Palo Alto, CA, June 7, 2023 - RevSure, the AI-fueled Pipeline Acceleration company that provides unprecedented insight into pipeline health and how to prioritize marketing and sales investments, today announced it has expanded its seed funding to $10M with an additional $6M round. Neotribe Ventures and Innovation Endeavors co-led the seed round, with participation from Operator Collective and Correlation Ventures. Neotribe Partner Alex Salazar, who is the former founder and CEO of Stormpath (acquired by Okta), will join RevSure’s board of directors.
Today’s marketing leaders are under a tremendous amount of pressure during a stressful time of economic uncertainty. Scrutiny on predictable revenue growth and pipeline health has intensified and marketing teams are increasingly measured on their pipeline influence. Marketing teams are being asked to do more with less, but recent research found that 66% of marketing leaders don’t know where funnel leakage and conversion bottlenecks are happening in their pipelines, and 71% say they lack confidence in their ability to convert leads into sales.
RevSure has helped customers like BigID, Zeotap, and SnapLogic simply and accurately predict, generate, and accelerate their pipelines. Real-time, AI-powered insights identify bottlenecks and offer recommendations on where to prioritize efforts to maximize ROI, providing leaders with pipeline clarity unlike what they’ve ever had before.
"RevSure uncovers what’s happening in the marketing and sales funnel so companies know exactly what’s working, how much leakage is occurring, and where to focus resources to win more deals,” said Alex Salazar, Partner at Neotribe Ventures. "We're thrilled to be leading the expansion of RevSure's seed round as their ability to accurately predict pipeline value from all the leads marketing generates is creating an opportunity for them to become the de facto system of engagement for demand gen teams."
The additional funding will allow RevSure to continue its mission of advancing the effectiveness of pipeline generation for B2B companies. Its key priorities are to deepen investments in product, engineering, and AI technology and resources, further scale customer acquisition, and double down on the company’s go-to-market strategy.
“Since its launch less than a year ago, we have been continuously impressed with RevSure’s team and its strong execution,” said Harpinder “Harpi” Singh, Partner at Innovation Endeavors. “RevSure’s strong engagement metrics indicate that it is becoming a must-have tool for CMOs and their marketing teams for predictive pipeline visibility.”
“The question that is top of mind for every marketing leader right now is: ‘Am I meeting my pipeline generation goals, and if not, what should I do about it?’ What sets RevSure apart is the unique combination of data normalization and predictive AI that allows CMOs and their teams to answer those questions faster than ever using a simple, action-oriented user interface,” said Haley Daiber Brannan, Investing Partner at Operator Collective. “It’s working, and the growing customer love RevSure has earned in such a short time speaks for itself.”
“Pipeline health needs to be on every go-to-market leader’s, CEO’s, and Board’s agenda - it’s the missing link in driving predictable & profitable revenue growth which is critical in the current economic climate,” said Deepinder Singh Dhingra, founder and CEO of RevSure. “Adding AI-based predictive insights into pipeline effectiveness and health will allow companies to focus on predictability for outcomes, acceleration to revenue and effectiveness or quality and efficiency.”
RevSure.AI is the AI-fueled pipeline acceleration company that provides companies with unprecedented insight into pipeline generation health and how to prioritize marketing investments. The US-India cross-border venture-backed company, with its predictive pipeline intelligence solution, is committed to reducing the uncertainty around revenue funnel conversations for B2B companies and helping them boost qualified opportunities in their pipeline. Unlike existing revenue intelligence solutions where pipeline generation is an afterthought, RevSure.AI provides a trusted, first-of-its-kind solution that gives B2B companies predictive insights into their pipeline generation activities and what it takes to hit their numbers. Founded in 2021, RevSure.AI’s investors include Neotribe Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Operator Collective, and several angel investors. For more information about RevSure visit www.revsure.ai.
About Neotribe Ventures
Neotribe Ventures focuses on strategic investments in early to growth-stage companies developing breakthrough technologies that stretch the imagination. Founded in 2017, the firm manages nearly $450 million in assets across three funds and has invested in a diverse set of companies including enterprise software, security and infrastructure networking, robotics and AI, cleantech, computational biology, and more. Just as tribes represent small, protective, and caring groups, Neotribe believes that startups with innovative and aspirational teams thrive if provided the security and backing to be unafraid in the pursuit of new ideas, excellence, and success.
To learn more about how Neotribe is partnering with entrepreneurs in the U.S., Europe, Israel, India, and Australia in their quest to solve complex and deeply impactful problems to create lasting change, visit www.neotribe.vc.
About Innovation Endeavors
Innovation Endeavors is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in mission-driven founders, transformational technologies, and emergent ecosystems. The firm’s central investment thesis, the Super Evolution, combines data, leading-edge computation, and advanced engineering to transform a range of industries including engineering health, climate, computing infrastructure, intelligent software, the physical economy, and more. Its investments include AlphaSense, Astra, Color, Blue River Technology, Eikon Therapeutics, Fabric, Homelight, Kong, Formlabs, Freenome, Planet, Rebellion, Replica, SoFi, Uber, Upstart, Vicarious Surgical, and more. For more information, visit www.InnovationEndeavors.com.
About Communications for RevSure


Flying a Huge hot air baloon at Madatech, opened Earth Day events in Haifa
Earth Day events took place on Thursday, 22.04.10 in many cities around the world. The central event at Madatech was flying a 30 meters high hot air balloon by Israel's minister of science, Prof. Daniel Hershkovits, and Haifa's Mayor, Mr. Yona Yahav.
About 210 5th to 6th grade students from schools around Haifa participated in "The Energetic Needle" competitions, that involved energy cycling, green electricity, finding a slogan for the environment and recycling paper. Simultaneously, Madatech hosted green crafts and demonstrations for junior high students, among them environmental sculpturing using recycled materials.
Haifa's environmental contract, which was signed by citizens, students, Ministry of Environmental Defense representatives and schools' representatives, serves also as Israel's national environmental agreement. Haifa's Youth Council chairman handed it to Israel's Industrialists Association representative. The contract was also printed on magnets and was handed to about 15000 students in schools across Haifa.
At 12:00 pm AMAN volunteers, in cooperation with Madatech's Moobile Labs held a relay race to pass the contract between schools in Haifa. Following the race, it was submitted, signed, to the Haifa Bay Municipal Association for Environmental Protection.
Further, the winners of the nature photography contest were announced by the head of education department in Haifa Municipality, Ms. Rachel Metuki.
The winning photo will represent Israel in a special international photography exhibition at the Chabot Museum in Auckland, California and will be on display until October 2010.
At 08:00 pm, Earth's Hour was announced, implementing a gradual process of shutting out all the lights in Israel and around the world. This action attempted to convey a global message, that everyone can take part in this small but meaningful action and turn off the lights for an hour, thus contributing to a significant decrease of the damage done to earth.
The events were honored by the presence of Israel's minister of science, and are held in cooperation with Haifa Municipality and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.


On 15-17 June 2016, the city of Malaga hosted the SMART-CT 2016 International Conference on Smart Cities, organized by the University of Malaga in collaboration with the Andalusian Agency of Knowledge, the Andalusian Network OTRI and the regional cluster of Smart Cities.
The scope of the conference was to address the holistic nature of all problems and solutions existing in smart cities, beyond the up-to-now, way too focused interpretation and interaction. For that purpose, the attendance of people was multifarious, extending from research academia to private companies and from public organizations to individual participants, assisting in the creation of a dialogue around the products and services that will shape the future of digital cities. The structure of the conference was formulated in a way to cover:
- Multiple plenary sessions and presentations around the main topics that constitute the pillars of a smart city (Smart mobility and urban transport, Energy and Water management, IoT, Big data and open data in smart cities, Artificial intelligence, advanced algorithms and machine learning, Smart buildings and homes, energy efficiency and livability etc.)
- An industry workshop where companies presented the latest products and trends.
- Ideathon, an event focused on creating breakthrough ideas for smart cities using a different way of thinking a “hand-thinking” with LEGO SERIOUS PLAY methodology.
- A technology transfer meeting between companies.
OTS actively participated in all sections and had a key role in the industry workshop, where YDATA – its intelligent management system for water resources was initially presented and then OpenPark – its Smart Parking Management System for urban mobility was also analyzed, illustrating combining models that could lead to minimization of problems such as traffic congestion, car pollution and parking space search in urban dense environments.


The concept of the “metaverse” is evolving into a digital realm where users will be able to interact with each other via Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies. There are already hundreds of decentralized metaverse projects, allowing users to exchange crypto assets and play games. Some metaverse projects take one step further and employ powerful game engines to increase the level of immersion.
But what is next for the metaverse?
A brief history of the metaverse
Some sources suggest the beginning of metaverse dates back centuries ago. According to Forbes, “It all started back in 1838 when scientist Sir Charles Wheatstone outlined the concept of ‘binocular vision,’ where you combine two images — one for each eye — to make a single 3D image.”
There are different schools of thought to determine the origin point of the metaverse. For the sake of simplicity, we will consider a much closer time, 1992 to be precise. This is the year the term “metaverse” has been used. In author Neil Stevenson’s novel- Snow Crash, the metaverse was a virtual place where characters could go to escape a dreary totalitarian reality. Pop culture liked the idea so much that Stevenson’s novel was followed by numerous films and books, the most popular one being no other than The Matrix.
In the following years, game studios and tech firms started developing “alternative realities” where people interacted with each other in completely digital environments. But such developments can be described as metaverse-like experiences at most.
The acceleration in digitalization due to the pandemic, developments in VR and AR technologies, and most importantly, mass adoption of blockchain technology gave a huge boost to the idea of metaverse to mature. The metaverse as we know it is a relatively new concept, most consider still has a long way ahead to fulfill its potential.
There are already highly developed blockchain metaverse projects with huge communities, such as Roblox, Decentraland, and The Sandbox. Not only individual users but also big companies invest in these projects. For instance, Metaverse Group, a Tokens.com affiliated company has bought a plot of digital land located in Decentraland for $2.4m worth of cryptocurrency.
NFTs and the future of the metaverse
In its current state, cryptocurrencies are the lifeblood of the metaverse economy. Users make all purchases via crypto with faster transactions and lower fees. NFTs on the other hand, are the assets users can own and invest in within the metaverse. They can be in the form of virtual land, game items, artworks, or even event tickets.
A relatively young venue, the metaverse is expected to ignite a breakthrough change in human interactions.
The metaverse could potentially use Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality to immerse users in an alternate world. The technology is still being developed, but companies like Meta are known for building and improving these technologies.
The future metaverse would be very similar to our real world in many aspects and even replace some real-world activities like working or hanging out. We are looking at an exciting future full of possibilities. An increasing number of NFT enthusiasts are also sensing opportunities to invest in NFTs in the metaverse. Some are worried because they think it might be too late to invest in the metaverse. Well, it is quite the opposite!
Discover the metaverse with TribeOne’s financing solutions
While metaverses are full of opportunities to profit, taking the first step can be costly for users. Given the increasing demand in the metaverse, NFT prices are skyrocketing.
To make financing solutions for NFT purchases within the metaverse more accessible, TribeOne is building an ecosystem where users will have access to products and services to invest in NFTs and make the most out of this thriving new space.
We already have an impressive list of metaverse partners, allowing users to purchase NFT land and items from them using our financing solutions. Users can easily opt for loans for NFTs in our partner metaverses and get loans at custom terms.
We are still exploring all types of utilities NFT space has to offer. As we establish a solid place in the NFT world and further develop our dApp, we gain priceless experience and know-how in this underexplored venue, which will eventually lead to more innovative products and solutions.
TribeOne is the world’s first-ever NFT lending platform that offers a seamless experience; to the users through its innovative consumer-centric products. The platform will break barriers in the traditional financial ecosystem and revolutionize the DeFi sphere as a whole. Providing the community with a platform to lend, borrow and invest in NFTs. Therefore, offering an unconventional experience for all.


Seeing a team go from worst-to-first has become the norm in the NFL, and 2020 is not likely to see that trend change, as I am predicting there to be five NFL teams that could surprise in the 2020 NFL season.
Let’s take a look:
5. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons started off 1-7 in 2019 and things looked grim. However, they rebounded to close out the season by winning six of their final eight games to get to a 7-9 record for the second consecutive season. The turnaround was enough to save some jobs and give the current regime one more chance in 2020. They’ve since added running back Todd Gurley via free agency and selected Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell in the 2020 NFL Draft, essentially improving on both sides of the ball. With quarterback Matt Ryan still under center and some young building blocks spread out across the roster expect the Atlanta Falcons to be one of the five NFL teams that can surprise fans in 2020.
4. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were a mess entering Week 13 of last season but then came rookie quarterback Drew Lock. While Lock didn’t exactly light the NFL world on fire he did show potential. With Pat Shurmur, the quarterback whisperer, now taking over as offensive coordinator, it can mean only good things for Lock and his offensive teammates. Moreover, the Broncos padded their roster with the addition of running back Melvin Gordon, as well as the selection of wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in the 2020 NFL Draft. They’ll need their defense to continue playing well. But so long as that happens, expect to see a vastly improved Broncos team in 2020.
3. Washington Football Team
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins looks like a man on a mission this offseason; wide receiver Terry McLaurin will soon be a household name; running back Adrian Peterson is apparently ageless, and cornerback Fabian Moreau should lead a defense that is trending upwards. Oh yeah, there’s also a brand new coaching staff led by Ron Rivera, who has a history of winning. While The Washington Football Team may not excel to the point of competing for the division or even a playoff spot, don’t be surprised if they are mid-pack and well ahead of where many football analysts project them to be.
2. New York Giants
Are the Giants finally nearing the conclusion of their seemingly endless rebuild? The Giants have retooled and repaired their much-maligned offensive line. They finally added a playmaking linebacker, also added some much-needed veteran experience and youthful speed to their secondary. So long as players like Golden Tate, Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, and Jabrill Peppers can stay on the field, the Giants have a good chance to compete for an NFC East title in the upcoming 2020 NFL season.
1. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins were supposed to be a joke in 2019. Despite their 5-11 record, they played well above expectations. They will potentially usher in a new quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. And have substantially upgraded their personnel on both sides of the ball. Add in the uncertainty surrounding the Tom Brady-less New England Patriots, and the AFC East could very well be open for the taking. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Dolphins will swoop in and steal the show. But they are clearly headed in the right direction for the 2020 NFL season and could make some waves before the division is settled.


Something interesting happened in my country, Peru, during these last days. This is a testimony of a fight for democracy, but also a lesson about the impact of new generations being politically active and all the big changes this activism could trigger.
A bit of Context
Peru, as many other countries in the world, has an interesting relationship with democracy. Our democracy has been interrupted many times by dictatorships during our 200 years of being a republic. Our last dictatorship happened between 1990 and 2000 with Alberto Fujimori. He took control over a country devastated by a deep economical crisis and the thread of terrorism in the shape of Sendero Luminoso and MRTA. These terrorist organizations were defeated during mid 90s, but they also gave Fujimori the excuse to take control over the 3 powers of the state. During his rule a new constitution was written in order to prepare the country for free-market, but also to ensure that Fujimori, with the control of the congress and the presidency, could control key institutions.
Fujimori's dictatorship reached its end during the year 2000. It was a mix of two key events: The enormous pressure generated by the people which was canalized into our biggest protest until that point of our history, and the publication of tapes showing corruption transactions that his closest assessor (and the brain behind the dictatorship) Vladimiro Montesinos used to blackmail many people that was useful for the dictatorship to keep its power. Corruption captured in 4k.
After a peaceful transition we recovered our democracy, but the constitution didn't change and during the following 20 years our democracy has been always fragile, with a system that didn't allow us to have representative parties and the balance of power was always at risk. There were many hidden interests working in the backstage, some of them from illegal activities, other ones from the most conservative parts of our society, and other ones from specific private sectors like Education, that started acquiring more political power over the years.
The last elected government was from 2016, and they had a critical problem: They didn't have majority in congress. The congress was now in power of the loser party, led by Keiko Fujimori (daughter of Alberto Fujimori) who besides her personal goal to release his father, who has been in jailed since 2007, also pretended to rule from the congress by using the 90’s constitution as a weapon. She moved the strings to remove the elected president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in an attempt to have a more "manageable" president, but she found Martin Vizcarra instead. Vizcarra didn't have a party, he was invited as vice-president because of a positive period as governor of the Moquegua region, a gesture PPK needed in order to obtain more votes from the south of the country. This particularity was good for the eyes of the people because it meant that he didn't owe a favor to any hidden interest (assumable), which gave him enough public approval to close the congress. Yes, another weapon of the 90’s constitution that the president can use to close the congress following certain conditions. They didn't want to approve important reforms. He called for new parliamentarian elections in 2019, but this new congress continued having the same main issue: Not public representation, and this time, more than ever, the hidden interests were more represented and they did what everybody was afraid of: take the presidential power, and with that, the control of the country. The threat of a new dictatorship was very real now.
A long week of protests
All the series of events I'm gonna narrate happened in the lapse of one week. A week that will probably change our political landscape for the following decades and has named a whole generation.
The week started by a request of the congress for the president to give his testimony about corruption allegations that were published in the media for some weeks prior to that Monday (the media is also influenced by economical interests by the way). It's important to highlight the fact that 68 out of the 120 congressmen have some type of ongoing legal process. Keep in mind that being a congress man/woman in Peru means to have legal immunity, many people use it as a way to escape from justice. Literally, a congress full of criminals. As everybody feared, the congress voted to remove Vizcarra from the presidency with 105 votes (out of 128) using an article of the constitution which dictates that the congress can remove the president if this one shows "moral incapacity", a very loose term open to interpretation. Even though when they try to use traditional media to justify this political move, for the Peruvian people the real reasons behind were more than clear. Congress took power of the executive branch and a new president, Manuel Merino was selected, and he had one agenda:
- Cancel our next elections to happen in April, 2021, so they can extend their power (although he denied try to go for it)
- Stop the Educational reform started years ago that means strict rules for private education. Some parties in congress were funded by money from private universities with very low quality standards.
- Release from jail some people like Antauro Humala, a former military who tried a coup by killing police men (Hugo Chavez style).
- Put in charge ministers from far-right movements of our political spectrum. The selected prime minister was an openly racist and misogynist character.
Peru's population has never been politically active. Centuries of white elites used government power to discriminate and repress poor people (who were majority in the past) creating a submissive type of voter. The 90’s constitution also made the vote mandatory, that created a system where poor people was always treated as the mass of people to convince by telling lies and giving petty gifts. Populism at its finest. So, based on those assumptions, the path for the people behind the congress coup was clear: Continue with populism in order to keep their power as Fujimori did years ago, which it meant a step backward to the few things previous governments did well: a strong (sort of) economy.
However, Peru has changed during the last 20 years. The generation of people that was born between the 90’s and 2000’s grew with a different mindset. They were raised in the context of a Peru with democracy, and a growing economy. They also are a generation of internet users, more open to the world, and being able to escape from the traditional media to get informed. Even though Peru is a young nation demographically speaking, this generation for many years was never considered "powerful" because it has always been apolitical, but they didn't anticipate that it could change. The same day Vizcarra was removed, social media started to speak loud about the issue and even when traditional media seemed to assimilate the new reality (they caused it in some way), people started to spread the word about using the right to protest. And we went out. Here the timeline of the protests:
Day 1 (Tuesday) After Vizcarra was removed, it seemed to be another minor student protest happening near to congress as many we had in the past . But things were moving fast in the internet and more young people started using it to share the indignation, but also to start coordinating efforts. A hashtag wasn't enough.
Day 2 (Wednesday). People started organizing themselves inspired by the movement we all saw in Chile a year ago. More people get involved and more protests in different points of the capital and country were scheduled. During the night protests from home (cacerolazos) started to be more loud.
Day 3 (Thursday). The first big protest happened. Many young people applauded by elders from their windows (who couldn't go outside because of COVID), started filling up the streets in bigger numbers, but also the government started using police as a weapon to discourage people to continue going out. It worked many times in the past, but the new ministers miscalculated their moves because this gave people more reason to be more organized, and angry.
Day 4 (Friday). There were more people in the streets and now the protests happened everywhere, beyond the streets. Conservative movements have been very political active in the internet, and their tactics are well known, every time there are people protesting they try to criminalize them by calling them "reds", they use the ghost of terrorism as a way to delegitimize disconformity. But more young communities were involved now, and social tribes like k-poppers (fans of K-pop music) were the first line to stop those attempts of misinformation in the internet. Also, more people started to get organized for the next day. With the lessons learned now, young people were more prepared assuming that the new government will use policy brutality in order to stop the protests.
Day 5 (Saturday). The biggest protest in our history happened. In every city, in every district of the capital people was in the street protesting. Soccer team fandoms working together, and people more used to conflicts with police were part of the first lines. Brave young people (including many women) were part of the groups to deactivate teargas bombs that police used indiscriminately. Other groups were in charge of providing medical aid to injured people, and the rest, the vast majority, people holding their signs, from all ages. For most of them, this was their first protest and their first action of political activism. New generations were not longer apolitical and they took control over a movement that was difficult to ignore and stop at this point.
But as it was feared, police tried to stop it, and as result of their brutality two young students were killed, many other were injured and even kidnaped by covered police. It was a high cost (that could have been higher without the quick organization), but that same night, the deaths trigger enough indignation among all the population to generate public pressure. For every dead student announced in the news, people were massively protesting from their homes at midnight. Media didn't have other option to start showing the brutality and the government fell apart within few hours with the resignation of the ministers, one by one. They didn't have enough time to solidify their power and now the new president was alone.
Day 6 (Sunday). The streets were full with more people the whole day, the police didn't show the same brutality this time although many young people were lost yet. In that scenario, the same congress started asking for Merino's resignation. He resigned at mid day. He didn't have other option since he was alone at that point. By afternoon, the congress surrounded by people protesting outside the building was forced to build a new government, and they knew that people wouldn't accept anyone that was part of that coup. People had the power now.
Day 7 (Monday). After one week of the removal of Vizcarra, a new president was selected by congress. Francisco Sagasti, who has enough credentials to guarantee elections next year and most importantly, voted against the removal of Vizcarra, was announced in the afternoon. The end of a crazy week in which young people led a movement to stop a most likely dictatorship in record time.
An opportunity for a new dawn
In July of 2021 the country celebrates 200 years since we declared our independency from Spain and the republic was founded. That's our "bicentenary" and for that reason, those young people who led the protests are called the Bicentennial Generation now, a title that recognizes the efforts of this generation to lead important changes, to keep and improve our fragile democracy, and move forward our society so we can be ready to face challenges like equality, diversity and global warming. Issues that new generations seem to understand better than the politicians who are in charge, for now.
This also has been a lesson for the young people who for a long time have been ignorant of politics, but now they were able to understand their role as citizens since their context was threaten. We were raised in freedom, freedom to speak, to learn and pursue opportunities (even though there is still big challenges to make these opportunities available for everybody). Only when all that was put at risk they understood the importance of generating changes through activism. We always heard from older people how useless is to go outside and protest. They were wrong, very wrong.
This fight has not finished. It's just a first step of many we have ahead. But I'm personally so happy to witness that unity in my country. When I was in the streets I saw people from different origins, different colors of skin going together and chanting the same things about rejecting corruption, and fight for a better country. It moved me when I saw elders looking us with hope in their eyes. Previous generations also had their battles, and I guess they are now full hope by seeing how the future of the country is in good hands. The lives of Inti Sotelo (24) and Bryan Pintado (22), the two brave young students who were killed during the protests, must stay in our minds as a reminder for our future fights.


SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 29, 2023--
NuStar Energy L.P. (NYSE: NS) announced today that it has been recognized on Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2023.” NuStar was one of only four San Antonio companies to make the list along with USAA, H-E-B and iHeartMedia.
This prestigious honor is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry-ranking provider. The awards list can currently be viewed on Newsweek’s website.
“America's Most Trustworthy Companies 2023” were identified in an independent survey based on a vast sample of approximately 25,000 U.S. residents who rated companies they know in terms of three touchpoints of trust: customer trust, investor trust and employee trust. The top 700 Most Trustworthy Companies across 23 industries were selected based on a holistic approach to evaluating trust. All companies headquartered in the United States with revenues over $500 million were considered in the study.
“We are very proud of this recognition as it illustrates our strong corporate culture, which was created by our Chairman Emeritus, Bill Greehey,” said NuStar Chairman and CEO Brad Barron. “Our culture prioritizes treating everyone with respect, giving back to our communities, protecting the environment and demanding that our employees hold themselves and each other to the highest ethical standards. When you do the right things for the right reasons, you build trust with your employees, communities, customers and investors so we are truly honored to receive this recognition.”
This honor comes on the heels of NuStar being recognized by Latino Leaders Magazine as one of the “Best Companies to Work for Latinos” for the third consecutive year. Published last week, this list is based on diversity representation on the corporate board, the percentage of Hispanic employees, a strong commitment to community service, leadership development programs, solid outreach and recruitment initiatives, career opportunities and other efforts to increase diversity among the workforce, suppliers and executive level engagement.
About NuStar Energy L.P.
NuStar Energy L.P., a publicly traded master limited partnership based in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the largest independent liquids terminal and pipeline operators in the nation. NuStar currently has approximately 9,500 miles of pipeline and 63 terminal and storage facilities that store and distribute crude oil, refined products, renewable fuels, ammonia and specialty liquids. The partnership’s combined system has approximately 49 million barrels of storage capacity, and NuStar has operations in the United States and Mexico. For more information, visit NuStar Energy L.P.’s website at www.nustarenergy.com and its Sustainability page at https://sustainability.nustarenergy.com/.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230329005858/en/
Mary Rose Brown
Source: NuStar Energy L.P.


Library Named One of Illinois’ 200 Great Places
May. 29, 2018
The Illinois Council of The American Institute of Architects (AIA Illinois) has named Orland Park Public Library as one of Illinois’ 200 Great Places, in honor of the state’s Bicentennial in 2018. The announcement was made as part of National Architecture Week, which showcases the innovative and talented architects who’ve made positive contributions to society and coincides with the birthday week of the nation’s first president-architect, Thomas Jefferson, on April 12.
Nominations came from architects from all parts of the state and were selected by AIA regional chapters. Nominations were weighed against criteria including the AIA’s “10 Principles of Livable Communities.” They must be publicly accessible, pedestrian-friendly, designed on a human scale, and provide vibrant, public spaces, among other requirements.
“Separately and in total, our 200 Great Places are more than just examples of good or even great design – they are a testament to humanity’s need to shape their environment in a way that is often both pleasing and thought-provoking,” said Kim Kurtenbach, AIA, architect with BLDD Architects and 2018 AIA Illinois Board President.
All of the 200 Great Places are featured in a new website at http://illinoisgreatplaces.com. Plans are underway to organize a local ceremony for the installation of a plaque provided by AIA Illinois which commemorates this recognition at Orland Park Public Library.
AIA Illinois’ Illinois Great Places recognition program was created in 2007 to commemorate AIA’s 150th anniversary and was designed to broadly include the “built environment,” which includes civil, landscape and engineering places, as well as architecture.


March News Roundup
Each month, we round up diabetes-related news and insights to provide you with ideas, tips, education and more to help you live your best life.
Here’s the latest!
Five Ways Drinking Water Helps Your Blood Sugar Readings
Diabetes Health Magazine
“It can be challenging to remember to drink 64 ounces of water daily. But for people with diabetes, it makes a difference in managing blood sugar levels.” Read more.
The American Diabetes Association Is Reevaluating BMI for Weight Management
“The American Diabetes Association recently published its updated guidelines for 2024—including its new recommendations around body mass index, or BMI, and weight management for type 2 diabetes.” Read more.
Yogurt Can Lower Diabetes Risk, FDA Allows Makers to Claim, With Caveats
The Washington Post
Yogurt makers may now claim that their products can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, according to new guidance from the Food and Drug Administration — with some caveats. Read more.
Nobel Laureates, Women, and Diabetes Discoveries
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
“Gerty Cori, M.D., Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, FRS, and Rosalyn Yalow, Ph.D. all won a Nobel Prize. But did you know that they were instrumental in discoveries that were crucial to understanding the development of diabetes and its treatment? In honor of Women’s History Month, let’s take a look at these celebrated Nobel Prize winners.” Read more.
Limiting Sugary Drinks for Children with Diabetes
“Limiting kids to one sugary drink a day is hard, but the American Heart Association’s recommendation – one max per week – is even harder. Still, staying within these limits is possible.” Read more.


Chief Shawn Yerian was appointed January 20, 2021, and is a 20-year fire service veteran. Before entering the fire service, he was a financial analyst with the J.M. Smucker Company.
Chief Yerian has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Anna Maria College, is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program from the National Fire Academy, and earned a bachelor’s in Accounting from the University of Akron and an associate degree in Fire Science from Stark State College. He is also a certified Fire Officer IV, Firefighter II, Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, and Paramedic.


Earn EuroBonus points on the Oslo Airport Express train
From the middle of March 2016, SAS EuroBonus members will be able to earn points when taking the Airport Express train to and from Oslo Airport. One in seven train passengers is already a EuroBonus member today.
“The Airport Express is an efficient and environmentally-friendly choice, and I am delighted that we have entered into this partnership,” says Eivind Roald, SAS Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
For the time being, EuroBonus members will need to buy their tickets via the Airport Express app to earn EuroBonus points, but other payment methods will be available soon.
Published: March 22, 2016


How Common Are Illinois Trucking Accidents
February 26, 2023
Illinois is home to many highways, interstates, and other roads traveled by commercial vehicles daily. As such, it is not surprising that there is a high rate of large truck accidents throughout the state, especially in the Chicago area.
According to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately one out of every four fatal crashes in Illinois involve a commercial vehicle in urban areas.
Additionally, NHTSA data shows that half of all non-fatal truck accidents occur on rural roads, most occurring during daylight hours, at intersections, or on curves in the road.
Large trucks on rural roads can increase the risk of traffic collisions due to their size and weight compared to smaller passenger vehicles.
Additionally, studies have found that fatigue is essential to trucking accidents due to long hours spent behind the wheel without sufficient rest.
Weather conditions and road design can create hazardous conditions for drivers sharing the road with commercial vehicles and semi-trucks.
Illinois Truck Accidents Overview
Truck accidents are a common occurrence in the state. According to statistics, truck accidents in the state have been steadily increasing over the past several years. Consequently, these collisions can result in severe injuries and fatalities for those involved.
As such, it is crucial to understand the prevalence of truck accidents in Illinois and what legal options may be available for those injured or those who lost a loved one due to a truck accident.
When understanding the prevalence of trucking accidents in Illinois, many individuals turn to experienced truck accident attorneys for advice on how best to protect their rights after an accident.
Additionally, many resources provide detailed information about Illinois truck accident statistics, including the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities associated with each incident.
With this information, individuals can better prepare themselves if they are involved or affected by a truck accident. Furthermore, they can use this knowledge to make informed decisions regarding their legal rights and options related to any potential claims that may arise from a truck accident.
Illinois Truck Accident Statistics
Truck accidents are a significant public safety concern in Illinois. As part of an effort to better understand the scope of the problem, researchers have compiled data on truck accident statistics across the state.
The findings reveal that trucking collisions are a significant issue in Illinois, with numerous fatal truck crashes occurring yearly.
The most recent truck crash statistics show over 3,500 reported commercial truck accidents in Illinois during 2020. These incidents resulted in over 1,400 injuries and more than 175 fatalities.
Of these fatalities, nearly two-thirds were occupants of passenger vehicles involved in collisions with commercial vehicles. Additionally, nearly 40% of all fatal truck collisions occurred on rural roadways throughout the state.
These figures demonstrate that Illinois truck accidents are a serious issue and require further attention from government agencies and industry stakeholders to ensure proper safety measures are taken.
Common Causes of Illinois Trucking Accidents
Trucking accidents are common in Illinois, and the causes of these collisions are multi-faceted. The most common causes of trucking collisions in Illinois include:
- Truck driver negligence
- Lack of proper oversight by the trucking company
- Truck driver fatigue
- Unexpected movement when sharing the road with a passenger vehicle
- Traveling at high speeds when truckers and other drivers at meeting strict deadlines
- Illegal drug use
When truckers are negligent and cause an accident, it can often be due to a lack of training or knowledge in operating their vehicle safely. Without proper oversight from the trucking company, these behaviors may go unchecked and result in serious collisions.
Driver fatigue is also a significant cause of Illinois trucking accidents, as truckers may become tired after long hours on the road without sufficient rest breaks. The combination of three factors can lead to dangerous collisions, including:
- Negligence by the big rig driver or other motorists
- Lack of oversight by the trucking companies
- Truck driving when tired
Determining Liability for Trucking Crashes
An Illinois truck accident can have serious consequences; determining liability is paramount in such cases. Various factors must be considered to determine who is responsible for the truck accident, including:
- Semi-truck accidents involve the negligence of the driver or other parties controlling the vehicle
- Large truck accidents caused by improperly maintained vehicles or cargo
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations about the operation of trucks and other vehicles on public roads
- Weather conditions that may have contributed to the truck accident
- Construction and school zone accidents where cars and single unit trucks fail to follow safety laws
- Sharing the road with a passenger vehicle erratically changing lanes
In addition to these factors, other elements could come into play when determining liability for an Illinois trucking accident.
Regulating Truck Drivers Impacts on Illinois Trucking Collisions
Trucking accidents are common on Illinois roads, with tractor-trailers and other large vehicles playing a significant role in the number of crashes. To address this issue, several government regulations for commercial trucks have been put in place to ensure safety.
These regulations require truck drivers to abide by specific vehicle operating standards. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that all tractor-trailers have proper functioning braking systems and that all truckers obtain proper licensing before driving on public highways.
These regulations aim to minimize the risk posed by large trucks on public roadways. By following these rules, drivers can help reduce the number of truck crashes in Illinois and protect those around them from potential harm.
Following federal regulations must be considered when ensuring safety on Illinois roadways. With tractor-trailer crashes prevalent in the state, all involved parties must take steps to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) requires truckers to adhere to federal law. By doing so, truckers can help prevent severe injuries or fatalities resulting from collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.
Insurance companies involved in such incidents must understand their role in compensating victims of motor vehicle crashes involving large trucks.
Role of Insurance in Trucking Accidents
Insurance plays a vital role in truck accidents in Illinois. All truckers are required to carry insurance, as per state law. Insurance is meant to cover medical costs and other expenses associated with an accident.
As of 2020, the minimum required liability coverage for commercial trucks registered in Illinois must be $750,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $1 million for bodily injury or death of two or more people, and $100,000 for property damage per crash.
This high level of coverage is necessary given the severity of truck accidents; they often cause extensive property damage and can result in serious injuries or even fatalities.
Insurance plays a vital role in protecting people affected by truck accidents in Illinois.
Proactive Steps to Reduce Trucking Accidents
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the trucking industry is integral to the state's economy. As such, taking proactive steps to reduce trucking crashes is vital. Such steps must be taken to ensure the safety of both drivers and citizens on roads throughout the state.
To reduce truck accidents, two main actions need to be taken:
- Increase the number of inspections conducted by state authorities
- Encourage better training for all those involved in the trucking industry
Implementing these measures can significantly decrease the chance of a tractor-trailer truck accident due to reduced fatigue.
Hiring a Truck Accident Law Firm to Resolve A Compensation Claim
Were you or a family member injured in a truck accident caused by someone's negligence? You might be eligible to obtain financial compensation for your damages and injuries, including:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical expenses for rehabilitation, therapy, surgery, etc. for crash injuries
- Lost wages and future loss of earnings
- Pain and suffering
An experienced lawyer will offer a free consultation to discuss your case's merits.
Chicago Delivery Truck Accidents
February 20, 2023
The consequences can be catastrophic when a delivery truck driver in Chicago is involved in an accident. A delivery vehicle accident is all too common on Chicago roads and has become a severe issue for those working as delivery truck drivers in the city.
The dangers faced by delivery truck drivers are real and growing. In fact, according to reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), truck-related accidents have increased significantly over the last five years.
Furthermore, these truck accidents are often more severe than those involving other vehicles due to their size and weight. The cost of motor vehicle repairs, medical treatment, lost wages, and other expenses associated with these collisions can be incredibly high (into the tens of thousands of dollars) for both victims and insurers.
The problems posed by delivery truck/van accidents are becoming increasingly concerning as they put lives at risk daily.
Delivery Truck Accidents
Delivery trucks are essential to our city, moving cargo to its destination. But when accidents happen, the consequences can be devastating for other drivers. Poor maintenance, vehicle defects, and inexperienced drivers can all lead to dangerous road situations.
The increasing popularity of online shopping means more delivery truck traffic - safe driving habits must be practiced to reduce potential hazards.
Why Are Delivery Trucks Becoming More Common
Delivery trucks have become a common sight on the roads of Chicago and other cities in recent years. With an abundance of online shopping, delivery drivers such as Amazon employees are clocking more miles than ever to promptly get packages to their destination.
In addition to e-commerce, commercial trucking is also on the rise, with delivery companies relying heavily on these larger vehicles for long-distance deliveries. All this extra traffic can sometimes lead to accidents involving commercial trucks, delivery vehicles, and passenger cars.
Hold Delivery Companies Accountable When Their Vehicles Cause Accidents
Delivery vehicle accidents can have devastating effects. Companies must be held accountable if their negligence or recklessness causes an accident. Victims deserve justice and should seek it through a qualified truck accident attorney who can help them recover compensation.
Five key points to consider when delivering goods:
- Improper maintenance of delivery vehicles by the trucking company
- Insufficient driver training
- Failure to follow federal safety regulations
- Lack of safety equipment in a delivery vehicle
- Negligent hiring practices by truck companies
The Importance of Hiring a Lawyer
With over 2,000 accidents involving delivery vehicles reported in Chicago alone, it is important to consider hiring a lawyer after an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, truck accident claims can be complex and require an experienced lawyer to handle them properly. When it comes to understanding your legal rights and options, here are some reasons why hiring a lawyer is so important:
- Driver error: In many cases, an error by the delivery driver can lead to severe accidents. A lawyer will help you determine who was at fault and provide legal advice regarding any issues arising from the delivery vehicle accident.
- Free consultation: Many truck accident lawyers offer free consultations so that you can discuss your case without any financial obligation. It allows you to get an idea of the fair compensation you may receive.
- Negotiating a settlement: Your lawyer will be able to negotiate with the other party's insurance company on your behalf and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your losses.
What Causes Delivery Truck Accidents?
Delivery vehicle accidents can be caused by driver negligence, mechanical failure, improper loading, and poor weather conditions. Delivery drivers must operate vehicles safely and maintain them properly to prevent such an accident.
Incorrectly loaded deliveries can lead to instability on the road, as can bad weather conditions. Being aware of all potential hazards is critical to preventing these accidents. To protect oneself after being involved in an accident, gathering evidence for an injury claim is the next step.
Evidence To Support Your Injury Claim
Do you want to know what evidence could be used to help support your personal injury claim after a Chicago delivery vehicle accident? Read on to discover the answers.
Victims with serious injuries are often overwhelmed by the aftermath of their crash and unsure how to build their case against the trucking companies.
Collecting as much evidence as possible at the scene is essential, including photographs, witness statements, and copies of the police report. In addition, medical records documenting serious injuries can also be used as evidence in a personal injury claim.
Delivery Truck Accident Attorney
Are you the victim of a delivery truck accident? If so, you must have been asking yourself, 'how am I ever going to get justice?'
Here are three reasons injured people should hire an experienced lawyer:
- They know how to negotiate with large trucking companies.
- They understand the law.
- They can help you secure maximum compensation for your losses.
Remember that qualified delivery truck driver also knows their rights and responsibilities. That's why it's essential to find an experienced lawyer who understands both sides of the story and has a proven track record for representing victims of delivery vehicle accidents.
With the right legal team on your side, you'll be able to fight for justice and win!
How Many Hours Can Truck Drivers Drive in a Day
February 16, 2023
Trucking is very often the lifeblood of a nation, keeping commerce alive in times of recession and prosperity. In 2021, the US trucking industry hauled 72.2% of all freight transported, or 10.9 billion tons of cargo, everything from food to hazardous materials.
However, the success of any trucking endeavor depends entirely on how many truckloads can be transported or the number of hours the truck driver spends hauling goods.
With so much pressure to deliver more goods faster, how many hours should a truck driver drive before stopping for rest? And does truck driving have laws and regulations to ensure the safety of the trucker and other road users?
Truck Driver Regulations
Truck driving requires skills, dedication, and a good understanding of applicable laws and regulations, as violations can result in fines or even cost a trucker his driver’s license.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented specific provisions regarding the maximum driving time within 24-hour periods, known collectively as 'Hours-of-Service' or HOS regulations for commercial truck drivers.
Most commercial truck drivers usually drive a legal average speed of 58-62 mph and operate semis, vans, and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more. The combination often makes their trucks deadly to other road users involved in trucking accidents.
These regulations restrict how many hours truckers drive and provide safeguards against accidents caused by the fatigue of an overworked truck driver.
New Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers
Truck drivers, who cover far distances and drive long hours, must adhere to strict regulations about how many hours they can drive a day. The new Hours of Service (HOS) rules are in place to ensure the safety of drivers and other motorists.
The HOS regulations dictate that truck drivers cannot operate their vehicle for more than 11 hours during any given 14-hour limit (the 14-hour rule) or risk fines and penalties from regulatory authorities.
A driver must also take a 30-minute break after eight consecutive hours behind the wheel. These boundaries aim to reduce fatigue among truckers while allowing them enough flexibility within their schedule not to inhibit productivity.
How Long Can a Truck Driver Drive?
The hours-of-service regulations created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ensure that truckers remain safe behind the wheel while carrying out their duties.
These service rules dictate the on-duty driving hours of a driver in a given day and the rest periods or off-duty time for recuperation at home or relaxation at a truck stop.
According to FMCSA guidelines, truckers' driving time cannot exceed 11 hours per day or 60 hours within seven consecutive days before taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers must also take an uninterrupted break of at least 30 minutes after driving for eight hours.
By adhering to these parameters, truck drivers can guarantee safe operation over potentially hazardous roads and highways, even during difficult times such as nightfall or inclement weather.
How Long Should Truck Drivers Rest?
Rest is a critical tool for any driver, allowing them to stay active and alert while behind the wheel. The hours of service (HOS) rules provide guidelines on how long a truck driver can drive in a day and how much rest break time must be between shifts.
A crucial aspect of these HOS rules involves understanding how long a truck driver should rest when off-duty. A typical 11-hour shift requires a truck driver to take a 10-hour break outside the vehicle, either sleeping or resting in a sleeper berth before starting another shift.
A commercial driver using a sleeper berth must take at least an eight-hour break in the sleeper berth. They may split the sleeper-berth time into two periods, provided both are at least 2 hours.
There is also a 60-70 hour limit over a weeklong work period. Driving 70 hours on duty must be documented for a 7/8 consecutive hours work week or work period. The work period starts on a time and day in one week and ends on that same time and day in the following week.
Drivers who exceed the work period may suffer from impaired judgment due to exhaustion, leading to adverse driving conditions.
Therefore, all truck drivers must adhere to the appropriate rest break requirements set forth by the HOS regulations to ensure the safe operation of their vehicles.
The Adverse Driving Conditions Exception
Adverse driving conditions can be challenging. Bad weather, including winding country roads, rain-slicked highways, and dense fog, can make it hard to stick to the standard eight hours of daily driving mandated by law.
Fortunately, there is an exception rule: the adverse driving condition exemption, which allows for extra two hours to complete an expected route safely. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enables drivers facing hazardous weather or other extreme circumstances to extend their total on-duty time.
The extra time must be logged as 'off-duty' rather than 'sleeper berth time' if they are team drivers - where two drivers work out of one truck - so that all team drivers receive equal rest periods between drives.
Drivers must document any adverse driving conditions during their shift and provide supporting evidence such as receipts or logbooks upon request from employers or inspectors.
Exempting adverse driving conditions provide much-needed flexibility for truckers facing unpredictable road challenges.
The 16-Hour Short-Haul Exception
The hustle and bustle of interstate commerce never end, creating a busy highway system with countless truck drivers hauling goods from one destination to another.
A solo driver can still drive after the time limit when qualifying for the 16-hour short-haul exception. The exception enables truckers to stay behind the wheel for up to sixteen hours within 24 hours, with the provision to still perform yard moves, loading, or inspections.
The exemption applies only when specific criteria are met, such as starting and ending at the same location for a one-day assignment and being off duty for at least ten consecutive hours after each shift ends.
In addition, truck drivers must also keep daily logbooks that accurately record their activities throughout their shifts unless they have a short haul where they work within a 150-mile radius and return to the terminal within 14 hours.
However, they need to be aware of other restrictions, such as mandatory break times over eight consecutive hours and no operating beyond the 14th hour, following ten consecutively recorded hours off duty since the beginning of the last shift.
Truckers Working Long Hours
The trucking industry is labor-intensive, with drivers working long hours to deliver freight efficiently. Regulations in place limit the drive time within each day and pose a challenge for maximizing travel time and meeting delivery deadlines.
In most states across the United States, truckers have an 11-hour maximum driving window per day, including both break times and loading/unloading periods, which can add up quickly while on the road. In addition, they must take off ten hours a day consecutively between shifts before being able to return to the roadway once again.
Understanding these regulations helps ensure the safe operation of trucks on a public road while in compliance with federal law.
Trucking companies require long driving hours, which can be rewarding for those dedicated to the job. Truckers and passenger-carrying drivers in buses and vans must adhere to strict rules to stay safe on the roads and protect their livelihoods.
Awareness of these regulations and understanding how many miles a driver can travel in one day is essential for ensuring that freight arrives safely and efficiently.
Truckers can remain productive without compromising safety standards by taking advantage of exceptions such as adverse driving conditions or 16-hour short-hauls.
With an awareness of the HOS laws and proper planning strategies, drivers should find no problem meeting deadlines while keeping themselves safe on the roadways. Overall, being successful as a trucker takes hard work and dedication; however, when done correctly, the line of work offers excellent rewards.
Can Truck Drivers Use Cell Phones
February 13, 2023
Truck drivers are critical in transporting goods and supplies across the country. Still, with the rise of cell phone technology, the question remains: are these individuals allowed to use their phones while operating a commercial motor vehicle?
CDL Drivers Explained
A commercial driver's license (CDL) is required to operate large, heavy, or placarded hazardous material vehicles in United States commerce.
Commercial drivers, including truckers and bus drivers, who hold a CDL license are held to a higher standard than other drivers. The commercial driver is responsible for safely handling large, heavy vehicles that require a unique skill set and a higher level of safety awareness to avoid a crash.
To answer this question, we must turn to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its regulations regarding cell phone use for CDL operators.
The Federal Law on Handheld Devices For Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers
According to federal regulation 49 CFR 395.8, commercial motor vehicle drivers are prohibited from using a handheld mobile phone while driving. The cell phone policy applies to all CDL drivers operating commercial motor vehicles across the country.
To comply with the cell phone policy, CDL drivers must use hands-free devices instead of holding the phone while behind the wheel. Individuals can use the speaker function, voice-activated dialing, or an earpiece. But truck drivers can no longer use cell phones if they require pressing more than one button.
A driver must be able to reach the phone while seated and properly restrained in a seatbelt.
It is possible to have a free consultation on these rules on the federal web pages regarding commercial vehicles and texting devices.
Trucking Company Policies for CDL Drivers And Cell Phone Use
In addition to federal and state regulations, trucking companies may also have policies on cell phone use for their employees.
These policies may go beyond federal law and could dictate when, how, and if CDL drivers are allowed to use their phones while on the road. It's important for CDL drivers to familiarize themselves with their company's rules and to adhere to them, not just for the security of their job but to avoid an accident.
The Safety Risks of Using Cell Phones While Driving
Using a cell phone while steering the vehicle can be dangerous, especially for truck drivers. Distracted driving can slow reaction times and lead to a safety-critical event on the road, such as a severe accident involving others.
To reduce these risks, CDL drivers should understand when it's appropriate to use their cell phones and when it's not. It may involve limiting phone use, knowing when it's safe to make phone calls or send text messages, and properly restraining their electronic device so that it doesn't become a distraction and causes a truck accident.
Truck Driver Safety Precautions for Handheld Devices
Truck driving is a demanding job that requires a high level of focus and attention to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Cell phone usage and other devices can significantly increase the truck accident risk. To reduce this risk, commercial vehicle drivers should take the following precautions when using these devices:
- Use hands-free devices: Hands-free cell phones and other hands-free devices can help reduce the risk of a truck crash. By keeping both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, you can remain focused and avoid the distractions of a handheld device.
- Maintaining a seated driving position: Maintaining a proper position while using a hands-free device is essential. It will help ensure that you have complete control of the truck and can respond quickly in an emergency.
- Avoid instant messaging: Commercial drivers should avoid using messaging devices while behind the wheel and focus solely on the road ahead.
- Consider voice activation: Utilizing voice communication technologies can help to further reduce the distraction posed by mobile phone devices. With a hands-free device, individuals can use voice commands to control their cell phones instead of taking their hands off the road.
Some hands-free devices even feature a single button (versus devices with more than one button) that can be pressed to initiate voice communication, making it easy and safe to use a cell phone while keeping your hands on the steering wheel.
- Take regular breaks: Prolonged use of hands-free devices can still be tiring and distracting. To reduce the fatigue risk, the trucking company must ensure that the commercial driver is refreshed and alert.
Federal Law on Penalties Affecting A Truck Driver Commercial License
Truckers must be vigilant in using handheld devices while steering the wheel. They must adhere to federal laws and regulations and be mindful of the consequences of multiple penalties and fines, including the suspension or revocation of their commercial license. By using hands-free devices and maintaining a seated driving position, truckers can ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road.
- Two or more violations: Federal law mandates that truckers with multiple penalties in a short period may have their commercial driver's license (CDL) revoked or suspended.
- Text message violations: The use of handheld devices, including cell phones and instant messaging devices, while driving has become a significant concern for commercial drivers, especially truckers. Texting while driving is not only dangerous behavior, but it is also illegal in many states and can result in several violations that affect a truck driver commercial license.
- Multiple offenses: Truckers who violate traffic rules numerous times, such as texting while driving or failing to secure hazardous material, are at a higher risk of having their CDL suspended or revoked. In addition, these individuals are also at an increased risk of being involved in a truck accident.
- Hazardous materials: Truckers transporting hazardous material must be meticulous when using a handheld device. Not only can texting while driving result in multiple violations, but it can also pose a severe threat to public safety if a truck carrying hazardous material is involved in an accident.
The Impact of Distracted Driving On CDL Drivers
Distracted driving is a significant issue for every driver on the road, and CDL truckers are no exception. Studies have shown that using a cell phone while driving can increase the risk of accidents, slow reaction times, and contribute to dangerous driving behavior.
The best way for CDL commercial truck drivers to avoid these risks is by limiting their use of cell phones while behind the wheel and following federal and state laws and company policies.
In conclusion, CDL commercial truck drivers must understand cell phone policies and regulations while conducting a commercial motor vehicle. The law prohibits using any handheld device, text messaging, and cell phone while driving, and states may also have their own set of regulations.
Additionally, trucking companies may have cell phone policy directives for their employees. To reduce the safety risks associated with using a cell phone while driving, CDL truckers should limit their phone use, follow federal and state laws, and be aware of their company's policies.
These steps allow CDL truckers to stay compliant and promote safe driving habits.


The UMBC economics department has received a $1.3 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to increase the number of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who complete highly competitive doctoral programs in economics. This five-year program will support students through scholarships, mentoring, research experiences, and finally, entry into post-graduation programs specializing in doctoral preparation.
“This grant will help increase the diversity of the profession. The students in the program will go on to become academic economists who will, in turn, inspire future generations of underrepresented ethnic and racial minorities,” explains David Mitch, director of the new program and economics department Chair, who said he was thrilled by the news.
Through this grant, UMBC will become a partner in a larger effort by the Sloan Foundation to provide resources to diversify the field of economics by creating interventions from the undergraduate level through the post-baccalaureate level. The UMBC program prepares students to apply for and participate in a two-year post-graduation paid fellowship in Sloan-supported programs at New York University, Harvard University, or other highly selective institutions. UMBC will become an integral part of establishing a national pipeline for underrepresented students to understand, get excited about, and pursue careers in economics.


Tech is advancing at a faster pace than ever before, and nowhere is this more notable than in the medical field. The last year has seen many remarkable advances, from leaps forward in wearable medical tech to the development of optical fiber imaging methods that have advanced the study of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Next year, more exciting new advances in medical tech are set to change the landscape of patient care still further and include robotic augmentation and 3D bioprinting. We take a closer look below.
Biopharma Machine Learning
Although it sounds straight out of a sci-fi movie, biopharma machine learning is already on the horizon. The pharma industry is expected to make increasing use of AI to identify and develop new drugs. AI-enhanced lab experiments have already discovered some potential new formulas to be used concerning several rare diseases, and projects like these are expected to ramp up significantly in 2023.
It’s an approach that allows scientists to reduce costly on-site experiments – many of the necessary trials can be conducted virtually, which speeds up the process exponentially, too.
Advances in Wearable Medical Tech
These advances have been especially beneficial to seniors wishing to stay in their own homes but who may be experiencing issues relating to frailty or other health conditions. Highly wearable tech – replacing the old, clunky panic buttons that connected via landline – is now increasing the quality of life and peace of mind of millions of older adults.
Next year, this trend for ever-more sophisticated wearable tech will continue. Discreet, lightweight equipment such as the Unaliwear Kanega watch is set to provide holistic solutions that go way beyond the provision of a panic button. This particular bit of kit offers 24/7 monitoring, medication reminders, fall detection, and GPS tracking.
Wearable tech is on the market that monitors vitals such as blood pressure and blood saturation levels, meaning that more people who would have been kept in hospital simply for routine monitoring can now be discharged to the comfort of their homes to continue their recovery.
The Rise of Nanomedicine
Nanotech involves the use of super super tiny – as in microscopic – materials and objects, and the last couple of years have seen its rise in the medical field. At the end of 2021, the scientific community made the awe-dropping announcement that it had succeeded in creating tiny organic robots, called xenobots, that had the capacity to self-duplicate.
Next year it’s predicted that Nanomedicine will continue to develop, with some potentially hugely significant consequences. In the near future, it’s hoped that nanobots could be deployed as hunters for cancer or virus cells in the body once they’re injected into the bloodstream. The new tech is also predicted to be vital in the fight against many genetic, auto-immune, and oncologic diseases on a cellular level.
Increased Use of 3D Bioprinting Technology
By 2027, it’s estimated that the value of 3D printing opportunities will exceed $6 billion in the medical world. As well as becoming more reliable, it is thought that the tech will also use new materials and more sophisticated methods.
This will result in greater customization of prostheses for knees, hips, skulls, spine, etc., and the production of fully-functional mechanical limbs that are lightweight and have improved integration with the other bones in the body. It’s also hoped that advances in this area will lead to more options for printing live-saving implants for neurological and cardiovascular patients.
Use of Augmented Reality in Training and Decision Making
The rise of augmented reality will welcome in a new world of medical training, with students able to practice their skills in a highly realistic virtual setting.
In the ‘real’ world, this tech will provide additional layers of detail to doctors or surgeons, who can automatically access the information they require without needing to visit the patient in person. This could be revolutionary in the delivery of healthcare. It’s predicted that surgeons will soon be able to carry out procedures remotely, using advanced tech that allows them to ‘feel’ sensations and make minute adjustments as the operation progresses.
Robots will increasingly work alongside their human counterparts in hospitals and other healthcare settings to create a smoother workflow and ensure higher levels of patient care. As well as hygiene and remote diagnostic capabilities, robots will likely also be used to promote better the welfare of medical staff – not least by relieving the pressures caused by an overburdened healthcare system.
Looking Beyond 2023
And what are the advances we can expect beyond 2023? Well, genetic screening and genomic testing are likely to be used as standard to not only identify patients at risk of developing a condition but to work in tandem with wearable tech to provide custom treatments to keep patients well long-term.
Big data will also change everything, with macro and micro information pouring in on health trends from a near-infinite number of sources and helping healthcare providers to anticipate and act on the needs identified. Ultimately, better patient outcomes are the overall goal with all the new tech being developed and deployed – and the future in this regard is looking very bright indeed.


Over the last several weeks, the YMCA of Bristol has experienced unprecedented change and uncertainty resulting from the Coronavirus threat. As you know, we made the very difficult but socially responsible decision to protect the health and safety of our members, staff, and community and closed our facility on March 17, 2020 with the plan to re-open on March 30th after deep cleaning and sanitizing our entire facility. We are now under order from Governor Lee to remain closed through April 14, 2020.
We know that members and the community depend on us for many of their healthy living needs so we have provided on-demand exercise classes through the Y360 YouTube Channel, Les Mills, which provides over 95 videos across 8 categories, as well as access to a 60 day free trial of Mossa Move. We have also partnered with Food City to provide access to registered dietician resources here.
Again, thank you for the understanding that we’re all in this together, facing future days in the best ways we know how, knowing things may continue to change on a daily basis.
We will continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC and Sullivan County Health Department but will do our best to open as soon as we can. We hope that you continue to #StayWithUs and partner with us. For the latest updates, visit bristolymca.net or our Facebook page.
Yours in Health,
President and CEO
YMCA of Bristol


The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has the potential to significantly improve global productivity and growth, with Accenture estimating that this latest wave of digital innovation will accelerate the reinvention of sectors that account for almost two-thirds of world output and add US$14.2 trillion to the global economy by 2030. As companies around the world continue to develop IIoT strategies and implement solutions, they are increasingly partnering with Siemens and choosing MindSphere®, the cloud-based, open Internet of Things (IoT) operating system, as the foundation of their IIoT programs. Recently, Siemens was among the select companies that Forrester invited to participate in The Forrester Wave™: Industrial IoT Software Platforms, Q4 2019 evaluation. In this evaluation, Siemens’ MindSphere was cited as a Leader in Industrial IoT Software Platforms. Over the past year, MindSphere significantly grew its partner program, and announced major new customer wins and Siemens’ expansion of the Mendix platform to include cloud and app services for digital engineering and IoT powered by MindSphere, which is at the heart of its powerful Xcelerator portfolio.
According to Forrester, “MindSphere builds on Siemens’ strength in industrial equipment and controllers but isn’t limited to interacting with Siemens hardware. The company continues to tell a strong story about the importance of digital twin, and MindSphere plays a key part in turning this vision into something pragmatic and implementable. MindSphere is well suited to customers with existing investments in the Siemens ecosystem but also deserves the attention of any industrial company interested in tapping Siemens’ deep domain knowledge and the experience it’s gained from its own internal digital transformation.” Download a copy of the report at www.siemens.com/forrester-iiot-wave.
MindSphere helps companies understand data by quickly and securely connecting products, plants, systems and machines to the digital world. By unlocking the wealth of data from every machine and system in a business, MindSphere can transform this data into productive business results using powerful industrial applications with advanced analytics. MindSphere is a secure and scalable industrial end-to-end solution from asset connectivity to actionable business insights utilized to increase productivity and efficiency across the entire enterprise.
“MindSphere has continued to grow and strengthen over the past year, and we now have over 500 MindSphere partners including Microsoft, AWS, Arrow and Alibaba, which has helped fuel success in the Chinese market where we recently launched the partner program,” said Ray Kok, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cloud Application Solutions at Siemens Digital Industries Software. “We are proud to be recognized as a Leader within the Forrester Wave report and will work to build on this momentum to continue to help our customers achieve their goals.”
Siemens Digital Industries Software is driving transformation to enable a digital enterprise where engineering, manufacturing and electronics design meet tomorrow. The Xcelerator portfolio helps companies of all sizes create and leverage digital twins that provide organizations with new insights, opportunities and levels of automation to drive innovation. For more information on Siemens Digital Industries Software products and services, visit siemens.com/software or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Siemens Digital Industries Software – Where today meets tomorrow.
Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 76,000 employees internationally.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Through the separately managed company Siemens Mobility, a leading supplier of smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is shaping the world market for passenger and freight services. Due to its majority stakes in the publicly listed companies Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital healthcare services as well as environmentally friendly solutions for onshore and offshore wind power generation. In fiscal 2019, which ended on September 30, 2019, Siemens generated revenue of €86.8 billion and net income of €5.6 billion. At the end of September 2019, the company had around 385,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
Note: A list of relevant Siemens trademarks can be found here. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners.


Watch the late-breaking results of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES Trial with alirocumab broadcast live from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Annual Meeting on Saturday, 10 March, 2018, followed by a panel discussion on the ACC website.
- When: Saturday, 10 March, 2018
- Time: 15:00-15:20 CET (9:00-9:20 AM US EST)
- Where: https://accscientificsession.acc.org/features/2018/03/video-sanofi-regeneron
The link for the presentation will remain available on the ACC website up to 12 months after the conclusion of ACC 2018. This online event is not certified by the American College of Cardiology for CME/CNE/MOC credit.


Christmas Eve - (Observed) Friday, December 22 (½ day; City Hall will close at noon)
Christmas Day - (Observed) Monday, December 25
New Year's Eve - Friday, December 29 (½ day; City Hall will close at noon)
Hinesville City Hall and public safety administrative offices (Fire, Police, and Public Works) will be closed on all 2023 City Holidays. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday will be designated as the official holiday for that year. When the holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be designated as the official holiday. Contact City Hall at 912.876.3564 for more information.


HOPE and transformation found in a personal relationship with Jesus are the hallmarks of General Brian Peddle’s first Christmas message as world leader of The Salvation Army. In his video address – available on his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GeneralBPeddle), YouTube and downloadable from Vimeo – he speaks of Jesus, who he describes as ‘all about justice, righteousness and salvation’, being ‘right here with us’ as someone who gives ‘words of wisdom and guides us into truth’.
Drawing upon words recorded in Isaiah 9, the General explains the message of hope in the Bible – the ‘hope of light and life which are only found in the promised Saviour’. Contrasting ‘dead ritualistic religion’ with a ‘vibrant, life-giving relationship’, the General proclaims that, for God, ‘nothing is impossible – he forgives sins, heals diseases and raises the dead.’
The General challenges Salvationists and friends to ‘trust God, rely on his power, live in relationship with him and partner with him to bring life, light and hope to our world.’
The video message – which is intended for sharing with friends and family members – has been made available to as many Salvationists and friends as possible through the addition of subtitles. More than 15 languages are available, including Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean and Chinese, thanks to the support of colleagues around the world.
The General has also recorded a New Year video message, which will be published on Monday 31 December.


Regular weekly promotional emails and prominent website placement ensure ACC’s Partner Knowledge Center gets a lot of traction, said Abdel-Kader. To make the most of it, he started thinking about how to work ACC’s own events, webcasts, and other activities into the Resource Library. He brainstorms the possibilities on regular update calls with the Lead Marvels team.
“We tend to throw ideas around for potential new things that we could be doing that we aren't offering through the Hub that we should look into,” Abdel-Kader said. “I think there's a lot of potential for growth, which we're excited about.”
Palacios summed up the benefits of introducing a Resource Library for both ACC and APTA. “Providing this online Resource Library accomplished three things. One, it brought real value to their members. Two, it provided a new marketing opportunity for their sponsors. And three, it grew non-dues revenue with minimal effort on their part.”
To learn more about how this white-labeled turnkey product can benefit your association — at no cost to you — schedule a no-obligation demo today.


In recent years, the expansion and utilization of emerging media has been remarkable. Jason Karaian explains that the amount of time individuals are exposed to digital media, including the internet, television, or cell phones, has skyrocketed to 490 minutes each day. Lulu Chang estimates that cell phone users spend an average of 4.7 hours per day on their cellular devices, which provides the most exposure to digital media than any other means. The next source that provides the most media exposure is television at approximately three hours and the internet at two hours for those who possess those luxuries.
The more interactive forms of media on cell phones, social media, blogging, and television have acquired more attention by marketers than any other form of media in history. These advertisements can easily be tracked and modified in real-time to adapt to the market and consumer needs. Businesses have been able to more effectively expose potential consumers to their products and services and induce their interaction on their emerging media campaigns. More interactions on the emerging media campaigns means there is an increased likelihood that these companies can upturn sales and profits.
Social media platforms are doing especially well in advertising and marketing revenue since the increased use of emerging media. Facebook is a company that is fully exploited for its marketing advantages. Facebook increased their first quarter profits by 76% to $4.26 billion in 2016 when compared to the first quarter in 2015. The amount of growth for Facebook can be attributed mainly to large and small businesses designing and releasing interactive advertisements on Facebook’s platform. Once an advertisement is released, businesses are able to utilize some of Facebook’s analytical software to properly adjust and focus their advertisement campaigns.
Overall, I believe that using interactive, responsive forms of media marketing through cell phones, television, and the internet are the best ways for businesses to increase profits. Digital media has dramatically decreased the popularity of print media in recent years, which has allowed some companies to fully exploit its benefits. Businesses that are able to fully capitalize on the emerging media efforts will overshadow those who are sticking to traditional media marketing.


OAKVILLE, ON, March 12, 2013 /CNW/ – Duane Parnham has acquired, in the aggregate, 5,541,907 common shares (the “Shares”) in the capital of Giyani Gold Corp. (“Giyani” or the “Company”). Subsequent to the filing of Mr. Parnham’s early warning report dated September 28, 2012, and as a result of treasury issuances of shares by the Company on October 26, 2012, Mr. Parnham’s percentage ownership of outstanding shares of the Company decreased to 9.52%. As a result of a series of acquisitions from September 28, 2012 to March 8, 2013 an additional 523,484 common shares were acquired, increasing Mr. Parnham’s percentage ownership of outstanding shares of the Company from 9.52% to 10.22%. The additional Shares were acquired on the open market through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange at an average purchase price of $0.88 per common share.
Mr. Parnham acquired the Shares for investment purposes, and may acquire additional Giyani securities in the future or dispose of his existing Giyani common shares on the basis of his assessment of market conditions and in compliance with all applicable securities regulatory requirements.
A copy of the related Early Warning Report has been filed with applicable securities commission and can be found on Giyani’s profile at www.sedar.com. The issuance of this news release is not an admission that an entity named in the news release owns or controls any described securities or is a joint actor with another named entity.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


World-first clinical trials of a groundbreaking treatment for aggressive brain tumours are likely to begin soon following “fantastic” results in the high-profile case of Australian of the Year, Professor Richard Scolyer.
Professor Scolyer, 57, was diagnosed with glioblastoma IDH wild-type in early June last year and became “patient zero” in a pioneering immunotherapy approach that has produced remarkable results: the tumour has not come back after 10 months.
“I’m blown away,” Professor Scolyer tells Australian Story. “This is not what I expected. The average time to recurrence for the nasty type of brain cancer I’ve got is six months. So, to be out this far is amazing. Amazing.”
Now, work is underway developing protocols for the start of clinical trials. If the results of those trials are strong, it could shake-up the current treatment regimen of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation that has not changed in 19 years.
“Hopefully, it’ll transform into improved outcomes, not just for me, but for all brain cancer patients,” Professor Scolyer says.
Professor Scolyer, a world-leading melanoma pathologist, shares the title of Australian of the Year with his colleague, medical oncologist Professor Georgina Long, for their life-saving work in the treatment of melanoma.
The duo are co-directors of Melanoma Institute Australia, which revolutionised the treatment of the deadly skin cancer by using combination immunotherapy before removing the melanoma.
When Professor Scolyer was diagnosed with the “the worst of the worst” type of brain cancer, Professor Long devised a plan adapting the extensive immunotherapy knowledge from their melanoma work to treat Professor Scolyer’s brain cancer.
It was risky, with Professor Scolyer the “guinea pig” for the novel approach. But, given the aggressive brain cancer was going to kill him, Professor Scolyer says it took him “a millisecond to say, ‘Yes, this is what I want to do’.”
So, how does it work? Professor Long targeted Professor Scolyer’s specific brain tumour with a unique combination immunotherapy that was applied for 12 days before surgery. Professor Scolyer then underwent brain surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. He received radiation after the operation and continues to receive immunotherapy and a personalised vaccine.
Professor Long says a scientific paper about Professor Scolyer’s treatment is undergoing peer review. “As a scientist and as a clinician, there is an absolute need to make sure that you do things properly and share that information in a peer-reviewed and standardised way,” Professor Long says.
She says the release of that paper and the preparation of a clinical trial protocol, which she is working on with neuro-oncologists from Australia and the US, will trigger important debate in the scientific community.
“The world can look at it, can discuss it, can criticise it, can love parts of it,” Professor Long says. “Then we start the foundation of doing things differently and doing new trials in glioblastoma … and it’s by doing that that we can develop the right treatments for the right patient, and then eventually they become a standard treatment, just like the current standard for Richard’s tumour, which is now nearly 20 years old.
“We want to change that. But to change that, we have to show that this actually works in larger numbers of people.”


I’ve recently seen a string of patients who've recovered from COVID-19. And they’re in my office because they are concerned regarding the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the heart. Many are wondering whether they should have an MRI evaluation to determine if they suffered heart damage from the virus.
And if you’ve had the virus you might be wondering the same thing.
Questioning whether a heart MRI is required is not a routine query. After all, a heart MRI is not a routine test. So why are we even considering this? Because last summer a study from Germany revealed that approximately three quarters of patients who recovered from more severe COVID-19 infections had...abnormal heart MRI results. Subsequently, another MRI study of young, competitive athletes who simply tested positive for COVID-19 infection revealed that nearly half had abnormal heart scans.
The media went wild. Heart damage from COVID-19 was pronounced as serious and widespread. Seniors panicked. High school and collegiate sports were cancelled. Cardiologists braced for a wave of patients needing heart transplants.
But we were all wrong.
Because we were busy looking at pictures instead of patients.
It turns out that adults who experience more severe symptoms from COVID-19 are also much more likely to be affected by high blood pressure, obesity and/or diabetes. In fact, one or more of these risk factors are present in two thirds of Americans that require hospitalization for COVID-19 infection. And guess what people with obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes are at risk for? Heart disease!
And here’s what’s become obvious over time: there is significant overlap between abnormalities seen on heart MRIs of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and those with heart disease risk factors that have never had the virus. Meaning those heart MRI findings in COVID-19 survivors could simply be chance findings.
And what about those athletes? Two major points. Heart MRI abnormalities can be present in elite athletes that have never had a viral illness. Plus, because we have never routinely performed heart MRIs on asymptomatic people with other viral infections like the common cold or flu, we have NO IDEA what to expect in that scenario. Meaning the findings in the athletes could have been "normal" for any young individual experiencing any viral infection.
GREAT NEWS: Although we still have lots to learn about COVID-19, it appears that in most patients the effects on the heart are relatively minor, and don't result in deterioration of heart function. Turns out those exploding heart transplant lists never materialized and athletes were able to return to competition without excess heart-related events.
Given significant overlap in image findings with other conditions, heart MRIs should not be relied upon to make the diagnosis of COVID-19-related heart damage in patients who have recovered from the infection. So, if you’ve had COVID-19 and are pretty much back to baseline, there’s no need for you to have a heart MRI test.
Testing for the sake of testing is never a good idea because it can lead us astray. Sometimes we don't even understand what we're looking at. So, if your doctor ever suggests a test, make sure you understand why the test is being ordered and how the findings would be expected to impact your care. Those MRI findings in athletes and adults who had recovered from COVID-19 infections may have made the headlines, but knowing that those abnormalities were present added little to nothing to the care of the individuals who had undergone the scans.
Finally, know that not everything important about health and healthcare makes the headlines - or is even always correct. After making a media splash across the globe, the German study faced intense scientific criticism, eventually leading the authors to re-examine their data and admit that some of their statistics were wrong. I bet you never saw THAT in the news.