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YAKIMA, Wash. -
Yakima Valley Trolleys will have crews working on Saturday and Sunday to prepare for the 2022 operating season.
Work crews will be doing trackwork on Pine St. between S 6th Ave. and S 3rd Ave.
Crews will be doing maintenance on the trolley in that area.
The work will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.
After maintenance is finished, the trolley will be making test runs on Pine St.
Yakima Valley Trolley's Facebook page asks that you use caution when going through the area.
The trolley season begins on May 27th.
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https://www.nbcrightnow.com/yakima/yakima-valley-trolleys-are-preparing-for-the-2022-season/article_d8083402-b1c1-11ec-9667-a794ff4296f9.html
| 2022-04-01T16:38:15Z
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SACRAMENTO – GOP senators who are attacking President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court pick seem weirdly unaware of how our justice system works. By zeroing in on Ketanji Brown Jackson’s former role as a criminal-defense attorney, they act as if it’s wrong to provide a defense to people accused of a crime – and that if the government levels a charge, it must be right.
Hey, if you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear – or something like that. “Like any attorney who has been in any kind of practice, they are going to have to answer for the clients they represented and the arguments they made,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, said in reference to Jackson and other Biden nominees. Apparently, defense attorneys should only defend choirboys.
Yet I guarantee if Hawley – known for his fist pump in support of Jan. 6 protestors at the U.S. Capitol – became the target of an overzealous prosecutor who accused him of inciting an insurrection, he’d be happy to have a competent defense attorney to advocate on his behalf. That attorney shouldn’t be forever stained for defending someone as loathsome as Hawley.
These hearings remind me of how difficult it is to have a calm debate about criminal-justice policy – and how tilted our system is on the side of the government. As the Christian Science Monitor pointed out, if confirmed Jackson will be the nation’s first Supreme Court justice to have served as a public defender, with Thurgood Marshall being the last justice to have criminal-defense experience.
Marshall was born when Theodore Roosevelt was president and retired 31 years ago. A study last year by the libertarian Cato Institute found the Trump administration’s judicial appointments tilted in favor of prosecutors over those who represented individuals by a 10-to-one margin. Only 14 percent of the liberal Obama administration’ appointees defended individuals. Most judges strive to be fair, but their backgrounds color their worldview.
That brings us to district attorneys. Most people believe their role is to secure convictions, but that’s not entirely the case. “The primary duty of the prosecutor is to seek justice within the bounds of the law, not merely to convict,” the American Bar Association explains. They are required to “protect the innocent and convict the guilty, consider the interests of victims and witnesses, and respect the constitutional and legal rights of all persons.”
In reality, DAs are ambitious political animals. As the Jackson hearings exemplify, it’s much easier to get confirmed as judge or elected prosecutor by playing the tough-on-crime card for the obvious reason that the public is fearful of crime – especially now, as long-falling crime rates are headed in the wrong direction. It’s tougher for a DA to succeed by pledging a commitment to justice and balance.
For decades, prosecutors have been closely aligned with police unions, which partially explains why it’s been so hard to hold accountable officers who engage even in egregious misbehavior or who are overly aggressive. Traditionally, it’s been difficult for a district attorney to win election without the backing of those unions, which represent rank-and-file officers.
That spurred a well-funded movement to begin electing “progressive prosecutors” – mainly in big, liberal cities with large populations of poorer people who have been on the receiving end of our justice system. Unfortunately, these DAs have gone too far in the other direction.
For instance, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón initially banned “prosecutors from seeking the death penalty or life sentences without the possibility of parole, while also severely limiting the way prosecutors could use sentencing enhancements,” the Los Angeles Times reported. He also refused to sentence juveniles as adults.
He’s changed course amid a backlash. But by imposing hard-and-fast policies rather than seeking out the just response in each case, Gascón’s approach is the mirror image of a Neanderthal prosecutor who was hard wired to always be tough. Likewise, San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin is accused of refusing to prosecute many serious crimes that are turning his city into a scene from “Road Warrior.”
Traditional prosecutors have overcharged people, winked at police abuse and filled the prisons with people who ought not to be there. But these liberal prosecutors have pursued an ideological agenda that has failed to consider legitimate public fears of dangerous criminals. They forget economist Adam Smith’s quotation, “Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.”
Our nation is finally – albeit clumsily – debating justice policy. Even in law-and-order Orange County, the DA’s race is pitting two candidates, incumbent Todd Spitzer and challenger Pete Hardin, who at least claim to seek some middle ground. Their race isn’t more edifying than the Jackson hearings, as they prefer to trade race- and sex-related allegations rather than focus on the fundamentals of the job.
Maybe someday soon, DAs and justices can apply to the justice system the Goldilocks Principle – not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute and a member of the Southern California News Group editorial board. Write to him at sgreenhut@rstreet.org.
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| 2022-04-01T16:38:17Z
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The Kings’ arduous three-game journey through Canada will continue Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, following their split of a pair of shootout matches against the team directly beneath them in the standings and the one right above them.
The Kings secured three points of a possible four points to cap a grueling three-games-in-four-nights stretch, even as they continued to play without top defenseman Drew Doughty, among several others.
Not only did they play back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday, but both went the distance: 60 minutes of regulation, five more of overtime plus a shootout. The Edmonton Oilers’ big guns Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl quelled the Kings’ rally from a 3-1 deficit on Wednesday, as they each scored in regulation and the shootout to hand them a 4-3 defeat. But the Kings earned both points against Coach Darryl Sutter’s Calgary Flames. They ceded a second-intermission lead, fell behind, tied the score in the third period, carried play in overtime and ultimately excelled in the shootout for a 3-2 win.
“The west is really tight and we’ve got to earn every (inch of) ice there is out there, so it’s fun to play,” said winger Viktor Arvidsson, who scored the tying goal on Thursday.
“We wanted the win yesterday against Edmonton, they’re right behind us, but we got one point there, two points here and now we go to Winnipeg to try to finish the trip really well,” he added.
The Kings (37-23-10) entered Friday’s games three points ahead of Edmonton and five behind Calgary in the Pacific Division. The Flames’ goal differential is plus-69, while the Kings are a considerably more modest plus-two. What the Kings have lacked in terms of high-octane offense, marquee players or convincing victories, they have more than made up for with moxie.
“We were running on fumes,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said Thursday. “Somebody asked me about the heart of the team, with these types of wins, the heart just gets bigger and stronger as we roll along.”
Winger Alex Iafallo scored his first goal in 24 games against Calgary, and now he might put former Ducks winger Teemu Selanne’s “ketchup bottle theory” to the test. Selanne said if a scorer goes dry for an extended period of time, he should treat his game like a bottle of Heinz 57 – keep banging on the bottom until all the goods flood out at once.
“Often when top-end players go dry for a while, they begin to cheat and it doesn’t go well for them. A.I. isn’t that type of player. The whole bench was happy for him,” McLellan said. “If I’m him now, I’m shooting every puck I get my hands on because maybe he’ll turn hot.”
Winnipeg (33-26-10) most recently lost by an NFL-esque score in a CFL market, dropping a 7-3 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Jets had won seven of their previous nine games to stay in the playoff mix, sitting three points behind the final wild-card spot entering Friday’s action.
The Jets already underwent a coaching change this season when Paul Maurice resigned after nearly eight years and exactly 600 games behind the Winnipeg bench. He was replaced by Dave Lowry. Lowry’s son Joel was once a prospect in the Kings’ system (he now plies his trade in Austria) and his other son, Adam, is a center for the Jets.
The Kings won’t have to contend with winger Kyle Connor, who has been an elite weapon this season, stacking up 82 points in 67 games. He and defenseman Nate Schmidt entered the COVID protocols on Wednesday. Connor set up all three goals in a 3-2 Jets win at what was then Staples Center on Oct. 28 and then scored the first goal in a second Jets victory by an identical score in Winnipeg on Nov. 13. That second meeting halted the Kings’ season-best, seven-game unbeaten streak.
Veteran forwards Mark Schiefele and Blake Wheeler have combined for 118 points in 118 games. The Jets are decidedly more offensive-minded on the blue line with defensemen Josh Morrisey, the absent Schmidt and Neal Pionk all bringing skill to the table. But that hasn’t kept All-Star goalie Connor Hellebuyck from facing more shots than any other goalie in the league, and with the added strain of playing in front of one of the league’s five worst penalty-kill units.
KINGS AT WINNIPEG
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Canada Life Centre
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West / iHeartRadio
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| 2022-04-01T16:38:24Z
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JH Real Estate Partners Inc. in Newport Beach has bought the Inland Empire Center in Fontana for $70.5 million, according to CBRE.
The brokerage said the 309,500-square-foot shopping center at 16701-16873 Valley Blvd. has 16 parcels and tenants including Cardenas Market, Ross, Planet Fitness, Regency Theatres, Burlington, Taco Bell and several casual-dining restaurants.
Patrick Wade and Alex Kozakov at CBRE represented the seller, The Baralat Co. in Westlake Village.
“The sale of Inland Empire Center illustrates the tremendous resurgence in demand for well-located Hispanic grocery store-anchored centers in infill markets in Southern California,” said Kozakov.
He said the brokerage got multiple offers for the property.
CBRE researchers say retail vacancy levels will decline in the region, leading to higher rental rates through 2026.
Irvine investment firm buys apartments in Phoenix
Irvine-based SB Real Estate Partners and Los Angeles-based Marble Partners have bought the 180-unit Cantamar Apartments in Phoenix for $58.1 million.
The two-story complex has one, two and three-bedroom floorplans, with air conditioning, 9-foot ceilings, patio/balconies, walk-in closets and pet-friendly units. Amenities include a pool and hot tub, clubhouse and fitness center
David Fogler and Steven Nicoluzakis with Cushman & Wakefield’s Multifamily Advisory Group in Phoenix represented the seller, Cantamar Apartments Associates.
Avanath buys Washington, D.C. apartments for $103.M
Irvine-based Avanath Capital Management LLC has bought 2M Street Apartments in Washington D.C. for $103.5 million.
The 315-unit high-rise apartment tower is north of the Capitol Building and two blocks from the popular NoMa-Gallaudet U Red Line Metro station.
“The Washington D.C. metro has continued to perform over the last several years and is positioned for long-term growth,” says John Williams, president and chief investment officer at Avanath Capital Management. “Our strategy is to identify growing markets where there is a continuous need and demand for affordability.”
He said 2M has a number of units reserved for lower-income residents.
Avanath owns more than 1,500 units in the D.C. metro area and more than 13,000 units across the U.S.
People in Real Estate
Amanda Hawkins-Vogel has joined Twenty Four Seven Hotels in Newport Beach as its executive vice president of Operations for the company’s expanding portfolio of hotel properties. The hospitality veteran brings 30 years of experience to the firm. Previously, she was was SVP of Operations for Crescent Hotels & Resorts and prior to that VP of Operations for Sage Hospitality Group.
Patrick Lyons has been promoted to director of construction services at the San Juan Capistrano office of Standard Communities, a national affordable housing investor and developer. He previously served as construction manager. Lyons oversees the West Coast and Midwest construction teams, including all aspects of Standard Communities’ renovations, development and acquisitions in those regions. He has 10 years of experience in the construction industry.
Michael Jernigan has joined Costa Mesa-based Avanti Restaurant Solutions as its senior director of Design-Build. A commercial kitchen designer with 25 years of experience, he comes to the firm from his own company, Jernigan Design Associates, where he completed 250 restaurant projects.
Real estate transactions, leases and new projects, industry hires, new ventures and upcoming events are compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin. Submit items and high-resolution photos via email to Business Editor Samantha Gowen at sgowen@scng.com. Please allow at least a week for publication. All items are subject to editing for clarity and length.
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https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/04/01/real-estate-news-newport-beach-firm-buys-fontana-shopping-center-for-70-5-million/
| 2022-04-01T16:38:30Z
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When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over an Oscars ceremony punchline, other comedians felt the sting.
“I know Chris and I know what it’s like to be on a stage in front of an audience that doesn’t like your material,” said stand-up comedian Judy Gold. “But to be physically assaulted, that’s a whole other thing. It felt like every comedian was smacked across the face. It really felt like that.”
Smith’s act comes during a stressful time for comedy. While boundaries for humor constantly shift — think George Carlin’s 1972 monologue on seven so-called “dirty words” banned by TV — comics say they have felt increased pushback from audiences and society. Comedy great Dave Chappelle drew sharpcriticism last year for what some deemed anti-transgender humor in his Netflix special “The Closer.” Kathy Griffin’s careerwas derailed in 2017 when she was photographed holding a mock-up of former President Donald Trump’s head.
Some comedians expressed concern that Smith’s behavior might embolden other displeased audience members.
“No one went up to Chris Rock and said, ‘Are you OK?’” Sheryl Underwood, co-host of “The Talk,” said on the show Tuesday. “I’m going to say this as a comic, I am afraid now to get on a stage, because in my third show, when everyone’s been drinking, if you don’t like my joke, do you now believe that you can get up and slap me? There’s got to be accountability quicker.”
Griffin tweeted that “now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”
“Which is the worst crime here?” veteran comedian Gilbert Gottfried said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Chris Rock being physically assaulted? Or Chris Rock making a joke? That’s it, pure and simple. He made a joke.”
Dean Obeidallah, a lawyer and stand-up comic who hosts a show on the SiriusXM Progress channel, said there is never “a place for a violent response to a joke” but doubted there would be copycat behavior. In his time in comedy clubs, he’s seen yelling, screaming and, once, a glass thrown at somebody. But he’s never seen a punch thrown, nor a comedian slapped.
“If someone were to strike a comedian, they’re going to be prosecuted criminally. They don’t have the privilege that Will Smith has,” Obeidallah said.
The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday that it was aware of the incident, but Rock had declined to file a police report. Smith stayed through the rest of the ceremony Sunday and received the best-actor Oscar.
Gold said she’s been confronted but never struck, and she knows other female comedians have faced difficult circumstances. “People have been getting on stage, people have thrown things,” she said.
Comedian-actor Yamaneika Saunders calls Smith’s behavior upsetting and Sunday a sad day for ”two beloved Black men in entertainment.” She also views what happened through the lens of a “Black woman in comedy.”
“I’m constantly being threatened….by some man who doesn’t like some (expletive) I said about being a woman, some white guy who doesn’t like some (expletive) I said about being Black,” she said.
Insult humor isn’t new to high-profile ceremonies, which call on comics to liven up what can be tedious events. Ricky Gervais made a meal of celebrities at successive Golden Globe ceremonies, and they grin — or grimace — and bear it. The most famous bad sport: Trump at the 2011 White House correspondents’ dinner, where he sat stone-faced during then-President Barack Obama’s extended ribbing of him.
Rock wasn’t the first to tweak Smith or wife Jada Pinkett Smith at Sunday’s Oscars. Ceremony co-host Regina Hall made what appeared to be a veiled joke about their marriage in trying, unsuccessfully, to draw Smith into a comedy bit.
Rock’s wisecrack was targeted at Pinkett Smith. “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” the comedian said to Pinkett Smith, whose close-shaven head looked similar to Demi Moore’s in the 1997 movie. Whether Rock was aware that she has a hair-loss condition, alopecia, is unknown, but Smith reacted with the smack and an angry warning to “keep my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth!”
A tearful Smith later accepted the top acting award for “King Richard,” his somewhat remorseful speech eliciting a standing ovation from the Dolby Theatre crowd. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has since condemned Smith’s attack and said it’s reviewing the matter.
Whatever the result, his actions indelibly marred the ceremony and ignited discussions about violence, toxic masculinity and the advantages of fame. Smith, who’d conspicuously left Rock out of his remarks Sunday, apologized to the comic and decried “violence in all of its forms” in a statement the next day issued by his publicist and posted on Instagram.
Pinkett Smith’s first public comment came in an Instagram post in which she said, “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it.”Rock referred briefly to the slap at a comedy show Wednesday in Boston, saying he was “still kind of processing what happened.” He appeared to become emotional as the audience gave him several standing ovations.
Whatever pushback comedians may encounter on stage, verbal or physical, they have to guard against censoring themselves to avoid it — and they will, said Obeidallah: “They shouldn’t change, and there’s nothing about this that tells me that they will change.”
They can’t because their role goes beyond providing laughs, as comedians see it.
“We are the truth tellers. We speak truth to power,” said Gold, author of the 2020 book, “Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble.”
Gottfried cites a favorite Carlin quote — “It’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately” — and can’t resist serving up a punchline.
“If Will Smith is reading this, dear God, please don’t come to my shows,” he said.
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AP Television Writer Lynn Elber reported from Los Angeles, AP Media Writer David Bauder from New York.
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| 2022-04-01T16:38:32Z
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Cristina Salvador Klenz first encountered Romani families in 1984, when she was a 20-year-old student visiting her grandmother on the west coast of Portugal.
Their living conditions along the roadside were tragic: Metal shacks with dirt floors. No electricity or running water. No education for the children. Just bare survival. Klenz was especially drawn to the children whose faces, she said, “seemed to glow when they smiled.”
As an aspiring photojournalist attending the University of Missouri, Klenz had a dream of some day telling the story of the Romani people, an ethnic minority that has continually faced persecution and discrimination since their exodus from India more than 1,000 years ago. It’s estimated that there are more than 1 million Romanies in the United States, with about 50,000 in Southern California. The world’s Romani population numbers an estimated 15 million.
“I felt strongly that there was much to be learned from Romani lives, culture and history,” Klenz said, “so long hidden from mainstream societies everywhere.”
Klenz’s lifelong dream has finally become a reality with publication this year of her stunning collection of rare, intimate photographs in the book, “Hidden: Life with California’s Roma Family.”
It is the first photography book to feature Romani Americans and is being published by Brown Paper Press just in time for International Romani Day on Thursday, April 8, which is also the date for a book signing from 7 to 9 p.m. at Page Against the Machine, 2714 E. Fourth St. in Long Beach. Another book signing is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. May 7 at Iguana Imports, 3440 E. Broadway, also in Long Beach.
The book is available on the author’s website, americanroma.com.
The Roma people are still widely known by another name — which, to some, may conjure images of a bohemian lifestyle, but is generally considered an offensive term. (The term, omitted here, has been used regularly in films and other pop culture works, perhaps most famously in Disney’s adaptation of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”)
The book, said Brown Paper Press publisher Wendy Thomas Russell, is being released “amidst a global movement away from the word, which is increasingly considered an offensive pejorative.”
Because the Romani people have been targets of persecution, discrimination and stereotyping, they have become known for fiercely guarding their privacy, which initially was a problem for Klenz, who wanted to take candid photos of them.
In 1990, while working as a staff photographer for the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Klenz got a chance to contact a Long Beach Romani family through a fellow photojournalist and met with the family as often as she could. Although they were friendly, the family initially rebuffed Klenz’s request to photograph their daily lives.
But then, Klenz said, she got “a lucky break” when she was invited to a wedding and, to her surprise, was allowed to take photos. By being at the wedding, she was able to make contact with more people in the Romani community, gaining trust, acceptance — and permission to take more pictures.
“I encountered pockets of reluctance, of course, if not outright hostility,” Klenz said. “A few feared I might be a spy, a thief or an FBI agent. Eventually, I was invited into homes and workplaces and given access to intimate moments rarely glimpsed by non-Roma.”
The Romani people she met spread from the Greater Long Beach area into the San Fernando Valley, Orange County, the Inland Empire and Northern California. Klenz spent the next four years photographing Romani families whenever and wherever she got the chance. At one point, Klenz — an accomplished photojournalist — quit her photographer job at the Press-Telegram to pursue the project full time. (Rich Archbold, the author of this article, is the Press-Telegram’s former managing editor and hired Klenz.)
Her book contains more than 100 photographs documenting the daily lives of Romani families and individuals. Ken Kobre, a photojournalism professor at San Francisco State University and author of “Photojournalism: The Professionals’ Approach,” said Klenz’s work “will become a photojournalism classic.”
The book’s photos celebrate the joy of close communities bound together by language, history and love. The photos capture milestones in the lives of Romani people, from a delightful picture of the first birthday of a couple’s first child in Bellflower to a young mother giving birth to her first daughter in Northridge — while her sister, who assisted in the delivery, looks on.
A particularly captivating photo is titled, “Heels.” It shows a young girl, Natalie, walking in high heels just like a grownup. She walks with her cousin, Hugo, near his home in El Monte. In a later photo taken last year, Natalie, now a real grownup, holds a portrait of herself in the book.
Another photo, “Generations,” shows a grandmother with two younger women and a baby. It was taken at a birthday party in Long Beach’s Recreation Park.
A powerful photo shows an anxious wife sitting next to her husband, Bob Thompson, as he undergoes dialysis treatment — with intravenous lines in his arm — in Ontario in 1993.
The man’s daughter, Pavlena, was overwhelmed with joy when she found out that her father’s picture was in the book, Klenz said.
“She told me that it was his dream to be in the book and that whenever they were at a mall, he would go to the bookstore and ask if there was a book on Roma by Cristina Salvador (Klenz’s name before she married Todd Klenz).”
Unfortunately, he has since died — never seeing his photo published.
Thompson was excited until the day he died, in 1999, about the possibility of his photo being in the book, Pavlena said in a recent phone interview.
“He was absolutely excited and intrigued by Cristina’s project,” she said from Phoenix, “her interest and her love she had for our people.”
The book also contains photos showing the effects of illiteracy, poverty, parental discipline and what the book calls “intergenerational trauma – children marrying in high school and becoming grandparents in their 30s and 40s, for example.” There are wonderful portraits of individuals of various ages, from the two handsome young Long Beach brothers who grace the book’s cover to a wizened retired migrant worker in Riverside County.
“Emotion seems to pour from every page,” Russell, the book’s publisher, said, “and the scenes are all the more powerful given how rare they are.”
What’s in the future for Klenz with Romani families?
“My goal now is to reconnect with the rest of the families in the book and document what their lives are like today,” she said. “In a broader sense, I would like to see Romani history included in middle and high school world history textbooks. I hope that ‘Hidden’ can help bring a greater awareness of Romani-American history and help increase inclusion and awareness of Romani culture on many levels.”
Klenz, for her part, has already done significant work, through her book, to reveal the lives of the often hidden Romani people.
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Voters will be seeing double on their June 7 primary election ballots due to a frantic, last-minute change to California law to bring the state into compliance with the United States Constitution.
The double-vision at the top of the ballot will be two races for U.S. Senate, not for two separate senators, but for the same senator twice. Sen. Alex Padilla is running in a special election to complete the term of Kamala Harris, who resigned early in 2021 to be sworn in as vice president. Padilla is also running for election to a full six-year term.
When Harris resigned, Gov. Gavin Newsom held what he called a “cattle call” for politicians who wanted to be appointed to the Senate. He eventually chose Padilla to fill the seat through the end of Harris’ term in January 2023.
But there was a problem. Although state law allowed the governor’s appointee to complete the term, the Constitution has specific requirements for filling vacancies in the Senate, and California law did not comply with them.
Until 1913, U.S. senators were chosen by the state legislatures. This changed with the adoption of the Seventeenth Amendment, which provided for the popular election of each state’s representatives in the U.S. Senate. The amendment also established procedures for handling vacancies: “the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies,” it states, but also allows “the legislature of any state [to] empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.”
Two federal appellate court decisions in 2010 and 2020 called into question whether California was required to hold a special election to fill Harris’ vacant Senate seat.
In November 2008, then-Sen. Barack Obama resigned from the Senate after winning the presidency. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich — who memorably declared, “I’ve got this thing, and it’s golden” — appointed Roland Burris to fill the vacancy.
Two Illinois voters sued in 2009, seeking to force Blagojevich to “issue a writ for a special election to be conducted as soon as practical.” They lost in the district court but appealed to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which eventually ruled, in the case known as Judge v. Quinn, that the state must hold an election to fill the vacancy, even if the governor has made a temporary appointment.
In 2020, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in an Arizona case, Tedards v. Ducey, “that the duty to call an election might not apply if the vacancy happens so late in the term that it is not feasible to hold an orderly election quickly enough that the elected Senator will serve for more than a de minimis period of time.”
These cases called into question whether California’s law allowing a temporary appointee to serve out the remaining two years of Harris’ term was constitutional. But rather than call a special election quickly, Newsom and the Legislature scrambled to pass a law to schedule the special election concurrent with the 2022 regular election. Assembly Bill 1495 also requires the special election and the regularly scheduled Senate election to be at the top of the ballot, supposedly in the interest of minimizing voter confusion.
It would be better if California law required a special election to fill Senate vacancies when they occur. “Golden” things and “cattle calls” are no substitute for democracy.
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| 2022-04-01T16:38:42Z
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DALLAS (AP) — President Joe Biden is again dipping into the nation’s petroleum stockpile to try to corral rising energy prices.
The White House announced Thursday that Biden ordered the daily release of 1 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve for the next six months. Biden will also ask Congress to penalize oil and gas companies that lease public land but aren’t producing energy.
The administration hopes that tapping the petroleum reserve will buy time and tamp down gasoline prices long enough until domestic producers can boost output.
Global oil prices were rising even before Russia invaded Ukraine in February. When Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports in early March, he acknowledged it would come at a cost to American consumers.
This is the third time Biden has turned to the strategic petroleum reserve in a little over four months. Back in November, he ordered the release of 50 million barrels of oil. Then, in his state of the union speech in March, Biden announced another 30 million barrels as part of a multi-nation effort to boost the oil supply.
Tapping the reserve among the few things a president can do alone to try to control inflation, which makes Americans poorer and often creates a political liability for the party in control of the White House.
Here is a look at what’s involved:
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WHAT IS THE PETROLEUM RESERVE?
America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a collection of underground salt caverns in Texas and Louisiana that can hold more than 700 million barrels of oil, although it is not currently full. The reserve held about 568 million barrels last week, down from more than 650 million barrels in mid-2021, according to the U.S. Energy Department.
The reserve was created after the 1970s Arab oil embargo to give the United States a supply that could be used in an emergency.
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WHY IS IT USED?
The U.S. now exports more oil than it imports, but the reserve remains and has been tapped for various reasons, from offsetting the impact of hurricanes and ship-channel closings to raising money for deficit reduction.
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush authorized withdrawing nearly 34 million barrels during the Gulf War, although only 17 million barrels were used. In 2011, President Barack Obama approved the release of 30 million barrels to offset the disruption of supply from Libya.
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HOW DO THEY GET THE OIL OUT?
Oil is lighter than water — that’s why disasters like those caused by the Exxon Valdez tanker and the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig create slicks on the surface. To remove oil from the reserves, water is pumped into the salt caverns, making the crude float to the surface, where it is captured and sent through pipelines to refineries.
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WHY IS BIDEN TAPPING THE RESERVE?
Supply and demand. Biden is hoping that by releasing more oil on the market, prices will fall. Prices did dip for nearly two weeks after Biden’s initial announcement about tapping the reserve back in November but then resumed their steep climb. U.S. crude is up almost 40% this year and has grown even more volatile in the past month.
Whether Biden’s latest move works will depend on several factors. One factor to keep in mind: Even though 1 million barrels a day is a huge amount of oil, the U.S. consumed nearly 20 million barrels a day last year, and worldwide consumption topped 97 million barrels a day.
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WILL GASOLINE GET CHEAPER?
What most people want to know is what’s going to happen to prices at the pump. Many factors go into the price of gasoline. Refineries buy crude oil in advance, so they could still be working with more expensive oil. States have differing tax rates that affect the price that motorists pay.
On Thursday, the national average price for a gallon of regular was more than $4.22, down about a dime from the peak earlier in March, according to auto club AAA.
The average is still under $4 a gallon in many states in the middle of the country, but it’s higher in the Northeast and highest in the West. In California, it’s an eye-popping $5.90 a gallon.
Even if those prices don’t drop, Biden can argue that by tapping the reserve he tried to help.
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WHO GETS HURT MOST?
Gasoline prices are regressive — lower-income people are more likely to spend a higher percentage of their money on gasoline than are affluent Americans — so increases hurt the most price-sensitive consumers. Kevin Book, managing director at Clearview Energy Partners, says those consumers might not show up in measures of the nation’s economy, “but they show up in vote counts … if we get down to it, that’s really what this is about.”
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WHY DOES OIL MATTER?
The future of oil and gas in the U.S. is a political flashpoint and source of tension, especially as companies and government agencies grapple with climate change and the transition to cleaner sources of energy.
On one hand, the U.S. oil and gas industry has been praised by some political leaders for creating energy independence. Where the U.S. once relied heavily on imports, other nations now rely on the U.S. for oil. It’s also a job supplier: The oil and gas industry employs more than 10 million people in the U.S. and contributes about 8% of the nation’s gross domestic product, according to the American Petroleum Institute.
Companies that supply oil benefit from higher prices. But consumers don’t like it when those higher prices trickle down to the pump.
The institute has previously said that any release of oil from the strategic reserve should be paired with policy measures that encourage more U.S. energy production. That collides with Biden’s promise to reduce dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
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https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/business/explainer-what-is-the-strategic-petroleum-reserve-2/
| 2022-04-01T16:38:46Z
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What are the lyrics to ‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended’?
Here are the lyrics to the popular 19th century hymn 'The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended'
Published:
When was the hymn ‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended’ written?
The hymn ‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended’ was written by Reverend John Ellerton in 1870, and it is set to the tune St Clement, believed to have been composed by Reverend Clement Cotteril Scholefield
As well as the viewers of the BBC’s Songs of Praise, who voted it third in the programme’s poll of favourite hymns in 2005, other fans include Queen Victoria, who included it in her diamond jubilee service in 1897, and Rick Wakeman, who featured the tune on his 1973 album The Six Wives of Henry VIII.
‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended ‘ is also a popular funeral hymn and we named it one of the best hymns ever
What are the lyrics to ‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended’?
1The day you gave us, Lord, is ended,
the darkness falls at your request;
to you our morning hymns ascended,
your praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank you that your Church, unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping
and never rests by day or night.
As over continent and island
each dawn leads to another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,
nor do the praises die away.
So be it, Lord! Your throne shall never,
like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
your kingdom stands and grows forever
until there dawns your glorious day.
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https://www.classical-music.com/features/works/the-day-thou-gavest-lord-is-ended-lyrics/
| 2022-04-01T16:39:44Z
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DETROIT (AP) — In the long debate over whether Black Americans should be granted reparations for the atrocity and injustices of slavery and racism, California took a big step this week toward becoming the first U.S. state to make some form of restitution a reality.
The state’s reparations task force tackled the divisive issue of which Black residents should be eligible — it narrowly decided in favor of limiting compensation to the descendants of free and enslaved Black people who were in the U.S. in the 19th century.
Whether Tuesday’s vote by the task force spurs other states and cities to advance their own proposals, and whether they adopt California’s still controversial standard for who would benefit, remains to be seen. Some veteran reparations advocates disagree strongly with proposals to limiting eligibility to only Black people who can prove they have enslaved ancestors, while excluding those who cannot and leaving out victims of other historic injustices, such as redlining and mass incarceration.
Still, one advocate noted California’s move is a step that could lend momentum to stalled reparation proposals elsewhere in the U.S.
“It’s precipitated a debate and it will influence communities,” said Ron Daniels, president of The Institute of the Black World 21st Century and administrator of the National African American Reparations Commission, an advocacy group of scholars and activists.
As to whether others will adopt the same approach to eligibility, Daniels said: “That’s to be decided. … We think that ultimately a more expansive definition will prevail.”
The commission headed by Daniels has taken a position that limiting reparations to slave descendants, or to Americans whose ancestors were free Blacks living during the time of slavery, ignores the effects of racism that persisted for more than a century after emancipation.
“There are always going to be criteria” for reparations, Daniels said. “The problem is the harms have been so gross that almost no Black person is not eligible in some form or another.”
Although there is still debate among historians about when exactly the practice began, chattel slavery in what would become the U.S. dates back to 1619 when about 20 enslaved Africans were brought to Jamestown, Virginia — then a British colony. Over the next two centuries, more than 300,000 men, women and children were forcibly taken from Africa to work on plantations in southern colonies and later the Southern states, according to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, a project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and maintained by Rice University.
Slavery in the U.S. officially ended in 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment. Union Army General William Sherman promised compensation to freed slaves in the form of land and mules to farm it — hence the phrase “40 acres and a mule” — after the North’s victory over the South in the Civil War. But President Andrew Johnson took away the offer.
More than 120 years later, then-Rep. John Conyers, a Detroit Democrat, first introduced H.R. 40, a bill that would create a federal commission to study reparations and make proposals. Conyers reintroduced it in every congressional session until he resigned in 2017. As a candidate, President Joe Biden said he supported creating the commission, but has yet to formally back it as commander-in-chief. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, is currently the lead sponsor of the House bill.
Getting governmental leaders to openly consider slavery reparations has been daunting and taken decades. But progress has been made at both the state and local levels, particularly since the national reckoning on racial injustice that was sparked after the 2020 murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
In Michigan, legislative proposals submitted earlier this year in the House of Representatives call for $1.5 billion in federal dollars to be placed in a racial equity and reparations fund within the state’s treasury. The funds would be issued to various state departments and agencies to provide grants, loans and other economic assistance for businesses and economic developments that promote the Black community.
The bills have yet to receive a hearing in the House.
Last year, Evanston, Illinois, — the first U.S. city to find a source of funding for reparations — began giving eligible Black residents $25,000 housing grants for down payments, repairs or existing mortgages. The program is meant to atone for the history of racial redlining and housing discrimination. Recipients were selected randomly from among the applicants, Black residents who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969.
And in Providence, Rhode Island, the mayor announced a city commission on reparations in February that will look to atone for the city’s role in slavery and systemic racism, as well as the mistreatment of Native Americans.
For Anita Belle, a grassroots activist in Detroit, where residents in the mostly Black city voted in November to create a city reparations commission, getting to this point in the pursuit of reparations is cause for celebration. But what happens next is worrisome, especially when it comes to who gets what and how much, she said.
“I am happy for all of us who have been doing the groundwork for all these years,” said Belle, founder of the Reparations Labor Union. “We are somewhat afraid that these people who have jumped on the bandwagon are actually there to sabotage it and make reparations $12.62, if that. There will be those saboteurs — people who look like us, but have hidden agendas.”
“You have some of that fear in California where the scope for reparations was narrowed to the people who can prove they were enslaved,” she added. “The people of California will be like ‘why am I paying reparations for someone who was enslaved in Mississippi?’”
In California, the task force is taking the next step with economists to determine the cost of compensating more than 2 million Black residents, although all of them would not be eligible. Following slavery abolition, Black migration to California happened primarily in the immediate decades after World War II, with newly arrived African Americans settling in cities like Oakland, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Black population there rose from just under a half-million residents, or 4.4% of the population, in 1950 to 1.4 million residents, or 7% of the population, by 1970. Decades later, the 2020 census recorded 2.1 million Black residents in California, or about 5.3% of the state’s population.
While proposals and who would be eligible appear to vary, they still are types of reparations, according to Rashawn Ray, senior fellow of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution.
“California chose to focus on enslavement of Black people,” Ray said. “In Evanston, it’s redlining and housing segregation. Both are issues that need restitution to them based on what the wrong is.”
But, Ray added, “Federal reparations — without a doubt and hands-down — that’s what we need. What is happening in California should be happening in Congress.”
As a former alderman for the city of Evanston, Illinois, and a longtime reparations advocate, Robin Rue Simmons said reaching consensus on eligibility can be tough because policymakers should be as expansive and inclusive as possible, while also identifying specific harms that they’re seeking to address.
The big step taken by California could help spur action on reparations proposals in other cities and states, Simmons said, and perhaps add pressure for the federal government to act, which she sees as critical.
She doesn’t expect California’s lineage-based eligibility standard to become the norm.
“I don’t think any community should think that another has figured it out for them,” Simmons said, “because every community is going to have their own priorities and their specific history.”
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Bynum reported from Savannah, Ga. AP writers Janie Har in San Francisco and Michael Schneider in Orlando contributed to this story.
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| 2022-04-01T16:40:37Z
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An external review of Minnesota’s response to days of civil unrest following theMay 2020 killing of George Floyd found several weaknesses, including a lack of clear leadership early on as businesses were being destroyed and set ablaze, and a failure to discern peaceful from unlawful protesters.
The report by Wilder Research, commissioned by the Department of Public Safety and made public Thursday, says Minnesota can do more to address tensions between law enforcement and communities, and must incorporate a deeper sense of humanity in the way it responds to civil unrest in the future.
“Further research and evaluation are needed to understand the role of racism and other forms of bias in law enforcement responses to civil unrest and determine additional steps to address community distrust in law enforcement and state government,” the report also found.
The report, which examined the state’s actions from May 26 through June 7, 2020, listed 20 recommendations to improve the state’s response and find ways to prevent such civil unrest from happening again.
Three “critical recommendations” include: strengthening coordination between multiple agencies; improving coordination and relationships with local jurisdictions and the media; and addressing tension between law enforcement and communities through trust-building efforts, police accountability and transformation, and education.
Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said in a letter to Gov. Tim Walz that his agency has already made changes to improve communication and police accountability, including implementing some of the report’s recommendations.
Floyd, who was Black, was killed May 25, 2020, when former Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for about nine and a half minutes as Floyd was handcuffed and lying face-down on the pavement. Bystander video showed Floyd said multiple times that he couldn’t breathe, before he eventually went silent and stopped moving.
The killing sparked protests in Minneapolis and around the globe as part of a reckoning over racial injustice. In Minneapolis, some of the protests became violentas businesses, and even a police station, were ransacked and burned.
The report said that unrest was unprecedented, and left local and state agencies overextended.
Local police and emergency responders couldn’t respond to many calls for help. Several state agencies, as well as the National Guard, were called in — but the report noted they were not experienced in handling large-scale civil disturbances over such an extended period.
The report found that the state was too late in setting up a multi-agency command center to coordinate response, and that several local agencies were following different rules of engagement. There was also a lack of communication, leading some communities and businesses totake matters into their own hands. Some of the response by state agencies was also viewed as escalating by some.
The report also noted some strengths. Among them, it found the state acknowledged that the community had legitimate concerns after Floyd’s killing. It also noted that small mobile field force units were effective in addressing unrest in multiple locations. The report said that a curfew, when enforced, was also effective.
A reportissued earlier this month on the city’s response to the Minneapolis protests was sharply critical and included several recommendations, including improving police training on crowd control tactics.
Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughterand also pleaded guilty in federal court to violating Floyd’s civil rights. Three other former officers were also convicted of federal civil rights violations and are awaiting trial on state charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter.
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Find AP’s full coverage of the killing of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
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https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national/report-state-late-in-response-to-unrest-after-floyd-killing/
| 2022-04-01T16:41:47Z
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federico Motka’s abductors greeted him in English after he and his colleagues were kidnapped near a refugee camp on the Turkish border: “Welcome to Syria, you mutt.”
For the Italian aid worker, it was the beginning of 14 months of brutality at the hands of the Islamic State.
Motka testified about the ordeal Thursday at the terrorism trial of El Shafee Elsheikh, a British national charged with taking a leading role in an Islamic State kidnapping scheme that took more than 20 Westerners hostage between 2012 and 2015.
Four Americans — journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller — were among them. Foley, Sotloff and Kassig were decapitated. Mueller was forced into slavery and raped repeatedly by the Islamic State’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, before she too was killed.
Motka is the first surviving hostage to testify at Elsheikh’s trial in Alexandria, Virginia.
Born in Trieste, Italy, Motka said he spent much of his childhood in the Middle East and went to boarding school in England. He was an aid worker surveying the needs of refugee camps in March 2013 when he and a colleague, Briton David Haines, were captured and taken hostage.
Motka testified that for the first month of captivity, he was only occasionally mistreated, but that mistreatment frequently came at the hands of three captors whom hostages dubbed “the Beatles” because of their British accents. They learned to speak surreptitiously about their captors, who wore masks and took pains to conceal their identity, since they never knew what would set them off. A dispute over bathroom hygiene prompted a particularly intense beating, he said.
“They said I was a posh wanker because I went to boarding school,” Motka testified. “They said I was arrogant, and they were going to take me down a peg.”
Motka’s use of the term “posh wanker” set off a brief period of uncomfortable laughter in the courtroom, when the judge interrupted and asked what the phrase means, forcing Motka to explain the term’s vulgar meaning of the British idiom.
The British accents and phraseology are an important part of the case, though, as prosecutors seek to prove that Elsheikh is indeed one of the Beatles who tortured hostages, even though the Beatles took great pains to conceal their faces. Motka testified that there were at least three Britons in the group of captors, and the hostages nicknamed them “John,” “George” and “Ringo.”
Prosecutors have said in court that Elshiekh is the one who was nicknamed Ringo.
One way Motka distinguished the three was their preferences for inflicting punishment.
“George was more into boxing,” Motka testified. “John, he kicked a lot. Ringo used to talk how he liked wrestling. He would put people in headlocks.”
He described one instance when Ringo put James Foley in a headlock so tight that he passed out.
Motka also recounted a time in the summer of 2013 when the hostages were held in a facility they nicknamed “the box.” The Beatles excitedly put Motka and his cellmate David Haines in a room with Foley and British hostage John Cantlie for what they called a “Royal Rumble.”
“They were super excited about it,” Motka said of the Beatles about the tag-team style fight they imposed on the foursome. “We were so weak and shattered we could barely lift our arms.”
The group was told that the losers would be waterboarded. Two of the four passed out during the hour-long battle, Motka said. The Beatles deemed him the loser but never waterboarded him, inflicting a beating instead.
As they were transferred to different facilities, Motka said the hostages were sometimes separated from the Beatles for weeks at a time. Those periods were welcome, relatively speaking, because the Beatles were unique in their cruelty, he said.
When they were transferred again to a place they nicknamed “the dungeon” and saw that the Beatles were there, “we crapped our pants,” Motka said. “We had just started to relax a little” as the mistreatment had eased in their absence.
“The box,” where the Beatles were a regular presence, was one of the worst stretches of captivity. Motka said he and other hostages there endured a lengthy “regime of punishment” that included regular beatings and forced stress positions. “George,” another man named Abu Mohamed and a third nicknamed “the punisher” regularly tortured them, Motka said.
“They played lots of games with us,” Motka said, maintaining composure as he clearly struggled with the emotions of describing his captivity. “They gave us dog names. We needed to come and immediately respond” to the dog name to avoid a beating.
Motka was not released until May 25, 2014. His 14 months in captivity were the longest of any hostage in the group.
Defense lawyers, though, have highlighted the difficulties that hostages have in formally identifying each of their captors, who routinely wore masks that covered all but their eyes.
In opening statements, prosecutors referenced only three British nationals — Elsheikh, his longtime friend Alexenda Kotey, and Mohammed Emwazi, who frequently carried out the role of executioner and was known as “Jihadi John.”
Emwazi was killed in a drone strike, and Kotey was captured alongside Elsheikh and also brought to Virginia to face trial. Kotey pleaded guilty last year in a plea bargain that calls for a life sentence.
Jurors also heard testimony Thursday from Danish hostage negotiator Jens Serup, who testified about prolonged efforts to secure the release of Daniel Rye Ottosen in exchange for 2 million euros.
The jury saw photos of huge bruises on Ottosen’s arm and back after he was finally released. Serup testified that the captors told Ottosen the beating was a “farewell present not to forget them.”
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| 2022-04-01T16:41:54Z
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Oscars producer says he urged Academy not to remove Will Smith
The lead producer of the Oscars said Friday on "Good Morning America" that he urged the Academy not to physically remove Will Smith from the Oscars after slapping Chris Rock on stage.
Why it matters: Will Packer's comments help shed light on why Smith stayed at the ceremony after the incident.
Details: Packer said he was initially told by his co-producer Shayla Cowan that they were about to physically remove Smith.
- Packer explained that he felt Rock did not want Smith removed, saying that the comedian did "not want to make a bad situation worse," per Packer.
- He added that he was not part of conversations where officials talked about asking Smith to voluntarily leave.
- Packer said Smith apologized to him the next morning.
What he's saying: "I was advocating what Rock wanted in that time, which was not to physically remove Will Smith at that time because, as it has now been explained to me, that was the only option at that point," Packer said.
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https://www.axios.com/oscars-producer-will-smith-chris-rock-af41bc3e-537c-4f81-a8b6-e2584264fb80.html
| 2022-04-01T16:42:01Z
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Bitgo gets more shares in renegotiated Galaxy Digital deal
In its earnings call Thursday, Galaxy Digital (TSE: GLXY) announced it had renegotiated its $1.2 billion acquisition of Bitgo, a crypto custody company.
Why it matters: The market volatility will continue to affect announced deals that buyers/sellers will want to re-price in the event of significant business/stock market changes.
- Shares of Galaxy Digital have fallen since the deal was first announced, while Bitgo has grown. Terms of the old deal would have valued Bitgo under $1 billion.
What they said: "We adjusted the deal sum for progress that BitGo has made," Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz said in the earnings call, noting Bitgo has added some 150 employees. "It's a bigger and better company."
- The new terms will give Bitgo shareholders roughly 12% of the company rather than 10% as part of the cash-and-st0ck deal first announced in May.
Details: Galaxy had agreed last May to a deal that would have given Bitgo shareholders 33.8 million newly issued shares with a year-end 2021 closing date.
- The new deal offers Bitgo shareholders 44.8 million in stock.
- Now, if the deal fails to close by the end of 2022, Galaxy Digital will pay $100 million to Bitgo.
Between the lines: Galaxy Digital is seeking SEC approval to reorganize as a Delaware-based company, and plans to list on the Nasdaq this year. The deal's close is dependent in part on this approval.
Bottom line: Crypto dealmaking is red hot, but it remains an unpaved dirt road from a regulatory, public M&A perspective.
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https://www.axios.com/pro/fintech-deals/2022/04/01/bitgo-gets-more-shares-in-renegotiated-galaxy-digital-deal
| 2022-04-01T16:42:07Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Upholding a Trump-era environmental policy, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it will not regulate a drinking water contaminant that has been linked to brain damage in infants.
The agency said the Trump administration’s decision in 2020 not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water was made with the “best available peer reviewed science.” The chemical is used in rocket fuel and fireworks.
At the time, Trump’s EPA said perchlorate was not found widely enough in drinking water or “at levels of public health concern” to warrant federal regulation. The decision was one of many Trump-era rollbacks or eliminations of existing or pending public health and environmental protections. The Biden administration ordered a review of that decision at the start of his term.
EPA Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox said the agency was “applying the right tools to support public health protections.”
Environmental groups slammed the Biden administration’s decision.
“The Trump EPA gave perchlorate a pass; it was a bad decision then, and it’s a bad decision now,” said Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council advocacy group. “Tap water across America will remain contaminated by this toxic chemical.”
Perchlorate from runoff contaminates the drinking water of as many as 16 million Americans, the Obama administration said in 2011 when it announced the EPA would for the first time set maximum limits for the chemical compound. It has been used in the U.S. for decades, particularly by the military and defense industries, and is commonly found in munitions, fireworks, matches and signal flares.
Exposure to the compound can damage the development of fetuses and children and cause measurable drops in IQ in newborns, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in 2019, when it called for stringent federal limits. It damages human development by disrupting the functioning of the thyroid gland.
In its 2020 review, the EPA said state-level regulations and cleanup activities at contaminated sites had lowered the health risks posed by the compound. Massachusetts and California, for example, limit perchlorate in drinking water to 2 parts per billion and 6 parts per billion, respectively.
“But the problem is that for the rest of the country the states have not set standards,” said Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council. He said the compound is in “the top tier of problematic chemicals in our water.”
In the Southwest, perchlorate has been detected in groundwater that entered Lake Mead in Nevada. Manufacturing facilities in Henderson, Nevada, were the source of the chemical. The EPA said cleanup activities at two industrial sites in the state between 2002 and 2006 resulted in reduced levels of perchlorate in data provided since then by Nevada environmental and water agencies.
The EPA said Thursday it was considering other steps besides a federal drinking water limit, such as setting standards at open burning and detonation sites, where severe perchlorate contamination is generated from the burning of hazardous byproducts from weapons manufacturing and munitions. One such site is in Colfax, Louisiana, where environmentalists have long advocated for reform.
But environmental advocates said such measures fall short of what’s needed.
“Simply put, toxic chemicals used in rocket fuel do not belong in our drinking water,” said John Rumpler, senior attorney with Environment America.
___
AP reporter Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
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The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/environment
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| 2022-04-01T16:42:28Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday he won’t vote for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, expressing concerns about her record despite supporting her confirmation as an appeals court judge last year.
The South Carolina senator’s announcement had been expected after he criticized Jackson during her four days of hearings last week. But it gives Democrats one less Republican vote as they seek bipartisan backing for President Joe Biden’s pick to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
Graham, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only three Republicans to vote to confirm Jackson on the appeals court in 2021. Collins announced Wednesday that she’ll vote for Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination, as well, giving Democrats at least one GOP vote. Murkowski has said she’s still undecided.
A final confirmation vote is expected next week. Jackson would be the first Black woman on the high court in its more than 200-year history, and the sixth woman.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Graham said his decision is based partly on what he sees as a “flawed sentencing methodology regarding child pornography cases,” echoing a line of questioning by some Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Several senators, some eyeing a run for president, repeatedly asked her about her sentencing decisions in her nine years as a federal judge in an effort to paint her as too lenient on sex criminals.
Jackson told the committee that “nothing could be further from the truth” and explained her sentencing decisions in detail. She said some of the cases have given her nightmares and were “among the worst that I have seen.”
Democrats pointed to testimony last week by the chair of the American Bar Association committee that makes recommendations on federal judges. Ann Claire Williams, the head of that ABA panel, said the idea that Jackson is out of the mainstream on sentencing “never came up” in a review of more than 250 judges and lawyers. The review found Jackson and her record to be “outstanding, excellent, superior, superb,” Williams said.
Graham also mentioned Jackson’s her legal advocacy on behalf of terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay more than a decade ago and her support from liberal groups. “After a thorough review of Judge Jackson’s record and information gained at the hearing from an evasive witness, I now know why Judge Jackson was the favorite of the radical left,” Graham said.
At the hearing, Graham also aired past grievances, asking Jackson about her religion and how often she goes to church — heated comments that he said were fair game after some Democratic questions about Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Catholicism ahead of her confirmation hearings in 2020.
Graham’s “no” vote will be the first time he has voted against a Supreme Court nominee. He voted for President Barack Obama’s two picks, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, and has often said that he believes a president’s nominees should win confirmation no matter the party. But he has become increasingly angry about the process in recent years, especially as Democrats enthusiastically opposed then-President Donald Trump’s three nominees. Graham has also expressed frustration that Biden didn’t pick the South Carolina judge he was pushing for the job.
“To my Democratic colleagues, I’ll work with you when I can, but this is a bridge too far,” Graham said.
Collins said Wednesday that she believes Jackson “possesses the experience, qualifications and integrity to serve as an associate justice on the Supreme Court.” She was the most likely Republican to support Jackson, and she also a history of voting for Supreme Court nominees picked by presidents of both parties.
It is unclear if any other GOP senators will vote for Jackson. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell set the tone last week when he said he “cannot and will not” support her, citing the GOP concerns raised in the hearing about her sentencing record and her support from liberal advocacy groups.
Jackson is still making the rounds in the Senate ahead of next week’s votes, doing customary meetings with Democratic and Republican senators. On Tuesday she met with Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who said afterward that he was undecided about supporting her.
Romney said he had an “excellent meeting” and found Jackson to be intelligent, capable and charming. He said he probably won’t decide whether to vote for her until the day of the vote.
It is expected that all 50 Democrats will support her, though one notable moderate Democrat, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, hasn’t yet said how she will vote.
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| 2022-04-01T16:42:35Z
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Which rustic lampshade is best?
Rustic decor can make any space feel warm and homey, but as you cozy up with a hot beverage around the fire, your lampshades might stick out like a sore thumb. How do you style something so functional to match the homespun aesthetic of your rustic decor?
From earthy colors to organic materials, rustic lampshades are the perfect accent to a cabin-inspired interior. Whether your vision of rustic is understated and minimal or decadent like a hunting lodge, the best rustic lampshade is Brentwood Collection Oatmeal Tall Linen Medium Drum Lampshade.
What to know before you buy a rustic lampshade
What is rustic?
Rustic is an interior design style inspired by frontier and country living. It emphasizes natural, organic and raw materials typically found in homes built with resources immediately available to those living off the land. Think exposed cross beams, unfinished wood or logs, animal hides and raw leathers, wrought or cast iron, heirloom or antique furniture and warm, thick knit fabrics.
What makes a lampshade rustic?
The modern lampshade is a fairly recent invention, coinciding with the discovery of electricity. So, many rustic lampshades use inspiration from premodern living to imagine a utilitarian, repurposed aesthetic. These are made from raw, organic materials and are typically decorated with a mixture of natural and folk motifs.
If you want a camp-like aesthetic, look for lampshades with silhouettes or stenciling of plants or animals. Many seek to imitate the appearance of animal hide, radiating an amber glow.
If understated and contemporary rustic is your thing, natural colors such as beige, sage green, ocher and amber all look good with raw woods.
Types of lampshades
Lampshades come in all shapes and sizes:
- Empire: These are conical lampshades. They’re shaped so that most of the light emits from the wider bottom, making them perfect for table lamps.
- Bell: These lampshades are similar to empire shades in effect but have a concave curve traveling from the narrow top to their flared bottom.
- Round: Round shades can come in a classic drum or oval shape. They diffuse light in an even, ambient manner, suiting them well to floor lamps.
- Square: These modern, geometric shapes are good at even lighting but might clash with the organic forms of rustic decor.
- Dome: Used with overhead lights or table lamps, these are shallow with wide openings to spill out lots of light.
What to look for in a quality rustic lampshade
Material
- Linen: Elegantly textured, this material is popular for its durability and simplicity, fitting almost any decor.
- Cotton: Cotton is a little more uniform than linen thanks to its tighter weave. It’s lightweight and soft.
- Paper: Paper lampshades have lots of texture and are good at simulating rustic materials. They’re the most translucent material.
- Silk: Silk is a very luxurious material that can class up any room. It’s thick with a classic sheen.
- Fiber: Elaborate lampshade designs can be made from sculptural materials such as wood. Look for wicker, rattan or burlap. Light quality depends on their weave.
Fitter
The fitter is the structural component that attaches the shade to your lamp. There are four kinds:
- Spider: A spider fitter sits at the top of the shade and uses spokes to hold up a center washer that connects to your lamp. You lock it on with a finial.
- Clip-on: Clip-ons use clamping metal tongs to clasp the light bulb of your lamp.
- Uno: These are similar to spider fitters in their design but travel to the bottom of the lamp so they rest at the base of the light bulb.
- Screw-on: Like uno fitters, screw-ons sit beneath the light bulb, screwing onto the lamp fixture.
Finials
These are the little decorative end pieces that screw the fitter onto the lamp. If your lamp fitter requires a finial, think about the design you want. Many ornamental finials are better suited to classically inspired decors, but that doesn’t mean your rustic home has to do without these fun accents. Pine cones, driftwood, sculptural wildlife and other country-living inspired materials or flora and fauna all look great on a rustic lampshade.
How much you can expect to spend on a rustic lampshade
Depending on the material, a rustic lampshade can cost $30-$70.
Rustic lampshade FAQ
What width lampshade do I need?
A. If you’re styling a table lamp, most designers recommend choosing a lampshade whose base diameter measures within 2 inches of your lamp’s height. To get your lamp’s height, measure from the base just up to where the bulb’s socket cap begins. For floor lamps, you have more flexibility — size just so that the bulb has at least 2.5 inches on either side.
What height lampshade do I need?
A. Similar to width, the lampshade should be within a half-inch of the height of the lamp’s harp. The harp is the wire frame that begins at the socket cap and extends above the bulb so you can install your shade. If your lamp doesn’t have a harp, don’t exceed the height of the lamp’s body; aim for two-thirds the height.
How do I match my lampshade to my lamp?
A. When choosing a lampshade shape, you want it to mirror the shape of your lamp. A square base and round body match a lampshade of the same composition. Likewise, an oval shade looks great on a cylindrical lamp, but wonky on a squat, square one. There are no hard and fast rules, but this general guideline typically makes for a good pairing.
What’s the best rustic lampshade to buy?
Top rustic lampshade
Brentwood Collection Oatmeal Tall Linen Medium Drum Lampshade
What you need to know: This drum shade is the perfect balance between contemporary and camp with its rich texture and subtle oatmeal color.
What you’ll love: The lampshade has an elegant brass spider fitter. It’s 14 inches across and 15 inches tall. When lit, the linen takes on a darker umber tone.
What you should consider: Some users found that the material frayed easily.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top rustic lampshade for the money
Millwood Pines Paper Empire Lampshade
What you need to know: With a warm glow when lit, this shade goes great with rustic cabin or lodge decor.
What you’ll love: The lampshade is 9.5 inches tall and 12 inches at its base. It comes in a classic empire shape and uses a spider fitter. When lit, it glows amber and is a papery yellow without lighting.
What you should consider: The fitter is sold separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Worth checking out
Seaside Village Clear Glass Pendant Shade
What you need to know: Take your rustic decor in a more sophisticated direction by using a glass lampshade.
What you’ll love: When paired with a filament bulb, this bell-style shade gives off an old-timey gas lantern feeling. It looks great on any hanging or pendant light fixtures, such as floor lamps.
What you should consider: Bulb and light fixture are not included.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-01T16:43:51Z
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Which wheel cleaner is best?
Chrome and polished aluminum wheels are popular car modifications that can be buffed to a mirror finish. But to properly show off your rims, you’ll need to put in a little elbow grease with some good cleaner. Not only will it keep your wheels sparkling, but it will also help protect them from corrosive contaminants on the road.
Chrome and aluminum require specially tailored formulas, which can make choosing the proper cleaner complicated — it’s the difference between restoring your wheels’ luster and destroying their finish. With the right formula, tools and know-how, you can get your wheels back to their factory finish.
Why it’s important to clean your wheels regularly
The roads are covered in corrosive particles and debris that slowly eat away at your wheels, and it’s not just salt, dirt and rocks that can erode your wheels’ finish. The dust produced by your brake pads is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to tarnishing chrome and aluminum.
Over time, these contaminants ruin your wheels’ appearance and resale value while also degrading their structural integrity. Regularly washing, polishing and waxing your wheels every one to two weeks is the only way to keep them shining and protected from environmental damage.
Chrome wheel cleaner
Chrome wheels are made by electroplating multiple layers of metals — usually nickel and copper — with a final layer of chrome. The resulting wheel has a durable composition that stands up to weather and rough road conditions. Cleaner formulated for chrome is designed to restore this final layer and bring out its classic sheen.
Chrome wheel cleaners come in premixed solutions that use a spray bottle or concentrated gel formulas that you mix in water. Like other wheel cleaners, they typically cost $6-$20.
Chrome wheel cleaner pros
- A specially formulated cleaner for chrome won’t risk harming its finish.
- This cleaner foams to lift dust and debris so you don’t end up grinding dirt back into the surface with a cloth or brush — all you have to do is rinse.
- Chrome wheel cleaner performs better than multipurpose wheel cleaners on this specific metal.
Chrome wheel cleaner cons
- Chrome wheel cleaner doesn’t often work in the opposite direction of multi-surface application and can end up damaging polished aluminum wheels.
- Not all chrome wheel cleaners also work on tires.
Best chrome wheel cleaners
Meguiar’s Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner
Made just for chrome, this cleaner sprays on and foams up to lift dirt and debris so you don’t have to scrub. You can’t use this cleaner on aluminum.
Sold by Amazon
Mothers Pro-Strength Chrome Wheel Cleaner
Mothers is a trusted brand in car detailing, and their streak-free formula for chrome is one of the toughest you can get. Just spray it on, let it foam up and rinse. Use a soft wheel brush to get at any crevices.
Sold by Amazon
Chemical Guys Wicked Strong Diablo Gel Wheel Cleaner
This pH-neutral cleaner is safe to use on chrome and other coated wheels. It comes in a gel bottle, so you mix it with water and spray or brush it onto the wheel. Because it’s so versatile, this is a great option for multi-car families or companies, as one bucket of solution can go a long way.
Sold by Amazon
Polished aluminum wheel cleaner
Polished aluminum wheel cleaners are the least abrasive cleaner formula. Finding the right one for the job depends on whether or not your polished wheels are clear coated.
Most cars on the road today have aluminum alloy wheels. These are made from composite metal that’s fabricated as a single block of metal. They’re then sealed off with a layer of clear coat.
Polished aluminum rims are raw-metal wheels that are buffed by hand or machine. They don’t have that protective layer of clear paint. For these aftermarket wheels, you need a non-caustic formula that fights oxidization on uncoated surfaces.
Like most wheel cleaners, solutions for polished-aluminum usually cost $6-$20.
Polished aluminum wheel cleaner pros
- Aluminum cleaner is the gentlest and can be used on many wheel types.
- It won’t harm clear coated brake calipers and suspension components in the case of over-spray.
- These cleaners are pH-balanced so they won’t cause spotting or tarnishing.
Polished aluminum wheel cleaner cons
- When used on chrome, aluminum cleaner isn’t as thorough as chrome-specific cleaner.
- It can be harder to find the right cleaner for uncoated aluminum rims, as many formulas are advertised for aluminum but are actually referring to clear coated, mass market aluminum wheels.
Best polished aluminum wheel cleaners
Meguiar’s Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner
If you have uncoated aluminum rims, this is the cleaner to get. It’s designed to remove oxidization, grit and grime without damaging the metal. Because it’s so gentle, you’ll need a soft scrubbing tool like a microfiber towel or brush.
Sold by Amazon
Carfidant Ultimate Wheel Cleaner
This multipurpose wheel cleaner works on just about every wheel type you can imagine. Its pH-neutral formula works especially well on polished aluminum, as it doesn’t discolor. You can even use it on the aluminum trim of tool boxes, appliances and more.
Sold by Amazon
Flitz Multipurpose Polish and Cleaner Liquid
Car geeks swear by Flitz. Its non-abrasive, chemical formula is great at restoring your uncoated metal’s shine. This is a two-in-one cleaner that removes oxidization and then polishes. If your wheels are particularly grimy, you might want to pair this with a stronger cleaner that can remove any grit first.
Sold by Amazon
Should you get chrome or polished aluminum wheel cleaner?
Both kinds of cleaners do their jobs well — it all depends on what type of wheels you have. While multipurpose cleaners that tackle a variety of wheel types are convenient, they’re often not as strong as dedicated formulas. You’re also taking a risk, as manufacturers can’t always guarantee their claims.
If you’re cleaning chrome wheels, get a chrome-specific cleaner, and if you’re cleaning uncoated aluminum, get an aluminum cleaner. Meguiar’s makes two great products for each of these metals.
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-01T16:44:12Z
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Which Microsoft Surface tablet is best?
Microsoft Surface tablets are often overlooked in favor of other traditional tablets, but they’re perfect for anyone who wants a lightweight device that can function as a laptop.
Microsoft Surface tablets are high-powered and excellent for all kinds of computing tasks. There are several models, but Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is the best of them all, thanks to its dazzling display and ultra-fast processor.
What to know before you buy a Microsoft Surface tablet
Screen size
Although they’re marketed as two-in-one devices, Microsoft Surface tablets primarily function as tablets. They’re designed to be sleek, lightweight and portable, so they don’t have the screen sizes you typically see on laptops.
The average tablet screen size is 9-13 inches, but Surface tablets are only available in 10-inch and 13-inch models. A larger screen is better for working or streaming movies and TV shows, but it’s not as lightweight or thin as a small screen.
Software
Microsoft Surface tablets all come with the Windows 11 operating system preinstalled. It allows them to function similarly to traditional PCs and is usually the preferred software for those who use their device for work or intensive school projects.
If you’re used to using a different operating system, you might find it challenging to transition to Windows 11, as there’s somewhat of a learning curve for anyone unfamiliar with it.
Battery life
Tablets are meant to be used from viable power sources, so they should last a long time in standby mode. It depends on the duration and type of usage, but a quality tablet lasts around 8 hours on a full charge. Applications vary in power consumption, so naturally, programs that require more will drain a tablet’s battery faster.
What to look for in a quality Microsoft Surface tablet
Storage
While many laptops use hard disk drives for storage, all Surface tablets use solid-state drives. Accessing files on an SSD is faster, making them ideal for tablets.
If you plan to use your tablet for simple tasks like browsing or streaming content, you can opt for a tablet with 64 or 128 gigabytes of storage. However, if you want to use your tablet for work or school, the more storage you have to work with, the better, making models with 256GB or higher more suitable.
Once your tablet’s SSD storage capacity is full, you’ll have to delete or move files if you want to store other data.
Processor
A fast central processing unit is crucial for running applications that require lots of power. You don’t need to worry about this if you plan to use your tablet for light tasks, but it’s an important consideration for anybody looking to use their device for running high-powered programs. However, be advised that the more powerful a tablet’s processor, the more expensive it is.
Random access memory
The more random access memory a device has, the more applications you can run simultaneously without noticing a performance decrease. 4GB of RAM is sufficient for simple browsing and running light applications, but high-powered computing tasks require a minimum of 8GB of RAM to run efficiently.
How much you can expect to spend on a Microsoft Surface tablet
Because of the many different specs that can be customized, the price of a Surface tablet can vary greatly. The entry-level model of the Surface Go 3 is the cheapest at $400, while the Surface Pro 8 with the most high-end specs goes for $1,999.
Microsoft Surface tablet FAQ
Can Surface tablets connect to LTE networks?
A. All models can connect to the internet through Wi-Fi, but some also have cellular/LTE network capabilities for using the internet while on the go. However, you’ll have to contact a network carrier and purchase a data plan if you wish to do so.
Is the Surface Pen accessory necessary?
A. It’s not necessary whatsoever, but it makes games and tasks such as note-taking and drawing on your tablet much more accessible.
What’s the best Microsoft Surface tablet to buy?
Top Microsoft Surface tablet
What you need to know: It’s hands-down the best Surface tablet, as it boasts the best battery life, graphics and delivers superior performance for all kinds of tasks.
What you’ll love: The base model of this tablet comes equipped with 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD and an Intel Core i5 processor. It has a stunning 13-inch touchscreen display, a kickstand, offers a 120Hz frame refresh rate and supports Fast Charging.
What you should consider: Some find the 8GB of RAM on the base model insufficient for an expensive, high-end tablet.
Where to buy: Sold by Staples and Amazon
Top Microsoft Surface tablet for the money
What you need to know: If you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of processing power, this tablet is an excellent budget-friendly alternative to the Pro 8.
What you’ll love: The base model of this tablet has 4GB of RAM, 64GB SSD and an Intel Core i3 processor. It lasts 8.5 hours on a full charge and has a 10.5-inch touchscreen display, making it lightweight and suitable for traveling.
What you should consider: The screen size is great for streaming media but not as good for those looking for a fully functional computing device.
Where to buy: Sold by Staples and Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: It’s an excellent mid-level tablet with less processing power than the Pro 8 but with similar specs in most other areas.
What you’ll love: The entry-level Pro X model comes with 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD and a Microsoft SQ1 processor. It’s fast enough for effective multitasking, and although it has a 13-inch display, it’s lightweight, thanks to a 7.3-millimeter thickness design.
What you should consider: Some complained it’s not compatible with many popular programs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-01T16:44:46Z
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How to choose the best baseball bat for your needs
Unless you play Major League Baseball, you have a choice when it comes to picking the material for your bat. Your options are wood, aluminum or composite. Each of these materials provides the player with a distinct set of advantages. Each also has an inherent set of drawbacks.
When shopping for a baseball bat, you must consider what your needs are and match the type of bat to those needs. A wood bat still has its place, even though aluminum and composite bats offer a performance advantage.
Wood baseball bats
Because of safety (and other) issues, the MLB only uses ash, birch and maple bats. If you want to play like a pro, this would be your bat of choice. It honors tradition and offers a little more safety, although a pair of quality batting gloves will come in handy to reduce the sting.
Wood baseball bats pros
- From a budget perspective, wood bats are appealing because of their lower cost.
- Wood bats are the best bat for training because they provide the most feedback. This helps the player improve their swing mechanics.
- Wood bats are safer because the bat doesn’t increase the ball’s velocity like other materials.
Wood baseball bats cons
- Wood bats break more easily than aluminum or composite bats.
- The sweet spot on a wood bat is smaller than it is on the other options.
- Wood bats are the heaviest type of bat, which means they are harder to swing and may be smaller in size, so they won’t provide as much plate coverage.
Best wood baseball bats
The Big Stick is certified for MLB play. It is made of maple and employs a heavier barrel, making it ideal for power hitters.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Louisville Slugger Series 3X Ash Bat
This bat is from a trusted name in baseball. It is made of ash and has a natural finish. The large sweet spot and lighter weight make this a favorite.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Wilson Sporting Goods Louisville Slugger
This 27-inch wood bat is cupped for reduced weight. The black design features red lettering so your bat is sharp looking and easy to identify.
Sold by Amazon
Aluminum baseball bats
Aluminum bats were introduced to college baseball in the early ’70s to cut down on the rising costs of replacing broken wood bats. Besides being more durable, aluminum is lighter than wood and provides more pop when hitting a ball. However, aluminum bats are not without their downsides.
Aluminum baseball bat pros
- Aluminum bats are best when they are new — there is no break-in period required.
- Aluminum bats have a larger sweet spot, which makes them ideal for a beginner who is having trouble hitting with any sort of power.
- Aluminum bats have a trampoline effect. When the bat makes contact, some of the energy is transferred to the ball, making it travel farther and faster than a ball hit by a wood bat.
- The lighter weight of an aluminum bat means they can be longer and larger, giving the player greater plate coverage and a faster swing.
Aluminum baseball bat cons
- Although an aluminum bat will rarely break, it can lose its pop over time. The more imperfections the bat gains from hitting balls, the more its performance deteriorates.
- Aluminum bats cost slightly more than wooden bats, but they are less than composite bats.
- With an aluminum bat, there is less feedback sent to the batter, so it can be harder for a beginner to develop proper swing mechanics.
Best aluminum baseball bats
Louisville Slugger Omaha USA Youth Bat
The Omaha USA youth bat features a one-piece construction. It feels solid in the batter’s hands and offers enhanced energy transfer. It has a cushioned leather grip for increased comfort and control.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
The lightweight construction of this bat gives the player increased speed, letting them get more power behind their swing. It has a cushioned grip and is approved for all associations that follow the USA Baseball standard.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
This affordable aluminum bat is for entry-level T-ball players. The ultralightweight design is suitable for ages 7 and under. It has a large sweet spot to deliver greater satisfaction and foster confidence.
Sold by Amazon
Composite baseball bats
A composite baseball bat is made of carbon fiber. These crystalline filaments are thinner than a strand of human hair but become remarkably rugged when twisted together. It is a lightweight material that has incredible strength. Some composite bats are made from a single piece of material, while others are two-piece items: a handle and a barrel. A two-piece bat is better for the average player because it doesn’t transfer as much vibration to the hands after a solid hit. Advanced players with greater speed and power, however, may opt for one-piece bats.
Composite baseball bat pros
- Composite bats are the lightest baseball bats available. This lets manufacturers make longer bats without increasing the weight so players have greater plate coverage.
- Since most composite bats have a two-piece design, they are less likely to sting a player’s hands.
- Composite bats have a larger sweet spot, which makes them best for inexperienced players.
- Over time, the trampoline effect increases on a composite bat.
Composite baseball bat cons
- Composite bats are not as durable as aluminum bats, and it is possible to break them.
- Compost bats cost more than wood bats and aluminum bats.
- A composite bat is not ready to go out of the box. You need to break it in. This process takes anywhere from 150 to 300 hits.
Best composite baseball bats
Louisville Slugger Meta BBCOR Bat
This is a high-end composite bat that is best for the serious player. It features a large barrel with a balanced design and a comfortable yet secure grip.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Easton Ghost X Hyperlite Youth Bat
This composite bat from Easton is 29 inches long but only weighs 18 ounces. It has a large sweet spot and a balanced swing weight that makes it a good choice for beginners.
Sold by Amazon
This bat is available in five sizes ranging from 27-31 inches. It features an ultralightweight design to help young players succeed. The lower price adds value.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Should you get a wood, aluminum or composite baseball bat?
For the average player, an aluminum bat wins out because it offers the best of all worlds. It has a large sweet spot, a lightweight design, and it is available at a reasonable price. However, if you have an unlimited budget, a composite bat might edge out an aluminum bat. A composite bat won’t help you hit the ball farther, but the larger barrel and lighter weight design could up your batting average. For players who want to perfect their swing mechanics, however, there is no better option than using a wood bat at practice.
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-01T16:45:14Z
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TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — The United States on Thursday returned a cache of smuggled ancient artifacts to Libya as the oil-rich Mediterranean country struggles to protect its heritage against the backdrop of years of war, turmoil and unrest.
The repatriated items include two sculptures dating to the 4th century B.C. from the ancient city of Cyrene.
One, named the “Veiled Head of a Female,” was previously in the hands of a private collector of other illegal artifacts, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Libya. The other, also a Hellenic bust, had been at the Metropolitan Museum of New York since 1998, the statement said. Both were displayed by Libyan antiquities officials at a reception ceremony in the country’s capital, Tripoli.
Libyan antiquities authorities thanked American officials and law enforcement for the returned items and said that they looked forward to future cooperation. The embassy credited the work of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and Homeland Security Investigations officials for the recovery of the artifacts.
“Although these antiquities were brought illegally to the United States by traffickers, legal efforts have succeeded in returning them to their country of origin,” the embassy statement read.
Libya boasts many ancient Greek and Roman structures, along with a wealth of ancient artifacts in its major museum in the capital of Tripoli and in other museums countrywide, though its archeological sites have been plundered for decades.
Libya has been wrecked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country was after that split for years between rival administrations in the east and the west, each supported by an array of militias and foreign governments.
Large-scale fighting has only stopped in the past year, but Libyans have yet to unite under a single political leadership, despite strenuous U.N.-led efforts.
The Greeks founded the settlement of Cyrene, close to the modern town of Shahat, in the 4th century B.C. It was later incorporated into the Roman empire. The United Nations added Cyrene to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1982 and it has been classified as a location that is particularly endangered due to neglect and looting since 2016.
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| 2022-04-01T16:45:29Z
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BANGKOK (AP) — A report by the World Wildlife Fund shows illegal purchases of wildlife online are growing in Myanmar in a threat both to public health and to endangered species.
Thereport issued Fridayfound that enforcement of bans on such transactions has weakened amid political turmoil following a 2021 military takeover.
The number of such dealings rose 74% over a year earlier to 11,046, nearly all of them involving sales of live animals. For the 173 species traded, 54 are threatened with global extinction, the report said.
Researchers identified 639 Facebook accounts belonging to wildlife traders. The largest online trading group had more than 19,000 members and dozens of posts per week, it said.
The animals and animal parts bought and sold involved elephants, bears and gibbons, Tibetan antelope, critically endangered pangolins and an Asian giant tortoise. The most popular mammals were various species of langurs and monkeys, often bought as pets.
Most of the animals advertised for sale were taken from the wild. They also included civets, which along with pangolins have been identified as potential vectors in the spread of diseases such as SARS and COVID-19.
Shaun Martin, who heads the WWF’s Asia-Pacific regional cybercrime project, said monitoring of the online wildlife trade shows different species being kept close together, sometimes in the same cage.
“With Asia’s track record as a breeding ground for many recent zoonotic diseases, this sharp uptick in online trade of wildlife in Myanmar is extremely concerning,” he said.
The unregulated trade in wild species and resulting interactions between wild species and humans raise the risks of new and possibly vaccine-resistant mutations of illnesses such as the COVID-19 that could evolve undetected in non-human hosts into more dangerous variants of disease, experts say.
COVID-19 is one of manydiseases traced back to animals. The killing and sale of what is known as bushmeat in Africa was thought to be a source for Ebola. Bird flu likely came from chickens at a market in Hong Kong in 1997. Measles is believed to have evolved from a virus that infected cattle.
“Illegal wildlife trade is a serious concern from the point of view of biodiversity preservation and conservation and its potential impact on health security,” said Mary Elizabeth G. Miranda, an expert on zoonotic diseases and illness and CEO of the Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation in the Philippines.
Social media and other online platforms have joined a worldwide effort to crack down on the thriving trade in birds, reptiles, mammals and animal parts. In Myanmar, much of the trade in wildlife is through Facebook, which as a member of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking online has taken action to block or remove accounts of people engaged in such transactions.
But as is true elsewhere, new accounts often pop up just as soon as old ones are shut down, hindering enforcement, the report noted. Easy online access to the animals also is driving up demand, worsening the problem.
Discussions of purchases of protected species often took place in open Facebook groups, suggesting that such dealings remain “largely risk-free,” the report said. Since payments and deliveries often are done using messenger apps, controlling the problem is doubly difficult.
Highlighting the lack of enforcement, people in the illegal wildlife trade in Myanmar often use rudimentary methods of moving the animals and animal products around — with buses being the usual form of transport.
The study by WWF in Myanmar focused on trade online of animals and other creatures inside the country, though there were some imports from neighboring Thailand, mainly of birds such as cockatoos and parrots and of crocodiles, to India.
Some deals might involve animals or parts being sent into China, it said.
The conservation group said it plans future studies to better understand Myanmar’s role in the global trade in endangered species.
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| 2022-04-01T16:45:36Z
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP)Longtime Miami associate head coach Chris Caputo has accepted a contract offer to become the new coach at George Washington, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday night.
The school and Caputo were working out final contract details including length of the deal, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because George Washington had not announced the hiring.
Caputo replaces Jamion Christian, who was 29-50 in three seasons at the school.
Caputo has been an integral part of Miami coach Jim Larranaga’s staff for two decades, including helping George Mason to the Final Four in 2006 and the Hurricanes to the Elite Eight this season. He has been associate head coach at Miami since May 2015, overseeing much of the team’s recruiting efforts and serving as the team’s defensive coordinator.
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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
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(NEXSTAR) – McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc didn’t exactly have high hopes for the Filet-O-Fish sandwich.
In fact, he was betting against it.
In the early 1960s, McDonald’s only offered a handful of items, including hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, milkshakes, soft drinks, coffee and milk. This presented a problem for McDonald’s franchisee Lou Groen, whose clientele in Cincinnati largely abstained from eating meat on Fridays.
“That area was 87% Catholic,” Groen once explained to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “On Fridays we only took in about $75 a day.”
Inspired by the sales of a competitor’s fish sandwich, Groen decided to develop his own, made with fried halibut and tartar sauce. But first, he had to get it OK’ed by the suits at McDonald’s, many of whom had reservations because of its “more complicated cooking process,” according to the chain.
Ray Kroc was among the skeptics. Plus, he already had plans for his own meat-free burger, consisting of a slice of grilled pineapple and cheese. Kroc called it the Hula Burger, and he was convinced it would sell better than any fish sandwich. (He also believed that McDonald’s restaurants would be “stunk up with the smell of fish” as a result of Groen’s idea, Groen once told the Cincinnati Business Courier.)
Lucky for Groen, Kroc was willing to try out both ideas and let the sales speak for themselves.
“Ray said to me, ‘Well, Lou, I’m going to put your fish sandwich on [the menu] for a Friday. But I’m going to put my special sandwich on, too. Whichever sells the most, that’s the one we’ll go with,’” Goren told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Kroc also made a “side bet” with Fred Turner, another McDonald’s executive, that the Hula Burger would sell better than the Filet-O-Fish, the stakes being a brand-new suit.
On the day of the test, Groen’s restaurant sold 350 fish sandwiches and only six Hula Burgers. So not only was Kroc wrong about the Filet-O-Fish, but he now owed his colleague a new suit.
He wasn’t too bummed, of course, because “McDonald’s got the Filet-O-Fish,” according to McDonald’s historian Mike Bullington.
After a little bit of tweaking — halibut was swapped for Atlantic cod, a slice of cheese was added — the McDonald’s fish sandwich was embraced by franchisees across the country before becoming a permanent nationwide offering in 1965. The Filet-O-Fish also holds the distinction of being the first new addition to the original McDonald’s menu.
Groen, meanwhile, enjoyed continued success as a McDonald’s franchisee into the 1980s, operating dozens of restaurants in Ohio and Kentucky. He passed in 2011, but remained a fan of the Fil’
et-O-Fish throughout his final years — even if he preferred his original version to the sandwich that’s currently served at McDonald’s.
“My halibut sandwich far outshines that one,” he remarked to the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2007.
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The number of nominees for the Grammys' top awards keeps growing, up to 10 this year, making the competition stronger, but predictions a lot trickier. Are too many pop artists going to split the vote, making an upset more likely? Can we even count on past wins as a guide?
Associated Press Entertainment Writers Jonathan Landrum Jr. and Kristin M. Hall break down the Grammy nominees, agreeing at the very least that Olivia Rodrigo is going to pick up gold trophies. But the writers (and likely Grammy voters, too) are conflicted when there is so much stiff competition between artists like Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, Billie Eilish and Rodrigo.
The 64th annual Grammy Awards will air on Sunday, April 3 on CBS and Paramount+.
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ALBUM OF THE YEAR: “We Are,” Jon Batiste; “Love For Sale,” Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga; “Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe),” Justin Bieber; “Planet Her (Deluxe Edition),” Doja Cat; “Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish; “Back of My Mind,” H.E.R.; “MONTERO,” Lil Nas X; “Sour,” Olivia Rodrigo; “Evermore,” Taylor Swift; “Donda,” Kanye West.
LANDRUM: Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga are a perfect match to win album of the year against some stiff competition. It’ll be a tight race between the dynamic duo along with Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, but I think Bennett and Gaga will reign supreme above the rest of the well-respected pack with their unmatched chemistry displayed by the legendary crooners on “Love for Sale.” True, there’s a lifelong bond and synergy between the sister-brother combo of Eilish and Finneas. Rodrigo has one of the biggest early career splashes of success too. But the magic created by Bennett and Gaga is a rare occurrence — especially for Bennett, who showed in his 90s that he can still vocally hold his own and flourish with Gaga in their collection of masterful duets.
HALL: Aww, Jonathan, I had no idea you were such a romantic! Even a hard-hearted cynic like me has a hard time arguing against a duo who has 30 Grammys (and a lifetime achievement award) between them. This category has such variety from debut albums and pop and rap stars evolving through various levels of fame all the way to musical icons. But I am gonna go with my gut, not my heart, and say that Rodrigo ekes out a tight contest that is likely to split among pop fans. Her inescapable fun pop rock hits have turned the young artist into a household name, giving her a slight edge over Grammy favs Eilish and Swift.
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RECORD OF THE YEAR: “I Still Have Faith in You,” ABBA; “FREEDOM," Jon Batiste; “I Get a Kick Out of You,” Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga; “Peaches,” Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon; “Right on Time,” Brandi Carlile; “Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat featuring SZA; “Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish; “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X; “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo; “Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic.
HALL: I know I’m not supposed to, but I am talking about Bruno. As in Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak creating a lush soundscape with their Silk Sonic collaboration. “Leave the Door Open” is an smooth ’70s era R&B throwback that just hits the right notes, from the tinkling keys to the first lines of the song: “What you doin’? Where you at? Oh you got plans? Don’t say that.” Mars and .Paak made some nostalgic 24K magic here that is my jam.
LANDRUM: I think Eilish will completely shut Silk Sonic’s door. She's too much of a force for the other competitors here. And through “Happier Than Ever,” she’ll make history by becoming the first artist to win three straight years in the category and join Paul Simon as the only artist with three record of the year victories.
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SONG OF THE YEAR (songwriter’s award): “Bad Habits,” “A Beautiful Noise,” “Drivers License,” “Fight For You,” “Happier Than Ever,” “Kiss Me More,” “Leave The Door Open,” “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” “Peaches,” “Right On Time.”
LANDRUM: I probably played Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon more than the other nominee’s tracks. I was captured by the song’s feel-good melody and Bieber’s catchy hook — which oftentimes still plays in my head. But after my soliloquy, I’m predicting that H.E.R. will go back-to-back in this category for “Fight for You,” a soulful song with poignant lyrics from the “Judas and the Black Messiah” soundtrack. The song — written by H.E.R., producer D’Mile and singer Tiara Thomas — won an Academy Award for best original song last year. It offers a powerful message just like last year's winner “I Can’t Breathe” and I think ”Fight for You” will win this bout for the trio at the Grammys too.
HALL: The Recording Academy clearly LOVES Eilish and has anointed the star with seven Grammys already, so she looks like a good shoo-in. “Happier Than Ever” is a cinematic melodramatic story song, showing the different sides of the alternative pop singer-songwriter, even if it wasn’t one of the bigger songs from her album. Although part of me really would love for Lil Nas X to surprise everyone with a win here.
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BEST NEW ARTIST: Arooj Aftab; Jimmie Allen; Baby Keem; Finneas; Glass Animals; Japanese Breakfast; The Kid Laroi; Arlo Parks; Olivia Rodrigo; Saweetie.
HALL: So many deserving names in this category (and I think Jimmie Allen is the hardest working artist in country music right now), but there's no doubt this award is reserved for Rodrigo. Just go ahead and engrave her name on it.
LANDRUM: This award should be signed, sealed and delivered to Rodrigo. Sorry Saweetie, but there’s a bona fide sleeper in this category: Finneas. Yep, Eilish’s brother who has already won eight Grammys through his producer and co-writer work on his sister’s projects. Do I honestly think Finneas will upset Rodrigo? No. She's had too big of a year to lose. But there’s a small part of me that believes Finneas has a sliver of a chance. Sometimes, that's all you need.
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BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE: “Anyone,” Justin Bieber; “Right on Time,” Brandi Carlile; “Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish; “Positions,” Ariana Grande; “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo.
LANDRUM: Eilish or the Biebs could derail, but Rodrigo's “drivers license” should be coasting down the road in the winner's seat with no detours.
HALL: You know what is even better than finally earning your driver's license? A Grammy trophy. I hope she drives it around in her passenger seat to gloat over that ex.
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BEST RAP PERFORMANCE: “Thot S(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk)," Megan The Stallion; “M Y. L I F E," J. Cole feat. 21 Savage and Morray; “Up," Cardi B; “Family Ties," Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar.
HALL: Megan and Cardi are still on fire even when they are dropping singles between albums, but there's no match for the lyrical one-two punch from cousins Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar. The family affair is a two-part song, pairing up Keem, the rising star who arrives to fanfare with a blare of horns and a drum line, with Lamar, one of the most acclaimed rappers of our time, who declares “I am the Omega." The Pulitzer Prize winner, who has been mostly quiet musically since the “Black Panther” soundtrack, drops plenty of hints that more is coming from him.
LANDRUM: Lamar and Keem’s family ties to this category will be broken. For me, this is a toss up between the “WAP” duo — Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B. It’ll be close, but I believe Cardi’s crossover hit “Up” will entice voters enough to literally send her up on stage to claim this award and become the first woman to win this category as a solo artist.
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BEST R&B PERFORMANCE: “Pick Up Your Feelings," Jazmine Sullivan; “Leave The Door Open," Silk Sonic; “Damage,” H.E.R.; “Peaches," Justin Beiber feat. Daniel Caesar and Giveon; “Lost You," Snoh Aalegra.
LANDRUM: Flip flop my choice about H.E.R. and Bieber in the song of the year category for this one. I love H.E.R.'s “Damage," but I think “Peaches” by Bieber is satisfying my sweet tooth for best R&B performance.
HALL: I love both “Pick Up Your Feelings” and “Damage” for their smart and sexy lyrics, so I am torn. But I think Silk Sonic will skate away with the win in this category.
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BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE: “You Should Probably Leave,” Chris Stapleton; “camera roll,” Kacey Musgraves; “All I Do Is Drive," Jason Isbell; “Remember Her Name,” Mickey Guyton; “Forever After All,” Luke Combs.
HALL: This is a singer's category, so you've got to have the pipes and Stapleton could easily win this award again. Combs' time is coming soon, but I think Guyton's performance of a song so personal gives her an advantage. Guyton's voice is supple and strong on “Remember Her Name” and I think Grammy voters will remember her positively.
LANDRUM: Last year, Guyton showed up. This year, she’ll show out. Just like the name of her album and song, you’ll absolutely remember her name when Guyton prevails in this category.
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SEATTLE — Early Friday morning, more than 16% of Alaska Airlines flights in and out of Sea-Tac Airport were canceled.
The cancelations come amid a planned informational picket by some Alaska Airlines pilots up and down the west coast with others planned in Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The Air Line Pilots Association, International says there could be more than a hundred pilots as well as supporters lining International Boulevard Friday at noon.
Will McQuillen, a pilot and union chairman for Alaska Airlines' pilots said negotiations to reach a solution have been ongoing since 2019.
Negotiations were paused because of the pandemic, but Friday is the day the old contract, which employees have been operating as their current contract, becomes amendable.
McQuillen says the goal of this informational picket, which is not a strike, is to bring awareness to pilots' struggles.
Among the top priorities are better pay, more flexible schedules and more job protections.
"Attrition is a real concern. Pilots will leave for the career carrier of their choice that provides them the quality of life, the ability to be home with their family and the protections to know once they've invested their career that they will be with that carrier for life," said McQuillen.
He adds that conversations with the airline have been frustrating and slow.
In an email statement, Alaska Airlines said, "A new pilot contract remains a top priority for Alaska. We’ve put a package on the table that’s competitive and addresses the issues most important to our pilots."
The airline also noted the pause in negotiations was mutual as the industry faced the pandemic.
"It’s a significant financial investment in our pilot group while recognizing that we are still working to recover from $2.3 billion in losses from the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement continued.
The airline also acknowledged that some flights will be canceled Friday because of the picket and apologized for the inconvenience.
"We’re working as quickly as possible to make things right and get them to their destinations," the statement read.
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Idaho's farmworkers are the ones that help grow and harvest crops that feed the entire world, but with the job comes a lot of risks. According to the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, being a farmworker is the third most dangerous job in the U.S.
National Farmworker Awareness Week aims to help educate the community on some of the challenges these workers face every day.
The Community Council of Idaho is teaming up with multiple local organizations to help supply local farmworkers with long sleeve shirts.
“We want to help protect them as much as possible because they grow our food," Community Council of Idaho’s Intake and Assessment Clerk Esmeralda Garcia said.
Long sleeves are necessary because farmworkers spend long hours outside in extreme weather conditions, with minimal breaks.
"Farmworkers are out in the sun, that's mainly the main reason, you know you want to protect yourself from the sun," Boise State University’s MEPA President Alejandra Hernandez said. "Although there is sunscreen most of the time you're just in the sun for long hours.”
Farmworkers are also exposed to the chemicals used on crops which can be dangerous.
"All the fields that are the farmworkers are working at, they have to fumigate them," said Garcia. "There are pesticides and they can cause severe illnesses like skin diseases, skin rashes because they are breathing things in, if they are not wearing a mask."
The Community Council of Idaho is launching a new program to provide resources, such as education and training, for agricultural employers and employees in the Gem State.
"To inform them of all the benefits of being preventative and what dangers it can cause to their families for exposing them to pesticides and things like that,” said Garcia.
The Community Council of Idaho says they have collected 40 long-sleeved shirts so far and their goal is to raise over 150. All of them will be given to local farmworkers to help them continue to do essential work that benefits us all.
"It would be best if we could get any light colors, thin fabrics, something that's best for them. But we will accept anything to best provide for them,” said Garcia.
Any donations can be dropped off at the Community Council of Idaho's site at 317 Happy Day Boulevard, Suite 180, in Caldwell.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
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WASHINGTON — A lot is known about the few hours that shook American democracy to the core. The defeated president’s incendiary speech, the march by an angry crowd to the U.S. Capitol, the breaking in, the beating of cops, the “hang Mike Pence” threats, the lawmakers running for their lives, the shooting death of rioter Ashli Babbitt. All of that chaos unfolded over about eight hours on one day: Jan. 6, 2021.
But for all that is known about the day, piecing together the words and actions of Donald Trump over that time has proved no easy task, even though a president's movements and communications are closely monitored.
There’s a gap in the official White House phone notations given to the House committee investigating Jan. 6 — from about 11 a.m. to about 7 p.m., according to two people familiar with the congressional investigation into the riot. Details may still turn up; the former president was known to use various cell phones and often bypassed the White House switchboard, placing calls directly.
And over the past four-plus months a lot has surfaced about what Trump did do and say on Jan. 6 — in texts, tweets, videos, calls and other conversations.
The following account is based on testimony, timelines and eyewitness reporting gathered by The Associated Press and The Washington Post and CBS News, and from officials and people familiar with the events who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.
Trump sore at Mike Pence
Trump entered the Oval Office at 11:08 a.m. By that time, about 400 pro-Trump demonstrators had already massed at the Capitol. Trump placed a call to Vice President Mike Pence — their only conversation of the day. It didn't go well: Trump wanted Pence to stop the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory, and he was very unhappy the vice president wouldn't do it.
At 11:38 a.m., the president left the White House to address his rally on the Ellipse, a big grassy oval behind the White House, about a mile or so from the Capitol. It was bitter cold, but that didn't keep the crowd away. Trump was up on stage by 11:57 and addressed his supporters until about 1:15 p.m.
Among Trump’s challenging final words: “We fight. We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country any more. My fellow Americans, for our movement, for our children, and for our beloved country. So we’re going to, we’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. And we’re going to the Capitol.”
'They're throwing metal poles'
Growing crowds were migrating to the Capitol. Almost immediately after Trump concluded, a Capitol Police officer called for backup.
“They’re throwing metal poles at us,” the officer said in a panicked voice. “Multiple law-enforcement injuries."
Would Trump himself head for the Capitol, as he’d suggested in his speech? It was unclear at first, but his motorcade turned to head back to the White House.
At 1:21 p.m., Trump met with his valet at the White House, logs say. At the Capitol, meanwhile, then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund begged for help from the National Guard as the crowd started to swell around the west side of the building and became increasingly violent.
By then the TV networks had picked up the melee and were broadcasting live as the mob broke through metal police barricades and advanced toward the doors of the building where lawmakers were gathered to certify the presidential election results. The surreal images soon filled television screens throughout the West Wing, where staffers watched, stunned.
Capitol locked down, Pence evacuated
By 2 p.m. the U.S. Capitol was locked down. At 2:11, Pence was evacuated. At 2:15, congressional leaders were evacuated. At 2:43, demonstrator Babbitt was shot trying to enter the House chamber through a window broken by the mob.
No official record has surfaced yet of what Trump was doing during this time. The next entry in Trump's daily diary is not until 4:03 p.m., when he went out to the Rose Garden to tape a public address after frantic urging.
But during this time Trump was hardly idle. He was in touch with lawmakers and he was, according to aides, watching the violence unfold on national television. And he was tweeting.
At 2:28, he tweeted not about the violence but to show his pique at his vice president:
“Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!”
At some point, Trump also talked to lawmakers. Republican Kevin McCarthy told a California radio station that he had spoken to the president.
“I was the first person to call him," McCarthy said. “I told him to go on national TV, tell these people to stop it. He said he didn’t know what was happening.”
Washington Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler said McCarthy relayed that conversation to her. By her account, when McCarthy told Trump it was his own supporters breaking into the building, Trump responded: “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.”
Trump also talked to Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, among other GOP lawmakers. Tuberville later said he spoke to the president while the Senate was being evacuated. Utah Sen. Mike Lee said Trump accidentally called him when he was trying to reach Tuberville.
Others, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, tried but failed to get through to the president.
Trump Jr.: 'It has gone too far'
At 3:14 p.m. a Trump tweet at last made a sideways reference to the havoc. “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”
At some point, he sequestered himself in the dining room off the Oval Office to watch the violence play out on TV, rewinding and re-watching some parts, according to former aides. Unable to get through by other means, allies including his former chief of staff and communications director resorted to tweeting at him to try to get through. Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was getting a flurry of texts from lawmakers, from Fox News personalities and even Trump’s own children.
“Hey, Mark, protestors are literally storming the Capitol. Breaking windows on doors. Rushing in. Is Trump going to say something?” reads one text.
“We are all helpless,” says another.
As the violence continued, the president’s elder son texted Meadows:
“He’s got to condemn this s(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk) Asap,” Donald Trump, Jr. texted.
Meadows responded: “I’m pushing it hard. I agree.”
Trump, Jr. texted again and again, urging that his father act:
“We need an Oval address. He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand.”
'Remember this day forever'
At 4:08 p.m. Trump went out to the Rose Garden. At 4:17 p.m. he released a scripted, pre-recorded video, which included a call for “peace” and “law and order” and finally told his supporters “you have to go home now.”
But they didn't. Things were still wildly out of control. In fact, the Capitol building was not secured until 5:34 p.m.
At 6:01, Trump's message was back to indignant: “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long,” he wrote. “Remember this day forever!”
At 6:27, he went back to the residence, and started calling his lawyers.
Congress did not resume counting electoral votes until 8 p.m. They finished at 3:40 a.m. and certified Biden as the winner.
___
Associated Press Writers Jill Colvin in New York, Nomaan Merchant, Zeke Miller, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Mike Balsamo contributed to this report.
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BOSTON (AP) — A bill aimed at banning discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles in workplaces, school districts, and school-related organizations was unanimously approved Thursday by the Massachusetts Senate.
The vote comes two weeks after the Massachusetts House approved a similar bill.
Supporters say Black women in particular have faced pressure in school and the workplace to alter their hair to conform to policies biased against natural hairstyles.
The Senate added a provision to the House version of the bill that would include the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association to the list of school entities banned from adopting and implementing restrictions on natural hairstyles.
Advocates say the change will ensure those participating in sports and extracurricular activities will not be asked to change their natural or protective hairstyles in order to participate.
The bill has its roots in the case of a Massachusetts charter school that came under fire in 2017 for a policy of banning hair braid extensions. After intense criticism, the school abandoned the policy.
The U.S. House also approved a bill earlier this month that would bar discrimination against Black people who wear hairstyles like Afros, cornrows or tightly coiled twists in society, school and the workplace. The federal bill would explicitly say that such discrimination is a violation of federal civil rights law.
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| 2022-04-01T16:52:24Z
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LONDON, UK — Inflation in Europe soared to another record, according to new EU figures released Friday, in a fresh sign that rising energy prices fueled by Russia’s war in Ukraine are squeezing consumers and adding pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates.
Consumer prices in the 19 countries that use the euro currency rose by an annual rate of 7.5% in March, according to the European Union statistics agency, Eurostat.
The latest reading smashed the high set just last month, when it hit 5.9%. It's the fifth straight month that inflation in the eurozone has set a record, bringing it to the highest level since recordkeeping for the euro began in 1997.
Rising consumer prices are a growing problem around the world, making it more difficult for people to afford everything from groceries to their utility bills. Spiking energy costs are the main factor driving inflation in Europe, with those prices surging 44.7% last month, up from 32% in February, Eurostat said.
Oil and gas prices had already been rising because of increasing demand from economies recovering from the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. They jumped higher after Russia, a major oil and gas producer, invaded Ukraine, on fears that sanctions and export restrictions could crimp supplies.
At an outdoor market this week in Cologne, Germany, shopper Andreas Langheim bemoaned how life was getting more expensive.
“I can see the effect of increasing prices, especially here at the market," Langheim, 62, said as he picked up some bread from a bakery van. "Everything is more expensive now.”
The latest figures make it more urgent for the European Central Bank to get off the sidelines and take action, analysts said. The bank is balancing record inflation with the threat that the war may hurt an economy under pressure. Last month, it sped up its exit from economic stimulus efforts to combat inflation, but has not taken more drastic steps.
“We think that the ECB will soon conclude that it can’t wait any longer before starting to raise interest rates,” Jack Allen-Reynolds, senior Europe economist at Capital Economics, said in a report.
Other central banks have started raising rates, including in the U.S., where inflation has soared to a 40-year high of 7.9%. European countries that don’t use the euro, including Britain, Norway and the Czech Republic have done the same.
In the eurozone, there were price increases for other categories of spending besides energy. Food, alcohol and tobacco costs rose 5%, compared with 4.2% in the prior month, while prices for goods like clothing, appliances, cars, computers and books rose 3.4%, up from 3.1%; and service prices rose 2.7%, versus the previous 2.5%.
Italian Premier Mario Draghi, a former European Central Bank president, outlined how the problem hits households.
“Inflation is rising because raw materials prices are going up, in particular those for foodstuffs. Those are the ones that hit hardest a family’s buying power,’’ Draghi told foreign journalists Thursday. “Shortages in some raw materials creates a bottleneck in production and forces further price hikes.’’
Draghi said that as long as inflation remains temporary, governments can respond with budgetary measures, such as payments to help low income families with higher heating and electricity costs. But if it becomes a longer-term issue the response will have to be structural, he said.
____
Associated Press journalists Daniel Niemann in Cologne, Germany, Frances D’Emilio in Rome and Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.
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LEOMINSTER, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts Marine killed last month in a training drill in Norway will be honored with a procession and a vigil this weekend as his body returns to his hometown.
The Leominster Department of Veterans’ Services said Friday the body of Marine Captain Ross Reynolds is expected to arrive in the city on Saturday afternoon between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. after being flown into Logan Airport in Boston. Residents are encouraged to line the streets along the route to honor the fallen soldier.
A candlelight vigil will then be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Leominster City Hall.
And a public wake will be held Monday afternoon at city hall. The funeral Mass will be held at St. Cecilia’s Church Tuesday morning and also be broadcast live at city hall.
The burial at the Massachusetts Memorial Veterans’ Cemetery in Winchendon will be private.
Reynolds, a 27-year-old Osprey pilot joined the Marines in 2017, was one of four Marines killed when their aircraft crashed during a NATO drill on March 18 in a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but Norwegian police reported bad weather in the area. Officials in Norway said the MV-22B Osprey crashed in Graetaedalen in Beiarn, south of Bodoe.
The men were all assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina.
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RICHMOND, Calif — The nation’s oldest active park ranger is hanging up her Smokey hat at the age of 100. Betty Reid Soskin retired Thursday after more than 15 years at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, the National Park Service announced.
Soskin “spent her last day providing an interpretive program to the public and visiting with coworkers," a Park Service statement said.
She led tours at the park and museum honoring the women who worked in factories during wartime and shared her own experience as a Black woman during the conflict. She worked for the U.S. Air Force in 1942 but quit after learning that “she was employed only because her superiors believed she was white," according to a Park Service biography.
“Being a primary source in the sharing of that history – my history – and giving shape to a new national park has been exciting and fulfilling,” Soskin said in the Park Service statement. “It has proven to bring meaning to my final years.”
Soskin won a temporary Park Service position at the age of 84 and became a permanent Park Service employee in 2011. She celebrated her 100th birthday last September.
“Betty has made a profound impact on the National Park Service and the way we carry out our mission,” Director Chuck Sams said. “Her efforts remind us that we must seek out and give space for all perspectives so that we can tell a more full and inclusive history of our nation.”
Soskin was born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit in 1921 but recalled surviving the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 while living with her Creole family in New Orleans, according to the Park Service biography.
Her family then moved to Oakland, California, and Soskin remained in the San Francisco Bay Area, where in 1945 she and her first husband founded one of the first Black-owned record stores in the area, the biography said.
She also was a civil rights activist and took part in meetings to develop a general management plan for the Home Front park. She has received several honors.
She was named California Woman of the Year in 1995.
In 2015, Soskin received a presidential coin from President Barack Obama after she lit the National Christmas tree at the White House.
In June 2016, she was awakened in her home by a robber who punched her repeatedly in the face, dragged her out of her bedroom and beat her before making off with the coin and other items. Soskin, then 94, recovered and returned to work just weeks after the attack. The coin was replaced.
Soskin also was honored with entry into the Congressional Record. Glamour Magazine named her woman of the year in 2018.
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BEIJING, China — About 16 million residents in Shanghai are being tested for the coronavirus during the second stage of the lockdown that shifted Friday to the western half of China's biggest city and financial capital.
Meanwhile, residents of Shanghai’s eastern districts who were supposed to be released from four days of isolation have been told their lockdowns could be extended if COVID-19 cases are found in their residential compounds.
The lockdown in Shanghai, being done in two phases over eight days to enable testing of its entire population, has shaken global markets worried about the possible economic impact. China’s manufacturing activity fell to a five-month low in March, a monthly survey showed Thursday, as lockdowns and other restrictions forced factories to suspend production.
For four days starting Friday, residents of Puxi on the west side of the Huangpu River dividing Shanghai cannot leave their neighborhoods or housing compounds. The gates at some compounds were locked from the outside, with groceries and meals delivered to collection points.
Government workers and volunteers wearing full protective equipment went door-to-door with megaphones in the city with 26 million people, calling on residents to report for testing at designated sites where they were met by long lines and waits of more than 90 minutes.
China's National Health Commission said another 1,787 domestic cases of COVID-19 had been recorded on Thursday, including 358 in Shanghai. Another 5,442 tested positive for the virus without becoming ill, 4,144 of them in Shanghai.
People who tested positive without symptoms are being taken to temporary isolation centers, including gymnasiums and exhibition centers.
Public transport has been suspended and roads closed, bringing the normally bustling metropolis to a standstill. While city residents are being told to stay put, airports and train stations remain open.
The lockdown reflects China's continuing adherence to its “zero-COVID" approach, despite restrictions being eased elsewhere. China set the hard-line tone at the start of the pandemic in 2020 with the 76-day lockdown on the city of Wuhan where the virus was first detected.
The measures have been decried by some Chinese as excessive, although there has been little open defiance. Amid the grumbling, Shanghai authorities have conceded shortcomings in their handling of the surge driven by the omicron variant, after panic buying stripped store shelves of necessities.
“We didn’t prepare sufficiently enough,” Ma Chunlei, a senior Shanghai official said at a news conference Thursday. “We sincerely accept the criticisms from the public and are making efforts to improve it.”
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America’s employers extended a streak of robust hiring in March, adding 431,000 jobs in a sign of the economy’s resilience in the face of a still-destructive pandemic, Russia's war against Ukraine and the highest inflation in 40 years.
The government’s report Friday showed that last month’s job growth helped shrink the unemployment rate to 3.6%. That's the lowest rate since the pandemic erupted two years ago and just above the half-century low of 3.5% that was reached two years ago.
Despite the inflation surge, persistent supply bottlenecks, damage from COVID-19 and now a war in Europe, employers have added at least 400,000 jobs for 11 straight months. In its report Friday, the government also sharply revised up its estimate of hiring in January and February by a combined 95,000 jobs.
The March report sketched a bright picture of the job market, with steady hiring and rising wages in many industries. Average hourly pay has risen a strong 5.6% over the past 12 months, welcome news for employees across the economy.
Still, those pay raises aren't keeping up with the spike in inflation that has put the Federal Reserve on track to raise rates multiple times, perhaps aggressively, in the coming months. Those rate hikes will result in costlier loans for many consumers and businesses. In the meantime, worker pay raises, a response in many cases to labor shortages, are themselves feeding the economy's inflation pressures.
Since the pandemic struck in 2020, many people have remained on the sidelines of the job market, a trend that has contributed to the worker shortage in many industries. But in an encouraging sign for the economy, 418,000 people began looking for a job in March, and many found one.
Over the past year, 3.8 million people have rejoined the labor force, meaning they now either have a job or are looking for one. The size of the labor force is now just 174,000 shy of its level in February 2020, just before the pandemic slammed into the economy.
The job growth in March, though solid, was the lowest since September. Jason Pride, chief investment officer of private wealth at Glenmede, said it reflected the job market's durability in the midst of numerous obstacles.
“The U.S. labor market remains a bright spot in an otherwise challenging economic environment beset by inflation and geopolitical risks," Pride said, "taking meaningful strides in moving past the COVID-19 pandemic.’’
Across the economy, hiring gains were widespread last month. Restaurants and bars added 61,000 jobs, retailers 49,000, manufacturers 38,000 and hotels 25,000. Construction jobs rose by 19,000 and have now returned to their pre-pandemic level.
Some economists sounded a note of caution, though, suggesting that the prospect of much higher borrowing rates engineered by the Fed will inevitably slow the job market and the overall economy.
“We continue to expect that the Federal Reserve will move rates up expeditiously to counter surging inflation, and that this report only adds more urgency to their plans to do so,’’ said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.
For now, the job market continues to rebound with unexpected speed from the coronavirus recession. Job openings are at a near-record level, and applications for unemployment benefits have dropped to near their lowest point since 1969.
Fueled by generous federal aid, savings amassed during the pandemic and ultra-low borrowing rates orchestrated by the Fed, U.S. consumers have spent so fast that many factories, warehouses, shipping companies and ports have failed to keep pace with their customer demand. Supply chains have snarled, forcing up prices.
As the pandemic has eased, consumers have been broadening their spending beyond goods to services, such as health care, travel and entertainment, which they had long avoided during the worst of the pandemic. The resulting high inflation is causing hardships for many lower-income households that face sharp price increases for such necessities as food, gasoline and rent.
It’s unclear how long the economy can maintain its momentum of the past year. The government relief checks are gone. The Fed raised its benchmark short-term interest rate two weeks ago and will likely keep raising it well into next year. Those rate hikes will result in more expensive loans for many consumers and businesses.
Inflation has also eroded consumers’ spending power: Hourly pay, adjusted for higher consumer prices, fell 2.6% in February from a year earlier — the 11th straight month in which inflation has outpaced year-over-year wage growth. According to AAA, average gasoline prices, at $4.23 a gallon, are up a dizzying 47% from a year ago.
Squeezed by inflation, some consumers are paring their spending. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that consumer spending rose just 0.2%% in February — and fell 0.4% when adjusted for inflation — down from a 2.7% increase in January.
Still, the job market has kept hurtling ahead. Employers posted a near-record 11.3 million positions in February. Nearly 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs, a sign of confidence that they could find something better.
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| 2022-04-01T16:52:50Z
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal Thursday to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams.
The Super Bowl champions outmaneuvered several suitors for Wagner, one of the NFL's top inside linebackers after his decade with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN reported Wagner's deal contains $50 million and could be worth up to $65 million.
The Seahawks released the six-time All-Pro anchor of their defense on March 9. Just over three weeks later, Wagner agreed to join Seattle's NFC West rivals, providing the force at inside linebacker that the Rams have lacked for several seasons.
Wagner was born in Los Angeles, and he graduated from high school in suburban Ontario, California.
Wagner joins receiver Allen Robinson as the most prominent offseason additions to the Rams, who have once again proven their adeptness at fitting stars under the salary cap. Los Angeles lost a handful of starters and key contributors to free agency, retirement and a trade over the past month, but also managed to retain two key offensive linemen while adding Wagner and Robinson as veteran playmakers.
Although Wagner plays a markedly different linebacking role, his arrival will assuage some of the Rams' disappointment at losing midseason acquisition Von Miller, who took a slightly higher offer from the Buffalo Bills rather than running it back in Los Angeles.
Wagner has been selected to the past eight consecutive Pro Bowls, and he has racked up 1,383 total tackles — the most by any active player. He set a career high last season with 170 tackles for struggling Seattle.
The only active player with more first-team All-Pro selections than Wagner is Aaron Donald, Wagner’s new teammate.
Wagner was released by the rebuilding Seahawks because he would have cost them $20.6 million against the salary cap this year in the final season of his contract. He also turns 32 in June.
But Wagner had no shortage of teams eager to pick him up after his departure from Seattle. The Baltimore Ravens were the most prominent among the other teams who avidly pursued Wagner in free agency, but the Rams closed the deal a week after Wagner visited the team's training complex in Thousand Oaks.
Wagner should step in immediately to help a defense that has put together two outstanding years despite lacking a versatile, hard-hitting linebacker in the middle of its scheme. A linebacker hasn't led the Rams in tackles since 2019, when Cory Littleton parlayed his breakout play into a free-agent deal with the Raiders.
The Rams largely used unsung Troy Reeder and rookie Ernest Jones as inside linebackers last season. While both are respectable tacklers, the relative weakness of the duo's pass coverage skills was obvious to opponents with the patience to throw the ball regularly to the middle of the field.
Jones, whose late-season improvements were interrupted by injury, is likely to be alongside Wagner in the middle of LA's 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris this fall.
Rams general manager Les Snead has admired Wagner since the linebacker's college career at Utah State. Snead still regrets passing on Wagner in the 2012 draft when he elected to trade back for more picks rather than selecting a player he knew would be a star.
Snead no longer makes that mistake in drafts, calling it his “Bobby Wagner Rule.”
The Rams' offseason business also included a new contract for quarterback Matthew Stafford, and the team has confirmed it is working on a new deal for Donald.
Los Angeles hopes to re-sign midseason acquisition Odell Beckham Jr., but the receiver's upcoming lengthy recovery from knee surgery complicates any deal.
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| 2022-04-01T16:53:02Z
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NEW YORK — In addition to “Play ball!” and “Yer Out!", big league umpires will be heard saying “Overturned!” and “Upheld!” for the first time this season.
“Major league umpires will conduct in-park announcements during the replay review process,” Major League Baseball announced Friday. “We’re pleased to launch this enhancement to the ballpark and broadcast experiences. Training has been held in Arizona and Florida this spring.”
MLB was the last major pro sport in North America to institute replay when it began late in the 2008 season for home run calls. Video reviews were vastly expanded for the 2014 season.
Until now, umpires had revealed their decisions such as safe and out with hand signals.
Of 1,305 calls challenged by clubs last year, 655 calls were overturned (50.2%), 221 were confirmed (16.9%) and 429 were allowed to stand (32.9%) when there was insufficient evidence to overturn or confirm. There were 159 additional crew chief reviews initiated by an umpire.
NFL referees were given wireless microphones in 1975 to explain penalty decisions. The NFL had an initial replay system from 1986-91, abandoned it, then reinstalled it for the 1999 season. The NHL added a replay system in 1991 and the NBA in 2002.
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NEW ORLEANS — It's just about go time in New Orleans for one of the most anticipated Final Four matchups in the history of the NCAA Tournament as Duke and North Carolina meet for the first time in tournament history.
And how fitting, of course, that it all comes with the back drop of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski's impending retirement.
On Friday's Locked On Today podcast, the full episode is dedicated to a Duke-North Carolina preview as Locked On ACC podcast host Candace Cooper, Locked On Tar Heels podcast host Isaac Schade and Locked On Blue Devils podcast host JJ Jackson all join the show to give their perspective on this monumental matchup.
Saturday's matchup between Duke and North Carolina tips off at 8:49 p.m. ET on TBS.
SUBSCRIBE: The Locked On Today podcast hosted by Peter Bukowski gets you caught up every morning on the biggest stories in sports without taking up your free time.
How can Duke win over UNC?
Candace Cooper of the Locked On ACC podcast joined the show to discuss how Duke can defeat UNC, and which matchups will be the biggest key.
“Truly in this tournament it’s been Jeremy Roach for Duke, I think he’s had a great run just from the way he's been a floor general for this offense and how he’s facilitated well and taken it to the rim," Cooper said. "I think his confidence has grown and he’s been called upon in moments and he’s delivered so I think he’s the X factor.”
Who has the biggest matchup advantage that Duke can exploit?
“You’ve seen these teams play each other twice now and I think AJ Griffin is certainly a factor in how well he can shoot and if he can match Brady Manek’s energy, I think he has a slight edge," Cooper said. "Not only is Griffin a great shooter, he’s also a great point man. I think if he’s going to be hot, it’s going to be a long night for Carolina."
Who wins the matchup inside?
“I think it’s about even," she said. "Armando Bacot getting double doubles whenever he wants and Mark Williams being defensive player of the year in the ACC. Everyone’s going to have to play their part and feed them, on either side of the floor. I think Mark Williams is the most NBA-ready person on the floor, but Armando is proving to me that he wants this just as bad as anyone else.”
What are the biggest concerns for North Carolina?
This UNC team has shown resilience, they’ve coalesced at the right time. If there is something to worry about for North Carolina, what is it? Isaac Schade from Locked On Tar Heels gave his thoughts.
“It’s matchups," he said. "The biggest problem for Carolina in this game is that Leaky Black is only one person. The problem for Carolina is they have to find a way to stop both AJ Griffin and Paolo Banchero. In their last game, Leaky Black was on AJ Griffin while Brady Manek guarded Banchero. There’s really no good way for the Tar Heels to matchup. There’s no help coming off the bench that can do that so that’s what bothers me most. I’m concerned that Manek can’t stop Banchero. The only way Carolina can win this game is if he can limit him.”
If you’re Carolina and you start losing these matchups, what can they throw at Duke?
“Since Carolina lost to Pittsburgh six weeks ago, they’re 10-1 and they rate as the No. 1 team in the nation during that time period. In fact, Duke’s defense in that span is 171st. The way Carolina was able to exploit that at Cameron Indoor Stadium is pick and rolls against Mark Williams. RJ Davis uses ball screen action with either Bacot or Manek and RJ Davis is able to exploit that matchup by driving or take a shot if Williams backs off, or finding Bacot rolling, or finding Manek for a quick three.”
Schade also offered his prediction on the game.
“This game is going to be close," he said. "I think there’s going to be nerves on both sides. I think Duke has more pressure on them because a loss means you let your coach end his career without a national championship. Carolina, to me is still playing with house money at this point…I think they ride that lack of stress that Duke has and I think Carolina wins a close game."
What will Coach K's impact be?
It's the thirteenth trip to the Final Four for Coach K and his final one. What will his impact on the game be? JJ Jackson of the Locked On Blue Devils breaks it down.
“I think it’s going to be business as usual for Coach K. He’s been in this position before…This is the 13th trip to the Final Four. Anytime a teacher can lend that message to students, I think Coach K is going to be prepared for this moment and he understands that at most, he’s got two games left in his career and he’s going to be ready," Jackson said.
It’s not like Coach K needs more to add to his resume. The legacy and all of the lives he’s affected over his career, but what would getting another national title mean in the grand scheme of his career?
“It would be quite the way to exit," Jackson said. "We’ve seen so many athletes and sports figures over the course of the years have amazing moments at their exit whether it be the 60-point game for Kobe Bryant, I think about Derek Jeter with the walk off hits he had. I think it would be the perfect exit for Coach K.”
What is the biggest concern for Duke in this matchup?
“Getting out in transition and shots from the outside are the concerning areas for Duke,” Jackson said. “The fact that in the NCAA Tournament, this Duke team has not taken a lot of threes…Duke is not getting a lot of point from the three point line where North Carolina, particularly in their matchups with Duke over the past few seasons, they knock down shots from the outside, Brady Manek being a key. Any time you’re trading twos for threes, that could be deadly for Duke if they’re not able to keep up.”
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| 2022-04-01T16:53:14Z
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FOSTER, R.I. (WPRI) — A man was seen being taken away in handcuffs Friday morning after a Foster home was badly damaged in a fire.
Around 8:30 a.m., emergency crews were called to 27 Johnson Road after a passerby reported seeing smoke and hearing an explosion.
Officials on scene said the home sustained smoke and heat damage, but it is still standing. However, a barn in the backyard which had a Corvette inside was destroyed and deemed a total loss.
No injuries were reported.
Foster police and the state fire marshal’s office said the fire is being investigated as a possible arson. They confirmed a man who lives at the home and was the only person there when the fire broke out has been taken in for questioning, but no charges have been filed at this time.
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Strategic acquisition for Artera expands gas distribution services in Ohio
ATLANTA, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Artera Services ("Artera"), one of the nation's industry-leading providers of essential infrastructure services to the natural gas and electric industries, acquired the operating assets of 1127 Construction, Inc. ("1127"). 1127 is a strong strategic fit for Artera, expanding its core gas distribution services in northeast Ohio.
Located in northeast Ohio, 1127 is a family-owned company founded in 2005 providing natural gas distribution and related infrastructure services. The acquisition will expand existing operations in the Ohio Region of Miller Pipeline, an Artera gas distribution business unit, and build on the core service offering of maintenance, replacement, and upgrade (MRU) services. Jeff and Nick Smith will continue to lead business operations and will be overseen by Jim Wilson, Miller Pipeline Vice President of Construction over the Ohio Region.
"We look forward to welcoming Jeff, Nick, and the entire 1127 team to Artera," said Brian Palmer, CEO of Artera. "Joining our current gas distribution operations in the area with 1127 is a great way for us to expand our footprint and service capabilities in the region."
"Miller and 1127 share a strong commitment to similar core values, which makes 1127 a natural fit for us," said Dale Anderson, President of Miller Pipeline. "I know this combination will result in increased customer satisfaction with our core gas distribution service offerings and more opportunities for all our team members."
"When my brothers and I started 1127 back in 2005, we did so because we had a passion for the construction industry and wanted to build and improve our underground infrastructure. We are exceedingly proud of our strong safety record and the relationships we have built over the last 17 years. Joining forces with a respected business like Miller Pipeline is the logical next step in that journey," said Jeff Smith.
Eversheds Sutherland served as legal counsel to Artera.
About 1127 Construction Inc
1127 Construction Inc, based in Akron, Ohio, was founded in 2005 by the Smith brothers: Jeff, Nick, and Joe. The company has a primary focus on natural gas distribution and related infrastructure services. 1127 has a workforce of 75 highly-trained construction professionals.
About Miller Pipeline
Miller Pipeline, headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., is one of the nation's premier natural gas distribution contractors with more than 65 years of experience in the utility infrastructure industry. Established in 1953, Miller Pipeline operates in nearly two dozen states and has over 4,000 employees. Miller Pipeline provides quality construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation products and services to natural gas, municipal water, and wastewater utilities throughout North America. To learn more, visit www.millerpipeline.com.
About Artera
Artera, headquartered in Atlanta, is a $2.5 billion in revenue industry-leading provider of integrated infrastructure services to the natural gas and electric industries across 41 states. Artera employs more than 11,100 people throughout the United States and focuses on maintenance, replacement, upgrade, and integrity of existing infrastructure. Artera's business units are recognized market leaders, have long-standing operating histories in the industry, and are well respected for shared common core values of Safety, Quality, Commitment, and Reputation. For more information, visit www.artera.com.
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SOURCE Artera Services
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| 2022-04-01T16:58:50Z
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Luxury retailer continues to invest in its online and in-store experience through its customer and brand strategies
DALLAS, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bergdorf Goodman ("BG" or the "Company") announced today the promotion of Cheryl Han to Senior Vice President of BergdorfGoodman.com & Customer Strategy. Additionally, Melissa Xides has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Bergdorf Goodman Stores and Brand Operations. In their new roles, both women will continue to drive the Company's strategic vision to set the new standard in luxury.
Han joined the Company in September 2018 as a contractor and partnered with Darcy Penick, President of Bergdorf Goodman, to lead and establish the strategic growth plan for BergdorfGoodman.com. After leading the overhaul of the BG site experience and its first app in partnership with its tech organization, Han transitioned in-house as Vice President of Bergdorf Goodman Online (BGO) in February 2020. Han has been at the helm of BGO's rapid growth and scaled the business and organization in the last 24 months building on its foundational strategic vision. In October 2020, Han took on an increased scope of responsibilities leading customer strategy. Under her leadership, the Company increased its investment and focused on customer strategies and customer relationship management, delivering strong results in the business.
Prior to joining BG, Han was the CEO and Founder of Keaton Row, which focused on delivering online personal styling services. Prior to this, she consulted with Neiman Marcus in crafting an early strategy framework for Neiman Marcus' Digital Luxury Experience program. Han received her Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Xides joined the Company in July 2019 as Vice President of Customer Experience, leading the BG stores' end-to-end responsibilities. She has since placed tremendous focus on attracting and retaining talent, evolving the store's leadership structure and culture, investing in training and development to build authentic customer relationships, and embedding BG's vision and high service standards into every touchpoint of the luxury customer experience. Melissa has provided steady and effective guidance through tremendous complexity during the pandemic, driven dynamic shifts in how we serve customers remotely and in person, while sustaining a clear and consistent vision for the stores. Melissa has also played a critical leadership role in BG's Environmental, Social, Governance strategy.
Prior to joining the Company, she held a variety of executive leadership roles across stores, direct-to-consumer buying and retail for leading consumer brands, including SoulCycle, Tory Burch, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, and Gap. Xides received her undergraduate degree from Baruch College.
"I am incredibly proud of the work Cheryl and Melissa have done to build and develop talented teams, establish, and effectively deliver channel and customer strategies that are creating exciting momentum in the business. With their direction, I am confident that we will build upon our success as we continue to innovate on the luxury customer experience both online and in-store," said Penick.
Bergdorf Goodman is part of the Neiman Marcus Group, which is a woman-co-founded and majority-women-led organization. Women represent the majority of its Board of Directors, over 50 percent of leaders vice president and above, and 68 percent of all corporate and store employees. In addition, over 50 percent of its 9,000 associates identify as minorities.
A New York landmark since 1901, Bergdorf Goodman represents the global pinnacle of style, service, and modern luxury. With its rich history of showcasing leading and emerging designers, the iconic store at 5th Avenue and 58th Street—the crossroads of fashion—is a singular destination for discerning customers around the world. BG.com expands on Bergdorf Goodman's heritage, showcasing coveted collections for men and women in an unparalleled online shopping experience. Bergdorf Goodman is part of Neiman Marcus Group.
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SOURCE Neiman Marcus Holding Company, Inc.
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NEW YORK , April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Volta Inc. ("Volta" or the "Company) (NYSE: VLTA) and certain of its officers, on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Volta securities between August 2, 2021 and March 28, 2022, (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/vlta.
This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws.
The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Volta had improperly accounted for restricted stock units issued in connection with the Business Combination; (2) that, as a result, the Company had understated its net loss for third quarter 2021; (3) that there were material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that resulted in a material error; (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company would restate its financial statements; (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Legacy Volta's founders would imminently exit the Company; (6) that, as a result, the Company's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (7) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/vlta or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Volta you have until May 28, 2022, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contact:
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Peretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson
212-697-6484 | info@bgandg.com
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SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
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Q1 Awards include Best Company Outlook, Best Places to Work in Los Angeles, and Best Marketing Team based on employee reviews
LOS ANGELES, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GR0, a leading SEO agency based in Los Angeles, announced today that it has won three of Comparably's Q1 awards highlighting top companies, including Best Company Outlook, Best Marketing Team, and the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles award for the second year in a row. In 2021, GR0 earned nine total Comparably awards.
Comparably, a leading workplace culture and compensation monitoring site in the US, recognizes top employee-rated companies in 16 different categories throughout the year. GR0 received these honors after receiving high ratings on Comparably by employees who provided anonymous feedback on a variety of workplace culture questions, ranging from work environment to compensation to leadership.
Comparably's Best Places to Work in Greater Los Angeles Area 2022 list is derived from sentiment ratings provided by employees in the Greater Los Angeles Area who anonymously rated their employers on Comparably.com. Ratings are derived from current employees who provided anonymous feedback on Comparably.com over the past 12 months. Nearly 20 different workplace culture categories were measured, from compensation, leadership, and work-life balance to professional development opportunities, and perks and benefits. GR0 received an A+ Culture Score rating as well as a 96% CEO approval from employees, amongst other small-medium businesses.
"We are so honored to win the Best Places to Work award for a second year in a row. We've made it a major priority to focus on building our culture, one that empowers and inspires our team to innovate," said co-founder and CEO Kevin Miller. "We are proud to see our hard work recognized and we are so lucky to have an amazing team at GR0 that functions as a real community and not just a workplace."
"Out of thousands of companies, GRO is among the top-rated best places to work this year in three major categories," said Comparably CEO Jason Nazar. "This kind of recognition is a testament to GR0's strong leadership and commitment to a workplace culture of excellence for its employees."
This also marks GR0's first inclusion on the Best Marketing Teams list, landing amongst other giants in the industry including Google, Adobe, and Hubspot to name a few. Comparably's Best Marketing Teams list is derived from sentiment ratings provided by current employees in marketing departments who anonymously rated their employers on Comparably.com over the past 12 months. All ratings were provided from March 20201 through March 2022, making this list especially relevant for job seekers looking to be a part of great marketing teams during this era of The Great Resignation.
"We're all thrilled to have earned the Best Marketing Team award. This reflects a total team effort across the board. Our co-founders Kevin and Jon have not only provided next-level runways for us, they have also truly given our team the flexibility to innovate," said Director of Client Success, John Morinaga. "Our digital marketing clients (SEO and SEM) are seeing the benefits of outside-of-the-box thinking. We're super stoked to win this award and, at the same time, we feel it's just the beginning for us here at GR0!"
GR0 previously received 9 Comparably Awards in 2021, including Best Company for Diversity, Best Company for Women, Best CEO, Best Company Culture, Best Company Happiness, Best Career Growth, Best Leadership Teams, Best CEOs for Women and Best Places to Work in Los Angeles.
The leading LA-based agency helps brands rank #1 on Google by leveraging search engine optimization and search engine marketing. For more information about GR0 and to read reviews related to client and employee feedback, please visit Comparably, Glassdoor, Clutch or Crunchbase.
About GR0:
GR0's co-founders, Jon Zacharias and Kevin Miller, sought to create a digital marketing agency powered by their wealth of SEO, online marketing, and strategic advisory experience with top D2C and B2B brands. At GR0, our mission is to help brands rank #1 on Google. We accomplish this by empowering clients to build powerful online brands with audiences they fully own through relentlessly innovating and igniting organic growth. While SEO remains the top service for most customers, GR0 offers additional solutions that can be tailored to the individual needs of each client. GR0's mission is to demystify online marketing for brands, allowing them to realize their full potential and deliver unmatched value to every customer.
For business or media inquiries, please reach out to contact@gr0.com
About Comparably:
Comparably (www.comparably.com) is a leading workplace culture and compensation monitoring site that provides the most comprehensive and accurate representation of what it's like to work at companies. Employees can anonymously rate their employers in 20 workplace culture categories, providing the public a transparent and in-depth look at the experiences different segments of workers have based on gender, ethnicity, age, department, tenure, location, education, and company size. Since launching in 2016, Comparably has accumulated 15 million ratings on 70,000 U.S. companies. The platform has become one of the fastest-growing SaaS solutions for employer branding and a trusted third-party site for workplace and salary data, most notably for its annual Best Places to Work series.
Contact: contact@gr0.com
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SOURCE GR0.com LLC
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ST. JAMES, N.Y., April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gyrodyne, LLC (NASDAQ: GYRO), an owner and manager of a diversified portfolio of real estate properties ("Gyrodyne"), announced that on March 30, 2022, the Town of Smithtown Planning Board unanimously granted Gyrodyne's application for preliminary subdivision approval with respect to its Flowerfield property, subject to certain conditions including final approval of a stormwater pollution prevention plan, revisions as may be required pursuant to a SEQRA findings resolution adopted earlier and separation of common areas into separate lots.
The Smithtown Planning Board issued its approval of Gyrodyne's subdivision application after earlier that day adopting a findings resolution required under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, and then conducting a public hearing on the preliminary subdivision map. The SEQRA findings resolution was a prerequisite to adopting and approving the preliminary subdivision application, and established certain thresholds with regard to future development of the entire Flowerfield property, including but not limited to thresholds on sanitary discharge, traffic, cleared area and required vegetation.
The SEQRA findings resolution and preliminary approval of Gyrodyne's subdivision application reflect the Planning Board's consideration of over four years of public comment and review of voluminous analyses of economic and environmental impacts, including but not limited to traffic, sewage treatment and viewshed.
Paul Lamb, Gyrodyne's Chairman, said, "We are pleased by the Town's adoption of these resolutions as they are a critical gating factor in Gyrodyne's ability to both develop the Flowerfield property in a manner responsive to the community's interests and move the project forward to enhance shareholder value."
The findings resolution and preliminary subdivision application approval allow the subdivision application to proceed to its next phase of final subdivision approval, which includes securing Suffolk County Department of Health and Department of Public Works approvals (pending), New York State Department of Transportation approvals and final subdivision map approval from the Town of Smithtown. In this regard, Gyrodyne will be required to provide additional engineering analysis to the Town of Smithtown, Suffolk County and New York State regarding, among other things, a proposed sewage treatment plant, proposed traffic improvements on local roadways and State Route 25A, and storm drainage, internal roadway and utility infrastructure, much of which analysis has already been completed.
Gary Fitlin, Gyrodyne's Chief Executive Officer, commented that, while additional reviews and filings will need to be conducted, the resolutions are a milestone in Gyrodyne's efforts to steward the development of Flowerfield in a manner that has embraced all stakeholders.
Gyrodyne will continue to actively market its entire Flowerfield property on the basis of nine subdivided lots subject to and contingent upon final approval for the subdivision and related entitlements. Gyrodyne will also seek offers from potential buyers who may be willing to purchase the entire Flowerfield property or portions thereof on an "as is" basis, as well as offers for the company as a whole, that Gyrodyne finds more attractive from a timing or value perspective.
About Gyrodyne, LLC
Gyrodyne, LLC owns and manages a diversified portfolio of real estate properties comprising office, industrial and service-oriented properties in the New York metropolitan area. Gyrodyne owns a 63 acre site approximately 50 miles east of New York City on the north shore of Long Island, which includes industrial and office buildings and undeveloped property which is the subject of plans to seek value-enhancing entitlements. Gyrodyne also owns a medical office park in Cortlandt Manor, New York which is also the subject of a subdivision application. Gyrodyne's common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol GYRO. Additional information about Gyrodyne may be found on its web site at www.gyrodyne.com.
Forward-Looking Statement Safe Harbor
The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "anticipates," "expects," "projects," "estimates," "believes," "seeks," "could," "should," or "continue," the negative thereof, other variations or comparable terminology as well as statements regarding the evaluation of strategic alternatives. Important factors, including certain risks and uncertainties, with respect to such forward-looking statements that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to our efforts to enhance the values of our remaining properties and seek the orderly, strategic sale of such properties as soon as reasonably practicable, the effect of economic and business conditions, risks inherent in the real estate markets of Suffolk and Westchester Counties in New York, the ability to obtain additional capital in order to enhance the value of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties, the potential effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic on our business, operations and timelines for seeking entitlements and pursuing the sale of our properties and distributions to our shareholders, risks and uncertainties associated with any litigation that may develop in connection with our efforts to sell our properties strategically, including related enhancement efforts, and other risks detailed from time to time in Gyrodyne's SEC reports.
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TUCSON, Ariz. — Nintendo's favorite pink puffball mascot is back in "Kirby and the Forgotten Land," a free-wheeling, fun, and lighthearted platformer.
The challenges and set pieces in the joyous ramp slapped smile upon a smile on my face. Not only is the Switch exclusive one of the best outings for the shape-shifting hero, but it's also one of the best games on the system, period.
The true genius of the game is its accessibility. New players can plunge in without any knowledge of Kirby or his powers, but hardcore gamers still get plenty to chew on. Escalating, optional challenges abound for those who want to test their skills to the limit.
All players enjoy the mesmerizing visuals, which pile colossal enemies set against vivid, imaginative landscapes. Traditionally, Kirby games were set in cartoon-style worlds.
Still, the new entry adds real-world elements, creating a wild and charming juxtaposition that makes it compelling to seek out the surprises hiding around the next corner.
As has been the case since the hero was first introduced in 1992, Kirby swallows up enemies to take on their powers. He can be a sword-and-shield-swinging knight moment and an anthropomorphic vehicle the next.
While many of the game's puzzle scenarios have one clear solution, some have multiple paths that test and reward your creativity.
A multiplayer component allows a second player to join in on the action as Kirby's sidekick Waddle Dee. Players can team up to truck through the game or take pleasure in griefing one another, stalling the progress while piling up the laughs.
If the game has a flaw, the combat and health meter tend to be too forgiving, casting a "nerfed" sensation among even the most formidable baddies. While several encounters provide a stiff challenge, there's nothing much that will send you spiraling into an "Elden Ring"-style despair.
What "Kirby and the Forgotten Land" is best at is affirmation. Its boundless sense of fun, light challenge, and optimism is a bright spot in the often dour, super-serious gaming world.
When you're playing as Kirby, you're never quite beaten as long as you've got the will and a plan.
Publishers provided a review code.
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Phil Villarreal is the senior real-time editor for KGUN 9. He is also a digital producer and host of "Phil on Film" seen weekly on Good Morning Tucson, Phil moved to KGUN after 17 years with the Arizona Daily Star, where he was a movie critic, columnist, and reporter. He has penned three books: Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel, Stormin' Mormon and Zeta Male. A University of Arizona business graduate, he has four children. Share your story ideas and important issues with Phil by emailing phil.villarreal@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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New data from public health experts paints a picture of how teens’ mental health suffered during the pandemic.
According to a CDC survey, more than 55% of high school students said they suffered emotional abuse from a parent, guardian or other adult in their house in 2021.
Emotional abuse was defined as being sworn at, insulted or put down.
More than 11% said they suffered physical abuse.
Students who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual were more likely to report physical abuse and they were more likely to have attempted suicide.
Data gathered before the pandemic showed that reports of emotional abuse were much lower.
In 2013, nearly 14% of students said they were emotionally abused by their parents.
5.5% reported physical abuse that same year.
In a statement, CDC Acting Principal Deputy Director Debra Houry said the new data “echo a cry for help.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created traumatic stressors that have the potential to further erode students’ mental wellbeing,” she said.
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Sources tell various outlets, including the Hill and Axios, that White House press secretary Jen Psaki plans to leave her job for an on-air role at MSNBC.
Psaki has been serving the White House since 2009. She first began as White House Deputy Press Secretary under then-president Barack Obama.
Sources say Psaki is expected to leave the White House in May.
She will host a show on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform.
Sources tell Axios that Psaki has not yet signed a contract, nor has the move been formally announced.
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This April Fool's Day is no joke
ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Motley Fool co-founders Tom Gardner and David Gardner are pleased to announce, on behalf of all Fools, the launch of The Motley Fool Foundation led by Executive Director Jennifer Gennaro Oxley. The Foundation's mission is to be the accelerator that makes financial freedom possible for all, continuing the disruptive legacy of its parent company. Today, the Foundation launches with the campaign "Financial Freedom for All: Imagine the Possibilities."
David Gardner stated, "Over the last nearly 30 years, The Motley Fool has sought to enable investments in many great companies that have changed the world for the better, helping us to deliver on The Motley Fool's purpose of making the world smarter, happier, and richer." In 2021, two-thirds of Americans remained either financially coping or vulnerable. The Motley Fool Foundation aims to pave an equitable path, and access to financial freedom for all. Gardner continued, "However, having been focused on people who have the capital to invest has left out about two-thirds of Americans that do not yet have that capital, in part due to inequitable access to our financial, education, health, and housing systems, as well as many other roadblocks to building wealth that exist today. We believe this must change."
With the benefit of Jennifer Gennaro Oxley's leadership, The Foundation's first partner is Ashoka, a pioneer in the social entrepreneurship space that is launching The Changemaker Initiative, which will identify and support a cohort of Financial Freedom Fellows and map the landscape to better understand the pain points in the system. One of the Foundation's first Financial Freedom Fellows, José Quiñonez of The Mission Asset Fund, is a leading innovator in financial wellness, focused on issues around access to credit to obtain capital for work, as well as literacy programs for the immigrant community.
Jennifer stated, "We believe that together, we can co-design an inclusive system and create a world where everyone has a seat at the table, and everyone benefits when our economy flourishes."
There are five key drivers that enable financial freedom: education, health, money, work, and housing. The Motley Fool Foundation believes that when they work together, people advance financially. The Foundation's goal is to change mindset at the organizational and individual levels, working to remove barriers to enable systematic change, and give more people access to short-term and long-term financial resources, so they will have the ability to make important life choices.
For more information about The Motley Fool Foundation or to request interviews with Gennaro Oxley or The Fool Foundation Chairman David Gardner, please contact Linda Roth at linda@lindarothpr.com or (202) 888-3571. Images from The Motley Fool Foundation are available for direct download: https://foolfoundation.org/influencers/. PW=Launch.
All images should be credited to The Motley Fool Foundation.
About The Motley Fool
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, Va., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool Holdings, Inc. is a financial services company dedicated to making the world smarter, happier, and richer. The Motley Fool reaches millions of people around the globe every day through its innovative investing solutions, podcasts, books, newspaper column, and media appearances.
About The Motley Fool Foundation
The Motley Fool Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization focused on financial freedom for all, believing that together, we can co-design an inclusive System and create a world where everyone benefits when the economy flourishes. Learn more about The Motley Fool Foundation online at www.foolfoundation.org or on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Contact:
Linda Roth | LRA PR
linda@lindarothpr.com | (202) 888-3571
View original content:
SOURCE Motley Fool Foundation
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It’s never a pleasant sight. According to a U.S. Department of Transportation report, an estimated one to two million collisions between cars and large animals happen every year in the U.S.
“The wildlife-vehicle collision is the act and what comes out of that is the roadkill,” Sara DiRienzo, the public information officer at the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, said.
She said that roadkill could be put to good use sometimes.
“29 other states have roadkill collection laws. Wyoming is one of them,” DiRienzo explained.
Collecting roadkill in Wyoming became legal in January – however, there are regulations on what animals you can pick up and what roads you can pick them up from.
All you need is an authorization from the game and fish department.
“In the case of some carcasses, they can be put to beneficial use. If the carcass is not destroyed in the crash, it may be in good enough condition that someone could use it and eat it,” DiRienzo said.
To collect it, you have to get permission from the department. That’s where technology comes in.
“We wanted to find a way that was easy, in everyone’s back pocket, that they could request permission and get it right away,” she said.
In collaboration with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, reporting and picking up roadkill is now easier.
“We are getting reports quicker of those animal-vehicle collisions on the roadway,” Suzie Roseberry, a GIS/ITS Developer with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, said.
Roseberry helped design the Wyoming 511 app, where the reports and permission requests can be entered.
“We need to know migration patterns of these animals so we can mitigate any issues, and we’re hoping that with the public's help, we’ll be able to collect more of this data,” she said.
“One of the major impediments to wildlife movement throughout the United States is roadways,” Kevin Crooks, the director of the Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence at Colorado State University, said. “Animal-vehicle collisions threaten animals, vehicles, and people.”
That's why, he said, a lot of research is going into wildlife crossings in many areas across the U.S.
“There's a number of solutions out there,” DiRienzo said.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Department of Transportation will continue collecting data to learn more about wildlife movement and collisions while providing a simple way for drivers to pick up the roadkill and put it to use, if possible.
DiRienzo said they would be monitoring the data for those who try to abuse the system.
“There were some concerns that this rule could enable people to illegally take wildlife and say, you know, I hit this animal on the road when they may have poached it,” she said. “If it looks like someone is abusing the system, we can follow up with them and check into it.”
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Montgomery police director on leave after DUI arrest in Bound Brook
MONTGOMERY - The township's police director has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Bound Brook on March 24.
James M. Gill, who also has the rank of captain, is on leave from his position, Township Administrator Donato Neiman said.
The township will have no further comment, Neiman said Friday.
Gill also was charged with refusing to submit to a breath test, reckless driving and failing to stay in marked lanes, according to the state's Municipal Court Case Search database.
Gill was stopped on West Union Avenue (Route 28) at 2:24 a.m. March 24 by Bound Brook Police Officer Jesse Schwartz.
Gill was driving a black 2021 Chevrolet station wagon, according to the violations he was given.
More news: Manville police chief on leave after lawsuit alleges sexual assault over 12 years
Gill is scheduled to appear in Bound Brook Municipal Court on May 3.
Gill is in charge of the Montgomery Police Department and oversees all of its operations, aided by three lieutenants, each leading their specific division,
Montgomery is the latest Central Jersey police department where the top cop has become embroiled in controversy.
The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office assumed management of the South Bound Brook Police Department earlier this week because of an undisclosed ongoing personnel matter involving Chief Rick Fittin.
In Manville, Chief Thomas J. Herbst was placed on temporary administrative leave with pay following the filing of a lawsuit by a longtime police department employee who alleges the chief sexually harassed and assaulted her over a dozen years.
In Bound Brook, Richard Colombaroni was appointed acting chief earlier this month. Borough officials would not comment on the status of Chief Vito Bet, who became head of the department in 2017.
In Piscataway, Chief Thomas Mosier is facing a lawsuit alleging he harassed and discriminated an officer because of his immigrant heritage, once referring to him as "you damn foreigners."
Mosier is facing a second lawsuit alleging he discriminated against another officer because of her sexual orientation.
In South Plainfield, Chief James Parker is facing a whistleblower lawsuit brought by a department captain alleging he was the victim of retaliation for reporting what he calls the chief's "sexual, professional and official misconduct."
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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April Walker is the founder of Walker Wear, a heritage lifestyle fashion brand from Brooklyn, New York. Walker was present at the New York Stock Exchange on March 21 and spoke with rolling out about being confident and pushing hip-hop culture forward.
What is your superpower?
I think my superpower is owning my point in differentiation. Knowing that my magic is a unique magic that no one else has. We all do have a unique magic, but some of us don’t lean into it. I leaned into mine early on, and it’s carried me through, and being naive to fear has helped me along the way.
How did you stay confident and assure yourself that you belong in whatever room you are in?
I think that I was fortunate enough to start very early. Like I said, being naive to fear was a natural thing for me because I didn’t get too much into my head. I just started and I didn’t think about it. I believed in something that was bigger than myself, and that was hip-hop. As the journey continued, and as hip-hop exploded, and the evolution of hip-hop continued, so did my journey. From that standpoint, it was always bigger than me. I never thought of it as man versus woman, it was about culture. We were all building and growing together.
How do you feel about the culture today and how can it be preserved for future generations?
I think the culture will continue to evolve as you evolve, as long as we all roll up our sleeves and put in the work. I think taking it forward is important. I think staying creative is important. I think empowering each other is important, and I think that lateral cooperation fades vertical movement. Today is a great testament to that.
What does protecting Black women look like to you?
Protecting Black women looks like showing up for us, using your voice, being proactive, implementing lateral cooperation to create vertical movement, and really being unapologetic about protecting us.
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The Centers for Disease Control is ending its Title 42 authority on May 23.
The order required the expulsion of unauthorized single adults and family units arriving in the U.S. to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
The order had been in place since March 2020.
"After considering current public health conditions and an increased availability of tools to fight COVID-19 (such as highly effective vaccines and therapeutics), the CDC Director has determined that an Order suspending the right to introduce migrants into the United States is no longer necessary," the CDC said in a statement.
The CDC says it will continue to work with the Department of Homeland Security to implement additional COVID-19 mitigation procedures.
"Title 42 remains in place until May 23 and, until then, DHS will continue to expel single adults and families encountered at the Southwest border," DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Friday.
According to The Associated Press, migrants have been expelled more than 1.7 million times since the health order was invoked.
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In the relentless entertainment world, where many egos and high stakes are involved, finding a good publicist that is not transactional and values both the artist and their talent is rare. Thankfully, Deidra J. Malone, better known as Malo, CEO of The Prolific Effect, is charting a path with her agency that manages artists’ talent and personal needs. We recently spoke with Malo about her agency, her approach to working with artists, and her plans to grow her business after relocating to Atlanta.
How did you get started?
I started in 2010. I created a blog during the pre-Instagram days around Twitter days. I noticed many of my friends made music, and some of them started getting into fashion and falling in love with the arts. I decided to create a platform for them to showcase their talent. Just because you don’t have a large audience [or] fan base or you’re not “well established” yet, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be highlighted. I created Urban Alley, and I ran that from 2010 to 2015. During that time, I discovered and gave artists like Travis Scott, thanks to Ryan Knew, his first platform, who was early in his career while in a group with OG Che$$. Another artist from Houston, Maxo Kream, and Rotimi; we went to high school together and a couple of other guys.
What prompted your move to Atlanta?
With the pandemic, everything stopped and changed things. However, looking from the outside and seeing how everything was still functioning in Atlanta, I thought I might need to check out the scene. My best friend, Grammy-nominated songwriter Sir Charles, suggested I should come out there. He said, “Come out here and stay for a weekend, check it out, and if you like it, cool; if not, then stay where you at.” I came down and was hooked, so I made the transition.
What type of artist do you take on?
For one, I’m not a yes-man. I stand on integrity, and I’m very straightforward. If you’re not ready to take this thing on, let’s go through the grooming process because I may feel there’s something there [but] you just haven’t tapped into it yet. I look for a passion and people who understand that things are a process, especially as a publicist, because the misconception is that everything takes off when an artist gets a publicist. And that’s not “always” the case. Many artists think publicists come in and wave a wand, and we are not magicians.
What are your future goals?
When our agency comes into the picture, our goal is to make clients more impactful, take them to the next level, and enlarge the capacity of who they’re meant to be. I want my agency to be a one-stop shop. I can’t say what all that entails right now but do I know we will be able to help clients make a prolific impact in the culture!
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The Center for Civic Innovation hosted the 2022 Good Trouble Honors on March 31 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Among the honorees was DeKalb County, Georgia, for their vaccination initiative.
La’Keitha Carlos, the chief of staff to DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, detailed the county’s efforts in getting residents vaccinated.
How does it feel to be recognized?
We are so excited that the Center for Civic Innovation has decided to honor DeKalb County’s COVID-19 response, DeKalb Together, particularly our Get Vaxxed campaign.
We are just out of our minds with joy that the work that we have done over the last two years to get over 67% of our employees, and all of the residents we’ve gotten vaccinated. We have vaccinated over 10,000 folks. That is huge.
We accomplished getting higher vaccination [rates] than the state and [higher rates] than the country. We’re just really excited that we’ve been able to do this, not just for DeKalb County, but for the state of Georgia, and to do our part in the world right now.
You’ve all made a concentrated effort to get students, staff and family members of local schools vaccinated through incentives. Talk about that.
Absolutely. We have spent the last two years giving away food, giving away rapid test kits, doing actual testing and giving away vaccines. We had an incentive program where we incentivize residents to come and get a $100 gift card just to get vaccinated. It was that important.
We really wanted to do the work to try and end this global pandemic, particularly because [of] how it was how impacting lower-income communities. We wanted to make sure that not just DeKalb residents, but everyone who wanted to get a vaccine were able to get a vaccine.
When you see the number of COVID cases now, how does that make you feel?
The numbers today have shown us that our work has not been in vain. It’s not over, but we are happy to have played a small part in fortifying our constituency against this deadly virus.
These are the Good Trouble Honors. What does John Lewis mean to you?
John Lewis is such a hero of mine. I will always remember him telling me all the time to, “Make sure you get in the way.”
So, that’s what the county is doing. That’s what I try and do in my personal life every day, make good trouble, keep up the trouble and we are happy as DeKalb County to be continuing to do that every day as we continue to fight COVID-19.
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Eddie Murphy is busy tying down rights with the Parliament-Funkadelic leader and he and fellow producers John and Catherine Davis, of Davis Entertainment, will then look for writers and begin shopping the project.
The film is described as a “passion project” for Murphy. George Clinton is widely considered to be one of the biggest innovators in funk, alongside James Brown and Sly Stone, and the film will explore his rise to fame from humble beginnings in North Carolina in the 1940s to the formation of his seminal bands Parliament and Funkadelic, to his major influence on a generation of hip-hop stars including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, OutKast, Wu-Tang Clan and others.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 alongside 15 other members of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective, and in 2019, they were given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Meanwhile, Murphy previously spoke about the radical transformations he undergoes for his movies, admitting spending up to six hours a day in the makeup chair is a “thankless” task because most audiences don’t “appreciate” the “drudgery.”
He said: “Every time I do it I say, ‘that’s the last time, I’m never doing this s— ever again’ and then I’ll get an idea and ‘Ah s—, where the make-up chair?’ And I’ll end up sitting in the chair again but I never forget and it never gets any easier. The process didn’t get any easier on Coming 2 America than on Nutty Professor, it’s still six hours in the chair [to] put it on and an hour and half to take it off after everybody left at the end of the day, you’ve had this s— glued on your face for 12 hours and then you have to go and sit and have them peel it off for an hour.
“It is work, it is drudgery and it’s even kind of thankless because the audience doesn’t appreciate it. If it’s really, really, really done righ.t the audience doesn’t think ‘oh it’s a makeup, how much work is it?’ They just watch it, they get the laugh but they’re not seeing all the work that goes into it, so you kind of take it for granted, you know?” he said.
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NEW YORK — During the 25th annual summit of the Wall Street Project founded by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, many renowned financial service institutions assembled together to discuss increasing diversity and inclusion in this all-important business sector.
Major Fortune 500 companies and organizations such as Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank Securities, BlackRock Alternative Investments and New York State Insurance Fund were represented at the Sheraton New York hotel in Manhattan to celebrate the progress that’s been made. They also are devising additional ways to open up the pipeline to minorities who are aspiring to enter and thrive within the highly profitable financial sphere.
Jia Shan, the managing director for the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs, told rolling out, “First, we give people an opportunity to see what financial services is all about,” Shan said. “It’s also not just because how seeing how many people have racial representation that we have in the room, but also people various perspectives. So I think what really brings the value of diversity engaging but those four maybe even different socioeconomic classes can bring a perspective on business.”
Shan said that Goldman Sachs recently hosted a webinar by which they were able to illuminate the scorecard the firm uses for minority broker-dealers that ultimately increases their usage.
“Last fall, we hosted a webinar just shining a spotlight on the capabilities and value add that minority firms bring to bear. And as part of that, we’ve been able to enhance usage, known not only for Goldman but also for our corporate clients,” Shan said.
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In the new series, “The Outlaws,” actors Rhianne Barreto (Rani) and Gamba Cole (Christian) are trying to right their wrongs. Reprimanded for a minor crime they committed, the two meet five strangers from different walks of life and are forced to do community service together. “The Outlaws” is streaming now on Prime Video.
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Tamika Mallory has not stopped yet.
Since the Black Lives Matter protest of 2020, Mallory said she’s been on the front lines fighting for social justice. “For two years, I haven’t been home,” Mallory said after being recognized by Black Enterprise. “I’ve lived in the street fighting for our rights. Breonna Taylor was the beginning, and when I got there, along with my partners at Until Freedom, nobody was really talking about her as we see today. We built a movement around Breonna Taylor.” After being awarded the Luminary Award at the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit in Las Vegas, Mallory spoke to rolling out about her hectic last two years.
How does it feel to be recognized by Black Enterprise?
When I first got the invitation to be honored here, I was so busy doing what I always do that I’m like, “OK.” There’s something else on my schedule. Of course, I love Black Enterprise, but I don’t know if I appreciate it. Walking in this room and being around all these powerful women really was the inspiration I [needed] to keep going. It also taught me a lesson about slowing down, and really acknowledging every single moment and every single invitation as a moment God is blessing me. … These women and Black Enterprise, as an entity and institution, have given me purpose. I feel really special tonight, so I’m grateful.
Speaking of slowing down, in your speech you mentioned that you haven’t been home since 2020. How do you rest?
Well, I sleep — I don’t care where I am. I sleep on planes, I sleep in cars, I sleep everywhere. Rest has been difficult to really achieve over the last two years because so much has happened. We [stay] on the battlefield because we have to and if not us, then who? So it’s a challenge, but I also feel really humbled by the fact that God would bless me with the opportunity to fight for our people, and that Black Enterprise would take the time to acknowledge that work and to stand with me in this struggle.
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Terrell Owens is back.
Owens has been trying to get back to the gridiron, and he may have finally gotten his chance — but not in the NFL.
On March 31, 2022, it was announced by Frank Pingue that the former NFL star has agreed to a deal to play in the Fan Controlled Football, which is a 7-on-7 league played on an indoor 50-yard field. The league allows fans to call offensive plays and vote on the rules of the game.
News: Hall of Fame WR Terrell Owens is coming off retirement at age 48 to return to play football.
T.O. is joining the Fan Controlled Football league.
Owens is in great shape and wants to show he can still play at a high level.https://t.co/hWXYtT4NS2 pic.twitter.com/7wj2vdQlTo
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 31, 2022
Owens will be playing for the Zappers, where former No. 1 draft pick Johnny Manziel plays. Manziel recently confirmed that he will be returning for his second season in the league.
Owens, 48, spent 15 seasons in the NFL and retired after the 2010 season with the third-most receiving yards in league history. He made first-team All-Pro five times and was a six-time Pro Bowler, and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2018.
If Owens is able to show that he still has some gas left in the tank, maybe an NFL team might take the risk of signing him again.
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Marley Wint, the CEO and founder of Minty Fresh Tips and Minks and Merch, stopped by rolling out to detail her history with artists like Young Thug and Gunna. The Sister with Superpowers also offered advice for young Black girls and aspiring entrepreneurs.
What’s a quick overview of everything you have going on?
I’m a designer from the Southside of Chicago. I manufacture nails, and I have some glasses. I’m also doing tooth gems, but right now I’m just trying to focus on the nails because I feel like that’s the biggest market and it’s what I love.
How were you able to create the glasses for Young Thug in the “Pushin P” video?
I came to Atlanta last year from Chicago, and it was crazy because, for the first three months, I felt kind of stuck. I came out here by myself and didn’t really know anyone. I come from a musical background, and my mom is a big house artist in Chicago. I was in the studio with Young Thug and I met his sister, and I was like, “You should let me do some tooth gems on you,” and she was like, “Let’s do it.” I think like the next day, I pulled up to the studio and I did her tooth gems. She was showing me love and I got to help style them for the YSL photo shoot. I felt like the relationship was just organic after that. It was so crazy because I gave those glasses to him the day I met them, which was around Valentine’s Day last year. Then I woke up and saw the video, and he had the glasses on. That was a surreal moment for me.
What are some tips you would give to young Black girls?
You should always be authentically yourself. That’s always been a big motivation and passion for me. I’ve always just done whatever I wanted to do, and I’m still figuring it out as it goes along. I feel like it always comes full circle. Especially with the pandemic last year, I realized that you really have to do what you want, whatever you want to do because life is so short.
How’s it been making the transition from Chicago to Atlanta?
I’m still trying to like figure it out a little bit because Atlanta is kind of so spread out and I’m still finding my niche here. But Atlanta is so supportive. They support Black businesses, Black entrepreneurs, everything, so I’m loving it so far. I’m starting to really get into the groove.
Where and how can people support all your businesses?
You can find me at themintyshop.com or @mintymerchh and @mintyfreshtips on Instagram.
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Ramona Burress, Pharm.D., is the associate director of diversity and inclusion in clinical trials at Janssen. Burress earned a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2013, at 34 years old, she discovered a lump in her breast. Burress was going through many life changes at the time, including divorce. After being turned away by health care providers, she continued to advocate for herself and is sharing her story with others.
How did you discover the lump in your breast?
We were moving a dresser and I was coming down some stairs and I remember that dresser kind of hitting me in my chest. And I was like, “Oh, that hurts.” I had pain from what I thought was that dresser hitting my chest, but as I investigated more, it occurred in a shower and I felt a lump. I had had lumps throughout my life in my breasts and they correlated with my [menstrual] cycle. I said I’ll watch this thing and see, and it just didn’t go away. Months went past and it started to become a little bit painful.
The lump was located on my left breast, and I’m left handed. So, that pain was showing up in my workspace and it was kind of hindering my performance. I called my doctor and she knew that I was going through this life change of divorce, relocating, getting the kids acclimated. I had just seen her that July. So, the first conversation was like, “Ramona, I saw you, I did your full exam. I don’t think it’s anything, let’s just wait and see.” As a result, maybe two weeks later, I called her back because that pain was just persistent. There was nowhere for this lump to hide it. Because there was no tissue, I kind of got dismissed like, “let’s, let’s just wait and see.” I was 34 and I didn’t have any identifiable risk factors. I didn’t have any family history.
How did you advocate for yourself when your concerns were being dismissed?
I [made] a third phone call, because the pain was getting severe. The lump was still present and I needed to see someone. So, I got an appointment and I wasn’t able to see my physician. I saw a partner in her practice. She examined me and said, “I don’t think it’s anything. But because you have Blue Cross, let me send you to get a mammogram.”
I’m a pharmacist, I know how this game goes. Most of the clinical guidelines tell us that mammography is not needed for anyone under the age of 40, especially for someone who was presenting like myself who didn’t have any risk factors and nothing to clinically justify a mammogram. So, the fact that I had this private insurance opened the door for me to get a mammogram.
–dr. maya “100” greene
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https://rollingout.com/2022/04/01/why-ramona-burress-believes-self-advocacy-is-important-for-black-women/
| 2022-04-01T17:06:01Z
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Developer tool now available for use on GitHub
TEL AVIV, Israel and BOSTON, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WhiteSource, a leader in application security, today launched WhiteSource Spring4Shell Detect, a free command-line interface (CLI) tool that quickly scans projects to find vulnerable open source libraries for CVE-2022-22965, also known as Spring4Shell.
Spring4Shell is a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in Spring, one of the most popular open-source frameworks for Java applications in use today. While we are still learning about this vulnerability, its impact is likely on par with that of Log4j and it is considered extremely critical with a severity score of 9.8. WhiteSource's free developer tool, which is available now on GitHub, provides developers with the exact path to direct and indirect dependencies, along with the fixed version, for speedy remediation.
"Organizations and security teams must approach Spring4Shell with the same attention and urgency they did with the recent Log4j vulnerability," said Rami Sass, CEO, WhiteSource. "This vulnerability highlights the importance of a proactive approach to software security and the need for more automated application security to be baked into the development lifecycle. Ensure you are handling your technical debt, and update."
Given the potential widespread impact and risk of this zero-day vulnerability, WhiteSource recommends organizations take the following steps to address and prevent similar instances in the future:
- Inventory your entire application list to identify all instances of CVE-2022-22965. This can be done using WhiteSource's free detection tool.
- Update your vulnerable versions of Spring Framework to the latest version. Use tools such as WhiteSource Renovate, which can automatically update your libraries with the latest available fixes.
- Generate a software bill of materials (SBOM) for all applications in your environment. An SBOM provides visibility to your entire software attack surface — both direct and transitive dependencies — and helps you react quickly to vulnerability announcements.
WhiteSource Renovate, which has more than one hundred million downloads, automatically updates dependencies and has already identified and mitigated the Spring4Shell vulnerability for tens of thousands of enterprises around the world.
More information on the Spring4Shell vulnerability can be found on WhiteSource's blog: Spring4Shell Zero-Day Vulnerability: Information and Remediation for CVE-2022-22965
About WhiteSource
WhiteSource helps organizations accelerate the development of secure software at scale. We provide automated tools that help bridge the security knowledge gap, integrating easily into the software development life cycle and going beyond detection with a remediation-first approach. WhiteSource is built on the most comprehensive vulnerability database in the industry, providing the widest coverage for threats and attack vectors. Our solution helps enterprises like Microsoft, IBM, Comcast, Philips, and many more reduce security risk and increase the productivity of their security and development teams. For more information, visit www.whitesourcesoftware.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE WhiteSource
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https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/whitesource-launches-free-developer-tool-detect-remediate-spring4shell-vulnerability/
| 2022-04-01T17:08:00Z
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(The Hill) – White House press secretary Jen Psaki will leave her job for MSNBC this spring, two sources familiar with the deal told The Hill.
Psaki’s upcoming departure was first reported by Axios on Friday, with the sources confirming it to The Hill. Psaki will leave the White House for the network around May, according to Axios.
The news follows speculation over whether the press secretary was looking for a job at MSNBC or CNN and while Psaki has been out of the briefing room this week with COVID-19.
Deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has also been out with COVID-19. White House communications director Kate Bedingfield has held most of the briefings, which was seen as an opportunity to effectively audition for the post.
Psaki has worked with the White House counsel’s office about her departure and no contracts have been signed yet, Axios reported. Additionally, she has talked to senior officials about the move but has not formally announced it to the press team.
Psaki was asked at a briefing last month if she could confirm whether she was looking for a new job, but she indicated at the time that she was not ready to leave the podium yet.
“I have more than enough on my plate here. So you can’t get rid of me quite yet. Sorry, Peter, for you on that,” she replied to Fox News’s Peter Doocy.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to the Hill for comment.
Psaki wouldn’t be the first official to leave the White House for MSNBC. Symone Sanders, former spokesperson for Vice President Harris, was hired by MSNBC in January as a host for a new weekend program.
Amie Parnes and Dominick Mastrangelo contributed reporting.
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| 2022-04-01T17:08:33Z
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The weekly Baker Hughes rig count data shows:
- Oil rigs +2 at 533
- Natural gas rigs +1 at 138
- Total rigs +3 at 673
This week, Pres. Biden threatened fines on drillers for unused federal permits. The move designed to encourage more production, but may actually lead to further disenfranchising oil producers who are dealing with higher costs that is eating into the windfall gains from higher prices. Biden's relationship with oil producers is also on shaky grounds as result of his desire to slow domestic production, and increase alternative forms of energy.
U.S. oil fields are pumping about 11.7 million barrels a day, about 10% lower than they were prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the doubling in domestic crude prices since the beginning of 2021.
Crude oil
Crude Oil
Crude oil is the most popular tradable instrument in the energy sector, offering exposure to global market conditions, geopolitical risk, and economics. The instrument is strategically relied upon and situated in the global economy. Crude oil has proven to be a unique option for traders given volatility and the efficacy of both swing trading and longer-term strategies. Despite its popularity, crude oil is a very complex investing instrument, given the litany of fluctuations in oil prices, risk, and impact of politics stemming from OPEC. Short for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC operates as an intergovernmental organization of 13 countries, helping set and dictate the global oil market.How to Trade Crude Oil Crude oil is most commonly traded as an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or through other instruments with exposure to it. This includes energy stocks, the USD/CAD, and other investing options. Crude oil itself is traded across a duality of markets, including the West Texas Intermediate Crude (WTI) and Brent crude. Brent is the more relied upon index in recent years, while WTI is more heavily traded across futures trading at the time of writing. Other than geopolitical events or decisions by OPEC, crude oil can move due to a variety of different ways. The most basic is through simple supply and demand, which is affected by global output. Increased industrial output, economic prosperity, and other factors all play a role in crude prices. By extension, recessions, lockdowns, or other stifling factors can also influence crude prices. For example, an oversupply or mitigated demand due to the aforementioned factors would result in lower crude prices. This is due to traders selling crude oil futures or other instruments. Should demand rise or production plateau, traders will bid increasingly on crude, whereby driving prices up.
Crude oil is the most popular tradable instrument in the energy sector, offering exposure to global market conditions, geopolitical risk, and economics. The instrument is strategically relied upon and situated in the global economy. Crude oil has proven to be a unique option for traders given volatility and the efficacy of both swing trading and longer-term strategies. Despite its popularity, crude oil is a very complex investing instrument, given the litany of fluctuations in oil prices, risk, and impact of politics stemming from OPEC. Short for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC operates as an intergovernmental organization of 13 countries, helping set and dictate the global oil market.How to Trade Crude Oil Crude oil is most commonly traded as an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or through other instruments with exposure to it. This includes energy stocks, the USD/CAD, and other investing options. Crude oil itself is traded across a duality of markets, including the West Texas Intermediate Crude (WTI) and Brent crude. Brent is the more relied upon index in recent years, while WTI is more heavily traded across futures trading at the time of writing. Other than geopolitical events or decisions by OPEC, crude oil can move due to a variety of different ways. The most basic is through simple supply and demand, which is affected by global output. Increased industrial output, economic prosperity, and other factors all play a role in crude prices. By extension, recessions, lockdowns, or other stifling factors can also influence crude prices. For example, an oversupply or mitigated demand due to the aforementioned factors would result in lower crude prices. This is due to traders selling crude oil futures or other instruments. Should demand rise or production plateau, traders will bid increasingly on crude, whereby driving prices up.
Read this Term is trading at $99.40. That's down about -$0.87 on the day
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
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| 2022-04-01T17:11:44Z
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China is imposing Covid related lockdowns in Chuzhou. Chuzjou is part of the Anhui province (northwest of Shanhai).
The lockdown will begin on April 2. The population in Chuzhou is around 4 million people. This compares to 26M for Shanghai which now is under lockdown from both the east and western part of the city. It was hoped that parts of Shanghai would reopen, but officials have extended the lockdown in parts of the city now putting most of the city on full lockdown.
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https://www.forexlive.com/news/china-imposing-lo-lockdowns-onckdowns-on-chuzhou-citys-main-urban-area-20220401/
| 2022-04-01T17:11:50Z
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The major European indices are ending the day with gains across the board. Spain's Ibex and Italy's FTSE MIB lead the way to the upside.
A look at the closing levels shows:
- German DAX, +0.22%
- France's CAC, +0.37%
- UK's FTSE 100, +0.30%
- Spain's Ibex +0.69%
- Italy's FTSE MIB +0.57%
For the trading week, the major indices are also logging positive gains:
- German DAX +1.0%
- France's CAC +2.0%
- UK's FTSE 100 +0.7%
- Spain's Ibex +2.0%
- Italy's FTSE MIB +2.4%
Taking a look at the daily chart of the German Dax, the move down from the double top near 16290 back in November and January has the 50% midpoint at 14363.56.
On Monday, the price gapped above that level and stayed above it for the entire week. However the rotation back to the downside over the last two days has brought the level back into play. Next week a move below that 50% retracement level would tilt the bias more to the downside.
Conversely holding above it would keep the corrective hopes alive. Be aware.
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https://www.forexlive.com/news/major-european-indices-close-higher-on-the-day-20220401/
| 2022-04-01T17:11:56Z
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US 2-year yields are up 15 basis points today while 30s are flat. It's a sign that the market is worried about the Fed over-tightening into next year at a time when inflation is sorting itself out and the economic is slowing.
2s30s didn't invert before the pandemic and haven't since the financial crisis.
What I'm more-focused on than the curve is the top for 2s. I think 2.5% is an interesting level because it's a decent return and the kind of number that will draw in buyers, especially foreign buyers. You lock in a good yield and you're only taking on re-investment risk.
What runs against that is inflation eating up your return (but what are the alternatives?) and the Fed selling. Still, it's not like maturity is so far off in the distance and if you're bearish, re-investment risk shouldn't be a big obstacle.
So I struggle to see 2.5% breaking especially with Evans today saying that should be the top of Fed funds and with the curve pricing 3.0% as the terminal Fed funds top. Alternatively, I can see the case for pushing to 3% but I think we will need to see a few hikes first and see what develops with inflation. Put another way -- we need a catalyst to move meaningfully higher from here.
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https://www.forexlive.com/news/us-2s30s-curve-inverts-20220401/
| 2022-04-01T17:12:03Z
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By Associated Press
Apr 1, 2022
Photo by AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
The announcement is in conjunction with Transgender Day of Visibility.
The option to choose “X” as a gender on passport applications also will be available on April 11.
U.S. airport security procedures will become more gender-neutral, with changes to scanners used for screening and the use of an “X” for travelers going through Precheck who do not identify as male or female, the Biden administration said Thursday.
Transportation Security Administration officers will also receive new instructions on screening intended to make procedures less invasive, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
They are among a series of travel-security measures announced by the department in conjunction with Transgender Day of Visibility. President Joe Biden is marking the day by advocating against what his administration terms “dangerous anti-transgender legislative attacks” that have passed in statehouses across the country.
“DHS is committed to protecting the traveling public while ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender identity, is treated with respect,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the statement.
The use of the “X” option in the TSA Precheck advanced security program will begin April 11 and is intended to keep pace with identity documents that already include that option, DHS said. A new “X” gender marker on U.S. passport applications also begins April 11.
Later this year, TSA will begin using scanners with new technology that will replace gender-based systems and are intended to “advance civil rights and improve the customer experience.”
The TSA will work with airlines to promote the acceptance of the “X” gender marker and will also update the guidance for airport security screening officers to remove gender considerations when validating documents, DHS said.
>>Next: Know Before You Go: Tips for Transgender and Nonbinary Travelers
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more from afar
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TUCSON, Ariz. — Humorless, sullen, and brooding, "Morbius" ratchets up the emo factor to ludicrous levels.
Jared Leto stars as the title character, an anti-hero so obsessed with curing his chronic blood disease that he accidentally becomes a superhuman vampire.
Hey, these things tend to happen when you spend too much time in a top-secret basement lab tinkering with vampire bat blood.
Credit goes to Leto for managing to take the role seriously, even as his face monster-morphs via cheesy CGI and a humdrum script gives him little to do but sit around and be sad that he's a superhuman antihero vampire. Sure, he would do good, but men got to eat and ketchup isn't going to cut it.
Mixing elements of the recent cinematic origin stories of Dr. Strange, Venom, and Batman, director Daniel Espinosa's drama takes on the thankless task of telling a lackadaisical origin story to crank out another misunderstood villain for Spider-Man to sling webs at.
The movie shows promise in its first half, which eschews the comic book flick convention of a clear-cut enemy. Instead, the film is all about Morbius's lamenting introspection. Eventually, though, the clunky plot mechanics kick into gear, and the film's momentum drains away like blood from the neck of a hapless anti-hero superhuman vampire victim.
Supporting characters include Matt Smith as Milo — Morbius's bestie who also craves healing from a similar blood syndrome — and Adria Arjona as Martine, a doctor who aids Morbius in his research. All the real character development, though, falls to Morbius himself. Everyone around him is just gloomy window dressing.
As disappointing as the movie may be, its post-credit sequence is even worse. Two bizarre, out-of-place teases to future films involving Venom, Spider-Man and Morbius are clunky and forced, inspiring more dread than anticipation.
That's life as Morbius, all right. No wonder he's so sad.
Viewed Thursday at Harkins Arizona Pavilions.
RATING: 2 stars out of 4.
——-
Phil Villarreal is the senior real-time editor for KGUN 9. He is also a digital producer and host of "Phil on Film" seen weekly on Good Morning Tucson, Phil moved to KGUN after 17 years with the Arizona Daily Star, where he was a movie critic, columnist, and reporter. He has penned three books: Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel, Stormin' Mormon and Zeta Male. A University of Arizona business graduate, he has four children. Share your story ideas and important issues with Phil by emailing phil.villarreal@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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| 2022-04-01T17:22:30Z
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TUCSON, Ariz. — Nintendo's favorite pink puffball mascot is back in "Kirby and the Forgotten Land," a free-wheeling, fun, and lighthearted platformer.
The challenges and set pieces in the joyous ramp slapped smile upon a smile on my face. Not only is the Switch exclusive one of the best outings for the shape-shifting hero, but it's also one of the best games on the system, period.
The true genius of the game is its accessibility. New players can plunge in without any knowledge of Kirby or his powers, but hardcore gamers still get plenty to chew on. Escalating, optional challenges abound for those who want to test their skills to the limit.
All players enjoy the mesmerizing visuals, which pile colossal enemies set against vivid, imaginative landscapes. Traditionally, Kirby games were set in cartoon-style worlds.
Still, the new entry adds real-world elements, creating a wild and charming juxtaposition that makes it compelling to seek out the surprises hiding around the next corner.
As has been the case since the hero was first introduced in 1992, Kirby swallows up enemies to take on their powers. He can be a sword-and-shield-swinging knight moment and an anthropomorphic vehicle the next.
While many of the game's puzzle scenarios have one clear solution, some have multiple paths that test and reward your creativity.
A multiplayer component allows a second player to join in on the action as Kirby's sidekick Waddle Dee. Players can team up to truck through the game or take pleasure in griefing one another, stalling the progress while piling up the laughs.
If the game has a flaw, the combat and health meter tend to be too forgiving, casting a "nerfed" sensation among even the most formidable baddies. While several encounters provide a stiff challenge, there's nothing much that will send you spiraling into an "Elden Ring"-style despair.
What "Kirby and the Forgotten Land" is best at is affirmation. Its boundless sense of fun, light challenge, and optimism is a bright spot in the often dour, super-serious gaming world.
When you're playing as Kirby, you're never quite beaten as long as you've got the will and a plan.
Publishers provided a review code.
——-
Phil Villarreal is the senior real-time editor for KGUN 9. He is also a digital producer and host of "Phil on Film" seen weekly on Good Morning Tucson, Phil moved to KGUN after 17 years with the Arizona Daily Star, where he was a movie critic, columnist, and reporter. He has penned three books: Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel, Stormin' Mormon and Zeta Male. A University of Arizona business graduate, he has four children. Share your story ideas and important issues with Phil by emailing phil.villarreal@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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https://www.katc.com/entertainment/kirby-and-the-forgotten-land-is-a-joyous-shape-shifting-romp
| 2022-04-01T17:22:36Z
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DETROIT, Mich. — Facial recognition technology is being used by law enforcement to help solve crimes. However, many believe that technology is doing more harm than good.
“It's been two years and it's still, we're still talking about it,” said Melissa Williams.
Williams remembers the night her husband Robert was arrested in front of her and their two daughters like it was yesterday.
“They had no reason to arrest me. I still can't figure out why I was arrested, other than they said, I look like somebody,” said Robert Williams.
Two Detroit police officers met Robert at his front door as he was coming home from work. The Williams family lives in Farmington, more than half an hour away from the city. The officers told Robert he was a suspect in a crime and took him to jail.
“I was like, ‘Y'all got the wrong person,’” said Williams.
Robert was detained for 30 hours. When police questioned him, they showed him photos of a theft suspect their facial recognition technology matched to Williams’ driver’s license, but it wasn’t him.
“So he turns over the last one, and says, ‘So I guess computer got it wrong. And I'm like, ‘Well, yeah, the computer got it wrong, because that's not me. And that's not me either,’” Robert said.
Robert worked with the ACLU of Michigan, and his case was dismissed.
“But I still had to go to court on this as if I had a felony charged for stealing,” Robert said.
“This is exactly what we had been warning about, for years and months preceding that, that this type of thing was happening,” said Phil Mayor, a lawyer with the ACLU of Michigan.
There have been two additional widely known cases of wrongful arrests due to facial recognition technology in the United States. One occurred in Detroit. The other happened in New Jersey.
Mayor said he is worried this is just the start.
“When we let the technology take the first steps, we let the technology lead us, we make mistakes,” said Mayor.
A 2018 study by MIT found some facial classification software misidentifies people of color at higher rates than white individuals. Algorithms have advanced since then, and there have not been follow up studies to reaffirm these findings. Still, many believe those biases still exist within the technology.
“We'd like them to not use it because it's a flawed tool,” said Melissa Williams of law enforcement relying on this technology.
With privacy and fairness concerns, regulations are starting to become more common. At least seven states and nearly two dozen cities have limited government use of the technology. This is something Colorado based activist Connor Swatling would like to see more.
“With law enforcement specifically, we believe it has to be held to a higher standard,” said Swatling. “Right now, the technology is not in such a place where we feel that standard has been met.”
Swatling and his group ran tests on several facial recognition software programs to find it wrongly matched high ranking city officials with people on the sex offender registry.
Still, other activists say limiting facial recognition now is a safety risk. Last year, Virginia banned the use of facial recognition for law enforcement—this year the ban was overturned after officials felt it was needed for investigations.
“There's been hundreds of thousands of investigations that have been aided by the use of this technology,” said Jake Parker, the Senior Director of Government Relations at the Security Industry Association. “It doesn't make sense to completely ban the technology. But it makes more sense to establish parameters for it.”
Parker points to huge advances in the technology in just the last couple years alone and says the top algorithms are moving past biases. The NIST “leaderboards” on facial recognition have ranked facial recognition algorithms, and Parker hopes people will review these before making assessments on the technology.
“In the ongoing test series that includes clear race/gender demographic categories, the top 80 algorithms are 99% accurate across the white male, black male, white female, and black female categories, and for the top 40, white male is actually the LOWEST performing demographic of those four within that narrow range,” said Parker.
Still, concerns exist. “I believe this is truly a bipartisan issue,” said Swatling. “Whether you are more concerned about governmental overreach or racial injustice, this issue impacts you.”
For the Williams family, the impact took an emotional toll they are still working through. They just hope changes are made before another family endures their struggle.
“If it happened to me, it can happen to anybody,” said Robert. “Maybe one day it will be useful, but at the current, no, I'm not behind it.”
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https://www.katc.com/news/national-politics/the-race/should-law-enforcement-use-facial-recognition-technology
| 2022-04-01T17:22:55Z
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NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize on Friday, marking the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the retail giant's history.
Votes were still being tabulated, but union supporters secured a wide enough margin to give the fledgling Amazon Labor Union enough support to pull off a victory.
The votes that were either voided or contested by either Amazon or the ALU did not appear to be enough to sway the outcome.
More than 8,300 eligible workers cast their ballots.
According to the Associated Press, 2,654 votes were cast in favor a union, and 2,131 votes were cast against it. There were 67 ballots challenged, but they wouldn't have changed the outcome.
Amazon workers in Alabama voted to unionize, but it appears they rejected the bid in a vote of 993 to 875. However, a hearing to review 416 challenged ballots could change that outcome, the news outlet reported.
Amazon workers aren't the first to vote to unionize.
Starbucks workers at more than 140 locations nationally have requested union elections, with some being successful.
In December, Buffalo Starbucks employees became the first in the company to unionize successfully.
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https://www.katc.com/news/national/amazon-workers-in-nyc-vote-to-unionize-a-first-for-company
| 2022-04-01T17:23:07Z
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Every year, thousands of guns sold at gun stores end up in communities illegally.
"You don’t really think where do these guns come from. You don’t think that" Rashandra Burnett said
It's a harsh reality that Burnett has lived with for 20 years.
In 2002, she was a college student in Ohio. A classmate asked her to go to a nearby gun store and make a purchase for him.
“Of course, my regular questions were, 'Why do you need to?' His response was more like because he already had one, he couldn’t necessarily get it," Burnett said
What Burnett's classmate didn’t tell her, and she later learned from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents was that he, and a gun store owner, were sending illegal weapons to a street gang in New Jersey and he needed her to be a straw buyer.
A straw buyer is a person who buys guns on behalf of someone who can’t— for reasons like having a felony on their record.
“In the moment, it was like, I’m legal, I’m a citizen— not thinking like, they’re probably bad people trying to do bad things,” Burnett said.
Court records show that in two trips to the gun store, Burnett signed paperwork for a total of 40 firearms that her classmate paid cash for on the spot.
She later told federal agents she didn’t know she bought so many because her classmate handled them when they were picked up.
She says she felt uneasy about signing the form that said she was buying the guns for herself.
"Checked it, signed my life away, and handed him the note. And I went and sat in the car," Burnett said.
Burnett may have been a pawn, but to law enforcement, she is not a victim.
She pleaded guilty to two felonies for lying on the gun purchase form.
“It’s frequent, the person doesn’t think what they’re doing is wrong but they’re actually committing a felony," says David Booth, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Division of the ATF.
“It’s probably two or three times that," Booth added.
Federally, buying a gun for someone who can’t, carries a maximum 10-year sentence.
“I would think if people were to get five-to-eight years for this versus probation, I think that would actually help," Booth said.
Activist Chet Whye feels gun laws can punish the wrong people.
"They can’t buy because they’re felons or they have a record and then that forces them to go get people who aren’t in that situation and don’t have a record then you go and lock up the people who are vulnerable," Whye said.
ATF says they don’t keep official stats on the gender of straw purchasers, but the agency notes that, in many cases, women are recruited.
“These women exchange, for love, or a little bit of money will do this favor not knowing what the repercussions are to themselves and their community," Whye said.
Whye, who works with Operation Lipstick, a group that has worked with district attorney offices in cities like Boston and Philadelphia to educate women about straw purchasing so they aren't used in criminal efforts to get more illegal guns onto the streets.
“Just as women, unwittingly or not, are neighbors of the gun pipeline, they can be disruptors. And that's what we should be focused on, empowering women to disrupt this thing," Whye said.
There are other efforts to educate the public about the dangers of straw purchasing, like the National Shooting Sports Foundation's "Don't Lie for The Other Guy" Campaign.
Burnett received probation after pleading guilty to the charges she faced. She’s working toward her master's degree but must live with a felony on her record.
“Hindsight, looking back, you think about all these things like, I don't know how many lives, I have taken, essentially," Burnett said.
She hopes her story will stop others from taking a place along the pipeline of illegal guns in America.
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| 2022-04-01T17:23:38Z
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A 38-year-old Oregon man was killed early Friday morning when his pickup hit a tree in Yakima's West Valley, police said.
Police, firefighters and the Washington State Patrol responding to the intersection of South 80th Avenue and West Nob Hill Boulevard around 3 a.m. April 1, 2022, found a 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup had hit a tree. The driver, who police said was from Keizer, Ore., was pronounced dead at the scene after efforts to resuscitate him by police and firefighters, according to Yakima police.
Officers said the truck was heading west on West Nob Hill Boulevard when it failed to stop at the stop sign on South 80th Avenue, left the road and hit the tree head on.
The driver was not wearing a seat belt, police said, and speed appears to be a factor in the crash.
YDP’s traffic investigation unit is handling the investigation.
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https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/yakima-police-investigating-west-valley-crash-that-killed-oregon-man/article_d4239b63-7d7f-5e00-acf1-7cd6dfbfd840.html
| 2022-04-01T17:33:12Z
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Shares of GameStop surged Friday after the video game retailer announced that it would attempt its first stock split in 15 years.
The company said in a regulatory filing late Thursday that it wants to increase its share count to 1 billion, from 300 million, so it can implement a stock split in the form of a dividend. It plans to seek shareholder approval at its upcoming annual meeting.
A stock split would change the price-per-stock, but not the overall value of those holdings. The maneuver can push up a company’s stock price at least temporarily, and it did so Friday. Shares of GameStop jumped 8% at the opening bell.
JPMorgan Friday that while stock splits may not be the new buyback, they are “an additional tool to push stock prices higher despite financial theory saying otherwise.”
GameStop’s announcement comes just days after electric vehicle maker Tesla announced its second stock split in less than two years. In addition, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced a 20-for-1 split in February. Amazon said this month that it would do a split of the same ratio.
Big tech companies have pursued stock splits after major run-ups in the price of their shares, which can open the door to retail investors that do not have the financial heft to buy shares that head into quadruple digits.
However, a single share of Google, Tesla, or Alphabet cost between $1,000 and $3,300. And shares of Tesla, Alphabet and Apple are up between 30% and 60% over the past 12 months.
Shares of GameStop are down 13% over that same stretch and can be had for less than $200 each.
Yet GameStop became a meme darling early last year when hundreds of thousands of smaller investors suddenly started buying its shares, driving its price to heights that shocked Wall Street. The shares rocketed from $39 to $347 in just a week during its run-up.
Any maneuvers from the company garner intense interest from retail investors, particularly after Chewy co-founder Ryan Cohen took a huge stake in the company and now sits on its board. Investors have pinned their hopes on Cohen to push the traditional retailer in a more online direction.
In midday trading, shares of GameStop recently traded at $176.33, up 6%.
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| 2022-04-01T17:47:30Z
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Love in the time of corona.
The coronavirus pandemic may have torpedoed many a relationship, but a lucky few managed to find a soulmate amid the sickness.
A UK woman shared the unlikely tale of how she fell in love with a New York coworker she moved in with during quarantine — and kept their ensuing office romance a secret from other colleagues for a whole year.
“[Initially] there was no romantic attraction on either end and we were both just friendly people who got on well,” Holly Sandberg, 28, told Jam Press of her lockdown love story, which she documented in a March TikTok video that has racked up more than 2.3 million views.
The coronavirus romance was set in motion in 2020 after the market researcher moved from London to New York City for work.
While Sandberg previously had only been to the US once, she wanted to get outside her comfort zone. Thankfully, the New York office had an opening.
After settling into her position, she befriended a fellow newcomer named Cam, whom she knew from across the pond.
“Cam is a dual citizen and worked in the UK office for six months, although our paths rarely crossed there,” the new ex-pat explained. “Our company moved him a couple of weeks after me and we became friends as we shared that experience of being ‘newbies’ in the office.”
For the next two weeks, the pair would regularly grab lunch together and spend time exploring the city.
The Londoner recounted one time after work when the coworkers visited Central Park together and “spent three hours chatting and taking pictures of the moon.”
Despite their “blossoming friendship,” Sandberg insisted there was initially no romantic attraction between her and Cam, who, at four years her junior, seemed more like a “younger brother” than a potential paramour.
Then the pandemic hit five weeks into her stay, changing everything forever.
As she had very few friends in the Big Apple, Sandberg wasn’t sure how to react, so she turned to her mom for advice.
“I phoned my mum and said that I didn’t know what to do, as I didn’t know anyone in or out of the city,” she said. “We knew that flights were getting canceled, so it would be difficult to get back.”
The bewildered gal added: “I thought my American adventure was done after just a few weeks.”
Thankfully, mom saved the day by suggesting that she ask to stay with her work pal Cam, who was residing in New Jersey with his dad Rick, Jam Press reported.
While initially hesitant as it seemed like a “giant ask,” Sandberg “eventually agreed with her and spent a long time crafting the message.”
Thankfully, Sandberg’s new bestie responded quickly, saying that, if she felt comfortable, she could self-isolate with them for a week until things blew over.
The Brit packed two weeks’ worth of clothes and boarded a train to New Jersey, where, as things played out, she’s lived ever since.
Due to their corresponding work and living schedules, Cam and Sandberg spent nearly every waking moment together — even while Sanberg was recovering at their home following neck surgery. Their shared activities included walks, kayaking, night cookouts on the beach and other hobbies straight out of a rom-com montage.
What started out as a mere friendship quickly bloomed into a full-fledged, remote-working romance for the ages.
“I realized how much of an incredible person he was, as it’s rare to spend that much time with someone and genuinely enjoy every moment of it,” said Sandberg, who can’t help but gush about her beau. “All of my friends back home kept saying we would end up together, but I was adamant that it wouldn’t happen.”
The lovestruck gal added, “After four weeks, I texted my friend: ‘I spend all day with this man and each night I go to bed, I can’t wait to see him again the next day.’”
Their relationship became official the next day after Cam’s dad left the house and the corona-crossed lovers were lying together during a yoga sesh.
“That’s when I leaned over and kissed him. Everything felt so right, like it was natural for us,” said Sandberg. “We fell in love very slowly and it was like we skipped all the dating drama, as I already knew him intimately.”
The lovebirds initially snuck around behind Cam’s dad’s back for several months while figuring things out. Per Cam’s request, the couple also only told a few colleagues about their surreptitious relationship, effectively allowing them to exist in their “own little loved-up bubble for a whole summer,” said Sandberg, fawning over the recollection.
They didn’t spill the beans to coworkers until a year later, when Sandberg left the company.
The smitten gal has since chronicled her and Cam’s corona romance in a series of TikTok videos, including one in which she summed up the whirlwind saga by re-enacting the initial text conversation that led to them living together.
“Me: moves from London to New York then panics as I watch the whole city shut down with a global panderama,” she wrote in the clip’s caption. “My new American colleague: I know you’re totally alone here, do you want to come stay with me at my dad’s until this passes?”
Accompanying photos show the self-isolating soulmates doing everything together, from taking bike rides and sitting at the beach with Cam and his father to dressing in festive pajamas on Christmas Day.
TikTok commenters were over the moon about their love story, which many compared to a real-life rom-com.
“What in the romcom,” said one, while another wrote, “I’d watch the absolute HELL out of this show/movie.”
“Sell the movie rights, buy his dad a house and yourselves a house,” suggested one fan.
“From the moment I set foot in Cam’s house, my life has felt like I’m living a story out of a beautiful romance film,” Sandberg concurred.
In the future, the soulmates plan to embark on their first visit to the UK as a couple.
“We’re at a super exciting time as my visa is finally moving which means we can go to the UK together for the first time,” Sandberg said. “He’ll finally be able to meet all my family and friends and as travel is something that has been a real passion for us both, we’re planning a lot of adventures right now.”
In a similar love story that began once-upon-a-COVID lockdown in 2020, “Survivor” contestant Kellyn Bechtold managed to land a lover on Bumble while traveling in Spain mere days before the virus hit, prompting shutdowns and trapping her abroad.
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https://nypost.com/2022/04/01/i-moved-in-with-a-coworker-during-covid-lockdown-now-were-in-love/
| 2022-04-01T17:47:54Z
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Stephen Colbert took his own network to task on Thursday for hiring former Trump administration official Mick Mulvaney, whom he called a “craven toady to a tyrant,” as a paid on-air political commentator for CBS News.
“You know I’m a company man — I love CBS, our parent company Paramount, and its parent company, probably a defense contractor who makes b-ner pills, there’s no way of knowing,” Colbert said during his monologue on Thursday’s CBS “Late Show.”
“Recently, my network got a lot of criticism, much of it from itself, because CBS News has hired the ex-president’s former chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, to ‘provide political analysis across the network’s broadcasts and platforms.'”
Colbert then turned to the camera and said: “What the f–k?”
He continued: “I for one can’t wait to hear Mulvaney’s trenchant and objective political analysis considering that back in 2020, he suggested that ‘coronavirus was the media hoax of the day,’ and after his boss extorted [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky] for dirt on the Bidens, he said, ‘Get over it.'”
During his time with the Trump administration, Mulvaney ruffled journalists’ feathers on several occasions. He accused the media of seeking to bring down the Trump presidency with its coverage during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mulvaney also told reporters to “get over it” after President Donald Trump withheld vital military aid to Ukraine while seeking incriminating information about Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Colbert also lambasted Mulvaney for a Wall Street Journal op-ed from November 2020 in which the former acting White House chief of staff incorrectly predicted that Trump would graciously concede defeat and facilitate an orderly transfer of power.
“Is Mick Mulvaney psychic? Get this man to Vegas! He’s Nostradumbass!” Colbert joked.
Trump has long claimed that he is the winner of the 2020 presidential election and that President Biden’s victory was fraudulent, though the courts have rejected the claims of widespread voting irregularities.
After the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol, Mulvaney resigned from his position as special envoy to Northern Ireland.
Colbert criticized his network’s news division for the decision to “put this craven toady to a tyrant on their payroll.”
He quipped that the Mulvaney hire was part of a strategy by the network to appeal to conservative-leaning viewers.
CBS was “reworking our programming in the hopes of cozying up the GOP, so get ready for our new spring lineup: ‘Young QShaman,’ ‘Bob Restricts the Reproductive Rights of Abishola,’ and ‘Blue Bloods,'” Colbert joked.
Keith Olbermann, the former MSNBC and ESPN SportsCenter star, wasn’t impressed with Colbert’s “tedious jokes.” He tweeted that the late-night star should use his clout at the network and force executives to fire Mulvaney.
“Give them a choice — keep him or [Mulvaney],” Olbermann tweeted. He then claimed that he forced MSNBC executives to fire talk show host Michael Savage, who was let go from the network after a brief, four-month stint for making homophobic comments in 2003.
Colbert, who earns an estimated $15 million annual salary from CBS, isn’t the only Tiffany Network employee who is reportedly upset over the Mulvaney hire.
“I know everyone I talked to today was embarrassed about the hiring,” a CBS News employee told the Washington Post on Thursday.
Another anonymous employee at the network told the paper: “Everyone is baffled.”
“CBS News is continuing to build up its roster of contributors on both sides of the aisle ahead of the midterms and the 2024 election,” a CBS spokesperson said.
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https://nypost.com/2022/04/01/stephen-colbert-slams-his-cbs-bosses-for-hiring-ex-trump-aide-mick-mulvaney/
| 2022-04-01T17:48:37Z
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https://nypost.com/video/would-you-go-on-a-fourplay-double-date-under-the-covers-with-danica-daniel/
| 2022-04-01T17:49:20Z
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The Wilbur Theater crowd had “a lot of extra energy” Thursday, an employee told The Post, and the audience’s passion was evident from the start of Rock’s 8 p.m. set, according to fans.
Audience member
“Someone yelled out ‘F–k Will Smith’ and [Rock] went, ‘No, no, no.'”
Audience member
“Some guy was heckling him and he said, ‘Is that the Oscars security?’"
Audience member
“The guy was saying ‘F–k Will Smith.’ There were a lot of ‘F–k Will Smiths.’”
On Wednesday night, Rock’s first show since the Sunday night Oscars drama, the comedian told the Beantown crowd he was “still processing” being slapped by Smith and that he would talk about the incident at “some point.”
There was a feeling of déjà vu at the historic theater during the second night of Rock’s performances. The comedian once again wore an all-white outfit, and for the second night in a row, a fan was removed.
Boston resident Emily DePina to security as she was booted from the venue. Alana Hylton, 35, sat in the front row with DePina and was kicked out along with her.
Emily DePina
“We weren’t heckling Chris Rock. We had front-row seats. We were endorsing him, responding to his jokes. He was interacting with us but security took us out.”
Rock was scheduled to play two more sets at the Wilbur on Friday before heading to Atlantic City for a pair of shows at the Borgata, where tickets on secondary markets were selling for more than $1,000.
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| 2022-04-01T17:49:26Z
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Following a two year hiatus, a Culpeper businessman is raising money to help fight cancer by joining in a charity bicycle ride from Baltimore to Key West next month.
“I’m excited about it,” said Gary Walker, owner of Gary’s Ace Hardware. “I’ve stayed in fairly good shape getting ready for it.”
The Ulman Foundation Key to Keys will take place from April 23-30 where riders will bike from Baltimore to Key West, visiting cancer patients and facilities along the way.
Walker, 65, first found out about the ride in December 2019 while he sat with a friend scrolling through social media.
“I just thought it was something to do for a good cause,” he said. “If you have any age on you at all, you’ve been touched by it (cancer).”
Walker said he felt as though he wanted to make the trek in honor of his friend’s wife, who lost her battle with cancer.
Walker, who has been riding on and off for about 40 years, said the plan is to ride between 40-60 miles per day with the last day totaling 100 miles.
He’s ridden up to 50 miles in one day, but not eight days in a row, he added.
Riders have to raise a minimum of $4,500, but funds gathered by riders two years ago carried over.
Walker has raised $4,700 so far. He is in the top 10 highest fundraisers.
When he finally gets to the Keys, Walker intends to meet a friend and drive back to Culpeper but not before resting for a few days.
The Ulman Foundation creates a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, who are impacted by cancer. According to the Foundation, Young adults (ages 15-39) face a variety of unique challenges with a cancer diagnosis including social isolation, fertility preservation, insurance concerns, delayed diagnosis and survivorship.
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https://www.insidenova.com/culpeper/back-on-his-bike-local-business-man-rides-bike-to-raise-money-for-cancer/article_4419aaac-b1d3-11ec-a987-1b3bc2646dcb.html
| 2022-04-01T17:49:59Z
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After quitting her job as a social worker to be at home with her girls, Bailey Walters got back to her roots, something that she has always found joy in. Spending time in the kitchen.
“I grew up spending a lot of time with my grandmother, and I just have the best memories of being in the kitchen with her,” Walters said. “We were always baking and cooking something.”
“I’ve always loved being in the kitchen. It’s kind of a happy place.”
Earmarked to take the spot of the former Frosty’s at 128 North Main St., Bailey’s Cookie Bar is scheduled to host a ribbon cutting and grand opening in early May as renovations continue on the previously empty space.
“When I started it, I always dreamed of having a little store front,” Walters said.
A kitchen, of course, will be built as well as display cases for the cookies of the day.
Customers will be able to walk in and order cookies as well as schedule tastings or consultations for events.
Walters also hopes to host cookie decorating events in the space as well.
She began to bake cookies about three years ago, but when she posted a batch of cookies she made for her nephew’s birthday on Facebook, “it blew up.”
As word of her skills circulated, she incorporated her business officially although operations remained and still do in her home kitchen.
“It has continued to grow tremendously,” she said.
With the amount of orders she was receiving, she concluded moving into a brick and mortar would take her business to the next level.
Paired with her love of being in the kitchen, Walters tapped into her creative abilities with decoration. Despite no formal training, Walters’ cookies look both immaculate and rustic.
“(Art) has always been an outlet for me,” she said. “But I really want to make a cookie that tastes really good as well.”
Although she typically makes butter vanilla sugar cookies, Walters is capable of baking anything from a peppermint chocolate to a lemon cheesecake cookie.
Since starting, she’s been hired to supply cookies for birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers, weddings and even vasectomy parties.
Joining the landscape of downtown Culpeper is no easy feat, though.
“I feel like everybody loves cookies,” Walters said. “I think it’s just something different and something fun.”
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| 2022-04-01T17:50:05Z
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The Manassas Ballet Theatre's presentation of "Gaite Parisienne and More!" in March uplifted the spirits of human interaction and connection.
On the Merchant Hall stage of the Hylton Performing Arts Center, two premieres brought literary and visual art to life, and the timeless century-old “Gaite Parisienne” ballet and music brought banter and frolic.
In the first premiere, "A Letter to Maria," choreographer and creator Deborah Greer set the performance in the ruins of Spain's fascist oppression of the 1940s, aligning with "The Perfume Garden" by Kate Lord Brown. Red hues lighted the stage, as dancers silently entered and left Rosa (Kaitlin Frankenfield) lying on the ground. An Interlude from Manuel de Falla's "La Vida Breve" (apt translation: "The Short Life") included nine dancers passionately accompanied by resonating tuba and brass lines and lush string passages for the first scene.
The lifts and innovative choreography brought forth acknowledging applause from the audience as the six couples intertwined and mimicked a toreador and bull. The red motif returned with a deep red rose accent for the exciting "Libertango" by Astor Piazzolla with the tango tempo clapped by dancers as well as the audience, while two circles of dancers mixed and matched, adorned in multi-colored costumes.
Meanwhile, a riveting pas de deux of Frankenfield and Joshua Burnham revisited the turmoil of Rosa. She is again left alone on the stage, not dead but consumed by her trauma. The audience recognized the excellent piece with applause before the curtain calls.
For his premiere "The Naked Truth," choreographer Ahmed Nabil reimagined a 19th century myth and the painting it inspired into seven scenes of beauty, betrayal, contempt, rage, shame, denial and canceling. Frankenfield returned to the stage as Truth, this time with Burnham as her betrayer, Lie. Music director Christopher Heit offered seven pieces by Jean Sibelius, which Nabil transformed into his vision for the dances.
A huge picture frame hanging from the rafters and shortly whisked away, the unique design of the well, the intensity of the lighting that enveloped the scenes beyond the stage, and the minimalist costumes all brought the audience into the painting as the two Spinners spread the Lie to the dancers as the World. The dancers' intricate steps and lifts gave depth to each of the seven human character traits.
The white masks' starkness and gold poles to scaffold Truth's demise led to Lie assuming Truth's white coat after she disappeared into the well in shame. As the painting's frame returned to the set, Nabil's fourth creation for the Manassas Ballet Theatre received well-deserved ovations.
"Gaite Parisienne,” choreographed in 1938 to 19th-century composer Jacques Offenbach's music, was revived throughout the 20th century. In our century, Vadim Slavitskiy restaged it for the Manassas Ballet. However, the scenes are reminiscent of the comedic staging of silent film stars Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin or 1950s and ‘60s Saturday morning cartoons. The audience witnesses and is caught up in 14 live-action vignettes performed by the dancers with boundless energy .
Several female and male characters wove their interactions into the café staff's preparations for a grand evening of dancing. Flower seller Dani Moya and glove seller Hannah Locke danced their way into the interest of Peruvian visitor Masaya Kaneko, Nabil as the Baron, Burnham as the Officer, and Slavitskiy, incorporated into his staging as the Dance Teacher.
Alternating between peripheral banter side stage and dynamic ensembles full stage, the Waiters, Cleaning Girls, Billiard Players and Can-Can Dancers also intercepted and distracted the main characters. Several duets, usually seen onstage as a pas de deux, were exquisitely performed in the midst of the swirling action.
The chaotic frenzy of rivalry, teasing and trickery was choreographed, staged and performed so well that the audience had to remain vigilant to note each of the many simultaneous scenes occurring and themes intertwined. The dancers' dual roles as comedic actors were humorously portrayed.
Added to the qualities of resilience, perseverance and happiness from the themes of Act I's dramatic premieres and Act II's frolics was empathy. At the start of each show, the Manassas Ballet Theatre Orchestra played the Ukrainian national anthem with the audience asked to stand in respect.
"Gaite Parisienne and More!" is now available to stream on demand for those who missed the live shows or want to view the performances again.
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https://www.insidenova.com/lifestyles/review-manassas-ballet-theatres-gaite-parisienne-more-is-uplifting-and-energetic/article_fbced200-b1d6-11ec-a515-3fbdd8421812.html
| 2022-04-01T17:50:11Z
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Paul Bernard, who brings more than 30 years in urban planning, real-estate development and affordable-housing expertise, has been tapped as the new president and chief executive officer of AHC Inc.
“Paul has a history of tackling a variety of housing challenges and a track record of leading real change,” said David Barsky, board chair of the non-profit housing provider. “With his perspective in economics, finance and urban planning – coupled with his passion for affordable housing and its potential to transform lives – we’re thrilled to have him lead AHC forward in its next chapter.”
Bernard, who assumes office on April 4, succeeds Susan Cunningham, who served as interim leader of the organization since the departure of longtime CEO Walter Webdale last year.
Bernard has held a variety of leadership positions at leading housing and development organizations, including Urban Land Institute, Enterprise Community Partners, Walker & Dunlop and MMA Realty Capital.
[Sun Gazette Newspapers provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.]
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Arlington County Board members recently made the following appointments to local advisory bodies.
Gary Dean, Lisa Ortiz, David Smith, Sasha Ridley, Martin Ennis-Osorio, Anika Montgomery, Julie Evans, Gary Coffey and James Miller were appointed to the Community Oversight Board (addressing police issues), with Ortiz designated as chair and Dean designated vice chair.Margaret McGilvray was appointed to the Citizens Advisory Commission on Housing. Caroline Romano was reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women.
Nicholas Cicero was appointed and Carlton Newton was reappointed to the Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee. Anna Strasburger was appointed to the Community Services Board. Taylor Lawch was reappointed to the Crystal City Citizens Review Committee. Stephen Manlove was appointed to the Economic Development Commission. Samuel Rice was reappointed to the Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission.
Fatima Argun, Stephan Kline and Christopher Wimbush were appointed to the Human Rights Commission. John Johnson was appointed to the Technology Commission. Matt Royer and Julio Basurto were appointed to the Tenant-Landlord Commission.
[Sun Gazette Newspapers provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.]
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Just over a year after first floating the idea, an advocacy group continues its fact-finding effort to gauge the viability of a performing-arts center in Arlington – one that could rise with, or without, government support.
Embracing Arlington Arts on March 22 detailed results of a new community survey, part of the creation of a business plan to determine if a new arts center could succeed where others have faltered.
“We wanted to ascertain not only how often audience members would attend an in-person event this year, but also their likely patronage of a new venue,” said Janet Kopenhaver, the organization’s president.
More than 220 responses were received – not quite a full community sample, but a start – with nearly half of those responding saying they planned on attending performing- or cultural-arts events at least monthly this year.
More than 87 percent of respondents said they would “likely” or “very likely” attend performances at a community arts center, with just under 4 percent saying they were “unlikely” or “very unlikely” to do so and the rest in the middle.
(See the report at www.embracing-arlington-arts.org.)
Kopenhaver noted that nearly 30 percent of those taking the survey were under age 50, “good news since we usually recognize arts patrons as retirees.”
“The hope is that the arts organizations are attracting younger patrons to their performances, and thus diversifying their audiences,” she said. Planning for an arts center is nothing new in Arlington, but history has recorded a mixed bag of results:
• More than two decades ago, there was talk of a cultural center, perhaps on the large surface parking lot at Courthouse Plaza. It never quite got off the launch pad.
• The county government partnered with Signature Theatre on a combination library/theater in Shirlington. The effort has been a success in terms of bringing audiences to Signature productions, but the professional theater has struggled with finances.
• The Artisphere facility, run by the county government in Rosslyn opened with grandiose expectations but proved to be in the wrong location to attract patrons and bled red ink before it was, figuratively speaking, taken out behind the barn and put out of its misery.
• Another county-run theater space in Rosslyn (the Spectrum) fell victim to redevelopment.
• An agreement between a Virginia Square developer and the county government, which would have resulted in a black-box theater at a prime urban-corridor location, died when County Manager Mark Schwartz decided he’d rather take cash from the developer in lieu of the theater space. Schwartz cited the excessive projected cost of operating the facility.
When the idea for a community-run performance venue was floated last year, projections called for a facility of roughly 13,000 square feet. While there are some preliminary cost projections, financing the proposal remains a work in progress.
Asked then why this idea would succeed when the Artisphere had been such a (financial) debacle, Kopenhaver in 2021 said it was like comparing apples and oranges.
“Artisphere had a lot of problems that we are not going to have,” she said. “The original business plan was way out of reach and not sustainable. Our model is totally different. We will have a nonprofit manage it and have it serve as a home for several theater groups, who will partner with us.”
Compared to Artisphere, “we are envisioning a much smaller facility . . . so expenses will be lower, as well as needed staff,” she said.
Calls for a performing-arts center in 2021 came as the local arts community reeled from COVID and related shutdowns, which have forced organizations to reduce programming, downsize staff and, in some cases, go out of business. Since then, there have been some improvements, but many arts organizations remain far from a post-COVID renaissance.
Perhaps not surprisingly, candidates for elected office in Arlington have pronounced themselves in favor of the idea of a community cultural center.
A special election for County Board in 2020 found contenders all in favor of the idea, while the two contenders in the 2021 County Board Democratic primary for County Board also said they were positively disposed toward the idea.
What kind of support, if any, that will result in – or whether a private group would even want the county government’s direct involvement – is an open question.
County leaders’ default position when asked to support such private initiatives is usually to plead poverty.
At the moment, the county government also is being asked what role it would be willing to play in a major renovation of the Arlington Historical Museum, operated by the Arlington Historical Society and housed in the 19th-century Hume School overlooking Pentagon City.
The county government also may be asked to lend more support in finding a permanent home for the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, which lost its space to redevelopment and is currently, and temporarily, cohabitating with the Columbia Pike Partnership.
[Sun Gazette Newspapers provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.]
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March has been and gone, and with that in mind, we bring you our favourite images in science from the past month. This batch is a real mix, from African sand storms being blown across Europe, to the low tides and lack of water in Venice bringing canal traffic to a standstill.
In the UK, we bathed in some unseasonably warm weather, and then shivered as random snow started to fall.
Meanwhile, the James Webb Space Telescope started to produce its first correctly-aligned image, which has ramped-up anticipation of the amazing images it will start to produce later this year.
Rocketmen Beachgoers look on as the Atlas V rocket carrying the GOES-T weather satellite launches from Space Launch Complex 41 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA on 1 March 2022. Photo by Marco Bello/AFP/Getty Images
I'm bringing leatherback A man holds a leatherback sea turtle hatchling before its release into the sea at Lhoknga beach, Aceh province, Indonesia on 2 March 2022. Photo by Chaideer Mahyuddin/AFP/Getty Images
Virtual insanity A exhibition attendee trying a VR experience with the Meta Oculus Quest 2 headset at the SK telecom stand during the Mobile World Congress, the biggest trade show of the sector focused on mobile devices. Photographed on 3 March 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Pretty kitty A Nature Conservation Agency officer holds a leopard cub as it is displayed along with other animals during a press conference in Surabaya on 4 March 2022, after the organisation and the police arrested a group of wildlife traffickers. Photo by Juni Kriswanto/AFP/Getty Images
I feel alive! A Kawada Robotics Co. Nextage Fillie robot during a demonstration at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan, on 9 March 2022. Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Happy Holi-day Hindu devotees smeared in colours take part in a traditional gathering during the Laddu Holi celebrations, the spring festival of colours at a temple in Barsana village of India's Uttar Pradesh state on 10 March 2022. Photo by AFP/Getty Images
An untangled Webb On 11 March 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope team completed the stage of mirror alignment known as 'fine phasing'. In doing so, the telescope produced this image of a star, catchily named 2MASS J17554042+6551277. Although there are months to go before Webb ultimately delivers its new view of the cosmos, achieving this milestone means the team is confident that the telescope's first-of-its-kind optical system is working as well as possible. Photo by NASA/ESA/Canadian Space Agency
Lava flow Lava flows down from the crater of Indonesia's most active volcano Mount Merapi, seen from Kedungsriti in Sleman, outside Yogyakarta on 11 March 2022. Photo by Devi Rahman/AFP/Getty Images
Shifting sands part 1 A vehicle covered with sub-Saharan dust, on 15 March 2022 in Madrid, Spain. The unusual meteorological phenomenon was generated by a high amount of dust in suspension coming from the Sahara. This also caused a decrease in air quality as well as sand in the streets, a reddish sky and rising temperatures. Photo By Eduardo Parra/Europa Press/Getty Images
Shifting sands part 2 This photograph taken on 15 March 2022 shows sand from the Sahara that fell overnight covering the snow, in Piau-Engaly ski resort, southern France. Orange cars, dusty subway corridors, a blocked and yellowish horizon: a thin layer of sand from the Sahara fell on the night of 14 March 2022 in Madrid and a large area of Spain, as well as reaching parts of France. Photo by Bastien Arberet/AFP/Getty Images
Tide isn't high The low tide in Venice, Italy, has been causing problems to navigation in the city, as can be seen in this image taken on 17 March 2022. In recent years Venice has experienced a series of exceptionally low tides that has seen many of its famous canals run dry. Climate change and subsidence are cited as two major factors in this phenomenon. Photo by Stefano Mazzola/Getty Images
More galleries on Science Focus :
Lighting up the sky In this image, released on 21 March 2022, powerful laser beams leave a telescope at ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) complex. The lasers were emitted into the upper layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, about 90 kilometres from the ground. The colour of the lasers is tuned to excite these atoms, making them shine brightly, like stars. Astronomers then use these artificial stars to calculate the blurring effect that Earth’s turbulent atmosphere creates on the light from astronomical objects. A deformable mirror uses this information to correct this blur in real time with a technique known as 'adaptive optics', which leads to much sharper observations. Photo by ESO/A. Ghizzi Panizza
Above the clouds People take photographs of fog shrouding commercial buildings including The Centre and International Finance Centre in Hong Kong on 22 March 2022. Photo by Dale De La Rey/AFP/Getty Images
Bottle bank People walk through an art installation made from plastic water bottles as part of an awareness drive on World Water Day in Malang, East Java, Indonesia on 22 March 2022. Photo by Aman Rochman/AFP/Getty Images
Good doggy A visitor interacts with a Sony 'Aibo' robot dog during the 'You and Robots - What is it to be Human?' exhibition at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, Japan on 22 March 2022. Photo by Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images
Giga what? A newly-completed Tesla electric car emerges at the official opening of the new Tesla electric car manufacturing plant on 22 March 2022. The factory, near Gruenheide, Germany, is officially called the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The plant will produce the Model Y as well as electric car batteries. Photo by Christian Marquardt/Getty Images
Happy mother's day! In this image, released on the 23 March 2022, five-month-old two-toed sloth Terry shares a tender moment with mum, Marilyn at London Zoo UK. Children and adults alike across the country prepared to celebrate their own mums on Mothering Sunday. Photo by ZSL London Zoo
Dry spell Low water levels are visible at the Wahweap Boat Rental marina at Lake Powell on 27 March 2022 in Big Water, Utah, USA. As severe drought gripped parts of the western United States, water levels at Lake Powell dropped to their lowest level since the lake was created by the damming the Colorado River in 1963. Lake Powell is currently at 25 per cent of capacity, a historic low, and has also lost at least 7 per cent of its total capacity. The Colorado River Basin connects Lake Powell and Lake Mead and supplies water to 40 million people in seven western states. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Bloomin' beautiful A woman photographs cherry blossom shortly after its bloom on 27 March 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese have a long-held tradition of enjoying the blooming of cherry blossoms. The blossom is deeply symbolic and only lasts for around one week and marks the beginning of spring. It is claimed that the short-lived existence of the blossom taps into a long-held appreciation of the beauty of the fleeting nature of life, as echoed across the nations cultural heritage. Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images
Honey to the bee In this photo, taken on the 27 March 2022, giant honey bees (Apis dorsata ) gather on a tree in Tehatta, India. Many crops in southern Asia like cotton, mango, coconut, coffee, pepper, star fruit, and macadamia depend on the wild Apis dorsata pollination. These bees build open nests on tree branches or buildings, and a colony can store 4 to 6kg of honey. Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto /Getty Images
Your wish is my command Warehouse robots at a demonstration of the soon-to-be-completed micro-fulfillment centre at the K-Citymarket Ruoholahti in Helsinki, Finland, on 30 March 2022. Photographer: Roni Rekomaa/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Up through the atmosphere A Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launches from Launch Site One in West Texas north of Van Horn, USA on 31 March 2022. The NS-20 mission carried Blue Origin's New Shepard chief architect Gary Lai, Marty Allen, Sharon Hagle, Marc Hagle, Jim Kitchen, and Dr George Nield into space. Photo by Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
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PARK RIDGE, Ill., April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Board of Directors has appointed William "Bill" Bruce, MBA, CAE, to serve as AANA's Chief Executive Officer, effective June 27, 2022.
"Our board of directors is thrilled to introduce a leader of Bill's caliber into our professional community," said Dr. Dina Velocci, DNP, CRNA, APRN, president of the AANA. "Bill has the qualifications and expertise to further the AANA into a greater, more successful association, and promote excellence in nurse anesthesiology by uniting, supporting and connecting our nation's nearly 60,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and students."
Bruce has nearly 20 years of association executive experience. Since 2017, he served as CEO of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, where he led the organization through a period of prolific change. He expanded the visibility of the profession and organization by increasing its products and services, engaging in public awareness campaigns, and building relationships with new and existing stakeholders. He led a strategic reimagining of the entire organization's governance structure and related procedures to introduce greater stability, strategic focus, transparency and inclusion to its leadership, and he ensured a steady voice for the organization across broader healthcare communities.
Bruce's executive experience also includes serving as Chief Technology Officer at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and as Chief Information Officer at the American Psychiatric Association. Prior to these roles, Bruce worked in technology management in several private organizations. He earned a master's degree in business administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and is an ASAE Certified Association Executive.
"It is an honor to be joining such a vibrant and focused association on nurse anesthesiology," said Bruce. "I am looking forward to guiding AANA and its members into a strong and bright future."
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SOURCE American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
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Annual Event Attracting 100,000 Participants Will Focus On Inspiring Creativity In Education
Registration Now Open For Individuals And Teams From Across The Globe; Monthlong Competition Begins On World Creativity Day, April 21, 2022
SHELTON, Conn., April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The BIC Corporate Foundation announces its title sponsorship of the sixth edition of Ideas World Cup, the largest brainstorming event in the world where individuals and teams from cities around the globe compete to solve a social issue using the power of creative thinking. This year's theme, How Can We Inspire Creativity In Education, was selected by the BIC Corporate Foundation for its universal need, potential for global impact, and direct reflection of the Foundation's core belief that creativity in education is a cornerstone of personal progress and societal change.
Ideas World Cup is a month-long not-for-profit competition founded in 2014 by Juan Prego, a pioneer in teaching organizations and teams from all sectors to unlock the power of creative thinking and rewire their cultures to be more inventive. Each year, Ideas World Cup rewards projects that have the potential to be implemented locally, nationally, or globally with prizes to help bring their idea to life. This year, the winner will also have access to mentors from the BIC Corporate Foundation's Corporate Community of Practice, a global coalition of educators, researchers, foundations, artists, and NGOs to help maximize their idea's impact.
"Ideas World Cup is a true celebration of human creativity," said Mr. Prego. "We connect people from all over the world and tap into their inner creative power, proving that if we join heads, hearts, and hands, we can solve some of the most difficult global problems we face. Everyone can be creative, and through that creativity we can forge a brighter future."
This year's theme asks participants to ideate how creativity can evolve from an abstract concept into an applied foundational element of the learning process; an essential life skill that can be taught, cultivated, and championed across all subjects throughout the global educational system, and become a transformational tool that can be used to solve the most challenging problems society faces. "We believe that creativity is the key to unlocking a better future," said Alison James, Executive Director, BIC Corporate Foundation. "Our aim with this year's theme is to celebrate the development of the creative mind and inspire a movement around creativity in education for people of all ages and backgrounds."
Five sub-themes posing 30 additional questions have also been created to tackle ancillary issues and inspire entrants to expand their thinking, including:
- Building Creative Cultures: how might we develop a change-oriented culture of learning that embraces creativity at the heart of the learning process?
- Environmental Protection: how can we harness the power of creativity to tackle the biggest challenges outlined in the UN's 17 sustainable development goals?
- The Future of Learning: how might we revolutionize teacher training and development to drive more creativity in the classroom?
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: how can we use creativity to address systemic challenges of bias in our education system?
- Building a Network: how might we create a network of creativity catalysts in our schools and higher education institutions to amplify and promote our work?
Ideas World Cup Timeline
- April 21 – May 9: organized events begin, and participants submit their ideas
- May 10 – May 13: the Ideas World Cup jury will review and shortlist the best ideas
- May 13 – May 20: specific questions will be proposed directly by the jury to idea creators to refine and improve an idea's potential
- May 20 – May 26: the finalists will be selected, and an online voting phase will open
- May 27: the winning project will be announced, and the city with the most ideas entered will be awarded the title of "most creative city"
Registration is now open at www.ideasworldcup.com for any person or group who wishes to enter, with the competition officially starting on World Creativity Day, April 21, 2022. The winning projects will be announced during the closing ceremony on May 27, 2022. For further explanation of the event timeline and an overview of supporting webinars provided by Ideas World Cup, please visit www.ideasworldcup.com/events.
Since its inception, Ideas World Cup has attracted over 100,000 participants from 72 cities in 15 countries and generated over 34,000 ideas. In 2021, the main theme asked how society could mitigate the social and economic impact caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
About BIC
A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC ® Kids, BIC FlexTM, BodyMarkTM by BIC ®, Cello®, Djeep ®, Lucky ® Stationery, Rocketbook ®, Soleil®, Tipp-Ex®, Us.TM, Wite-Out®, Inkbox TM and more. In 2021, BIC Net Sales were 1,831.9 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris," is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit about.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.
About the BIC Foundation
We aspire to live in a world where there is equal access to quality education that inspires and empowers our youth. Where creative expression and creative skills are cherished and bring joy to everyday life. Where we directly see and feel the positive impact of innovative education programs on our youth, and consequently on their communities. Through our partnerships we're proud to have directly contributed to the development of the most inspiring and innovative pool of creative change makers known in our society.
About Actitud Creativa / Ideas World Cup
Actitud Creativa is the leading training and consulting firm in creative thinking for the Spanish Speaking world, operating in 12 countries from Hong Kong to Argentina. In its 20 years, the firm has innovated several initiatives including Ideas World Cup, the largest brainstorming competition in the world; Creativity Certification Program, with more than 30,000 students across the world; Creative-OS, an open innovation and skill building platform used by top companies; and unique creative thinking and innovation methods such as Advanced Creative Problem Solving, an evolution born out of the classical CPS Process; and the Pro.Play® Method, a creative methodology focused on play and the only official partner of Playmobil Pro around the globe.
Media Contacts:
For BIC:
Eric Kreller, Director, Corporate Communications
eric.kreller@bicworld.com
For Ideas World Cup:
Barbara Quirós, Innovation Strategy
barbara@actitudcreativa.es
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SOURCE BIC Corporation
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TORONTO, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - DeFi Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "DeFi Technologies") (NEO: DEFI) (GR: RMJR) (OTC: DEFTF), a technology company bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralized finance, announces its strong financial performance for the three and twelve-month period ending December 31, 2021 (all amounts in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated).
- As at December 31, 2021 achieved US$363 million assets under management ("AUM") in fully owned subsidiary Valour Inc. ("Valour"), which is responsible for the company's portfolio of exchange-traded products ("ETPs");
- Valour Inc., listed its Bitcoin Zero and Ethereum Zero ETPs on the Boerse Frankfurt Zertifikate AG ("Frankfurt Exchange")
- Launched world's first Uniswap ETP on the Nordic Growth Market ("NGM") and the Frankfurt Exchange
- Launched Solana Nodes to participate in network governance and staking
- Selected Bison Trails to expand secure node infrastructure to power staking and DeFi applications
- Announced Listing of Valour Bitcoin Zero and Ethereum Zero ETPs on Euronext Paris & Amsterdam
- Announced preferred partnership agreement with SEBA Bank, a leading, global private swiss crypto bank
- Co-Lead Series C Investment into SEBA Bank CHF25 Million in early 2022
"We continue to see strong demand and inflows into our Valour business as the Web 3.0 ecosystem continues to grow at a frenetic pace," stated Russell Starr, Chief Executive Officer of DeFi Technologies. "With 8 ETPs launched thus far as well as numerous others planned for 2022, the growth in AUM at Valour has been exceptional. As we look to launch additional innovative ETP's related to crypto, DeFi, gaming, and the metaverse, we expect rapid continued growth. I would also like to thank the DeFi and Valour team for their hard work and execution. Generating over $15 million in our first year of business when we effectively only started generating staking revenues in Q3 is the result of hard work and execution on everyone's part."
The Company's ETP business Valour has grown with AUM of US$363 million as of Dec 31, 2021. Since acquiring 100% Valour on April 1, 2021, total revenue was $10.6 million and net income of $4.7 million.
The Company maintains a very strong liquidity position, with cash of $9.2 million, total assets of $459.7 million and working capital of $11.5 million as of December 31, 2021.
For the three months ended December 31, 2021
- Total revenues of $5.1 million;
- Net loss of $50.0 million;
- Adjusted net loss of $2.2 million excluding share-based compensation expense of $29 million, impairment loss of $11.4 million, loss on deemed disposal of an associate of $6 million and amortization of intangibles of $1.4-million;
- Node validator revenue of $544,407, management fees on ETP of $783,527 and staking and lending income of $2.4 million.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021
- Total revenues of $15.1 million;
- Net loss of $71.5 million;
- Adjusted net loss of $2.4-million excluding share-based compensation expense of $42 million, impairment loss of $17.5 million, loss on deemed disposal of an associate of $6M and amortization of intangibles of $3.6 million
- Net digital asset / ETP revenue of $4.5 million, node validator revenue of $1.1 million, management fees on ETPs of $1.1 million and increasing of staking and lending income of $3.4 million.
Learn more about DeFi Technologies and Valour at defi.tech and valour.com.
DeFi Technologies Inc. (NEO: DEFI) (GR: RMJR) (OTC: DEFTF) is a technology company bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralized finance. Our mission is to expand investor access to industry-leading decentralized technologies which we believe lie at the heart of the future of finance. On behalf of our shareholders and investors, we identify opportunities and areas of innovation, and build and invest in new technologies and ventures in order to provide trusted, diversified exposure across the decentralized finance ecosystem. For more information or to subscribe to receive company updates and financial information, visit defi.tech.
Valour Inc. issues exchange-listed financial products that enable retail and institutional investors to access investment in disruptive innovations, such as digital assets, in a simple and secure way. Established in 2019 and based in Zug, Switzerland, Valour is a wholly owned subsidiary of DeFi Technologies Inc. For more information on Valour, visit valour.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the 2021 annual financial statements and 2021 annual management discussion and analysis of the Company; partnership with Bison Trails; partnership and investment in SEBA Bank; the growth of AUM and net sales; the development and launch of new ETPs; expansion of DeFi Technologies and Valour into other geographic areas; the growth and adoption of decentralized finance; the pursuit by DeFi Technologies and its subsidiaries of business opportunities; and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited to acceptance of Valour ETPs by Frankfurt Exchange, NGM, Euronext and other exchanges; investor demand for DeFi Technologies' and Valour's products; the growth and development of DeFi and cryptocurrency sector; rules and regulations with respect to DeFi and cryptocurrency; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
THE NEO STOCK EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
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SOURCE DeFi Technologies, Inc.
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https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/defi-technologies-announces-fiscal-2021-financial-results-with-total-revenue-up-411-year-over-year-151m/
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ANNAPOLIS, Md.- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Friday announced the nine winners of the state’s Healthcare Heroes Poster Competition, and welcomed winners and their families to the State House in Annapolis.
The competition, launched during last month’s Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Week and organized in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education, encouraged Maryland students to submit poster designs that depicted the theme “Celebrating Maryland’s Healthcare Heroes.”
The governor was joined for today’s event by First Lady Yumi Hogan and Dr. Jinlene Chan, the Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services at the Maryland Department of Health, who both served as judges of the competition, and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury.
A total of 131 schools from 18 local education districts participated in the competition. Nine winners were selected by Dr. Jinlene Chan and First Lady Yumi Hogan, including three from each of the following categories: elementary school, middle school, and high school.
Each winning student was presented with an official governor’s citation, and the winning posters will be displayed at the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Weinberg Atrium in Baltimore City throughout the month of April.
Healthcare Heroes Poster Competition Winners:
Elementary School
1st Place: Chloe Ma (Diamond Elementary School, Montgomery County, Grade 4)
2nd Place: Elina Yoon (Ilchester Elementary School, Howard County, Grade 3)
3rd Place: Abbigail Marshall (Greensboro Elementary School, Caroline County, Grade 3)
Middle School
1st Place: Samuel Shin (Lakelands Park Middle School, Montgomery County, Grade 7)
2nd Place: Tuan Nhat Minh Le (Benjamin D. Foulois Academy, Prince George's County, Grade 8)
3rd Place: Caroline Winterstein (Sudlersville Middle School, Queen Anne's County, Grade 8)
High School
1st Place: Adrianna Hwang (Marriott Ridge High School, Howard County, Grade 11)
2nd Place: Hannah Baker (Rising Sun High School, Cecil County, Grade 12)
3rd Place: Matthew Boehmer (Annapolis High School, Anne Arundel County, Grade 12)
View the winning posters here.
Free Admission to Maryland State Parks for Healthcare Heroes Throughout April. Hogan also announced, in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources, that during the month of April, Maryland hospital and healthcare workers can visit any of Maryland’s state parks free of charge. Healthcare employees will be asked to show their work ID upon arrival at the park to gain admission at no charge.
Public Health Week. During the event, the governor also presented Dr. Jinlene Chan with an official proclamation recognizing April 4-10 as Public Health Week in Maryland.
“On behalf of our entire state, I just want to thank all of you for using your talents to help us honor and show our appreciation for our healthcare heroes,” said Hogan. “I’ve talked a lot over the last two years about what it means to be Maryland Strong—each and every one of you are the definition of Maryland Strong.”
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A Russian official is claiming that Ukraine sent military helicopters into Russia early on Friday to attack an oil storage facility in the border region of Belgorod. Ukraine hasn’t confirmed or denied that it ordered the strike.
NPR’s Becky Sullivan joins us from Kyiv, Ukraine.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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SNOW HILL, Md.– The Town of Snow Hill will hold its general election in-person on Tuesday, May 3, at its previous polling place, the train station on Belt Street.
Up for election this year are the offices of mayor and Eastern District Council. On the ballot for mayor are current Eastern District Council member, Rob Hall and former council member Mike Pruitt. On the ballot for Eastern District Council are Dave Burt and Janet Simpson.
Those who wish to vote by absentee ballot can call Town Hall or email Margot Resto at mresto@snowhillmd.com to request an absentee ballot application. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot application is Friday, April 22.
For more information, call Margot Resto at Town Hall at 410-632-2080.
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Scott Weidensaul has spent decades studying bird migration. "There is a tremendous solace in watching these natural rhythms play out again and again," he says. Originally broadcast March 29, 2021.
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air
Scott Weidensaul has spent decades studying bird migration. "There is a tremendous solace in watching these natural rhythms play out again and again," he says. Originally broadcast March 29, 2021.
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air
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ATLANTA, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of each of the Invesco closed-end funds listed below today declared the following dividends.
Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year will report distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund's annual report to shareholders will include information regarding the tax character of Fund distributions for the fiscal year.
1 A portion of this distribution is estimated to be from a return of principal rather than net income. The Section 19 notice referenced below provides more information and can be found on the Invesco website at www.invesco.com.
The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions in 2022 will be made after the end of the year.
In order to comply with the requirements of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, each Fund will provide its shareholders of record on the record date with a Section 19 Notice disclosing the sources of its dividend payment when a distribution includes anything other than net investment income. The Section 19 Notice is not provided for tax reporting purposes but for informational purposes only. If applicable, this Section 19 Notice information can be found on the Funds' website at www.invesco.com
The amount of dividends paid by each fund may vary from time to time. Past amounts of dividends are no guarantee of future dividend payment amounts.
Investing involves risk and it is possible to lose money on any investment in the funds.
For additional information, shareholders of the closed end fund may call Invesco at 800-983-0903.
About Invesco Ltd.
Invesco Ltd. is a global independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. Our distinctive investment teams deliver a comprehensive range of active, passive and alternative investment capabilities. With offices in more than 20 countries, Invesco managed $1.6 trillion in assets on behalf of clients worldwide as of December 31, 2021. For more information, visit Invesco.com.
Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the US distributor for Invesco Ltd. It is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd.
Note: There is no assurance that a closed-end fund will achieve its investment objective. Shares are bought on the secondary market and may trade at a discount or premium to NAV. Regular brokerage commissions apply.
NOT A DEPOSIT l NOT FDIC INSURED l NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
—Invesco—
CONTACT: Jeaneen Terrio 212-278-9205 Jeaneen.Terrio@invesco.com
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SOURCE Invesco Ltd.
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ROSEMONT, Ill., April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- April is National Facial Protection Month, a national campaign to encourage the use of safety equipment when engaging in collision sports and recreational activities.
Founded by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), three healthcare organizations provide a platform for members to reach out to their communities to encourage being proactive in preventing sports-related injuries to the head and face with the use of safety equipment such as helmets and mouth guards.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a 10-year study found nearly 32 percent of injuries in children occurred during sports activities. The annual costs of all injuries, including orofacial injuries, sustained by young athletes have been estimated to be $500 million. The Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD) estimates these injuries also result in 20 million lost days of school.
One effective and relatively inexpensive piece of protective gear is a mouth guard, especially as children become engaged in contact sports. Athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to their teeth if they are not wearing a mouth guard. However, 67 percent of parents admit their child does not wear a mouth guard during organized sports.
To avoid the pain and cost of dental and facial injuries, remember these four tips:
- Mouth guards should be worn in all contact or collision sports.
- Helmets should always be worn when biking and playing football, softball, baseball, lacrosse, and hockey as well as during activities such as skateboarding, riding scooters or other physical activities that pose a risk of concussion. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact.
- Protective eyewear and helmets should be worn per the ASTM International, an organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus standards.
- Be alert, even as a spectator. Alert spectators can avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks.
Visit these cosponsor websites for more information and resources:
- The Academy for Sports Dentistry was established in 1983 as a forum for dentists, doctors, athletic trainers, coaches, dental technicians and educators to advance sports dentistry and improve and protect athletes' dental and oral health.
- Founded in 1947, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is the membership organization of the specialty of pediatric dentistry with approximately 10,500 members.
- Established in 1918, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons represents more than 9,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons and supports its fellows and members through education, research and advocacy.
About National Facial Protection Month
National Facial Protection Month is sponsored by the Academy for Sports Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Visit the websites for more information and materials.
View original content:
SOURCE American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
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love is respect conducted outreach and education during February
AUSTIN, Texas, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- One in three teenagers in the United States will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by someone they date or are in a relationship with before they become adults. But education about healthy relationships and information on how to recognize the warning signs can prevent dating abuse before it starts. Every February love is respect, a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline), leads Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This year love is respect encouraged young people and the adults in their lives to "Talk About It!" and shared resources for how to have important conversations around what makes a relationship healthy and how to support someone impacted by abuse. The official 2022 TDVAM Action Guide is available for download at loveisrespect.org/get-involved/tdvam/.
The 2022 "Talk About It" theme was chosen by the love is respect Youth Council and the TDVAM advisory group comprised of StrongHearts Native Helpline, One Love Foundation, Esperanza United, and Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation. The theme reflects the fact that among the most powerful tools for preventing teen dating violence are the meaningful conversations youth have with the adults in their lives. Talking about healthy relationships and navigating the warning signs of abuse can be transformative for youth. A national study of adolescent dating relationships and parenting determined that "positive parenting" contributed significantly to adolescents being less tolerant of unhealthy and abusive relationship behaviors.
"We must do more to ensure that we are supporting our youth with the right information and tools when it comes to dating abuse and what makes a relationship healthy," said Angela Lee, Director of love is respect. "We must create safe spaces for all young people to share their authentic experiences and stories without judgment. As teens and young adults learn how to navigate relationships, parents and influencers (ex. teachers, coaches, and aunts/uncles) play a pivotal role - youth want and crave our connection and support."
love is respect hosted several activities, Instagram Lives and a webinar to share information about teen dating violence, including relevant resources for youth of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community, using the hashtags "#TalkAboutIt" and "#TDVAM2022." Parents and other adults can utilize the organization's parent's discussion guide created in partnership with the Allstate Foundation to begin meaningful conversations with the young people in their life, empowering them to have relationships that are healthy, respectful, and free from abuse.
"Part of our activities focused on intersectionality: how every aspect of our identity and our current or future partners' identities affect our relationships. Pulling from my own experience as a queer woman who is in a relationship with a nonbinary person—sexuality and gender play a huge role in how we understand each other, how we communicate, and the struggles we may face," said Megan, love is respect Youth Council member. "We are all in this together and youth deserve to have healthy relationships no matter how they identify."
love is respect is the national resource to disrupt and prevent unhealthy relationships and intimate partner violence by empowering young people through inclusive and equitable education, support, and resources. A project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, love is respect offers 24/7 information, support, and advocate to young people who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships. love is respect is a safe, inclusive space for young people to access help and information in a setting specifically for them. Learn more at loveisrespect.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE The National Domestic Violence Hotline
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https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/teen-dating-violence-awareness-campaign-encouraged-youth-adults-talk-about-it/
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Fort Collins dives into details of trash pickup contract, including fees, haulers
As Fort Collins explores the prospect of a citywide contract for trash and recycling pickup in single-family neighborhoods, staff are digging into the details of what that arrangement could mean for the community.
Two of the main benefits of a trash and recycling contract, according to supporters, are the reduction of heavy-duty truck traffic in neighborhoods and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from traditionally diesel-fueled trucks.
One of the clearest shortcomings of the approach, according to opponents, is that residents who want to choose a different hauler would need to pay an opt-out fee.
But the contract approach is more complex than you might think, so there’s a lot more to sort through: For starters, what’s the magnitude of the potential benefits for greenhouse gas emissions, residential road maintenance, customer service, and cost and availability of services? Should the city consider pursuing one contract with a single hauler or splitting the city into geographic districts with a designated hauler for each one — and if it’s the latter, how would those districts be determined?
Then there are the potential impacts on hauling companies and their local staff to consider. And how much would residents need to pay to pick their own hauler?
Join the conversation:Should Fort Collins leaders limit which trash haulers serve your neighborhood?
A lot of these considerations are to be determined, and the answers will become clearer if Fort Collins City Council gives tentative go-ahead to the contract approach at an April 12 work session. Staff began this work because of a council priority directing them to do so. Conversations at this point are high-level and focused on the community’s goals, staff told the Coloradoan.
Upcoming conversations will “help clarify if contracting is the vehicle to get to the goals that council wants,” Fort Collins Waste Reduction and Recycling Program Manager Caroline Mitchell said. “There's some things you can do in contracting and there's some things you can't. We want to make sure that this is the tool to accomplish what council’s wanting so we can continue to design the process around those goals.”
The first phase of public engagement carried out in March was also goals-focused, asking residents what’s most important to them when selecting a hauler and what their concerns would be about a communitywide contract. The city is considering a contract for trash and recycling pickup only in single-family neighborhoods, meaning business owners, construction site operators and apartment complex owners would still be able to pick their own haulers without paying a fee.
Council may come to a fork in the road in terms of goals: If they decide to pursue a contract, is their main objective to send less waste to the landfill or to lower pickup costs for residents? While the two paths aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, Mitchell said the peer communities with contracts that staff have assessed so far tended to fall into one of those two camps.
Coloradoan Conversations:Trash districting discussion shines light on Fort Collins resident values
It’s too soon to say where council might land on that, though they took a pronounced focus on trash and waste reduction in their workplans for 2021-23. They mentioned the topic in at least six of their 31 priorities, including priorities to reduce plastic pollution, accelerate municipal composting and make meaningful progress on the city's 2030 zero-waste goal.
In 2020, the most recent year for which data is available, Fort Collins diverted 52% of waste from the landfill communitywide. That encompasses a 29% residential diversion rate, a 30% commercial diversion rate and a 66% industrial diversion rate. The city's "Road to Zero Waste" benchmark goal for 2020 was 75% landfill diversion.
City could boost recycling, organic waste collection
Waste reduction is a potential benefit of trash contracts because they give municipalities a simpler way to up the ante on things like recycling and organic waste pickup. Cities can simply write their expectations into their requests for proposals rather than passing and implementing new requirements for haulers — which can take years, as indicated by the rollout of Fort Collins’ citywide recycling requirements.
Fort Collins already took the policy route to require recycling pickup citywide. But yard waste and organic waste pickup continue to be opt-in services, which equates to lower participation. The city can’t meet its zero-waste goal unless people are using both services citywide.
“Right now, although (yard waste pickup) is part of policy that we have, it's not something that people are required to participate in, and the pricing on it varies widely between haulers,” senior sustainability specialist Ashley Pace said. “Having a contract helps create that leverage of how we would want to see those additional services incorporated.”
It’s a similar deal for customer service. The city could write expectations for resolution of customer complaints into the contract, for example.
More:Fort Collins got mixed results on 2020 climate goals. What does that mean for 2030 goals?
'Getting the HOA deal for everyone'
On the other hand, the city could potentially reduce costs for pickup if it sought out a more streamlined contract or contracts. Splitting the city into districts or using one hauler for all single-family neighborhoods creates economies of scale and reduces “windshield time” — industry-speak for the distance between houses, Mitchell said.
“In the open market system where the customers are spread out, each individual customer has to bear a larger percentage of those fixed costs,” she said. “If a hauler is servicing every home on a street, those fixed costs can be distributed among more homes.”
There’s more nuance to the cost analysis than that, Mitchell said. But the basic logic holds, especially if the contract offers predictability for haulers. In Lafayette, some of the community members advocating for a trash contract pointed out the lower pickup costs in some neighborhoods where homeowners associations have contracts with haulers.
“They framed it as getting the HOA deal for everyone,” Mitchell said.
Regardless of whether the city pursues a contract, staff are assuming the city will continue with its current “pay as you throw” structure, where pricing for trash service is volume-based and bundled with recycling pickup. The city’s had the volume-based system in place since the mid-'90s with positive reception from residents, Mitchell said.
Previous trash contract efforts in 1998, 2008
This is the third time the city has considered a trash contract in recent memory. Previous efforts fizzled in 1998 and 2008. The latter effort involved a study and pilot district that prompted strong, negative feedback from the community, Mitchell said.
But one big thing has changed since the last time Fort Collins considered a trash contract. The array of local haulers servicing single-family neighborhoods has consolidated to three companies, all of which are now nationally owned. Republic Services bought Gallegos Sanitation in 2021. The national company Waste Connections now owns Timberline Waste and Ram Waste. And WM (formerly known as Waste Management) is also a national company. However, one local hauler, Mountain High Disposal, is preparing to begin operations in May.
More:Fort Collins, Larimer County reach multimillion-dollar landfill cleanup deal
The primarily national ownership matters because it mitigates the potential impact of a city contract on haulers that aren’t solely dependent on the Fort Collins area for business. All haulers would also retain full access to multifamily, commercial and construction/demolition pickup regardless of what happens with a potential contract. Recent employee turnover in the hauling industry could reduce the risk of layoffs in the event that one or more haulers lose some residential business as the result of a contract, Mitchell said.
Haulers haven’t expressed any opposition to the possibility of a contract, Mitchell said. She’s been working with them on the contract issue for a few months and said each company is familiar with the contract approach.
“All of them have expressed willingness to participate in whatever system Fort Collins decides to move forward with,” she said. “… Having one contract with the entire community is great if you're the hauler that wins that contract and not so great if you're the hauler that doesn't, and I think they all recognize that it's an opportunity and a risk to have the one contract for the entire community.”
Representatives of WM and Republic Services didn’t express opposition to a contract in statements provided to the Coloradoan.
“Republic Services is committed to sustainability in action, and our 250+ local employees rise up to provide great service day after day,” Republic Services General Manager Tom Maxwell said in a statement. “Whether there is (a) contracted city-wide hauler or it remains open market, taking care of NoCo and our environment is critical. We will continue to partner with our customers and area communities on waste diversion and enhanced recycling practices.”
WM spokesperson Anne Spitza said in a statement that the city has “an engaging public process allowing people to participate in the conversation and solution.”
“WM of Colorado is proud to serve the Fort Collins community and respects the city's approach,” she said.
If council directs them to do so at the April 12 work session focused on the goals of contracting, staff are planning more detail-oriented community engagement about the details of a contract between late April and mid-June. Council may nail down more details at a June 28 work session.
In the meantime, staff will also be doing more research about the road maintenance and vehicle emissions aspects of contracting. The city conducted research on those two topics when leaders were last considering a contract, but they need to update the findings. Staff are also adding more peer cities to their research pool, which currently includes nine other Colorado communities that have adopted trash contracts.
Yet another consideration is the opt-out fee, which ranged widely among communities with contracts, Pace said. In some communities, the fee was nominal compared with the monthly cost of pickup. In others, it was almost as much as the cost of service. The cost of the opt-out fee is another area where staff will gain clarity once they know if city leaders want to move forward and what their goals would be with a contract, Mitchell said.
“For all of the different elements of the contract, city staff is not coming into the project with a predetermined conclusion about any of those elements,” she said. “There are pros and cons no matter which direction you go on every detail of the contract.”
Jacy Marmaduke covers government accountability for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter @jacymarmaduke. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
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LANSING, Mich. — Michigan government is one step closer to getting the money needed to staff a whole new office.
Once that office is up and running, it will be tasked with getting reliable broadband internet to areas that have long dealt with spotty coverage. It’s all in a supplemental budget Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed earlier this week.
“There's lots of pockets that don't have great internet," said Joanne Galloway, who serves as the executive director of Center for Change: a Northern Michigan Advocacy Group. "It isn't just a U.P. problem. It's not just a northern Michigan problem. It's just outside of Battle Creek.”
Center for Change has been working on this issue for the last couple of years. Michigan already has an office that’s designed to help the more than 200,000 Michiganders without reliable internet, called the Michigan High Speed Internet Office, created by Governor Whitmer last spring. But in the months since it was created, money hasn’t been allocated in the legislature to actually get it up and running. That is, until this week.
“Which meant it was just a shell of an office," Galloway said.
A map provided by the Governor's office shows that even the Lansing area is sort of spotty, especially just outside of Charlotte. But it's even worse up North. There's even less access.
Lack of reliable internet access has been a problem for rural areas since even before the pandemic and it has highlighted just how much schools and students rely on access to the internet.
“We are not reaching about one-third of the school population," said Gary Wellnitz with the American Federation of Teachers. "And that's pretty much across the board in any one of the various communities that I serve, which is most of them across Northern Michigan.”
In total, the infrastructure bill includes $250 million to pay for a full-time staff at the new office and fund grants for constructing and managing the improved broadband network.
"It's time that Michiganders took control over the development of the broadband infrastructure here in Michigan," Galloway said. "So that we have people dedicated to creating a plan and a plan that's going to make sure that everyone in the state gets high-speed internet.”
The supplemental budget also includes money to improve roads, housing, parks and water.
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'Lifeless' bodies dumped out side Katsina town as terror sweep the Niger north, thousands are traveled and running for the security. More attacks were registered against security forces over Christmas e\nby BOLD WIBA PUBLIC LECTIONAL DEMOCRATHES NOW-AFRO SLAMOCACY\nInnocent and old were reported by Islamo terror swepping and taking peopkles into fear-state after attacks NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize on Friday, marking the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the retail giant's history.
Votes were still being tabulated, but union supporters secured a wide enough margin to give the fledgling Amazon Labor Union enough support to pull off a victory.
The votes that were either voided or contested by either Amazon or the ALU did not appear to be enough to sway the outcome.
More than 8,300 eligible workers cast their ballots.
According to the Associated Press, 2,654 votes were cast in favor a union, and 2,131 votes were cast against it. There were 67 ballots challenged, but they wouldn't have changed the outcome.
Amazon workers in Alabama voted to unionize, but it appears they rejected the bid in a vote of 993 to 875. However, a hearing to review 416 challenged ballots could change that outcome, the news outlet reported.
Amazon workers aren't the first to vote to unionize.
Starbucks workers at more than 140 locations nationally have requested union elections, with some being successful.
In December, Buffalo Starbucks employees became the first in the company to unionize successfully.
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The Centers for Disease Control is ending its Title 42 authority on May 23.
The order required the expulsion of unauthorized single adults and family units arriving in the U.S. to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
The order had been in place since March 2020.
"After considering current public health conditions and an increased availability of tools to fight COVID-19 (such as highly effective vaccines and therapeutics), the CDC Director has determined that an Order suspending the right to introduce migrants into the United States is no longer necessary," the CDC said in a statement.
The CDC says it will continue to work with the Department of Homeland Security to implement additional COVID-19 mitigation procedures.
"Title 42 remains in place until May 23 and, until then, DHS will continue to expel single adults and families encountered at the Southwest border," DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Friday.
According to The Associated Press, migrants have been expelled more than 1.7 million times since the health order was invoked.
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For years, Herschel Walker has told the same inspiring story: that he graduated in the top 1% of his class at the University of Georgia. He's told the story, according to a review of his speeches by CNN's KFile, during motivational speeches over the years and as recently as 2017. The only problem: it's not true.
Walker, who is a candidate in the Republican primary race for US Senate in Georgia, acknowledged in December that he did not graduate from Georgia after the Atlanta-Journal Constitution first reported that the false claim was listed on his campaign website.
But a CNN KFile review found that Walker himself has been repeating the claim for years. Walker's comments in 2017, and others made over the years, show the former football star repeatedly misrepresented his academic credentials.
"And all of sudden I started going to the library, getting books, standing in front of a mirror reading to myself," Walker said in a 2017 motivational speech. "So that Herschel that all the kids said was retarded become valedictorian of his class. Graduated University of Georgia in the top 1% of his class."
Walker also made the claim in another interview in 2017.
"I also was in the top 1% of my graduating class of college," Walker told Sirius XM radio.
Walker did not graduate from Georgia, where he was a star running back after entering as a prized high school recruit. A profile of Walker from 1982 in the Christian-Science Monitor and an article in The New York Times said he maintained a B average at the school. Walker himself told The Chicago Tribune in 1985 he maintained a 3.0 before his grades dropped. He left to play professional football before graduating and, though having repeatedly said he was returning to obtain his degree, he never received a diploma.
The Walker campaign did not provide proof of Walker's claims when asked by CNN, but they defended his record as a professional athlete.
Walker is endorsed by former President Donald Trump and is expected to be the Republican nominee to run against Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in November.
The claim was removed from his website between December and January, according to screenshots from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.
That was not the only claim about Walker's education that was adjusted on his website at the time. After a review of the revised site, CNN's KFile found another little-noticed claim was removed that said Walker graduated valedictorian of his high school. The website now says that Walker graduated "top of his class." The claim still remains on the Heisman Winners page for Walker.
While Walker was a top student at his high school and the president of the Beta Club -- he maintained an "A" average to be in the school's Beta Club -- CNN's Kfile found no evidence he was the class valedictorian.
Walker has mentioned in numerous speeches over the years, including in the 2017 speech where he claimed to have graduated in the top 1% of his college class, and in his 2008 autobiography that he was class valedictorian at Johnson County High School. The street where Johnson County High School resides was officially renamed "Herschel Walker Drive" in 2017 in honor of Walker's football achievements.
"If I'm proud of anything I did in my high school career, it's what I did in the classroom that I reflect on and relish the most. I did more than just shed the "stupid" label placed on me as a result of my speech impediment. I shed it, erased it, and rewrote it with the titles: Beta Club president and class valedictorian," wrote Walker in his 2008 "Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder."
CNN's KFile reviewed Walker's high school yearbooks and coverage of him in local newspapers at the time.
According to the local newspaper The Wrightsville Headlight, at Walker's 1980 graduation he was not given the award for the student with the highest GPA in any academic subject. He did tie with another student for a leadership award based on participation in clubs and his GPA, and won numerous awards that year for his football achievements. While Walker was one of the ceremony's honor graduates, the article does not mention the school naming a valedictorian or a salutatorian.
A 15-year review of local press coverage did not find the school naming a valedictorian until 1994 -- when the paper acknowledged the school was naming a valedictorian and salutatorian for the first time in "many years."
Walker's campaign did not provide evidence that Walker graduated as his high school's valedictorian other than pointing to news articles from the early 1980s after he began his career at the University of Georgia making the claim.
"There is not a single voter in Georgia who believes that whether Herschel graduated at the 'top of his class' or as Valedictorian 40 years ago has any bearing on his ability to be a great United States Senator," Mallory Blount, communications director for the campaign, said in a statement.
The campaign also did not provide an explanation for why it removed the claim that Walker was valedictorian from his website. When repeatedly asked if the campaign stood by the since-removed claim from his website, the Walker's campaign manager Scott Paradise sent the same statement three times in a row which did not address KFile's questions.
"Multiple reporters wrote about this 40 years ago. If you have a problem with what they wrote, please contact them. If you have a difficult time getting in touch with them, ask yourself why you are asking such a stupid question," said Paradise to CNN.
Johnson County Schools declined to comment and directed questions to Walker's campaign when asked if they named a valedictorian that year or if Walker was the top student.
An evolving claim
It's unclear when Walker began claiming he graduated from Georgia, and press accounts began listing him as returning to get his degree as early as 1983 after he left to join the United States Football League, a rival to the National Football League in the 1980s. Walker joined the New Jersey Generals, which was owned by then-businessman Trump. Over the years, Walker repeatedly told interviewers he had gone back to Georgia during the off-season to take classes. A 1986 article from The Dallas Morning News on his football career states Walker completed his degree in criminal justice and features a quote from Walker talking about his degree.
"Getting a degree is one of the paths you can take on the way to becoming an FBI man," Walker said. "Of course, my life is not going in that direction right now, but I think police work, especially the FBI, would be my choice if I wasn't a pro football player."
Speaking on a YouTube show in 2008, following the release of his book, Walker told the interviewer he went back to get his college degree from University of Georgia
"You know it was said whether I leave or stay in school. It came up that I leave -- and what was weird about that is people said, 'Why would you leave college so early?' And that's like guys, 'I went back to get my degree which is what you're supposed to do.'"
Press reports from the time of the book's publication listed Walker's website for his book and subsequent speaking on mental health as HerschelWalker.net -- which also said Walker returned to college and completed his degree.
The claim is brought up in interviews with Walker, on at least two separate occasions -- with the host saying he returned to get his degree. In neither instance did Walker correct interviewers.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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