments expected to decrease approximately 2% to 4%, quarter-over-quarter. The Company anticipates third-quarter net sales to be in the range of $1.25 billion to $1.30 billion, with average selling prices decreasing 1% to 2%. LIFO income in the third quarter of 2023 is expected to be $2 million. We expect adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO in the range of $43 million to $47 million and earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.31 to $0.43.
Earnings Call Information Ryerson will host a conference call to discuss second quarter 2023 financial results for the period ended June 30, 2023, on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. The live online broadcast will be available on the Company's investor relations website, ir.ryerson.com. A replay will be available at the same website for 90 days.
About Ryerson Ryerson is a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China. Founded in 1842, Ryerson has around 4,300 employees in approximately 100 locations. Visit Ryerson at www.ryerson.com.
Notes: 1For EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA excluding LIFO please see Schedule 2 2EPS is Earnings per Share 3Net debt is defined as long term debt plus short term debt less cash and cash equivalents and excludes restricted cash
Legal Disclaimer The contents herein are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute an offer to sell or buy, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security ("Security") of the Company or its affiliates ("Ryerson") in any jurisdiction. Ryerson does not intend to solicit, and is not soliciting, any action with respect to any Security or any other contractual relationship with Ryerson. Nothing in this release, individually or taken in the aggregate, constitutes an offer of securities for sale or buy, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any Security in the United States, or to U.S. persons, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful.
Safe Harbor Provision Certain statements made in this presentation and other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates, objectives, or projections relating to the future. Such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "objectives," "goals," "preliminary," "range," "believes," "expects," "may," "estimates," "will," "should," "plans," or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. The Company cautions that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and may involve significant risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may vary materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Among the factors that significantly impact our business are: the cyclicality of our business; the highly competitive, volatile, and fragmented metals industry in which we operate; the impact of geopolitical events, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and global trade sanctions; fluctuating metal prices; our indebtedness and the covenants in instruments governing such indebtedness; the integration of acquired operations; regulatory and other operational risks associated with our operations located inside and outside of the United States; the ownership of a significant portion of our equity securities by a single investor group; work stoppages; obligations under certain employee retirement benefit plans; currency fluctuations; and consolidation in the metals industry. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various factors, including those set forth above and those set forth under "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022,our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, we caution against placing undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, new information or otherwise.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.
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POMPANO BEACH, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Auto Finance Company, LLC ("SAFCO") today announced a Chief Financial Officer transition. Jason Person has been named as SAFCO's new CFO.
Most recently, Mr. Person served as the Vice President and Treasurer of Regional Management Corporation, a diversified consumer finance company, where he managed a team responsible for liquidity management, investor relations, and financial analytics. Prior to Regional Management Corporation, Mr. Person served as the Director of Treasury and Capital Markets at Global Lending Services and as Assistant Vice President of Finance for Exeter Finance Corporation. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Anderson University and an MBA from Texas A&M University.
The company's current CFO Gary Stein is retiring after 22 years of dedicated service to SAFCO. Mr. Stein will remain in an advisory capacity for several months to help with the transition.
Commenting on the transition, SAFCO's CEO George Fussell, Sr. conveyed his heartfelt appreciation for Mr. Stein's contributions during his tenure, stating "We owe Gary a great debt of gratitude for his years of service. His remarkable leadership, financial acumen, and mentorship of the team have been instrumental in shaping the very foundation of our company's success. We wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement." Mr. Fussell further stated, "Jason represents a significant addition to our executive leadership team. He brings a wealth of expertise in treasury/capital markets, financial planning, and analytics that will undoubtedly contribute to SAFCO's continued success as we move forward."
About SAFCO
SAFCO is an industry-leading auto finance company with the power to see creditworthiness where others don't. Our proprietary originations system, complete with deep machine learning, enables us to see beyond credit scores and basic alternative data and instead base our decisions on unique, realistic insights that reveal the full credit potential of applicants. SAFCO is headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Contact: Drew Pickens
Vice President of Human Resources
954-745-2529
apickens@gosafco.com
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Add Mark Jackson to the list of ESPN reporters and commentators who have been laid off over the past five weeks.
Jackson was let go on Monday with two years remaining on his contract. With Jeff Van Gundy also being laid off in late June, ESPN is expected to replace them with Doris Burke and Doc Rivers, two people close to the move told The Associated Press.
They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they aren’t at liberty to publicly discuss personnel moves.
Burke and Rivers would join Mike Breen on ESPN and ABC's top NBA broadcast crew.
Burke would be the first woman to serve as a game analyst for the NBA Finals on television. She has called the finals on ESPN Radio since 2020 and has been an analyst on ESPN's NBA games since 2017.
Rivers, who was fired as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in May, called games on ESPN during the 2003-04 season.
Jackson first joined ESPN in 2006 before leaving in 2011 to take the head coaching job with the Golden State Warriors. He returned to the network in May 2014 after being fired by the Warriors.
Van Gundy had been the network's top NBA analyst since 2007 and recently called a record 17th NBA Finals. Breen, Van Gundy and Jackson called 15 finals together.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
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Locals Representing 340K UPS Workers Nearly Unanimously Recommend Contract
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters local unions representing 340,000 full- and part-time workers at UPS voted 161-1 on Monday to endorse the tentative agreement reached with the delivery giant on July 25 and recommend its passage by the full membership.
Of the 176 local unions with UPS members, 14 affiliates failed to show up to a meeting in Washington, DC, to review the tentative agreement.
At least two representatives from all other local unions discussed more than 60 changes and improvements to the UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement, the largest private-sector collective bargaining agreement in North America. The gains achieved during negotiations, which occurred regionally and nationally since January, are larger and more lucrative than any previous Teamsters contract at UPS. The tentative agreement, valued at $30 billion, establishes record wage increases for all workers for the life of the contract, installation of air conditioning in new vehicles, the end of an unfair two-tier wage system, catch-up raises for part-timers, Martin Luther King Day as a paid holiday for the first time, new language to prevent forced overtime on days off, and other huge wins.
Now that local unions have nearly unanimously endorsed the tentative agreement, all rank-and-file UPS Teamsters will have the chance to vote on ratification from August 3-22.
"The entire UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee stands behind this historic contract and our UPS local unions have resoundingly voted to endorse it," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Our tentative agreement is richer, stronger, and more far-reaching than any settlement ever negotiated in the history of American organized labor. The Teamsters are immensely proud of reaching agreement with UPS to improve the lives of our members, their families, and working people across the country."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610
kdeniz@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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“Over two and a half years ago, the Air Force chose Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville for the headquarters of Space Command over 59 other cities on the basis of 21 different criteria.”
“As soon as Joe Biden took office, he paused movement on that decision and inserted politics into what had been a fair and objective competition—not because the facts had changed, but because the political party of the sitting President had changed.
"The Biden Administration has been talking a lot about readiness over the past few months, but no Administration has done more to damage our military readiness in my lifetime. They’ve politicized our military, destroyed our recruiting, misused our tax dollars for their extremist social agenda, and now they are putting Space Command headquarters in a location that didn’t even make the top three. They are doing this at a time when space is only becoming more important for national security."
"It is also shameful that the Administration waited until Congress had gone into recess and already passed next year’s defense budget before announcing this decision."
"The top three choices for Space Command headquarters were all in red states—Alabama, Nebraska, and Texas. Colorado didn’t even come close. This decision to bypass the three most qualified sites looks like blatant patronage politics, and it sets a dangerous precedent that military bases are now to be used as rewards for political supporters rather than for our security."
"There remain serious questions as to whether the Air Force illegally used taxpayer dollars to upgrade facilities in Colorado Springs. I hope that House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers will continue his investigation into that matter."
"This is absolutely not over. I will continue to fight this as long as it takes to bring Space Command where it would be best served—Huntsville, Alabama."
"Today’s disastrous mistake just adds to the long string of bad decisions that this compromised President has made. He is batting 1000 in that category since taking office.”
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https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/alabama-colorado-leaders-react-space-force-decision/
| 2023-07-31T22:12:31
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Last month's heavy rainfall has affected some of Maine's largest industries including farming and tourism. In the tourist haven of Old Orchard Beach, businesses reported seeing a noticeably slower June. But business owners and beach goers are hopeful for sunny skies in August.
Every summer, nearly five million tourists pack the sandy beaches of Old Orchard Beach. The small coastal town of about 9,000 residents traces its roots as a popular travel destination as far back as the 1820s. But this summer got off to a rocky start.
In June and part of July, heavy rainfall washed out nearly every sunny day.
"Several of our businesses here in town are down because of the rain and that includes restaurants, hotels, and some of our campgrounds, too," says Kim Howard, executive director of the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Howard says it's too early to know how much business is down.
But Michael Rioux of the Sandpiper Hotel says he's never seen anything like it in his three decades working in the hotel industry.
"I've never seen a Fourth of July that slow and having an almost empty parking lot. I think we had maybe three rooms rented, which is unheard of on Fourth of July night. It's definitely had an impact as well as guests wanting to leave early and trying to get their money back. It puts us in a tough position because it's such a short season with high expenses and rising costs," he says.
Pete Duhamel says his business is also way down. He runs a popular restaurant called Dewey's that has served the Old Orchard Beach community for 25 years.
"The rain in June has cut my business down in half at least. This has probably been the worst year I've ever had the entire time I've been here," he says.
And that's not all. Paul Golder, the president of the popular amusement park Palace Playland, says some rides are not able to operate in certain conditions.
"It seems like even when it's not raining, we're still getting a lot of moisture to the point where it sort of interferes with the operation of some of the machines here. We'd have to close things down 'cause of the condensation in the air on top of the extra rain we've been getting," he says.
Golder remains hopeful. He says June is typically a slow time for businesses, but mid-July and August is peak season. And some tourists say they aren't letting the weather spoil their plans.
"Massachusetts has had also a very rainy summer so far, so we lucked out. The weather outlook for this week is beautiful. We're just very fortunate," said Tiffany Bell of Boston, who visited Old Orchard Beach with her family last week.
A recent study from Dartmouth College revealed that warming climate conditions will increase extreme precipitation in the Northeast by 52% by the end of the century.
For now, there are sunny skies ahead, and businesses say things appear to be picking up.
"I would say that while June was a rainy, slower month, all indications are that things have bounced back," says Becky Jacobson with HospitalityMaine.
Jacobson says July looks like it will wind up being a solid month, and everyone who caters to tourists, she says, is still looking forward to August.
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https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-31/maines-beach-towns-see-slow-start-to-summer-but-hope-for-sunny-skies-ahead
| 2023-07-31T22:12:31
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SÃO PAULO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zenvia Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENV), the leading cloud-based CX platform in Latin America empowering companies to transform their customer journeys, today announced that its fiscal 2023 second quarter and first half results will be released after the market close on Wednesday August 16, 2023.
Zenvia's senior management team will host a webcast to discuss the financial and operating results on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 10:00 am ET. To access the webcast presentation, click here.
Additional information regarding Zenvia, including a replay of the webcast when available, can be found at https://investors.zenvia.com.
Contacts
About ZENVIA
ZENVIA is driven by the purpose of empowering companies to create unique experiences for end-consumers through its unified CX SaaS end-to-end platform. ZENVIA empowers companies to transform their existing customer experience from non-scalable, physical and impersonal interactions into highly scalable, digital-first and hyper-contextualized experiences across the customer journey. ZENVIA's unified end-to-end CX SaaS platform provides a combination of (i) SaaS focused on campaigns, sales teams, customer service and engagement, (ii) tools, such as software application programming interfaces, or APIs, chatbots, single customer views, journey designers, documents composer and authentication and (iii) channels, such as SMS, Voice, WhatsApp, Instagram and Webchat. Its comprehensive platform assists customers across multiple use cases, including marketing campaigns, customer acquisition, customer onboarding, warnings, customer services, fraud control, cross-selling and customer retention, among others. ZENVIA's shares are traded on Nasdaq, under the ticker ZENV.
View original content:
SOURCE Zenvia
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https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/zenvia-sets-agenda-2023-second-quarter-results/
| 2023-07-31T22:12:32
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Beware of hidden vacation fees when traveling this summer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - If you have taken a vacation lately, flown on an airline, or eaten in a nice restaurant, you probably have experienced it. Hidden fees that can make your final bill a lot bigger than expected.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is now calling it the Hidden Fee Economy, where a $300 flight or hotel room turns out to be $400. It is also known as “drip” pricing, the little extras that drip onto your bill.
Some restaurants are adding inflation surcharges of 5% to bills. Many hotels add $30 to $40 resort fees, whether you use the pool or not. Airlines have baggage fees, fees for onboard food, and fees for extra leg room.
When it comes to vacation home rentals, let’s say you find a beach condo or a lake house rental at a great price. But then comes the $150 cleaning fee $100 booking fee, possibly a $100 administration fee, and good luck if you want to bring the dog, that can be another $150. The BBB says they are perfectly legal.
Some good news: for 2023, both Airbnb and Vrbo have agreed to be more transparent, and show total costs on the front page, not when you pull out your credit card. That can reduce some hidden fees, so you Don’t Waste Your Money.
Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.
Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/beware-hidden-vacation-fees-when-traveling-this-summer/
| 2023-07-31T22:12:37
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With dangerously high temperatures across the country, hospitals are seeing more people with potentially deadly heat illness. A southern city is coping with what may be the new summer medical reality.
Copyright 2023 NPR
With dangerously high temperatures across the country, hospitals are seeing more people with potentially deadly heat illness. A southern city is coping with what may be the new summer medical reality.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/a-new-summer-reality-hospitals-and-ers-see-more-parents-with-heat-related-illness
| 2023-07-31T22:12:37
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More U.S. shrimpers have sold their boats. Most Americans don't realize that the cheap, plentiful shrimp they buy in the market and order on pad thai is driving domestic shrimpers out of business.
Copyright 2023 NPR
More U.S. shrimpers have sold their boats. Most Americans don't realize that the cheap, plentiful shrimp they buy in the market and order on pad thai is driving domestic shrimpers out of business.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/demand-for-cheap-shrimp-is-driving-u-s-shrimpers-out-of-business
| 2023-07-31T22:12:44
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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.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/country-singer-craig-morgan-reenlists-military-while-grand-ole-opry-stage/
| 2023-07-31T22:12:43
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Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/getting-ac-to-residents-of-public-housing-where-extreme-heat-can-be-dangerous
| 2023-07-31T22:12:50
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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.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/impeached-texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeks-have-most-charges-dismissed-before-september-trial/
| 2023-07-31T22:12:50
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to security and counter-terrorism Asfandyar Mir about how instability in the Taliban's Afghanistan has spilled into Pakistan, after a suicide bombing that killed dozens.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to security and counter-terrorism Asfandyar Mir about how instability in the Taliban's Afghanistan has spilled into Pakistan, after a suicide bombing that killed dozens.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/how-a-suicide-bombing-in-pakistan-shows-spillover-effect-from-talibans-afghanistan
| 2023-07-31T22:12:56
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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 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,” Crowe said.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case.
Oscar Gomez said two of his teenage children were outside their house when the man was shot in their neighborhood. They told him about the shooting when he arrived home from work, he said.
“They heard the shooting and they threw themselves on the floor trying to protect themselves,” said Gomez, 39.
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.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/memphis-police-shoot-suspect-after-he-fired-shots-outside-jewish-school-authorities-say/
| 2023-07-31T22:12:57
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Mahnaz Akbari, former commander of the Afghan military's Female Tactical Platoon, about the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Mahnaz Akbari, former commander of the Afghan military's Female Tactical Platoon, about the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/members-of-an-female-afghan-military-platoon-now-face-uncertain-fate-in-the-u-s
| 2023-07-31T22:13:02
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Pilot injured after banner plane crashes into ocean near beach
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF/Gray News) – Officials are investigating after a banner plane crashed onto a South Carolina beach.
WMBF reports the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were called to look into the crash which occurred at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Myrtle Beach.
Cpl. Chris Starling with the Myrtle Beach Police Department said the pilot of the single-engine PA-18 was the only person on board. He was able to get out of the plane safely.
According to officials, witnesses said bystanders rushed to the crash site to help the pilot get out after the plane hit the water.
Witness Sue Boyd told WMBF she and another woman both called 911 after seeing the crash.
“The banner plane was all of a sudden going down super fast and then it just hit the water and went under. A bunch of civilians came and sprang into action into the water,” she said.
First responders treated the pilot, who was then taken to the hospital. He is expected to recover from his injuries.
The plane was removed from the surf via tow truck around 4 p.m. Crews removed the plane’s wings to properly load the aircraft.
Copyright 2023 WMBF via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/pilot-injured-after-banner-plane-crashes-into-ocean-near-beach/
| 2023-07-31T22:13:04
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Updated July 31, 2023 at 5:05 PM ET
A rising star in American cycling, 17-year-old Magnus White, has died after a driver hit him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.
White had been preparing to head to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the Junior Men's Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships next week.
A member of USA Cycling's junior men's national team, White won the 2021 USA Cyclocross Junior Men's National Championship. He represented the U.S. in his first cyclocross world championship last year in Fayetteville, Ark., and competed in his second earlier this year in the Netherlands. (USA Cycling describes cyclocross as a combination of "road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase.")
"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved son, Magnus White," his parents Michael and Jill White said in a statement Monday.
"Magnus was dedicated to his family and friends and loved to surround them with laughter. He had an amazing smile that always lit up the room, bringing joy to those around him."
White's passion for cycling started at the age of two on a strider bike, they said, and he began racing at age 8. He grew up in Boulder and trained with Boulder Junior Cycling. He was also an avid skier and a committed student who aspired to attend business school, according to his website. He planned to graduate from high school a semester early so he could focus on international competition in spring 2024.
In addition to his parents, White is survived by his brother Eero. A family friend has set up a GoFundMe to support the family, USA Cycling confirms.
"Magnus was taken from us while doing what he loved most, riding his bike," writes Christine Lipson, the fundraiser's organizer.
"He began cycling when he was eight and quickly rose through the cycling ranks. Magnus's journey in cycling was driven by a tireless work ethic and a deep desire to achieve his personal best. He was proud to represent his community and country around the world," writes Lipson, whose son was a close friend and teammate of White's.
White was riding on the shoulder of Highway 119, known as the Diagonal, in Boulder on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a 23-year-old woman driving a Toyota Matrix. The driver crossed from the right-hand lane onto the shoulder, striking White from behind before she crashed into a fence, according to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol. White was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. The car's driver was uninjured.
Neither drugs, alcohol nor excessive speed are suspected factors in the crash, according to the state patrol.
USA Cycling said in a statement Sunday that White was a rising star in off-road cycling and "his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community."
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time," the statement continued. "We ride for Magnus."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/top-american-cyclist-magnus-white-17-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car
| 2023-07-31T22:13:08
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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.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/san-francisco-prosecutors-lay-out-murder-case-against-consultant-death-cash-apps-bob-lee/
| 2023-07-31T22:13:10
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African leaders backed by the U.S. and France have given a week for coup leaders in Niger to step down and restore the democratically elected president.
Copyright 2023 NPR
African leaders backed by the U.S. and France have given a week for coup leaders in Niger to step down and restore the democratically elected president.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/u-s-france-and-african-leaders-give-coup-leaders-in-niger-one-week-to-step-down
| 2023-07-31T22:13:14
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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.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/work-begins-largest-us-dam-removal-project-tribes-look-future-growth/
| 2023-07-31T22:13:17
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https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/31/work-begins-largest-us-dam-removal-project-tribes-look-future-growth/
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/unlikely-heroes-are-stepping-up-at-the-womens-world-cup
| 2023-07-31T22:13:20
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/unlikely-heroes-are-stepping-up-at-the-womens-world-cup
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Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd talks with NPR Politics Podcast co-hosts about why he thinks Trump is vulnerable.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd talks with NPR Politics Podcast co-hosts about why he thinks Trump is vulnerable.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/white-house-hopeful-and-former-congressman-will-hurd-on-the-race-to-dethrone-trump
| 2023-07-31T22:13:27
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https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-31/white-house-hopeful-and-former-congressman-will-hurd-on-the-race-to-dethrone-trump
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to security and counter-terrorism Asfandyar Mir about how instability in the Taliban's Afghanistan has spilled into Pakistan, after a suicide bombing that killed dozens.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to security and counter-terrorism Asfandyar Mir about how instability in the Taliban's Afghanistan has spilled into Pakistan, after a suicide bombing that killed dozens.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.kunm.org/2023-07-31/how-a-suicide-bombing-in-pakistan-shows-spillover-effect-from-talibans-afghanistan
| 2023-07-31T22:13:30
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https://www.kunm.org/2023-07-31/how-a-suicide-bombing-in-pakistan-shows-spillover-effect-from-talibans-afghanistan
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With dangerously high temperatures across the country, hospitals are seeing more people with potentially deadly heat illness. A southern city is coping with what may be the new summer medical reality.
Copyright 2023 NPR
With dangerously high temperatures across the country, hospitals are seeing more people with potentially deadly heat illness. A southern city is coping with what may be the new summer medical reality.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/a-new-summer-reality-hospitals-and-ers-see-more-parents-with-heat-related-illness
| 2023-07-31T22:13:30
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/a-new-summer-reality-hospitals-and-ers-see-more-parents-with-heat-related-illness
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Augusta Police Say the Death of a Man Found On a Road Was Murder
Augusta Police say a man whose body was found on the side of the road Friday night was murdered.
Have Police Identified the Victim?
Officials are investigating the death of Tyler Robinson, 34, of Augusta, whose body was discovered by a passing driver.
What Do Police Know About the Murder?
Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss says it was just after 10:00 Friday night when the Augusta Police Department received a 911 call from a motorist who told them there was a man lying on the side of Old Belgrade Road, near #42. Attempts were made to revive Robinson, but they were unsuccessful.
The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central was called in to aid in the investigation, which has been ongoing throughout the weekend. Robinson's body was sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta on Saturday for an autopsy and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
So far, officials have not released how he died.
Are Police Asking for Information About the Incident?
Now, State and Augusta Police are hoping to hear from anyone who was driving through the area of #42 Old Belgrade Road between the hours of 9:30 and 10:00 Friday night, who may have seen people running in the roadway. Anyone who thinks they may have information pertinent to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076.
We'll update this story as more details become available.
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https://1019therock.com/augusta-police-investigate-murder-victim-next-to-the-road/
| 2023-07-31T22:13:30
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https://1019therock.com/augusta-police-investigate-murder-victim-next-to-the-road/
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U.S., France and African leaders give coup leaders in Niger one week to step down By Emmanuel Akinwotu Published July 31, 2023 at 2:47 PM MDT Facebook Email Print Listen • 5:57 African leaders backed by the U.S. and France have given a week for coup leaders in Niger to step down and restore the democratically elected president. Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.kunm.org/2023-07-31/u-s-france-and-african-leaders-give-coup-leaders-in-niger-one-week-to-step-down
| 2023-07-31T22:13:36
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https://www.kunm.org/2023-07-31/u-s-france-and-african-leaders-give-coup-leaders-in-niger-one-week-to-step-down
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NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with actor Richard E. Grant about his memoir Pocketful of Happiness and how he has dealt with the grief of losing his wife to cancer after 38 years together.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with actor Richard E. Grant about his memoir Pocketful of Happiness and how he has dealt with the grief of losing his wife to cancer after 38 years together.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/after-losing-his-wife-richard-e-grant-has-found-a-daily-pocketful-of-happiness
| 2023-07-31T22:13:36
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/after-losing-his-wife-richard-e-grant-has-found-a-daily-pocketful-of-happiness
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The anthropomorphic cattle dog has been captivating her target audience and then some. We spoke to parents about how the show has provided comfort and guidance in the wild world of parenting.
Who is she? Bluey Heeler is a six-year-old Australian blue heeler that is the protagonist of her eponymous children's show — as well as several toy collections, an album, books and a popular stage show.
What's the big deal? Aside from her name dominating the search bar suggestions on YouTube as soon as you begin typing the word "blue..."?
Want more on the entertainment industry? Listen to Consider This on the future of Black owned media.
What are people saying? Pretty good stuff! NPR's Scott Detrow spoke to some Bluey viewers on why they're drawn to the program from down under.
Linda McGee, a Chicago area mom of two, on why she first got into it:
It's taught me to really just play along and just tap into my childlike innocence and sense of wonder. There's so many things that I've done that I probably would never do if I wasn't watching Bluey. I probably would not be, like, a horsey ride or, like, a car driving to the grocery store for some reason.
Joseph Peterson, a Frederick, Md. dad of one, on which episode first caught his attention:
For me, I think that episode is Sleepytime.
It's just so heartwarming and empathetic, I think both for the difficulty it is for children — it really sees them in kind of the struggles to stay in their own bed at night — and also, it's really empathetic towards the parents' point of view, right? What that struggle can mean, going back and forth from bedroom to bedroom to the bathroom, to sharing space on the bed or on the floor.
And Mari Brisco, a mother of one in New Orleans on how she found herself totally engrossed with the show:
So my daughter was born eight weeks early. So I've always worried, in the back of my head like, "Oh, my God, is she hitting the right milestones at this age and everything?" And even watching that episode [Baby Race] I was like, "It's OK. You know, she's going to crawl when she crawls. She's going to talk when she talks."
So, what now?
Learn more:
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/2023-07-31/parents-share-what-they-learned-from-watching-bluey
| 2023-07-31T22:13:43
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/2023-07-31/parents-share-what-they-learned-from-watching-bluey
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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with author C.K. Chau about her new book, Good Fortune — a Pride and Prejudice retelling with some delicious twists set in Chinatown in New York City during the early 2000s.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with author C.K. Chau about her new book, Good Fortune — a Pride and Prejudice retelling with some delicious twists set in Chinatown in New York City during the early 2000s.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/c-k-chaus-take-on-pride-and-prejudice-takes-readers-to-2000s-new-york-chinatown
| 2023-07-31T22:13:43
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/c-k-chaus-take-on-pride-and-prejudice-takes-readers-to-2000s-new-york-chinatown
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The Chesterfield County Police Department is withholding nearly all of the names of its police officers from public view, arguing a novel interpretation of Virginia Freedom of Information Act law and frustrating a local police oversight group.
In March, Alice Minium, an activist who runs the website OpenOversight Va, requested a full list of the police department’s payroll.
In response, the department redacted the names of all law enforcement under the rank of lieutenant — more than 500 names from a roster of about 530 officers. The redactions included regular patrol officers, HR staff and even new recruits.
The redactions were explained using an untested legal rationale. At some point, any officer could go “undercover,” therefore, the names of all officers of lieutenant rank and below qualify to be shielded under Virginia FOIA law — which provides exemptions for undercover officers.
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Government contracts — like those between a department and its employees — have long been explicitly unprotected under Virginia code. In fact, payroll data is one of the few documents police departments have not been able to withhold under legal statutes that heavily favor police privacy.
If accepted by Virginia judges, Chesterfield’s interpretation of the undercover exemption would pave the way for police departments across the state to do the same, allowing for police officer names to remain secret.
'They want to ignore the plain understanding of the law'
Chesterfield police spokesperson Liz Caroon said the department does not comment on pending litigation. In a letter to Minium, a lawyer for the county, Katherine Gill, said the redactions were an issue of police officer safety.
“Due to the staffing and operational logistics of the Chesterfield County Police Department, officers in the positions of lieutenant and below are moved in and out of undercover operations on a daily basis,” Gill said. “Releasing the names of these officers would put the safety of undercover officers and the integrity of undercover investigations at risk.”
In General District court, a substitute judge, Philip A. Roberts Jr., dismissed Minium’s initial petition without a hearing. After several dismissals on technicalities, the case was heard in trial on July 20.
In court, County Attorney Jeff Mincks called up Chesterfield police Maj. Andrea Riesmeyer. On the stand, Riesmeyer said Chesterfield’s new undercover program was “enhanced in 2022” and that more officers were now going undercover, some at any time. She said that if the department released their names, they could be identified on OpenOversight VA, which has photos of some officers alongside their names.
“It’s easy to link a name with a face,” Riesmeyer said. “We don’t want any risk to our community or our officers.”
Under cross-examination, Andrew Bodoh, an attorney representing Minium, asked Riesmeyer to define “undercover.”
She said the department has both “undercover” and “covert” officers. The department’s definition of undercover, she said, includes officers in unmarked cars, who are wearing police badges, or wearing parts of their uniforms.
While the county argued that “everybody whose name is redacted” is an undercover officer, Bodoh argued the county’s was an unreasonable interpretation of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act exemption for undercover officers.
“Even if you have a vest on that says ‘police,’ you are undercover,” Bodoh said. “They want to ignore the plain understanding of the law.”
Another substitute judge, Jennifer Rosen, ruled in the county’s favor as well, saying that there was no violation of FOIA in CPD’s redactions.
“A recruit could be promoted tomorrow,” said Rosen, a lawyer who specializes in family law.
In her ruling, she also said the decision might be “beyond her paygrade.”
“Someone upstairs may decide better than I do,” said Rosen, referencing the probability that despite her ruling, the case would be appealed.
Bodoh says that is the plan — to appeal the case into circuit court, a higher tier of court that serves as a court of record for the state and, after that, the court of appeals, if the outcome remains the same.
Bodoh said he is unaware of any other similar cases that have tested Virginia’s FOIA law, which ensures the public's access to the records of government agencies.
In 2016, a bill to shield police officer names from the public was proposed in the Virginia General Assembly. That bill, proposed by state Sen. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, did not pass. Cosgrove said at the time that he filed the bill in response to a FOIA request from The Virginian-Pilot seeking payroll records — nearly the exact same request as Minium’s.
“If they want a broader exemption, they can lobby the General Assembly for it,” Bodoh said. “The county’s position is not consistent with what the General Assembly intends.”
Similar legislation that would let officials withhold the names of police personnel have been proposed in West Virginia and New Jersey. In 2007, the California Supreme Court struck down a challenge to limit the information, ruling that the information is public.
More than 27,000 officer names posted online
Chesterfield is the only police department that gave OpenOversight VA such a heavily redacted roster. The group received more than 280 unredacted payrolls and has more than 27,000 officer names online, some alongside user-submitted photos or disciplinary records. Minium said it is used by media and Virginians who want to know more about officers they have interacted with, at times to see if they have disciplinary histories.
“The goal has never been to humiliate people,” Minium said. “There’s nothing shameful in having your name published.”
Minium said her transparency work started in 2020 after seeing a friend placed in a chokehold by a police officer. The incident occurred days after the death of George Floyd, which would go on to spark a summer of protests that reshaped Richmond. The case also brought renewed attention to police discipline issues and records.
Throughout the demonstrations, protesters began to know officers' faces and names as a way of protecting themselves from ones she said were more aggressive or thought to be violent, she said.
Internal affairs records from the Richmond Police Department later showed that some officers were found to have stepped out of line during the protests, with the Richmond's commonwealth’s attorney even attempting to bring indictments against two officers, according to the report. A grand jury opted not to indict them.
Bodoh said there is obvious value in having payroll be public, including, for example, to spot nepotism in hiring or other types of fraud in public contracts.
Exactly that behavior has occurred as recently as this year. In June, Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins was charged by the Department of Justice for accepting bribes in exchange for law enforcement badges and credentials. Some of the bribes came in the form of campaign contributions, which are also public records.
“We don’t have a secret police force in America,” Bodoh said. “Having access to the names of public officials is both what the law says and a very simple good idea.”
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https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/foia-chesterfield-police-secret/article_9605503e-2fc5-11ee-8c27-cbc26ed2df8d.html
| 2023-07-31T22:13:44
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https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/foia-chesterfield-police-secret/article_9605503e-2fc5-11ee-8c27-cbc26ed2df8d.html
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With dangerously high temperatures across the country, hospitals are seeing more people with potentially deadly heat illness. A southern city is coping with what may be the new summer medical reality.
Copyright 2023 NPR
With dangerously high temperatures across the country, hospitals are seeing more people with potentially deadly heat illness. A southern city is coping with what may be the new summer medical reality.
Copyright 2023 NPR
|
https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/a-new-summer-reality-hospitals-and-ers-see-more-parents-with-heat-related-illness
| 2023-07-31T22:13:49
| 0
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/a-new-summer-reality-hospitals-and-ers-see-more-parents-with-heat-related-illness
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More U.S. shrimpers have sold their boats. Most Americans don't realize that the cheap, plentiful shrimp they buy in the market and order on pad thai is driving domestic shrimpers out of business.
Copyright 2023 NPR
More U.S. shrimpers have sold their boats. Most Americans don't realize that the cheap, plentiful shrimp they buy in the market and order on pad thai is driving domestic shrimpers out of business.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/demand-for-cheap-shrimp-is-driving-u-s-shrimpers-out-of-business
| 2023-07-31T22:13:49
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/demand-for-cheap-shrimp-is-driving-u-s-shrimpers-out-of-business
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NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with actor Richard E. Grant about his memoir Pocketful of Happiness and how he has dealt with the grief of losing his wife to cancer after 38 years together.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with actor Richard E. Grant about his memoir Pocketful of Happiness and how he has dealt with the grief of losing his wife to cancer after 38 years together.
Copyright 2023 NPR
|
https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/after-losing-his-wife-richard-e-grant-has-found-a-daily-pocketful-of-happiness
| 2023-07-31T22:13:55
| 1
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/after-losing-his-wife-richard-e-grant-has-found-a-daily-pocketful-of-happiness
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Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/getting-ac-to-residents-of-public-housing-where-extreme-heat-can-be-dangerous
| 2023-07-31T22:13:55
| 1
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/getting-ac-to-residents-of-public-housing-where-extreme-heat-can-be-dangerous
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Back to School
NBC 5 tracks how North Texas schools tackle the return to the classroom
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/back-to-school/garland-school-hosts-first-annual-back-to-school-block-party/3306819/
| 2023-07-31T22:13:59
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/back-to-school/garland-school-hosts-first-annual-back-to-school-block-party/3306819/
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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with author C.K. Chau about her new book, Good Fortune — a Pride and Prejudice retelling with some delicious twists set in Chinatown in New York City during the early 2000s.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with author C.K. Chau about her new book, Good Fortune — a Pride and Prejudice retelling with some delicious twists set in Chinatown in New York City during the early 2000s.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/c-k-chaus-take-on-pride-and-prejudice-takes-readers-to-2000s-new-york-chinatown
| 2023-07-31T22:14:01
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/c-k-chaus-take-on-pride-and-prejudice-takes-readers-to-2000s-new-york-chinatown
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to security and counter-terrorism Asfandyar Mir about how instability in the Taliban's Afghanistan has spilled into Pakistan, after a suicide bombing that killed dozens.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to security and counter-terrorism Asfandyar Mir about how instability in the Taliban's Afghanistan has spilled into Pakistan, after a suicide bombing that killed dozens.
Copyright 2023 NPR
|
https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/how-a-suicide-bombing-in-pakistan-shows-spillover-effect-from-talibans-afghanistan
| 2023-07-31T22:14:01
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/how-a-suicide-bombing-in-pakistan-shows-spillover-effect-from-talibans-afghanistan
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Seafood is high in protein and offers some great health benefits, but seafood can quickly spoil and some raw varieties carry health concerns. To balance it all out, Consumer Reports has advice to help you get the benefits while reducing the risks.
Finding truly fresh seafood can be a challenge.
Seafood supplier, Chris Perkins also known as the "417 Fish Guy," is up to the task.
"I got into the seafood industry … mainly to support my habit of eating seafood. Just the taste of it. Real clean. Makes me feel better when I eat seafood," Perkins said.
For more than twenty years, he has provided the "dock to door" service.
"We deal with suppliers in Hawaii, Canada and Alaska… and the east coast. Those products are shipped to us overnight. Logistics nowadays is amazing. We have refrigerated vans and boxed trucks that we transport goods in," Perkins said.
Seafood is more perishable than meat or poultry. So, you need to take extra precautions to reel in this great source of protein.
Consumer Reports
The latest news from Consumer Reports magazine.
"Cooking seafood to 145° F kills most germs that could be in the food, but when the food is eaten raw, especially when it wasn't previously frozen, pathogens can be present and make you sick," Althea Chang of Consumer Reports said.
For fin fish, the issue is mostly parasites such as roundworms, tapeworms, and intestinal flukes. These parasites can work their way into your intestinal wall and cause nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. Just another reason to closely examine the catch of the day.
"You want to look at the eyes. Make sure they're not overly cloudy. Look at the gills. Make sure they're flesh-like. Like they still have blood in them. Not gray or dark. This guy is beautiful," Perkins said
The American Heart Association recommends you eat at least two 3-ounce servings of non-fried fish per week.
For raw shellfish, check for freshness. Bagged shellfish should have a tag indicating when it was harvested. If shellfish isn't bagged, the store or the supplier should have that information. Stick with those harvested no more than about a week earlier.
And don't forget about food safety when you're shopping. Keep seafood separated in your shopping cart and bags.
"I do recommend having a freezer bag with you. Gel packs or ice in a Ziplock pack. That's how you transport your product from the store to your home," Perkins said.
Place it in the coldest part of your fridge and enjoy it as soon as you can.
Freeze raw seafood you won't use within one to two days. Lean fish keeps for six to eight months in the freezer; fatty fish such as salmon, for two to three months.
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/consumer-reports/tips-for-safe-and-sustainable-seafood/3306792/
| 2023-07-31T22:14:06
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/consumer-reports/tips-for-safe-and-sustainable-seafood/3306792/
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More U.S. shrimpers have sold their boats. Most Americans don't realize that the cheap, plentiful shrimp they buy in the market and order on pad thai is driving domestic shrimpers out of business.
Copyright 2023 NPR
More U.S. shrimpers have sold their boats. Most Americans don't realize that the cheap, plentiful shrimp they buy in the market and order on pad thai is driving domestic shrimpers out of business.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/demand-for-cheap-shrimp-is-driving-u-s-shrimpers-out-of-business
| 2023-07-31T22:14:07
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/demand-for-cheap-shrimp-is-driving-u-s-shrimpers-out-of-business
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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with trucker Alex Mai, who runs a YouTube Channel about trucking news, about how 30,000 workers are losing their jobs as the shipping company Yellow has shut down operations.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with trucker Alex Mai, who runs a YouTube Channel about trucking news, about how 30,000 workers are losing their jobs as the shipping company Yellow has shut down operations.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/how-the-shutdown-of-transport-company-yellow-could-have-ripple-effects-for-truckers
| 2023-07-31T22:14:07
| 1
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/how-the-shutdown-of-transport-company-yellow-could-have-ripple-effects-for-truckers
|
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The latest news from Consumer Reports magazine.
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/consumer-reports/tips-for-safe-and-sustainable-seafood/3306844/
| 2023-07-31T22:14:12
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/consumer-reports/tips-for-safe-and-sustainable-seafood/3306844/
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Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/getting-ac-to-residents-of-public-housing-where-extreme-heat-can-be-dangerous
| 2023-07-31T22:14:13
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/getting-ac-to-residents-of-public-housing-where-extreme-heat-can-be-dangerous
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Members of an female Afghan military platoon now face uncertain fate in the U.S. By Kai McNamee, Patrick Jarenwattananon, Sacha Pfeiffer Published July 31, 2023 at 4:47 PM EDT Facebook LinkedIn Email Listen • 6:03 NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Mahnaz Akbari, former commander of the Afghan military's Female Tactical Platoon, about the Afghan Adjustment Act. Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/members-of-an-female-afghan-military-platoon-now-face-uncertain-fate-in-the-u-s
| 2023-07-31T22:14:14
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/members-of-an-female-afghan-military-platoon-now-face-uncertain-fate-in-the-u-s
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Another wave of triple-digit temperatures is taking a toll on cars across North Texas.
The dangerously hot conditions are causing owners to seek help at auto shops.
“We’re extremely busy,” said Colton Duty, manager of Speedee Oil Change and Auto Service in Arlington. “A lot of air conditioning compressors, we see those fail a lot. A lot of radiators crack and start to leak. Batteries go bad too.”
While windshield wipers won’t be needed this week, owners should keep an eye out in case they stick to your windshield.
“They don’t melt like you would think like really gooey, but they do tend to glue themselves to the windshield so the next time you try to use them they tear because they were stuck to the windshield,” said Duty.
Tire pressure can also cause problems in triple-digit temperatures.
Vehicle owners should also look for other signs of trouble.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
“Weird smells or smoke or steam when you’re pulling up to a stop light, that’s probably an indicator that something may be wrong. Also, if your air conditioning stops working like when you pull up to a red light and it starts working again when you start driving again, that could be a problem with your vehicle’s radiator fan,” he said.
The team at Calloway’s Nursery in Arlington is watering plants more often and using fertilizer to replenish nutrients in the process.
Staff is getting breaks and snacks to stay hydrated and energized.
Free water bottles are also on hand for workers and guests alike.
“More fans, this year we invested in misting fans for employees and customers to enjoy,” said assistant store manager Jaynie Mohr.
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/how-extreme-texas-heat-can-impact-vehicles/3306840/
| 2023-07-31T22:14:18
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/how-extreme-texas-heat-can-impact-vehicles/3306840/
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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with trucker Alex Mai, who runs a YouTube Channel about trucking news, about how 30,000 workers are losing their jobs as the shipping company Yellow has shut down operations.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with trucker Alex Mai, who runs a YouTube Channel about trucking news, about how 30,000 workers are losing their jobs as the shipping company Yellow has shut down operations.
Copyright 2023 NPR
|
https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/how-the-shutdown-of-transport-company-yellow-could-have-ripple-effects-for-truckers
| 2023-07-31T22:14:19
| 0
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/how-the-shutdown-of-transport-company-yellow-could-have-ripple-effects-for-truckers
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African leaders backed by the U.S. and France have given a week for coup leaders in Niger to step down and restore the democratically elected president.
Copyright 2023 NPR
African leaders backed by the U.S. and France have given a week for coup leaders in Niger to step down and restore the democratically elected president.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/u-s-france-and-african-leaders-give-coup-leaders-in-niger-one-week-to-step-down
| 2023-07-31T22:14:20
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/u-s-france-and-african-leaders-give-coup-leaders-in-niger-one-week-to-step-down
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The Irving Police Department has requested the activation of a Silver Alert by the Texas Department of Public Safety for Nghi Si Huynh, 74 years of age.
Huynh was last seen in the 3200 block of W. Country Club Dr. at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 30.
Huynh left the location on foot, wearing a black shirt, gray shorts, and slides.
He has been diagnosed with dementia and other health conditions requiring daily medication.
Huynh only speaks Vietnamese and will not respond to English. It is unknown where he might be at this time.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Nghi Si Huynh should contact the Irving Police Department at (972) 273-1010 or dial 911.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
TEXAS STATEWIDE ALERT PROGRAMS
There are eight kinds of alerts that can be issued for missing or endangered people in Texas. They are listed below with links to a page with more information.
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/silver-alert-activation-requested-for-missing-irving-man/3306836/
| 2023-07-31T22:14:24
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/silver-alert-activation-requested-for-missing-irving-man/3306836/
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NPR News Members of an female Afghan military platoon now face uncertain fate in the U.S. By Kai McNamee, Patrick Jarenwattananon, Sacha Pfeiffer Published July 31, 2023 at 2:47 PM MDT Facebook Email Print Listen • 6:03 NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Mahnaz Akbari, former commander of the Afghan military's Female Tactical Platoon, about the Afghan Adjustment Act. Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/members-of-an-female-afghan-military-platoon-now-face-uncertain-fate-in-the-u-s
| 2023-07-31T22:14:25
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/members-of-an-female-afghan-military-platoon-now-face-uncertain-fate-in-the-u-s
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/unlikely-heroes-are-stepping-up-at-the-womens-world-cup
| 2023-07-31T22:14:26
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/unlikely-heroes-are-stepping-up-at-the-womens-world-cup
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Six straight days of 12-hour driving. Single-digit paychecks. The complaints come from workers in vastly different industries: UPS delivery drivers and Hollywood actors and writers.
But they point to an underlying factor driving a surge of labor unrest: The cost to workers whose jobs have changed drastically as companies scramble to meet customer expectations for speed and convenience in industries transformed by technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated those changes, pushing retailers to shift online and intensifying the streaming competition among entertainment companies. Now, from the picket lines, workers are trying to give consumers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a show that can be binged any time or get dog food delivered to their doorstep with a phone swipe.
That workers are overworked and underpaid is an enduring complaint across industries — from delivery drivers to Starbucks baristas and airline pilots — where surges in consumer demand have collided with persistent labor shortages. Workers are pushing back against forced overtime, punishing schedules or company reliance on lower-paid, part-time or contract forces.
At issue for Hollywood screenwriters and actors staging their first simultaneous strikes in 40 years is the way streaming has upended the economics of entertainment, slashing pay and forcing showrunners to produce content faster with smaller teams.
“This seems to happen to many places when the tech companies come in. Who are we crushing? It doesn’t matter,” said Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, a screenwriter and showrunner on the negotiating team for the Writers Guild of America, whose members have been on strike since May. Earlier this month, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the writers’ union on the picket line.
Actors and writers have long relied on residuals, or long-term payments, for reruns and other airings of films and televisions shows. But reruns aren’t a thing on streaming services, where series and films simply land and stay with no easy way, such as box office returns or ratings, to determine their popularity.
U.S. & World
Consequently, whatever residuals streaming companies do pay often amount to a pittance, and screenwriters have been sharing tales of receiving single-digit checks.
Adam Shapiro, an actor known for the Netflix hit “Never Have I Ever," said many actors were initially content to accept lower pay for the plethora of roles that streaming suddenly offered. But the need for a more sustainable compensation model gained urgency when it became clear streaming is not a sideshow, but rather the future of the business, he said.
"Over the past 10 years, we realized: ‘Oh, that’s now how Hollywood works. Everything is streaming,’” Shapiro said during a recent union event.
Shapiro, who has been acting for 25 years, said he agreed to a contract offering 20% of his normal rate for “Never Have I Ever” because it seemed like "a great opportunity, and it’s going to be all over the world. And it was. It really was. Unfortunately, we’re all starting to realize that if we keep doing this we’re not going to be able to pay our bills.”
Then there's the rising use of “mini rooms,” in which a handful of writers are hired to work only during pre-production, sometimes for a series that may take a year to be greenlit, or never get picked up at all.
Sanchez-Witzel, co-creator of the recently released Netflix series “Survival of the Thickest,” said television shows traditionally hire robust writing teams for the duration of production. But Netflix refused to allow her to keep her team of five writers past pre-production, forcing round-the-clock rewrites with just one other writer.
“It's not sustainable and I'll never do that again,” she said.
Sanchez-Witzel said she was struck by the similarities between her experience and those of UPS drivers, some of whom joined the WGA for protests as they threatened their own potentially crippling strike. UPS and the Teamsters last week reached a tentative contract staving off the strike.
Jeffrey Palmerino, a full-time UPS driver near Albany, New York, said forced overtime emerged as a top issue during the pandemic as drivers coped with a crush of orders on par with the holiday season. Drivers never knew what time they would get home or if they could count on two days off each week, while 14-hour days in trucks without air conditioning became the norm.
“It was basically like Christmas on steroids for two straight years. A lot of us were forced to work six days a week, and that is not any way to live your life,” said Palmerino, a Teamsters shop steward.
Along with pay raises and air conditioning, the Teamsters won concessions that Palmerino hopes will ease overwork. UPS agreed to end forced overtime on days off and eliminate a lower-paid category of drivers who work shifts that include weekends, converting them to full-time drivers. Union members have yet to ratify the deal.
The Teamsters and labor activists hailed the tentative deal as a game-changer that would pressure other companies facing labor unrest to raise their standards. But similar outcomes are far from certain in industries lacking the sheer economic indispensability of UPS or the clout of its 340,000-member union.
Efforts to organize at Starbucks and Amazon stalled as both companies aggressively fought against unionization.
Still, labor protests will likely gain momentum following the UPS contract, said Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, which released a report this year that found the number of labor strikes rose 52% in 2022.
“The whole idea that consumer convenience is above everything broke down during the pandemic. We started to think, ‘I’m at home ordering, but there is actually a worker who has to go the grocery store, who has to cook this for me so that I can be comfortable,’” Campos-Medina said.
Associated Press video journalist Leslie Ambriz contributed from Los Angeles.
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/customers-want-instant-gratification-workers-say-its-pushing-them-to-the-brink/3306837/
| 2023-07-31T22:14:30
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/customers-want-instant-gratification-workers-say-its-pushing-them-to-the-brink/3306837/
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Susan Davis is a congressional correspondent for NPR and a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast. She has covered Congress, elections, and national politics since 2002 for publications including USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal, National Journal and Roll Call. She appears regularly on television and radio outlets to discuss congressional and national politics, and she is a contributor on PBS's Washington Week with Robert Costa. She is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., and a Philadelphia native.
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/white-house-hopeful-and-former-congressman-will-hurd-on-the-race-to-dethrone-trump
| 2023-07-31T22:14:31
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https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-07-31/white-house-hopeful-and-former-congressman-will-hurd-on-the-race-to-dethrone-trump
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This article was written by a human.
That's worth mentioning because it's no longer something you can just assume. Artificial intelligence that can mimic conversation, whether written or spoken, has been in the news a lot this year, delighting some members of the public while worrying educators, politicians, the World Health Organization, and even some of the people developing AI technology.
Misuse of AI is part of what actors and writers are striking about in Hollywood, and the threat of AI is something Hollywood was imagining long before it was real.
In 1968, for instance, the year before humans first set foot on the moon — and a time when astronauts still used pencils and slide rules to calculate re-entry trajectories because their space capsules had less computing power than a digital watch has today — Stanley Kubrick introduced movie audiences to a sentient HAL-9000 computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
HAL (for Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic Computer) introduced itself early in the film by saying, "No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error."
'Open the pod bay door, HAL'
So why was HAL acting so strangely? He (it?) was responsible for maintaining all aspects of a months-long space flight, ferrying astronauts to the moons of Jupiter. Programmed to run the mission flawlessly, the computer's behavior had become alarming, and two of the astronauts had decided to shut down some of its functions. Their plan was short-circuited when HAL, lip-reading a conversation they'd managed to keep him from hearing, cast one of them adrift while he was outside the ship repairing an antenna and refused to let the other back on board.
"Open the pod bay door, HAL" became one of the most quoted film lines of the decade when the computer responded, "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it."
It's hard to articulate what a genuine shock this was for 1960s movie audiences. There'd been films with, say, robots causing havoc, but they were generally robots doing someone else's bidding. Movie robots, at that point, were about brawn, not brain.
And anyway, malevolent robot stories were precisely the sort of B-movie silliness Kubrick was trying to avoid. So his intelligent machine simply observed (with an unblinking red eye) and, when addressed directly, spoke with a calm, modulated voice, not unlike the one that would be adopted four decades later by Siri and Alexa.
Darwin Among the Machines
Earlier literary notions of "artificial" intelligence — and there were not a lot of them at that point — hadn't really caught the public's imagination. Samuel Butler's 1863 article Darwin Among the Machines, is generally thought to be the origin of this species of writing, and it mostly just notes that while humankind invented machines to assist us — and remember, a really sophisticated machine in 1863 was the steam locomotive — we were increasingly assisting them: tending, fueling, repairing.
Over tens of thousands of years, Butler wondered, might humans not evolve in much the same way Darwin's study of natural selection had just established the rest of the plant and animal kingdoms do, to the point that we would become dependent on our devices?
But even when he incorporated that idea a decade later into a satirical novel called Erewhon, expounding for several chapters on self-replicating machines, Butler barely touched on the notion that those machines would develop consciousness. And neither did the influential 19th-century science fiction writers who followed him. H.G. Wells and Jules Verne invented plenty of unorthodox devices as they sent characters to the center of the Earth, and into space and the recesses of time, without ever considering that those devices might want to do things on their own.
The term "artificial intelligence" wasn't even coined (by American computer scientist John McCarthy) until about a dozen years before Kubrick made his Space Odyssey. But HAL made an impression on the public where scientists had not. Within just a couple of years, movie computers didn't just want spaceship domination; in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), they wanted to take over the world.
Malignant machines gone viral
And then this notion of technology-run-wild, ran wild. A high school student played by Matthew Broderick nearly started World War III in WarGames (1983) when he thought he was hacking a computer company's website but accidentally challenged the Pentagon's defense network to a quick game of "global thermonuclear war." The problem, it soon became clear, was that no one told the defense network they were just "playing."
Elsewhere, mechanical men stopped being all-brawn and got a new dispensation to think for themselves, something fiction had granted them before Hollywood got around to it.
In the 1940s, sci-fi novelist Isaac Asimov came up with "Three Laws of Robotics" that would theoretically keep "independent" machines in line. When Asimov's story I, Robot, was turned into a film a half-century or so later, those laws should have reassured Will Smith as he stared down thousands of bots. But he had good reason to be skeptical; he was fighting a robot rebellion.
The Terminator movies effectively put all these themes on steroids — cyborgs in the service of a computerized, sentient, civil-defense network called Skynet, designed to function without any human input. A "Nuclear Fire" and three billion human deaths later, what was left of humanity was engaged in a war against the machines that has so far consumed six films, a TV series, a pair of web series, and innumerable games.
And nuclear blasts weren't necessary to make machine intelligence alarming, a fact cyberpunk-noir established definitively in Blade Runner with its "replicants," and in a Matrix series that reduced all of humanity to a mere power source for machines.
Hollywood's still fighting that vision. Who knows what "The Entity" wants in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (presumably we'll find out next year in Part Two), but whatever it is, it won't bode well for humanity.
Hollywood concentrates on exploiting our fears — in the late 20th century, we worried about ceding control to technology. In the 21st century, we worry about losing control of technology.
It seems not to have occurred to Tinseltown that AI might do the things it's actually doing — make social media dangerous, or make undergrad writing courses unteachable, or screw up relationships by auto-completing incorrectly. None of those are terribly cinematic, so Hollywood concentrates on exploiting our fears — in the late 20th century, we worried about ceding control to technology. In the 21st century, we worry about losing control of technology.
Bring on the droids
Have there also been friendlier film visions of AI? Sure. George Lucas came up with lovable droids R2-D2 and C-3PO for Star Wars, and Pixar gave us Wall-E, a bot who was pluckily determined to clean up an entire planet we'd despoiled.
Spike Jonze's drama Her imagined a sentient, Siri-like personal assistant as a digital girlfriend. Star Trek's Data was not just a Next Generation android version of Mr. Spock, but also a sort of emotion-challenged Pinocchio.
And another Pinocchio — this one fashioned to stand the test of time — would have been Stanley Kubrick's own answer to the question he'd posed with HAL in 1968.
Kubrick labored for decades to hone the script for A.I. Artificial Intelligence, then just two years before he died, handed the project off to Steven Spielberg — the story of David, a robot child who has been programmed to love, and who ends up going beyond that programming.
"Until you were born," William Hurt's Professor Hobby told the bionic child he'd modeled on his own son, "robots didn't dream, robots didn't desire unless we told them what to want." The miracle, he went on, was that though David was engineered rather than born, he shared with humans "the ability to chase down our dreams...something no machine has ever done, until you."
That may not have been enough to make David a real boy, but it put a gentle face on what is perhaps our greatest fear about AI – that we are mortal, and it is not.
In the film, David outlives all of humanity, never growing up, never changing. And perhaps because he was played by Haley Joel Osment, or perhaps because Spielberg was calling the shots, or perhaps because the music swelled ... just so — it didn't feel the least bit threatening.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/open-the-pod-bay-door-hal-heres-how-ai-became-a-movie-villain
| 2023-07-31T22:14:31
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/open-the-pod-bay-door-hal-heres-how-ai-became-a-movie-villain
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/video-weather/nbc-5-forecast-dangerous-heat-continues-with-a-fire-threat/3306813/
| 2023-07-31T22:14:36
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/video-weather/nbc-5-forecast-dangerous-heat-continues-with-a-fire-threat/3306813/
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Last month's heavy rainfall has affected some of Maine's largest industries including farming and tourism. In the tourist haven of Old Orchard Beach, businesses reported seeing a noticeably slower June. But business owners and beach goers are hopeful for sunny skies in August.
Every summer, nearly five million tourists pack the sandy beaches of Old Orchard Beach. The small coastal town of about 9,000 residents traces its roots as a popular travel destination as far back as the 1820s. But this summer got off to a rocky start.
In June and part of July, heavy rainfall washed out nearly every sunny day.
"Several of our businesses here in town are down because of the rain and that includes restaurants, hotels, and some of our campgrounds, too," says Kim Howard, executive director of the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Howard says it's too early to know how much business is down.
But Michael Rioux of the Sandpiper Hotel says he's never seen anything like it in his three decades working in the hotel industry.
"I've never seen a Fourth of July that slow and having an almost empty parking lot. I think we had maybe three rooms rented, which is unheard of on Fourth of July night. It's definitely had an impact as well as guests wanting to leave early and trying to get their money back. It puts us in a tough position because it's such a short season with high expenses and rising costs," he says.
Pete Duhamel says his business is also way down. He runs a popular restaurant called Dewey's that has served the Old Orchard Beach community for 25 years.
"The rain in June has cut my business down in half at least. This has probably been the worst year I've ever had the entire time I've been here," he says.
And that's not all. Paul Golder, the president of the popular amusement park Palace Playland, says some rides are not able to operate in certain conditions.
"It seems like even when it's not raining, we're still getting a lot of moisture to the point where it sort of interferes with the operation of some of the machines here. We'd have to close things down 'cause of the condensation in the air on top of the extra rain we've been getting," he says.
Golder remains hopeful. He says June is typically a slow time for businesses, but mid-July and August is peak season. And some tourists say they aren't letting the weather spoil their plans.
"Massachusetts has had also a very rainy summer so far, so we lucked out. The weather outlook for this week is beautiful. We're just very fortunate," said Tiffany Bell of Boston, who visited Old Orchard Beach with her family last week.
A recent study from Dartmouth College revealed that warming climate conditions will increase extreme precipitation in the Northeast by 52% by the end of the century.
For now, there are sunny skies ahead, and businesses say things appear to be picking up.
"I would say that while June was a rainy, slower month, all indications are that things have bounced back," says Becky Jacobson with HospitalityMaine.
Jacobson says July looks like it will wind up being a solid month, and everyone who caters to tourists, she says, is still looking forward to August.
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https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2023-07-31/maines-beach-towns-see-slow-start-to-summer-but-hope-for-sunny-skies-ahead
| 2023-07-31T22:14:37
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https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2023-07-31/maines-beach-towns-see-slow-start-to-summer-but-hope-for-sunny-skies-ahead
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Updated July 31, 2023 at 5:05 PM ET
A rising star in American cycling, 17-year-old Magnus White, has died after a driver hit him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.
White had been preparing to head to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the Junior Men's Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships next week.
A member of USA Cycling's junior men's national team, White won the 2021 USA Cyclocross Junior Men's National Championship. He represented the U.S. in his first cyclocross world championship last year in Fayetteville, Ark., and competed in his second earlier this year in the Netherlands. (USA Cycling describes cyclocross as a combination of "road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase.")
"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved son, Magnus White," his parents Michael and Jill White said in a statement Monday.
"Magnus was dedicated to his family and friends and loved to surround them with laughter. He had an amazing smile that always lit up the room, bringing joy to those around him."
White's passion for cycling started at the age of two on a strider bike, they said, and he began racing at age 8. He grew up in Boulder and trained with Boulder Junior Cycling. He was also an avid skier and a committed student who aspired to attend business school, according to his website. He planned to graduate from high school a semester early so he could focus on international competition in spring 2024.
In addition to his parents, White is survived by his brother Eero. A family friend has set up a GoFundMe to support the family, USA Cycling confirms.
"Magnus was taken from us while doing what he loved most, riding his bike," writes Christine Lipson, the fundraiser's organizer.
"He began cycling when he was eight and quickly rose through the cycling ranks. Magnus's journey in cycling was driven by a tireless work ethic and a deep desire to achieve his personal best. He was proud to represent his community and country around the world," writes Lipson, whose son was a close friend and teammate of White's.
White was riding on the shoulder of Highway 119, known as the Diagonal, in Boulder on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a 23-year-old woman driving a Toyota Matrix. The driver crossed from the right-hand lane onto the shoulder, striking White from behind before she crashed into a fence, according to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol. White was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. The car's driver was uninjured.
Neither drugs, alcohol nor excessive speed are suspected factors in the crash, according to the state patrol.
USA Cycling said in a statement Sunday that White was a rising star in off-road cycling and "his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community."
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time," the statement continued. "We ride for Magnus."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/top-american-cyclist-magnus-white-17-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car
| 2023-07-31T22:14:37
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| 2023-07-31T22:14:42
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https://www.nbcdfw.com/weather/weather-connection/dog-days-of-summer-wolfe-and-bear/3306823/
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Updated July 31, 2023 at 5:05 PM ET
A rising star in American cycling, 17-year-old Magnus White, has died after a driver hit him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.
White had been preparing to head to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the Junior Men's Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships next week.
A member of USA Cycling's junior men's national team, White won the 2021 USA Cyclocross Junior Men's National Championship. He represented the U.S. in his first cyclocross world championship last year in Fayetteville, Ark., and competed in his second earlier this year in the Netherlands. (USA Cycling describes cyclocross as a combination of "road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase.")
"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved son, Magnus White," his parents Michael and Jill White said in a statement Monday.
"Magnus was dedicated to his family and friends and loved to surround them with laughter. He had an amazing smile that always lit up the room, bringing joy to those around him."
White's passion for cycling started at the age of two on a strider bike, they said, and he began racing at age 8. He grew up in Boulder and trained with Boulder Junior Cycling. He was also an avid skier and a committed student who aspired to attend business school, according to his website. He planned to graduate from high school a semester early so he could focus on international competition in spring 2024.
In addition to his parents, White is survived by his brother Eero. A family friend has set up a GoFundMe to support the family, USA Cycling confirms.
"Magnus was taken from us while doing what he loved most, riding his bike," writes Christine Lipson, the fundraiser's organizer.
"He began cycling when he was eight and quickly rose through the cycling ranks. Magnus's journey in cycling was driven by a tireless work ethic and a deep desire to achieve his personal best. He was proud to represent his community and country around the world," writes Lipson, whose son was a close friend and teammate of White's.
White was riding on the shoulder of Highway 119, known as the Diagonal, in Boulder on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a 23-year-old woman driving a Toyota Matrix. The driver crossed from the right-hand lane onto the shoulder, striking White from behind before she crashed into a fence, according to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol. White was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. The car's driver was uninjured.
Neither drugs, alcohol nor excessive speed are suspected factors in the crash, according to the state patrol.
USA Cycling said in a statement Sunday that White was a rising star in off-road cycling and "his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community."
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time," the statement continued. "We ride for Magnus."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2023-07-31/top-american-cyclist-magnus-white-17-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car
| 2023-07-31T22:14:43
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https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2023-07-31/top-american-cyclist-magnus-white-17-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/unlikely-heroes-are-stepping-up-at-the-womens-world-cup
| 2023-07-31T22:14:43
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/unlikely-heroes-are-stepping-up-at-the-womens-world-cup
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This article was written by a human.
That's worth mentioning because it's no longer something you can just assume. Artificial intelligence that can mimic conversation, whether written or spoken, has been in the news a lot this year, delighting some members of the public while worrying educators, politicians, the World Health Organization, and even some of the people developing AI technology.
Misuse of AI is part of what actors and writers are striking about in Hollywood, and the threat of AI is something Hollywood was imagining long before it was real.
In 1968, for instance, the year before humans first set foot on the moon — and a time when astronauts still used pencils and slide rules to calculate re-entry trajectories because their space capsules had less computing power than a digital watch has today — Stanley Kubrick introduced movie audiences to a sentient HAL-9000 computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
HAL (for Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic Computer) introduced itself early in the film by saying, "No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error."
'Open the pod bay door, HAL'
So why was HAL acting so strangely? He (it?) was responsible for maintaining all aspects of a months-long space flight, ferrying astronauts to the moons of Jupiter. Programmed to run the mission flawlessly, the computer's behavior had become alarming, and two of the astronauts had decided to shut down some of its functions. Their plan was short-circuited when HAL, lip-reading a conversation they'd managed to keep him from hearing, cast one of them adrift while he was outside the ship repairing an antenna and refused to let the other back on board.
"Open the pod bay door, HAL" became one of the most quoted film lines of the decade when the computer responded, "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it."
It's hard to articulate what a genuine shock this was for 1960s movie audiences. There'd been films with, say, robots causing havoc, but they were generally robots doing someone else's bidding. Movie robots, at that point, were about brawn, not brain.
And anyway, malevolent robot stories were precisely the sort of B-movie silliness Kubrick was trying to avoid. So his intelligent machine simply observed (with an unblinking red eye) and, when addressed directly, spoke with a calm, modulated voice, not unlike the one that would be adopted four decades later by Siri and Alexa.
Darwin Among the Machines
Earlier literary notions of "artificial" intelligence — and there were not a lot of them at that point — hadn't really caught the public's imagination. Samuel Butler's 1863 article Darwin Among the Machines, is generally thought to be the origin of this species of writing, and it mostly just notes that while humankind invented machines to assist us — and remember, a really sophisticated machine in 1863 was the steam locomotive — we were increasingly assisting them: tending, fueling, repairing.
Over tens of thousands of years, Butler wondered, might humans not evolve in much the same way Darwin's study of natural selection had just established the rest of the plant and animal kingdoms do, to the point that we would become dependent on our devices?
But even when he incorporated that idea a decade later into a satirical novel called Erewhon, expounding for several chapters on self-replicating machines, Butler barely touched on the notion that those machines would develop consciousness. And neither did the influential 19th-century science fiction writers who followed him. H.G. Wells and Jules Verne invented plenty of unorthodox devices as they sent characters to the center of the Earth, and into space and the recesses of time, without ever considering that those devices might want to do things on their own.
The term "artificial intelligence" wasn't even coined (by American computer scientist John McCarthy) until about a dozen years before Kubrick made his Space Odyssey. But HAL made an impression on the public where scientists had not. Within just a couple of years, movie computers didn't just want spaceship domination; in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), they wanted to take over the world.
Malignant machines gone viral
And then this notion of technology-run-wild, ran wild. A high school student played by Matthew Broderick nearly started World War III in WarGames (1983) when he thought he was hacking a computer company's website but accidentally challenged the Pentagon's defense network to a quick game of "global thermonuclear war." The problem, it soon became clear, was that no one told the defense network they were just "playing."
Elsewhere, mechanical men stopped being all-brawn and got a new dispensation to think for themselves, something fiction had granted them before Hollywood got around to it.
In the 1940s, sci-fi novelist Isaac Asimov came up with "Three Laws of Robotics" that would theoretically keep "independent" machines in line. When Asimov's story I, Robot, was turned into a film a half-century or so later, those laws should have reassured Will Smith as he stared down thousands of bots. But he had good reason to be skeptical; he was fighting a robot rebellion.
The Terminator movies effectively put all these themes on steroids — cyborgs in the service of a computerized, sentient, civil-defense network called Skynet, designed to function without any human input. A "Nuclear Fire" and three billion human deaths later, what was left of humanity was engaged in a war against the machines that has so far consumed six films, a TV series, a pair of web series, and innumerable games.
And nuclear blasts weren't necessary to make machine intelligence alarming, a fact cyberpunk-noir established definitively in Blade Runner with its "replicants," and in a Matrix series that reduced all of humanity to a mere power source for machines.
Hollywood's still fighting that vision. Who knows what "The Entity" wants in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (presumably we'll find out next year in Part Two), but whatever it is, it won't bode well for humanity.
Hollywood concentrates on exploiting our fears — in the late 20th century, we worried about ceding control to technology. In the 21st century, we worry about losing control of technology.
It seems not to have occurred to Tinseltown that AI might do the things it's actually doing — make social media dangerous, or make undergrad writing courses unteachable, or screw up relationships by auto-completing incorrectly. None of those are terribly cinematic, so Hollywood concentrates on exploiting our fears — in the late 20th century, we worried about ceding control to technology. In the 21st century, we worry about losing control of technology.
Bring on the droids
Have there also been friendlier film visions of AI? Sure. George Lucas came up with lovable droids R2-D2 and C-3PO for Star Wars, and Pixar gave us Wall-E, a bot who was pluckily determined to clean up an entire planet we'd despoiled.
Spike Jonze's drama Her imagined a sentient, Siri-like personal assistant as a digital girlfriend. Star Trek's Data was not just a Next Generation android version of Mr. Spock, but also a sort of emotion-challenged Pinocchio.
And another Pinocchio — this one fashioned to stand the test of time — would have been Stanley Kubrick's own answer to the question he'd posed with HAL in 1968.
Kubrick labored for decades to hone the script for A.I. Artificial Intelligence, then just two years before he died, handed the project off to Steven Spielberg — the story of David, a robot child who has been programmed to love, and who ends up going beyond that programming.
"Until you were born," William Hurt's Professor Hobby told the bionic child he'd modeled on his own son, "robots didn't dream, robots didn't desire unless we told them what to want." The miracle, he went on, was that though David was engineered rather than born, he shared with humans "the ability to chase down our dreams...something no machine has ever done, until you."
That may not have been enough to make David a real boy, but it put a gentle face on what is perhaps our greatest fear about AI – that we are mortal, and it is not.
In the film, David outlives all of humanity, never growing up, never changing. And perhaps because he was played by Haley Joel Osment, or perhaps because Spielberg was calling the shots, or perhaps because the music swelled ... just so — it didn't feel the least bit threatening.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/open-the-pod-bay-door-hal-heres-how-ai-became-a-movie-villain
| 2023-07-31T22:14:49
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https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/open-the-pod-bay-door-hal-heres-how-ai-became-a-movie-villain
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Asma Khalid is a White House correspondent for NPR. She also co-hosts The NPR Politics Podcast.
Susan Davis
Susan Davis is a congressional correspondent for NPR and a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast. She has covered Congress, elections, and national politics since 2002 for publications including USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal, National Journal and Roll Call. She appears regularly on television and radio outlets to discuss congressional and national politics, and she is a contributor on PBS's Washington Week with Robert Costa. She is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., and a Philadelphia native.
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/white-house-hopeful-and-former-congressman-will-hurd-on-the-race-to-dethrone-trump
| 2023-07-31T22:14:49
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https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-31/white-house-hopeful-and-former-congressman-will-hurd-on-the-race-to-dethrone-trump
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July 31, 2023: Martin's Point pays $22.4 million to settle alleged false claims; Old Orchard Beach businesses hope for a brighter August Published July 31, 2023 at 5:40 PM EDT Listen • 10:22
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https://www.mainepublic.org/podcast/this-day-in-maine/2023-07-31/july-31-2023-martins-point-pays-22-4-million-to-settle-alleged-false-claims-old-orchard-beach-businesses-hope-for-a-brighter-august
| 2023-07-31T22:14:51
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https://www.mainepublic.org/podcast/this-day-in-maine/2023-07-31/july-31-2023-martins-point-pays-22-4-million-to-settle-alleged-false-claims-old-orchard-beach-businesses-hope-for-a-brighter-august
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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A terrifying hit-and-run left a scooter driver injured, and the incident was caught on video.
Andrew Boyer is lucky to be alive after the incident at 20th and Girard in Philadelphia.
He was hit by a car while riding his scooter from the Barnes Foundation.
Surveillance video shows Boyer waiting for the light to change so he can cross the intersection.
When it turns green, he begins towards 20th, and that's when the driver of a blue Pontiac is seen plowing into him.
The impact of the collision threw Boyer from his seat as pieces of his scooter flew around the intersection.
Not only does the driver run a red light, but flees the scene.
Philadelphia police are now investigating.
"How do they sleep at night? I couldn't imagine hitting someone and driving off," said Boyer. "Reevaluate your moral compass - that's all I could say to them."
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https://6abc.com/philadelphia-hit-and-run-scooter-driver-struck-20th-and-girard-caught-on-video/13578510/
| 2023-07-31T22:14:54
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https://6abc.com/philadelphia-hit-and-run-scooter-driver-struck-20th-and-girard-caught-on-video/13578510/
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MARGATE, New Jersey (WPVI) -- For nearly 150 years, shoregoers have been fascinated with Lucy the Elephant. But just beneath the iconic roadside attraction is a newly-opened business with a mission beyond simply serving food.
The beachside shack is no stranger to food service. But its new owner, the fittingly-named Lucy Paccione, has given it a new purpose.
"I wanted to provide job training skills for those who don't really have a voice," said Paccione, who was initially inspired by her cousin's daughter, who has autism.
The 15-year-old dream finally found footing when there was a vacancy in the property that would become "The Other Lucy Beach Grille."
And her first star employee is 16-year-old Drew Scheffey of Horsham, Pennsylvania, who also has autism.
"I was looking for a job because it was hard to find a job that hires people with disabilities," said Scheffey. "And I finally did, and I finally know how to do a few things that can be useful in my life."
Scheffey fills out a full shift by working the cash register, running food orders, slicing hot dogs and labeling boxes.
He has aspirations of becoming employed by Wawa when he reaches adulthood.
"You have to believe in yourself and make sure to be independent for the later future."
In addition to starting a new business, Paccione created a nonprofit, "H.O.P.E," which stands for Helping Others Pursue Empowerment. She has a fundraising goal in order to create a year-round training curriculum where graduates with a disability can be funneled into the workforce.
"I am starting as much as I can here," she said. "But I really want it to be a classroom setting, a job training center to help others to be independent, to be able to live on their own if they would like to, and to be able to go to work and feel not judged."
To learn more about The Other Lucy and their hours of operation, visit their website.
RELATED: Ocean City jewelry store to bid farewell after 50+ years on the boardwalk
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https://6abc.com/philly-proud-the-other-lucy-cafe-margate-new-jersey/13551093/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:00
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https://6abc.com/philly-proud-the-other-lucy-cafe-margate-new-jersey/13551093/
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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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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/biden-decides-to-keep-space-command-in-colorado-rejecting-move-to-alabama/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:02
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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/biden-decides-to-keep-space-command-in-colorado-rejecting-move-to-alabama/
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UPPER DARBY, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- The director of parking enforcement in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania is being accused of stealing coins from parking kiosks in order to financially benefit herself and her colleagues.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer outlined the case against 45-year-old Sekela Coles during a press conference Monday afternoon.
Stollsteimer said after a months-long investigation, Coles is facing several charges, including unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and obstruction of justice.
Coles, a previous Upper Darby Township councilwoman, became the director of parking enforcement in January 2020.
The district attorney says in November 2021, Coles introduced new parking kiosks in Upper Darby. Just a month later, he says Coles directed her administrative assistant, Nikita Barnes, to take coins from those kiosks.
"Nikita was told to take the coins that come in from the kiosks, take them in bank bags to her own personal car. (She would then) drive them to her own personal bank, use the coin counter there to count the coins, deposit the money in Nikita's own personal bank account, and then bring the cash back to Sekela Coles," said Stollsteimer.
The district attorney says Coles then used the money for the benefit of herself and the people in her office, spending it on things like parties, free lunches and gifts.
Stollsteimer says Coles stole more than $4,000.
Upper Darby Township officials say her annual salary is $70,525.20.
According to Stollsteimer, Coles eventually admitted to the scheme when speaking with county detectives in April.
"She also admitted that at some point, she realized they were taking too much money, that it would potentially be discovered by people in the tax office," Stollsteimer said. "So, she had Ms. Barnes repay some of the money."
Stollsteimer calls that 'consciousness of guilt.'
"She knew what she was doing was wrong. She was afraid the scheme was going to be discovered," he said.
Coles' attorney Andrew Edelberg says his client's character is unfairly being called into question.
"There may have been some sloppy accounting, sloppy record-keeping, and perhaps a sloppy policy that when it was discovered was ceased," Edelberg explained. "And it's now turned into what the district attorney's made it to be some sort of transparent prosecution of funds."
In a statement, the Upper Darby mayor's office says it is fully cooperating with this investigation and working to ensure this does not happen again.
"The Township has already taken several steps to ensure stronger internal controls to immediately address this situation and alter our parking accounting procedures. We would like to assure the Upper Darby community that we take our fiduciary duties to the residents and taxpayers of Upper Darby seriously," said the statement.
Coles is also accused of voiding at least eight parking violations for her family members.
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https://6abc.com/sekela-coles-charged-upper-darby-township-parking-enforcement-delaware-county-pa-kiosks-theft/13578827/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:06
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https://6abc.com/sekela-coles-charged-upper-darby-township-parking-enforcement-delaware-county-pa-kiosks-theft/13578827/
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By JOHN WAWROW (AP Sports Writer)
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Of the thousands of emotions — trepidation among them — running through Damar Hamlin’s head Monday while pulling on his pads for practice for the first time at training camp, the one that ultimately won out was joy.
For everything the Buffalo Bills safety has overcome in seven months since going into cardiac arrest during a game and needing to be resuscitated on the field, Hamlin leaned on his faith in God and himself, along with the support from his family and teammates, to take another step toward resuming his playing career.
“This is just a another milestone on the journey — might be one of the biggest ones,” Hamlin said after practice.
“I made the choice to play. But I’m processing a thousand emotions. I’m not afraid to say that it crosses my mind of being a little scared here and there,” he added. “My faith is stronger than any fear. That’s what I want to preach up here. And that’s the message I want to spread on to the world that as long as your faith is stronger than your fear, you can get through anything.”
Though Hamlin was cleared to resume practicing in mid-April, he did so wearing a helmet and shorts with his teammates through their spring sessions and first four days of training camp, as mandated by NFL rules. The magnitude of the Bills’ first day in pads wasn’t lost on Hamlin, given it marked the first time he was in full uniform since collapsing on the field in Cincinnati on Jan. 2 after making what appeared to be a routine tackle of Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
“It’s a superblessed space. To be able to do what I love again,” Hamlin said. “Just trying to keep everything as normal as possible.”
The normality of football struck him about an hour into practice when Hamlin took the field for the first time during a team red-zone running drill in which tackling was still not allowed.
On his second play, Hamlin showed no hesitation when bursting toward Damien Harris and wrapping him up with both arms.
Hamlin’s biggest contact came on the final play of practice, when he avoided a block to work his way into the backfield and help a teammate stop tight end Quintin Morris for what would have been a loss.
“That first little moment of contact, that was just letting me know. I felt alive, man. I felt like I’m here,” Hamlin said with a wide grin. “So it felt good. It was just that moment of: ‘All right, let’s settle in and let’s just take one play at a time. Let’s just keep going.’”
The 25-year-old from the Pittsburgh area is entering his third NFL season. Selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt, he opened last season as a backup before starting 13 games after Micah Hyde sustained a season-ending neck injury.
This year, Hamlin is competing with offseason free agent addition Taylor Rapp for a backup role behind Hyde and Jordan Poyer. As for Hamlin’s next hurdle, it’ll come Aug. 12, when the Bills open their preseason schedule at home against Indianapolis.
Rapp, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, might be new to Buffalo but is impressed with how Hamlin has handled himself.
“How far he’s come and what he’s able to come back from late last season and just seeing how he goes about himself and attacks the rehab at the facility is nothing short of inspiring,” Rapp said.
A day earlier, coach Sean McDermott said he was walking a fine line by treating Hamlin much like any other player while keeping in mind what he’s gone through.
“I think awareness is important, right? You’ve got X amount of guys out here and then you have Damar in there as well and trying to make it as a normal as possible,” McDermott said. “We’re going to support him through this, and to this point he’s done a phenomenal job.”
Before practice, Hamlin played catch with his younger brother, Damir. During the stretching period, the team’s head trainer, Nate Breske, went over to shake Hamlin’s hand. Following his news conference, Hamlin wandered over to a large group of fans to sign autographs.
Hamlin’s influence is evident on the training camp grounds, where fans can receive CPR training at an American Heart Association tent. With his Chasing M’s Foundation, Hamlin made stops in Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to promote CPR training and hand out free automated external defibrillators to sports organizations.
And he received a stunning reminder of what had happened to him just before training camp began when NBA star LeBron James’ son, Bronny, went into cardiac arrest during a basketball workout at Southern California last week. He has since been released from the hospital.
“It put everything back in perspective for me,” said Hamlin, who reached out to the James family after they supported him during his recovery. “I wanted to let him know I’ll be there for whatever he needs in his journey as far as his recovery and getting back to his sport, if that’s what he chooses to do.”
Hamlin made his choice and is sticking with football for as long and far as it takes him.
“Some of these emotions will never leave. Whenever everybody’s not paying attention to me no more, I’ll still be processing these emotions myself,” he said.
“I kind of look at it like a challenge,” Hamlin added. “Not too many people get this level of overcoming something and being able to stand for so many good things. … It’s a blessed space, and it’s a bunch of opportunity in there as well, if you choose to look at it that way.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/damar-hamlin-puts-aside-fear-and-practices-in-pads-for-the-first-time-since-cardiac-arrest/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:08
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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Consumers looking for this season's hottest merchandise and movie tickets need to be extra vigilant.
Criminals look to capitalize on whatever is capturing our attention right now, like the new Kelly green Eagles jerseys that went on sale Monday morning.
Across the nation, it's been summer fashion and the most sought-after concert and movie tickets.
Billabong is an iconic fashion brand, especially popular during the summer. According to the cybersecurity firm BrandShield, a growing number of bogus websites are popping up to impersonate it.
BrandShield said potential scams targeting Billabong fans shot up 670% from April to June.
"For Quicksilver, over 620%. For Speedo, 95%," said Yoav Keren of BrandShield. "And this is, this is happening across the board for a lot of companies."
Scammers are targeting movie lovers, too.
"As soon as the Barbenheimer phenomenon came about, we started seeing a lot of malicious websites that popped up almost out of nowhere, almost overnight," said Aura's Chief Scientist Zulfikar Ramzan.
They are phishing websites claiming to peddle everything from limited-edition merchandise to discounted movie tickets.
"And what's unique here is that historically, when we think about phishing, it's often been associated with financial institutions or credit card companies and so on and so forth. And we're now seeing this palpable shift away from that towards more mainstream topics," Ramzan said.
Identity theft is skyrocketing, costing Americans $8.8 billion in 2022, according to the FTC. That's a 49% increase from the year before.
"AI is enabling anyone from anywhere in the world to set up a fraudulent website in seconds," said Ramzan.
Watch for red flags. First and foremost they'll typically put some kind of a call to action, a sense of urgency. For instance, the con artist might say merchandise will run out in 24 hours.
Red flag number two is if paying with a credit card is not an option.
"They're trying to get you to pay through other mechanisms like Venmo, or PayPal, or Zelle," said Ramzan.
The scamer may also try to get you to pay via cryptocurrency or wire transfer.
Red flag number three is if the website asks for personal and financial information that wouldn't normally be necessary to complete a purchase.
If someone reaches out with an offer, especially on a messaging app or through social media, don't click on the link in the email or text. Instead, independently find and go to the company website.
"Make sure that you can find the same special offer in your original website," said Keren.
Also, make sure it has "https" at the beginning of the URL with a lock symbol.
To really level up your security, consider getting a VPN or virtual private network to surf the net. It's an encrypted connection and it'll cost you about $5 to $10 a month.
And consider signing up for identity theft protection. Many companies, including some credit card companies and employers, offer it for free.
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https://6abc.com/shopping-scams-fake-eagles-jersey-billabong-scam-cybersecurity-help/13578532/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:12
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By EVENS SANON & MICHAEL CASEY (The Associated Press)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Chants of “freedom” echoed through the streets outside an aid facility in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday where just days earlier an American nurse and her daughter were kidnapped by armed men.
Hundreds of Haitians marched through the gang-ravaged zone, bursting with anger at the abduction, which has become a symbol of the worsening violence plaguing the Caribbean nation.
New Hampshire woman Alix Dorsainvil had been working as a community nurse for the religious and humanitarian aid group El Roi Haiti when she and her daughter were taken from its campus on Thursday, the organization said. She is the wife of its founder, Sandro Dorsainvil.
Witnesses told the Associated Press that Dorsainvil was working in her organization’s small brick clinic when a group of armed men burst in and seized her. Lormina Louima, a patient waiting for a check-up, said one man pulled out his gun and told her to relax.
“When I saw the gun, I was so scared,” Louima said. “I said, ‘I don’t want to see this, let me go.’”
Other members of the community said the unidentified men asked for $1 million in ransom, something that’s become standard as Haiti’s gangs turn to slews of kidnappings to line their pockets and bleed the country dry. Hundreds have been kidnapping in Haiti this year alone, figures from the local nonprofit Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights show.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, gangs have taken over much of Port-au-Prince, killing, raping and sowing terror in communities already suffering endemic poverty.
The same day that Dorsainvil and her daughter were taken, the U.S. State Department issued a “do not travel advisory” for Haiti and ordered nonemergency personnel to leave amid growing security concerns. In its advisory, the State Department said that “kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens.”
The violence has stirred anger among Haitians, who say they simply just want to live in peace.
Protesters, largely from the area around El Roi Haiti’s campus, which includes a medical clinic, a school and more, echoed that call as they walked through the sweltering streets wielding cardboard signs written in Creole in red paint.
“She is doing good work in the community, free her,” read one.
Among the protesters was Jean Ronald, a local resident who said the community has significantly benefitted from the care provided by El Roi Haiti.
Such groups are often the only institutions in areas far beyond the reach of the law, but have increasingly had to shut down operations as violence has deepened. The closures often leave thousands of vulnerable families without access to basic services like healthcare or education.
Earlier this month, Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending services in one of its hospitals because some 20 armed men burst into an operating room and snatched a patient.
As the protesters walked through the area where Dorsainvil was taken, the streets were eerily quiet. The doors to the clinic where she worked were shut, the small brick building empty. Ronald and others in the area worried the latest kidnapping may mean the clinic won’t reopen. Such closures
“If they leave, everything (the aid group’s programs) will shut down,” the Haitian worried. “The money they are asking for, we don’t have it.”
Shortly after, protests dispersed.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller refused to confirm Monday whether the abductors had made any demands, or to answer other questions.
“I will say we are aware of the reports that two US citizens were kidnapped in Haiti. Obviously, the safety and security of American citizens overseas is our highest priority. We are in regular contact with the Haitian authorities. We’ll continue to work with them and our US government interagency partners, but because it’s an ongoing law enforcement investigation, there’s not more detail I can offer,” Miller wrote in a statement Monday.
In a video for the El Roi Haiti website, Alix Dorsainvil describes Haitians as “resilient people.”
“They’re full of joy, and life and love. I’m so blessed to know so many amazing Haitians,” she says.
Dorsainvil graduated from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, which has a program to support nursing education in Haiti. Before that, she went to Cornerstone Christian Academy in Ossipee, New Hampshire which offers pre-K through eighth grade education.
“Pray that God would keep her safe, be with her through this trial, and deliver her from her captors,” the school said on its Facebook page.
Dorsainvil’s father, Steven Comeau, reached in New Hampshire, said he could not talk.
El Roi Haiti celebrated the nurse’s work in a statement over the weekend.
“Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family,” El Roi president and co-founder Jason Brown said in the statement. “Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus.”
Earlier this month, the National Human Rights Defense Network issued a report warning about an upsurge in killings and kidnappings and the U.N. Security Council met to discuss Haiti’s worsening situation.
—
AP reporters Megan Janetsky in Mexico City and Pierre Richard Luxama in Port-au-Prince contributed to this story.
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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/haitians-weary-of-gang-violence-protest-the-kidnapping-of-an-american-nurse-and-her-daughter/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:14
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(KRON) — Angus Cloud, the actor best known for his role in the HBO series “Euphoria,” has been found dead at his family’s home in Oakland, according to a report in TMZ that was corroborated by an additional report in Variety. He starred as Fezco on 16 episodes of the HBO show in addition to appearances in “North Hollywood,” “The Perfect Women” and music videos with Becky G and Juice WRLD.
Cloud, who was born in Oakland according to his IMDB page, recently lost his father, according to TMZ. Reports offered no indication as to how Cloud died.
He was 25 years old.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/euphoria-actor-angus-cloud-found-dead-in-oakland-reports/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:14
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https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/euphoria-actor-angus-cloud-found-dead-in-oakland-reports/
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Some business owners on the East Side of St. Paul aren’t convinced that the new Metro Transit Gold Line will be worth its $505 million budget — or the construction impacts they’re enduring now.
Metro Transit received $239 million in federal funding, in addition to funding from Ramsey and Washington counties, to create a bus rapid transit line connecting St. Paul and Woodbury. New bus-only lanes will stop at 16 places along a 10-mile stretch of the Interstate 94 corridor. The project is estimated to be completed in 2025.
“Investments in bus rapid transit make it so much easier to get around without a car, reducing pollution and opening access to more opportunities,” Nuria Fernandez, administrator of the Federal Transportation Administration, said when she brought the giant novelty check for the federal portion of the project in April.
Construction is well under way on the East Side near Hudson Road and Earl Street. So far, some business owners along the future bus route are less than enthusiastic.
Leo’s Chow Mein has been an East Side staple for 40 years. But the recent construction has made things difficult for the restaurant.
“We’ve lost 30 to 40 percent of our customers,” employee Cherry Wu said. “Most of them are regulars and they only know one route to get to the restaurant. Some of our older customers will call ahead with an order and then call again to cancel because they can’t walk down the broken-up road.”
Wu said that until recently, not only was Hudson Road closed, but Earl Street was also closed for construction of an overpass bridge, making access to Leo’s essentially impossible.
“Regulars are surprised to see the parking lot is empty, because they know it used to be totally full,” Wu said.
She said Leo’s had only received one map from the city detailing the plans for construction, and they only received the map right as construction began.
“There was no communication in advance,” Wu said.
Business owners are not the only ones put out by the construction. “Because there are no customers, prices have gone way up,” Marty Simmons said, as he waited for his order, “I used to eat here every day, but now, not so much.”
Down the street at Cheers Pub, regular customers gathered to share a drink and their opinions on the construction.
One customer spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I’m a regular,” she explained, “I call this pub my office.”
Cheers Pub experienced issues similar to Leo’s, including difficulties in accessing the pub and a downtick in customer flow. But regulars were not convinced that the temporary inconveniences would be worth it even once the Gold Line was complete.
“I’ve lived on the East Side my whole life,” one customer said, “But this new bus line is going to turn the neighborhood into downtown. And that doesn’t mean it’ll become safer.”
Others optimistic
Other business owners are more optimistic about the benefits of the new line.
Mohammed Mekki has operated MNS Grocery at the corner of Earl Street and Hudson Road for the past eight months.
Other than initial confusion about which roads would be closed, Mekki says communication with the city has been clear, and he is hopeful the new bus line will increase his customer flow once it’s completed.
“I think it will be good for business,” he said.
Drew Kerr, spokesperson for Metro Transit, said businesses on Hudson Road were given advanced warning and that Metro Transit has remained in touch with them.
“Gold Line project staff notified businesses along Hudson Road before construction began and continue to communicate with the business community through in-person visits, flyers, direct mail, email and phone conversations,” Kerr said.
Freeway ramps near Etna Street will be closed overnights this week for construction of a bus-only bridge, according to the latest Gold Line construction bulletin. Hudson Road between Earl and Griffith Streets will close Wednesday.
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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/metro-transit-gold-line-construction-business-impacts/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:20
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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/metro-transit-gold-line-construction-business-impacts/
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By JANIE HAR (Associated Press)
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.
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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/san-francisco-prosecutors-lay-out-murder-case-against-consultant-in-death-of-cash-apps-bob-lee/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:26
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The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that those 15 years old and younger and those who are or are planning to be pregnant or breastfeeding refrain from eating fish in the Mississippi River from Ford Dam to Hastings Dam and Lake Rebecca.
The warning comes with support from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Previous recommendations included avoiding certain fish because of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Current pollutants include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to state officials. The risk is from prolonged exposure.
Fishing can still take place in the areas on a catch and release basis. Alternate locations to fish in the Twin Cities according to the DNR include Bald Eagle Lake, Lower St. Croix River, Lake Nokomis, Rogers Lake and White Bear Lake.
Minnesota Legislature passed and Gov. Tim Walz signed a ban earlier this year on PFAS for non-essential reasons.
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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/state-updates-fish-consumption-guidelines-for-mississippi-river-lake-rebecca/
| 2023-07-31T22:15:32
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https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/31/state-updates-fish-consumption-guidelines-for-mississippi-river-lake-rebecca/
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Because of the unique theatrical phenomenon hitting theaters, Take 2 Blog is reviewing "Barbenheimer." For the first time in the blog's history, our reviewers will each tackle a different movie. Last week, Rebecca reviewed "Barbie" and Joe reviewed "Oppenheimer."
This week, it's Rebecca's turn to review "Oppenheimer" and Joe's turn to review "Barbie."
Rebecca's Take: "Oppenheimer"
When Christopher Nolan comes out with a new film, it’s not just a new movie — it’s an event.
The cerebral director’s 12th film, “Oppenheimer,” already had enough going for it on its own: Nolan’s creative vision, a controversial subject, practical effects and a powerhouse cast. But coming out on the same day as “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer” benefited from the “Barbenheimer” effect.
Nolan’s latest masterpiece reeled in audiences for an atypical biopic. “Oppenheimer” is a showcase for the director’s strengths, and the film thrives because of his talents. The introspective opus is not only one of the director’s best films yet. It’s also one of the best movies of the year.
The biographical drama follows the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), the “father of the atomic bomb.” Through the Manhattan Project, the brilliant Oppenheimer invented the world’s first nuclear weapon during World War II. As his profile grows, Oppenheimer urges limiting the development of atomic weapons.
Nearly a decade after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission puts Oppenheimer through the wringer at a hearing over whether to renew his security clearance. With his reputation at stake, Oppenheimer recalls his life and how his decisions brought him to this point.
Nolan is the perfect filmmaker to bring “Oppenheimer” to the big screen. The hallmarks of his previous films enhance the story he’s telling here. The director’s obsession with time transforms “Oppenheimer” from a standard biopic into an extraordinary one. Using two different timelines, Nolan tells Oppenheimer’s perspective in color while showing a competing perspective — that of Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.) — in black and white. The unique storytelling structure elevates the material, allowing moviegoers to determine for themselves where the truth lies.
Despite being three hours long, “Oppenheimer” moves at a clip. Based on the biography “American Prometheus,” Nolan’s engaging, efficient script makes every word and scene count. “Oppenheimer” minimizes the director’s excesses, most recently seen in 2020’s fascinating but confusing “Tenet.” Where “Tenet” and 2014’s “Interstellar” were overly convoluted, “Oppenheimer” maintains a laser-sharp focus. However, Nolan finds ways to add intrigue. The director harkens back to his 2000 breakout “Memento” and 2006’s masterful “The Prestige” by weaving a mystery throughout “Oppenheimer.” The technique keeps audiences guessing as to who’s pulling the strings behind the effort to undermine the scientist.
The director set tongues wagging when he said he would be using mostly practical effects in “Oppenheimer.” For the pivotal “Trinity” bomb test, some Nolanites even thought the director would set off his own nuke. Though Nolan didn’t go that far, the fiery explosion and accompanying visuals are stunning. However, it’s the sound design — or rather, the lack of sound — that steals the show. The silence that occurs before the blast conveys both the beauty and terror of the history-making event. Moreover, the mastermind of 2010’s groundbreaking “Inception” knows how to effectively use CGI. In a later scene, Oppenheimer gives a victory speech after the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki when stirring images of the resulting deaths and destruction bleed into the crowd. The CGI masterfully blends the two realities, physically manifesting Oppenheimer’s conscience as he realizes the consequences of his creation. Ludwig Göransson’s riveting score ties together the action with pivotal character insights, another Nolan trademark.
As a Nolan regular who shined in supporting parts, Murphy finally gets leading man status. His performance in “Inception” is my favorite to watch in a cast that boasts Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Ken Watanabe. I’ve been convinced for a while that Murphy is one of the most underrated actors in the industry — he makes everything he’s in better. “Oppenheimer” cements it.
With his gaunt but imposing figure, the intense Murphy commands the screen. This isn’t a flashy performance — this is a controlled one. Wearing Oppenheimer’s trademark fedora and suitcoat, the actor conveys the emotions of the complicated physicist with his piercing gaze and facial expressions. The film questions Oppenheimer’s beliefs and motivations in his work, politics and love life. You can tell whether Oppenheimer is feeling confident or conflicted by looking at his eyes. But Murphy also knows which scenes require the actor to let down his guard. His emotions mimic the bomb he helped create — dormant until activated. The actor carries the guilt Oppenheimer feels after developing humanity’s most powerful weapon. The understated performance should spark Murphy’s first Academy Award nomination for best actor.
In one of his best performances to date, Downey deserves a best supporting actor nod as the ambitious Strauss. Circling the story’s periphery, the commerce secretary nominee is interested in the science of nuclear weapons and wants to harness their potential. His fiery nature plays well against Oppenheimer’s collected demeanor. Emily Blunt also excels as Oppenheimer’s long-suffering wife, Kitty. Sharing a scientific mind, Kitty encourages Oppenheimer amid his struggles and pulls him out of the depths of doubt. In one scene, Blunt forcefully holds her own in a powerful show of loyalty, putting herself in the running for her own supporting actress nomination.
The rest of the supporting cast of “Oppenheimer” boasts a who’s who of Hollywood. Out of the many familiar faces, Matt Damon stands out as U.S. Army Gen. Leslie Groves, the leader of the Manhattan Project. Damon projects a larger-than-life presence, treating Oppenheimer as an asset but also as a friend. The actor makes you question how much he regards the physicist. The magnetic Florence Pugh makes an impact as the intelligent but troubled Jean Tatlock, Oppenheimer’s lover. I also really liked Alden Ehrenreich as an attentive Senate aide. The charming actor adds another memorable performance to his resume after “Cocaine Bear” earlier this year.
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With such a large cast, sometimes it felt like there were too many characters in “Oppenheimer” to keep track of. I thought about constructing a board with photos and string like Charlie Day in the popular internet meme. However, this is a minor flaw for an exquisite film.
“Oppenheimer” highlights what Nolan does best: Tell a good story through unconventional means and challenge the audience along the way. Instead of a by-the-numbers biopic, the writer/director switches up the formula, delivering a complex drama about one of the most complicated scientific minds in history. A compelling cast led by Murphy and breath-taking special effects lift “Oppenheimer” to astounding heights.
Nolan’s special talents make “Oppenheimer” the incredible masterpiece that it is. Likewise, the film proves Nolan is one of the best filmmakers working today.
5 out of 5 stars
Joe's Take: "Barbie"
Having seen all of Christopher Nolan’s movies, I have a strong connection to his work dating back to 2005’s “Batman Begins.” There was no doubt I’d like “Oppenheimer” more than “Barbie” for that reason alone. I have little connection with “Barbie,” but I’m not going to lie and say that when my sister played with Barbie dolls when we were little that I didn’t occasionally jump in and grab the Ken doll. Just Ken. That was the extent of my Barbie knowledge, so I didn’t really know what to expect.
After watching the previews, “Barbie” looked really entertaining with a wealth of talent. However, with three-time Academy Award nominee and writer/director Greta Gerwig at the helm and her partner, three-time Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, attached as a co-writer, I knew “Barbie” would have some kind of tonal kick. While I usually want to know as little as possible about a movie, reading Rebecca’s review a week in advance helped prepare me for what was coming and enhanced the film.
Families expecting a fun, colorful and humorous film with little substance got that … until Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) poses the question in the middle of a party, “Do you guys ever think about dying?” There’s your Gerwig/Baumbach tonal shift. “Barbie” is PG-13 for a reason. While the trailers maybe suggested it could be for kids, it’s not.
That being said, the film works beautifully, weaving the fun with social commentary. And it all starts with another powerhouse performance from two-time Oscar nominee Margot Robbie. She already proved she could do anything before the release of this film. In “Barbie,” Robbie took that range and put it into one film. She perfectly plays the Stereotypical Barbie role to open the film down to every robotic movement of her life in plastic. Things change as Barbie discovers emotion and learns humanity. Robbie handles that transition effortlessly, allowing her character to quickly resonate with the audience. One of my favorite scenes is when Barbie takes in the real world after traveling from Barbieland and just people-watching from a bench. What Robbie is able to do with her emotions in that sequence almost made me cry. She’s an incredible actress and absolutely perfect for this role. What’s amazing is that you can say the same thing about her with Harley Quinn. She’s just that talented.
Ryan Gosling (Ken) doesn’t often have the opportunity to have fun with a role. He’s usually in hard dramas. The two-time Academy Award nominee proved he can ham it up in a comedic role. He’s hilarious and handles the over-the-top guy stereotype very well. Gosling also displays his versatility where his character has a misguided arc, but makes sense within the framework of the film. Although mostly played for laughs, his performance does resonate in some scenes, as the audience understands his struggles living in a Barbie world and how seeing the way things are in the real world makes him power hungry. Gosling also produces the ballad “I’m Just Ken” that he makes work perfectly. It’s really impressive how he takes a meathead character and brings layers to him.
Gerwig does an incredible job making the social commentary work within a “Barbie” movie. She’s able to balance the real talk with humor and fun. The monologue written and beautifully delivered by America Ferrera (Gloria) about how difficult it is to be a woman proved extremely powerful. While I’m not a woman, that scene really resonated and produced a “whoa” moment. It’s a reality women know and men don’t think about. This is a very strange comparison, but its impact reminded me of the “Cool Girl” monologue from 2014’s “Gone Girl.” They’re obviously saying different things, but the truth in those two monologues and the power within them will always be remembered.
Also, the jokes that poke fun at men are absolutely hilarious. What really makes them work is that they’re exaggerated, but they’re not too exaggerated.
The film does try to cram a little too much in. I would have liked to have seen a little more from Ferrera’s character and her daughter. But ultimately this film aims big and accomplishes a lot.
“Barbie” is fun, humorous and well-acted with a perfectly executed social commentary that has a great message. I had a great time, while taking away a powerful dose of reality. That’s a credit to Gerwig’s brilliance.
4.5 out of 5 stars
“Oppenheimer” is the better film, but the movies weren’t competing. Instead, they boosted each other at the box office and gave audiences quality films to enjoy, making the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon an absolute win.
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https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/take_two/review-barbenheimer-part-2/article_b520db37-c985-55c7-8d36-97d04be3049f.html
| 2023-07-31T22:16:32
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Below-average temps ahead for next several days
Starting Tuesday, highs will only be in the upper 80s for most of the area.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - High temperatures will be below average for most of the week.
- Tuesday: Highs in the 80s, a few storms possible
- Temperatures: Below average with lower humidity
- Rain chances: On the low side most of the week, chances ramp up late week/weekend
Starting Tuesday, highs will only be in the upper 80s for most of the area. Some places could see an isolated severe storm tomorrow.
Rain chances will be on the lower side of climatological chances this week with isolated/stray storms possible each day.
Late this week we will see high temperatures climbing back into the 90s, with heat index values approaching triple digits by late in the weekend.
Rain chances should start to ramp back up by the end of the week and through the weekend as well.
We’re keeping an eye on one area in the tropics that could develop over the next seven days, The National Hurricane Center is giving this a high chance of development. However, it is not expected to impact land.
Download the free WBTV Weather app on your mobile device to receive weather alerts and get your latest WBTV weather forecast on the go. You can also get the latest weather forecast on Roku and Amazon Fire’s WBTV app.
- Meteorologist Eric Garlick
Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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| 2023-07-31T22:16:32
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FREEMONT COUNTY, Idaho (CNN) – An Idaho mother who murdered two of her children will never leave prison.
Lori Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Monday.
The former beauty queen killed her 16-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old son Joshua Vallow in 2019.
She then lied to investigators about the children’s whereabouts for months.
During the time they were reportedly missing, Vallow Daybell married Chad Daybell, who is still awaiting trial for his alleged role in hiding the bodies.
The children’s remains were found on Daybell’s property in 2020.
In addition to the life sentences for the murders of her children, Vallow Daybell was also sentenced to life for conspiracy to commit murder.
That charge stemmed from the death of Chad Daybell’s first wife in 2019.
© 2023 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.
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| 2023-07-31T22:16:32
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FBI assisting with investigation after 6 migrant workers hit in Lincolnton
All six migrant workers were taken to Atrium Health to be treated for their injuries.
LINCOLNTON, N.C. (WBTV) - The FBI is assisting with the investigation after police say a driver intentionally hit six migrant workers Sunday in Lincolnton, officials say.
The incident happened shortly at 1:17 p.m., at the North Generals Boulevard Walmart store in Lincolnton, police said.
“It’s terrible, it’s something I couldn’t even fathom happening,” Christine Smith said,
This was a common reaction from people Monday after hearing the migrant workers were hit by an SUV in the Walmart parking lot.
“That’s just crazy. All they’re doing is just trying to work and provide for their families and someone is just going to run them over because they’re migrant workers? That’s crazy,” Debbie Howell said.
Security footage shows the driver of the midsize black SUV drive over a curb in the parking lot and through a line of people who appeared to be boarding a bus.
“It makes you wonder what our world is coming to. I’m a nurse as a profession and my heart just goes out to those people. I feel bad,” Smith said.
WBTV learned the migrants work for Toluca Blackberry, a company that provides workers for Knob Creek Orchard in Lawndale.
A manager for Toluca Blackberry called the incident “disgusting” and tells WBTV the injuries include concussions and broken ankles, adding the shopping carts likely prevented worse injuries.
“It’s not right. Just because someone is different from you, why are you going to beat up on them? That’s wrong on so many different levels,” Howell said.
All six migrant workers were taken to Atrium Health Lincoln to be treated and released for their injuries, none of which appeared to be life-threatening, according to the Lincolnton Police Department.
The driver of the SUV was described by police as an older white man. While the assault appeared to be intentional, a motive is still under investigation.
“Just turn yourself in and take responsibility for what you done and maybe there’s some help you need to get,” Smith said.
The Lincolnton Police Department is urging anyone with information to contact the department at 704-736-8900.at
The State Bureau of Investigations and the FBI are assisting with the case.
Download the free WBTV News app for updates and breaking news.
Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/31/fbi-assisting-with-investigation-after-6-migrant-workers-hit-lincolnton/
| 2023-07-31T22:16:33
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Peter Cosgrove, who operated a popular Scranton restaurant and bar years ago, will open a breakfast and lunch spot in the Marketplace at Steamtown.
Cosgrove said Monday he hopes to open Downtown Cosgrove’s on Sept. 1.
“I think Scranton is on the upswing, and I’ve always been a Scranton person,” Cosgrove said. “My family’s been in the hospitality business since 1860. My great-great-grandfather ran the Cosgrove House in West Side and great-grandfather ran the (Hotel) Casey and my father owned the Glider (Diner). I have it in my blood.”
Cosgrove operated Cosgrove’s Clubhouse and Tavern on Green Ridge Street for more than a decade before closing in January 2009 as the Great Recession plunged the restaurant industry into a huge decline.
The restaurant will open about the same time Geisinger unveils the second phase of its 83,000-square-foot musculoskeletal and sports medicine center on the first and second floors of the mall’s western wing. Marketplace operations director Anthony Cali said Geisinger is scheduled to cut the ribbon on the second phase Aug. 31. A Geisinger spokesman confirmed the date.
“We are excited,” Cali said. “Things are happening here.”
Cosgrove’s will replace Revello’s Pizza and Cannoli Bar on the first floor of the marketplace’s center, across from Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den. Revello’s lease expired Monday, Cali said. The business closed last week.
Since the pandemic, Revello’s opened sporadically because of problems finding adequate staff, but he’s sad to see them leave, marketplace owner John Basalyga said.
“They’re wonderful people,” Cali said.
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Revello’s owner Pat Revello said the restaurant was open in the marketplace for eight years. With its flagship restaurant in Old Forge, another in Kingston and the business producing partially baked pizza for 33 supermarkets, it felt right to close the marketplace location, Revello said.
“It was a little bit out of the way of our other locations,” he said.
Revello’s wasn’t the only marketplace restaurant to close lately. The Food & Fire Steamtown BBQ Depot in the Marketplace at Steamtown closed last week, said Melissa Black, manager of the Food & Fire BBQ Taphouse at the Shoppes at Montage in Moosic.
With the closing of the grab-and-go location, which had a smaller menu than the full-service restaurants, Food & Fire will look to expand its catering services, she said.
“We just decided on a different path with that growth,” Black said.
Basalyga said Crunch Fitness attracts thousands of people monthly to the marketplace and many others from the first phase of Geisinger’s center, but restaurateurs seemed reluctant to commit to opening there until the second phase arrived and the Scranton Art Haus movie theater opened.
Now, they’re all about to be open at the same time.
“Everything’s really coming together now,” Cali said.
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https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/marketplace-turnover-will-bring-back-face-familiar-to-scrantonians/article_3adc3752-1dd2-56ea-bfd8-313314d6e809.html
| 2023-07-31T22:16:38
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https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/crime-emergencies/fire-displaces-family-in-blakelys-peckville-section/article_43f2ffae-ee49-5103-9827-11e9e36148b6.html
| 2023-07-31T22:16:39
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CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Madrone Trail Public Charter School is raising funds for their new playground.
The playground will be built entirely by parents and community volunteers.
There is a GoFundMe in place to help raise funds for the construction which is slated to start in early October.
It will feature equipment carefully chosen to cater to different age groups, making sure students from preschool to middle school can enjoy.
To donate you can go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/playground-structure*.
*KOBI-TV NBC5 does not guarantee money deposited to this account will be applied for the benefit of the person or persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering making a donation, you should consult your own advisors, and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
© 2023 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.
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https://kobi5.com/news/madrone-trail-public-charter-school-seeks-funds-for-new-playground-212554/
| 2023-07-31T22:16:38
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‘I couldn’t even hug my daughter’: Parents lose children to fentanyl overdose
‘The newspapers talk about how fentanyl is everywhere. It doesn’t come home until it’s your kid,’ she said.
CORNELIUS, N.C. (WBTV) - Two families in northern Mecklenburg County are dealing with the pain and heartache that has accompanied the fentanyl crisis in America.
Parents told WBTV that Laird Ramirez and Olivia Moloney, both students at Hough High School in Cornelius, have died because of a drug overdose.
Moloney’s parents, James Moloney and Tamara Ellestad, said their daughter overdosed on Sept. 11, 2022. They said she had gone to sleep in her own bedroom and never woke up. When she was found unresponsive, paramedics were called.
“When I showed up at the house that day, they wouldn’t even let me see her because they suspected fentanyl and they thought if I hugged my daughter, that I could overdose right there, so that’s how dangerous it is, that I couldn’t even hug my daughter when she passed,” James Moloney said.
Olivia was just 14 years old. Her parents described her as a witty teen who liked to have fun, loved her family and possessed a contagious laugh.
Less than a year after Olivia’s death, another Hough High student was lost to an overdose. Laird died on July 1.
Gwyneth Brown, Laird’s mother, said she was shocked to learn her son had died because of drugs.
“It was so awful. It was so shocking. I’m still half-expecting him to come home,” Brown said.
She described her son as a gentle giant with a wry, quiet sense of humor. Brown said her family is awaiting the results of a toxicology report, but paramedics told her that Laird’s death appeared to be a fentanyl overdose.
“The newspapers talk about how fentanyl is everywhere. It doesn’t come home until it’s your kid,” she said.
Laird’s mother and Olivia’s parents said they had not realized their kids had been using drugs. They said they had spoken to their children about drugs and never noticed the teens acting impaired or under the influence.
James Moloney said he tried to make sure his daughter never showed signs of impairment.
“Every time she would come in I would give her a hug and kind of in doing so would maybe try to smell and see if you smell marijuana or alcohol on her breath, and (I) never saw it. (I) never thought anything, like I literally never thought she did anything,” the grieving father said.
Both families said they had started to learn more about their children’s drug use from information obtained from their smartphones. They think their kids believed they were taking Percocet but not fentanyl.
Ellestad, Olivia’s mother, advised other parents to be invasive when it comes to checking their children for drugs.
“On Instagram, she had multiple different names that she would go by,” Ellestad said. “See who’s following your child’s page that you’re aware of. Go through those followers and figure out if there’s any other aliases that your children could be going by.”
Brown said she would recommend other parents keep an eye on their child’s finances. She added she hadn’t realized her son was using a mobile payment service to pay for drugs.
“Check your kid’s bank transactions. That’s how I learned postmortem that he was using CashApp,” Brown said.
The grieving parents also said they’d wished they had given their kids random drug tests even though they didn’t suspect any drug use.
Ellestad issued a heartfelt plea to other teens and students in the Charlotte area.
“To those teenagers out there who are listening - think about your parents. Think about your grandparents, your siblings, people that love you, depend on you and need you here,” she said.
Brown said she has been encouraging teens in the community to speak to adults if they know about drug use.
“It’s better to share your concern for yourself or your friend and save a life than to go to their funeral,” Brown said.
Officials from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools declined to make anyone available for an on-camera interview for this story. They confirmed that earlier this summer a message from Principal David Farley was sent to families at Hough High School.
Farley’s message said he is working with district staff, local law enforcement and community partners to provide opportunities to educate students about the dangers of drugs in the community.
The memo to Hough High families encouraged students to attend drug education sessions this upcoming school year. The message said students can also use the Say Something app to report drug activity or speak to an adult at the school.
Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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| 2023-07-31T22:16:39
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https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/31/i-couldnt-even-hug-my-daughter-parents-lose-children-fentanyl-overdose/
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https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/crime-emergencies/scranton-woman-set-fire-to-boyfriends-belongings-police-say/article_23773882-b218-559c-8325-7c8e783ccdb9.html
| 2023-07-31T22:16:39
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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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Showers and a possible thunderstorm during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 56F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..
Tonight
Showers and a possible thunderstorm during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 56F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
An investigation found two fires that damaged houses in Blakely and Moosic on Sunday began by accident, state police fire marshals said.
In Blakely, a wayward cigarette is to blame. In Moosic, an extension cord is the likely culprit.
In total, two families were displaced by the fires. They were not injured.
In Blakely, the victims were identified as 35-year-olds Ted and April Bush, a married couple, and their wheelchair bound son, Brent Wilson, 17.
Brent holds a "special place in the heart" of the law enforcement community because the teen who pined to be a police officer was made an honorary cop in 2018, Throop Police Officer Chris Mazzucca said.
Mazzucca and other police officers officers commissioned a wooden thin blue line flag from a local carpenter. The flag was framed by two dozen law enforcement patches.
The flag survived the fire. Two firefighters were seen carrying it out intact, patches and all.
Donations of clothing, diapers, baby formula and personal care items can be dropped off at Valley View Elementary School, 901 Main St., Blakely, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In Moosic, state police said Marie Zack, 98, and her daughter, Jacqueline Langdon, 78, were driven from their home.
In Blakely, a cigarette butt thrown to the ground ignited cardboard next to 506 Keystone Ave. shortly before noon, which spread to the home itself and caused damage, state police said.
In Moosic, a fire started just before 4 p.m. in the basement of 104 Stonecrest Drive. The blaze likely stemmed from an extension cord that had two lamps plugged in, authorities said.
The fire was contained to the Stonecrest Drive home's basement but the rest of the house suffered smoke damage.
The fires were investigated by Trooper Jason F. Mills, a state police fire marshal.
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https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/crime-emergencies/sundays-fires-in-blakely-and-moosic-are-ruled-accidental/article_b254f70a-6e5b-5f41-a6b7-03b304ccfbdb.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 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,” Crowe said.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case.
Oscar Gomez said two of his teenage children were outside their house when the man was shot in their neighborhood. They told him about the shooting when he arrived home from work, he said.
“They heard the shooting and they threw themselves on the floor trying to protect themselves,” said Gomez, 39.
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.wbtv.com/2023/07/31/memphis-police-shoot-suspect-after-he-fired-shots-outside-jewish-school-authorities-say/
| 2023-07-31T22:16:40
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Tim Alvarez, the current president of Claudio Alvarez Restoration and Construction in Medford, was just sworn into the role.
Last week’s event at the Hummingbird Estate in Central Point was dubbed a “Party with the President.”
Alvarez said having southern Oregon representation is important to this statewide position.
“Anytime someone down south gets to be a part of the bigger picture, it’s an honor and a pleasure,” he explained.
Alvarez officially started the position at the beginning of the year.
© 2023 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.
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In preparation for this years National Night Out, here are some events that are happening around Maryland!
BALTIMORE: This year, Baltimore will host inter-generational fun for the whole family including bingo, field games, karaoke, basketball, card games, and more.
Mark your calendars and join us on Tuesday, August 1st for this year's National Night Out!
Tuesday,
August 1st, 2023
4 pm - 7 pm
Masjid Ul Haqq, Inc
Recreation Center
514 Wilson St,
Baltimore, MD 21217
No Boundaries Coalition Inc
P.O. Box 12825
Baltimore, MD 21217
ANNAPOLIS: Annapolis Police Department, Annapolis Fire Department, Annapolis Office of Emergency Management (OEM) with other local and state agencies, will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. The Annapolis locations are as follows:
Annapolis Gardens, 250 Croll Drive (5 to 8 p.m.)
Bay Ridge Gardens, 1 Bens Drive (5 to 8 p.m.)
Michael E. Busch Library, 1410 West Street (6 to 8 p. m)
BALTIMORE COUNTY: Baltimore County Police will hold various events throughout the day, which include block parties, carnival games, school supply drives, educational seminars, and more!
LINK TO EVENTS: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/police/news/2023/07/18/baltimore-county-police-prepare-for-national-night-out-2023
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY: Anne Arundel County Police will hold demonstrations, information booths, heavy equipment, and more during their NNO celebrations!
LOCATIONS: Northern District:August 1, 2023
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
10th Avenue Park
Eastern District:
August 1, 2023
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Kinder Farm Park
Western District:
August 1, 2023
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Crofton High School
Southern District:
August 1, 2023
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Chesapeake Christian Fellowship
MARYLAND STATE POLICE: Festivities at each National Night Out site include family-friendly activities for all ages. Maryland State Police will participate in events at the following locations:
Annapolis Barrack – Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Rd., Millersville
Bel Air Barrack – Harford County Equestrian Center, 608 N. Tollgate Rd., Bel Air
Berlin Barrack – White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines
Centreville Barrack – Centreville Lawyers Row, 102 N. Liberty Street, Centreville
College Park Barrack –
Allen Pond Park, 3330 Northview Dr, Bowie
Beckett Field, 8511 Legation Rd., New Carrollton
Lakeland Community Park, 5051 Pierce Ave, College Park
Cumberland Barrack – Bel Air Elementary School, 14401 Barton Blvd., Cumberland
Easton Barrack –
Moton Park, 501 Port Street, Easton
Martin Sutton Memorial Park, 302 W. 4th Street, Ridgely
Forestville Barrack –
Beckett Field, 8511 Legation Rd., New Carrollton
Dutch Village Farmers Market, 5030 Brown Station Rd., Upper Marlboro
Prince George’s Country Fire/Ems Department, 16608 Brandywine Rd., Brandywine
Frederick Barrack –
79 W Frederick Street, Walkersville
5420 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick
Glen Burnie Barrack –
Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Rd., Millersville
Midway Commons Community Center and Heritage Park, Fort Meade
Golden Ring Barrack –
White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company, 10331 Philadelphia Rd., White Marsh
Middleborough Road and Harland Road, Essex
110 Sudbrook Lane, Pikesville
Chartley Shopping Center, 106 Chartley Drive, Reisterstown
Halethorpe Community Center, 1900 Northeast Ave., Halethorpe
58200 Edmondson Ave., Catonsville
Hagerstown Barrack –
Veterans Park, 68 W. Water Street, Smithsburg
Shafer Park, 37 Park Dr., Boonsboro
Byron Memorial Park, 11 Park Rd., Williamsport
Widmeyer Memorial Park on Creek Road, Hancock
JFK Highway Barrack –
Harford County Equestrian Center, 608 N. Tollgate Rd., Bel Air
10331 Philadelphia Rd., White Marsh
La Plata Barrack –
9765 Bel Alton Newtown Rd., Bel Alton
11201 Inwood Lane, White Plains
4375 Port Tobacco Rd., Nanjemoy
18210 Hyatt Ave., Benedict
1 Hickory Ln, La Plata
1001 Armes Dr., Waldorf
8848 Bancroft Dr., Waldorf
Leonardtown Barrack –
Joseph’s Community, 40610 Kavanaugh Rd., Oakville
Leonard’s Grant, Leonards Grant Parkway and N. Montague Drive, Leonardtown
Bay Ridge Estates, Bay Ridge Road, Great Mills
Joy Chapel Estates, Joy Chapel Rd., Hollywood
McHenry Barrack – Garrett County Fairground, 270 Mosser Road, McHenry
North East Barrack –
Meadow Park, Delaware Ave., Elkton
Rising Sun Fire Dept., 300 Joseph Biggs Memorial Hwy, Rising Sun
Prince Frederick –
4080 School Rd., Broomes Island
2325 Adeline Rd., Prince Frederick
4300 Hunting Creek Rd., Huntingtown
2425 Comptrollers Ct., Prince Frederick
340 Fairground Rd, Prince Frederick
849 Calvert Towne Dr., Prince Frederick
3825 Gordon Stinnett Ave, Chesapeake Beach
8285 Sycamore Rd., Lusby
Princess Anne Barrack – Garland Hayward Youth Center, 30660 Hampden Ave., Princess Anne
Rockville Barrack – Silver Spring
14906 Old Columbia Pike
915 Schindler Dr.
10116 Green Forest Dr.
9727 Mt. Pisgah Rd.
1100 Corliss St.
11600 Lockwood Dr.
9000 Manchester Rd.
Flora Singer ES, 2600 Hayden Dr.
Forest Knolls Pool, 11105 Foxglove Lane
Ellsworth Dr. from Fenton St. to Georgia Ave.
Montgomery Knolls ES, 807 Daleview Dr.
Salisbury Barrack – Salisbury City Park, 521 South Park Dr., Salisbury
Waterloo Barrack – Wilde Lake Middle School, 10481 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia
Westminster Barrack – War Memorial Park, Hampstead
MARYLAND TRANSIT POLICE: Maryland Transit Police representatives will be discussing transit safety, offering specific tips on staying safe, and listening to feedback at the Westport Light Rail Stop at 2114 Kloman St., Baltimore, Maryland 21230, from 5-7 p.m. and the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station at 4300 Hayward Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21215, from 5-7 p.m.
HOWARD COUNTY: Parties will kick off at 6 p.m. at Wilde Lake Middle School (10481 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, MD 21044) where Chief of Police Greg Der, County Executive Calvin Ball, County Councilperson Christiana Rigby and Congressman John Sarbanes will welcome community members to the event.
The free kick-off event at Long Reach will feature food trucks, police and fire displays, a deejay, child-friendly activities, games, giveaways, displays from local businesses and community groups and more!
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McKenzie Pierce started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas. He's now returning to the region to be boys basketball coach at Fort Smith Northside High School.
"I lived up there for six years," Pierce said. "My in-laws lived in Fayetteville/Springdale."
Pierce, 33, has guided Blytheville to two straight state tournament finals and also took East Poinsett County to the state title game. But that's far from all.
His career record is 220-77 with nine state tournament appearances, three district championships and five conference championships.
He acknowledged that coaching in the 6A-West at some point could have been a goal and now that's become reality.
"I'm really, really looking forward to working with Coach (Michael) Beaumont and Mr. (Chris) Carter, the principal, and all the great administrators and staff at Northside," Pierce said. "Last week was a special week starting to learn about the traditions and history at Northside and seeing the facilities and the town."
Pierce though had nothing but great memories when talking about his time at Blytheville.
"It's been the best seven years of my life," Pierce said. "We've had a lot of success, won almost 200 ballgames, five conference championships, a regional title three district titles. Last year found us one game away from the ultimate goal and we weren't able to get that done, but it's been an awesome run these last seven years at Blytheville. I will definitely cherish these memories for the rest of my life."
Pierce pointed out being a part of the town and getting to know the people is important and he looks forward doing the same thing in Fort Smith.
"The greatest honor walking away from (Blytheville) is two times in the last 3 years I've been named a top 40 community member in Mississippi County," Pierce said. "I really, really embraced that. It's been both ways, the community has embraced me."
"I know we're gonna win basketball games. I'm just looking forward to getting to Fort Smith and doing everything I can to help those kids."
Michael Beaumont, director of athletics and student activities at Fort Smith Public School, said Pierce's name kept coming up whenever he talked to people about the job.
"When you hear the same name come up over and over again from my colleagues at the next level, my colleagues in the state of Arkansas, it's not real hard," Beaumont said.
"I never re-invent the wheel. I just take what a lot of other people already know and do a lot of my own homework. Everything just kept pointing back to McKenzie Pierce.
"When you get a former University of Arkansas head coach in Mike Anderson or Kermit Davis calls you and says 'Hey, if you're looking you may want to take a look at this guy.' I don't know if I should use the work divine intervention, but I tell you what there were a lot of signs pointing toward McKenzie Pierce."
Pierce is excited to get to work immediately.
"I absolutely can't wait to get down there and get entrenched with the community and meet those young men," Pierce said. "It's definitely not a rebuild type situation. I'll just come in and continue the tradition that of excellence and building my relationship with those kids and me putting my twist on it. I'm really looking forward to it."
He is definitely in it for the long haul at Northside, Pierce said.
"For all intents and purposes, we're taking this job that our two boys will graduate from Northside High School. and one of those kids is 5 and the other one is 1," Pierce said. "So you can do the math, that's a pretty good ways away."
Pierce takes the place of Eric Burnett, who left Northside recently to become an assistant athletic director at Springdale High School.
Burnett, who graduated from Northside in 1989, has been the Grizzlies' head basketball coach the past 13 seasons after spending five years at Springdale Har-Ber. He compiled a career 380-263 career record as a head coach, guided Northside to state championships in 2017 and 2019.
Pierce will visit with media and the public at a news conference that will be held at 10 a.m., Friday at the Northside High School arena.
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Comfortable air, occasional smoke, a few spotty showers Tuesday
SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) - We finally saw our humidity levels drop over the weekend and although there were a few showers here and there on Saturday, it didn’t seem to ruin the weekend.
We do have a few showers passing through tonight, but so far, they aren’t causing much trouble and at this point, we don’t expect them to. Outside of those showers, it should be a fairly pleasant evening, though there is some wildfire smoke passing overhead causing hazy skies.
Fairly quiet weather is expected to continue through the next few days, a pleasant change of pace from our active pattern of the last few weeks.
This Evening & Overnight
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm or two will work through a few spots over the next couple of hours, but we don’t expect those to become severe at this point. We were keeping an eye on a small chance of a strong storm or two earlier today, and we’ll continue to do so, but so far everything has been pretty tame.
Heavy rain and occasional lightning seem to be the biggest hazards tonight. Track the showers with our Interactive Radar. Any rain should fizzle out once we start cooling off this evening.
Temperatures have been largely in the 70s this afternoon and should gradually drop through the 60s late this evening and eventually land in the 50s for overnight lows.
Tuesday
Tuesday should be a similar day to today, perhaps slightly warmer with a few more 80s during the afternoon for high temperatures. Skies should be mostly sunny in the morning, with partly to mostly sunny skies during the afternoon hours.
Winds will be variable on Tuesday, with speeds around 5 to 15 miles per hour.
The only caveat to our sunshine mentioned above will be the presence of any wildfire smoke. Forecast models that give us smoke data suggest at least some smoke will stick around Tuesday. so plan for the possibility of hazy skies at times, which could ruin some of our blue skies.
Like today, a few spotty showers, possibly a thunderstorm, may develop in the afternoon and early evening. Also like today, we don’t expect these to impact everyone, and most should remain dry. And in similar fashion to Monday, we should see these taper off late this evening and overnight.
Overnight lows on Tuesday night will be comfortable in the 50s.
Copyright 2023 WNEM. All rights reserved.
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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 and ending months of politically fueled debate, according to senior U.S. officials.
The officials said 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 discuss the decision ahead of the announcement. The president, they said, 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.
Biden's decision is sure to enrage Alabama lawmakers and 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.
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.
SEE MORE: U.S. Space Command Is Reestablished After 17 Years
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.
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 Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin presented both options to Biden.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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https://www.wmar2news.com/biden-to-keep-space-command-in-colorado-won-t-move-to-alabama
| 2023-07-31T22:16:51
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A tip from a garage owner prompted the investigation that led to the arrest of two people on charges of burglarizing an unoccupied Throop home, borough police said.
Paul Pasco and Savannah Juice, who were initially arrested in Scranton for receiving stolen property involving two vehicles, now face additional charges arising from the underlying break-in, police said.
Pasco, 25, and Juice, 21, were arraigned Friday by Magisterial District Judge Joanne Corbett on burglary, theft by unlawful taking, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and other offenses.
Borough police accused them of taking the two vehicles and other items during a burglary at 807 Murray St. on July 22.
According to a criminal complaint filed by borough Officer Michael Gervasi, Andrew Alia contacted police after Pasco and Juice stopped at the auto shop he operates at 3100 Olyphant Ave. in Scranton early on July 23 with two vehicles, a 2017 Hyundai Tucson and a 1994 Chevrolet Camaro.
Pasco said he got the cars as payment for doing tree work, but Alia told police the vehicles were worth too much for that kind of job and believed they were stolen, the complaint said. Alia later learned the occupant of the property where Pasco supposedly did the work died in 2020.
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In the meantime, city police responded to the garage and forbid Pasco and Juice, neither of whom had a valid driver's license, from taking the vehicles, the complaint said.
After making contact with the current owner of Murray Street property, a Kentucky resident whose late mother previously lived there, police entered the residence and found the entire house appeared to have been rummaged through, Gervasi said in the complaint. Two vehicles were also missing from the garage.
During an interview with police, Pasco, of 39 Olendike St. in the borough, said he learned from a neighbor the house was vacant and told officers other people had broken in prior to him being there, the complaint said. He said he and Juice entered through a broken back door and it was her idea to take the vehicles.
Juice, of 616 Theodore St., Scranton, told police she and Pasco stole the vehicles with intention of keeping or selling them, the complaint said. She said she was only in the house once for 10 to 20 minutes.
Corbett set Pasco and Juice's bail on the latest charges at $30,000 each. Both remain in the Lackawanna County Prison while awaiting preliminary hearings next Monday.
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https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/crime-emergencies/throop-police-charge-two-with-burglarizing-home-in-borough/article_41adf53a-884e-5160-b6eb-d8555dc335c2.html
| 2023-07-31T22:16:52
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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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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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SOURCE Association for Corporate Growth
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"Find me waterfront homes in central Minnesota."
The future is here in real estate, with a little help from ChatGPT artificial intelligence. Zillow, the real estate information site, is partnering with the AI app to allow users ask conversational questions about specific property listings. Users can also share the types of for-sale and rental homes they are interested in, including details like location and price range, and get results back from the app.
Much like how the internet changed how real estate is marketed and sold, AI is now transforming the home buying experience. The newAI real estate pluginretrieves relevant information from Zillow's database of real estate listings when asked a question.
The plugin became available to a select number of ChatGPT users in May, before it rolled out more widely. Plugins are software additions that allow for the customization of computer programs, apps, and web browsers, as well as the customization of the content offered by websites.
"Generative AI is changing the way people search for information,” David Beitel, chief technology officer at Zillow, said in a statement. “We've been embracing AI and machine learning starting with the Zestimate in 2006, and later introducing personalized recommendations and natural language search — which means we're well-equipped to help customers search and find homes in this new way."
But is new technology the solution to find homes? Megan Fox, an agent at Compass Real Estate in New Jersey, said in this competitive market with inventory being extremely low, a local real estate expert is critical in helping navigate the process.
“AI is great for certain things, but a local agent is crucial for getting to know the area,” Fox said. “Our kids go to school here, we know the restaurants, the neighborhood.”
Paul Reddam, of Homesville Realty Group with Compass in Austin, Texas, said that it’s important to have the best technology and tools available to efficiently manage the home search process. One of his favorite AI tools is the likely-to-sell feature that Compass agents use. Likely-to-sell recommendations help agents in engaging with the right contacts — people in the area who have the highest likelihood of selling their homes in the next 12 months.
SEE MORE: Young buyers weigh options as they struggle to afford today's housing
The AI tool Zillow is offering through ChatGPT allows home buyers and sellers to connect their real estate needs: buying, selling, financing and renting. Using natural language search queries, the tool helps buyers find exactly what they’re looking for.
Other AI features that Zillow recently added include AI generated floor plans for listed homes.
The Zillow ChatGPT plugin is currently building its data, allowing Zillow to refine the user experience based on user interactions. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has put in safeguards to minimize inaccuracies and prevent inappropriate responses.
Digital tools are great for navigating the home search process, Fox said. But she added they are best when used with guidance from a local real estate agent who can decipher nuances of the market.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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