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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.qcnews.com/hill-politics/biden-overturns-trump-decision-to-move-space-command-hq-from-colorado-to-alabama/
| 2023-07-31T22:29:04
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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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| 2023-07-31T22:29:10
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump ‘s mounting legal woes are growing more expensive, leading his campaign to request a refund from a supportive super PAC and launch a new legal defense fund to help cover costs.
His political action committee, Save America, is expected to disclose Monday that it spent more than $40 million on legal fees during the first half of the year for costs related to defending the former president, his aides and other allies, according to a person familiar with the filing who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the deadline. The number was first reported by The Washington Post.
At the same time, Trump’s allies are creating a new legal defense fund that will help pay the soaring legal fees as Trump faces dozens of criminal charges stemming from indictments in New York and Florida, with more expected as soon as this week. The Patriot Legal Defense Fund, as it is called, is intended to raise money to defray costs for those “defending against legal actions arising from an individual or group’s participation in the political process,” according to a filing made last month with the IRS. The group will be run by Trump campaign senior advisers Susie Wiles and Michael Glassner.
“The weaponized Department of Justice and the deranged Jack Smith have targeted innocent Americans associated with President Trump,” said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung. “In order to combat these heinous actions by Joe Biden’s cronies and to protect these innocent people from financial ruin and prevent their lives from being completely destroyed, a new legal defense fund will help pay for their legal fees.” The fund was first reported by The New York Times.
Smith is the special counsel leading the federal investigations of Trump. His team has expressed interest in the payment of legal fees for Trump-aligned witnesses in the investigations and has sought information about it, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss ongoing criminal probes.
Trump’s PAC has also requested that his super PAC, MAGA Inc., return some of the money that it transferred to seed the group to help cover costs. It is unclear whether money was actually transferred or how much.
A spokesman for the super PAC did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump launched his PAC, Save America, in the days after the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden. For weeks, the group bombarded supporters with a nonstop stream of text messages and emails that purported to raise money for an “election defense fund” that would be used to contest the election’s outcome.
But the $170 million that the effort raised in less than a month was not used to contest the election, records show. Instead, it was used to pay down campaign debt and replenish the coffers of the Republican National Committee, with Trump also stockpiling another large chunk for his future political endeavors. Last year, the Justice Department issued a round of grand jury subpoenas that sought information about the political action committee’s fundraising practices.
Since then, Save America has served as a different sort of “defense fund,” covering the legal expenses for Trump operatives, allies and employees who have been ensnared in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation.
Some of Save America’s money has been used to boost other candidates, though it’s a pittance compared to how much Trump has spent on ballooning legal costs.
As the 2022 midterm elections approached, Trump pledged to back congressional candidates loyal to him. But of the roughly $65 million earmarked by Save America for political spending, less than a third — about $20 million — was used to back midterm candidates through campaign contributions or paid advertising.
“Forty million dollars — I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Paul S. Ryan, a longtime campaign finance attorney in Washington, referring to the sum the group spent on legal fees this year. “There’s no legal issue. It’s really just a question for his donors: Do they want to be funding lawyers?”
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https://www.qcnews.com/news/national-news/trump-political-committee-has-spent-more-than-40m-on-lawyers-fees-as-his-legal-peril-mounts/
| 2023-07-31T22:29:16
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WADESBORO, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Union County man was arrested for allegedly shooting two people in Wadesboro Saturday night.
According to Wadesboro Police, officers responded at 11:55 p.m. July 29 to a residence on West Wade Street for a disturbance with shots fired. Officers located two victims, both suffering serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The victims, whose names are being withheld, were transported to Atrium Health Anson for treatment.
Police say officers were able to identify the suspect as 18-year-old Tyveon Burch, of Marshville. He was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
Burch was arrested on Sunday, given a $100,000 secured bond and placed in the Anson County Jail. Burch’s court date is Aug. 8 in Anson County District Court.
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https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/anson-county/union-county-man-charged-in-double-shooting-in-wadesboro-police/
| 2023-07-31T22:29:22
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GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – A suspect is wanted for breaking into a Gaston County church on Friday evening and damaging its property, according to the police department.
The incident happened on July 28 at Destiny Church on the 3700 block of York Highway in Gastonia.
Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area 🚨 >> Latest stories here
Church officials said that after failing to break into their offices after the staff left for the day, someone broke into the main sanctuary, stole music equipment, and damaged some property.
“We use the keyboard every, you know, twice a week, multiple services,” said pastor David Tucker. “I don’t believe, though, it’s as much about the keyboard as it is that somebody would target a church shattered the glass of a church.”
Authorities believe the person was armed with a handgun.
Surveillance photos captured multiple shots of the suspect:
Police say the suspect left in a ‘newer model’ black Dodge Charger with black rims and a dark window tint.
“We already have a lot of security in place. So I don’t know that we’re changing anything,” Tucker continued. “But I think it definitely allows us to know that we need to be much more conscious of what we are doing.”
Though the church reported some music equipment was stolen, police clarified the incident was breaking and entering, not a robbery.
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The church released the following statement on their Facebook page:
“We are grateful that no one was hurt or injured.
We pray for this individual that God would convict them and cause them to return what was stolen and that through this, they will ultimately encounter God’s love in a situation meant for wrong.”
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https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/gaston-county/photos-suspect-wanted-for-shattering-gaston-county-church-door-damaging-property/
| 2023-07-31T22:29:28
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Mecklenburg County Public Health leaders are encouraging customers to be proactive about consuming food items at nonregulated establishments.
County Public Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington said that someone was diagnosed with Vibrioses after eating oysters at a local establishment. By state law, nonregulated bars, which serve limited food menus, do not require inspection by Public Health’s Environmental Health inspectors.
“I want to make the public aware that health inspectors cannot require inspection of nonregulated bars,” Washington said in a release. “If you are a customer, be proactive, look for the inspection certificate, or ask the staff. The occurrence of a food-borne illness is rare, in large part due to the regulation of food establishments. But environmental health inspections do not have universal access and authority to every establishment that serves food.”
There have been three cases of Vibriosis in North Carolina this summer, the county said. People with Vibriosis most often become infected by consuming raw or undercooked seafood or exposing a wound to seawater. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Vibriosis causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States every year.
Mecklenburg County Public Health has many access points for the public to view information about food service establishments. Inspection reports for food service establishments that fall under public health inspection can be viewed on the Public Health’s Environmental Health page or by simply using the Yelp app to view an inspection.
“We’ve invested in the Yelp platform so we can make sure the information is more broadly accessible to the public. If you look up an establishment, you can also check its last inspection,” said Mecklenburg County Public Health Assistant Director Angela Lee, who oversees the Environmental Health division.
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https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/mecklenburg-county/someone-got-potentially-deadly-illness-from-oysters-at-nonregulated-bar-in-mecklenburg-county/
| 2023-07-31T22:29:34
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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.abcactionnews.com/biden-to-keep-space-command-in-colorado-won-t-move-to-alabama
| 2023-07-31T22:29:38
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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.qcnews.com/nexstar-media-wire/body-found-inside-55-gallon-drum-in-malibu/
| 2023-07-31T22:29:40
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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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| 2023-07-31T22:29:44
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Impeached Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks to have most charges dismissed before September trial
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lawyers for impeached Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday sought to have most of the charges against him dismissed, arguing that they rely on alleged acts of corruption before he was reelected to a third term in 2022.
In motions filed with the Senate, where Paxton’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5, his attorneys said they believe state law bars the removal of an official for conduct that occurred before their most recent election. Paxton was first elected attorney general in 2014 and the impeachment charges include alleged conduct since then.
“The Articles allege nothing that Texas voters have not heard from the Attorney General’s political opponents for years,” Paxton’s attorneys wrote. They accused the GOP-dominated Texas House of Representatives of seeking to oust Paxton because they were unable to unseat him by popular vote.
“Texas voters rendered their judgement by re-electing Attorney General Paxton to serve a third consecutive term. As a matter of both common sense and Texas law, that should be the end of the matter,” his attorneys wrote.
Only one of the 20 impeachment charges — an allegation that Paxton settled a whistleblower lawsuit in an effort to hide from the public corruption allegations against him — would not have to be dismissed under the so-called “prior term doctrine,” Paxton’s attorney said. Paxton asked state lawmakers this year to have the state pay the proposed $3.3 million settlement.
In a second filing, Paxton’s attorneys said the trial should exclude any evidence of alleged conduct that occurred prior to January 2023, when his third term in office began.
The motions from Paxton’s attorneys are similar to moves in a criminal or civil legal cases when defense attorneys seek to have charges or lawsuits dismissed before trial.
In this case, the presiding officer over Paxton’s impeachment trial will be Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a powerful Republican who also serves as the president of the state Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate will consider the evidence and decide whether to convict or acquit Paxton in the first impeachment trial of a statewide official since 1917.
Patrick has already issued a sweeping gag order over the parties and attorneys involved ahead of the Senate trial. Attorneys for House of Representatives managers prosecuting Paxton did not immediately respond to the motions filed Monday.
Paxton has been suspended from office since the House first approved the articles of impeachment on May 27. He could be permanently removed if convicted by the Senate.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2023-07-31T22:29:46
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PORT ANGELES, Washington (WJW) – An 8-year-old child was attacked by a cougar at Olympic National Park’s Lake Angeles on Saturday evening.
The child was with their family at Lake Angeles, south of Port Angeles, when the attack happened Saturday night, the National Park Service said Monday.
“The cougar casually abandoned its attack after being yelled and screamed at by the child’s mother,” NPS wrote in a news release. The child suffered only minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Park officials then evacuated the remaining campers in the Lake Angeles area, closing the space and Heather Park to the public. Olympic National Park wildlife biologist Tom Kay said in a statement that the decision to close the Lake Angeles Trail, Heather Park Trail, Switchback Trail, and the entire Klahhane Ridge Trail was made “out of an abundance of caution.”
Early Sunday morning, park law enforcement and wildlife personnel who specialize in cougar tracking were dispatched to the last known location of the cougar at Lake Angeles, the park service reported. If located, the cougar will be euthanized and removed from the park for a necropsy.
“This may provide clues as to why the animal attacked since cougars are rarely seen and attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare,” park officials said. “Olympic National Park has extensive protocols in place for wildlife observations, interactions, and attacks and the lethal removal of this cougar is in line with these protocols.”
Because Olympic National Park is considered “cougar territory,” NPS recommends visitors be prepared for the encounter. They should not hike or jog alone, and children should remain near adults. Pets should also be left at home.
Should you encounter a cougar, you should remain calm and avoid running, according to wildlife experts. Do your best to appear as large as possible, continue watching the animal, and be loud. NPS also recommends throwing items like rocks or sticks at the cougar.
There have been no recent deaths caused by cougars in Olympic National Park, according to NPS data.
It’s not the first wildlife attack in the national parks this year, though.
Last week, a woman was found dead after an “apparent bear encounter” near Yellowstone National Park. Earlier this month, a woman in the park suffered “significant injuries” after being gored by a bison.
The park warns that between mid-July and mid-August, bison are in mating season and “can become agitated more quickly.”
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| 2023-07-31T22:29:46
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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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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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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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| 2023-07-31T22:29:53
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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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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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New protections to keep outdoor workers safe from heat dangers
Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast were once again under a heat advisory Monday as the sultry summer continues.
Some areas reached highs of 92 degrees with a feels-like temperature of more than 106 degrees.
"We should be protecting workers from hazardous conditions, and we will," President Joe Biden said recently as extreme temperatures are felt nationwide.
Biden said that heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer and announced new protections are coming to keep workers safe.
"There's a lot of Latinos, Hispanics working outside right now," said Manuel, an outdoor worker from Jupiter who only wanted WPTV to use his first name.
Manuel said he and many of his coworkers who work outside need better training and protection from hazards like the heat.
"We have families to feed," Manuel said. "I have three kids, a newborn, and I'm the breadwinner. I need to work."
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration plans to increase the enforcement and inspections of heat-safety violations, as well as increase education so crews know their rights and protection against possible retaliation.
"We have an opportunity to learn from these people that work so hard and an injustice for them is an injustice for all," Maricela Torres, the executive director with the Esperanza Community Center that advocates for Latino rights, said.
In June, Esperanza held a town hall along with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) to hear from workers about their experience working in the field.
"We depend on these workers. You could say they are essential to our climate resiliency efforts in every city in this country," Caleb Soto the director of worker's rights with NDLON. "The problem is we don't recognize it."
Soto said a study by NDLON found less than 20% of workers they spoke with in Florida have received any personal protection equipment or training from their employer.
"That is unjust, and it should not continue, and we need to advocate for their rights and for fair wages and for fair treatment," Torres said.
OSHA is working on nationwide guidelines for heat safety in the workplace.
"There is so much abuse associated with what they have experienced," Torres said. "It's not only outrageous but it continues to fuel why we do the work that we do."
Scripps Only Content 2023
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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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| 2023-07-31T22:29:59
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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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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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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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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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SPARTANBURG, S.C. (CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) – First day with pads, check. ✅
The second week of training camp kicked off Monday and marked the first time we’ve seen the Panthers with pads in 2023.
However, there is bigger news surrounding key player Donte Jackson, as the cornerback was back on the field after tearing his Achilles at the end of last season.
“Quickness, instinct, and savvy,” head coach Frank Reich said about Jackson’s impact on the field. “Just getting to know him, I’m excited.”
At the podium, Jackson opened up about this mental struggle after suffering his injury.
“The hardest part is getting your mental back,” Jackson said. “I spent a lot of time not believing. Now that I’m back, I’m just so blessed.”
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Though Jackson has an edge, he’s matured a ton since coming into the league.
“He’s got that way about him, got some confidence to him,” Reich continued. “Just keep him healthy, keep progressing him. He’s full speed, you see it. Just keep getting him volume so he can be on the field more and more.”
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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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DADE CITY, Fla. — Cody Bryce lives for motocross and has the trophies to show for it.
“You eat. You think. You sleep and drink about motocross. That’s all there is to it. And if you don’t, you aren’t going to be successful,” said the 15-year-old.
Cody started competing at five years old and loves the sport, just like his brothers and father.
“Once pee wee football is over, a new coach takes over. Dad is no longer the coach. And it never goes back to that. Motocross is always the family,” said his father, Chris Bryce.
Dade City Motocross is their home track and they were there moments after an 11-year-old boy was injured while practicing Sunday.
Dade City police said the boy tried to pick up his dirt bike after a crash, but that’s when another racer jumped the same hill and hit him.
He was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries.
“You expect to see injuries. This is motocross. You are going to hit the ground. You expect a broken arm. Something like this is rare, almost unheard of,” said Chris Bryce.
Authorities haven’t released the name of the child that died.
According to Motorsport Memorial, the last fatal crash at Dade City Motocross happened in May 1999, when a 17-year-old boy from Plant City died. That was the first crash at the track in 20 years.
I reached out to the owner of Dade City Motocross, who said he wanted to talk with the boy’s family before speaking publicly about what happened.
Cody and his family said they’ve always felt safe racing here and safety is taken very seriously.
“They try their hardest to make sure this never happens with a lot of super hard and set blanket rules so that you don’t go fast in the pits so that you can be careful on the track. They separate all the classes so that you can separate the fast guys from the intermediate,” said Cody.
Police said this was a just terrible accident and it doesn’t appear there will be any criminal charges against anyone.
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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: 40 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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Polls show Trump continues to hold wide margin over DeSantis
New polls out this week show former President Donald Trump is still holding a commanding lead over Gov. Ron DeSantis and others for the Republican nomination.
"The boots on the ground here on the Treasure Coast reflect what the national polls are saying as well," Kenny Nail, chairman of the St. Lucie County Republican Party, said Monday.
He said he's not surprised by the wide margins Trump holds right now in the polls.
However, he believes it's not because of what DeSantis isn't doing, it's what's happening around Trump.
"What you're seeing is what's happening with the Justice Department going after the president is what's causing DeSantis' [poll numbers] to go down," Nail said.
Florida Atlantic University political science Professor Kevin Wagner conducted a survey earlier this month where voters were asked about the governor. He did not see a dramatic softening of the governor's support in the Sunshine State.
"He still does very, very well with the majority of Floridians, saying they strongly approve or somewhat approve of his job as governor," Wagner said.
Wagner said it's not quite "fatigue" over the DeSantis campaign, rather when you ask people now who they'll vote for, you often get a superficial answer with the actual voting still months away.
He adds that the latest polls are a snapshot in time and traditionally races tighten as election dates draw near and people pay more attention.
"It's probably a little bit early to suggest that it's going to go necessary the way it looks right now, but it is a pretty strong lead right now for the former president," Wagner said.
Nail believes Republicans locally are on the same page.
"We're all wanting to unite together no matter who wins the primary whether it's the state of Florida or nationally," Nail said. "We're going to unite behind the winner and win the White House back in 2024."
Scripps Only Content 2023
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The pandemic may be over, but that doesn't mean Covid-19 cases have gone away. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a recent uptick in cases.
With kids heading back to school in less than two weeks, Covid is just one of the viruses that may be waiting for the kids.
In a recent report between June 16th, 2023 to July 15th, 2023 7,109 people were hospitalized as a result of Covid-19. Natasha A. Pierre is now one of the numbers added to those who contracted the virus recently.
"It's uncomfortable and annoying to be sick," Pierre said.
For three and a half years, Pierre escaped contracting Covid-19. That is until July 13th. Now, almost three weeks later, she is still testing positive.
"I have tested at least ten times and every single one has been positive," Pierre said.
Dr. Fernando Bula Rudas is a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital and said Pierre may be an anomaly.
People who can't seem to get rid of the virus, Bula Rudas said, often have pre-existing conditions. Pierre had asthma as a kid and pneumonia two years ago.
"We are still learning from this virus. There is a lot that we're learning and so far we haven't been able to pinpoint a predictability in saying this is when we're going to start seeing peaks," Dr. Bula Rudas said.
Still, Dr. Bula Rudas said the virus appears to be creeping back up during the summer months. He said that may be due to summer travel. The same goes for the winter season when people are traveling to see loved ones during the holiday season.
"We have to be cautious about all of these viruses circulating," Dr. Bula Rudas said.
The other viruses Dr. Bula Ruda is referring to are influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV.
All three of these viruses have the potential to wreak havoc on the respiratory system and seem to be popping up at the same time.
A vaccine for RSV has been approved by the FDA, but it's not currently available for release. The same goes for new antibody protection for kids under the age of two.
But, after three years of dealing with COVID, scientists like Dr. Bula Rudas has key advice for everyone.
"There could be fatigue but I would just say let's trust our scientists. Let's trust our institutions. Our healthcare workers and their new recommendations to get vaccines this year," Dr. Bula Rudas said.
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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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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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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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Monday morning, a shark bit a man in the foot in New Smyrna Beach. The 22-year-old victim is said to be stable, but it’s one of several shark bites we’ve seen in recent days.
“You take it for granted that the easy things become hard, and it’s tough,” shared Kevin Blanco.
We first spoke to Blanco roughly 2 and a half months ago. That’s when a bull shark attacked him while he was spearfishing in the Florida Keys.
Fast forward to today, he’s gained his muscle and movement back. And his scar is healing, “I’ve told the story millions and millions of times, but I’ve come to the point that people want to know I’m okay.”
And Blanco is okay. He’s now doing physical therapy on his own.
But. he said he’s heard of numerous attacks since his, and he’s concerned.
“It used to be so rare, the odds of a shark attack were, you have a better chance of winning the lottery twice, getting struck by lightning. But now all you see in the news is a shark attack, shark attack, shark attack.”
And he’s not necessarily wrong.
According to Florida Museum, in 2022, Florida had the highest number of shark bites in the US, with 16 cases.
Now, according to Tracking Sharks, since Monday, there have been 14 shark bite cases reported in our state.
The latest is out of New Smyrna Beach, where a 22-year-old was bit on the foot.
The day before in Anna Maria Island, a shark bit a man in his early 20s in his leg.
And last month, headlines were made after a man got bit by a shark in the Everglades.
“It’s very difficult to say whether or not that’s an increasing trend,” explained Yannis Papastamatiou.
The Associate Professor at Florida International University, said in order to determine if these latest attacks are, in fact, a new trend, experts like him would have to collect data over a longer period of time.
But he doesn’t believe there’s a frenzy of shark attacks, “We are still talking about very, very low numbers. You have to keep in mind how many people are going into the water and how many sharks are in the water.”
He furthered, “What we don’t emphasize is all the times the bites don’t happen. Which is what happens in most of the cases.”
Papastamatiou said potential reasons for the attacks could be that more and more people are getting in the water. And in the US, there are maybe more sharks than there once were.
He emphasized, “Doesn’t mean that they are exploding, but it means that historically they have been overfished, and us fishing regulations are pretty good and they have been in place for a few decades now, so we are starting to see perhaps some rebound of some of the populations of sharks in the water.”
For those looking to venture into Florida’s deep blue, Yannis recommends getting out of the water if you see a shark, sticking with big groups, staying away from estuaries, and being vigilant.
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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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https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/los-angeles-auto-show-2023-registration-opens-media-industry-day-automobility-la-november-16/
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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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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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| 2023-07-31T22:30:26
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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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https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oconee-financial-corporation-completes-acquisition-elberton-federal-savings-amp-loan-association-related-common-stock-offering/
| 2023-07-31T22:30:30
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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: 40 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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| 2023-07-31T22:30:33
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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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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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Locals Representing 340K UPS Workers Nearly Unanimously Recommend Contract
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters local unions representing 340,000 full- and part-time workers at UPS voted 161-1 on Monday to endorse the tentative agreement reached with the delivery giant on July 25 and recommend its passage by the full membership.
Of the 176 local unions with UPS members, 14 affiliates failed to show up to a meeting in Washington, DC, to review the tentative agreement.
At least two representatives from all other local unions discussed more than 60 changes and improvements to the UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement, the largest private-sector collective bargaining agreement in North America. The gains achieved during negotiations, which occurred regionally and nationally since January, are larger and more lucrative than any previous Teamsters contract at UPS. The tentative agreement, valued at $30 billion, establishes record wage increases for all workers for the life of the contract, installation of air conditioning in new vehicles, the end of an unfair two-tier wage system, catch-up raises for part-timers, Martin Luther King Day as a paid holiday for the first time, new language to prevent forced overtime on days off, and other huge wins.
Now that local unions have nearly unanimously endorsed the tentative agreement, all rank-and-file UPS Teamsters will have the chance to vote on ratification from August 3-22.
"The entire UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee stands behind this historic contract and our UPS local unions have resoundingly voted to endorse it," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Our tentative agreement is richer, stronger, and more far-reaching than any settlement ever negotiated in the history of American organized labor. The Teamsters are immensely proud of reaching agreement with UPS to improve the lives of our members, their families, and working people across the country."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610
kdeniz@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ups-teamsters-local-unions-endorse-tentative-agreement/
| 2023-07-31T22:30:57
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With dangerously high temperatures across the country, hospitals are seeing more people with potentially deadly heat illness. A southern city is coping with what may be the new summer medical reality.
Copyright 2023 NPR
With dangerously high temperatures across the country, hospitals are seeing more people with potentially deadly heat illness. A southern city is coping with what may be the new summer medical reality.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2023-07-31/a-new-summer-reality-hospitals-and-ers-see-more-parents-with-heat-related-illness
| 2023-07-31T22:30:59
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https://www.knau.org/2023-07-31/a-new-summer-reality-hospitals-and-ers-see-more-parents-with-heat-related-illness
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This Futuristic Gaming Experience Is Now Open At American Dream Mall
American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey is ranked as one of the best malls in the entire country, and we can visit it any time right here in New Jersey!
Sometimes when I remember I can drive under an hour to check out the mall, I feel a little spoiled, but I’m thankful for it. There’s a new addition coming to the mall that is about to make it even more amazing than it already is!
American Dream has announced its plans for another amazing experience that will hit the mall extremely soon. Activate Games is an interactive, indoor gaming experience that is officially open now!
American Dream posted on their Instagram that Activate is officially open as of 2 days ago and you can book time slots now. I have to say, from what we know of the new gaming experience coming to American Dream, it seems to be a very futuristic concept.
“Activate offers high-tech games that test your team’s physical and mental agility across a wide variety of real-life challenges. Once inside, you and your team choose from hundreds of combinations of games and difficulty levels, each lasting one to three minutes,” says Acvtivate’s official site.
You get electronic wristbands to track your progress and scores which is also really amazing. This is the definition of a 2023 event and I can’t wait to get there and check it out for myself!
You can officially book your trip to check this out on their website, they have an entire list of time slots found here! American Dream Mall is located at 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ.
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https://wpst.com/activate-gaming-experience-american-dream-mall-nj/
| 2023-07-31T22:30:59
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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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https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/hormel-foods-corporation-hold-third-quarter-earnings-conference-call/
| 2023-07-31T22:30:59
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More U.S. shrimpers have sold their boats. Most Americans don't realize that the cheap, plentiful shrimp they buy in the market and order on pad thai is driving domestic shrimpers out of business.
Copyright 2023 NPR
More U.S. shrimpers have sold their boats. Most Americans don't realize that the cheap, plentiful shrimp they buy in the market and order on pad thai is driving domestic shrimpers out of business.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2023-07-31/demand-for-cheap-shrimp-is-driving-u-s-shrimpers-out-of-business
| 2023-07-31T22:31:03
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SÃO PAULO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zenvia Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENV), the leading cloud-based CX platform in Latin America empowering companies to transform their customer journeys, today announced that its fiscal 2023 second quarter and first half results will be released after the market close on Wednesday August 16, 2023.
Zenvia's senior management team will host a webcast to discuss the financial and operating results on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 10:00 am ET. To access the webcast presentation, click here.
Additional information regarding Zenvia, including a replay of the webcast when available, can be found at https://investors.zenvia.com.
Contacts
About ZENVIA
ZENVIA is driven by the purpose of empowering companies to create unique experiences for end-consumers through its unified CX SaaS end-to-end platform. ZENVIA empowers companies to transform their existing customer experience from non-scalable, physical and impersonal interactions into highly scalable, digital-first and hyper-contextualized experiences across the customer journey. ZENVIA's unified end-to-end CX SaaS platform provides a combination of (i) SaaS focused on campaigns, sales teams, customer service and engagement, (ii) tools, such as software application programming interfaces, or APIs, chatbots, single customer views, journey designers, documents composer and authentication and (iii) channels, such as SMS, Voice, WhatsApp, Instagram and Webchat. Its comprehensive platform assists customers across multiple use cases, including marketing campaigns, customer acquisition, customer onboarding, warnings, customer services, fraud control, cross-selling and customer retention, among others. ZENVIA's shares are traded on Nasdaq, under the ticker ZENV.
View original content:
SOURCE Zenvia
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https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/zenvia-sets-agenda-2023-second-quarter-results/
| 2023-07-31T22:31:04
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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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SOURCE Los Angeles Auto Show
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https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/los-angeles-auto-show-2023-registration-opens-media-industry-day-automobility-la-november-16/
| 2023-07-31T22:31:06
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Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2023-07-31/getting-ac-to-residents-of-public-housing-where-extreme-heat-can-be-dangerous
| 2023-07-31T22:31:07
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Mahnaz Akbari, former commander of the Afghan military's Female Tactical Platoon, about the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Mahnaz Akbari, former commander of the Afghan military's Female Tactical Platoon, about the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2023-07-31/members-of-an-female-afghan-military-platoon-now-face-uncertain-fate-in-the-u-s
| 2023-07-31T22:31:07
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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.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oconee-financial-corporation-completes-acquisition-elberton-federal-savings-amp-loan-association-related-common-stock-offering/
| 2023-07-31T22:31:12
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African leaders backed by the U.S. and France have given a week for coup leaders in Niger to step down and restore the democratically elected president.
Copyright 2023 NPR
African leaders backed by the U.S. and France have given a week for coup leaders in Niger to step down and restore the democratically elected president.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2023-07-31/u-s-france-and-african-leaders-give-coup-leaders-in-niger-one-week-to-step-down
| 2023-07-31T22:31:14
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Guy in West Texas Uses Golf Club to Chip Huge Tarantula Off His Porch
Man, I don’t think I have the guts to get close enough to a tarantula to chip it away with a golf club.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have full-on arachnophobia. But those little eight-legged critters do freak me out a bit.
And I also understand just how beneficial spiders are to the environment. I’m the type of person that will remove a non-venomous spider from my home and turn it loose outside if possible.
But I have to admit that tarantulas are a little too big and scary-looking for me to remove without having a bit of a freakout, even though they’re non-venomous. Even the smaller ones are intimidating to me.
So, I don’t blame the guy in West Texas who decided to use a golf club to chip a big old tarantula off his front porch and put it out there on TikTok. But, like I said, even using a golf club might put me a little too close for comfort.
Of course, there are those who are criticizing his method of removing the tarantula (even though he said the tarantula walked away). But, that’s to be expected.
What I didn’t expect, though, was just how many people are unaware of the fact that we have tarantulas here in the Lone Star State. In fact, some of the people commenting on the video didn’t know they existed in the United States.
Yes, the wilds of Texas can be pretty freakin’ scary.
@rgthetruth12 The tarantula walked away, dont be mad
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https://newstalk1290.com/guy-in-texas-uses-golf-club-to-chip-tarantula/
| 2023-07-31T22:31:18
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NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer catches up with professional soccer player Sam Mewis about the action going down at Women's World Cup. Mewis was a member of the U.S. team that won the World Cup in 2019.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2023-07-31/unlikely-heroes-are-stepping-up-at-the-womens-world-cup
| 2023-07-31T22:31:19
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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.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/safco-announces-chief-financial-officer-transition/
| 2023-07-31T22:31:19
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INDIANAPOLIS — Officials with the ACLU of Indiana are asking the Indiana Supreme Court to host a rehearing on its decision in late June to strike down an abortion-related preliminary injunction.
In a petition for rehearing, filed on Monday in the Indiana Supreme Court, the ACLU of Indiana said the Indiana Supreme Court’s decision would “prevent profound and potentially irreversible damage to patients who will suffer ‘a serious health risk’ absent an abortion.”
According to previous reports, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled in late June that the state’s abortion ban does not violate the Indiana State Constitution and overturned a preliminary injunction that blocked the state’s abortion ban.
This rehearing would give the ACLU of Indiana the chance to file a renewed preliminary injunction motion, stating that the right to abortion remains under Article 1, Section 1 of the Indiana Constitution, which states:
We declare, That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that all power is inherent in the people; and that all free governments are, and of right ought to be, founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and well being. For the advancement of these ends, the people have, at all times, an indefeasible right to alter and reform their government.
Article 1, Section 1 of the Indiana Constitution
While the court previously determined that the trial court “erred” in its conclusion that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on the claim that the ban violates this portion of the constitution, officials said in the petition that the Indiana Supreme Court held that the constitution “protects a woman’s right to an abortion that is necessary to protect her life or to protect her from a serious health risk.”
Officials said this portion of the court’s prior decision “left open the possibility that this constitutionally protected right ‘may be broader than the current statutory exception…'”
According to previous reports, the ban prohibited all abortions in the state except for specific circumstances, including:
- “An abortion may be performed if a physician determines that an ‘abortion is
necessary when reasonable medical judgment dictates that performing the abortion is
necessary to prevent any serious health risk to the pregnant woman or to save the
pregnant woman’s life.’” - “An abortion may be performed if a physician determines that the fetus has a ‘lethal
fetal anomaly,’ before the earlier of viability or twenty (20) weeks of post fertilization age.” - “An abortion may be performed ‘during the first ten (10) weeks of post fertilization
age of the fetus’ if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.”
“Numerous circumstances exist where an abortion may be necessary to prevent an objectively ‘serious health risk’ to a patient even though the patient may not risk ‘substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function,'” the petition said, “and on remand Plaintiffs therefore intend to seek a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of Indiana’s abortion ban as it applies to abortions necessary to prevent these serious risks. This will allow the trial court the opportunity, with the benefit of evidence and briefing devoted to this discrete issue, to address in the first instance the breadth of the constitutional right recognized by this Court.”
The plaintiffs in this case are asking for the preliminary injunction to remain in effect for a “set period of time – perhaps 60 or 90 days…” as the court considers this petition. In a statement on its social media, the ACLU of Indiana said:
Indiana is on the cusp of implementing a near-total ban, but we’re doing everything we can to keep abortion legal for as many Hoosiers as possible.
ACLU of Indiana
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https://fox59.com/indiana-news/aclu-of-indiana-files-petition-for-rehearing-in-abortion-related-lawsuit/
| 2023-07-31T22:31:25
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Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd talks with NPR Politics Podcast co-hosts about why he thinks Trump is vulnerable.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd talks with NPR Politics Podcast co-hosts about why he thinks Trump is vulnerable.
Copyright 2023 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2023-07-31/white-house-hopeful-and-former-congressman-will-hurd-on-the-race-to-dethrone-trump
| 2023-07-31T22:31:25
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Niger will face sanctions as democracy falls apart, … Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell sentenced in deaths … Vernon College honors success of new nursing apprenticeship IS claims responsibility for the bombing that killed …
Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell sentenced in deaths … Vernon College honors success of new nursing apprenticeship IS claims responsibility for the bombing that killed …
Vernon College honors success of new nursing apprenticeship IS claims responsibility for the bombing that killed …
Bobby – 07-25-23 Video Lacey – 07-18-23 Video Danyn – 07-11-23 Video Esperanza “Violet” – 07-04-23 Video
Making the move to a Harley-Davidson Video Real Estate Minute – 07-27-2023 Video The truth about bruxism Video Red River Lyric Opera Video
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https://www.texomashomepage.com/halloween/
| 2023-07-31T22:31:26
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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.weau.com/2023/07/31/pilot-injured-after-banner-plane-crashes-into-ocean-near-beach/
| 2023-07-31T22:31:26
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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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HOWARD COUNTY, Ind. — One woman is dead following a two-vehicle crash in Howard County near Russiaville.
The Howard County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies responded to the accident near County Road 400 South and County Road 650 West at approximately 5:03 p.m. on Sunday. When officials arrived on scene, they found a silver Ford Escape that had rear-ended a black Nissan Juke.
The deputies’ initial investigation revealed that the Ford Escape was driven by 64-year-old William Gorman of Frankfort. The Nissan Juke was operated by 69-year-old Terry Tidler. His wife, 62-year-old Gail Tidler, was the vehicle’s lone passenger.
Gorman, Terry Tidler and Gail Tidler were all transported to the emergency room at Community Howard Regional Health with complaints of pain. Gail was pronounced dead in the emergency room.
The Howard County Sheriff’s Office press release on the incident did not disclose the condition of Gorman or Terry Tidler. The results of an autopsy on Gail Tidler scheduled for Monday were not available via the release.
The case is still under investigation by the Howard County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Office. Those with information on the incident are asked to contact officials at (765) 614-3482. Tips can also be submitted here.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:31
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Traffic fatalities in Arizona have risen for the third straight year.
That’s according to a new report from the Department of Transportation that showed 2022 was the second-deadliest year on record in the state, and fatalities rose by 8.6% from the previous year.
The numbers include all Arizona roadways including highways, tribal and county roads and city streets.
Officials say speeding was a factor in many crashes resulting in nearly 430 deaths and more than 20,000 injuries.
In addition, pedestrian fatalities rose last year in Arizona with more than 300 killed.
Alcohol-related crashes, however, saw a slight decline in 2022.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:32
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SÃO PAULO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zenvia Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENV), the leading cloud-based CX platform in Latin America empowering companies to transform their customer journeys, today announced that its fiscal 2023 second quarter and first half results will be released after the market close on Wednesday August 16, 2023.
Zenvia's senior management team will host a webcast to discuss the financial and operating results on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 10:00 am ET. To access the webcast presentation, click here.
Additional information regarding Zenvia, including a replay of the webcast when available, can be found at https://investors.zenvia.com.
Contacts
About ZENVIA
ZENVIA is driven by the purpose of empowering companies to create unique experiences for end-consumers through its unified CX SaaS end-to-end platform. ZENVIA empowers companies to transform their existing customer experience from non-scalable, physical and impersonal interactions into highly scalable, digital-first and hyper-contextualized experiences across the customer journey. ZENVIA's unified end-to-end CX SaaS platform provides a combination of (i) SaaS focused on campaigns, sales teams, customer service and engagement, (ii) tools, such as software application programming interfaces, or APIs, chatbots, single customer views, journey designers, documents composer and authentication and (iii) channels, such as SMS, Voice, WhatsApp, Instagram and Webchat. Its comprehensive platform assists customers across multiple use cases, including marketing campaigns, customer acquisition, customer onboarding, warnings, customer services, fraud control, cross-selling and customer retention, among others. ZENVIA's shares are traded on Nasdaq, under the ticker ZENV.
View original content:
SOURCE Zenvia
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COLUMBUS, Ind. — A Columbus man is under arrest after allegedly stealing an air conditioning unit in Columbus Saturday afternoon.
Columbus Police Department officers were dispatched to a Walmart located at 735 Whitfield Drive in response to a theft.
CPD said security at the Walmart told responding officers a man had reportedly stolen an air conditioning unit and had last been seen boarding a city bus.
Officers quickly found the bus the suspect was on near Indiana Avenue and Ross Street, CPD said. Cameron Sampson, 31, was subsequently arrested after CPD officers reportedly discovered a large white box with an air conditioner inside.
Sampson was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he faces a Level 6 felony theft charge.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:37
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This year’s massive snowpack in the Rocky Mountains has created above-average inflows at Lake Powell.
According to officials at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the higher water levels have increased access to several areas popular with boaters and visitors.
That includes Rainbow Bridge, where access was restored earlier this month after docks and other infrastructure could not be accessed by boat because of plummeting water levels brought on by drought in recent years.
The Park Service says despite the unusually wet year, the agency is still planning for a drier future and is designing projects that provide sustainable low-water access at several locations.
Lake Powell’s inflows this year are more than 230 percent of 2022, and its level is nearly 45 feet higher than a year ago.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:38
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INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in finding a missing teen that was last seen on the city’s northwest side.
IMPD identified the missing teen as 17-year-old Aniya Hannah. Hannah is described as being 5’5” and weighing 160 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.
Hannah was last seen on the northwest side of Indianapolis. IMPD is asking anyone who finds her to contact 911. Anyone with information related to Hannah’s location is asked to contact the IMPD Missing Persons Unit at 317-327-6160 or call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:43
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Leaders on the Navajo Nation have declared an extreme heat emergency as temperatures have climbed to dangerous levels in recent weeks.
Many areas of the reservation have experienced higher-than-normal summer averages with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.
Officials say the extreme heat threatens vulnerable populations like the elderly, infants, pregnant people, those with chronic medical conditions and who lack access to cooling.
The heat also impacts ecosystems, agriculture and infrastructure and intensifies drought conditions.
The declaration will help the tribe coordinate resources and assist residents most in need.
The declaration is in effect until the end of August.
Hot temperatures are forecast to return by the end of the week.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:44
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INDIANAPOLIS — An 18-year-old is identified after he was shot and killed at a troubled east side gas station over the weekend.
Just before midnight Friday night, Antwain Turentine Jr. was shot sitting in a car outside the Emerson Food Mart.
The 18-year-old died after being taken to this hospital, while his killer ran away and has not been caught.
The deadly shooting marked the fourth person shot and killed at same food mart in less than four months.
“What can we do to counteract the violence we’re seeing? How many people have to go through the same pain?” said Tansherice Billups.
Billups didn’t know Turentine Jr., but his death felt like déjà vu.
In early April her 22-year-old son, Jyir Billups, died after being shot in the back walking out the front door of the same gas station.
“How many people have to die on this same concrete land, at this same spot? This gas station is not needed,” said Billups.
While her son’s killer was caught on surveillance cameras, police have never released any suspect information and no one has ever been held accountable for that killing.
“It has been absolutely purely hell,” said Billups. “A parent is never supposed to bury their child.”
Sadly, just two weeks after her son was killed, police returned to the same food mart in late April when two more men were shot and killed inside the store.
Martice McGee was eventually arrested and charged with those murders.
Now with a fourth homicide in four months, Billups personally feels like the business should be forced to add security or be shut down.
“At some point the state of Indiana has got to do better solving these cases and holding certain businesses accountable for what happens on their property,” said Billups.
Court records also show Turentine Jr. did have an active warrant for his arrest when he was shot. The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to robbery last year and was put on GPS monitoring which he removed in April.
There were several patrons here at the business when his shooting occurred. Detectives are asking that the patrons who fled the scene for safety call the IMPD Homicide office and let them know what they recall.
Anyone with information about Turentine’s death should contact Detective Doug Swails at the IMPD Homicide Office at (317) 327-3475 or e-mail him at Douglas.Swails@indy.gov
Anyone with information about the murder of Jyir Billups should contact Detective Michael Wright at the IMPD Homicide Office at (317) 327-3475 or e-mail him at Michael.Wright@indy.gov
Alternatively, they can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477 or (TIPS) to remain anonymous.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:49
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The anthropomorphic cattle dog has been captivating her target audience and then some. We spoke to parents about how the show has provided comfort and guidance in the wild world of parenting.
Who is she? Bluey Heeler is a six-year-old Australian blue heeler that is the protagonist of her eponymous children's show — as well as several toy collections, an album, books and a popular stage show.
What's the big deal? Aside from her name dominating the search bar suggestions on YouTube as soon as you begin typing the word "blue..."?
Want more on the entertainment industry? Listen to Consider This on the future of Black owned media.
What are people saying? Pretty good stuff! NPR's Scott Detrow spoke to some Bluey viewers on why they're drawn to the program from down under.
Linda McGee, a Chicago area mom of two, on why she first got into it:
It's taught me to really just play along and just tap into my childlike innocence and sense of wonder. There's so many things that I've done that I probably would never do if I wasn't watching Bluey. I probably would not be, like, a horsey ride or, like, a car driving to the grocery store for some reason.
Joseph Peterson, a Frederick, Md. dad of one, on which episode first caught his attention:
For me, I think that episode is Sleepytime.
It's just so heartwarming and empathetic, I think both for the difficulty it is for children — it really sees them in kind of the struggles to stay in their own bed at night — and also, it's really empathetic towards the parents' point of view, right? What that struggle can mean, going back and forth from bedroom to bedroom to the bathroom, to sharing space on the bed or on the floor.
And Mari Brisco, a mother of one in New Orleans on how she found herself totally engrossed with the show:
So my daughter was born eight weeks early. So I've always worried, in the back of my head like, "Oh, my God, is she hitting the right milestones at this age and everything?" And even watching that episode [Baby Race] I was like, "It's OK. You know, she's going to crawl when she crawls. She's going to talk when she talks."
So, what now?
Learn more:
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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ANDERSON, Ind. — A former Madison County councilman who is accused of raping an underage girl in 2020 is being sought by police after he failed to show up for his appointed court date.
According to court records, former councilman Steve Sumner, 55, was set to appear in Madison County court on Thursday. After failing to show, the court issued a warrant for Sumner’s arrest.
At the time of publishing, Sumner’s warrant is still active.
Previous reports detail that Sumner resigned from his seat on the Madison County Council in May 2021, several months after his charges were first filed in December 2020.
Charging documents accuse Sumner of a litany of charges related to child sex crimes. Online court records show he currently faces 15 felony charges that include child seduction, possession of child pornography, child molestation and rape.
Sumner was 52 years old when he was accused of molesting an underage girl in the early parts of 2020. The victim told officers she attempted to resist by pushing and kicking him, court documents reveal.
A search of Sumner’s phone included the discovery of images and videos of a “young nude female,” according to the documents. The photos were reportedly of the victim and were taken in 2019 and 2020.
Text messages were also reportedly found on the phone that were sent by Sumner to the victim and asked the underage girl for photographs of her in the shower.
A court date in Sumner’s case is currently slated for Sept. 5.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:55
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Updated July 31, 2023 at 5:05 PM ET
A rising star in American cycling, 17-year-old Magnus White, has died after a driver hit him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.
White had been preparing to head to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the Junior Men's Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships next week.
A member of USA Cycling's junior men's national team, White won the 2021 USA Cyclocross Junior Men's National Championship. He represented the U.S. in his first cyclocross world championship last year in Fayetteville, Ark., and competed in his second earlier this year in the Netherlands. (USA Cycling describes cyclocross as a combination of "road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase.")
"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved son, Magnus White," his parents Michael and Jill White said in a statement Monday.
"Magnus was dedicated to his family and friends and loved to surround them with laughter. He had an amazing smile that always lit up the room, bringing joy to those around him."
White's passion for cycling started at the age of two on a strider bike, they said, and he began racing at age 8. He grew up in Boulder and trained with Boulder Junior Cycling. He was also an avid skier and a committed student who aspired to attend business school, according to his website. He planned to graduate from high school a semester early so he could focus on international competition in spring 2024.
In addition to his parents, White is survived by his brother Eero. A family friend has set up a GoFundMe to support the family, USA Cycling confirms.
"Magnus was taken from us while doing what he loved most, riding his bike," writes Christine Lipson, the fundraiser's organizer.
"He began cycling when he was eight and quickly rose through the cycling ranks. Magnus's journey in cycling was driven by a tireless work ethic and a deep desire to achieve his personal best. He was proud to represent his community and country around the world," writes Lipson, whose son was a close friend and teammate of White's.
White was riding on the shoulder of Highway 119, known as the Diagonal, in Boulder on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a 23-year-old woman driving a Toyota Matrix. The driver crossed from the right-hand lane onto the shoulder, striking White from behind before she crashed into a fence, according to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol. White was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. The car's driver was uninjured.
Neither drugs, alcohol nor excessive speed are suspected factors in the crash, according to the state patrol.
USA Cycling said in a statement Sunday that White was a rising star in off-road cycling and "his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community."
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time," the statement continued. "We ride for Magnus."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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| 2023-07-31T22:31:56
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Impeached Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks to have most charges dismissed before September trial
By JIM VERTUNO
Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lawyers for impeached Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have sought to have most of the charges against him dismissed. Paxton’s attorneys argued in filings Monday that the charges rely on alleged acts of corruption from before he was reelected to a third term in 2022, and that they believe state law bars the removal of an official for conduct that occurred before their most recent election. They accused the GOP-dominated House of Representatives of seeking to oust Paxton, who is a Republican, because they were unable to unseat him by popular vote. Paxton’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5 in the state Senate.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:16
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CHICAGO -- Angus Cloud, a young actor best known for his role in the drama "Euphoria," has died, his family announced in a statement to CNN on Monday.
He was 25.
SEE ALSO: Paul Reubens, comedian who portrayed iconic Pee-wee Herman character, dies at 70
"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 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," they wrote.
"We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone," his family added. "We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss."
The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
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Memphis police shoot suspect after he fired shots outside Jewish school
By ADRIAN SAINZ
Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis police say 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 says the suspect, whose identity has not been released, approached Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South around 12:20 p.m. on Monday. He fired several shots and then left in a maroon truck. It is not immediately clear if school was in session. Officers soon located the suspect’s vehicle “shortly after that,” Crowe says, adding that officers then shot the suspect after he exited the truck with a firearm in hand. The suspect was sent to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:22
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Families from California, Indiana and Texas are relocating to the Triangle specifically to live in a brand new sustainable community.
The development is being called North Carolina's first net-zero community. Construction is already underway on the community's inaugural home, which can be found about 15 miles west of Chapel Hill.
The ceilings soar two stories in the Williams' new home and natural light streams through the space in seemingly every direction.
The couple lives in West Virginia now, but they want to move to North Carolina to be near great health care and step up how self-sufficient they're living.
"Energy costs are a major concern," said Marti Williams. "We're hoping not to increase our carbon footprint."
"With all the issues that are going on with the environment and the climate today, we wanted to do our part," said Ken Williams.
Homes in the new Array Sustainable Living community are being built to generate enough energy to run the entire household.
It is being accomplished with Energy Star appliances, solar power and advanced framing techniques.
"You're your own mini power plant as a way to generate electricity," said builder Vince DeFreitas.
The developers have been working years on this eco-friendly project.
"It's the first neighborhood (in North Carolina) where all of the houses will be 100 percent net-zero energy," said developer Jodi Bakst. "It is not rocket science. There are builders doing it all across the country. They're not here as much as they are in other places and we want to show that it could be done."
These homes will be placed on the power grid as a back-up and if they produce more energy than needed, the power company will buy it back.
"It takes a village, if you will, to get all of that solar on the grid and adding all that solar resources to the grid helps to expand clean energy across the state, reduce carbon that we're using," said Duke Energy Spokesperson Jeff Brooks.
The Williamses will be moving into their net-zero home in November, just in time to host the holidays and start seeing some savings.
"We're looking forward to having my mom and sister come from Arkansas and stay with us a while," said Ken Williams.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:22
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Senegal dissolves opposition party, restricts internet ahead of next year’s presidential election
By ZANE IRWIN and BABACAR DIONE
Associated Press
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal’s government has dissolved a major opposition party and restricted internet service hours after the party’s popular president and opposition leader said a judge ordered his arrest. The Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity party’s dissolution was criticized by former Prime Minister Aminata Touré as an “unprecedented setback” in the West African nation’s democratic history. It further raised concerns about next year’s presidential election in Senegal, long considered a bastion of democracy and a regional leader in diplomacy. The opposition party has “frequently called on its supporters to take part in insurrectionary movements,” Antoine Félix Diome, Senegal’s interior minister, said in a statement.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:28
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Trump’s early work to set rules for nominating contest notches big win in delegate-rich California
By MICHELLE L. PRICE
Associated Press
Donald Trump has scored a major victory in his efforts to reshape the mosaic of state Republican Party rules that determine the GOP presidential nominee.
The California Republican Party over the weekend voted overwhelmingly to approve a plan to award all of their 169 presidential delegates to a candidate that wins a majority of the vote in the state’s March 5 primary.
That’s a hurdle that Trump, who remains popular in the party and is the early frontrunner in the crowded 2024 GOP field, could clear.
If no candidate wins more than 50%-plus-one in California’s Super Tuesday primary, then the delegates will be awarded to candidates based on their share of the vote. The rule change passed on a 53-16 vote Saturday by the California GOP’s Executive Committee is much more favorable to a frontrunner than a proposal that the party was considering a few weeks ago.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung called it “a humiliating defeat” for Trump’s strongest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and the super PAC that’s been heavily supporting his presidential campaign.
“We are pleased the California Republican Party readopted a Winner-Take-All provision, and we look forward to competing across California to win all of its delegates, just as President Trump did in 2016 and 2020,” Cheung said in a statement.
DeSantis’ campaign had said it was closely monitoring the delegate plans in the states, but a spokesman for the campaign did not respond to questions about their conversations with the California GOP.
Communications Director Andrew Romeo said: “We’re putting an organization together that can win in any state, in any format, anytime, and anywhere. Game on.”
But Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting DeSantis’ campaign whose top advisors are schooled in the arts of delegate rules, was less sanguine.
“Smoke-filled back rooms do not reflect the will of or benefit voters in any state. Yet across the country games are afoot to enhance the potential outcome of primary elections for one former president who half of the Republican electorate no longer wants as the party leader,” Ken Cuccinelli, the founder of Never Back Down, said in a statement. “Even with these asinine primary rules changes, we remain confident Governor DeSantis will become the Republican nominee and 47th president of the United States.”
Never Back Down did not respond to a request to make Cuccinelli available for an interview.
California has more delegates to award than any other state, making its delegate haul valuable in the contest to win the majority of more than 2,000 Republican delegates and secure the party’s nomination.
State parties set their rules governing how delegates are awarded based on the results of presidential caucuses and primaries, a process that Trump and his team have been working for years to influence.
The complex process repeatedly tripped up Trump’s 2016 campaign but after years of work by the former president himself and his advisers, the resulting system largely favors a frontrunner.
Many state Republican parties made changes to their rules ahead of the 2020 election by adding more winner-take-all contests and requiring candidates to earn higher percentages of the vote to claim any delegates.
As state parties this year are finalizing their delegate plans for 2024, California’s proposal received heightened attention because of the number of delegates at stake.
The party was originally considering a plan earlier this month that could have potentially allowed a second-place finisher to collect more delegates.
The earlier proposal would not have allowed for a candidate to take all the delegates if they received a majority of the votes.
Instead, it split the 169 delegates into two groups. Of those, 156 of the delegates would be allocated based on the primary results in each of the state’s 52 congressional districts. The candidate who received the most votes in each district would receive two delegates, while the second-place candidate in the district would get one. The remaining 13 delegates would have been allocated to candidates based on the percentage of the statewide vote they won.
That proposal drew outrage from some Trump supporters on Twitter who cast it as a plot to harm Trump.
California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said the initial proposal “was a starting point so that we could take the issue up,” but dividing up the delegates proportionally incentivizes every candidate to campaign in California because they could be awarded their share of what they win.
“This is what primaries are for,” Patterson said. “I’m excited to see all of these candidates step up and either show us that they can take a portion or win the state on their own and to make that case to California voters.”
Patterson declined to detail the specific input each campaign provided but said the party heard from campaigns beyond just those of Trump and DeSantis, along with supporters of the various candidates and potential delegates.
She said it was “a very open and transparent process,” with the party allowing for public comment and discussion during the final weekend vote and during an earlier meeting of the party’s rules committee, which first passed the change.
“I feel good about where we ended up on Saturday, despite what some people might say,” she said.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:34
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Authorities searching for suspect who abandoned 11 puppies at Michigan church
By Sara Powers
Click here for updates on this story
SOUTH HAVEN, Michigan (WWJ) — Authorities are looking for a suspect who abandoned 11 puppies outside at a church in South Haven.
Video footage shows the suspect at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, near the Al-Van Humane Society, in a Chevrolet Silverado. The suspect then grabbed a crate of puppies out of the truck’s bed and placed it next to the bushes of the church.
Al-Van Humane Society says it received a call from South Haven police in the morning on Tuesday, July 25, about the puppies that were placed behind the church.
When they arrived at the church, Rover’s Retreat was there, and officers released six to them and the remaining five to the humane society.
The humane society says they legally must hold the stray puppies until Monday, July 31.
The puppies were found dirty and full of fleas but have since been bathed and are eating well. The puppies have also started to get their vaccines.
“We will be placing the puppies in foster homes after their stray hold is up until they are old enough to be spayed or neutered,” said the Al-Van Humane Society of Facebook. “As a shelter, one of our ultimate goals is to reduce the homeless pet population, so we do not release any animal for official adoption until they are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.”
Anyone interested in helping assist the nonprofit with caring for the puppies can donate here, and anyone interested in fostering can fill out an application here.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:40
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Country musician Luke Bryan sings to Colorado 7-year-old fighting cancer
By JASMINE ARENAS
Click here for updates on this story
DENVER (KCNC) — A wish was just granted for one little girl who has spent her entire life fighting.
Mary Stegmueller got to meet Luke Bryan at his concert at Ball Arena on Saturday night. Her wish was granted when someone connected to the Archdiocese of Denver and former Nuggets player and announcer Bill Hanzlik. As a result, a private suite at the arena was donated to Mary and her family so they could enjoy the concert.
If it wasn’t for the donated suite, they would not have been able to go.
Her family shared with CBS News Colorado that Mary had the best night. They are truly thankful for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Kristin Stegmueller, Mary’s mother, said Mary stayed awake through the whole concert.
“She just kept getting up to dance,” Stegmueller said. “When she met him he started to sing one of his songs to her and she tried to pop up to dance and she was legitimately swooning in his arms.”
The Stegmueller family is thankful to those who played a role in making sure the whole family had an opportunity to see Bryan in concert on Saturday.
Mary is a Catholic Student. She attends Frassati Catholic Academy in Thornton. The suite was made possible thanks to Hanzlik, a man who doesn’t know her but shares her faith and worked his connections to make it possible. He’s a founder of the youth sports organization Gold Crown Foundation.
“If we hadn’t had a donation of the suite, she would not have been able to go to the concert because she would’ve been in general (admission seating) and she’s immunosuppressed,” said Stegmueller.
At 4 ½ years-old, Mary was diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), a rare type of pediatric terminal brain cancer.
“When she was diagnosed, we were told we had six to nine months if we would do radiation,” said Stegmueller.
But three years later, Mary is thriving and going strong. Now at seven-years-old, after going through clinical trials and a couple brain surgeries, she keeps fighting the good fight.
“She has fought everything, she’s had over 42 sessions of radiation, 12 of those she did awake. She’s had over 70 MRI’s ” said Stegmueller.
It’s been hard for the now seven-year-old to fight this type of cancer.
According to the brain tumor charity, the average overall survival for people with DIPG is less than 1 year, generally ranging from 8-11 months. About 10 percent of people survive at least two years after diagnosis. About two percent of people survive at least five years after diagnosis.
As she battles this cancer, country music and Luke Bryan have been her saving grace, which is why Saturday night will always be a moment they remember.
“You never know how much time you have and we just want to be able to look back and remember all this time we’ve had,” said Stegmueller.
Mary begins radiation again on Monday.
She will do 12 days and then go back to clinical trials.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:46
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Dead body found in container at Malibu Lagoon State Beach
By KCAL-NEWS STAFF
Click here for updates on this story
LOS ANGELES (KCAL) — A homicide investigation was in progress after a man’s body was found inside a container at Malibu Lagoon State Beach Monday.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a dead body found inside a 55-gallon drum on the beach at Malibu Lagoon State Beach Monday morning.
A beachgoer reportedly found the drum washed ashore with the body inside at about 10:27 a.m. near the 23200 block of Pacific Coast Highway, according to the sheriff’s department.
Paramedics pronounced the unidentified person dead at the scene. No further details about the body were immediately released.
It was unclear how long the container and the body had been in the water. The drum appeared to be found on the lagoon side of the beach.
No cause of death was immediately determined, but a homicide investigation was in progress.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:52
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“Land of 10,000 Tokes Day”: What should we call the 1st day of legal recreational weed in Minnesota?
By WCCO STAFF
Click here for updates on this story
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Legalized recreational weed is coming to Minnesota on Tuesday.
It’s gotten us thinking at WCCO: What should the nickname for the first official day of legalization be?
We’ve come up with a list of possible nicknames for the day below:
Land of 10,000 Tokes Day Land of 10,000 Bakes Day Minnesota Pot Dish Day Minnestoner Day The North Spliff State Day Paul Bluntyan Day Ope, Just Gonna Pass The Joint Day Uff-Dank Day You Bud-cha Day WeedyMcWeedface Day Dank Superior Day
What are your favorites? What ideas do you have? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!
Soon Minnesotans will be able to legally possess and grow their own marijuana for recreational purposes, after the Minnesota Legislature approved a 300-page bill earlier this year, and Gov. Tim Walz signed it into law shortly thereafter.
At least one Minnesota tribe plans to take advantage of its sovereignty and allow sales right away. But at the same time, the state projects most legal retail sales likely won’t begin until early 2025, while it creates and implements a licensing and regulatory system for the new industry.
Minnesota is the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana, more than a decade after Colorado and Washington did so.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:56
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) — Angus Cloud, the actor who starred as the drug dealer Fezco “Fez” O’Neill on the HBO series “Euphoria,” has died. He was 25.
Cloud's publicist, Cait Bailey, said McCloud died Monday at his family home in Oakland, California. No cause of death was given.
In a statement, McCloud's family said goodbye to “an artist, a friend, a brother and a son.”
“Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss,” the family said. “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.”
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“We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone,” his family added.
Cloud hadn't acted before he was cast in “Euphoria.” He was walking down the street in New York when casting director Jennifer Venditti noticed him. Series creator Sam Levinson made him the co-star of the series alongside Zendaya for its first two seasons.
The part made Cloud the breakout star of one the buzziest shows in television. He was recently cast to co-star in “Scream 6.”
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| 2023-07-31T22:33:59
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Explosive wildfire crossed US-Canada border, forcing evacuations
By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist
(CNN) — An out-of-control blaze burning in northern Washington state exploded in size, crossed the Canadian border and set off a cascade of evacuations over the weekend.
The so-called Eagle Bluff Fire has burned thousands of acres on both sides of the border and forced hundreds to evacuate their homes since it ignited Saturday in Washington’s Okanogan County.
Evacuations were ordered on Saturday for more than 700 properties in the Canadian town of Osoyoos, British Columbia, after the fire crossed the border. By Monday, that number fell to 192 properties after firefighters made progress fighting the fire, with an additional 2,635 properties in the area under an evacuation alert to be ready to evacuate should conditions change.
There are no active evacuation orders for the Eagle Pass Fire in the US, but at least three structures had burned in Okanogan County, Washington, and portions of the county were under a Level 2 evacuation notice – “Be Ready to Evacuate” – according to fire officials.
The fire exploded in size due to dry, warm and breezy conditions and has burned through more than 10,000 acres. At least 3,500 acres have burned in Canada alone. The fire remains completely uncontained in both countries, according to Washington and Canadian fire officials.
Wind gusts are expected to ease over the area by midweek, which could lend a helping hand to firefighters.
The Eagle Bluff Fire is one in a series of large fires that ignited across the Western US in July. At least 64 large fires are currently burning across nine states, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, including the York Fire, which continues to rage in Southern California’s Mojave National Preserve. Still uncontained, that fire has already burned 77,000 acres in California and is closing in on the Nevada border. Weather conditions gave firefighters a slight boost on Sunday night as some rainfall moved through the area and helped slow down fire activity.
The United States’ fire season has been pacing below average in terms of acres burned so far this year. As of July 31, 1.1 million acres have burned across the US in 2023, according to the National Interagency Fire Center – well below the 5.7 million acres that had burned to-date in 2022.
The US wildfire season may pick up pace as August arrives. Much of the Pacific Northwest is dry and hot, which is expected to continue through the summer, leaving room for increasingly dry fuels and easy wildfire spread.
While the US wildfire season has started out slow, that is not the case for Canada, which is in the middle of its worst fire season on record. Hundreds of fires burning across Canada have spread several rounds of hazardous smoke across much of the northern tier of the US this summer.
As of July 26, more than 30 million acres of Canadian land – an area roughly the size of Mississippi – have been scorched by wildfires so far in 2023, according to Environment Canada.
At least three firefighters have died this summer battling Canada’s wildfires, including a blaze in British Columbia known as the Donnie Creek Fire which claimed the life of a firefighter last week.
“I am heartbroken that another firefighter was lost protecting our communities and our province during this devastating wildfire season,” Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests said in a statement on Saturday.
Before this year, the worst wildfire season in Canada in terms of acres burned occurred in 1989 when more than 18 million acres were scorched, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Melissa Alonso and Joe Sutton contributed to this report
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ENGINEERING
Draper buys land near Kennedy Space Center
Nonprofit engineering firm Draper has acquired 5.3 acres of land in Titusville, Fla., near the Kennedy Space Center. The undeveloped location, purchased from North American Properties for $2.2 million, will, when built out, help Cambridge-based Draper provide engineering and research services for its customers in national security and space systems. Draper plans to build 35,000 square feet as part of the first phase, and a second phase will accommodate another 25,000 square feet. The company plans to employ 50 people there initially but expects that could grow to 150 over time. This will be Draper’s third campus in Florida, following locations in St. Petersburg and Cape Canaveral, and its 10th nationwide. “We are truly excited to expand our national presence with this new campus in Florida,” Jerry Wohletz, president and chief executive of Draper, said in a statement. “In our efforts to expand our presence, we placed great value on the talent pool, access to various markets and cultural diversity, making Florida our ideal destination.” — JON CHESTO
MOVIES
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“Haunted Mansion” movie had a scarily bad opening
Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” took in about $24 million at the weekend box office, a comatose result for a movie that cost at least $200 million to make and market. The comedic horror movie received poor reviews. Competition was also fierce: “Barbie” (Warner Bros.) collected an astounding $93 million in its second weekend, easily claiming first place, while “Oppenheimer” (Universal) racked up about $46.2 million. “Barbie” has now collected more than $750 million worldwide, according to Comscore, which compiles box office data. “Oppenheimer” has delivered roughly $400 million in global ticket sales. But “Haunted Mansion” also had the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first big-budget movie to get sideswiped by the Hollywood actors’ strike, which is now in its third week. Until the strike is resolved — no talks are scheduled — the actors’ union has barred its members from engaging in any publicity efforts for completed films and TV shows. No red carpet appearances, no social media posts, no interviews on morning news shows, and no participation in newspaper or magazine articles. — NEW YORK TIMES
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E-COMMERCE
Amazon to double same-day delivery facilities
Amazon will double the number of US same-day delivery facilities in the “coming years,” the company announced Monday, an investment executives are counting on to maintain Amazon’s lead in the $1.4 trillion online shopping market. Speedy delivery remains a major imperative for Amazon, and the company said more than half of all orders placed by Prime subscribers in the 60 largest metropolitan areas during the most recent quarter arrived the same or next day. Amazon also said that it has delivered more than 1.8 billion units to Prime members in the United States with same-day or one-day delivery so far this year, up about fourfold from the same period in 2019. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
BANKING
UBS to unload Credit Suisse loans in Asia
UBS is planning to exit billions of dollars in loans to Credit Suisse’s clients in the Asia Pacific region, as the Swiss bank works to neutralize risks to its profitability and reputation from the defunct lender. The bank intends to either wind down or sell off the majority of Credit Suisse’s more complex and higher-risk structured loans in APAC, people familiar with the matter said. Those riskier assets will be placed in the so-called Non-Core Unit for businesses that UBS doesn’t want, the people said. The bank is likely to keep less complicated loans made against liquid collateral — so-called Lombard loans — they said, who asked not to be named discussing private details. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
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INTERNATIONAL
Kosovo journalists protest closure of television station by government
Kosovo’s journalists on Monday protested the government’s decision to suspend a private television station’s operations. Authorities made the move last week because they said there were irregularities concerning the registration of Klan Kosova’s business license that violated the country’s constitution. Scores of journalists and members of civil society organizations gathered in downtown Pristina in front of the main government building to protest the suspension of the broadcaster’s operations. The demonstrators said it was a “politically motivated” action taken by the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. It was the first closure of a media outlet since the end of Kosovo’s 1998-1999 war, they said, holding a banner that read “Democracy dies in darkness.” — ASSOCIATED PRESS
INTERNATIONAL
Euro economy returns to growth
The euro-area economy returned to growth while underlying inflation pressures persisted — supporting early arguments for the European Central Bank to raise interest rates again. Second-quarter gross domestic product advanced by 0.3 percent from the previous three months after shrinking and stagnating in the two earlier periods, according to Eurostat data published Monday. A separate release showed consumer prices rose 5.3 percent from a year ago in July, as expected. But in a sign of lingering dangers, the closely watched underlying inflation measure that excludes volatile costs like food and energy overshot estimates by a touch to stay at 5.5 percent, surpassing the headline gauge for the first time since 2021. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
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TRAVEL
Air travel may be declining in the US
The air travel boom in the United States appears to be fading. Purchases by US consumers directly from major domestic airlines declined across the board in the second quarter, marking the first drop in more than two years, according to Bloomberg Second Measure. The data isn’t a full picture, though. It tracks anonymous credit and debit card transactions made with carriers but excludes booking sites and corporate sales. Americans splurged on air travel over the past year as pandemic restrictions lifted; not even a surge in ticket prices slowed them down. But after facing the highest inflation in decades, consumers have been reducing all kinds of discretionary purchases, including apparel, electronics, and sit-down restaurants. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
INTERNATIONAL
Paternity leave struggles to gain hold in Japan
Japan is far from reaching the paternity leave goals laid out by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, even though a record percentage of fathers took time off to be with their babies last year. According to the survey published Monday by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 17.1 percent of men whose wives gave birth between October 2021 and September 2022 took paternity leave, up more than three percentage points on the previous year. Just over 80 percent of women took maternity leave, down slightly from the previous year. As part of a package aimed at tackling an aging society, Kishida vowed to raise the percentage of fathers working in the private sector who take at least a week of paternity leave to 50 percent in 2025 by bolstering benefits. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
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BEER
Heineken stock plummets on lower earnings
Heineken shares plunged after the Dutch brewer cut its earnings forecast on weakening consumption following double-digit price increases. Operating profit slumped 22 percent on an adjusted basis in the first half, the Amsterdam-based brewer said Monday. Beer volume dropped more than expected as Heineken boosted pricing by almost 13 percent. Heineken is the first of the big global beermakers to report first-half results, and its results may portend difficulties for rivals Anheuser-Busch InBev and Carlsberg. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
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3rd indictment could delay Trump's trial, state attorney says
Businesses in downtown Fort Pierce are already bracing for the road closures, traffic delays, sidewalk restrictions and overall chaos that will likely come with the trial for former President Donald Trump.
With Carlos De Oliveira now a third co-defendant in the classified documents case, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said there could be even more hullabaloo.
Aronberg said each defendant will have to get a separate lawyer, which means more people will be funneling into Fort Pierce and the federal courthouse.
On top of that, while the trial is currently scheduled for May, Aronberg said it's very likely a third person added to the indictment will push that date back even more.
"This could increase the likelihood of a delay past the 2024 election, more defendants, more complexity, and Trump wants this to be delayed and his co-defendants are helping him by saying they can't find a local lawyer and they need more time," Aronberg said. "That's what Walt Nauta did and that's what De Oliveira is doing."
Aronberg added it's possible that both Nauta and De Oliveira's attorneys will try to sever their cases from Trump's. Ultimately, he said that's up to a judge to decide, but if they are tried separately, Aronberg said that would likely make the trial quicker and smoother.
Aronberg also said he believes there's a high likelihood that one of the men indicted will take a plea deal if they're offered it.
He said if they do, they'll want to take the deal sooner than later to ensure they get the best plea deal possible.
Scripps Only Content 2023
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| 2023-07-31T22:34:07
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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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Angus Cloud, ‘Euphoria’ star, dead at 25
By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN
(CNN) — Angus Cloud, a rising actor best known for his role in the HBO drama “Euphoria,” has died, his family announced in a statement to CNN on Monday.
He was 25.
“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 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,” they wrote.
“We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone,” his family added. “We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss.”
Cloud’s breakout role came in 2019 as Fezco, a sweet-natured drug dealer who cared deeply for Rue, played by Zendaya, in “Euphoria.”
“We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud,” an HBO spokesperson told CNN. “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.”
The Oakland native recalled in an interview with iD in March how he was discovered on the streets of Brooklyn by a casting agent,
“I definitely thought it could be some kind of scam,” he laughed.
When “Euphoria” took off and he became recognizable, Cloud said he was surprised by his own success.
“The difference between me and everyone else who’s famous it’s that they were trying to go get famous, for the most part,” he told the publication. “They were working hard, and they were like, ‘I’m going to make it to the top’. For me, it was just like too good of an opportunity to say no to. I had no idea it would go this far.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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One of Kate Fox’s first priorities as the new head of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism was launching the $750,000 “Massachusetts For Us All” campaign, to emphasize the state’s openness to LGBTQ visitors. Billboards and social media ads went up in Florida and Texas in recent weeks, and then in New England and New York.
The wheels were in motion for the campaign under Governor Maura Healey, the first openly gay person elected governor here, when Fox joined MOTT in June.
Now, Fox wants all the state’s branding and marketing to signal that Massachusetts is welcoming to everyone.
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“My goal is to make sure everything we do is inclusive,” said Fox, who ran Destination Salem before joining the Healey administration. “That campaign is a catalyst for revisioning all of our marketing strategy going forward. It’s: How can everything we do clearly communicate that Massachusetts is ‘for us all’?”
Does that mean Massachusetts has a new marketing slogan? Fox didn’t want to go that far, but did say “there’s a great opportunity to look at what a slogan would be.”
The MOTT ad budget is relatively small. The Legislature sets aside $10 million for tourism each year: $6 million for regional tourism bureaus and $4 million for MOTT. The agency has nine staffers, including the three-person Massachusetts Film Office.
MOTT is also in the midst of a separate $2.5 million campaign, dubbed “Take a Moment,” that launched in the spring under Fox’s predecessor, Keiko Orrall. That campaign, which highlights scenic attractions, involves spots on TV, radio, social media, and billboards and will run through September.
Fox said she’s excited to take on what she calls the “biggest tourism job in the state,” fostering a sector that employs more than 130,000 people here.
“Tourism is a really critical part of our economy,” Fox said. “It has a tremendous amount of potential for telling the Massachusetts story. There’s a lot of responsibility to do it correctly and authentically.”
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Passing the baton at Mass. Municipal
Jill Hai knew she had a tough task ahead: Just as she started a one-year tenure as president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, longtime executive director Geoff Beckwith announced he would retire. After more than three decades in that job, Beckwith and the MMA have become inseparable in many ways.
On Friday, Hai’s task was fulfilled. The MMA board approved an executive committee recommendation to name Adam Chapdelaine as Beckwith’s replacement. Chapdelaine, who takes over for Beckwith on Sept. 9, has spent the past year as deputy director of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, which aims to make Boston more resilient to climate change. He’s perhaps best known, though, for his previous tenure in Arlington, first as deputy town manager and then serving as town manager for a decade until 2022.
Chapdelaine said he’s excited to work with cities and towns across the state as they strive to provide services for their residents while “meeting the myriad challenges of the 21st century.”
Hai had hired headhunting firm Mercer Group Associates to help, and assembled a nine-member search committee. Chapdelaine — himself a past president of the MMA — emerged as the best choice.
“He understands what it’s like in the trenches as well as in the policy world,” said Hai, a Lexington select board member. “It was such a unique combination of experience and vision.”
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Shah wonders: Where would Wayfair grow now?
When Wayfair cofounders Niraj Shah and Steve Conine were starting their careers in 1995, the choice was simple. Boston? Or New York? The two Cornell grads had a strong preference for Boston.
Shah recounted his experience during a Massachusetts Competitive Partnership event last week, held to discuss making this state more friendly for tech startups. Shah, now Wayfair’s chief executive, recalled that he liked the wealth of innovation talent here and the density of venture capital firms. While those strengths still hold true, “Boston’s stature has definitely dropped on a relative basis to some other cities in the country [since 1995],” Shah said. “For the vitality of the economy, I just think there’s a lot we could do today that would . . . make it feel a lot more like 1995.”
He particularly cited the region’s high cost of living as a reason why it’s become tougher to attract talent here.
State economic development secretary Yvonne Hao then said she gets it. As Governor Maura Healey’s point person for economic competitiveness, Hao said she has become “relentlessly paranoid” about rival states poaching our best and brightest people and companies, particularly amid the rise of remote work and residents moving to lower-cost places to live.
On the other hand, Hao remains optimistic the pendulum might swing back. She said the Somerville startup where she worked, PillPack, would not have survived until it was acquired by Amazon if not for all the in-office collaboration. “A lot of business is a ‘full contact sport,’” Hao added. “I think over time, we’ll see some of that shift back again.”
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Travel industry turns its eyes to Washington
Now that we’re all free to move about the cabin again, what will the biggest stumbling blocks be for the travel industry going forward?
That was one of the major recurring themes at the U.S. Travel Association’s Summer Summit, held last week at the Omni Hotel in the Seaport. Attendees came from across the country, representing various corners of the travel and tourism sector. Local panelists included Meet Boston chief executive Martha Sheridan, Google executive Pratip Banerji, and Harvard Business School professor Karim Lakhani. NBC10 Boston′s Glenn Jones emceed.
Geoff Freeman, the trade group’s chief executive, said he’s particularly concerned that other countries seem far more ambitious than the US government in bolstering inbound international travel. Would-be travelers headed for the United States are often confronted with super-long wait times for visas, and super-long lines at customs gates. And the Federal Aviation Administration, Freeman said, has 1,200 fewer air traffic controllers today than it did a decade ago — a shortage that contributes to a wide range of flight delays and cancellations. Not helping matters: the federal government does not have one central agency to deal with travel issues.
“The threat to Boston is more Washington than Boston,” Freeman said in an interview. “The message from Washington is, ‘We don’t care about travel as much as you care about travel.’”
Andy Freed is out of the office. In the meantime...
It’s that time of year again. Time for Andy Freed to go on vacation. Or, maybe more accurately, time for Andy Freed to release his out-of-office “message.”
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The tradition for the chief executive of Wakefield events and marketing firm Virtual Inc. started some two decades ago when he started writing wacky sign-offs to indicate he was away: a spoof of Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” poem when he took Patriots Day off in 2011, or a satirical vacation-themed song to the tune of “Jingle Bells” in December 2012.
The tradition eventually escalated into crazy vacation-themed videos with pop culture references, produced with the help of buddy Thomas Pimentel, owner of TNT Ltd. Productions. Think “Top Gun” or “Ted Lasso.” And don’t forget that 27-minute homage to “Game of Thrones.”
This year, Freed’s OOO message includes a link to a 4-plus minute pharmaceutical ad for a drug called “Vacation.” (The long list of side effects includes eating desserts for breakfast, participating in absurd water sports, and drinking Dr Pepper from novelty binoculars.)
“I always look for what’s out there and ubiquitous,” said Freed, while vacationing in Edgartown. “What’s more ubiquitous than pharmaceutical ads right now?”
Freed started these offbeat messages to make a point.
“It’s the notion that anything in life, anything in business, can be fun, even the most mundane task,” Freed said. But he conceded: “It’s completely spun out of control.”
Jon Chesto can be reached at jon.chesto@globe.com. Follow him @jonchesto.
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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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Paul Reubens, Pee-wee Herman star, dead at 70
CNN
By Lisa Respers France, CNN
(CNN) — Paul Reubens, who found fame as the quirky man-child character Pee-wee Herman, has died, his publicist announced.
He was 70.
“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” a post on his verified social media reads. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”
Reubens left a statement with his team to share with the public after his death.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” Reubens wrote. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
Born in Peekskill, New York, Reubens grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and developed an affinity for comedy early on in his life that he attributed in part to Sarasota being the winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum Circus.
In sixth grade, while attending Southside Elementary, Reubens stepped onto a stage for the first time as Nick Burns in “A Thousand Clown”s at The Players Theatre. While at Brookside Junior High, he appeared at The Players in “The Riot Act”, “Camelot” and “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.”
He led his high school drama club and appeared in starring roles in productions of “The Comedy of Errors,” “My Fair Lady” and “Guys and Dolls.” He was also voted “Most Talented” during his senior year.
After high school graduation, Reubens enrolled in Boston University’s theatre department before moving to Los Angeles to attend the acting program at California Institute of the Arts, the new school founded by Walt Disney.
It was after college that Reubens created the iconic character Pee-wee Herman while a member of the famed Los Angeles improv group, The Groundlings.
“The Pee-wee Herman Show” premiered at The Groundlings Theatre in 1981 before moving to The Roxy on Sunset Strip, where it ran for an unprecedented five months.
The HBO broadcast of the show introduced the Pee-wee Herman character to a national audience.
The character was later brought to the big screen in the 1985 comedy, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” which Reubens co-wrote.
Reubens went on to create, co-write and co-direct the series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” on CBS, where the series earned 22 Emmy Awards during its run from 1986 to 1991. Reubens was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards during his career, winning twice.
In 2010, he produced, co-wrote and starred in an updated revival of “The Pee-wee Herman Show” in Los Angeles. The production later traveled to Broadway, opening to rave reviews at The Stephen Sondheim Theater.
Five years later, he teamed with director Judd Apatow for the Netflix film “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.”
His success as Pee-wee Herman also helped Reubens usher other actors into the spotlight on their road to fame. Some of his “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” costar included Laurence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne, Jimmy Smits, Sandra Bernhard and S. Epatha Merkerson.
Away from the cameras, Reubens faced legal trouble over the years.
He was arrested for indecent exposure in 1991 at a theater showing X-rated films, for which he later entered a plea of no contest.
In 2002, Reubens was charged with one misdemeanor count of possessing material depicting children engaged in sexual conduct, a charge that was later dropped with the actor pleading guilty to a charge of obscenity instead.
“I probably have become more infamous from two misdemeanors than probably anyone I could think of,” Reubens told NBC in 2004.
Some of his more recent acting credits include roles on “Gotham,” “What We Do In The Shadows,” “The Blacklist,” “Portlandia,” “30 Rock,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Reno 911” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Natasha Lyonne, director Tim Burton, Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O’Brien were the many friends and collaborators who paid tribute to Reubens on Monday.
“My heart is broken into a billion pieces. Then I looked at the text you sent me last week: a meme of a person in giant hair getting a pie in the face and I burst out laughing,” director Adam Shankman wrote. “Laughing and crying. This my friend says everything about you and what you gave the world.”
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™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Edward Meagher contributed to this report
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The medical and biopharma hub of Massachusetts might not seem like the most hospitable turf from which to argue against overreaches of the drug and health care industries.
But that will be the task of Dr. Robert Steinbrook, a Lincoln resident who Monday was named director of the watchdog health research group at Public Citizen, the consumer advocacy organization.
Steinbrook, 70, who most recently served as editor-at-large at the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine and deputy editor at the New England Journal of Medicine, said he’ll be dividing his time between Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., in his new role.
“We have to be nimble,” Steinbrook said. “And when new drugs and issues emerge, we have to be able to approach them in a rigorous and thoughtful way with the public’s interest at heart.”
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Public Citizen founded in 1971 by political activist Ralph Nader, has long sought to hold accountable businesses ranging from automakers to pharmaceutical giants. Another one of its research groups has been a leading voice for access to medicines and lowering drug prices.
The health research group headed by Steinbrook focuses, among other things, on keeping the Food and Drug Administration independent of special interests and assuring that state medical boards take disciplinary actions against doctors’ malpractice. It has criticized the FDA for watering down its standards by speeding up approval of some drugs.
Last month, the group opposed the FDA’s approval of the first gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a $3.2 million one-time treatment from a Cambridge biotech, Sarepta Therapeutics. Public Citizen cited safety risks and argued that the clinical data presented to FDA reviewers failed to show that the drug provided significant benefits.
“We are not opposed to the premise of accelerated approval in terms of getting effective drugs more quickly to patients who can benefit from them,” Steinbrook said. “We are concerned about the execution [of the approval process] and industry influence” as well as making sure that drug makers generate post-approval data on a drug’s performance.
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Steinbrook, who is also an adjunct professor of internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, is only the third director of Public Citizen’s health research group in its more than half-century history. The group was founded by Dr. Sidney Wolfe. Steinbrook takes over from Dr. Michael Carome, who led the group for the past decade.
Steinbrook said he sees his role less as confronting industry than as protecting patients and assuring the integrity of the drug approval process. He criticized the FDA’s user fees, paid by drug makers whose experimental therapies are evaluated by the agency’s reviewers.
“Going forward, an independent FDA would be best if it was paid for by the taxpayers,” he said. “But user fees are the world in which we live.”
Steinbrook said his group will also monitor emerging artificial intelligence technologies to make sure they’re used in a way that benefits patients and doesn’t compromise privacy or lead to faulty diagnoses.
“It’s something that we’ll be looking at carefully,” he said.
Robert Weisman can be reached at robert.weisman@globe.com.
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| 2023-07-31T22:34:18
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SAN FRANCISCO – A brightly flashing “X” sign has been removed from the San Francisco headquarters of the company formerly known as Twitter just days after it was installed.
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection said Monday it received 24 complaints about the unpermitted structure over the weekend. Complaints included concerns about its structural safety and illumination.
The Elon Musk-owned company, which has been rebranded as X, had removed the Twitter sign and iconic blue bird logo from the building last week. That work was temporarily paused because the company did not have the necessary permits. For a time, the “er” at the end of “Twitter” remained up due to the abrupt halt of the sign takedown.
The city of San Francisco had opened a complaint and launched an investigation into the giant “X” sign, which was installed Friday on top of the downtown building as Musk continues his rebrand of the social media platform.
The chaotic rebrand of Twitter's building signage is similar to the haphazard way in which the Twitter platform is being turned into X. While the X logo has replaced Twitter on many parts of the site and app, remnants of Twitter remain.
Representatives for X did not immediately respond to a message for comment Monday.
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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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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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| 2023-07-31T22:34:20
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Ford recalls 870,000 F-150 trucks for unexpected parking brake application
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN Business
New York (CNN) — Ford has recalled more than 870,000 of its full-sized F-150 trucks because the electronic parking brake could engage unexpectedly at any time, including while the vehicle is being driven. That could cause a loss of control and possibly a crash.
The recall, posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall website earlier this month, applies to some 2021 through 2023 model year F-150 trucks with single-pipe exhaust systems. Ford will begin mailing recall notices to owners around September 11.
In some of the trucks, a wiring harness can rub against the rear axle housing, gradually wearing away insulating material on the wires. Corrosion on the axle housing could make this problem worse, according to documents on the NHTSA website.
Owners will be advised to bring their trucks to a Ford dealer. The dealer will install a protective tie strap and tape wrap to the wiring harness and will also replace the wiring harness, if needed. The work will be performed at no cost to the owner.
Ford (F) opened an investigation into this issue in late February following a number of complaints of unintended parking brake application in 2021 model year trucks. The trucks had chafing on wiring harnesses involved in the parking brake, and the wear had gone through through abrasion-resistant tape on the harnesses.
So far, Ford is aware of 299 instances of the parking brake activating unintentionally and 19 of those incidents occurred while the vehicle was being driven. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries resulting from this problem, according to the documents.
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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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VINTON, Va. – The town of Vinton is making progress on the demolition of a music store destroyed in a fire just over a year ago.
Town officials say the contractor working on the site should finish this week.
The demo began a few months ago. We’re told they’ve tried to save connecting buildings in the process.
“The Town has been working with involved parties since day one of the fire and we will continue to assist with this process to make it as safe and speedy as possible. Public safety is our utmost priority,” said Town Manager Richard Peters in a statement earlier this year. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and optimism while we get closer to rehabilitating this corner of our downtown.”
The town said some businesses have relocated, but others plan to return to the new building, which will offer similar opportunities.
Back in April, 10 News combed through a 36-page report to learn why we may never know the cause of the fire. Read more here.
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BLACKSBURG, Va. – 81-year-old Kenneth Jordan was reported missing from Heritage Hall on July 24, 2023. Three days later, Radford police found him dead on West Main Street.
“The two biggest questions I have is how did he get there because surely, he did not walk, and why did the Blacksburg Police Department wait until the following morning to put out a be on the lookout,” said Tommy Williams, cousin of Kenneth Jordan.
His family now feels they’ve been left with more questions than answers.
“He said one day he was going to leave, and he told me ‘When I do, I’m going to go live on the riverbank at the Lynchburg Foundry,’ he said I can do that,” said Joan Heslep, Jordan’s sister-in-law. “I had said more than once, this was going to haunt me until I found out what happened to Kenneth.”
She also said she told police where to look.
“I told them he said one day if he was going to leave,” said Heslep. “He was going to Lynchburg Foundry to live on the riverbank.”
10 News reached out to the Blacksburg police on the timing of the missing person report. We were told they were not taking any questions on the incident.
WSLS 10 also reached out to Heritage Hall on what their plan is to prevent another incident like this from happening and are still waiting to hear back.
For now, the family wants answers on how Jordan was able to get from Blacksburg to Radford.
“If there is someone out there that happens to give him a ride, please, please come forward just so we know who you are,” said Williams. “No hard feelings toward you whatsoever, just maybe some questions if you want to talk. Did he talk to you on the ride? If you gave him a ride please come forward.”
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ROANOKE, Va. – Animal shelters across the region are at, or nearing capacity. Many are short-staffed and rely on volunteers and donations from the community to operate.
Due to a harsh economy and rising housing costs, local shelters report more owners are forced to surrender their pets, mainly due to lack of housing or landlord restrictions.
August is typically a busy month for shelters due to puppy and kitten season.
Franklin County Humane Society Planned Pethood and Adoption Center is just one of many no-kill shelters across the region overflowing with pets in need of a place to call home.
“This is our big puppy-kitten season,” said Kennel manager Christina Thienemann. “We see lots of animals come in, even more so than normal because we are getting tons and tons of kittens. I think right now we are sitting at 350 cats or kittens in the system.”
Thienemann said only about 100 of those cats are ready for adoption either because of their young age or because they’ve yet to be spayed or neutered.
“It gets to the point where you wonder how many more can we keep helping and still get them out fast enough that we aren’t overwhelming ourselves and our fosters,” Thienemann said.
Thienemann said they’re also seeing an increase in the number of pets surrendered by their owners due to housing issues.
“Several of our animals that have just come in the last couple of weeks have been because they are losing their home or a landlord is saying ‘You can no longer have this pet at a residence,’” Thienemann said.
Owners faced with heartbreaking situations are heartbreaking for shelter staff, too.
[ADOPTABLE PETS: Clear the Shelters]
“Some of them are really sad. This one owner that had to bring in his two dogs because he was losing his home, the vetting even said he just loved him so much and they just couldn’t believe he had to give him up. It’s just really sad sometimes,” Thienemann said. And then there’s those like Amphitrite who’ve been waiting for years. She arrived as a stray at Henry County animal control in December of 2021. Thienemann said was going there monthly to help pull dogs from their shelter at risk of euthanasia.
“I thought there was nothing I could do for this dog. The months went by, and in March I went in and thought, ‘Who is this amazing dog? You are so sweet!’ She was all over me. I said, ‘Are you the same dog I said I can’t touch in December?’”
Due to capacity issues, Amphitrite became at risk for euthanasia.
“I got an emergency call and they were going to have to be euthanized and she tested decently with dogs and so I just took a chance and brought her here,” Thienemann said. “And she has been so sweet, but she still has that fear when she first sees people. The same thing that I saw when I first met her in December is what all our visitors see when they come to see her.”
She said that Amphitrite needs to gain the trust of her potential adopter, and recommends meeting her more than once.
“Those few visitors that have repeatedly come back, especially those who offer her treats, see the Amphitrite that I eventually saw in March, which is this sweet lovable dog,” Thienemann said. “So we are hoping that she can still find her forever family.”
She’s now spent most of her life in a shelter and has formed a special bond with Thienemann.
“Obviously being the one pulled her, you’ll notice that the dogs - you can almost tell who saved them because they have a special attachment to that person. It’s like they remember,” Thienemann said, becoming emotional.
“It’s hard. But we also have our cases when we’ve had cases just like her and we’ve found them our forever homes. We know that there’s that chance if we keep pushing hard enough, we keep advertising them, eventually their family is going to find them.”
She recalled past success stories for long-time animals at the shelter who eventually found their home due to social media posts.
“Everyone wants to come and have this immediate, the dog loves them and is all over them and they just have this moment. I would say that 90 percent of our dogs, any dog in a shelter, is not going to be an ‘instant click’ because they are stressed, they have so much going on and they can’t focus long enough. So we are really hoping that people will start realizing that as the staff gets to know their personality and what they are looking for and what is the best fit for your home... trust us. Once you get this dog home, you are going to feel that connection.”
850 days a shelter dog and counting. But, like every other pet in their care, they aren’t giving up.
They remain hopeful Amphitrite’s forever family is out there. Learn how you can adopt Amphitrite by clicking here.
Stories like Amphitrite are why WSLS 10 News is working for you to clear the shelters. 10 News is kicking off its month-long campaign on August 1.
We’ve partnered with local animal shelters across the region. Each day we will be featuring an adoptable pet like Amphitrite in our newscasts, website, and social media. We hope to help find local animals a forever home.
Even if you can’t adopt, you can help.
Share each pet on social media and help spread the word! You may not be looking for another pet, but someone out there is still searching.
You can also donate to local shelters. Most accept monetary online donations, have Amazon wish lists, or accept donations in person.
Find out how you can help and what each shelter needs by visiting their web pages below:
You can find 10 News’ 2022 and 2023 Clear The Shelters stories by clicking here.
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https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/31/housing-issues-force-local-pet-owners-to-surrender-pets-to-shelter/
| 2023-07-31T22:34:22
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https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/31/housing-issues-force-local-pet-owners-to-surrender-pets-to-shelter/
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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.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/31/pilot-injured-after-banner-plane-crashes-into-ocean-near-beach/
| 2023-07-31T22:34:22
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https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/31/pilot-injured-after-banner-plane-crashes-into-ocean-near-beach/
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GRETNA, Va. – Pittsylvania County leaders are putting an emphasis on safety as back-to-school season approaches.
They held one of the first large-scale active shooter trainings in the county at Gretna Middle School on Monday.
Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor said he and other community agencies want to always be prepared for a worst-case scenario.
“We want to plan as best we can, and pray that we never have an event such as this here in our community,” Taylor said.
About 250 people from two dozen agencies participated. Pittsylvania County school staff played roles as teachers, students, and parents.
“We have very safe communities here in Pittsylvania County,” Mark Jones, Pittsylvania County Superintendent of Schools said. “We have very structured schools, so we feel very good, but you just never know.”
County leaders said they’ve spent months planning this, they’ve been meeting since January.
“When we got together we wanted to identify what resources we had to respond to an incident such as this, how would we respond, the best response,” Taylor said.
Now that the drill’s over, county leaders plan to sit down to analyze what happened and identify strengths and weaknesses in the response.
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https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/31/pittsylvania-county-schools-holds-first-large-scale-active-shooter-training/
| 2023-07-31T22:34:22
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https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/31/pittsylvania-county-schools-holds-first-large-scale-active-shooter-training/
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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — As soon as word spread that Maple, a 14-year-old shepherd-labrador mix, was struck and killed by a car zipping through the lot of Brothers Gas in the Rumford section of East Providence, a tide of support came rolling in.
“Everyone in this town knew the dog,” said Karin DiPietro, Maple’s owner. “I mean, I have over 1,000 people reaching out to me.”
Maple could always be found hanging around at Brothers Gas, a small corner station and store owned by DiPietro’s best friend, Lebanon Succar. The black and beige canine was affectionately called the “gas station dog,” DiPietro said, and would greet people who came to the station to fill up or as they passed through the neighborhood.
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“We do all the holidays here,” DiPietro said of the North Broadway gas station, which is known for its spooky Halloween decor. “Kids would come in just to take pictures with her and not even get gas.”
But on July 11, Maple was hit and killed by a driver who cut through the business’s lot, leaving those who knew her feeling devastated.
According to DiPietro, the driver, who was not getting gas, came “flying through the parking lot” at around 30 miles per hour when he hit Maple. The person then allegedly circled around and drove through the lot again, this time from the other direction, she said.
“He ran over my dog head to hip,” DiPietro said. “He stopped on top of her.”
“The whole community is upset by it,” added Succar.
DiPietro said she and a friend called the police and then rushed Maple to the veterinary hospital. The dog, for years a dependable presence in the neighborhood, died on the way there, she said.
“I don’t remember much after that,” DiPietro said.
According to an incident report filed by the East Providence Police Department, the man who struck the dog was heading to a medical appointment at the time of the accident.
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After hitting Maple with his car, the man reportedly left his information with the gas station staff before driving off, the report said. Police pulled the driver over a short time later on nearby School Street, where he told officers that he was “lost and panicking,” according to officials.
The report, which was slightly redacted, said the driver “did have a medical problem.”
The responding officer concluded the incident was an “accident” and “requires no further follow up.”
“I was told my dog was a possession, so no charges could be filed,” DiPietro said.
DiPietro shared Maple’s story in a Facebook post a day after the dog was hit. The update about Maple garnered hundreds of responses from people, including those who said they knew her or had interacted with her.
“When I stopped by the station today it felt so different,” one person wrote. “Oh boy, she is loved and will be missed by so many.”
Another person shared a photo of the dog lying down on a rug at the station.
On Saturday, DiPietro organized a memorial for Maple where dozens of people gathered to honor the dog’s life. They buried Maple’s ashes and planted a maple tree, which was donated by a Brothers Gas customer. It was a rainy start to the morning, but then the sun came out right on cue.
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“All of the sudden this streak of rainbow appeared,” DiPietro said. “It was amazing. No one could believe it.”
DiPietro said she’s been traumatized by the incident, and she’s disappointed that the man never called to apologize. It’s the second time DiPietro lost pets to tragedy. In 2016, her dog and cat died in a house fire, she said. But Maple survived.
“And that’s how she became the gas station dog,” DiPietro said. “She couldn’t be alone. So she always came here. For years and years and years.”
Brittany Bowker can be reached at brittany.bowker@globe.com. Follow her @brittbowker and also on Instagram @brittbowker.
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https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/metro/beloved-gas-station-dog-struck-killed-in-east-providence/
| 2023-07-31T22:34:24
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https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/metro/beloved-gas-station-dog-struck-killed-in-east-providence/
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