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https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/i-84-east-in-pike-county-reopens-after-crash/article_d1cea48c-c630-5d3f-bd54-731ccbbfe444.html
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Court-ordered deadline for Flint’s lead pipe replacement draws near
FLINT, Mich. (WNEM) - Tuesday, Aug. 1 is the court-ordered deadline for the city of Flint to replace its lead service lines after the city missed several previous deadlines.
Congressman Dan Kildee said the city is almost to the finish line.
“I know it’s very close. I talk to the mayor fairly frequently. The issue there has been it takes a long time to do it right,” Kildee said.
In May, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley told TV5 he was confident the city’s court-ordered Aug. 1 deadline would be met.
Related: Flint mayor gives update on lead line replacement project
For his part, Kildee said Flint is working to complete a tall order.
“When we got the money in the first place, to try to get those pipes replaced in a few years, we heard that the fastest any city had been able to do it before was over a 10-year period. We were trying to accelerate that,” Kildee said.
It’s a deadline that has been pushed back more than once. In May, Neeley pointed out that the first deadline was just after he took office, and then the pandemic hit.
He also said the goalposts were moved, adding that initially, there were about 18,500 lines that needed to be replaced. Then he said litigation went forward and took the number to 28,000. Neeley also said the court order required city crews to go out and do observations of places where city officials knew lead wasn’t present, like Smith Village, in University Park, newer construction projects inside Flint.
Related: Motion filed against Flint, mayor for lead pipe replacement
This was a move Neeley said cost time and money. In May, Neeley said there was enough funding to replace lead service lines through the end of the year, but the goal was Aug. 1.
It’s a day Kildee and many others have been waiting for.
“It’s a long time coming. It’s long overdue. And it also sends a message to the rest of the country, if you have lead service lines, you need to get them out of the ground and replace them with something that is safe,” Kildee said.
TV5 has not heard back from Neeley’s office about the deadline after several attempts to reach him.
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Copyright 2023 WNEM. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/31/court-ordered-deadline-flints-lead-pipe-replacement-draws-near/
| 2023-07-31T22:16:58
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https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/31/court-ordered-deadline-flints-lead-pipe-replacement-draws-near/
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BOGOTA, Colombia, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Considering the information known to public, the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC, "Ecopetrol" or the "Company") reiterates the press release issued by the company yesterday, which stated that Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have actively collaborated with the different authorities for the execution of the "Bunkering Imperio" operation.
- Based on external verifications and information coming from the collaborative efforts between the Ecopetrol Group, the Judicial Investigation Directorate and the Carabineros and Environmental Protection Directorate of the National Police, to date, there is no evidence implicating either the administrations or the officers of the Ecopetrol Group;
- Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have been recognized as victims in the corresponding criminal proceedings; and
- The company will continue to work with the authorities to sanction and prevent the smuggling and theft of hydrocarbons.
Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice.
This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
Head of Capital Markets (a)
Carolina Tovar Aragón
Email: investors@ecopetrol.com.co
Head of Corporate Communications
Marcela Ulloa
Email: marcela.ulloa@ecopetrol.com.co
View original content:
SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/board-directors-ecopetrol-sa-announces-execution-operation-sanction-theft-smuggling-hydrocarbons/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:00
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HARFORD COUNTY, Md. — Storms rolled through Harford County over the weekend and now one family is picking up the pieces after their house caught fire.
"I felt it shake the house, it was a boom,” said Amarr Chambers who was inside the house when lightning struck it.
It was around 5 Saturday evening, when Chambers thought the storm knocked out the power at home. Little did he know, it was much worse, “Suddenly, when I came back upstairs, the ventilation was bright red and that was not how it was supposed to be. So I grabbed my stuff and called the cops.”
His mother was not home but received a frantic call from her son.
"By the time he got outside he told me, he was like mom lightning hit the house and it's on fire,” said Tyquese Pratt-Chambers.
The lightning strike was loud enough to alert the neighborhood.
"Our neighbors next door, they said they thought it was their house, so they came out and they walked around their entire house. One of my neighbors on the back street he knew it hit something and he just got into his car and started driving,” said Pratt- Chambers.
It's not something many consider when those bright lights flash across the sky--- but Michael Kelso from the cleanup and restoration service, Servpro, said it happens more than you think.
"Just currently, right now, I think we're currently at three or four for the year, including this one. On lightning strikes,” said Kelso.
Kelso said if your house is struck by lightning get out immediately and call the fire department.
He said one of the easiest ways to protect your home is having a professional install a lightning rod, but before any storms it's important to have a plan.
"Take a video inventory of your home, all your contents everything like that. Have an idea of what you're going to do. Whether it's a lightning strike or any other type of fire,” said Kelso.
It took 30 minutes to bring the fire under control, but everything must be replaced and the house rebuilt.
Despite it all, Pratt-Chambers is feeling grateful, "All my important documents, all my pictures I didn't have to worry about any of that, those things getting destroyed because I kept them in a fireproof safe.”
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https://www.wmar2news.com/local/i-felt-it-shake-the-house-lightning-strikes-house-in-harford-county
| 2023-07-31T22:17:04
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https://www.wmar2news.com/local/i-felt-it-shake-the-house-lightning-strikes-house-in-harford-county
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Football Media Day at SVSU, CMU
MID-MICHIGAN (WNEM) – Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) and Central Michigan University (CMU) both held Football Media Day this week.
SVSU is exactly one month away from their regular season opener against Winona State, and on Monday, July 13, the Cardinals were in Grand Rapids for GLIAC Football Media Day.
SVSU went 8-3 last season with their losses coming to conference champ Grand Valley State, national champion Ferris State, and a one-point loss to Davenport.
The team knows their potential and is focusing on themselves heading into this season.
“Just have to worry about what we need to do to win today. I think our team has adopted that and it’s a growth mindset. They’ve put in an amazing amount of work this summer. These guys have been relentlessly chasing their dreams so I’m just really proud of them and they’ve put themselves in a position now to really compete in 2023,” said Ryan Brady, SVSU’s head football coach.
In Mt. Pleasant, CMU also held its Football Media Day on Monday.
Head Coach Jim McElwain and the Chips were all at Kelly Shorts Stadium, and a big point CMU made was defending their home field.
Last year, Central Michigan won only two games at home, and with five home games this year, McElwain wants that to change.
“To me we got to make this stadium first and foremost. When they walk in here, we’re going to make it awful tough on them to walk out with a victory. We need to defend the home turf first,” he said.
Bert Emanuel Jr., a CMU sophomore and quarterback, said he agrees.
“That’s sacred right there. We’re supposed to be out there dominating, you’re not supposed to lose at home,” Emanuel said. “So, that’s something we have to take on our shoulders this year and run with it. We can’t let that happen anymore.”
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Copyright 2023 WNEM. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/31/football-media-day-svsu-cmu/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:05
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https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/31/football-media-day-svsu-cmu/
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JUSTIN, Texas, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canoo (Nasdaq: GOEV), a high-tech advanced mobility company, today announced that it will report its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 after market close on Monday, August 14, 2023. The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 5:00 pm ET to discuss the results, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Those interested are invited to listen to the live webcast online here. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly afterwards here.
Date: Monday, August 14, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm ET
U.S. Dial-in: 877-407-9169
International Dial-in: 201-493-6755
Access ID: 13740414
An audio replay of the call will be available shortly after its conclusion through August 28, 2023.
Toll-free Replay Number: 877-660-6853
International Replay Number: 201-612-7415
Replay ID: 13740414
About Canoo
Canoo's mission is to bring EVs to Everyone. The company has developed breakthrough electric vehicles that are reinventing the automotive landscape with bold innovations in design, pioneering technologies, and a unique business model that spans the full lifecycle of the vehicle. Distinguished by its experienced team from leading technology and automotive companies – Canoo has designed a modular electric platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space that is customizable across all owners in the vehicle lifecycle to support a wide range of vehicle applications for consumers and businesses.
Canoo has teams in California, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. For more information, please visit www.canoo.com. For Canoo press materials, including photos, please visit press.canoo.com. For investors, please visit www.investors.canoo.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Canoo
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/canoo-announce-second-quarter-2023-financial-results/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:06
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/canoo-announce-second-quarter-2023-financial-results/
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BALTIMORE — Tony Vaughn's favorite part about delivering mail is also what opens him up to danger when he's on the job.
"We're out in the community, we're part of the community. We take pride and sometimes personal ownership of these routes. We see kids grow up, and meet neighbors. And the neighbors look out for us," Vaughn said.
Right now, they could really use people looking out for them.
After serving as a carrier for almost 40 years, Vaughn is now the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers' local branch.
He's worried for his colleagues.
"Letter carriers are getting robbed at gunpoint. Some physically assaulted.Just this past Wednesday, a letter carrier was robbed of his vehicle, his personal items," Vaughn said.
The alarming trend started with thieves targeting mail inside the collection boxes. But now they're also targeting mail carriers themselves.
In last week's robbery -- both the truck and all USPS property was recovered, and the letter carrier wasn't hurt, but not everyone is so lucky.
Take one example from New Jersey in May - video shows a postal worker getting chased through a yard and pushed to the ground.
"When you're out there, you're just out there trying to deliver the mail, do your job, go home to your families, but now have this concern of, am I going to get robbed," Vaughn asked.
Congressman Kweisi Mfume recently met with the Postal Police Officers Association, and he was disturbed by what he learned.
He says many of the thieves are after a specific set of keys, called arrow keys, that provide access to collection boxes in an entire zip code.
Once inside, they can find things like checks and money orders.
"If we're able to get the arrow key to get into these multi-mailbox units, our take goes up, or our chance to make more money goes up. So it's a very sick psychology that the criminals are using. But we're gonna get them and the postal police are very much determined to do that," Congressman Mfume said.
Vaughn is always telling carriers to keep their heads on a swivel and to leave an area whenever they feel safe.
But he also wants justice.
"It is a federal offense, and we want arrests and prosecutions,"Vaughn said.
The USPS says it can confirm a recent increase in mail theft complaints and robberies of USPS employees and is working to combat the problem and prosecute these thieves.
But there are things you can do to reduce mail theft – most importantly, don't let your mail pile up. Also, report stolen mail to the postal inspection service right away, so it can identify any local patterns and deploy resources to areas that need it most.
Congressman Mfume is also co-sponsoring this legislation, called thePostal Police Reform Act.
It aims to give more leeway to postal police officers, who were previously restricted to doing their jobs only on post office premises, without prior approval. Lawmakers believe postal police officers should be able to perform their duties out on the street, where it's needed most.
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https://www.wmar2news.com/local/robberies-against-mail-carriers-on-the-rise
| 2023-07-31T22:17:10
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https://www.wmar2news.com/local/robberies-against-mail-carriers-on-the-rise
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High prices ‘disproportionately pinching’ younger Americans, data shows
30% of Gen Z, 28% of millennials have no emergency savings
(InvestigateTV) — More than seven in 10 younger Americans are saving less because of inflation when compared to Gen X and baby boomers, a recent Bankrate.com survey found.
Sarah Foster is a principal writer for Bankrate.com. She said this is a time for younger Americans to be very mindful of how much they are spending and to hyper analyze their budgets.
Foster said the ultimate goal for Gen Z and millennials should be to make sure they are living within their means. She added there are several advantages to being young right now, especially when it comes to retirement contributions.
“Really the best way to gain wealth and beat inflation in the long run is to make sure that you’re holding a diverse portfolio of assets, including stocks,” Foster explained. “And so, we know that even if someone were to stop investing for three years because of inflation and they’re in their mid-twenties, they’d leave almost $200,000 on the table by the time they were 70.”
Foster said don’t stop retirement contributions during inflation. The amount can be reduced, but consistent contributions is key.
She said another reason younger Americans are being hit hard is they are early in their careers and haven’t reached their peak earnings.
Foster advised them to put any raises or extra money in savings or retirement accounts.
Bankrate has 11 tips for young Americans trying to reach financial goals during high inflation, including:
- Look for high-yield savings accounts that offer much better returns that traditional accounts
- Automate savings to build an emergency fund
- Wait 24 hours before any unnecessary purchases
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/31/high-prices-disproportionately-pinching-younger-americans-data-shows/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:11
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https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/31/high-prices-disproportionately-pinching-younger-americans-data-shows/
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Console & Associates, P.C.: Flagstar Bank Reports 2021 Data Breach Exposing Social Security Numbers of an Estimated 1.4 Million People
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 5:50 PM EDT|Updated: 27 minutes ago
MARLTON, N.J., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 1.4 million consumers are being notified that their Social Security numbers were compromised following a recent cyberattack. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of anyone affected by the Flagstar Bank breach, hoping to fully inform them of the risks they face in the wake of the breach as well as their legal rights.
The sensitive personal data of 1.4 million Flagstaff Bank customers has been compromised. Now, members' full names and Social Security numbers may be in the hands of criminals, putting victims at a greater risk of identity theft and other frauds.
On July 30, 2023, Flagstar Bank filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Maine describing a data breach affecting consumers nationwide. According to the notice, the data breach affected an estimated 1.4 million people.
The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes consumers':
- Full names, and
- Social Security numbers.
If you receive a data breach notice from Flagstar Bank, you could now be at risk of identity theft—and the devastating financial and legal consequences that go along with it.
Flagstar's filing with the Maine AG indicates a previous data breach letter was sent on March 15, 2015, which may be an error.
What Should You Do if You Receive a Flagstar Bank Data Breach Letter?
Additionally, victims should consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately, as anyone who receives a data breach letter from Flagstar Bank may be entitled to financial compensation.
If you wish to discuss this data security incident, or if you have any questions regarding your rights following the Flagstar Bank data breach, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. Interested parties and potential plaintiffs can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/flagstar-bank-data-breach-investigation/. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
View original content:
SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/console-amp-associates-pc-flagstar-bank-reports-2021-data-breach-exposing-social-security-numbers-an-estimated-14-million-people/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:13
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/console-amp-associates-pc-flagstar-bank-reports-2021-data-breach-exposing-social-security-numbers-an-estimated-14-million-people/
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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Malala Yousafzai is a Barbie Girl in the real world.
It may not sound like a quality connected with the 26-year-old activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner. However, the proof is in a post of a photo showing her and her husband, Asser Malik, in a movie theater’s promotional “Barbie Box” this past weekend.
Yousafzai shared a picture on her social media channels that echoed the movie’s cast announcements, which were set on a Barbie-packaging backdrop and included marketing blurbs (“This Barbie is a mermaid,” “This Barbie has a Nobel Prize in physics” or “He’s just Ken”) for each character. Yousafzai and Malik look relaxed and happy in their photo. But it’s the caption that makes this post social media perfection.
“This Barbie has a Nobel Prize He’s just Ken,” she wrote.
This Barbie has a Nobel Prize He’s just Ken pic.twitter.com/Ljbqdfpgfd
— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) July 30, 2023
MORE: ‘Barbie’ is hitting the big screen, but is the movie meant for kids?
And how does this Barbie’s “Ken” feel about his new title?
Malik countered with a comment that will be familiar to anyone who has seen the movie — specifically Ken’s “I am Kenough” sweatshirt in the closing scenes.
I’m Kenough
— Asser Malik (@MalikAsser) July 30, 2023
“I’m Kenough,” he replied, clearly in on his wife’s joke.
The Twitter post has nearly 42 million views and is closing in on 1 million likes as of July 31.
In a longer post on her Instagram account, Yousafzai shared the couple’s reaction to the movie and explained that her joke was not meant as a jab against her beloved husband.
“We loved the movie. It was so funny and thoughtful ,” she wrote in her Instagram post. “I hope this caption doesn’t hurt all the Kens as much as the movie Ken.”
These viral social media posts are the latest images of the evolution of Malala Yousafzai since the world first got to know her in 2012 at age 15, when she was attacked on a school bus in her homeland of Pakistan for speaking out in favor of education rights for all people.
Following her attack, her family moved to England, where the young girl continued to advocate for gender equality in education. In 2013, she wrote “I Am Malala,” a best-selling book which, along with other writings and outreach, helped the teenager to become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2014.
Since that time, Yousafzai launched the Malala Fund, graduated from Oxford University and continues to advocate for accessible education for everyone.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories.
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https://www.wmar2news.com/malala-yousafzai-shares-funny-barbie-inspired-photo-with-husband
| 2023-07-31T22:17:16
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Walmart has a ton of new weekly flash deals that are only available online for a short time.
The discounts include up to 65% off from Walmart’s extensive merchandise lineup of electronics, home goods, patio essentials and more.
This week’s deals feature many sought-after products, such as Apple Watches, Xbox gaming consoles and the TikTok-famous Carote pots and pans.
Walmart offers these weekly flash picks only through Friday, where they will then be replaced by new rollbacks.
Here’s a look at some of the best items you can snag this week from Walmart’s flash deals.
Tech
- Apple Watch Series 8 for $329, instead of $399
- Xbox Series X Video Game Console for $490, instead of $586
- Fitbit Inspire 2 Fitness Tracker for $59, instead of $84
Kitchen
- Carote Nonstick Pots and Pans Set (9 Pieces) for $70, instead of $240
- AGLUCKY Ice Maker Countertop for $73, instead of $120
- Emerald Compact Air Fryer for $33, instead of $50
Backyard
- Costway Outdoor BBQ Grill Charcoal Barbecue Pit for $116, instead of $231
- Swimming Pool 15ft Rectangle for $200, instead of $500
- Walsunny 7-Piece Outdoor Patio Furniture Set for $460, instead of $550
Shop for even more savings from Walmart’s weekly picks.
RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL AND SHOPPING:
Samsung deals: How to get up to $1,000 for preordering the newest Galaxy phones
Wayfair ‘Back-to-School Sale’: These are the best deals on storage, kitchen essentials and more
How to save $20 on everyday beauty products from Amazon
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Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
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https://www.nj.com/shopping-deals/2023/07/walmart-deals-these-are-the-top-12-weekly-deals-to-shop-online-including-apple-carote-xbox-and-more.html
| 2023-07-31T22:17:16
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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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For Q2 2023, revenue increased 15% to $19.4 million and customer locations increased 7% to 124,000. Q2 net loss dropped 75% from $3.9 million in Q2 2022 to $978,000 in Q2 2023, and ARR* for TTM** increased $11.8 million from $59.3 million as at June 30, 2022 to $71.1 million as at June 30, 2023, growth of 20%.
TORONTO , July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Givex Corp. ("Givex") (TSX: GIVX) (OTCQX: GIVXF), is pleased to present its financial results for the three-month period and six-month period ending June 30, 2023.
Givex reports in Canadian dollars and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").
"In Q2 2023, Givex continued to increase adjusted EBITDA by increasing gross profit and keeping a tight rein on payroll costs," said Don Gray, CEO of Givex. "Net loss decreased 75%, from $3.9 million to $978,000. We are working hard to continue this trend for the rest of the year."
Second Quarter Financial Highlights
Three-month period ending June 30, 2023 (with comparisons relative to the three-month period ending June 30, 2022)
- Revenue increased $2.6 million from $16.8 million to $19.4 million, 15% growth.
- Gross Profit increased $1.9 million from $12.2 million to $14.1 million, 16% growth.
- Adjusted EBITDA*** increased $0.7 million from $1.0 million to $1.7 million, 69% growth.
- Net Loss decreased $2.9 million from $3.9 million to $978,000, 75% decrease.
- Total Gross Transactional Value**** increased approximately $0.35 billion from $1.77 billion to $2.12 billion, 20% growth.
- POS Gross Transactional Value***** increased approximately $128 million from $347 million to $474 million, 37% growth.
- Customer Locations****** increased approximately 8,000, from 116,000 to 124,000, 7% growth.
Six-month period ending June 30, 2023 (with comparisons relative to the six-month period ending June 30, 2022)
- Revenue increased $5.4 million from $33.2 million to $38.6 million, 16% growth.
- Gross Profit increased $4.2 million from $23.1 million to $27.3 million, 18% growth.
- Adjusted EBITDA*** increased $0.4 million from $2.3 million to $2.7 million, 18% growth.
- Net Loss decreased $4.3 million from $6.5 million to $2.2 million, 66% decrease.
- Total Gross Transactional Value**** increased approximately $0.65 billion from $3.05 billion to $3.7 billion, 21% growth.
- POS Gross Transactional Value***** increased approximately $295 million from $584 million to $879 million, 51% growth.
Operational Highlights
- Payroll costs are the key focus to improved EBITDA and positive net earnings. For the 12-month periods ending June 30, 2023 and 2022, Employee Compensation******* as a % of Gross Profit was 53% and 54%, respectively. The company believes that its ability to reduce Employee Compensation as a % of Gross Profit is an indicator of its success in managing costs and profitability.
- ARR* (which is both recurring and reoccurring revenue) for TTM** increased $11.8 million from $59.3 million as at June 30, 2022 to $71.1 million as at June 30, 2023, growth of 20%.
More Information
Additional financial information, such as the audited annual Consolidated Financial Statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
More information about Givex, including the Management Presentation and Overview, are posted on the company's investor relations website at investors.givex.com.
About Givex
The world is changing. Givex is ready. Since 1999, Givex has provided technology solutions that unleash the full potential of engagement, creating and cultivating powerful connections that unite brands and customers. With a global footprint of 124,000+ active locations across more than 100 countries, Givex unleashes strategic insights, empowering brands through reliable technology and exceptional support. Givex's integrated end-to-end management solution provides Gift Cards, GivexPOS, Loyalty Programs and more, creating growth opportunities for businesses of all sizes and industries. Learn more about how to streamline workflows, tackle complex challenges and transform data into actionable insights at www.givex.com.
Non-IFRS Measures and Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures
The information presented includes certain financial measures such as "Adjusted EBITDA" (see below for definition), which are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. These non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We also believe that securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Our management also uses non-IFRS measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to, the risk factors described under the "Risk Factors" section in the Annual Information Form (AIF) dated March 21, 2023, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" in the Filing Statement.
Additional Notes
*ARR is defined as Annual Recurring Revenue, which is both recurring and reoccurring revenue.
**TTM is trailing twelve months from the defined period.
***Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net profit (loss) excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") as adjusted for share-based compensation and related expenses, foreign exchange gains and losses and transaction-related expenses including those related to going public and acquisitions.
****Gross transaction volume ("GTV") means the total dollar value of stored and point-of-sale ("POS") transactions processed through our cloud-based SaaS platforms in the period, net of refunds, inclusive of shipping and handling, duty, and value-added taxes. We believe GTV is an indicator of the success of our customers and the strength of our platforms. GTV does not represent revenue earned by us.
*****POS gross transactional volume ("POS GTV") means the total dollar value point-of-sale ("POS") transactions processed through GivexPOS, our cloud-based POS SaaS platform, in the period net of refunds, inclusive of shipping and handling, duty and value-added taxes. We believe POS GTV is an indicator of the success of our customers and the strength of our platforms. POS GTV does not represent revenue earned by us.
******Customer Location means a billing customer location for which the term of services has not ended, or with which we are negotiating a renewal contract. It includes both merchant locations that have transactions processed through our cloud-based SaaS platform, as well as merchant locations not on our platform but for which we provide other Givex services. A single unique customer can have multiple Customer Locations including physical and eCommerce sites. We believe that our ability to increase the number of Customer Locations served by our platform and products is an indicator of our success in terms of market penetration and growth of our business.
*******Employee Compensation as a % of Gross Profit means the total employee compensation for a period divided by the gross profit for the same period. Employee Compensation means total employee compensation including salaries and benefits, excluding both government assistance and share-based compensation. Gross Profit means revenue less direct cost of revenue.
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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has threatened to sue a group of independent researchers whose research documented an increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased last year by Elon Musk.
An attorney representing the social media site wrote to the Center for Countering Digital Hate on July 20 threatening legal action over the nonprofit's research into hate speech and content moderation. The letter alleged that CCDH's research publications seem intended "to harm Twitter's business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims."
Musk is a self-professed free speech absolutist who has welcomed back white supremacists and election deniers to the platform, which he renamed X earlier this month. But the billionaire has at times proven sensitive about critical speech directed at him or his companies.
The center is a nonprofit with offices in the U.S. and United Kingdom. It regularly publishes reports on hate speech, extremism or harmful behavior on social media platforms like X, TikTok or Facebook.
The organization has published several reports critical of Musk's leadership, detailing an increase in anti-LGBTQ hate speech as well as climate misinformation since his purchase. The letter from X's attorney cited one specific report from June that found the platform failed to remove neo-Nazi and anti-LGBTQ content from verified users that violated the platform's rules.
In the letter, attorney Alex Spiro questioned the expertise of the researchers and accused the center of trying to harm X's reputation. The letter also suggested, without evidence, that the center received funds from some of X's competitors, even though the center has also published critical reports about TikTok, Facebook and other large platforms.
SEE MORE: Twitter is now X, but hundreds of other X trademarks may cause issues
"CCDH intends to harm Twitter's business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims," Spiro wrote, using the platform's former name.
Imran Ahmed, the center's founder and CEO, told the AP on Monday that his group has never received a similar response from any tech company, despite a history of studying the relationship between social media, hate speech and extremism. He said that typically, the targets of the center's criticism have responded by defending their work or promising to address any problems that have been identified.
Ahmed said he worried X's response to the center's work could have a chilling effect if it frightens other researchers away from studying the platform. He said he also worried that other industries could take note of the strategy.
"This is an unprecedented escalation by a social media company against independent researchers. Musk has just declared open war," Ahmed told the Associated Press. "If Musk succeeds in silencing us other researchers will be next in line."
Messages left with Spiro and X were not immediately returned Monday.
It's not the first time that Musk has fired back at critics. Last year, he suspended the accounts of several journalists who covered his takeover of Twitter. Another user was suspended for using publicly available flight data to track Musk's private plane; Musk had initially pledged to keep the user on the platform but later changed his mind, citing his personal safety. He also threatened to sue the user before allowing him back on the platform under certain restrictions.
He initially had promised that he would allow any speech on his platform that wasn't illegal. "I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means," Musk wrote in a tweet last year.
X's recent threat of a lawsuit prompted concern from U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who said the billionaire was trying to use the threat of legal action to punish a nonprofit group trying to hold a powerful social media platform accountable.
"Instead of attacking them, he should be attacking the increasingly disturbing content on Twitter," Schiff said in a statement.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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Memphis police shoot suspect after he fired shots outside Jewish school, authorities say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis police on Monday said officers shot a suspect after he attempted to enter a Jewish school with a gun and fired shots after he couldn’t get into the building.
Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe said the suspect, whose identity has not been released, approached Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South around 12:20 p.m. He fired several shots and then left in a maroon truck.
“Thankfully, that school had a great safety procedure and process in place and avoided anyone being harmed or injured at that scene,” Crowe said.
Officers soon located the suspect’s vehicle “shortly after that,” Crowe said, adding that officers then shot the suspect after he exited the truck with a firearm in hand. The suspect was sent to a 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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ST. LOUIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, today reported that it set a new quarterly record for net sales in the second quarter of 2023.
Graybar's net sales for the second quarter of this year totaled $2.8 billion, an increase of 4.5% compared to the same period last year. Net income attributable to Graybar for the quarter finished at $124.2 million, a 2.7% decrease from the second quarter of 2022.
For the first half of 2023, the company reported net sales of $5.5 billion, an 8.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Net income attributable to Graybar for the first six months of 2023 increased 8.4% to $249.0 million.
"Thanks to the hard work of our employees, we continue to achieve positive results," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. "We remain focused on providing exceptional service to our customers every day, while we make strategic investments to transform our business and strengthen our long-term position as an industry leader."
Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 325 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network, automate and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR.
Media Contact:
Tim Sommer
(314) 578-7672
timothy.sommer@graybar.com
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These days, there are so many options to watch content online. A Forbes survey found 86% of people pay for more than one streaming service each month.
What if you were scrolling for something to watch on one of those streaming services, and half of the shows and movies were created by artificial intelligence?
Would you want to know which ones were, and which ones weren't?
This isn't a reality yet, but it's a possibility in our future and a big reason why both screenwriters and actors are on strike right now. They want to have rules and guidance surrounding artificial intelligence so they still have jobs in a decade.
Sachin Dharwadker is a Writers Guild of America screenwriter in Los Angeles. He’s written one tv show so far, and was in the final stages of developing his own show when the strike started.
"I think if you go out and ask anyone if they want to watch stuff written by AI or kind of spearheaded by AI, most of them would laugh at that," Dharwadker said. "Most of them would say, like, 'that sounds horrible.' When it comes down to it, I don't think people actually want to watch that. And that's ultimately the question that has to be answered."
Dharwadker says he hopes there will be strict cap on how AI can be used.
"There is not a viable path for it to have like anything more than a supporting role in what we do," Dharwadker said. "Writing is a very difficult profession, and it requires, if you want to make a good story about human experience, you have to be a human. I mean, you just can't be something else."
AI expert Chris Gomes Muffat is the founder of Promptify. It's a service that will soon let you design a template for AI to write a screenplay or novella.
He doesn't believe the need for screenwriters will disappear, but he thinks they will see a major shift in their career.
"I think they will be the one that will prompt the generative AI to produce the story," Muffat said. "And your ability to be a good writer will not be in producing the right content, but rather asking the right question."
Muffat says there will need to be rigorous testing for bias within the AI, but he thinks it will increase productivity.
He also thinks it will open up the screenwriting industry to more people.
"I can compete with Hollywood just because of the technology I have access to," Muffat said.
Whether AI becomes a huge part of the screenwriting experience or not, Dharwadker says he doesn't plan to use it.
In the meantime, while he waits for the unions and Hollywood industry to come to an agreement, he’s exploring other creative avenues to pay the bills like posting a Substack newsletter about the strike and movies he’s watching.
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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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AUSTIN, Minn., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, invites interested parties to participate in a webcast and conference call with Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer; Jacinth Smiley, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Deanna Brady, executive vice president, Retail; to discuss the company's third quarter financial results. The company will issue its earnings release before the markets open on Thursday, August 31, 2023, and will host a conference call at 8 a.m. CT (9 a.m. ET).
The webcast, replay and other information related to the event can be accessed on the company's investor website, http://investor.hormelfoods.com.
ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin's®, WHOLLY®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus®, Jennie-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com.
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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — It's a big milestone day each and every year at Ravens training camp. It's the day it starts to look more like real football on the field: the first day in pads.
Players suited up for Monday afternoon’s practice as things got a little more physical as we move deeper into camp.
There has been a lot of talk about the new-look Ravens offense this preseason with all of the additions made on that side of the ball. However the defense has some as well, including a guy who isn’t technically new but whose return will bolster the defensive line: Michael Pierce.
The 30-year-old nose tackle is in the second year of his second stint with the Ravens. He only played three games last year before suffering a torn biceps. That was after he played only eight games in 2021 with the Vikings because of an elbow injury.
Now he’s back, healthy and motivated to make a difference.
"Missing those last two years, it was fun to get the pads on, try some new stuff," he said. "For me it’s about trying stuff and making sure I have some new things in my repertoire going into the season. The past two years I’ve been doing really well, just had those seasons cut short. I feel good. I’m moving well. I’m affecting the quarterback, obviously playing the run well."
"He has had a really great start to training camp," said head coach John Harbaugh. "Michael Pierce has really expressed himself out here the way he does, with physicality. Today we put the pads on so he had a chance to do it a little more for real. He looks great doing it. I think he’s in really good shape."
Also in better shape is Pepe Williams. The second-year corner returned on Monday from the physically unable to perform list (ankle). Rookie receiver Zay Flowers was back on the field after missing a couple days with illness. Safety Geno Stone left practice late with an ankle injury. Harbaugh said he did not think it was serious.
Practice continues on Tuesday when things get going just after 2:00 p.m.
Follow Shawn Stepner on Twitter @StepnerWMAR and Facebook
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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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NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS – SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0825 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of July 13, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on June 30, 2023, and payable on July 31, 2023. No action is required on your part.
The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable July 31, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund has declared the July 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0825 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.
About John Hancock Investment Management
A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
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| 2023-07-31T22:17:38
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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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NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS – SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.1380 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of July 13, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) with important information concerning the distribution declared on July 3, 2023, and payable on July 31, 2023. No action is required on your part.
The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable July 31, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund has declared the July 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.1380 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.
About John Hancock Investment Management
A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
View original content:
SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
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LINKBANCORP, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:30 PM EDT|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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President Biden overturned a decision from the Trump administration to relocate the temporary headquarters of Space Command to Alabama, deciding instead to keep the base in Colorado.
The decision was made because Biden believes keeping the HQ in Colorado Springs, rather than relocating it to Huntsville, would maintain stability and not impact readiness, according to a senior U.S. official.
The senior administration official said Biden consulted with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other military leaders before deciding to keep the base in Colorado permanently.
Gen. James Dickinson, the head of Space Command, also helped to convince Biden to not relocate the base, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Space Command headquarters is set to achieve “full operational capability” at Colorado Springs later this month, according to the senior administration official.
The official said moving the headquarters to Alabama would force a transition process that does not allow the new base to open until the mid-2030’s.
“The President found that risk unacceptable, especially given the challenges we may face in the space domain during this critical time period,” the official said. “Locating Headquarters U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs ensures peak readiness in the space domain for our nation during a critical period.”
Biden’s reversal is likely to spark the fury of Alabama Republicans who have for months feared the administration would scrap the relocation plan.
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers (R), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has been investigating the delay behind the relocation plan, which was first put in motion when Space Command was resurrected in 2019.
Former President Trump’s decision to temporarily establish a headquarters in Colorado and relocate Space Command to Alabama was criticized as a political choice based upon a more favorable constituency in the Yellowhammer state.
Since coming into office, the Biden administration ordered reviews of the decision, none of which found anything improper in Trump’s decision, though they found the former president could have followed better practices in the process.
The delayed relocation reached new heights over the spring when NBC News reported the Biden administration was considering scrapping the relocation plan because of restrictive abortion laws in Alabama.
Rogers and other Alabama Republicans objected to any such plan, saying Huntsville, also known as Rocket City, was selected based on its merits and in a fair process, while pointing to the reviews that found nothing improper.
The House version of the annual defense bill that passed earlier this month includes provisions that slash funding for the Air Force Secretary until the administration makes a final decision. It’s unclear whether Rogers will be satisfied with a reversal.
Other Alabama politicians, including Gov. Kay Ivey (R), quickly blasted the the decision as political. Alabama overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the 2020 election and has two GOP senators, while Colorado voted for Biden and has two Democratic senators.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said the base Redstone Arsenal in Alabama was the correct location based on its merits, arguing “Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics.”
“The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief,” she said in a statement.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby reiterated during an interview with CNN on Monday that the president’s decision was entirely due to national security considerations, pointing specifically to the rising threat from China.
“This was really a decision based on one thing and one thing only for a president and that was operational readiness,” Kirby said. “He took the inputs of many leaders across the Department of Defense that when it came down to it, he believes that it’s in the best national security interest of the country if we leave Space Command in Colorado.”
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett (D) joined officials from his state in celebrating Biden’s decision.
“Over the past two and half years, we have repeatedly made the case that the Trump administration’s decision to relocate U.S. Space Command was misguided,” the senator wrote on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Today’s decision restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and sends a strong message that national security and the readiness of our Armed Forces drive our military decisions,” he added.
Updated at 5:34 pm ET.
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https://www.koin.com/hill-politics/biden-overturns-trump-decision-to-move-space-command-hq-from-colorado-to-alabama/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:52
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Are your Christmas displays brighter than the rest? Now's your chance to be a contestant on ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight!"
ABC is casting season 12 of the reality competition show, searching for America's biggest and brightest holiday displays on residential and commercial properties.
"The Great Christmas Light Fight," hosted by celebrity judges Taniya Nayak and Carter Oosterhouse, features families and neighborhoods from across the U.S. as they transform their homes into a festive wonderland for the holidays.
In each episode, four families compete for the $50,000 prize and coveted "Light Fight" trophy. A total of $300,000 is given away each season.
"Light Fight" hopefuls can apply or nominate displays in their neighborhood at Lightfightcasting.com.
Season 11 of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" will return to ABC this winter. Meanwhile, the hunt continues for more shimmering displays to compete in Season 12.
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https://abc30.com/great-christmas-light-fight-casting-call-season-12-when-do-they-film/13578070/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:52
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Cleveland homeowner: Overgrown trees from vacant lot destroying property
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A Cleveland man told the 19 Troubleshooters he is dealing with overgrown trees from a vacant lot that are destroying his property, causing power outages, and becoming a safety concern.
Eric Jones has had enough of the overgrown trees in the vacant lot next door and the damage they’ve caused.
His family has lived in their East 130th home since 1974. While he takes a lot of pride in where he lives, he says its never looked worse.
“The branches is laying on the roof of the garage. and by them branches being on the roof of the garage, it makes the garage leak and sink in from the moist and the mildew,” said Jones.
On top of the damage to his garage, he says tree limbs hang over his car and wire lines, leading to power outages.
And then there’s the safety concerns.
“These days they dumping bodies in abandoned houses, backyards, bushes, weeds, and no telling what could be back there one day,” said Jones. “Kids go to school, they walk passed, somebody could snatch them and pull them back there and hurt them. It’s kind of scary.”
Scary enough, Jones says he’s called the city countless times to get them out to take care of the lot, but he hasn’t seen any changes.
That’s why he called the 19 Troubleshooters, and we got to work.
We found out the city did come out to inspect the trees in the vacant lot back in February.
They have a work order to prune at least one of them, and they’ve got just under a month to do it.
We also discovered the city owns that lot, so it’s their responsibility to take care of it.
The city says they’ll send another crew out to the vacant lot to cut the grass and inspect for any other needed repairs.
Copyright 2023 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/31/cleveland-homeowner-overgrown-trees-vacant-lot-destroying-property/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:52
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https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/31/cleveland-homeowner-overgrown-trees-vacant-lot-destroying-property/
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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.kxii.com/2023/07/31/impeached-texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeks-have-most-charges-dismissed-before-september-trial/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:52
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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.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Los Angeles Auto Show
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/los-angeles-auto-show-2023-registration-opens-media-industry-day-automobility-la-november-16/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:56
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use advisory for the Willamette River near Willamette Cove in Portland due to a cyanobacteria bloom and an unsafe presence of cyanotoxins for human and animal exposure.
The advisory, which was issued Friday, warns against swimming, waterskiing and power boating in areas of the lake where blooms are present, OHA said — noting visitors can still canoe and kayak as long as it doesn’t create excessive water spray. Officials recommend catch-and-release fishing as fish caught in areas of the blooms pose unknown health risks if consumed.
Cyanotoxin exposure is mainly caused by ingested water and is not absorbed through the skin, OHA said.
During the advisory, health officials warn against drinking water and say the toxins cannot be removed by boiling or filtering water with camping-style filters.
OHA also says kids and dogs have an increased risk of exposure due to their size and activity level and warn that dogs can get extremely ill or die within minutes of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water or licking their fur.
Symptoms of cyanobacteria exposure may be similar to symptoms of food poisoning and can include a puffy, red rash for skin exposure.
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https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/willamette-river-recreational-advisory-issued-over-cyanobacteria-bloom/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:58
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https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/willamette-river-recreational-advisory-issued-over-cyanobacteria-bloom/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A boater experienced a mola mola (ocean sunfish) sighting off the coast of Pacific City on Sunday.
Oregon Coast resident CJ Reid Hindman told KOIN 6 News that she was fishing a half-mile past Chief Kiawanda Rock near Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area when she took these photos of the fish bobbing around the water’s surface.
“It was so fun to see them,” Hindman said. “It’s been two years since we have seen [any mola mola in the area].”
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries manager Lynn Mattes said that mola mola are more common along the Oregon Coast in the summer when the water is warmer. The unusual creatures can weigh as much as 5,000 pounds and are the world’s heaviest bony fish.
While mola mola can grow up to 10 feet long and 14 feet tall, Mattes said the fish are smaller than a pea when they hatch.
“Mola mola look like someone got bored partway through making a fish and forgot to finish the back half,” Mattes said. “They are missing the typical tail structure found in most other species of fish.”
Mola molas are often seen sunbathing near the surface and use their elongated dorsal and pectoral fins to putter through the water. The slimy animals mostly survive on a diet of jellyfish, making them unappetizing to humans.
“Neither recreational anglers nor commercial fisheries target molas, even with their large size,” Mattes said. “Due to their jellyfish diet, the flesh is very gelatinous and not appetizing to humans.”
Hindman said that the photos show what appeared to be two different mola molas swimming on opposite ends of Chief Kiwanda Rock. However, she couldn’t say for certain that the fish were different.
“The first fish [photographed] swimming flat was larger than the other, so I think it was two different [molas],” she said.
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https://www.koin.com/local/oregon-coast/photos-boater-shares-mola-mola-sighting-off-the-oregon-coast/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:59
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https://www.koin.com/local/oregon-coast/photos-boater-shares-mola-mola-sighting-off-the-oregon-coast/
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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.
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Kimberlee Kruesi contributed to this report from Nashville, Tennessee.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/31/memphis-police-shoot-suspect-after-he-fired-shots-outside-jewish-school-authorities-say/
| 2023-07-31T22:17:59
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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.kxxv.com/biden-to-keep-space-command-in-colorado-won-t-move-to-alabama
| 2023-07-31T22:18:01
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WATKINSVILLE, Ga. and ELBERTON, Ga., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oconee Financial Corporation (OTCQX: "OSBK") ("Oconee") announced today it has completed its acquisition of Elberton Federal Savings & Loan Association ("Elberton Federal") of Elberton, GA, and its related common stock offering, in a conversion merger transaction, effective July 31, 2023.
As a result of the conversion merger, Elberton Federal converted from a mutual savings association to a stock savings association and immediately merged with and into Oconee's wholly owned subsidiary, Oconee State Bank. On August 1, 2023, Elberton Federal's financial center on East Church Street in Elberton will open as a branch of Oconee State Bank.
In the stock offering required by regulations applicable to the merger conversion, Oconee sold 149,015 shares of common stock, at a discounted price of $28.94 per share, to depositors and borrowers of Elberton Federal in a subscription offering, and to stockholders of Oconee and members of the general public in a community offering. Gross offering proceeds totaled approximately $4.3 million. The stock offering was oversubscribed.
"We are thrilled by the overwhelming interest we received from investors in the offering," remarked Oconee President and CEO Neil Stevens. "The transaction closed at the maximum of the authorized offering range and generated a lot of interest in the banking experience we are bringing to our customers."
Stevens continued: "We welcome the addition of Elberton Federal President and CEO Daniel Graves, a number of new teammates, and our newest customers in Elbert County. We aim to provide them the same high level of service and care our current customers enjoy."
Graves will serve as Senior Vice President and Community President of the Northeast Georgia market.
"It is a privilege to join such a high-quality institution and group of people in partnering with Oconee," Graves said. "Neil and I talk often about the importance of culture, and this is a perfect fit. We are thrilled about the opportunity this presents for our people and our customers, and we look forward to being an even more meaningful part of the next chapter of prosperity in Elbert County."
Performance Trust Capital Partners assisted Oconee, on a best-efforts basis, in selling its common stock in the subscription and community offerings and served as financial advisor to Oconee in connection with the merger. RP Financial LC provided the conversion appraisal. Alston & Bird LLP served as legal counsel to Oconee, Fenimore Kay Harrison LLP served as legal counsel to Elberton Federal, and Luse Gorman PC served as legal counsel to Performance Trust Capital Partners.
About Oconee Financial Corporation
Oconee State Bank was established in 1960 and is headquartered in Watkinsville, Georgia. It operates six full-service financial centers in Georgia, located in Oconee, Athens-Clarke, Gwinnett, and Macon-Bibb counties, including its newest location in Elbert County. Pro forma for this transaction, the bank has approximately $556 million in assets. The bank is the only locally owned and operated community bank headquartered in Oconee County. Oconee State Bank proudly serves its communities, providing unparalleled commitment to personalized service, innovative products and solutions, and brings exceptional value to all stakeholders, through local ownership, involvement, and decision making. The bank strives to be essential to those it serves, by creating remarkable experiences that significantly mark the lives of others. Oconee Financial Corporation was established in January 1999 to serve as the holding company of Oconee State Bank.
Please visit Oconee State Bank's website, www.oconeestatebank.com for a full listing of products and services.
View original content:
SOURCE Oconee Financial Corporation
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oconee-financial-corporation-completes-acquisition-elberton-federal-savings-amp-loan-association-related-common-stock-offering/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:02
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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.kxii.com/2023/07/31/pilot-injured-after-banner-plane-crashes-into-ocean-near-beach/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:06
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https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/31/pilot-injured-after-banner-plane-crashes-into-ocean-near-beach/
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WACO, Texas — A local waterpark is looking to save Central Texans some cash, while helping to provide students with much-needed school supplies for the fall semester.
Hawaiian Falls Waco on 900 Lake Shore Drive will be hosting a back-to-school supply drive from August 7-14.
During that time, those interested can get a day pass for $10 for an adult or child in exchange for a donation of school supplies.
At least five of the 22 items listed below must be provided.
Backpacks
1 inch binders
Block erasers
Scientific calculators
Colored pencils
Composition books
Construction paper (9x12, 100 count or less)
24-count crayons
8-tab dividers
Folders (w/pockets and brads)
Glue bottles
Highlighters
Index cards (100 count)
Manila paper (9x12, 100 count or less)
Markers (10 count)
Notebook paper (wide ruled, 100 count)
Pencil pouches
Pencil sharpeners
Rulers
Safety scissors
1-subject spiral notebooks (wide ruled)
Watercolors
This drive is being organized in collaboration with Communities in Schools of the Heart of Texas.
For more information click here.
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https://www.kxxv.com/hometown/mclennan-county/hawaiian-falls-offering-10-day-pass-in-exchange-for-school-supplies-to-help-local-students
| 2023-07-31T22:18:07
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A one-day sales event unlike any other invites customers to stock up on used books for just one cent per page.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The busiest day of the year at 2nd & Charles is officially on the docket: Penny-A-Page, happening on Saturday, August 12, at all 2nd & Charles locations nationwide.
Where miles of books are surrounded by pure, boundless energy, customers can purchase up to five books for just one cent per page during 2nd & Charles' first-ever Penny-A-Page.
This unique and rare promotional event applies to all used books, giving customers the opportunity to fill their shelves with lengthy, expensive, and well-loved volumes – all for a fraction of the price. Yes, on a 250-page book, 2nd and Charles customers will pay just $2.50.
"Our loyal customers love it when we offer a discount on multiple books at the same time," says Eric Bishop, Senior Vice President at 2nd & Charles. "This is a 'can't miss' day! We are opening early at 9 a.m. to accommodate all our impassioned readers wanting to get a head start on their summer reading," he says.
Communities across the nation now have a remarkable opportunity to find their next stack of great books at an extraordinary price. Arrive early for the best selection! Come in, get lost, and find yourself at 2nd & Charles.
ABOUT 2ND & CHARLES
2nd & Charles is a unique retail concept specializing in an ever-changing inventory of new and used books, music, games, toys, collectibles, decor, accessories, and pop culture merchandise. Since its first store opened in Birmingham, AL, in 2010, 2nd & Charles has expanded to include more than 40 stores in 18 states—and counting.
A sister store to Books-A-Million, the nation's second largest book retailer, 2nd & Charles has established itself as a hip and fun-loving purveyor of passions catering to readers, gamers, and collectors of all ages. Through the store's buyback program, customers can sell their gently used merchandise in exchange for cash or store credit.
Click here to find your nearest 2nd & Charles store, and follow 2nd & Charles on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
CONTACT
Olivia Anderson McDaniel
Vice President of Marketing, Omnichannel
205.909.3563
mcdanielo@booksamillion.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Books-A-Million, Inc.
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:08
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CHICAGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of ACG – the premier midmarket mergers and acquisitions association – announces the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Brent Baxter, effective July 31, 2023.
An executive search committee, led by ACG Chairman Christine Nowaczyk, launched a national search through Korn Ferry to find an innovative leader who can keep up with the growth of the industry while listening and truly understanding the needs of ACG's chapters and members. "We found that person in Brent," said Nowaczyk, "and we are excited for the organization's next chapter. I want to thank my board colleagues and our committee for their contributions toward the extensive search."
Baxter has a long career in middle market M&A, ACG's core focus, with more than 25 years of sell-side and buy-side advisory experience, closing more than 200 transactions with a combined value of more than $1 billion. He also has a long and dedicated history supporting ACG in a volunteer capacity, serving in multiple positions on the ACG Board of Directors, and was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 DealMAX event.
Brent served as ACG Chairman in 2021 and has been a member of the Executive Committee for the past six years – four years with the Office of the Chair, and two years as Finance Chair.
Beginning in 2015, Brent spearheaded many key membership strategies, including a growth initiative targeting corporate/strategic acquirer members, which flourished in 38 of ACG's local chapters. He also co-chaired the first national Strategic Acquirer Summit, which drew 120 high-value corporate attendees in Dallas in 2019. The program was suspended during COVID but successfully returned in 2023 in an invigorated form during ACG's largest event, DealMAX.
Brent has been an active participant in numerous chapter leadership events for 20+ years, forming deep connections with ACG's chapter network. He has attended more than 250 ACG events throughout the U.S. and has been a key member of his local ACG St. Louis chapter, serving in multiple positions, including Board President, Membership Chair, Chair of the Corporate Peer Group, as well as Chair of a key multi-chapter Midwest event, the Growth Conference.
"Brent has played a vital role in the success of ACG for many years, and has a deep familiarity with ACG's strategic plan, leadership and staff, member segments and, most importantly, actionable areas for growth," said Nowaczyk. "He not only embodies the values of ACG but also brings a fresh perspective and innovative ideas. With his experience and passion, we have full confidence that Brent will further enhance ACG's global reputation as a hub for middle-market growth, dealmaking, and thought leadership."
Baxter comes to ACG most recently from Nolan & Associates, a leading boutique investment banking firm with a focus on the middle market, where he has been Managing Director since 2019.
Prior to joining Nolan, Brent spent 18 years as Managing Director of a St. Louis independent investment bank. He also has extensive experience growing private companies through acquisitions, serving as CEO of a food manufacturing company that more than quadrupled its sales in eight years, and is currently on the boards of several privately held companies.
"I am eager to work even more extensively with our board of directors, our dedicated chapter boards and volunteers and our amazingly talented team of ACG professionals as we continue to provide our middle-market M&A community with best-in-class member benefits, innovative resources and expanded, relevant networking opportunities," said Brent Baxter. "ACG's mission is more relevant today than ever. In this dynamic economic landscape, supporting and amplifying middle-market growth is not just a responsibility—it is an opportunity to shape the future of business. I am ready and committed to lead ACG on this exciting journey."
The new CEO will direct all areas of ACG's operations, including several initiatives that are at the core of ACG's mission.
This includes overseeing ACG's expansive chapter network, which offers members a wealth of networking opportunities through more than 2,000 annual meetings and events as well as DealMAX, ACG's annual conference and premier networking opportunity for middle market professionals.
Moreover, Baxter will oversee ACG's media division, which includes the Middle Market Growth suite of publications and digital products (Middle Market Executive, Middle Market DealMaker, and several special reports), GrowthTV, an online media channel providing engaging and insightful content for the middle-market community, and the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast.
Mid-market private equity valuation and deal terms database GF Data, ACG's first acquisition, is also a key part of the future plans for a revitalized and more robust ACG under Baxter's leadership.
The ACG Board expresses its sincere gratitude to Lisa Harris, the organization's CFO and Interim CEO, for her exceptional leadership and dedication during this transitional period.
We also extend our appreciation to the search firm Korn Ferry for their professional assistance in this pivotal CEO search, and to the entire ACG staff for their unwavering dedication to our organization and its mission.
Please watch a GrowthTV video where Brent Baxter discusses what's next for ACG.
About ACG (Association for Corporate Growth)
Founded in 1954, ACG is the premier M&A dealmaking community with a mission of driving middle-market growth. ACG's global network operates within 61 local markets worldwide and comprises more than 100,000 middle-market professionals who invest in, own and advise growing companies. Learn more about ACG and become a member at www.acg.org.
Media Contact: Sue Ter Maat, ACG, 847-772-4354 or stermaat@acg.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Association for Corporate Growth
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"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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Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:30 PM EDT|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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BOGOTA, Colombia, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Considering the information known to public, the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC, "Ecopetrol" or the "Company") reiterates the press release issued by the company yesterday, which stated that Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have actively collaborated with the different authorities for the execution of the "Bunkering Imperio" operation.
- Based on external verifications and information coming from the collaborative efforts between the Ecopetrol Group, the Judicial Investigation Directorate and the Carabineros and Environmental Protection Directorate of the National Police, to date, there is no evidence implicating either the administrations or the officers of the Ecopetrol Group;
- Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have been recognized as victims in the corresponding criminal proceedings; and
- The company will continue to work with the authorities to sanction and prevent the smuggling and theft of hydrocarbons.
Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice.
This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
Head of Capital Markets (a)
Carolina Tovar Aragón
Email: investors@ecopetrol.com.co
Head of Corporate Communications
Marcela Ulloa
Email: marcela.ulloa@ecopetrol.com.co
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SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:17
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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has threatened to sue a group of independent researchers whose research documented an increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased last year by Elon Musk.
An attorney representing the social media site wrote to the Center for Countering Digital Hate on July 20 threatening legal action over the nonprofit's research into hate speech and content moderation. The letter alleged that CCDH's research publications seem intended "to harm Twitter's business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims."
Musk is a self-professed free speech absolutist who has welcomed back white supremacists and election deniers to the platform, which he renamed X earlier this month. But the billionaire has at times proven sensitive about critical speech directed at him or his companies.
The center is a nonprofit with offices in the U.S. and United Kingdom. It regularly publishes reports on hate speech, extremism or harmful behavior on social media platforms like X, TikTok or Facebook.
The organization has published several reports critical of Musk's leadership, detailing an increase in anti-LGBTQ hate speech as well as climate misinformation since his purchase. The letter from X's attorney cited one specific report from June that found the platform failed to remove neo-Nazi and anti-LGBTQ content from verified users that violated the platform's rules.
In the letter, attorney Alex Spiro questioned the expertise of the researchers and accused the center of trying to harm X's reputation. The letter also suggested, without evidence, that the center received funds from some of X's competitors, even though the center has also published critical reports about TikTok, Facebook and other large platforms.
SEE MORE: Twitter is now X, but hundreds of other X trademarks may cause issues
"CCDH intends to harm Twitter's business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims," Spiro wrote, using the platform's former name.
Imran Ahmed, the center's founder and CEO, told the AP on Monday that his group has never received a similar response from any tech company, despite a history of studying the relationship between social media, hate speech and extremism. He said that typically, the targets of the center's criticism have responded by defending their work or promising to address any problems that have been identified.
Ahmed said he worried X's response to the center's work could have a chilling effect if it frightens other researchers away from studying the platform. He said he also worried that other industries could take note of the strategy.
"This is an unprecedented escalation by a social media company against independent researchers. Musk has just declared open war," Ahmed told the Associated Press. "If Musk succeeds in silencing us other researchers will be next in line."
Messages left with Spiro and X were not immediately returned Monday.
It's not the first time that Musk has fired back at critics. Last year, he suspended the accounts of several journalists who covered his takeover of Twitter. Another user was suspended for using publicly available flight data to track Musk's private plane; Musk had initially pledged to keep the user on the platform but later changed his mind, citing his personal safety. He also threatened to sue the user before allowing him back on the platform under certain restrictions.
He initially had promised that he would allow any speech on his platform that wasn't illegal. "I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means," Musk wrote in a tweet last year.
X's recent threat of a lawsuit prompted concern from U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who said the billionaire was trying to use the threat of legal action to punish a nonprofit group trying to hold a powerful social media platform accountable.
"Instead of attacking them, he should be attacking the increasingly disturbing content on Twitter," Schiff said in a statement.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:20
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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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SOURCE Southern Auto Finance Company, LLC
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:21
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Over the first two weekends of August, New Mexico playwrights will have their works in progress shown in front of an audience for the first time. Fifteen plays will be performed by local actors at the North Fourth New Works 2023 Festival from August 4 through August 13.
“From the playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, designers, actors; we are keeping it ‘New Mexico True’ with this festival,” says Danielle Robertson, theater program manager at the North Fourth Arts Center. The festival is in its second year and Robertson says its main purpose is to serve the playwrights.
“We wanted to figure out a way to really bolster the writing, the literacy, and the economic development of writers in the community,” says Robertson. “One way to do that is with the festival but of course paying them for the work that they’ve done. So what we have…some plays are coming to life for the first time; they’ve been sitting on shelves for three years – a lot of them were written in the pandemic – and having a platform where those things can get dusted off, figure out where the growth can be, and allowing a space for the growth to happen is really great.”
What people will see when they go to the festival are dramatic works that are still being written. “We have some scripts that are still undergoing rewrites even though we open [this] Friday,” Robertson says.
At the heart of this process is the dramaturg. They act as an outside observer who, Robertson says, is able to look at the play as a whole and is able to identify the gaps and the room for growth. “So they’re looking at it from an outside perspective and saying like, ‘From a dramaturgical standpoint, we want to make sure that everything is correct in terms of the time that you’re writing for, the words that you’re using belong in the time that you’re writing for, the historical accuracy of what you’re saying; things are lining up,” says Robertson.
The North Fourth New Works 2023 Festival starts on Friday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the North Fourth Arts Center at 4904 Fourth St. NW with a night of six short works. Each night of the festival will have something different, from full-length plays to one-act productions. A complete schedule and how to get tickets are available on the North Fourth Arts Center website. You can also follow and receive updates on their Instagram page.
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:21
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Health care provider to pay largest Medicare fraud settlement in Maine history
Federal prosecutors say Martin’s Point Health Care Inc. will pay nearly $22.5 million to resolve allegations it submitted inaccurate codes for its Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees to increase its Medicare reimbursements
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Martin’s Point Health Care Inc. will pay nearly $22.5 million to resolve allegations of submitting inaccurate codes for Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees to increase Medicare reimbursements, federal prosecutors said Monday.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Maine confirmed it was the largest Medicare fraud settlement in state history. A Martin’s Point representative didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment on Monday. The company was accused of submitting the inaccurate diagnosis codes for Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees in Maine and New Hampshire between 2016 and 2019.
“Today’s result sends a clear message to the Medicare Advantage community that the United States will take appropriate action against those who knowingly submit inflated claims for reimbursement,” said Michael D. Granston, deputy assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s civil division’s commercial litigation branch.
The allegations against the Portland-based healthcare provider stemmed from a complaint brought by a whistleblower who’s entitled to a claim of the settlement, approximately $3.8 million, officials said.
The Justice Department said Martin’s Point sought to identify additional codes that could be submitted for reimbursement even though many codes weren’t supported by patients’ medical records.
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https://www.wagmtv.com/2023/07/31/health-care-provider-pay-largest-medicare-fraud-settlement-maine-history/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:22
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Impeached Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks to have most charges dismissed before September trial
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lawyers for impeached Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday sought to have most of the charges against him dismissed, arguing that they rely on alleged acts of corruption before he was reelected to a third term in 2022.
In motions filed with the Senate, where Paxton’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5, his attorneys said they believe state law bars the removal of an official for conduct that occurred before their most recent election. Paxton was first elected attorney general in 2014 and the impeachment charges include alleged conduct since then.
“The Articles allege nothing that Texas voters have not heard from the Attorney General’s political opponents for years,” Paxton’s attorneys wrote. They accused the GOP-dominated Texas House of Representatives of seeking to oust Paxton because they were unable to unseat him by popular vote.
“Texas voters rendered their judgement by re-electing Attorney General Paxton to serve a third consecutive term. As a matter of both common sense and Texas law, that should be the end of the matter,” his attorneys wrote.
Only one of the 20 impeachment charges — an allegation that Paxton settled a whistleblower lawsuit in an effort to hide from the public corruption allegations against him — would not have to be dismissed under the so-called “prior term doctrine,” Paxton’s attorney said. Paxton asked state lawmakers this year to have the state pay the proposed $3.3 million settlement.
In a second filing, Paxton’s attorneys said the trial should exclude any evidence of alleged conduct that occurred prior to January 2023, when his third term in office began.
The motions from Paxton’s attorneys are similar to moves in a criminal or civil legal cases when defense attorneys seek to have charges or lawsuits dismissed before trial.
In this case, the presiding officer over Paxton’s impeachment trial will be Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a powerful Republican who also serves as the president of the state Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate will consider the evidence and decide whether to convict or acquit Paxton in the first impeachment trial of a statewide official since 1917.
Patrick has already issued a sweeping gag order over the parties and attorneys involved ahead of the Senate trial. Attorneys for House of Representatives managers prosecuting Paxton did not immediately respond to the motions filed Monday.
Paxton has been suspended from office since the House first approved the articles of impeachment on May 27. He could be permanently removed if convicted by the Senate.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wibw.com/2023/07/31/impeached-texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeks-have-most-charges-dismissed-before-september-trial/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:22
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These days, there are so many options to watch content online. A Forbes survey found 86% of people pay for more than one streaming service each month.
What if you were scrolling for something to watch on one of those streaming services, and half of the shows and movies were created by artificial intelligence?
Would you want to know which ones were, and which ones weren't?
This isn't a reality yet, but it's a possibility in our future and a big reason why both screenwriters and actors are on strike right now. They want to have rules and guidance surrounding artificial intelligence so they still have jobs in a decade.
Sachin Dharwadker is a Writers Guild of America screenwriter in Los Angeles. He’s written one tv show so far, and was in the final stages of developing his own show when the strike started.
"I think if you go out and ask anyone if they want to watch stuff written by AI or kind of spearheaded by AI, most of them would laugh at that," Dharwadker said. "Most of them would say, like, 'that sounds horrible.' When it comes down to it, I don't think people actually want to watch that. And that's ultimately the question that has to be answered."
Dharwadker says he hopes there will be strict cap on how AI can be used.
"There is not a viable path for it to have like anything more than a supporting role in what we do," Dharwadker said. "Writing is a very difficult profession, and it requires, if you want to make a good story about human experience, you have to be a human. I mean, you just can't be something else."
AI expert Chris Gomes Muffat is the founder of Promptify. It's a service that will soon let you design a template for AI to write a screenplay or novella.
He doesn't believe the need for screenwriters will disappear, but he thinks they will see a major shift in their career.
"I think they will be the one that will prompt the generative AI to produce the story," Muffat said. "And your ability to be a good writer will not be in producing the right content, but rather asking the right question."
Muffat says there will need to be rigorous testing for bias within the AI, but he thinks it will increase productivity.
He also thinks it will open up the screenwriting industry to more people.
"I can compete with Hollywood just because of the technology I have access to," Muffat said.
Whether AI becomes a huge part of the screenwriting experience or not, Dharwadker says he doesn't plan to use it.
In the meantime, while he waits for the unions and Hollywood industry to come to an agreement, he’s exploring other creative avenues to pay the bills like posting a Substack newsletter about the strike and movies he’s watching.
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https://www.kxxv.com/news/national/will-artificial-intelligence-take-away-the-need-for-screenwriters
| 2023-07-31T22:18:26
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(KTLA) – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the discovery of a body inside a 55-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon on Monday.
A park worker first saw the drum floating by the Pacific Coast Highway bridge Sunday night but didn’t think much of it at the time, a spokesperson for the L.A. County Fire Department told Nexstar’s KTLA.
When lifeguards arrived at work Monday morning, they saw the drum in the lagoon and tried to pull it out at which point they discovered the body inside, officials said.
No information about the victim was immediately known.
KTLA helicopter footage showed the black plastic drum standing upright in shallow water and the beach appeared to be closed for the investigation.
Late last spring, a body was found in a barrel in Nevada’s Lake Mead. Authorities said the body may have been there for four decades but have not yet identified the victim, despite identifying other bodies that appeared due to receding water levels.
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https://www.koin.com/news/body-found-inside-55-gallon-drum-in-malibu/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:26
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https://www.koin.com/news/body-found-inside-55-gallon-drum-in-malibu/
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President Biden overturned a decision from the Trump administration to relocate the temporary headquarters of Space Command to Alabama, deciding instead to keep the base in Colorado.
The decision was made because Biden believes keeping the HQ in Colorado Springs, rather than relocating it to Huntsville, would maintain stability and not impact readiness, according to a senior U.S. official.
The senior administration official said Biden consulted with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other military leaders before deciding to keep the base in Colorado permanently.
Gen. James Dickinson, the head of Space Command, also helped to convince Biden to not relocate the base, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Space Command headquarters is set to achieve “full operational capability” at Colorado Springs later this month, according to the senior administration official.
The official said moving the headquarters to Alabama would force a transition process that does not allow the new base to open until the mid-2030’s.
“The President found that risk unacceptable, especially given the challenges we may face in the space domain during this critical time period,” the official said. “Locating Headquarters U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs ensures peak readiness in the space domain for our nation during a critical period.”
Biden’s reversal is likely to spark the fury of Alabama Republicans who have for months feared the administration would scrap the relocation plan.
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers (R), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has been investigating the delay behind the relocation plan, which was first put in motion when Space Command was resurrected in 2019.
Former President Trump’s decision to temporarily establish a headquarters in Colorado and relocate Space Command to Alabama was criticized as a political choice based upon a more favorable constituency in the Yellowhammer state.
Since coming into office, the Biden administration ordered reviews of the decision, none of which found anything improper in Trump’s decision, though they found the former president could have followed better practices in the process.
The delayed relocation reached new heights over the spring when NBC News reported the Biden administration was considering scrapping the relocation plan because of restrictive abortion laws in Alabama.
Rogers and other Alabama Republicans objected to any such plan, saying Huntsville, also known as Rocket City, was selected based on its merits and in a fair process, while pointing to the reviews that found nothing improper.
The House version of the annual defense bill that passed earlier this month includes provisions that slash funding for the Air Force Secretary until the administration makes a final decision. It’s unclear whether Rogers will be satisfied with a reversal.
Other Alabama politicians, including Gov. Kay Ivey (R), quickly blasted the the decision as political. Alabama overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the 2020 election and has two GOP senators, while Colorado voted for Biden and has two Democratic senators.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said the base Redstone Arsenal in Alabama was the correct location based on its merits, arguing “Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics.”
“The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief,” she said in a statement.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby reiterated during an interview with CNN on Monday that the president’s decision was entirely due to national security considerations, pointing specifically to the rising threat from China.
“This was really a decision based on one thing and one thing only for a president and that was operational readiness,” Kirby said. “He took the inputs of many leaders across the Department of Defense that when it came down to it, he believes that it’s in the best national security interest of the country if we leave Space Command in Colorado.”
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett (D) joined officials from his state in celebrating Biden’s decision.
“Over the past two and half years, we have repeatedly made the case that the Trump administration’s decision to relocate U.S. Space Command was misguided,” the senator wrote on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Today’s decision restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and sends a strong message that national security and the readiness of our Armed Forces drive our military decisions,” he added.
Updated at 5:34 pm ET.
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https://www.krqe.com/hill-politics/biden-overturns-trump-decision-to-move-space-command-hq-from-colorado-to-alabama/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:27
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PORT ANGELES, Washington (WJW) – An 8-year-old child was attacked by a cougar at Olympic National Park’s Lake Angeles on Saturday evening.
The child was with their family at Lake Angeles, south of Port Angeles, when the attack happened Saturday night, the National Park Service said Monday.
“The cougar casually abandoned its attack after being yelled and screamed at by the child’s mother,” NPS wrote in a news release. The child suffered only minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Park officials then evacuated the remaining campers in the Lake Angeles area, closing the space and Heather Park to the public. Olympic National Park wildlife biologist Tom Kay said in a statement that the decision to close the Lake Angeles Trail, Heather Park Trail, Switchback Trail, and the entire Klahhane Ridge Trail was made “out of an abundance of caution.”
Early Sunday morning, park law enforcement and wildlife personnel who specialize in cougar tracking were dispatched to the last known location of the cougar at Lake Angeles, the park service reported. If located, the cougar will be euthanized and removed from the park for a necropsy.
“This may provide clues as to why the animal attacked since cougars are rarely seen and attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare,” park officials said. “Olympic National Park has extensive protocols in place for wildlife observations, interactions, and attacks and the lethal removal of this cougar is in line with these protocols.”
Because Olympic National Park is considered “cougar territory,” NPS recommends visitors be prepared for the encounter. They should not hike or jog alone, and children should remain near adults. Pets should also be left at home.
Should you encounter a cougar, you should remain calm and avoid running, according to wildlife experts. Do your best to appear as large as possible, continue watching the animal, and be loud. NPS also recommends throwing items like rocks or sticks at the cougar.
There have been no recent deaths caused by cougars in Olympic National Park, according to NPS data.
It’s not the first wildlife attack in the national parks this year, though.
Last week, a woman was found dead after an “apparent bear encounter” near Yellowstone National Park. Earlier this month, a woman in the park suffered “significant injuries” after being gored by a bison.
The park warns that between mid-July and mid-August, bison are in mating season and “can become agitated more quickly.”
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https://www.koin.com/news/child-8-attacked-by-cougar-in-olympic-national-park-saved-by-mother/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:28
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida is seeing a rise in leprosy cases that could mean the disease has become endemic in the Sunshine State, according to a letter published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The letter, which was published in mid-July, said while leprosy is historically uncommon in the United States, cases more than doubled in the South over the last 10 years.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and is characterized by discolored patches of skin, ulcers, lumps and damage to the nerves.
The CDC said if untreated, the disease can progress to paralysis, blindness, the loss of one’s eyebrows, physical disfigurement, and even the “shortening of toes and fingers due to reabsorption.”
The Florida Department of Health said the disease first appeared in the state in 1921. The National Hansen’s Disease Program found that 159 cases of leprosy were reported in 2020. Florida was at the top of the list of states with the most new cases.
According to the Florida Health Charts, the state had 26 reported cases in 2019, 27 in 2020, and 14 in 2021.
“Central Florida, in particular, accounted for 81% of cases reported in Florida and almost one-fifth of nationally reported cases,” the letter said. “Whereas leprosy in the United States previously affected persons who had immigrated from leprosy-endemic areas, [about] 34% of new case-patients during 2015–2020 appeared to have locally acquired the disease.”
A disease becomes endemic when it occurs regularly within a certain community or area.
The CDC letter said multiple cases showed no sign of animal-to-human transmission or “traditionally known risk factors.”
One patient, a 54-year-old man in Central Florida, was treated at a dermatology clinic for a progressive rash caused by leprosy.
When asked, the man said he had lived in Central Florida his whole life, did not travel domestically or internationally, had no exposure to armadillos (which can carry the disease), had no contact with immigrants with endemic leprosy, and had no connection to someone with the disease.
Experts said there was some support for the theory that an increase in migration from other countries to the United States may have caused the disease to enter non-endemic areas. However, while leprosy cases are increasing in the U.S., the rate of new cases in people born outside of the U.S. had been on a decline since 2002.
“This information suggests that leprosy has become an endemic disease process in Florida, warranting further research into other methods of [local] transmission,” the letter said.
In the state of Florida, medical practitioners must report leprosy by the next business day so contact tracing can be done and reduce further infections.
“In our case, contact tracing was done by the National Hansen’s Disease Program and revealed no associated risk factors, including travel, zoonotic exposure, occupational association, or personal contacts,” the letter said. “The absence of traditional risk factors in many recent cases of leprosy in Florida, coupled with the high proportion of residents, like our patient, who spend a great deal of time outdoors, supports the investigation into environmental reservoirs as a potential source of transmission.”
The CDC said travel to Florida must now be considered when conducting contact tracing for leprosy in any state.
Leprosy, when contracted, can be treated by a combination of different antibiotics to prevent it from developing resistance to the medication, according to the CDC. Leprosy can be cured after one or two years of treatment.
However, even when cured, any nerve damage and disfigurement caused by the disease will be permanent.
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https://www.koin.com/news/leprosy-could-become-endemic-in-florida-as-cases-rise-cdc-says/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:32
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A man was shot by police after investigators say he fired shots outside a Jewish school in Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday.
Police said the man, who has not yet been identified, was trying to get into the Margolin Hebrew Academy before fleeing the scene in a maroon pickup truck with California tags.
Officers spotted the vehicle in the Berclair area and initiated a traffic stop. Memphis Police said the man got out of the pickup truck with a gun in his hand and was shot by an officer.
The suspect was taken to Regional One in critical condition. No other injuries were reported.
The Margolin Hebrew Academy confirmed no one at the school was injured during the incident.
“We can confirm that no one has been hurt in any way, and everyone is now safe, thank G-d. Please look out for further communication with additional information to come. In the meantime, our campus is completely closed. We thank you for your understanding,” the academy said in a statement.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the situation.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools said all of their schools were on a precautionary lockdown as police investigated the situation.
Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe commended the Hebrew academy for their safety procedures and Memphis officers for finding the suspect so quickly.
“Today is a great example of very vigilant officers trying to protect the city. I personally believe that we have avoided a tragedy. I believe the suspect was going to harm somebody before the day was over,” he said.
MPD Chief CJ Davis also recognized the officers for their actions.
“I am proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass shooting situation today. Many thanks to our neighboring jurisdictions for also providing critical information to stop the suspect’s actions,” she said.
Police said they cannot determine if the shooting at the Hebrew academy was a hate crime at this time.
Congressman Steve Cohen released a statement in response to the incident saying, “I am shocked to know of this senseless incident and relieved at report that no one at the school was injured. Antisemitism is on the rise in this country. I am saddened that an apparent act of violent antisemitism has come to Memphis. We all need to be on our guard against antisemitism and white nationalism.”
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https://www.koin.com/news/man-shot-by-police-after-he-fired-shots-outside-memphis-jewish-school-authorities/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:32
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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
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ups-teamsters-local-unions-endorse-tentative-agreement/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:33
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JUSTIN, Texas, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canoo (Nasdaq: GOEV), a high-tech advanced mobility company, today announced that it will report its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 after market close on Monday, August 14, 2023. The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 5:00 pm ET to discuss the results, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Those interested are invited to listen to the live webcast online here. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly afterwards here.
Date: Monday, August 14, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm ET
U.S. Dial-in: 877-407-9169
International Dial-in: 201-493-6755
Access ID: 13740414
An audio replay of the call will be available shortly after its conclusion through August 28, 2023.
Toll-free Replay Number: 877-660-6853
International Replay Number: 201-612-7415
Replay ID: 13740414
About Canoo
Canoo's mission is to bring EVs to Everyone. The company has developed breakthrough electric vehicles that are reinventing the automotive landscape with bold innovations in design, pioneering technologies, and a unique business model that spans the full lifecycle of the vehicle. Distinguished by its experienced team from leading technology and automotive companies – Canoo has designed a modular electric platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space that is customizable across all owners in the vehicle lifecycle to support a wide range of vehicle applications for consumers and businesses.
Canoo has teams in California, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. For more information, please visit www.canoo.com. For Canoo press materials, including photos, please visit press.canoo.com. For investors, please visit www.investors.canoo.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Canoo
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https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/canoo-announce-second-quarter-2023-financial-results/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:33
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(KTLA) – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the discovery of a body inside a 55-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon on Monday.
A park worker first saw the drum floating by the Pacific Coast Highway bridge Sunday night but didn’t think much of it at the time, a spokesperson for the L.A. County Fire Department told Nexstar’s KTLA.
When lifeguards arrived at work Monday morning, they saw the drum in the lagoon and tried to pull it out at which point they discovered the body inside, officials said.
No information about the victim was immediately known.
KTLA helicopter footage showed the black plastic drum standing upright in shallow water and the beach appeared to be closed for the investigation.
Story continues below:
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- Albuquerque: Local company on national TV show says business is booming
Late last spring, a body was found in a barrel in Nevada’s Lake Mead. Authorities said the body may have been there for four decades but have not yet identified the victim, despite identifying other bodies that appeared due to receding water levels.
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https://www.krqe.com/news/national/body-found-inside-55-gallon-drum-in-malibu/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:36
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A man was shot by police after investigators say he fired shots outside a Jewish school in Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday.
Police said the man, who has not yet been identified, was trying to get into the Margolin Hebrew Academy before fleeing the scene in a maroon pickup truck with California tags.
Officers spotted the vehicle in the Berclair area and initiated a traffic stop. Memphis Police said the man got out of the pickup truck with a gun in his hand and was shot by an officer.
The suspect was taken to Regional One in critical condition. No other injuries were reported.
The Margolin Hebrew Academy confirmed no one at the school was injured during the incident.
“We can confirm that no one has been hurt in any way, and everyone is now safe, thank G-d. Please look out for further communication with additional information to come. In the meantime, our campus is completely closed. We thank you for your understanding,” the academy said in a statement.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the situation.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools said all of their schools were on a precautionary lockdown as police investigated the situation.
Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe commended the Hebrew academy for their safety procedures and Memphis officers for finding the suspect so quickly.
“Today is a great example of very vigilant officers trying to protect the city. I personally believe that we have avoided a tragedy. I believe the suspect was going to harm somebody before the day was over,” he said.
MPD Chief CJ Davis also recognized the officers for their actions.
“I am proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass shooting situation today. Many thanks to our neighboring jurisdictions for also providing critical information to stop the suspect’s actions,” she said.
Police said they cannot determine if the shooting at the Hebrew academy was a hate crime at this time.
Congressman Steve Cohen released a statement in response to the incident saying, “I am shocked to know of this senseless incident and relieved at report that no one at the school was injured. Antisemitism is on the rise in this country. I am saddened that an apparent act of violent antisemitism has come to Memphis. We all need to be on our guard against antisemitism and white nationalism.”
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https://www.wivb.com/news/national/man-shot-by-police-after-he-fired-shots-outside-memphis-jewish-school-authorities/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:38
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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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SOURCE Zenvia
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/zenvia-sets-agenda-2023-second-quarter-results/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:39
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/zenvia-sets-agenda-2023-second-quarter-results/
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Console & Associates, P.C.: Flagstar Bank Reports 2021 Data Breach Exposing Social Security Numbers of an Estimated 1.4 Million People
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:50 PM CDT|Updated: 27 minutes ago
MARLTON, N.J., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 1.4 million consumers are being notified that their Social Security numbers were compromised following a recent cyberattack. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of anyone affected by the Flagstar Bank breach, hoping to fully inform them of the risks they face in the wake of the breach as well as their legal rights.
The sensitive personal data of 1.4 million Flagstaff Bank customers has been compromised. Now, members' full names and Social Security numbers may be in the hands of criminals, putting victims at a greater risk of identity theft and other frauds.
On July 30, 2023, Flagstar Bank filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Maine describing a data breach affecting consumers nationwide. According to the notice, the data breach affected an estimated 1.4 million people.
The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes consumers':
- Full names, and
- Social Security numbers.
If you receive a data breach notice from Flagstar Bank, you could now be at risk of identity theft—and the devastating financial and legal consequences that go along with it.
Flagstar's filing with the Maine AG indicates a previous data breach letter was sent on March 15, 2015, which may be an error.
What Should You Do if You Receive a Flagstar Bank Data Breach Letter?
Additionally, victims should consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately, as anyone who receives a data breach letter from Flagstar Bank may be entitled to financial compensation.
If you wish to discuss this data security incident, or if you have any questions regarding your rights following the Flagstar Bank data breach, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. Interested parties and potential plaintiffs can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/flagstar-bank-data-breach-investigation/. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.
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https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/console-amp-associates-pc-flagstar-bank-reports-2021-data-breach-exposing-social-security-numbers-an-estimated-14-million-people/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:39
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A man was shot by police after investigators say he fired shots outside a Jewish school in Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday.
Police said the man, who has not yet been identified, was trying to get into the Margolin Hebrew Academy before fleeing the scene in a maroon pickup truck with California tags.
Officers spotted the vehicle in the Berclair area and initiated a traffic stop. Memphis Police said the man got out of the pickup truck with a gun in his hand and was shot by an officer.
The suspect was taken to Regional One in critical condition. No other injuries were reported.
The Margolin Hebrew Academy confirmed no one at the school was injured during the incident.
“We can confirm that no one has been hurt in any way, and everyone is now safe, thank G-d. Please look out for further communication with additional information to come. In the meantime, our campus is completely closed. We thank you for your understanding,” the academy said in a statement.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the situation.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools said all of their schools were on a precautionary lockdown as police investigated the situation.
Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe commended the Hebrew academy for their safety procedures and Memphis officers for finding the suspect so quickly.
“Today is a great example of very vigilant officers trying to protect the city. I personally believe that we have avoided a tragedy. I believe the suspect was going to harm somebody before the day was over,” he said.
MPD Chief CJ Davis also recognized the officers for their actions.
“I am proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass shooting situation today. Many thanks to our neighboring jurisdictions for also providing critical information to stop the suspect’s actions,” she said.
Police said they cannot determine if the shooting at the Hebrew academy was a hate crime at this time.
Congressman Steve Cohen released a statement in response to the incident saying, “I am shocked to know of this senseless incident and relieved at report that no one at the school was injured. Antisemitism is on the rise in this country. I am saddened that an apparent act of violent antisemitism has come to Memphis. We all need to be on our guard against antisemitism and white nationalism.”
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https://www.krqe.com/news/national/man-shot-by-police-after-he-fired-shots-outside-memphis-jewish-school-authorities/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:40
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Hip-hop superstar Cardi B drew attention on social media over a video showing her lashing out during a Las Vegas performance after someone threw a drink at her while she was onstage.
Video circulated online over the weekend after a TikTok user posted footage of the incident at Drai’s Beachclub on the Las Vegas Strip.
The clip shows the hip-hop performer onstage during the event when someone in the audience hurls liquid, splashing the rapper. Cardi B can be seen retaliating by throwing her microphone into the audience in the direction from which the liquid was launched.
According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a woman came into a police station on Sunday to report a “battery.” She told officers that she had been struck by an item thrown from the stage on Saturday. Police said the incident had been documented, but no arrest or citations had been issued.
It’s unclear if that woman, who has not been identified, threw the drink at Cardi B.
The event made waves on social media as many excoriated the person who threw the liquid. They compared the situation to similar events that have happened in recent weeks: Bebe Rexha suffered a black eye after being struck by a cellphone, country singer Kelsea Ballerini was hit in the face by a bracelet, rapper Sexyy Red ended a show early when fans refused to stop throwing water bottles on stage, a fan threw their mother’s ashes at Pink while she was performing, Ava Max was slapped while performing in Los Angeles, and Harry Styles was hit in the eye with an object during a Houston performance.
Others noted humorously that although Cardi B had thrown her microphone, her song “Bodak Yellow” – and her recorded vocals – continued uninterrupted.
“The song didn’t stop. Y’all listening to an iPad,” said one X (formerly known as Twitter) user.
There was no indication if charges would be filed in the Cardi B incident.
Cardi B recently completed 15 days of community service in New York after pleading guilty to multiple charges filed against her following a 2018 fight at a strip club in Queens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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https://www.krqe.com/news/national/woman-files-police-report-after-cardi-b-throws-microphone-into-las-vegas-crowd/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:41
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BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
If you’ve ever tuned into HGTV or attended an open house, you’ve surely heard the term “curb appeal.” It’s basically your home’s first impression — the flash of awe (or disinterest) that potential buyers experience when they pull up to the curb and get their first good look at the exterior.
Curb appeal is important for many reasons: It helps boost your home’s value when you’re planning to sell, keeps property values high for your neighborhood and conveys a sense of pride in your property. But what does it take to maximize curb appeal? Thumbtack and Nextdoor found out.
What makes good (and bad) curb appeal?
In a survey of more than 1,000 homeowners across the U.S., home improvement app Thumbtack partnered with neighborhood networking app Nextdoor to ask what projects have the biggest impact.
If you’re looking to make a pretty big investment into your home’s curb appeal, landscaping is the way to go. Of all the homeowners surveyed, 82% ranked it as a major improvement. Also high ranking were painting your home’s exterior (78%), a well-kept lawn (73%) and beautiful windows (68%), all projects you can tackle to dramatically increase your home’s overall curb appeal.
On the other end of the spectrum, homeowners said the biggest curb appeal faux pas were trash in the yard and overgrown landscaping — 81% of them said these two things were a fast way to decrease your home’s curb appeal. They also agreed that other curb appeal killers were overgrown lawns (77%), parking old cars, RVs, vans or boats out front (64%), poorly maintained fences and exteriors (58%) and dirty or poorly painted home exteriors (57%).
Is curb appeal really that important?
Yes, this is something all homeowners nearly unanimously agree on, as 98% of them said having a home with good curb appeal is important. And if you’ve ever attended an HOA meeting, you know what a big deal it is when 98% of homeowners agree on something.
Curb appeal is especially crucial if you’re planning to sell your home. Of the homeowners surveyed, 54% said curb appeal on their street or in their neighborhood was a factor when they decided where to buy. And on average, a house with good curb appeal is 34% more valuable than the same house with bad curb appeal.
4 ways to immediately boost your home’s curb appeal
- Keep your lawn from taking over: To stay on top of your lawn, you need a mower you can count on. For smaller lawns, a push mower will do the job. But for a larger property, consider investing in a riding mower to help you save time and effort.
- Keep things clean: Dirty home exteriors were one of the things homeowners said could tank your curb appeal. A good pressure washer is a versatile tool for cleaning your driveway, sidewalks, decks, stairs, siding and more.
- DIY your landscaping: Even though landscaping is one of the pricier ways to invest in your home’s curb appeal, you can still get a boost without spending too much. A small garden or flower bed is a great way to start — as long as you maintain it and don’t let it get overgrown. For that, you’ll need some gardening tools.
- Give it a new coat of paint: There’s nothing that freshens up a home’s exterior like a new coat of paint.
Best products for improving your home’s curb appeal
Ego Power+ Cordless Lawn Mower
This battery-powered lawn mower has up to 45 minutes of run time and other helpful features, including a push-to-start button, LED headlights and six cutting height settings. Plus, it folds up to save space.
Sold by Amazon
John Deere S100 Riding Lawn Mower
The John Deere S100 was designed with comfort in mind, which means you can tackle your lawn with ease. It has a cutting width of 42 inches and can mow, mulch and bag up to an acre.
Sold by Lowe’s
Simpson Cleaning MegaShot Gas Pressure Washer
This washer is less expensive than equally powerful brands, and it can be used practically right out of the box. It easily tackles stubborn grime on decks and pavement.
Sold by Amazon
Karcher K1700 Electric Power Pressure Washer
Lightweight and quiet, this is a perfect pressure washer for beginners. But that doesn’t mean it skimps on power — it’s still a great tool for keeping your home’s exterior squeaky clean.
Sold by Amazon
Scuddles Stainless Steel Garden Tool Set
While this set is geared toward beginner gardeners, it’s still rugged enough for pros, with durable, rust-resistant stainless steel blades and a carry-on bag to keep everything organized.
Sold by Amazon
The One Exterior Paint and Primer
This durable combination of paint and primer from The One goes on smoothly, dries quickly and comes in a wide variety of trendy colors that are sure to boost your home’s value.
Sold by Amazon
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Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Christina Marfice writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:41
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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.wagmtv.com/2023/07/31/pilot-injured-after-banner-plane-crashes-into-ocean-near-beach/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:43
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KS Attorney General’s Office recovers $42K from Medicaid fraud cases
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Kansas Attorney General’s office says it has recovered thousands of dollars from a series of recent Medicaid fraud cases.
Six people were prosecuted for false claims to the program, resulting in a total of more than $42,600 being recovered:
- Michelle Kisha Taylor: Ordered to pay $12,000
- Marquita Francine Standard: Ordered to pay $4,093
- Myshia Robertson: Ordered to pay $18,200
- Courtland Edward Allen: Ordered to pay $3,687
- Kevin Matney: Ordered to pay $4,202
- Kierra Drinnen: Ordered to 12 months in jail
First Assistant Attorney General Jackie Williams said protecting the elderly and disabled is one of the office’s top priorities.
“Our top priority is the protection of crime against one of the most vulnerable groups of our population – the elderly and disabled. These prosecutions should put Medicaid fraudsters on alert. If you hurt Kansas’s most vulnerable, we will prosecute,” Jackie Williams, First Assistant Attorney General for Kobach’s office, said.
You can report cases of Medicaid fraud or abuse to the Attorney General’s Office at 1-866-551-6328 or (785) 368-6220, or report online.
Copyright 2023 WIBW. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wibw.com/2023/07/31/ks-attorney-generals-office-recovers-42k-medicaid-fraud-cases/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:43
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https://www.wibw.com/2023/07/31/ks-attorney-generals-office-recovers-42k-medicaid-fraud-cases/
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Hip-hop superstar Cardi B drew attention on social media over a video showing her lashing out during a Las Vegas performance after someone threw a drink at her while she was onstage.
Video circulated online over the weekend after a TikTok user posted footage of the incident at Drai’s Beachclub on the Las Vegas Strip.
The clip shows the hip-hop performer onstage during the event when someone in the audience hurls liquid, splashing the rapper. Cardi B can be seen retaliating by throwing her microphone into the audience in the direction from which the liquid was launched.
According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a woman came into a police station on Sunday to report a “battery.” She told officers that she had been struck by an item thrown from the stage on Saturday. Police said the incident had been documented, but no arrest or citations had been issued.
It’s unclear if that woman, who has not been identified, threw the drink at Cardi B.
The event made waves on social media as many excoriated the person who threw the liquid. They compared the situation to similar events that have happened in recent weeks: Bebe Rexha suffered a black eye after being struck by a cellphone, country singer Kelsea Ballerini was hit in the face by a bracelet, rapper Sexyy Red ended a show early when fans refused to stop throwing water bottles on stage, a fan threw their mother’s ashes at Pink while she was performing, Ava Max was slapped while performing in Los Angeles, and Harry Styles was hit in the eye with an object during a Houston performance.
Others noted humorously that although Cardi B had thrown her microphone, her song “Bodak Yellow” – and her recorded vocals – continued uninterrupted.
“The song didn’t stop. Y’all listening to an iPad,” said one X (formerly known as Twitter) user.
There was no indication if charges would be filed in the Cardi B incident.
Cardi B recently completed 15 days of community service in New York after pleading guilty to multiple charges filed against her following a 2018 fight at a strip club in Queens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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https://www.wivb.com/news/national/woman-files-police-report-after-cardi-b-throws-microphone-into-las-vegas-crowd/
| 2023-07-31T22:18:45
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For Q2 2023, revenue increased 15% to $19.4 million and customer locations increased 7% to 124,000. Q2 net loss dropped 75% from $3.9 million in Q2 2022 to $978,000 in Q2 2023, and ARR* for TTM** increased $11.8 million from $59.3 million as at June 30, 2022 to $71.1 million as at June 30, 2023, growth of 20%.
TORONTO , July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Givex Corp. ("Givex") (TSX: GIVX) (OTCQX: GIVXF), is pleased to present its financial results for the three-month period and six-month period ending June 30, 2023.
Givex reports in Canadian dollars and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").
"In Q2 2023, Givex continued to increase adjusted EBITDA by increasing gross profit and keeping a tight rein on payroll costs," said Don Gray, CEO of Givex. "Net loss decreased 75%, from $3.9 million to $978,000. We are working hard to continue this trend for the rest of the year."
Second Quarter Financial Highlights
Three-month period ending June 30, 2023 (with comparisons relative to the three-month period ending June 30, 2022)
- Revenue increased $2.6 million from $16.8 million to $19.4 million, 15% growth.
- Gross Profit increased $1.9 million from $12.2 million to $14.1 million, 16% growth.
- Adjusted EBITDA*** increased $0.7 million from $1.0 million to $1.7 million, 69% growth.
- Net Loss decreased $2.9 million from $3.9 million to $978,000, 75% decrease.
- Total Gross Transactional Value**** increased approximately $0.35 billion from $1.77 billion to $2.12 billion, 20% growth.
- POS Gross Transactional Value***** increased approximately $128 million from $347 million to $474 million, 37% growth.
- Customer Locations****** increased approximately 8,000, from 116,000 to 124,000, 7% growth.
Six-month period ending June 30, 2023 (with comparisons relative to the six-month period ending June 30, 2022)
- Revenue increased $5.4 million from $33.2 million to $38.6 million, 16% growth.
- Gross Profit increased $4.2 million from $23.1 million to $27.3 million, 18% growth.
- Adjusted EBITDA*** increased $0.4 million from $2.3 million to $2.7 million, 18% growth.
- Net Loss decreased $4.3 million from $6.5 million to $2.2 million, 66% decrease.
- Total Gross Transactional Value**** increased approximately $0.65 billion from $3.05 billion to $3.7 billion, 21% growth.
- POS Gross Transactional Value***** increased approximately $295 million from $584 million to $879 million, 51% growth.
Operational Highlights
- Payroll costs are the key focus to improved EBITDA and positive net earnings. For the 12-month periods ending June 30, 2023 and 2022, Employee Compensation******* as a % of Gross Profit was 53% and 54%, respectively. The company believes that its ability to reduce Employee Compensation as a % of Gross Profit is an indicator of its success in managing costs and profitability.
- ARR* (which is both recurring and reoccurring revenue) for TTM** increased $11.8 million from $59.3 million as at June 30, 2022 to $71.1 million as at June 30, 2023, growth of 20%.
More Information
Additional financial information, such as the audited annual Consolidated Financial Statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
More information about Givex, including the Management Presentation and Overview, are posted on the company's investor relations website at investors.givex.com.
About Givex
The world is changing. Givex is ready. Since 1999, Givex has provided technology solutions that unleash the full potential of engagement, creating and cultivating powerful connections that unite brands and customers. With a global footprint of 124,000+ active locations across more than 100 countries, Givex unleashes strategic insights, empowering brands through reliable technology and exceptional support. Givex's integrated end-to-end management solution provides Gift Cards, GivexPOS, Loyalty Programs and more, creating growth opportunities for businesses of all sizes and industries. Learn more about how to streamline workflows, tackle complex challenges and transform data into actionable insights at www.givex.com.
Non-IFRS Measures and Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures
The information presented includes certain financial measures such as "Adjusted EBITDA" (see below for definition), which are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. These non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We also believe that securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Our management also uses non-IFRS measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to, the risk factors described under the "Risk Factors" section in the Annual Information Form (AIF) dated March 21, 2023, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" in the Filing Statement.
Additional Notes
*ARR is defined as Annual Recurring Revenue, which is both recurring and reoccurring revenue.
**TTM is trailing twelve months from the defined period.
***Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net profit (loss) excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") as adjusted for share-based compensation and related expenses, foreign exchange gains and losses and transaction-related expenses including those related to going public and acquisitions.
****Gross transaction volume ("GTV") means the total dollar value of stored and point-of-sale ("POS") transactions processed through our cloud-based SaaS platforms in the period, net of refunds, inclusive of shipping and handling, duty, and value-added taxes. We believe GTV is an indicator of the success of our customers and the strength of our platforms. GTV does not represent revenue earned by us.
*****POS gross transactional volume ("POS GTV") means the total dollar value point-of-sale ("POS") transactions processed through GivexPOS, our cloud-based POS SaaS platform, in the period net of refunds, inclusive of shipping and handling, duty and value-added taxes. We believe POS GTV is an indicator of the success of our customers and the strength of our platforms. POS GTV does not represent revenue earned by us.
******Customer Location means a billing customer location for which the term of services has not ended, or with which we are negotiating a renewal contract. It includes both merchant locations that have transactions processed through our cloud-based SaaS platform, as well as merchant locations not on our platform but for which we provide other Givex services. A single unique customer can have multiple Customer Locations including physical and eCommerce sites. We believe that our ability to increase the number of Customer Locations served by our platform and products is an indicator of our success in terms of market penetration and growth of our business.
*******Employee Compensation as a % of Gross Profit means the total employee compensation for a period divided by the gross profit for the same period. Employee Compensation means total employee compensation including salaries and benefits, excluding both government assistance and share-based compensation. Gross Profit means revenue less direct cost of revenue.
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SOURCE Givex
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:46
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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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| 2023-07-31T22:18:45
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President Biden overturned a decision from the Trump administration to relocate the temporary headquarters of Space Command to Alabama, deciding instead to keep the base in Colorado.
The decision was made because Biden believes keeping the HQ in Colorado Springs, rather than relocating it to Huntsville, would maintain stability and not impact readiness, according to a senior U.S. official.
The senior administration official said Biden consulted with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other military leaders before deciding to keep the base in Colorado permanently.
Gen. James Dickinson, the head of Space Command, also helped to convince Biden to not relocate the base, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Space Command headquarters is set to achieve “full operational capability” at Colorado Springs later this month, according to the senior administration official.
The official said moving the headquarters to Alabama would force a transition process that does not allow the new base to open until the mid-2030’s.
“The President found that risk unacceptable, especially given the challenges we may face in the space domain during this critical time period,” the official said. “Locating Headquarters U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs ensures peak readiness in the space domain for our nation during a critical period.”
Biden’s reversal is likely to spark the fury of Alabama Republicans who have for months feared the administration would scrap the relocation plan.
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers (R), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has been investigating the delay behind the relocation plan, which was first put in motion when Space Command was resurrected in 2019.
Former President Trump’s decision to temporarily establish a headquarters in Colorado and relocate Space Command to Alabama was criticized as a political choice based upon a more favorable constituency in the Yellowhammer state.
Since coming into office, the Biden administration ordered reviews of the decision, none of which found anything improper in Trump’s decision, though they found the former president could have followed better practices in the process.
The delayed relocation reached new heights over the spring when NBC News reported the Biden administration was considering scrapping the relocation plan because of restrictive abortion laws in Alabama.
Rogers and other Alabama Republicans objected to any such plan, saying Huntsville, also known as Rocket City, was selected based on its merits and in a fair process, while pointing to the reviews that found nothing improper.
The House version of the annual defense bill that passed earlier this month includes provisions that slash funding for the Air Force Secretary until the administration makes a final decision. It’s unclear whether Rogers will be satisfied with a reversal.
Other Alabama politicians, including Gov. Kay Ivey (R), quickly blasted the the decision as political. Alabama overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the 2020 election and has two GOP senators, while Colorado voted for Biden and has two Democratic senators.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said the base Redstone Arsenal in Alabama was the correct location based on its merits, arguing “Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics.”
“The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief,” she said in a statement.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby reiterated during an interview with CNN on Monday that the president’s decision was entirely due to national security considerations, pointing specifically to the rising threat from China.
“This was really a decision based on one thing and one thing only for a president and that was operational readiness,” Kirby said. “He took the inputs of many leaders across the Department of Defense that when it came down to it, he believes that it’s in the best national security interest of the country if we leave Space Command in Colorado.”
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett (D) joined officials from his state in celebrating Biden’s decision.
“Over the past two and half years, we have repeatedly made the case that the Trump administration’s decision to relocate U.S. Space Command was misguided,” the senator wrote on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Today’s decision restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and sends a strong message that national security and the readiness of our Armed Forces drive our military decisions,” he added.
Updated at 5:34 pm ET.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon House Republicans are asking Gov. Tina Kotek to review commutations granted by former Gov. Kate Brown after a man who received a commuted sentence was named as a person of interest in the deaths of four women in the Portland metro area.
“The unprecedented commutations undertaken by Governor Brown bypassed many of the existing safeguards that are in place for our current parole and probation system,” the Republican lawmakers wrote to Kotek on Friday. “House Republicans encourage you to do the right thing for Oregonians and give these commutations the due diligence they should have received in the first place.”
Multiple sources at different agencies confirmed that 38-year-old Jesse Lee Calhoun, is the person of interest in the deaths of four women whose bodies were discovered between February and May in Multnomah, Clackamas and Polk counties.
It is unknown how Calhoun is connected to the four deaths, but he does have an extensive criminal history.
According to the Department of Corrections, in 2019 Calhoun was charged with three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, one count of assaulting a public safety officer and one count of first-degree burglary.
Court documents from the incident show said that when SWAT arrived at Calhoun’s house to arrest him on outstanding warrants, in defiance he choked a K9 and repeatedly kicked an officer.
Additional court records show that, as recently as last year, he lived in SE Portland and in 2019, he lived in Wood Village and also with family in Troutdale, working as a self-employed car detailer. Those same records say he has two teenage kids and used meth daily.
His original projected release date was in June 2022. However, in 2021, then-governor Kate Brown signed a commutation order providing clemency to certain prisoners who met the criteria. Calhoun was one of those prisoners and was released on July 22, 2021.
The 4 women were killed between February and May 2023.
“I am absolutely horrified for the victims, their families, and all those who have experienced these losses,” Brown said in a statement.
On July 3, Governor Kotek’s office said they received a request to revoke Calhoun’s commutation status, which was signed the same day.
Calhoun is back in custody to complete his sentence with a projected release date of June 9, 2024.
While House Republicans said they appreciate Kotek ending Calhoun’s commutation, more needs to be done.
In a statement to KOIN 6 News, Gov. Kotek’s office said, “The governor continues to partner with District Attorneys, community corrections, and local law enforcement to address any recommendations she receives from them regarding revoking commutations. If someone is not following the terms of their release, they must be held accountable.”
Kotek’s office added, “it is not within a sitting Governor’s constitutional authority to overturn decisions granted by a previous Governor unless the person in question has violated the terms of their commutation agreement.”
Brown also commuted the sentences of nearly 1,000 inmates in response to the pandemic and used her power to allow dozens of inmates convicted as juveniles of violent crimes a chance at early parole.
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PARS Topeka oversees supply handout for National Night Out
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:15 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - PARS Topeka spent the day helping people get ready for National Night Out.
Shawnee County neighborhoods are gearing up for activities this weekend. Hosting groups were able to stop by the PARS building to pick up food, drinks and gift cards donated by area businesses supporting National Night Out.
National Night Out celebrations take place all day Saturday, August 5.
Copyright 2023 WIBW. All rights reserved.
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AUSTIN, Minn., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, invites interested parties to participate in a webcast and conference call with Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer; Jacinth Smiley, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Deanna Brady, executive vice president, Retail; to discuss the company's third quarter financial results. The company will issue its earnings release before the markets open on Thursday, August 31, 2023, and will host a conference call at 8 a.m. CT (9 a.m. ET).
The webcast, replay and other information related to the event can be accessed on the company's investor website, http://investor.hormelfoods.com.
ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin's®, WHOLLY®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus®, Jennie-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com.
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SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:54
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A trio of top House Republicans are demanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) hand over information pertaining to Hunter Biden’s plea deal, which has been on hold for days after a judge raised concerns about the agreement.
GOP lawmakers have railed for weeks against the plea agreement, calling it a “sweetheart deal” and arguing Hunter Biden was given preferential treatment because he is the son of President Biden.
The three Republicans escalated those attacks in a Monday letter, asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to answer a list of questions and provide documents and communications about Hunter Biden’s “unusual” plea agreement — the first request from Congress parsing the particulars of the deal.
“The Department’s unusual plea and pretrial diversion agreements with Mr. Biden raise serious concerns — especially when combined with recent whistleblower allegations—that the Department has provided preferential treatment toward Mr. Biden in the course of its investigation and proposed resolution of his alleged criminal conduct,” the letter reads.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) all signed the letter. The House GOP for months has been investigating the Biden family’s foreign business dealings and its associates. Lawmakers have previously made requests regarding the investigation into Hunter Biden led by U.S. attorney for Delaware David Weiss.
The Hill reached out to the DOJ for comment.
Hunter Biden’s plea deal was put on hold last week after the judge overseeing the case questioned the parameters of the agreement. As part of the deal, Biden was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay income taxes. He also reached a diversion agreement relating to an unlawful possession of a weapon charge.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika raised concerns about the setup of the two-part deal and the scope of Biden’s immunity, and she ultimately gave both parties more time to explain why the deal — which she has to greenlight — should be accepted. Noreika was appointed by former President Trump.
The three House Republicans pointed to some of Noreika’s concerns in their letter, including provisions in the pretrial diversion agreement that would shield Hunter Biden from future criminal charges on the gun charge or other federal charges within the scope of the agreement.
“Taken individually, each of the provisions discussed above raises serious concerns about how the Department has handled this matter. But when considered together, the provisions appear to be even more troubling,” the GOP chairmen wrote.
They claimed the Justice Department “shifted a broad immunity provision, which benefits Mr. Biden, from the plea agreement to the pretrial diversion agreement apparently to prevent the District Court from being able to scrutinize and reject that immunity provision.”
“And then, the Department has benefitted Mr. Biden by giving up its unilateral ability to bring charges against him if it concludes that he has breached the pretrial diversion agreement. Instead, it has placed upon itself the burden of getting the District Court’s permission to bring charges even though the District Court normally has no role in policing a pretrial diversion agreement in that manner,” they continued. “So, the District Court is apparently removed from the equation when it helps Mr. Biden and inserted into the equation when it helps Mr. Biden.”
The trio of Republicans also voiced concerns about the DOJ saying the investigations into Hunter Biden are “ongoing,” arguing it is an effort to shield the DOJ from congressional oversight. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) raised a similar claim last month.
“How can Hunter Biden plead guilty, no jail time, and the DOJ say there’s still an investigation, try to withhold information to the House? That’s unacceptable and will not stand,” McCarthy told reporters.
The committee chairmen are asking Garland to provide information on other pretrial diversion agreements similar to Biden’s, in addition to “a generalized description of the nature of the Department’s ongoing investigation(s) concerning Hunter Biden.”
The letter from Jordan, Comer and Smith came the same day lawmakers heard testimony from former Hunter Biden business associate Devon Archer behind closed doors. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) told reporters Archer said Hunter Biden included President Biden on a number of phone calls that presumably included business associates, a detail that Republicans will likely use in their attempts to link the president to his son’s business dealings.
Goldman said the testimony did not prove President Biden was involved in his son’s business dealings. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), however, said he thought Archer’s testimony “implicate[s] the president.”
That testimony came nearly two weeks after two IRS whistleblowers testified publicly, claiming that authorities slow-walked the case into Hunter Biden. The two whistleblowers previously spoke to the Ways and Means Committee behind closed doors, and those transcripts were released shortly after Hunter Biden’s plea agreement was announced.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office are actively discussing the possibility of charging suspected fentanyl dealers with additional crimes, the PPB’s Central Neighborhood Response Team Bike Squad stated on Instagram on July 26.
“After a conversation with some folks at the District Attorney’s office this morning, we will be looking to charge fentanyl dealers with ‘recklessly endangering another person’ and dealers that work in groups with ‘criminal conspiracy,'” PPB’s Bike Squad said.
PPB spokesperson Lt. Nathan Sheppard told KOIN 6 News that the discussions haven’t resulted in a formal, agency-wide policy change at this time.
“This is nothing official,” Sheppard said. “We and our officers are constantly working with the DA’s Office to find new, creative, and better ways to address the problems being faced within our community. I am aware of meetings the Bike Squad has been having with [the DA’s office], but they are still in the brainstorming and planning phase at this point.”
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Liz Merah called the PPB Bike Squad’s announcement premature — but confirmed that the DA is considering new strategies to address the region’s ongoing fentanyl crisis.
“Our office has been working with PPB and other law enforcement agencies to develop new strategies for addressing the proliferation of fentanyl in our communities,” Merah said. “PPB’s comments were a bit premature, as we are still having conversations and gathering data to develop a policy proposal.”
Sheppard said that specific law enforcement units often hold policy discussions with county prosecutors to build stronger cases against suspected criminals.
“Different units work closely with specific deputy district attorneys to address issues affecting the areas they work,” Sheppard said. “For example, [East Precinct officers conducting Stolen Vehicle Operation missions] have been working for ages with a specific DDA to ensure they build the best possible prosecutable cases against suspects they arrest.”
Because PPB’s Central Bike Squad frequently makes fentanyl-related arrests, the unit’s officers are meeting with the DA’s office to build stronger cases against fentanyl dealers.
“As you know, the Downtown core has been struggling with addressing drug dealers and users,” Sheppard said. “Although they might come up with a strategy that’s usable by the entire Bureau, this is something the Bike Squad is focused on to address their needs.”
PPB and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office would not say how many suspected fentanyl dealers have been charged with the discussed crimes since the meetings began or how much jail or prison time offenders could face if convicted. Merah said that the DA’s office plans to provide additional information on the discussion when a formal policy proposal is prepared.
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| 2023-07-31T22:18:59
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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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NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS – SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0825 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of July 13, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on June 30, 2023, and payable on July 31, 2023. No action is required on your part.
The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable July 31, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund has declared the July 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0825 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.
About John Hancock Investment Management
A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
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BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Written by Kevin Luna
The Testing Lab’s favorites from July
Our favorite tested products from July
As a consumer, before purchasing any product, it’s a good idea to research as much as you can about it. However, because brand and product claims can exaggerate performance and quality, the most reliable source for determining if a product is worth your time is to look up expert testing reviews.
The BestReviews Testing Lab consistently tests popular consumer products in an attempt to distinguish which ones are the best. For July, we tried many products, including robot vacuums, lawnmowers, golf clubs, hairstyling tools and smart speakers.
Shop this article: Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum, Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 11 Putter and Apple HomePod.
What is the BestReviews Testing Lab?
The BestReviews Testing Lab aims to wade through all the marketing hype and see how well products perform in real-world situations. It consists of regular consumers searching for products that can enhance their lives. We consider items the same way shoppers do, focusing on factors like how easy they are to use, how effective they are and other features that distinguish them from similar products.
The testing lab is also committed to employing green testing practices and giving back to the community. As a result, we donate lightly used products from the testing process to organizations like Lighthouse Community Public Schools, an organization local to our main testing operation that educates students in grades K-12. We’ve recently contributed products like the Keurig K155 Office Pro Commerical Coffee Maker, a Kindle Paperwhite and the “National Geographic Pocket Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of North America” to support students and educators.
In July, the testing lab evaluated a broad range of products, but two categories, in particular, were a big hit: robot vacuums and putters. We tested many of them to see which ones are best for beginners and experts, and we curated a list of the ones we recommend.
Best Testing Lab products from July
Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
This robot vacuum was a big hit in our testing lab because of its powerful suction that works great on carpet and hard floors, as well as its intuitive smart mapping function that lets you choose which rooms to clean and when. It responds to Alexa voice commands and operates quietly.
Sold by iRobot
Roomba i3+ Evo Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
We love this robot vacuum for its long-lasting battery life, quick setup and efficiency at picking up small debris, pet hair and dirt particles. It travels in a uniform row pattern while cleaning, works with voice assistants and mapping takes only a few minutes to set up.
Sold by iRobot
This is one of the cheaper iRobot units, but our testing team liked it well enough to recommend it for those who want a solid bargain pick. The three-stage cleaning process is excellent, and Dirt Detect technology allows it to locate the dirtiest spots in your home and prioritize them.
Sold by Walmart
Roomba Combo j7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop
This robot vacuum cleaner offers a mopping function in addition to vacuuming, making it suitable for those with mostly hard floors throughout their homes. The app automatically recognized the unit, making it quick to set up. It’s adept at picking up dirt, pet hair, crumbs and even cat litter.
Sold by iRobot
Our testing team was pleased with this robot vacuum’s suction power and performance on hard floors and carpets. It’s simple to pair with voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri, and although it doesn’t come with a self-emptying bin, doing it manually is quick and easy.
Sold by iRobot
This was one of the more popular robot vacuums in the testing lab because of its high-powered cleaning cycle and easy-to-use app. It’s highly responsive to basic voice commands such as “Stop Cleaning” through Alexa or Google Assistant, and the automatic dirt disposal works efficiently to empty the reservoir.
Sold by Best Buy
Roomba s9+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
As one of the most powerful robot vacuums, our expert testers recommend it for medium to large homes. It can clean 140 square feet in 37 minutes, and mapping is straightforward to set up. You can give it specific cleaning commands, and it does well at avoiding objects.
Sold by iRobot
The testing lab appreciates this robot vacuum’s breezy setup and the fact that it works at lifting pet hair and dirt particles nearly as effectively as some of the more expensive units. It doesn’t struggle with floor-to-carpet transitions and is a convenient alternative for anyone who struggles with manual vacuuming.
Sold by iRobot
According to our testing team, this robot vacuum runs for 70 minutes on a full charge, and getting it up to full power only takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. Cleaning an apartment of roughly 800 square feet takes approximately 70 minutes, and the iHome app is visually clean and logical to navigate.
Sold by Amazon
The testing lab found it seamless to customize a floor plan for this robot vacuum to follow, and one of the best features is that it shows which areas it was able to clean once it’s finished. You can schedule specific cleaning times and zones, and it can handle corners and hard-to-reach areas.
Sold by Amazon
Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 11 Putter
The right putter can make a difference on your score sheet at the end of the day, and our testing team can’t recommend this one enough. The grip allows for improved control over the putter head, and the soft face has a prominent sweet spot for more forgiveness on long putts.
Sold by Scheels
Scotty Cameron 2023 Super Select Newport 2.5 Plus Putter
This putter has an outstanding grip with increased tackiness for more control over the club head, and the face is advanced engineered to line up perfectly with the ball for precise putting. The weight is distributed correctly for an improved feel, and it has a large sweet spot.
Sold by Scheels
Scotty Cameron 2022 Phantom X 5.5 Putter
According to our testing team, the best thing about this putter is its large sweet spot that makes even the most off-center hits easier to pull off. The weight and putter face are expertly crafted to let the club do most of the work, making it suitable for low-handicap and mid-handicap players.
Sold by Scheels
TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon 3 Putter
Although this putter isn’t as forgiving as some of the other fan favorites from July, it’s still a solid choice for novice and intermediate golfers thanks to its mid-size grip and straightforward design. Distance control is manageable thanks to the balanced weighting, and the ball rolls nicely off the face.
Sold by Scheels
The testing lab found this smart speaker among the best when considering sound quality, and as with all Apple products, if you already own others, this speaker integrates seamlessly with them. Spatial audio and room sensing provide a surround sound effect in any room, and you can stream music via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
The Fire Max 11 has everything you would expect from a high-quality tablet, including a crisp screen with a 2,000 by 1,200-pixel resolution, a powerful octa-core processor, Wi-Fi 6 support and a durable aluminum build. We love its versatility — it can handle gaming, web surfing and streaming.
Sold by Amazon
This hairstyling tool was a big hit in our testing lab because of its three rotating attachments designed to give you a specific look. The barrel has a button for spinning it on its own, making it more user-friendly than traditional curling irons, and the attachments are simple to pop and switch out.
Sold by Beachwaver
Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle
The Kindle Scribe is a fantastic tool for avid readers who want something lightweight for reading on the go. The screen and brightness are optimized to make it possible to read under any lighting conditions, and setting up with an existing Amazon account takes less than a minute.
Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Stormont Vail Health receives prestigious ‘Magnet’ designation fourth time in a row
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Stormont Vail Health is proud to be recognized among the best nursing programs in the nation.
Stormont Vail Health has been recognized as a ‘Magnet’ hospital for the fourth time in a row. It’s a distinction attained through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, marking the best nursing and patient outcomes across the country. The distinction runs four years before accreditation is needed again.
Those with the hospital say it’s reflective of the quality of care they strive to provide.
“This really speaks to the culture of this organization,” Stormont President/CEO Dr. Robert Kenagy said. “It speaks to the safety and confidence the community should feel coming to Stormont Vail or any magnet hospital across the country.”
Submissions for the designation is a lengthy process requiring written documentation and on-site visits evaluating care provided by the hospital.
Copyright 2023 WIBW. All rights reserved.
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — A KXAN viewer said she saw baby foxes, also known as kits, playing on a trampoline in her garden Sunday in the north Austin, Texas, area.
That was only a couple of weeks after another viewer said she saw a family of foxes playing on the St. Edward’s University campus in Austin.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, it’s not unusual to see foxes in cities and towns, where food sources are easily found, including in your garbage.
While foxes live around the world in many different types of habitats, according to the Texas Wildlife Association, including the Arctic, the desert and even in trees, some foxes have also adapted to life in such urban environments as neighborhoods.
“Next time you are outside in a park, remember to look up, because if you are lucky, you might see a fox up in the trees,” TWA said.
TWA said three types of foxes live in Texas, including the swift fox, the red fox and the gray fox.
The swift, or kit fox, lives in the northwestern part of the state, the red fox inhabits the eastern and central parts, and the gray fox, the most common variety, can be found statewide, the TWA said.
The Humane Society said foxes are scared of people and are not typically dangerous except when they are rabid, which the society says is rare.
“Even then, a fox’s natural tendency is to flee rather than fight,” the Human Society stated.
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LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) – Earlier this month, a semi-truck loaded with diesel fuel overturned on the I-10 eastbound to I-25 northbound ramp in Las Cruces, causing a fire. Now, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) says the ramp will remain closed until it can be repaired.
The crash occurred on Tuesday, July 11, at around 8:45 p.m. The driver was able to escape, but the truck and trailer burned for several hours, severely damaging the ramp.
The NMDOT says “Engineers have since determined the structural integrity of the bridge is still intact,” but the repairs are still estimated at nearly $1 million for the structure and $30,000 for the roadway.
As of July 31, there is no reopening date set for the ramp. The NMDOT encourages drivers to stay clear of the area while the road is closed and repairs are being completed.
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| 2023-07-31T22:19:07
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NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS – SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.1380 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of July 13, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) with important information concerning the distribution declared on July 3, 2023, and payable on July 31, 2023. No action is required on your part.
The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable July 31, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund has declared the July 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.1380 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.
About John Hancock Investment Management
A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
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As work begins on the largest US dam removal project, tribes look to a future of growth
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The largest dam removal project in United States history is underway along the California-Oregon border — a process that won’t conclude until the end of next year with the help of heavy machinery and explosives.
But in some ways, removing the dams is the easy part. The hard part will come over the next decade as workers, partnering with Native American tribes, plant and monitor nearly 17 billion seeds as they try to restore the Klamath River and the surrounding land to what it looked like before the dams started to go up more than a century ago.
The demolition is part of a national movement to return the natural flow of the nation’s rivers and restore habitat for fish and the ecosystems that sustain other wildlife. More than 2,000 dams have been removed in the U.S. as of February, with the bulk of those having come down within the last 25 years, according to the advocacy group American Rivers.
When demolition is completed by the end of next year, more than 400 miles (644 kilometers) of river will have opened for threatened species of fish and other wildlife. By comparison, the 65 dams removed in the U.S. last year combined to reconnect 430 miles (692 kilometers) of river.
Along the Klamath, the dam removals won’t be a major hit to the power supply; they produced less than 2% of power company PacifiCorp’s energy generation when they were running at full capacity -- enough to power about 70,000 homes. Though the hydroelectric power produced by dams is considered a clean, renewable source of energy, many larger dams in the U.S. West have become a target for environmental groups and tribes because of the harm they cause to fish and river ecosystems.
The project will empty three reservoirs over about 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers) near the California-Oregon border, exposing soil to sunlight in some places for the first time in more than a century.
For the past five years, Native American tribes have gathered seeds by hand and sent them to nurseries with plans to sow the seeds along the banks of the newly wild river. Helicopters will bring in hundreds of thousands of trees and shrubs to plant along the banks, including wads of tree roots to create habitat for fish.
This growth usually takes decades to happen naturally. But officials are pressing nature’s fast-forward button because they hope to repel an invasion of foreign plants, such as starthistle, which dominate the landscape at the expense of native plants.
“Why not just let nature take its course? Well, nature didn’t take its course when dams got put in. We can’t pretend this gigantic change in the landscape has not happened and we can’t just ignore the fact that invasive species are a big problem in the west and in California,” said Dave Meurer, director of community affairs for Resource Environmental Solutions, the company leading the restoration project.
PacifiCorp built the dams starting in 1918 to generate electricity. The dams halted the natural flow of the river and disrupted the lifecycle of salmon, a fish that spends most of its life in the Pacific Ocean but returns to the chilly mountain streams to lay eggs. The fish are culturally and spiritually significant to a number of Native American tribes, who historically survived by fishing the massive runs of salmon that would come back to the rivers each year.
A combination of low water levels and warm temperatures in 2002 led to a bacterial outbreak that killed more than 34,000 fish, mostly Chinook salmon. The loss jumpstarted decades of advocacy from Native American tribes and environmental groups, culminating last year when federal regulators approved a plan to remove the dams.
“The river is our church, the salmon is our cross. That’s how it relates to the people. So it’s very sacred to us,” said Kenneth Brink, vice chairman of the Karuk Tribe. “The river is not just a place we go to swim. It’s life. It creates everything for our people.”
The project will cost $500 million, paid for by taxpayers and PacifiCorps ratepayers. Crews have mostly removed the smallest of the four dams, known as Copco No. 2. The other three dams are expected to come down next year. That will leave some homeowners in the area without the picturesque lake they have lived on for years.
The Siskiyou County Water Users Association, which formed about a decade ago to stop the dam removal project, filed a federal lawsuit. But so far they have been unable to stop the demolition.
“Unfortunately it’s a mistake you can’t turn back from,” association President Richard Marshall said.
The water level in the lakes will drop between 3 feet and 5 feet (1 meter to 1.5 meters) per day over the first few months of next year. Crews will follow that water line, taking advantage of the moisture in the soil to plant seeds from more than 98 native plant species including wooly sunflower, Idaho fescue and Blue bunch wheat grass.
Tribes have been invested in the process from the start. Resource Environmental Solutions hired tribal members to gather seeds from native plants by hand. The Yurok Tribe even hired a restoration botanist.
Each species has a role to play. Some, like lupine, grow quickly and prepare the soil for other plants. Others, like oak trees, take years to fully mature and provide shade for other plants.
“It’s a wonderful marriage of tribal traditional ecological knowledge and western science,” said Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, the nonprofit entity created to oversee the project.
The previous largest dam removal project was on Washington state’s Elwha River, which flows out of Olympic National Park into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Congress in 1992 approved the demolition of the two dams on the river constructed in the early 1900s. After two decades of planning, workers finished removing them in 2014, opening about 70 miles (113 kilometers) of habitat for salmon and steelhead.
Biologists say it will take at least a generation for the river to recover, but within months of the dams being removed, salmon were already recolonizing sections of the river they had not accessed in more than a century. The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, which has been closely involved in restoration work, is opening a limited subsistence fishery this fall for coho salmon, its first since the dams came down.
Brink, the Karuk Tribe vice chair, hopes similar success will happen on the Klamath River. Multiple times per year, Brink and other tribal members participate in ceremonial salmon fishing using handheld nets. In many years, there have been no fish to catch, he said.
“When the river gets to flow freely again, the people can also begin to worship freely again,” he said.
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Associated Press writer Eugene Johnson in Seattle contributed.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Hip-hop superstar Cardi B drew attention on social media over a video showing her lashing out during a Las Vegas performance after someone threw a drink at her while she was onstage.
Video circulated online over the weekend after a TikTok user posted footage of the incident at Drai’s Beachclub on the Las Vegas Strip.
The clip shows the hip-hop performer onstage during the event when someone in the audience hurls liquid, splashing the rapper. Cardi B can be seen retaliating by throwing her microphone into the audience in the direction from which the liquid was launched.
According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a woman came into a police station on Sunday to report a “battery.” She told officers that she had been struck by an item thrown from the stage on Saturday. Police said the incident had been documented, but no arrest or citations had been issued.
It’s unclear if that woman, who has not been identified, threw the drink at Cardi B.
The event made waves on social media as many excoriated the person who threw the liquid. They compared the situation to similar events that have happened in recent weeks: Bebe Rexha suffered a black eye after being struck by a cellphone, country singer Kelsea Ballerini was hit in the face by a bracelet, rapper Sexyy Red ended a show early when fans refused to stop throwing water bottles on stage, a fan threw their mother’s ashes at Pink while she was performing, Ava Max was slapped while performing in Los Angeles, and Harry Styles was hit in the eye with an object during a Houston performance.
Others noted humorously that although Cardi B had thrown her microphone, her song “Bodak Yellow” – and her recorded vocals – continued uninterrupted.
“The song didn’t stop. Y’all listening to an iPad,” said one X (formerly known as Twitter) user.
There was no indication if charges would be filed in the Cardi B incident.
Cardi B recently completed 15 days of community service in New York after pleading guilty to multiple charges filed against her following a 2018 fight at a strip club in Queens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Netflix has just dropped an action-packed trailer for "Spy Kids: Armageddon," which will be available on their streaming platform beginning Sept. 22.
"Spy Kids: Armageddon" is the latest installment in the 2001 franchise "Spy Kids" by creator Robert Rodriguez. The reboot follows a new group of secret spies: the Tango-Torrez family. After a virus was accidentally unleashed on a powerful game developer and gives him control of the world's technology, sibling duo Tony and Patty will have to become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.
"Jane The Virgin" actress Gina Rodriguez and "Shazam!" star Zachary Levi will portray the parents of Tony and Patty, who will played by newcomers Connor Esterson and Everly Carganilla, Netflix said.
Though the original spy kids might not be in this family action-adventure, director Rodriguez told fans to be on the lookout for references to the original films
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“This movie really wants to stand on its own, kind of establish the family,” Rodriguez told Netflix. "There [will] be Easter eggs."
Here's a look at the full trailer:
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| 2023-07-31T22:19:13
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Los Angeles DWP loosens watering rules to three days a week, citing wet winter
More than a year after instituting the strictest water conservation orders Los Angeles has ever seen, the L.A. Department of Water and Power announced Monday that it was loosening watering rules for its 4 million customers.
Effective immediately, all Angelenos can return to three-day-a-week watering schedules after being placed on two-day-a-week limits in June 2022, the agency said.
Officials attributed the change to this year’s wet winter, which boosted supplies and replenished reservoirs that had been drained by three years of severe drought.
“We want to thank our customers for continuing to lead on conservation and helping us exceed our water conservation goals,” Anselmo Collins, DWP’s senior assistant general manager of the water system, said in a statement. “Over the past year, Angelenos reduced their water use an additional 10%, which is a remarkable achievement considering this was on top of the substantial long-term water conservation our customers had already achieved.”
As California drought worsens, the DWP in Los Angeles will limit outdoor watering to two days a week, with watering capped at eight minutes per station.
Prior to the change last June, Angelenos had been under a three-day-a-week ordinance since 2009. The city’s return to the less restrictive phase of its Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance means customers with street addresses ending in odd numbers can water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and customers with even-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Watering must be done before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. “when the evaporation rate is appreciably lower than during the middle of the day,” the agency said. Hand watering is allowed every day during those hours if the hose is equipped with a self-closing water shut-off device.
Last year’s tightened rules were issued amid the driest three years ever recorded in California, which spurred a statewide drought emergency and a call from Gov. Gavin Newsom asking that urban residents voluntarily cut back by 15%.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — the massive wholesaler that supplies the DWP and dozens of other agencies in the area — declared its own water shortage emergency last year and placed 6 million people under unprecedented restrictions, including one-day-a-week watering limits in many areas. The MWD rolled back that order in March.
Despite its change, the DWP said water conservation continues to be a priority. Outdoor watering is still limited to eight minutes per station on permitted watering days, or 15 minutes twice a day with sprinklers that use water-conserving nozzles.
Watering continues to be prohibited within 48 hours of a measurable rain event, and hosing down driveways and sidewalks is not permitted. No water should leak from a pipe or fixture and no water should flow off of properties, the DWP said.
“We encourage all Angelenos to keep saving water wherever possible, while we continue to invest in developing our local water supplies to adapt to our changing climate,” Collins said.
Diamond Valley Lake — a backbone of the region’s water storage system — should refill to its full capacity by the end of this year, officials said.
Gregory Pierce, director of the Water Resources Group at UCLA, said reverting from two days back to three is “reasonable as a short-term measure.” But he warned that as global conditions continue to get hotter and drier, residents probably shouldn’t get used to the more flexible schedule.
“I would prefer if the language were more like, two days is what you should expect — it’s going to be more common in the future — but we can allow three in the short-term because of this unusual water year,” Pierce said. “I’d prefer the framing of two days as default, three as exceptional.”
Indeed, forecasters say 2023 may be one of the hottest years ever recorded — if not the hottest — and that 2024 will be even hotter because of global warming and the arrival of El Niño.
What’s more, the Colorado River — a water lifeline for California and the West — has lost about 32.5 million acre-feet of water since 2000 because of climate change and remains perilously low. This year, California, Arizona and Nevada agreed to significantly reduce their use of that water in the coming years.
The DWP said it will continue to patrol the streets of Los Angeles to enforce its watering restrictions. The agency also offers incentive programs for turf replacement and water monitoring devices to help residents reduce their use, officials said.
But while Californians made a significant effort to conserve during the most recent drought, they ultimately fell short of Newsom’s 15% goal. Between July 2021 and March of this year — when the governor rescinded his request — statewide savings were about 7%, or about 9 fewer gallons per person per day, a Times analysis found.
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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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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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https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/acg-names-brent-baxter-chief-executive-officer/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:15
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Several beaches in a Connecticut town have been connected to cases of swimmer's itch, a skin rash that forms from microscopic parasites, according to health officials.
The Greenwich Department of Health said Monday they were informed of multiple occurrences of the skin rash, also called cercarial dermatitis. It was not immediately clear when the cases were found.
It's not known how long the water may be impacted by the tiny parasites that are released from snails into fresh or salt water, as multiple factors must be present in order for it to become a problem. However, these factors may constantly be changing and can't be tested for.
The department said they requested all town beaches post messages alerting residents to possible risk, as a precaution. If the problem intensifies at any location, the Health Department would have to consider closing down that beach.
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What is swimmer's itch?
Swimmer's itch appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to tiny, microscopic parasites, according to the Greenwich Health Department. Those parasites can be found in fresh water or salt water, including lakes, ponds and oceans.
Generally, the parasites don't tend to be attracted to humans, but can cause a rash if they come in contact with a person. Swimmer's itch is not contagious and can't spread from one person to another, according to Greenwich health officials.
News
Cases of swimmer's itch pop up around the world, mostly during summer months, the health officials said. Not everyone who swims in water with the parasites will be infected, but the longer a swimmer is in contact with them, the higher the chances of catching swimmer's itch.
Symptoms of swimmer's itch
Those who have contracted swimmer's itch may start to show symptoms within a short period of time, with small reddish pimples appearing about 12 hours after exposure, the health department said. Small blisters may also show up where those pimples occurred.
Health officials also said that tingling, burning or itching of the skin could occur as soon as minutes after exposure, or could take a few days.
Swimmer's itch prevention and treatment
In order to prevent a possible case, towel off and shower immediately after getting out of the water, thoroughly rinsing all areas, includes under the bathing suit.
Children are more susceptible, as they will go in recreational swimming areas for hours and are less likely to dry themselves off after coming out of the water.
While the rash will be itchy, scratching it will only lead to infection, according to health officials. The itchy feeling will go away in a short period, though any of the following can be used to help soothe the feeling:
- Corticosteroid cream
- Anti-itch lotion
- Bathing in Epsom salts or baking soda
- Soaking in colloidal oatmeal baths
- Applying baking soda paste to rash
- Using a cool compress on affected area
Most cases of swimmer's itch don't require medical attention, but if an infection does develop, contact a health care provider immediately.
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https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/health/connecticut-town-warns-of-cases-of-swimmers-itch-at-several-beaches-what-to-know/4551762/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:19
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Angus Cloud, ‘Euphoria’ star, dies at 25
Angus Cloud, the actor who won “Euphoria” fans over with his portrayal of nonchalant drug dealer Fezco, has died. He was 25.
In a statement shared to The Times on Monday, the family said, “it is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today.
“As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways. Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss,” the statement continued. “The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend. Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence.”
Cloud is best known for his work in “Euphoria.” His credits also include movies “North Hollywood” and “The Line.” He also appeared in music videos for Juice WRLD, Becky G and Karol G.
“We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone. We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss,” the family statement concluded.
An HBO spokesperson described Cloud as a “talented and a beloved part of the HBO and ‘Euphoria’ family.”
“We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud,” an HBO spokesperson said in a statement to The Times. “He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”
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| 2023-07-31T22:19:19
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WATKINSVILLE, Ga. and ELBERTON, Ga., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oconee Financial Corporation (OTCQX: "OSBK") ("Oconee") announced today it has completed its acquisition of Elberton Federal Savings & Loan Association ("Elberton Federal") of Elberton, GA, and its related common stock offering, in a conversion merger transaction, effective July 31, 2023.
As a result of the conversion merger, Elberton Federal converted from a mutual savings association to a stock savings association and immediately merged with and into Oconee's wholly owned subsidiary, Oconee State Bank. On August 1, 2023, Elberton Federal's financial center on East Church Street in Elberton will open as a branch of Oconee State Bank.
In the stock offering required by regulations applicable to the merger conversion, Oconee sold 149,015 shares of common stock, at a discounted price of $28.94 per share, to depositors and borrowers of Elberton Federal in a subscription offering, and to stockholders of Oconee and members of the general public in a community offering. Gross offering proceeds totaled approximately $4.3 million. The stock offering was oversubscribed.
"We are thrilled by the overwhelming interest we received from investors in the offering," remarked Oconee President and CEO Neil Stevens. "The transaction closed at the maximum of the authorized offering range and generated a lot of interest in the banking experience we are bringing to our customers."
Stevens continued: "We welcome the addition of Elberton Federal President and CEO Daniel Graves, a number of new teammates, and our newest customers in Elbert County. We aim to provide them the same high level of service and care our current customers enjoy."
Graves will serve as Senior Vice President and Community President of the Northeast Georgia market.
"It is a privilege to join such a high-quality institution and group of people in partnering with Oconee," Graves said. "Neil and I talk often about the importance of culture, and this is a perfect fit. We are thrilled about the opportunity this presents for our people and our customers, and we look forward to being an even more meaningful part of the next chapter of prosperity in Elbert County."
Performance Trust Capital Partners assisted Oconee, on a best-efforts basis, in selling its common stock in the subscription and community offerings and served as financial advisor to Oconee in connection with the merger. RP Financial LC provided the conversion appraisal. Alston & Bird LLP served as legal counsel to Oconee, Fenimore Kay Harrison LLP served as legal counsel to Elberton Federal, and Luse Gorman PC served as legal counsel to Performance Trust Capital Partners.
About Oconee Financial Corporation
Oconee State Bank was established in 1960 and is headquartered in Watkinsville, Georgia. It operates six full-service financial centers in Georgia, located in Oconee, Athens-Clarke, Gwinnett, and Macon-Bibb counties, including its newest location in Elbert County. Pro forma for this transaction, the bank has approximately $556 million in assets. The bank is the only locally owned and operated community bank headquartered in Oconee County. Oconee State Bank proudly serves its communities, providing unparalleled commitment to personalized service, innovative products and solutions, and brings exceptional value to all stakeholders, through local ownership, involvement, and decision making. The bank strives to be essential to those it serves, by creating remarkable experiences that significantly mark the lives of others. Oconee Financial Corporation was established in January 1999 to serve as the holding company of Oconee State Bank.
Please visit Oconee State Bank's website, www.oconeestatebank.com for a full listing of products and services.
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SOURCE Oconee Financial Corporation
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https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oconee-financial-corporation-completes-acquisition-elberton-federal-savings-amp-loan-association-related-common-stock-offering/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:20
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BOGOTA, Colombia, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Considering the information known to public, the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC, "Ecopetrol" or the "Company") reiterates the press release issued by the company yesterday, which stated that Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have actively collaborated with the different authorities for the execution of the "Bunkering Imperio" operation.
- Based on external verifications and information coming from the collaborative efforts between the Ecopetrol Group, the Judicial Investigation Directorate and the Carabineros and Environmental Protection Directorate of the National Police, to date, there is no evidence implicating either the administrations or the officers of the Ecopetrol Group;
- Ecopetrol, Cenit and Oleoducto de Colombia have been recognized as victims in the corresponding criminal proceedings; and
- The company will continue to work with the authorities to sanction and prevent the smuggling and theft of hydrocarbons.
Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice.
This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
Head of Capital Markets (a)
Carolina Tovar Aragón
Email: investors@ecopetrol.com.co
Head of Corporate Communications
Marcela Ulloa
Email: marcela.ulloa@ecopetrol.com.co
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SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
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https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/board-directors-ecopetrol-sa-announces-execution-operation-sanction-theft-smuggling-hydrocarbons/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:22
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JUSTIN, Texas, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canoo (Nasdaq: GOEV), a high-tech advanced mobility company, today announced that it will report its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 after market close on Monday, August 14, 2023. The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 5:00 pm ET to discuss the results, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Those interested are invited to listen to the live webcast online here. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly afterwards here.
Date: Monday, August 14, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm ET
U.S. Dial-in: 877-407-9169
International Dial-in: 201-493-6755
Access ID: 13740414
An audio replay of the call will be available shortly after its conclusion through August 28, 2023.
Toll-free Replay Number: 877-660-6853
International Replay Number: 201-612-7415
Replay ID: 13740414
About Canoo
Canoo's mission is to bring EVs to Everyone. The company has developed breakthrough electric vehicles that are reinventing the automotive landscape with bold innovations in design, pioneering technologies, and a unique business model that spans the full lifecycle of the vehicle. Distinguished by its experienced team from leading technology and automotive companies – Canoo has designed a modular electric platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space that is customizable across all owners in the vehicle lifecycle to support a wide range of vehicle applications for consumers and businesses.
Canoo has teams in California, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. For more information, please visit www.canoo.com. For Canoo press materials, including photos, please visit press.canoo.com. For investors, please visit www.investors.canoo.com.
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SOURCE Canoo
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| 2023-07-31T22:19:22
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On this week’s edition of After the Whistle, Bismarck Governors Michael Fagerland puts on the mic during the State AA Legion Baseball Tournament.
After the Whistle: Mic’d Up with Bismarck Governors’ Michael Fagerland
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https://www.kxnet.com/after-the-whistle/after-the-whistle-micd-up-with-bismarck-governors-michael-fagerland/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:23
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https://www.kxnet.com/after-the-whistle/after-the-whistle-micd-up-with-bismarck-governors-michael-fagerland/
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A New York City man was convicted of murdering the boyfriend of his soon-to-be ex-wife in New Jersey more than 10 years ago, prosecutors announced.
Sui Kam "Tony" Tung was convicted of murdering Robert Cantor in Teaneck, New Jersey on March 6, 2011, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced Friday after Tung was convicted the previous day of murder, aggravated arson, desecration of human remains, hindering apprehension, tampering with evidence, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and stalking.
The conviction is in connection to the murder of Cantor, the boyfriend of Tung's soon-to-be ex-wife, at his home in Teaneck.
During the 8-week trial, witnesses established that between around 10:30 p.m. on March 5, 2011 and 1 a.m. on March 6, 2011, Tung traveled from New York City to Cantor’s home in Teaneck, eventually leading Cantor to the basement bedroom where he shot him in the back of the head with a .380 caliber handgun before setting his body and house on fire.
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Tung faces 30 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 8.
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https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-man-convicted-of-2011-murder-of-soon-to-be-ex-wifes-boyfriend/4551905/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:25
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Sewage spill closes bay water near Aloha Drive bridge in Newport Beach
The Orange County Health Care Agency’s environmental health division announced Sunday the closure of the bay waters surrounding the Aloha Drive bridge in Newport Beach after a 526-gallon sewage spill.
The Aloha Drive bridge is tucked inside of the Linda Isle gated community. On Monday, paddlers could still be seen traversing the affected waters.
Boats remained steady at their moors, and a few people were spotted walking nearby, but none were seen active in the water. The closed off waters, at its northernmost point, extend roughly to SOL Mexican Cocina, and down toward the point where Bayside Drive meets Harbor Island Road, according to a map reference from the county agency. Those waters will remain closed to ocean water contact sports for a minimum of three days, or at least until water-quality monitoring meets acceptable standards.
That means swimming but not other ocean sports such as kayaking or boating, which involve vessels and do not involve direct human contact with the water. No distinct signage appeared to be immediately visible in the surrounding area as of Monday morning.
According to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the incident occurred at 12:24 p.m. Sunday when a Duffy boat struck a 4-inch sewer line underneath the bridge when it attempted to clear the waters with the tide, according to city officials.
Newport Beach City Hall spokesman John Pope said the city began its response at just before 1 p.m. Crews shut off the pump and switched to a second sewer line by approximately 12:36 p.m.
The report by CalOES, updated on Monday, amended what was initially reported as a 140-gallon spillage to the current known 526-gallon spill.
Pope confirmed replacement parts are being ordered and that the break will be repaired this week.
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https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2023-07-31/sewage-spill-closes-bay-water-near-aloha-drive-bridge-in-newport-beach
| 2023-07-31T22:19:25
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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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SOURCE Books-A-Million, Inc.
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https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/penny-a-page-hottest-used-book-promotion-happening-2nd-amp-charles/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:26
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Console & Associates, P.C.: Flagstar Bank Reports 2021 Data Breach Exposing Social Security Numbers of an Estimated 1.4 Million People
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 4:50 PM CDT|Updated: 29 minutes ago
MARLTON, N.J., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 1.4 million consumers are being notified that their Social Security numbers were compromised following a recent cyberattack. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of anyone affected by the Flagstar Bank breach, hoping to fully inform them of the risks they face in the wake of the breach as well as their legal rights.
The sensitive personal data of 1.4 million Flagstaff Bank customers has been compromised. Now, members' full names and Social Security numbers may be in the hands of criminals, putting victims at a greater risk of identity theft and other frauds.
On July 30, 2023, Flagstar Bank filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Maine describing a data breach affecting consumers nationwide. According to the notice, the data breach affected an estimated 1.4 million people.
The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes consumers':
- Full names, and
- Social Security numbers.
If you receive a data breach notice from Flagstar Bank, you could now be at risk of identity theft—and the devastating financial and legal consequences that go along with it.
Flagstar's filing with the Maine AG indicates a previous data breach letter was sent on March 15, 2015, which may be an error.
What Should You Do if You Receive a Flagstar Bank Data Breach Letter?
Additionally, victims should consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately, as anyone who receives a data breach letter from Flagstar Bank may be entitled to financial compensation.
If you wish to discuss this data security incident, or if you have any questions regarding your rights following the Flagstar Bank data breach, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. Interested parties and potential plaintiffs can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/flagstar-bank-data-breach-investigation/. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
View original content:
SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C.
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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Pedigree and sports are a tale as old as time, but in Bismarck, it’s the Martin Brothers who have captured something no trio of siblings has done at the Dacotah Speedway.
Somewhere in southeast Bismarck, you’ll find Redline Motorsports, a place of familial ties and a passion for the dirt track, a group of brothers known as the Martins, whose love of NX Legends racing starts with the older sibling Casey.
“Racing has always interested me as a kid,” says Casey Martin. “Dad would take us to the race track at the Dacotah Speedway and kind of watch the car stuff. I always liked that Monte Carlo body style so I was dead set, I got to race the street stock. And then Ivan Sayler showed up one race with these damn legend cars and it was like, nope, changed my mind, got to be one of those.”
For three years, Casey competed all over, and then one night, Preston and Dauntae Martin decided to dive right into the racing world.
“So when Casey let me drive his car for the first time at a test and tune, I bought one that very next season because I was like, I got to have this,” says Preston Martin. “That was too much fun.”
“Preston raced in thunder fours a half year before me,” says Dauntae Martin. “And I was kind of his main pit crew. I was bouncing between him and Casey, and I just enjoyed the atmosphere, the race track and once I got into the car, it was like my second home.”
The garage was suddenly full of collaboration and friendly competition, a trio of brothers with the hopes of finishing on top.
“They were pretty young, and they were still in high school and stuff,” says Casey. “I don’t know how much time they had to dedicate. They had to study, sports and race cars. Sports went to the wayside real quick and it was just studies and race cars.”
Five years later, the goal of finishing one two three at a race was something these three dreamed of, something they believe was never achieved before at the Dacotah Speedway.
“We’ve had a couple of close opportunities,” says Dauntae. “And actually, the opener of this season was really close. I missed out on third by something like a couple hundredths of a second.”
That result sparked a belief that they could do it this year, and on a Friday in late July, well, we’ll just let them tell the story.
“There’s a lot of thoughts that go through your mind,” says Casey. “And early on in the race, my car wasn’t there. It wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do.”
“It was a slow start for me and Casey,” says Dauntae. “We started way mid back of the pack. Preston got out front quick and me and Casey were playing catchup pretty much the whole time.”
“Up until the last restart, I had no clue they were there,” says Preston. “Just because I don’t really pay much attention to the lapboard. I try to focus on where I’m going and so, at the end of the race, I saw someone peeking on the outside, I had no clue it was Casey.”
“With six to go, we ran Preston down, because we were a little ways back but we could catch him,” says Casey. “And I knew, if me and Dauntae hit our marks right, I knew we could run Preston down and the track held together at the end.”
“I goofed up on the last lap a little,” says Dauntae. “There was a little separation, so it was just him and Preston, fighting at the line, and I think it was something like a thousandth of a second, a pretty close race so.”
“So when Casey pulled up to my outside and Dauntae pulled up underneath me, Dauntae showed me the one, two, three, and I looked up at the lap board and saw the 77, 66, 99, I was like, no freaking way,” says Preston.
Preston in first, Casey in second, Dauntae in third, the top three finish never before done, bragging rights one of the many prizes to come along that night.
“I did tease Casey a little bit the hardest because he had me,” says Preston. “That was his race. I did tell him that afterward, like, buddy, you know you had that race, you won. And he was like, yeah, just one corner, just needed one corner.”
With plenty of season left, the turnaround from a memorable moment is quick, but what won’t go away, is the memories shared on that fateful night.
“For me, being able to race is just the best part period,” says Preston. “But to be able to take home the 1, 2, 3, for me, I never thought that was going to be a thing. For me being able to be up there and win a race, I always thought it would be a once-type deal. But to be able to compete like that, the biggest thing it to always be proving. Always be proving and you’ll be surprised at what you accomplish.”
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https://www.kxnet.com/after-the-whistle/after-the-whistle-the-martin-brothers-and-their-historic-finish/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:29
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https://www.kxnet.com/after-the-whistle/after-the-whistle-the-martin-brothers-and-their-historic-finish/
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The next phase of New York City's war on rats kicks off a new trash initiative this week.
After appointing a rat czar in April, Mayor Eric Adams announced his next target: trash from food-related businesses. Restaurants, supermarkets and bodegas will now be required to use containers for their trash in an effort to combat New York City's rat problem.
Adams finalized a rule mandating that all food related businesses put their trash in secure containers. The administration detailed plans to expand the requirements for containerization to all chain businesses with five or more locations in the city.
"Today, we take giant steps towards [the goal of clean streets] by announcing new rules to containerize trash in our city that, once finalized, will cover 25 percent of businesses and result in 4 million pounds of trash getting disposed of in secure bins each day," Adams said last month.
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This new plan would affect bodegas, delis and grocery stores too. This rule will go into affect August 1, 2023.
Department of Sanitation Commissioner Tisch, in the announcement, noted that the black bags outside food-related businesses basically serve as "a to-go box" for rats. Deputy Mayor for Operations Meer Joshi hoped that the rule would be another step towards the end of "trash-bag mountains."
“No one wants to see it, no one wants to smell it and we certainly don’t want rats to eat it," Tisch said.
Under these two rules, businesses will have flexibility on the type and location of containers, provided they have a lid and secure sides. Containers can be stored either inside of the establishment or within three feet of the property line.
NYC Mayor Adams
Some restaurant owners hearing the news had concerns.
“Some of the restaurants have a lot of garbage. It’s at least seven containers they’re gonna be using," said Basudeb Shaha, owner of Bombay Grill House on 9th Avenue.
Shaha says it will be difficult for some to store the bins when not in use, and the New York City hospitality alliance agrees.
Following the announcement, the alliance said it supports “containerizing trash, but as initially proposed, the Department of Sanitation’s mandate is impractical and creates big problems for small restaurants that will have to store big dirty garbage cans in their food preparation and customer seating areas or leave thousands of trash containers permanently strewn on sidewalks across the city."
Still, the owner is willing to give the plan a shot, saying if it keeps rats at bay, it's a good thing.
“This is a good idea because sometimes you put the plastic bag outside, mouse coming … this is nasty, I don’t like that way. This is a good idea," Shaha said.
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https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-rat-rules-food-businesses-must-start-tossing-trash-outside-in-containers/4551981/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:31
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https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-rat-rules-food-businesses-must-start-tossing-trash-outside-in-containers/4551981/
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Did you know Shreveport was mentioned in a 1991 Chris Farley Saturday Night Live skit?
Do you remember the time Shreveport was mentioned in a skit on the iconic sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live?
In the skit "Schiller Visions: Hidden Camera Commercials" that aired during the show's 17th season in November 1991, television host played by Tom Schiller shows one customer's, played by the late Chris Farley, reaction when he finds out he's drinking instant coffee on a hidden camera commercial.
Farley's character goes into a violent rage upon hearing he's been lied to where he begins throwing plates, pies and more while threatening to kill everyone before being subdued by restaurant staff.
Schiller's character then pops up on screen to say, "and now live from Shreveport, Louisiana via international satellite hookup, the victim of that hidden camera commercial Michael Huff."
Shreveport resident Huff is then interviewed about the incident where he simply states that he is angry about the situation while covered in bandages.
More:Take a look back at Shreveport's Grand Opera House: Twin Blends History Corner
Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com.
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https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/life/2023/07/31/chris-farley-saturday-night-live-skit-mentions-shreveport-louisiana/70462917007/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:33
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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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SOURCE Southern Auto Finance Company, LLC
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https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/safco-announces-chief-financial-officer-transition/
| 2023-07-31T22:19:33
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