It's a double celebration for Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike who is celebrating his birthday today March 21 as well as the birth of his daughter, Comfort. T he veteran actor disclosed that his baby girl was named after his late mum, Madam Comfort Okwuchi Ike. Posting photos of himself, his South African wife and their new-born, an elated Emeka wrote; ITS A DOUBLE BLESSING FOR ONE LOSS Happy *BIRTHDAY* to me and WELCOME to baby, Chidera COMFORT Thando Ike The good LORD has filled the huge vacuum that Mama COMFORT Okwuchi Ike left behind, with another COMFORT Chidera T Ike My family and l are COMFORTED and can't ask for any better, this solemn times Thank you to my beautiful wife for taking the pains, of this wonderful gift I THANK YOU GOD!!!'' Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video African Legends Night is marking this years Heritage Month, celebrating African music in a special campaign dedicated to honoring the unforgettable celebration of African music. The African Legends Night Heritage Month campaign will showcase some of the continent's most illustrious musical talents, paying homage to the diverse traditions and legacies that have shaped the continents music. From the infectious rhythms of Afro-music, highlife to the soul-stirring melodies of traditional folk songs and Afrobeats, the campaign offers a mesmerizing journey through the vibrant tapestry of African music. The campaign serves as a tribute to the cultural heritage and musical prowess that have long defined Africa's identity. As part of the campaign, a specially curated daily music playlist segment has been created on YFM and Happy FM to play songs by African music legends for listeners to enjoy. "The African Legends Night Heritage Month is not only a tribute to the legendary artists who have shaped African music but also a celebration of the cultural diversity and creativity that define our continent. We invite music lovers to join us in celebrating unforgettable rhythms, melodies, and the enduring legacy of our African legendary artistes," said Jerry Ofori, Head of Events at Global Media Alliance. Powered by Global Media Alliance, African Legends Night is a concert held annually to recognize and celebrate African musicians who are considered living legends. African Legends Night has become synonymous with celebrating the musical excellence and contributions of African legends. These legends, each with their unique style and musical influence, captivate the audience in an unforgettable night of music and celebration The event has over the years celebrated living legends such as Hugh Masekela of South Africa, Femi Kuti of Nigeria, Freddy Meiway, and Ghanaian legends like Amakye Dede, George Darko, Ofie Cudjoe, Gyedu Blay Ambulley, Ben Brako, Kojo Antwi, Samini, Rex Omar, Nat Brew, Akosua Agyapong, Nana Tuffuor, Ofori Amponsah and Daddy Lumba Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Electrocatalysts design to improve SRR kinetics in Li||S batteries. Credit: Nature Nanotechnology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01614-4 Lithiumsulfur (LiS) batteries are a promising alternative to lithiumion batteries (LiBs), the most common rechargeable battery technology. As sulfur is abundant on Earth, these batteries could be cheaper and more environmentally friendly than LiBs, while also potentially exhibiting higher energy densities. Despite these advantages, the deployment of LiS batteries has so far been limited, as many of these batteries also have a low cycle life and a high self-discharge rate. In addition, the predicted high energy density of LiS batteries often becomes far lower when in real applications, due to the high rates at which they charge and discharge. A chemical reaction that plays a central role in ensuring the high capacity of LiS batteries is the so-called sulfur reduction reaction (SRR). This reaction has been widely studied, yet its kinetic tendencies at high current rates remain poorly understood. Researchers at the University of Adelaide, Tianjin University and Australian Synchrotron recently carried out a study aimed at delineating the kinetic trend of SRR, to inform the future development of high-power LiS batteries. Their paper, published in Nature Nanotechnology, also introduces a nanocomposite carbon electrocatalyst that was found to boost the performance of LiS batteries, attaining a discharge capacity retention of approximately 75%. "The activity of electrocatalysts for the sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) can be represented using volcano plots, which describe specific thermodynamic trends," Huan Li, Rongwei Meng and their colleagues wrote in their paper. "However, a kinetic trend that describes the SRR at high current rates is not yet available, limiting our understanding of kinetics variations and hindering the development of high-power Li||S batteries. Using Le Chatelier's principle as a guideline, we establish an SRR kinetic trend that correlates polysulfide concentrations with kinetic currents." To further examine the kinetic trend of the SRR at high currents, the researchers also collected synchrotron X-ray adsorption spectroscopy measurements and ran various molecular orbital computations. Overall, their results suggest that orbital occupancy in catalysts based on transition metals is linked to the concentration of polysulfide in batteries, and consequently also SRR kinetic predictions. Based on the kinetic trend they delineated, Li, Meng and their collaborators designed a new nanocomposite electrocatalyst comprised of a carbon-based material and CoZn clusters. They then integrated this catalyst in a LiS battery cell and tested its performance, focusing on its charge-discharge rates. "When the electrocatalyst is used in a sulfur-based positive electrode (5 mg cm2 of S loading), the corresponding Li||S coin cell (with an electrolyte:S mass ratio of 4.8) can be cycled for 1,000 cycles at 8C (that is, 13.4 A g S 1, based on the mass of sulfur) and 25C," the researchers wrote. "This cell demonstrates a discharge capacity retention of about 75% (final discharge capacity of 500 mAh g S 1) corresponding to an initial specific power of 26,120 W kg S 1 and specific energy of 1,306 Wh kg S 1." Overall, the recent study by Li, Meng and their colleagues shows that increased polysulfide concentrations promote faster SRR kinetics; thus, catalysts that boost polysulfide concentration could speed up this reaction. This result was validated both via theoretical computations and experimental measurements. Building on their observations, the researchers already introduced one electrocatalyst that was found to enhance the capacity retention and cyclic stability of an LiS battery. In the future, their work could inspire the design of other promising catalysts, potentially contributing to the development of new high-power LiS battery technologies. More information: Huan Li et al, Developing high-power Li||S batteries via transition metal/carbon nanocomposite electrocatalyst engineering, Nature Nanotechnology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01614-4 Journal information: Nature Nanotechnology 2024 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Candida albicans in the yeast and hyphae form on human epithelial cells. Credit: Holland/Ozel/Zakikhany/Hube, Gudrun Holland, Muhsin Ozel, Katherina Zakikhany und Bernhard Hube / Leibniz-HKI Candida albicans is a fungus that occurs naturally in the digestive tract of most people. However, the fungus is not always harmless. It can cause mild to severe infections throughout the body. A toxin, candidalysin, is involved in these infections. It appears to be of central importance in vaginal infections in particular. A team from the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), in collaboration with researchers from Brown University in the U.S., has now discovered that the toxin also plays an important role in the colonization of the digestive tract. Their study was published in Nature. "In our study, we focused on Candida albicans and the importance of its toxin candidalysin. The fungus is a natural part of the human microbiome and coexists with numerous other microorganisms such as bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract," says Richard Bennett, Professor at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. C. albicans multiplies in two different growth forms: a round yeast form and an elongated hyphae form. "Previous studies in mice indicated that the yeast form is advantageous for colonization of the intestine," says Bernhard Hube. He leads a department at the Leibniz-HKI and is a professor at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. "The fungus develops its pathogenic effect primarily in the hyphal form. This form secretes candidalysin and thus damages host cells," explains Hube. "If C. albicans exists primarily as a colonizer of the intestine, i.e. as a round yeast form, why are almost all isolates of the fungus able to form hyphae? What selection pressure ensures that the fungi do not lose the ability to form hyphae?" Comparative studies on mice with a complete microbiome and a microbiome reduced by antibiotics now show that the previous assumption that the yeast form is better suited for colonization needs to be revised. As soon as a complex bacterial community is present, C. albicans uses both the yeast and the hyphae forms to colonize the intestine efficiently. But why is the hyphae form advantageous when bacteria are present? "Only in the hyphal form does the fungus produce the toxin candidalysin, which has an antibacterial effect. This enables the hyphae form to compete with bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The toxin inhibits the metabolism and thus the multiplication of the bacteria. This gives the fungus a competitive advantage. "The release of candidalysin associated with the formation of hyphae therefore probably contributes to the fact that the fungus is such a successful colonizer of humans. This may explain why the hyphal form of C. albicans is also so important during colonization of the intestine," says Hube. If the formation of hyphae is blocked, the fungus is also less able to colonize the intestine. "The fungus has therefore not developed the toxin primarily to damage human cells, but to be able to compete with bacteria on mucous membranes," says Hube. The researchers want to investigate the interaction between fungi and bacteria and their effects on the host in more detail. "The Cluster of Excellence 'Balance of the Microverse' at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, with its focus on microbial interactions, offers us an ideal environment for this," says Hube. More information: Shen-Huan Liang et al, The hyphal-specific toxin candidalysin promotes fungal gut commensalism, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07142-4 Provided by Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie - Hans-Knoll-Institut (Leibniz-HKI) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Couples strolled, TikTokers danced and friends shared takeout under the gnarled branches dappled in pale pink blossoms on the University of Washington's Quad on the last night of winter. With the help of record heat over the weekend, the blossoms exploded into peak bloomwhen at least 70% of buds have emergedTuesday. The exact date the Quad's Yoshino cherry trees may burst into puffs of pale pink and white blossoms varies each year. But university researchers are trying to add clarity to the annual bloom that draws thousands of tourists and locals. In 2018, they began collecting data on bud development and bloom for more than 100 trees covering 25 species on campus, to help inform local events centered on the bloom. If successful, the project could also help predict how climate change will affect when these trees flower. Records in Kyoto, Japan, and Washington, D.C., suggest those cities' cherry trees are blooming earlier in response to a changing climate. UW researchers have hypothesized the bloom would also be earlier as a result of increases in spring temperatures but only if the trees experienced winter temperatures cool enough to complete their dormant, or rest period. Researchers in 2011 found peak bloom in D.C. could be as much as four weeks earlier by 2080 depending on how much warming occurs. "The cherry blossom has been kind of used as an indicator of climate change that we can see," said Soo-Hyung Kim, a UW professor of environmental and forest sciences who helped launch the project in Seattle and co-authored similar research on the trees in D.C. A long history Scrolling through a roll of microfilm on Monday, lead researcher Autumn Maust paused on a page of The Daily, UW's student newspaper, from April 9, 1976. She adjusted the brightness and contrast to reveal a photo of a tree branch carrying blossoms hovering over the silhouette of gothic buildings. The team has been digging into archives, searching for any sign of when the trees blossomed over the years. The clips they've found also share blips of history: "U.W. Campus Visit Reassuring Fashion-Wise" one April 1969 Seattle Times headline read above a photo of a "well dressed coed," Laura Rasmussen of Poulsbo; in March 1978, "A Blooming Good Time" for a 2-year-old running through a Quad full of the blossoms; and in March 1995, Seattle Times photographer Alan Berner captured a moment with two kidsone hanging from a branchplaying around a tree in bloom. "What's been really exciting for me is just how charismatic and stunning and compelling these trees are and being able to be a part of this story that I think is so close to home for so many people," Maust said. "I'm hoping that it can be very helpful from a management perspective. But ... the great thing about charismatic species is a lot of people study them and so you can take this really broad lens, look at how climate change is changing their phenological patterns on this sort of huge scale that we don't often get to do." The university bought the Quad's Yoshino cherry trees in 1939 and planted them in the Washington Park Arboretum. They were replanted in the Quad in 1962 due to construction on State Route 520, Maust said. Cherry trees have deep roots in the Seattle area, going back to the early 20th century when Japan gave the city more than 3,000 cherry trees. It's not clear if any on UW's campus are scions from the gifted trees. The study at UW fits into a long pattern of researchers exploring published works to understand these flowering trees and get a glimpse of their futures. Scientists in Japan have combed through hundreds of years of historyold diaries and chroniclesto build a historical record of bloom times, Kim said. In another study, Kim and other researchers adapted a computer model with several decades of National Park Service peak bloom records and temperature records from Reagan National Airport to build an understanding of how the changing climate could affect the famous cherry trees along Washington, D.C.'s, Tidal Basin. Projections were made using two climate change scenarios developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. A scenario with moderate warming suggests that by the 2050s the peak bloom could be five days earlier and by the 2080s about 10 days earlier. On Sunday March 17, the cherry blossoms in D.C., tied for their second-earliest peak bloom, Axios reported. The full flowering of Kyoto's cherry trees in 2021 was observed on the earliest date recorded in over 1,200 years, according to a 2022 study. The study found that human-induced climate change after about the 1930s led to earlier flowering, with an estimated shift of about 11 days in the present climate and 17 days by 2100. In general, the warmer it is, the sooner the trees are likely to bloom, Maust said. On the other hand, if winters are not cool enough, trees won't get enough time in their dormancy period, and that may push back the timing of the bloom. If fruit trees don't experience enough cool temperatures, they sometimes have trouble flowering and producing fruit, Kim said. Warmer winters also invite insect herbivores and pests out early, increasing the vulnerability of trees that didn't fully rest. Because Seattle experiences milder winters than D.C., researchers expect UW's trees to respond to different temperature thresholds. Maust hypothesized the bloom would be earlier due to increases in spring temperatures caused by climate change only if the required chilling thresholds continue to be met at the same pace. In short, warmer winters result in a slower bloom, while warmer springs result in a faster bloom. Since both seasons are affected by the warming climate, researchers have to determine the interactions of both processes. 'We cherish them' Susan Hooker smiled as she looked up, studying the buds and blooms on the upper branches of a cherry tree near the UW Medical Center early Tuesday. "The first time I was here, on campus, was in '97, which was a long time ago," Hooker said walking down the steps of Red Square. "That was my most favorite place to hang out. I would go to the Hub, get my sandwich, sit in the Quad, eat my sandwich, hang out and do homework. It was great." Hooker, who is studying biology, returned to school last spring after about two decades off to raise her kids. When the opportunity to document cherry tree bloom appeared in her inbox, she jumped on it. UW students, she said, want to preserve the trees. "We cherish them," Hooker said. On Tuesday, Hooker wandered to the row she's responsible for. She looked high into the branches where birds and bees loomed and began punching in observations on her phone. Hooker and 20 other undergraduate students visit every cherry tree on campus at least twice a week on average, often swinging by between classes. On each visit, they use an app to choose which bloom stage the tree appears to be in and how much of that stage is complete. Each tree is individually identified by number, location and species. The phases of UW's cherry blossoms There are more than 100 cherry trees on campus. The main species is Yoshino, including the trees in the Quad. Other varieties include the Higan, Hisakura, Kwanzan, Mt. Fuji and Shirofugen trees that can be viewed at locations across campus. The Yoshino trees bloom earlier than many of the other species. The research began under Michael Bradshaw, a former doctoral student in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, a self-described "plant addict" who now teaches mycology at North Carolina State University. Bradshaw connected with Kim, who had previously developed models that help predict Washington, D.C.'s, cherry tree blooms, in hopes of providing the same for Seattle. Now, the university has collected seven years of fine-scale data on each tree on campus, looked back in the archives to build historical estimates of bloom data and accessed historical temperature data. The field data collection is expected to continue indefinitely. Researchers have already created the model to predict bloom time based on weather data and are finalizing the results. Bradshaw's successor, Maust, led a team of more than a dozen undergraduates researching and tracking campus cherry blossom development from 2021 to 2023. Her colleague Marlee Thiel has taken over the training and ongoing data collection. Now, Maust is working with co-authors to finalize the results of the research and plans to submit it for peer review as soon as this summer. 2024 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Should I invest my money with a small chance of big returns? Or is it better to pick investments that promise a series of modest returns? A psychologist from the University of Basel conducted a scientific experiment to study when people prefer certain types of investments. When a company first goes public on the stock exchange, the corresponding securities are referred to as IPO (initial public offering) shares. These shares are typically characterized by their below-average returns for the first few years after the initial offeringwith the exception of a few outliers that boom right from the start. In other words, the likelihood of high returns is rather small. So why do people still purchase IPO shares? Because they overestimate the probability of the stock becoming one of the rare super performers. This phenomenon is described by prospect theory, the leading theory used to explain decision-making in the face of uncertainty. It's a similar story when people purchase lottery tickets: they are hoping to hit the jackpot. There are also investments that result in a much different distribution of profits and losses, with a high likelihood of small returns. This is the standard case, so to speak. On the other hand, big losses are unlikely, such as with catastrophe bonds or "cat bonds." Insurance companies use these bonds to create a financial cushion that enables them to guarantee coverage in the event of a disaster. If nothing happens, investors receive a series of small payouts. In the statistically unlikely event of a natural disaster, however, all of the money they have invested is lost. Then what stocks should I pick? What circumstances affect how people select a given type of security in the first place? Dr. Sebastian Olschewski from the Faculty of Psychology has published a study on the topic in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In the experiment, test subjects were asked to choose between two or three different stocks, for example, one offering "a low probability of high returns" and another offering "a high probability of modest returns with rare but potentially high losses." To aid in the decision-making process, information was provided about the performance of the stocks, i.e., when and what returns were generated by the specific stocks on day 1, day 2, day 3, etc. This allowed test subjects to closely examine the volume and frequency of the returns from each individual stock. Frequent returns preferred The results showed that having the possibility to compare different stock types greatly affects a person's decisionand in a way that favors investments on the cat bond end of the spectrum. "In our experiment, the test subjects selected stocks that generated the highest returns on the greatest number of days. The overall total of the returns had only an ancillary effect." This is what experts refer to as the "frequent winner effect." To demonstrate the weight of this effect, the data on the stock returns was modified in a second experimental design in such a way that the "lottery-like" investments more frequently showed higher yields, which quickly shifted the test subjects' preference towards this type of stock. Gaining a better understanding of the stock market What are the possible conclusions of the study? "If we want to predict how the stock market will perform, we also need to consider how people go about finding information," says Olschewski. "Whether they simply research a single stock or compare two or three options." Being able to predict things like this is important for economists or analysts who want to predict price trends on the stock market. But it is also important for social resource planningfor instance, in the case of governments investing for the benefit of their citizens. After all, the Swiss pension system is partially invested in the capital market, as the researcher points out. More information: Sebastian Olschewski et al, Frequent winners explain apparent skewness preferences in experience-based decisions, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317751121 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Young people are reportedly being priced out of rural communities by soaring housing costs. Official statistics for England show that affordability in rural parts of the country is worse than in towns and cities, excluding London. In 2021, even the cheapest houses in rural areas cost around 9.2 times more than the earnings of the lowest paid workers. In urban areas, it was eight times more. Since Brexit, there has been a rise in the number of landlords transferring long-term rental housing into short-term lettings on platforms like Airbnb, in a bid to cash in on the growing staycation market. COVID has increased the appeal of rural living, with more people buying second homes. Affordability has worsened since 2020. These recent pressures have accentuated the decades-old trends of general counter-urbanization and demand for rural homes that my colleagues and I discuss in our 2022 book, Village Housing. A combination of planning constraint and external demand pressures, focused on the smallest villages and hamlets, is driving land price expectation and making it difficult to build affordable homes. Land values belong to the communities that create them. A way needs to be found of fixing the cost of land at a price that supports the delivery of affordable homes in rural locations. Upward pressure on land price Rural planning authorities largely operate according to the rationale that housing and service needs can more effectively be met in towns than in the countryside. They generally respond to increased housing demand in rural areas by allocating sites in service centers and larger towns for new development. They also fix policies in local plans that require the inclusion of affordable homes in market-led schemes. Far less gets built in villages. There, the existing stock is gradually sold as investment opportunities to wealthier incomers or to seasonal and weekend residents. This dynamic places upward pressure on land prices. In those few instances where sites for market development are allocated in smaller villages, land price soars. The resulting housing is high end and unaffordable to local people. It is within this challenging market that registered providers of social housing and community land trusts, formed by groups of concerned residents, try to secure affordable land for affordable housing through the so-called "rural exception site" approach. Since 1991, communities have been able to work with partners on securing exceptional planning permission for affordable homes on small parcels of unallocated land (sufficient for up to a dozen homes, depending on the scale of proven local need) on which permission for housing would not normally be granted. Getting a landowner to accept that this is an "exception" to normal planningand not a regular allocationis a key hurdle. The landowner needs to agree to sell plots at a price that supports affordability. Affordable land supports affordable housing Since 2012, exception sites have been able to include market housing, whose role is to support project viability in a context of falling grant rates. Those grants are channeled to registered providers by Homes England, a government agency sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Government has been targeting grant-free development, with the help of the market, although exception sites usually need some grants to achieve viability. But the inclusion of market homes on rural exception sites comes at a cost. Landowners' price expectations are raised, driving up the price paid for land, and meaning that an ever larger component of market housing is needed to cross-subsidize the affordable element. Bigger developments comprising more homes for sale, and relatively fewer affordable homes for local need, will not gain the same level of community support. Threats to the viability of rural exception sites, largely because of rising land costs, means that communities stand to lose a critical source of affordable homes in otherwise unaffordable villages. The question is what can be done about this. Raising grant rates would allow social housing providers (or taxpayers) to bear higher land costs. But our research notes that this is unlikely to happen given public funding constraints and governments' preference for market support. And in any case, the justice of such an approach (taxpayers effectively subsidizing landowners' rent extractions) is questionable. A fairer approach would be to fix the cost of land at a price that supports a range of affordable housing types. That fix can be achieved by setting an advisory price for rural exception sites in national planning policy or, where an advisory price does not encourage sale, by using simplified and remodeled compulsory purchase powers to bring land into public ownership. Experience elsewhere in the UK shows that the prospect of compulsory purchase is often enough to encourage landowners to sell. Our research has shown that the land price that typically supports affordability on rural exception sites is 10,000 per plot. Assuming a valuation density of 35 dwellings per hectare, this figure is far higher than agricultural value (600 for a similarly-sized plot), but far lower than full residential value (150,000, say, in South Cambridgeshire). Some landowners will accept a price that supports affordability, motivated by a desire to help their communities. Others will resist sale at any price short of full residential value. Right now, however, too much is being left to the market. Local authorities need the power to bring small plots of land into public ownership, quickly and at an affordable price. This would enable registered providers and community land trusts, and also local councils, to match their building programs to the scale of need for rural housing. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Prof. Dr. Richard Merrill: How butterflies choose mates: gene controls preferences. Credit: Carolin Bleese / LMU Tropical Heliconius butterflies are well known for the bright color patterns on their wings. These striking color patterns not only scare off predatorsthe butterflies are poisonous and are distasteful to birdsbut are also important signals during mate selection. A team led by evolutionary biologist Richard Merrill from LMU Munich, in cooperation with researchers from the Universidad del Rosario in Bogota (Colombia) and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Panama), has now exploited the diversity of warning patterns of various Heliconius species to investigate the genetic foundations of these preferences. In the process, the scientists identified a gene that is directly linked to evolutionary changes in a visually guided behavior, the first time such a connection has been demonstrated in an animal, as they report in the journal Science. For their study, the researchers carried out hundreds of behavioral experiments to investigate the mating preferences of three Heliconius species in Colombia: Heliconius melpomene and Heliconius timareta, both of which have a bright red band on their forewing, and Heliconius cydno, which has a white forewing band. They discovered that males of all three species prefer partners that look like themselves, with no differences in the preferences of the two more distantly related red species. Using genomic analyses, the researchers demonstrated that the preference for red females is associated with a genomic region where hybridization between these two red species has resulted in sharing of genetic material. "We managed to identify regucalcin1 as a key gene controlling visual preference, in these butterflies," says Matteo Rossi, who carried out research on the butterflies in Merrill's lab alongside fellow Ph.D. candidate Alexander Hausmann. "If regucalcin1 is silenced, it impairs courtship toward conspecific females, proving a direct link between gene and behavior," explains Rossi. Genetic exchange through hybridization Further analyses by the scientists showed that regucalcin1 was transferred from H. melpomene to H. timareta sometime in their evolutionary past. "We've known for quite a while that the red color pattern gene was introduced from one species to the other through hybridization, and suspected that the same might be true for the corresponding preference. To finally show it, and identify the specific gene is really exciting," says Carolina Pardo-Diaz, Dean of Biology at the Universidad del Rosario, and one of the lead authors on the paper. Thanks to regucalcin1, the attractiveness of red females and thus the reproductive success of H. timareta was increased. "We see differences in visual preferences all around us in nature when animals choose who to mate with. With our results, we were able to establish a direct link between a particular visual preference and a specific gene for the first time, and also demonstrate that hybridization can play an important role in the evolution of these behaviors," emphasizes Merrill. More information: Matteo Rossi et al, Adaptive introgression of a visual preference gene, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adj9201. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adj9201 Journal information: Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As the nation braces itself for another pivotal presidential election year, the spotlight on gun control intensifiesone of America's most contentious issues. Shedding light on this debate, new research by Dr. Michael Nelson, emeritus professor of economics at The University of Akron, and Dr. Rajeev Goel, professor of economics at Illinois State University, unveils a surprising revelation: female legislators wield a significant influence on the trajectory of gun laws across the United States. "The average number of firearm laws across all U.S. states has nearly doubled since 1990," highlights Nelson, emphasizing the magnitude of the shift in firearm purchases. Yet, amidst this shift, the researchers discerned a striking pattern: States witnessing a surge in female legislators concurrently experienced a notable uptick in the enactment of gun laws. Women in these areas of state legislature are important since, Nelson explains, "most gun laws originate at the state level and not the federal level." As Nelson and Goel's research demonstrates, gender provides a compelling perspective on gun laws. The proportion of women in state legislatures has increased in many states over this period, providing significant contributions to the passage of gun legislation in these states. Furthermore, their findings also suggest that when it comes to gun legislation and female legislator representation, it matters which chamber they are elected to. While female house members enacted more gun control laws, their counterparts in the Senate mirrored the patterns observed among male legislators. Different interest groups can also significantly bear upon gun legislation. "While causation cannot be definitively established," concedes Nelson, "factors such as inherent risk-taking differences between genders offer intriguing avenues for further exploration." This research was published in Social Science Quarterly and, according to Nelson, was a result of the timely debates on gun legislation and its prominence in the news. The analysis is based on data from 1991 to 2020. The authors conducted a review of the total number of gun laws enacted and 5-year differences in gun laws from 14 categories of firearm legislation during that period, including gun dealer and buyer regulations, prohibitions for high-risk gun possession, background checks, assault weapons restrictions and domestic violence, among others. As the nation grapples with the complexities of gun legislation, this research offers insight to the multifaceted forces shaping our societal landscape. More information: Rajeev K. Goel et al, Hold your fire! Influence of female legislators on gun legislation in the United States, Social Science Quarterly (2023). DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13322 Journal information: Social Science Quarterly This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In a Finnish outcrop nestled between some of Northern Europe's oldest mountains, researchers have found traces of a previously hidden part of Earth's crust that points more than 3 billion years back in time. Credit: Andreas Petersson The oldest Scandinavian bedrock was "born" in Greenland according to a new geological study from the University of Copenhagen. The study helps us understand the origin of continents and why Earth is possibly the only planet in our solar system with life. In a Finnish outcrop nestled between some of Northern Europe's oldest mountains, researchers have found traces of a previously hidden part of Earth's crust that points more than 3 billion years back in time and north toward Greenland. These traces were found in the mineral zircon, which after chemical analyses, indicated to researchers from the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management that the "foundation" upon which Denmark and Scandinavia rest, was probably "born" from Greenland approximately 3.75 billion years ago. "Our data suggest that the oldest part of Earth's crust beneath Scandinavia originates in Greenland and is about 250 million years older than we previously thought," says Professor Tod Waight, a geologist at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management. The researchers' study of the zircon showed that, in several ways, its chemical fingerprint matches those of some of the oldest rocks on the planet found in West Greenland's North Atlantic Craton. The findings are published in the journal Geology. "The zircon crystals we found in river sand and rocks from Finland have signatures that point toward them being much older than anything ever found in Scandinavia, while matching the age of Greenlandic rock samples. At the same time, the results of three independent isotope analyses confirm that Scandinavia's bedrock was most likely linked to Greenland," says Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management researcher Andreas Petersson. A water world without oxygen Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland rest atop a part of Earth's crust known as the Fennoscandian Shield, or the Baltic Shield. The researchers believe that it broke away from Greenland as a "seed" and shifted for hundreds of millions of years until it "took root" where Finland is today. Here, the plate grew as new geological material accumulated around it, until it became Scandinavia. At the time of the crust's detachment from Greenland, the planet looked very different than today. The zircon crystals found in river sand and rocks from Finland have signatures that point towards them being much older than anything ever found in Scandinavia, while matching the age of Greenlandic rock samples. Credit: Andreas Petersson "Earth was probably a watery planet, like in the movie Waterworld, but without any oxygen in the atmosphere and without emergent crust. But, because that's so far back in time, we can't be really be sure about what it actually looked like," says Tod Waight. According to the researchers, the fact that Earth even has a continental crust composed of granite is quite special when they look out into space and compare it with other planets in our galactic neighborhood. "This is unique in our solar system. And, evidence of liquid water and a granite crust are key factors when trying to identify habitable exoplanets and the possibility of life beyond Earth," explains Petersson. Continents are the key to life The new study adds pieces to a primordial continental puzzle that began long before life on Earth truly blossomed, but which has largely paved the way for both human and animal life. "Understanding how continents formed helps us understand why ours is the only planet in the solar system with life on it. Because without fixed continents and water in between them, we wouldn't be here. Indeed, continents influence both ocean currents and climate, which are crucial for life on Earth," says Petersson. Furthermore, the new study contributes to a growing number of studies which reject the means used thus far to calculate how continents have grownespecially during the first billion years of Earth's history. "The most commonly used models assume that Earth's continental crust began to form when the planet was formed, about 4.6 billion years ago. Instead, our and several other recent studies suggest that the chemical signatures showing growth of the continental crust can only be identified about a billion years later. This means that we may need to revise much of what we thought about how early continents evolved," says Waight. At the same time, results of the study add to previous research that found similar "seeds" from ancient crusts in other parts of the world. "Our study provides us with another important clue in the mystery of how continents formed and spread across Earthespecially in the case of the Fennoscandian Shield. But there is still plenty that we don't know. In Australia, South Africa and India, for example, similar seeds have been found, but we're unsure of whether they all come from the same 'birthplace,' or whether they originated independently of one another in several places on Earth. "This is something that we would like to investigate more using the method we used in this study," concludes Waight. More information: Andreas Petersson et al, An Eoarchean continental nucleus for the Fennoscandian Shield and a link to the North Atlantic craton, Geology (2023). DOI: 10.1130/G51658.1 Journal information: Geology Warren County officials are optimistic about spring and summer tourism numbers as major events such as the solar eclipse on April 8 and Belmont Stakes in June sell out regional hotels. Weve been watching the Zartico data specifically on the eclipse and on the Belmont Stakes, said Gina Mintzer, Executive Director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and CVB. We know some of our hotels are already sold out specifically for the eclipse on Sunday night or that whole weekend. Mintzer explained how the advanced bookings were hard to ignore even though she could not yet provide hard data in her report to the Warren County Tourism Committee. The chamber and CVB work closely with the countys tourism office and committee. Belmont began as soon as those tickets were announced. Exit 18 filled up first and then slowly its been moving north, Mintzer said. Our Courtyard [by Marriott hotel] is already sold out. Normally run at the Belmont Race Course on Long Island, The Belmont Stakes is coming for two years to the Saratoga Race Course. The race is scheduled for June 8 this year. Both large and branded hotels in the Albany and Clifton Park area have performed exceedingly well for Belmont Stakes, according to Mintzer. The Renaissance Albany Hotel, the Albany Marriott, and several Hilton properties were examples she used of high-performing hotels. Belmont Stakes to move to Saratoga in 2024, get cut to 1.25 miles Next year's Belmont Stakes will take place at Saratoga Race Course. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the move Wednesday. The final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown June 8 will be shortened to 1 1/4 miles and the purse increased from $1.5 million to $2 million. The change of location for at least 2024 is because of a massive renovation of Belmont Park. It'll be the first time the race is held at Saratoga. The Belmont construction project is also expected to keep the race in Saratoga in 2025. BELMONT STAKES coming to Saratoga Race Course in 2024 The third jewel in the Triple Crown is headed for Saratoga Race Course this summer. The four We looked at this Zartico data for that. Amadeus is a platform within Zartico where we could see who was already sold out or who took their inventory out so they didnt put it on what we would call the OTAs, which are the online travel agencies, Mintzer explained to the committee. Mintzer and her team look at data from Zartico to get a better understanding of regional hotel performance. Zartico is a data technology company that operates within the tourism and travel marketing industries, their website says. Additionally, hotel rooms within 25 miles of Saratoga Springs are all sold out during Belmont Stakes weekend, with rooms going for $1,000 a night, according to Gene Merlino, Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors Tourism Committee. Mintzer did not have any advanced data for Airbnb or Vrbo sales; however, she stated we are already feeling that compression in the market. Tourisms new website debuts early April The Warren County Tourism Department will also be unveiling a new website on April 3 as they begin a strategic full court press for the coming months. Were very excited about that, said Heather Bagshaw, Tourism Director for Warren County. Bagshaw identified several cities known as designated market areas (DMAs) for geographic targets in their new media strategy. These cities include New York City, Albany, Syracuse, Utica, Rochester, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Boston, Springfield, Hartford, and Montreal. A multitude of digital media tactics will be deployed to these specific market areas. Of those strategies, 38% will be for connected TV or streaming ads, 33% for television commercials, 9.2% for paid social, 7.5% for native advertising, 5.1% for Google Ads, 4.8% for digital video, and 2.5% for retargeting, according to Bagshaw. SOUTH GLENS FALLS As the town of Moreau works through the process of imposing a moratorium on its manufacturing and industrial zones, the South Glens Falls village board is taking steps to put off any would-be waste processing facilities looking to move in to the area. We all know that [Saratoga] Biochar was looking for a place, Twin Bridges was looking for a place, said Village Trustees Harry Gutheil during a November meeting of the board. Gutheil was referring to the recently closed Essity building and property located within the villages industrial zone. He first brought up the idea of shoring up the zoning codes in order to ensure that officials would be able to prevent any waste management company from swooping in on the property. Its our village, he posited. Since then, the village board has been watching as the drama plays out in Moreau regarding efforts from the community to thwart Saratoga Biochars plans to build its facility in the Moreau Industrial Park, a facility that would create carbon fertilizer from wood chips and the dried biosolids that come from water treatment plants. On Monday in Moreau, the Moreau Town Planning Board voted to progress Local Law No. 2, a moratorium on new projects inside the towns industrial zones if the project had not already been given final approval. The law would also halt any disposal or processing of waste or waste material through any method which may release contaminants into the environment within the town. The moratorium will last nine months, if approved. Town officials have been adamant that the step is not meant to be a salvo against the biochar project, but a much-needed action to clear up a 30-year gap in the towns zoning code review. The local law was drafted by Bill Nikas, an attorney who represents several municipalities in the area, including the Village of South Glens Falls. The proposed moratorium directly references South Glens Falls impact on the town in one section. The closing of the Essity paper plant in the Village of South Glens Falls may present a host of land use issues, depending on the nature of any proposed use by its successor, the section reads in part. It goes on to state that although the village is a separate entity from the town, the proximity of the former Essity property to the towns Moreau Industrial Park will require an anticipatory evaluation of its potential impacts on the Park, going forward. The proposed moratorium is scheduled for review by the Saratoga County planning board. Which typically meets on the third Thursday of each month, but will meet on March 28 instead. In the meantime, South Glens Falls officials are in the beginning stages of setting their own regulation with an amendment to chapter 123 of the village code, also drafted by Nikas, which would grant the village board all necessary and proper powers to ban the importation of solid waste generated from outside of the boundaries of the Village of South Glens Falls, and, to prohibit the commencement of any use or operation within the boundaries of South Glens Falls which may include the disposal and/or processing of any solid waste by incineration, landfilling, pyrolysis, or by any other method which may release contaminants into the environment. The villages amendment will also be sent to the Saratoga County planning board for review. Public hearings will be set by both boards once the reviews are completed to gain input from the community regarding the steps. GLENS FALLS With the federal government threatening to ban TikTok, many people in the social community are up in arms about not just restriction of freedom of speech, but an end to their livelihoods. TikTok, the popular video based social media app, has become, to many, a means of making an income. The platform offers an array of options to make money on the app, often through giftingsending money to an online tip-collection or through donations of goods or servicesfrom fans of influencers during live streams. The only trade-off to one of the strongest social media algorithms is the security risk the app poses to its users. While all data is stored in Texas and the app is owned by TikTok LLC., a U.S.-based firm, its parent company is ByteDance, based in China. The fear is that the Chinese government has access to the app and all of the private information collected by the app. Late last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would ban TikTok if ByteDance did not sell its stake to a U.S.-based firm. So how would this potential ban affect content creators when there are other social media outlets out there? And are these criticisms of the app by Congress valid? I joined TikTok in late 2021 as @avcollecting, with no intention of ever making a single post. I only ever meant to support my then-girlfriends page and find some quality memes. Now I have 13 thousand followers for talking about film and the nearly 3,000 movies I own in my physical media collection. For this ability to reach movie-buffs and offer an opinion, Im receiving screeners from movie studios, and early 4K UHD Blu Rays from companies such as Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures. With this platform, Ive had the opportunity to expand past film, and step into the world of BookTok, arguably the strongest asset the publishing industry has today. Using both Film- and BookTok, I was able to launch my novel, Empire of the Void, and a publishing house, Valenza Publishing, by connecting with other influencers and TikTok authors, and working with them to promote our books. In all, its been incredibly lucrative, and the best platform I could have used to share my stuff. And if it all went away tomorrow? Unfortunate. But not the end of the world. For better or worse, there will always be another place for creators to share their content while maintaining their style. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts provide the same format as TikTok. Additionally, theres an app called Clapper that is basically a carbon copy of TikTok in every way except performance. These other platforms may be safer, but is the security threat really why this ban has moved forward? If the bill is officially passed, ByteDance has to sell TikTok to a U.S. company or be banned. And theres one social media company that has been known to buy up its competitors. Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads and Workplace. And who are some of the people that voted to pass the bill? According to opensecrets.org and CNN, representatives that own stock in Meta such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Joyce Beatty and Rep. Debbie Dingell, to name a few. It is so clear that many of these votes are motivated by means not in the best interest of the American people, but in the pockets of the representatives. I would have no issue with this ban if it was for the right reasons, because there are plenty. The app doesnt do enough to ensure that its age restrictions are adhered to, which also falls on the parents of the children using the apps. There definitely is a security risk, and the app should be banned from government computers and phones. If it was found that ByteDance was pulling U.S. citizens data from the facility in Texas and using it for psychological operations against its users, for instance, catering the content seen to rage bait us and cause division, then yes, that issue should be addressed. Unfortunately, that isnt why the ban is being discussed. Its just typical politics. If TikTok was banned, I wouldnt be thrilled that I had lost my platform. Ill move on to the next app and start again but Ill be incredibly disappointed with our representatives, left and right of the aisle, for doing what is always done in politics, putting their own greed before the people. Correction: In the original posting we listed a U.S. Representative from Illinois as an owner of Meta stock. His office reached out to us, saying that he does not own stock in that company. They provided the financial disclosure form to prove it and asked that we remove his name from the story, which we did. We had gotten the information from a much earlier source that could not be independently verified as still accurate. We regret the error. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. OCEAN CITY Each summer, thousands of visitors crowd the beaches of the Jersey Shore, vying for space for blankets, beach chairs and umbrellas. Shy, tiny and astonishingly well camouflaged, the piping plover also needs a piece of those beaches in the summer. Along with the least tern and the black skimmer, the endangered birds nest on the beach and dunes. New rules under consideration could increase protection for plovers and other endangered species. In a unanimous vote recently, City Council has opposed those rules, describing the proposal as being in conflict with the public trust doctrine, a protected right of public access to the beach with roots in English Common Law, dating to before the American Revolution. City Business Administrator George Savastano described the rule change as government overreach. He cited a report from the Lomax Consulting Group, prepared in cooperation with Cape May County. Lomax puts this in a very nice way without using that phrase, but Ill use it. Its government overreach, Savastano said. He said Ocean City already has protections in place for endangered species. The approved resolution suggests the rules could impact public safety by impeding water rescues and that the change under consideration could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism tax money. The state Department of Environmental Protection held a public meeting on the potential changes in September. According to Larry Hajna, the DEP press director, the rule changes have not yet been formally proposed, which will take place when they are published in the New Jersey Register. At that point, he said in an emailed response to questions, a public comment period begins. For towns like Ocean City, which operates under a state-approved beach management plan, some elements of the proposed rules are already in place. For instance, the placement of string-and-post fencing to protect the nesting sites of endangered birds on the upper beaches. New Jersey once again blocks access to newly emerged 'Horseshoe Island' off Brigantine New Jersey has once again closed off what it has dubbed Horseshoe Island, a curl of sand rou Those have been used for at least 20 years where endangered birds have nested. But not every area of the states beaches is covered under a beach management plan, which is tied to beach replenishment projects. The rules under consideration would cover all coastal sites. It also would include the intertidal zone. The intertidal zone is the area between mean low tide and mean high tide, an area that is rich in food sources for bird species, Hajna wrote. Under current regulations, the upper beach zone is afforded protections through sign posting and fencing but the intertidal areas where the species forage is not as well protected. Areas of the coast are critical for threatened and endangered species, Hajna wrote, for breeding, foraging and other activities. That makes the areas worthy of special protection. At the Ocean City meeting, resident Donna Moore spoke against the resolution and in favor of increasing protections for wildlife. We are lucky when we have the rare occurrences each season to actually see some of the birds that are endangered, she told council. Instead, were fighting because the DEP is trying to protect these to a greater degree. She described the citys opposition as contentious and as an overreaction, and asked council to vote no. Instead, council approved the resolution unanimously. Council members Jody Levchuk and Tom Rotondi agreed with Savastanos assessment. Any time an unelected bureaucracy can come in and enforce rules, they are going to do it, Rotondi said. One plover chick nears adulthood on the Strathmere beach UPPER TOWNSHIP On a sunny summer afternoon, Deborah Rivel waves to get a familys attentio Savastano denied that the citys vote was contentious. He said he expects the full rules to be out sometime this year, with the potential to be implemented for 2025. The city recognizes the need to balance the protection of threatened and endangered species with the need to maintain the beaches, which he said incurs a considerable cost. At the DEPs meeting on the rules in September, a video of which has been posted online, state officials mentioned red knots, piping plover, skimmers and least tern, along with the occasional sea turtle, as relying on beaches for reproduction. The presentation included images of a dog chasing a skimmer, along with boats landed on beaches and crowds. Another image showed numerous footprints on beach sand directly adjacent to a line of string demarking a protected area. The proposal outlined three conditions for restricting access to a site, including documenting that an endangered species is using or is anticipated to use tidal waters or the adjacent shoreline, that the shoreline is a critical habitat area and that anticipated injurious use could harm the animals as prohibited under the Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act. Savastano said the rule proposal could mean the presence of a footprint could be enough to shut down sections of summer beaches. Later in the meeting, Moore suggested the tiny endangered birds might not last long enough to have an impact. She also is a critic of the citys sea gull mitigation program that uses falconers on the beach and Boardwalk. The hawk might have already gotten it. I mean one of the hired hawks, Moore said. DALLAS With inflatable tanks, radio trickery, costume uniforms and acting, the American military units that became known as the Ghost Army outwitted the enemy during World War II. Their mission was kept secret for decades, but on Thursday the group stepped out of the shadows as they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony in Washington. The actions of the Ghost Army helped change the course of the war for thousands of American and Allied troops and contributed to the liberation of a continent from a terrible evil, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said during the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. She said that many of the techniques the Ghost Army pioneered are still used on the battlefield. Even though technology has changed quite a bit since 1944, our modern techniques build on a lot of what the Ghost Army did and we are still learning from your legacy, she said. Three of the seven known surviving members attended the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol: Bernard Bluestein, 100, of Hoffman Estates, Illinois; John Christman, 99, of the Leesburg section of Maurice River Township; and Seymour Nussenbaum, 100, of Monroe Township, Middlesex County. Their work during the war was like putting on a big production, Nussenbaum said in an interview before the ceremony. We have had in some cases people impersonating generals, putting on a generals uniform and walking around the streets, he said. Nussenbaum, who grew up in New York City, was studying art at the Pratt Institute before he joined the Army. Eventually, he joined a unit specializing in camouflage that was part of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops. Our mission was to fool the enemy, to put on a big act, said Nussenbaum, a painter who went on to a career in commercial art. Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts said during the ceremony that the Ghost Army members were creative, original thinkers, who used engineering, art, architecture and advertising to wage battle with the enemy. Their weapons were unconventional but their patriotism was unquestionable, he said. House Speaker Mike Johnson said during the ceremony that its estimated that between 15,000 to 30,000 lives were saved because of the Ghost Armys work. The legislation to honor the military units with the Congressional Gold Medal Congress highest honor was signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. That came after almost a decade of work by family members of the soldiers and Rick Beyer, a filmmaker and author who has helped bring their story to light after their mission was declassified in 1996. Beyer, president of the Ghost Army Legacy Project, produced and directed the 2013 documentary The Ghost Army and co-authored the 2015 book The Ghost Army of World War II. They put themselves in harms way wielding imagination, bravado and creativity in order that other soldiers might be able to fight and live, Beyer told those gathered Thursday. This is a day that has been a long time coming but it has been well worth the wait, Beyer said. The Ghost Army included about 1,100 soldiers in the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, which carried out about 20 battlefield deceptions in France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany, and around 200 soldiers in the 3133rd Signal Company Special, which carried out two deceptions in Italy. One of the biggest missions, called Operation Viersen, came in March 1945 when the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops deception drew German units away from the point on the Rhine River where the 9th Army was actually crossing. They had hundreds of inflatables set up, Beyer said in an interview before the ceremony. They had their sound trucks operating for multiple nights. They had other units attached to them. They had set up multiple phony headquarters and staffed them with officers who were pretending to be colonels. This was an all-hands-on-deck affair and it was completely successful, Beyer said. It fooled the Germans. They moved their troops to the river opposite where the deception was. In September 1944, the Ghost Army helped fill a gap in Gen. George Pattons line during an attack on the Germans in the French city of Metz. They end up holding this part of the line for eight days, which is really long in terms of doing a deception, trying to keep up appearances, Beyer said. Kim Seale of Dallas said that his fathers work in the Ghost Army came as a surprise to him. Only about six months after his fathers death at the age of 84 in 2001, he was told of the connection by a past member of the Ghost Army who was putting together a reunion. I said, What do you mean, Ghost Army? Seale said. My Dad never talked about it, Seale said. He kept the oath. He said his father, Oscar Seale, who was a captain, had told him that at one point during the war that he had transitioned from a tank division to a position as a courier. Seale said he now thinks thats when his father joined the Ghost Army. Its been a 20-plus year journey of learning about the Ghost Army, learning about what my Dad did, learning about what the men did and just being amazed at that story, he said. The man who opened fire on a pair of New Jersey police officers, one of whom was wounded, has been identified. Vincent Correa died in the gunfire exchange with officers, who were also identified by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General on Wednesday as Derek Fiabane and Paul Piromalli. Fiabane and Piromalli were responding to reports of a domestic violence incident when the deadly shooting unfolded, police said. They were called the night of March 8, around 10:07 p.m., to a residence in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, where they were almost immediately met by 44-year-old Correa. Police said he started shooting at the officers with a rifle as soon as they arrived on the scene, prompting them to return fire. Correa was fatally struck in the shootout. Officers and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid to Mr. Correa, who was pronounced deceased at the scene at 10:38 p.m., according to a news release from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office. Vineland man wanted in Saturday murder A Vineland man is wanted for murder after a man was shot and killed outside an apartment complex Saturday, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said. A handgun and a rifle were recovered from the scene. One of the officers was also struck several times during the shooting and later transported to a hospital with non-fatal injuries, the state attorney general said. He was released from the hospital just under a week later. Its not clear whether it was Fiabane or Piromalli who was wounded in the gunfire. Hamilton Police, Hamilton Police PBA 66, and Officers family would thank everyone who offered prayers and support, the New Jersey State PBA wrote in a post celebrating his release from the hospital. Miracles do come true! An investigation into the matter is ongoing, and the attorney general said no further information is being released at this time. New Jerseys legislative leaders said they have the authority to rework New Jerseys county-line ballots in a statement issued one day after a federal judge signaled skepticism to clerks arguments that a move to another kind of ballot before Junes primary is impractical. As many involved in the legal process have pointed out, there is longstanding precedent that the Legislature has the authority to determine the law regarding ballot design and the appropriate discretion used by county clerks. Accordingly, the proper authority to consider modifications is the Legislature, majority and minority leaders from both chambers said in a rare joint statement Tuesday. Opponents of New Jerseys county-line ballots an only-in-Jersey design that groups candidates for multiple offices by slogans in a single column or row say the practice lends party-backed candidates an improper advantage at the ballot box. Rep. Andy Kim (D-03) and two congressional candidates have sued clerks in 19 of New Jerseys 21 counties, alleging the ballot design violates multiple constitutional protections and seeking to bar the designs use in Junes primaries. Kim is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in June against three others, including chief rival first lady Tammy Murphy. The statement by Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex), Senate Minority Leader Tony Bucco (R-Morris), and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-Warren) provided no indication of what sorts of changes they would seek. We are committed to beginning a public process on ballot design in New Jersey, including a thorough and thoughtful review of other states, as well as a process that involves input from the public, they said. Some opponents of the county line immediately signaled skepticism, worrying legislative leaders may seek changes that keep some powers entrenched with party organizations or their chairs. Scutari is also Union Countys Democratic chairman. If they want to end the line, great end the line, said Henal Patel, law and policy director at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. The letter yesterday doesnt seem like theyre quite there yet, or at all, which is concerning, and its frankly not, I think, where the public is right now. Deadline to change parties ahead of primary election is April 10 Voters who wish to change their party affiliation must do so by April 10 to participate in the June 4 primary election, the Atlantic County Superintendent of Elections said Monday. Patel is counsel for several groups, including the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, that oppose the line and have joined the case as friends of the court. She added that the timing of the leaders statement raises eyebrows, noting a separate and substantially similar challenge to the county line in another federal case that has been ongoing for four years without lawmakers intervention. They never had to wait for a court case to resolve for us to get rid of the line. The New Jersey Legislature always had the ability to do that, Patel said. Its, to put it mildly, fascinating that they are doing it right now at the eve of this court case that is moving very quickly for a reason. At a hearing on Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi appeared skeptical of clerks defenses of the line, questioning the candor of clerks and a printing house vendor who claimed a court order to move to a different kind of ballot would create chaos. Kim allies have argued in favor of office-block ballots, which group candidates by the office theyre seeking. That hearing followed a letter from Attorney General Matt Platkin, who said he would not join the suit to defend New Jerseys ballot design because it is unconstitutional. Platkin did not join the case, and the parties are to submit arguments by Friday on whether Quraishi should consider Platkins opinion. The judge on Monday criticized Platkin for lobbing his opinion from the cheap seats by filing the letter without seeking to intervene in the case. The legislative leaders statement isnt likely to save the county line if Quraishi finds merit in Kims arguments on constitutionality. Though legislative leaders noted New Jerseys ballot design has withstood challenges before the state Supreme Court, federal courts are not bound by the decisions of state courts on federal questions. If the judge finds Kim and his fellow plaintiffs are harmed by the line, as they have charged, such harm would not be addressed by ballot changes that are unlikely to be in place in time for the primary. U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., plans to soon announce whether hell seek reelection while facing federal corruption charges. Ill make an announcement this week, the embattled Democratic lawmaker told NJ Spotlight News Tuesday night. Menendez is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and acting on behalf of foreign governments. Hes expected to stand trial in a Manhattan federal court in May. Since being indicted in September, Menendez has faced pressure to resign from fellow Democrats, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. Fulop rescinds Tammy Murphy endorsement, backs Andy Kim for Senate Democratic Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has rescinded his support for New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy in her quest for his party's nomination for U.S. Senate. Fetterman went so far as to surreptitiously solicit the services of disgraced former New York congressman George Santos, who unwittingly recorded a Cameo message in December encouraging Bobby from New Jersey to stay strong. Fetterman posted that video on Instagram and addressed it to his ethically challenged colleague. Menendez would reportedly need 1,000 signatures by Monday to run for reelection as a Democrat but could appear on ballots as an independent candidate in November if 800 signees back him by early June. The U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York claims Menendez and his wife accepted cash, gold bars, a luxury automobile and home furnishings for participating in a years-long bribery scheme. The senator, who assumed office in January 2006, maintains his innocence. Look forward to trial, Menendez told NJ Spotlight News Tuesday. Finally get my defense up. A famed battleship was floating down the Delaware River on Thursday as the USS New Jersey left its dock in Camden, New Jersey, on its way to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for extensive maintenance work. The vessel, guided by tugboats, was first headed to the Paulsboro Marine Terminal, where it will be balanced to prepare for dry docking and will then go to the Navy Yard in six days. The maintenance work is expected to take about two months to complete, officials said. Three major repair projects are planned, including repainting the ships hull, fixing the anti-corrosion system underneath the ship and inspecting through-hull openings. The battleship, which was built in the 1940s in Philadelphia, served for about 50 years before its retirement in February 1991. It has been a floating museum since 2011. The ship was built at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and was launched from there on Dec. 7, 1942, the first anniversary of the Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor. The ship is the most decorated battleship in Navy history, earning distinction in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and conflicts in the Middle East, according to its website. The ship steamed more miles, fought in more battles and fired more shells in combat than any other battleship. USS New Jersey traveling to Philadelphia for repairs The USS New Jersey is scheduled to move Thursday from its dock in Camden, New Jersey, when it will head to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for extensive maintenance work. Thursday's ceremony was attended by some veterans who served aboard the ship, including Capt. Walter M. Urban Jr., who was a public affairs officer from 1970 to 2000, serving with both the Army and Navy Reserve. He worked aboard the battleship in February 1985 and February 1991 and remembers those times fondly. You always felt the presence of those who walked the decks before you, Urban said. She was born in a time of war, was a symbol of our great country at that time .... to be part of that history and see her today about 81 years later is fascinating. Ryan Szimanski, the battleship's curator, said moving the ship could be a once in a generation occurrence." He described the ship as one of the most impressive man-made objects ever," noting it's the size of a 90-story office building, can displace 57,500 tons and can move through the water at about 38 mph. Szimanski said there are some concerns about the move, mainly due to the ship's age, but believes things will go smoothly. Authorities have dropped a murder case against a Rock Island woman. A gunman shot Desavion Foster, 19, Rock Island, to death on May 22, 2022, in the area of 10th Avenue and 15th Street, Rock Island, according to previous reporting. The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office had charged two people with first-degree murder in relation to Fosters killing, according to county court records. They are Damya Payton, 22, and Terrionce C. Kitchen, 20, both of Rock Island. Payton also faced charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm, court records state. In February, prosecutors dropped the murder and discharge of a firearm charges against Payton, and she pleaded guilty to obstructing justice as part of an agreement with the states attorneys office. Prosecutors charged Kitchen not long after the shooting, records state. They charged Payton in August of 2023. During Kitchens preliminary hearing in 2022, Rock Island police Detective Jonathan Shappard testified that Foster and another man were walking along 10th Avenue at 15th Street to go get a tire when a ski-masked gunman approached on foot and began shooting. Foster was hit and suffered fatal injuries, Shappard testified. The other man fled and was not hurt in the attack. After the shooting, the masked gunman ran away, Shappard said. A family member of Kitchen who was nearby heard the shots and then saw a person in all black and wearing a ski mask, but recognized the person as Kitchen, Shappard said. The murder case filed against Payton does not provide details on exactly how investigators think she was involved in the death of Foster, but Illinois law under certain circumstances allows someone to be prosecuted for a crime even if that person did not directly commit the act. These circumstances can include intentionally facilitating the act in some way, according to Illinois statute. Another example is a person being involved in a criminal scheme with others. All involved in the plot are responsible for acts performed to accomplish that plot. The states attorneys office had already filed an obstruction of justice case against Payton in 2022, also related to the Foster killing. Payton was in a relationship with Kitchen in May of 2022, court records state. Authorities allege Payton provided false information in an attempt to obstruct their prosecution of Kitchen. At the same hearing in which she entered her plea, Judge Frank Fuhr sentenced her to 24 months of probation and 30 hours public service, according to court records. Payton testified as a prosecution witness in Kitchens January murder trial, court records state. The details of her testimony were not available in the current court record. On Jan. 26, a jury convicted Kitchen on the murder charge, according to court records. His trial lasted five days. Kitchens sentencing has been set for March 25. Western Illinois University-Quad Cities will host an ImpactLife Blood Drive from 1-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. The drive will take place in rooms 103/104 of Riverfront Hall, 3300 River Drive in Moline. Walk-ins are available, though ImpactLife encourages donors to make an appointment. It's important to eat and drink fluids before donating. To schedule a donation, visit bit.ly/3UR3x6L. For more information, contact Shelbee Bradley at sm-bradley@wiu.edu. Masks will be optional at the drive. ImpactLife is the sole provider of blood products and services to over 120 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Each year, ImpactLife collects blood at 22 fixed-site donor centers and more than 5,000 mobile blood drives. Photos: Fifth annual Get Lit Writing and Art Contest at WIU March Madness is finally here, and with it comes new merchandise for excited fans, including in Iowa. Joining in on the fun is the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee. Three bobbleheads depicting the mascots for Iowa, Iowa State and Drake have all been added to the online store. The bobbleheads, which are in stock for the University of Iowa, come at a cost of $35 each and an extra $8 for shipping. The bobbleheads for Iowa State and Drake are expected to ship in August. "Were excited to unveil these bobbleheads featuring Iowa, Iowa State and Drake in conjunction with March Madness as five Iowa teams look to dance deep into March, National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. These bobbleheads are the perfect way for Iowa, Iowa State and Drake fans, alumni, students, faculty and staff to show off their school pride! This weekend in the Womens NCAA Tournament, top-seeded Iowa will host the winner of the Holy Cross vs. Tennessee-Martin play-in game on Saturday in Iowa City, while seventh-seeded Iowa State will travel to California to take on 10th-seeded Maryland. On Friday 12th-seeded Drake will face fifth-seeded Colorado in Kansas. In the men's bracket, second-seeded Iowa State will take on 15th-seeded South Dakota State, while 10th-seeded Drake will take on seventh-seeded Washington State, with both games Thursday in Nebraska. The winners of those games will face each other on Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska. Photos: Drake takes home Hoops in the Heartland championship Walgreens on the corner of Brady and Locust streets in Davenport is set to close April 3. A representative from the company said the pharmacy at 1805 N. Brady St. closed months ago and this was a front-end store closure. In a statement, the company said it has to weigh many factors when deciding to close a store. Brady Street is closing due to staffing shortages and unsustainable business performance, the statement reads. "We apologize for the inconvenience. We know that our customers and patients rely on our stores and trust our team members for their health care needs. And, when we must close a store, it affects them and their community," the statement said. "Our priority is to ensure a smooth transition for our customers and team members during this time." A spokesperson for the company said Walgreens' standard practice is to offer affected team members employment at other area locations. Update: This story has been updated with information on team member employment. Photos: Hawkeye's Kate Martin signs autographs at Zimmerman Honda in Moline Bettendorf City Council members say speeding in residential neighborhoods has become one of the top complaints from their constituents. As a result, residents may see a ramped-up communication campaign by the city on social media as well as more officers and signage in areas with high numbers of complaints, especially school zones, city staff said. Council members identified slowing down speeders as a top priority when council members set goals in October for the upcoming year. On Monday, council members heard from city staff on plans to address it. Police Chief Keith Kimball said the goal was not necessarily to write more speeding tickets but to get residents to change their behavior, especially in areas with a lot of complaints. Kimball said they planned to ramp up communications on social media and alerts to residents reminding them of the 25 mph speed limit on residential roadways. On the enforcement side, the city also has routinely received a $50,000 yearly grant from the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Grant Program, which pays for the reimbursement of officers working overtime for additional traffic enforcement. Kimball said the department received the grant again for the upcoming year. Also, City Engineer Brent Morlok said the city would develop a traffic-calming policy aimed to use street infrastructure to slow drivers. It would include criteria for what streets would qualify for additional study and what traffic-calming measures should be put in neighborhood infrastructure, such as additional signage, new lane markings or speed humps. Last year, the city of Davenport was crafting a scoring policy to determine what neighborhood streets would qualify for additional study and traffic-calming measures after piloting speed humps on a couple of streets that saw a lot of cut-through traffic. Kimball said the total number of warnings, citations and arrests for traffic matters by BPD in 2023 was about 7,300. That includes citations or arrests during traffic accidents, minor equipment infractions, registration violations, driver's license violations, careless driving, operating while impaired (OWI), eluding, window tint and seatbelt violations. The role of dashcams in vehicle accidents and their effect on your car insurance The role of dashcams in vehicle accidents and their effect on your car insurance Editors note: This story has been updated with more voter turnout information from Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney. Andalusia Fire Protection District will get a new fire station. A little over 50% of voters approved the 20-year bond for a $5.2 million referendum in the Tuesday primary. Fire Chief Justin Hicks said they are grateful residents approved the referendum so they can keep providing services. "We are really happy the community decided to help us with this," Hicks said. The next steps will be to meet with the architect and construction teams within the next few weeks, Hicks said. The Dispatch-Argus/Quad-City Times previously reported that the station will be five bays, 9,000 square-feet and located along Andalusia Road near Midwest Bank. The new station costs a total of $6 million and about $800,000 is saved. Hicks said they hope to break ground this August and that it will be about a nine to 10 month build out with the goal of it operating sometime in 2025. Voters also approved the other referendum to levy a tax of 0.4% of the equalized assessed value of property in order to provide ambulance service. In Illinois, EAV is one third of the market value for residential properties. Election turnout down from 2020 This years primary election had about a 13% turnout rate for the county, according to the unofficial results. In 2020, the last primary presidential election year, the county had a 24% turnout rate, according to the official March 2020 primary election results. A total of 21,052 ballots were casted. In the 2022 primary election, there was nearly a 20% voter turnout. The 2022 election were for congressional and state lawmaker seats. County Clerk Karen Kinney said the turnout was a bit disappointing but that there wasn't much on the ballot for the primary. Many races were uncontested for both Republican and Democrats. There are about 87,000 registered voters in Rock Island County and a little over 11,000 voted, Kinney said. She said there were around 7,000 vote-by-mail ballots sent and they have received around 4,350 so far. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by or on election day to be counted in Illinois. The primary results will be certified in two weeks, she said. Kinney expects more voters to come out for the general election since more will be on the ballot. Early voting for the November election will begin six weeks before the election, she said, meaning voters can early vote beginning at the end of the September. 17th Congressional district Former Judge Joe McGraw will challenge Democratic Congressional Rep. Eric Sorensen for Illinois' 17th Congressional District seat. According to the unofficial Rock Island County results as of Wednesday, March 20, all precincts were reporting and McGraw received about 2,659, or 60% of the vote. His opponent in the primary Scott Crowl, a Milan farmer and former president of a local union, received 1,721, or 39% of the vote. McGraw released a statement on his social media Tuesday evening, saying it was an important milestone in his campaign and that the job is not finished yet. "Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, we will be hard at work talking to voters across IL-17 about our vision to return this district to a safe, free and economically prosperous community a place where people want to live, work, and raise a family," he said in the announcement. He is a retired judge and former prosecutor who sat on the bench in the 17th Judicial Circuit, which covers Boone and Winnebago counties. Current Congressional Rep. Eric Sorensen did not face a challenger in the Democratic primary. District wide, McGraw received 19,967, or 67% of the vote, and Crowl received 9,567, or 32% of the vote, according to the Associated Press election results. As of Wednesday, AP was reporting that 91% of the votes had been counted for the Illinois 17th Congressional District. The race was called by AP at about 9:15 Tuesday night. The Illinois 17th Congressional District encompasses portions or all of Stephenson, Winnabago Counties, Carroll, Whiteside, Rock Island, Mercer, Warren, Knox, Fulton, McDonough, Tazewell and McLean counties. 37th Senate District Liandro Arellano Jr., Dixon, won the 37th Senate District. The district covers all of Whiteside and Lee Counties, along with parts of Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Stark, Peoria, Woodford, Marshall, LaSalle, DeKalb and Ogle counties. As there is no Democrat running in the district, Arellano is expected to succeed current Republican Sen. Win Stoller as he did not run for re-election. "I am very grateful I will be able to bring my small business and government reform background to Springfield to begin to help turn Illinois around like I did as mayor in Dixon," Arellano said in a media release. Other races County board seat for District 19 will see a contested race in the November general election. J. Robert Westphfal is being challenged by Jeff Stulir. District 19 encompasses a portion of the city of Rock Island, which includes the downtown, Longview Park and neighborhoods near the park. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump won the Illinois primary. Biden received 92% of votes in Rock Island County and Trump received 78% . Statewide, Biden received 91% and Trump received 80%, according to the AP election results. Reporter Anthony Watt contributed to this report. Western Illinois University-Quad Cities will host an ImpactLife Blood Drive from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. The drive will take place in rooms 103/104 of Riverfront Hall, 3300 River Drive in Moline. Walk-ins are available, though ImpactLife encourages donors to make an appointment. It's important to eat and drink fluids before donating. To schedule a donation, visit bit.ly/3UR3x6L. For more information, contact Shelbee Bradley at sm-bradley@wiu.edu. Masks will be optional at the drive. ImpactLife is the sole provider of blood products and services to over 120 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Each year, ImpactLife collects blood at 22 fixed-site donor centers and more than 5,000 mobile blood drives. The Grundy Care Center in Grundy Center, Iowa. (Photo via Google Earth) A judge has awarded jobless benefits to an Iowa nurse who quit her job at a care facility that has a history of issues with staffing and resident abuse. State records indicate Jessica M. Nelson worked at the Grundy Care Center from February 2023 to January 2024, when she resigned her position as the interim director of nursing. The facilitys previous director of nursing had left the facility the summer of 2023, after which, Nelson later told an administrative law judge, she began working very long shifts that sometimes exceeded 12 hours. On other occasions, she alleged, she was assigned to work a shift of less than 12 hours, but was expected to return to work within two or three hours to work an additional shift. Nelson told the judge, who presided over a recent unemployment-benefits hearing, that she told her superiors she had concerns about her ability to drive safely during her commute to and from work and about her ability to properly perform all of her patient-care duties in a manner that wouldnt jeopardize her nursing license. She alleged she had refused the job of interim director of nursing but was assigned those duties anyway. She said that although she had the authority to have other nurses stay to the job to cover shifts, the other nurses would often threaten to walk off the job. She also alleged that in December 2023 and January 2024, there were three instances in which she had to work without any opportunity to rest. According to Nelson, the homes administrator, Robyn Beeken, was sympathetic but was unable to resolve the issue. Nelson alleged she spoke with the management at the Florida company that operates the home, but they suggested she fill shift openings by using a temp agency that rarely had nurses available. On Jan. 20, Nelson was in Chicago when the home was short-staffed, which resulted in a floor nurse covering the majority of two 12-hour shifts. Nelson said she then had to drive back to Iowa from Chicago to work the evening shift on Jan. 21. She resigned the next day, effectively immediately, and applied for unemployment benefits. The company that operates the care center, Arboreta Healthcare of Florida, challenged the application, which led to a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Alexis Rowe, who ruled Nelson had been subjected to intolerable working conditions. Nelson, Rowe ruled, quit the employment because there was an absence of meaningful responses to her concerns regarding the increasing frequency of excessively long shifts. (She) had reasonable concerns about her own safety and her ability to properly provide care for her patients should she be forced to work without proper rest. She had notified multiple people at the employer regarding her concerns. Man would prey on female residents The 40-bed Grundy Care Center has the lowest possible rating from the federal government for overall care, inspection results and staffing levels. Last August, the facility was cited for 19 regulatory violations, including a failure to have competent nursing staff. One nurse aide who was employed through a temp agency reportedly told state inspectors, The facility does not give any training You just figure it out as you go. There are no care plans on the wall, so I dont know what (the residents) need because I do not have access to the computer to chart. The facility was also cited by the state for placing residents in immediate jeopardy by failing to protect them from abuse. Inspectors reported that one of the homes male residents had been seen entering female residents rooms and had been seen kissing or inappropriately touching three other residents who had diminished cognitive abilities. In one instance, the man was reportedly found in a womans room with his hands on her breasts and genitals. According to inspectors, a registered nurse at the home stated that the man would prey on female residents who are not able to say no and are not able to get away from him. A medication aide at the relayed similar concerns to inspectors and said the man would size up newly admitted women and would target those with diminished capacity. The state inspectors reported that the homes administrator and vice president of clinical services acknowledged they had failed to prevent the abuse despite their knowledge of the mans behavioral issues. The facility was also cited for an 8% medication error rate, failure to provide residents with pain medication, using unnecessary psychotropic medications and issues with infection control. As a result of those findings, the home was fined $25,970 by the federal government. In April 2023, the home was cited for failing to investigate abuse and failing to report abuse to the state. In that case, residents and employees had reported that a nurse aide had verbally abused a resident by getting in the womans face and telling her to shut up. The home was also cited for resident abuse in September 2022 after a registered nurse allegedly threatened a resident who complained about not receiving his pain medication. The resident alleged the nurse told him, I dont appreciate what youre saying about me, and then said she was the only nurse working and that it would be his fault if she walked off the job and all the residents of the home were left without nursing care. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Arboreta Healthcare has ownership or management ties to 24 care facilities in five states. Over the years, CMS has fined the company a total of $1,252,289, according to the agency. Officials at Grundy Care Center and Arboreta Healthcare did not return calls Wednesday from the Iowa Capital Dispatch. States sending the most people to Iowa #24. Maryland #23. Ohio #20. New Jersey #16. Nevada #14. Hawaii #11. Michigan #10. Arizona #6. Missouri #5. Texas #3. Minnesota Freshman year of college brings new challenges and opportunities for every student. For Timothy Bilik, his freshman year was the first school year he was able to hear his teachers and classmates out of his right ear. Bilik, 21, is studying computer engineering at South Dakota Mines. He was born with unilateral microtia and anotia, meaning his outer right ear and his right ear canal are not fully formed. For the first 18 years of his life, he was only able to hear out of his left ear. Now, with the aid of the Cochlear Osia System, Bilik has hearing in his right ear. The Osia System is an implant and sound processor system designed for people with conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss and single-sided deafness. Through most of his life, Bilik had been able to compensate for his hearing loss especially in school by sitting near the front of the class and reading lips. At times, he recalls teachers in his hometown of Milford, N.H., would use an FM microphone and transmitter system to communicate with him directly in class, though that system only allowed him to hear the teacher well, and not his classmates. That was the only technology I used through [kindergarten to high school], Bilik said. For the longest time I did not really do anything to treat that hearing loss. The start of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 made Bilik realize he needed help with his hearing loss. Essentially, everyone was wearing masks. I couldnt read lips anymore and get away with the old tricks I used to use, Bilik said. In Feb. 2021, he consulted an audiologist and learned about the Cochlear products, including the Osia System. The system is a bone-anchored hearing aid. It relies on sound being conducted through bones in Biliks skull so he is able to hear. In June 2021, at the end of his senior year of high school, Bilik had the surgery to get an Osia System. The outpatient procedure and recovery time took about five hours, Bilik said. Several weeks later, he was able to hear out of his right ear for the first time. I would say that its not exactly like the hearing on my left side. Its not quite like that. Its definitely very good and something I adjusted to very quickly, he said. My mind adjusted pretty quickly and after a while, I found the sound produced by my [Osia System] sounded more natural over time. Its been a very big help for me, Bilik said. While its not on par with my left side, now I can hear pretty well on my right side. The first patient was implanted with an Osia Implant in a 2017 clinical trial. The Osia System became available in the United States in 2019 and, as of March 2023, is now available in 35 countries worldwide. As of July 2023, Bilik was one of 10,000 people internationally who have the Osia System. In Aug. 2021, Bilik and his new Osia System traveled more than 1,800 miles to South Dakota. Bilik said he chose School of Mines because it was a smaller, affordable school. He is working toward a bachelors degree in computer engineering, which he plans to complete in 2025, and hes considering graduate school. Especially in crowded settings such as classrooms and career fairs, the ability to hear out of both ears has been vital. When it comes to college classes, its definitely been a help, but I still have the habit of sitting at the front of the classroom and I still tend to lip read, but its helped me in addition to what I already do. I can hear those around me better as well, said Bilik, who has made the deans list four times in the past three years. Bilik participates on the South Dakota Mines Competitive Computer Programming Team, and he works part time at Raven Industries as a software engineer intern. Bilik is contemplating a future career in the medical technology field. The ability to hear has been a benefit in school and in the professional world, Bilik said. The company I interned at this past summer, Raven Industries, is where I will be interning at [this summer]. I talked to them at a career fair. The Osia System allowed me to talk to the company I work at now, Bilik said. South Dakota Mines has these career fairs that are big and they can be loud. I found it highly beneficial to have the Osia System for that sort of environment where theres a lot of people talking. Ive attended a couple of other career fairs and I feel like Ive been successful. Because of his success at School of Mines, Bilik was recently awarded the 2024 Anders Tjellstrom Academic Scholarship from Cochlear named after a pioneer in the hearing implant industry for academic excellence, tenacity and leadership within the hearing loss community. The scholarship awards $2,000 per school year for up to four years, and its awarded to someone who uses Cochlear products. Winning the Anders Tjellstrom Scholarship made me realize how unique my story is, Bilik said. When I won the scholarship, it felt like a gentle reminder from my late mother [who died from breast cancer in 2013] that the attributes and stories I carry are still special. In addition, I appreciate getting a scholarship from a company whose products made a difference in my life. Cochlear gave me the hearing I never had, after all. James Tom O'Rourke CHADRON - James Tom O'Rourke, 81, died unexpectedly in Chadron, NE, March 5, 2024. Jim was born to Joseph and Jean (Moeller) O'Rourke on November 16, 1942, in Alameda, California. From California the family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where his father Joe finished his forestry degree and was employed as a District Ranger, U.S. Forest Service, residing at Stub Creek Ranger Station. At age nine, Jim and family moved to Bayfield, Colorado, residing there for four years. At the beginning of eight grade, the family moved to Buffalo, Wyoming where Jim graduated from high school in 1961. During the time in Buffalo, the family resided at Hunter Ranger Station from where Jim explored the Bighorn Mountains in depth, accompanying his father on his forest and range work, developing his interest and love of range work, and emulating his father's work. Jim received his Bachelor of Science in Forest and Range Management from Colorado State University and his Master's Degree and PhD in Range Management from the University of Arizona. Jim taught range science at Chadron State College from 1988 to 2002 and helped establish the Range Management program at CSC which continues to have high numbers of range students. Even though he retired in 2002, he remained active in the range management program teaching classes and taking students on field trips. Jim always promoted the CSC range program worldwide. He enjoyed hosting the "O'Rourke Twilight Tour" during the Range Short Course. Prior to CSC, Jim taught range science at Utah State University from 1979 - 1986. Jim was a passionate champion of rangelands both domestic and international. During his 60-year membership with the Society for Range Management (SRM), he served in many positions including President in 2001, Second Vice President and First Vice President 1999, 2000. And Board of Directors from 1994-1997. He was also President of the Nebraska Section SRM in 1994. He received SRM's top honors including the Frederick G. Rennner Award, Fellow Award, Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher Award, and Range Management Service Award. He also received numerous awards from other professional organizations including the Leopold Conservation Award; Presidential Citation from the American Forage and Grassland Council; Distinguished Service Award, Chadron State College; International Professor of the Year, Utah State University and Conservation Education Award from the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District, Chadron, NE. Jim's international rangeland management work was extensive. His leadership and dedication within the International Rangeland Congress (IRC) spanned 26 years. He served on the IRC Continuing Committee for 13 years, from 1995 to 2008, including president between 2003-2008. This is the longest term of any serving member. He spent over 10 years living and working in Africa, (2 years each in Morocco, Tanzania, and Nigeria). In addition, he worked in many African countries, Mongolia, China, Columbia, Australia, and for many organizations including but not all, Near East Foundation; US Agency for International Development; Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations; United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, University of Minnesota, Rabat, Morocco, and the Peace Corps. Jim was instrumental in the establishment of the "International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026" which is a worldwide event that recognizes the importance of rangelands and sponsored by the United Nations Environmental Assembly (iyrp.info). Jim served as Global Chair of IYRP from 2015 to 2022. Jim served in the U. S. Army as an Education Specialist on the DMZ of Korea 1967-1969. After the Army he married Nancy McCoy of Big Horn, Wyoming. Jim adopted Nancy's two wonderful boys Charles and Keith. Their wonderful daughter, Valerie, was born in Arusha, Tanzania. Jim met his second wife, Lora Hawkins of Ophir, Utah, and they lived in Kaduna, Nigeria for two years before moving to the RUJODEN Ranch south of Chadron, Nebraska. Jim and Lora's twins, Seth and Shannon, were born in Chadron and were Jim's pride and joy. The ranch is named after his grandparents, Frank and Jerene O'Rourke's children Ruth, Joseph and Dennis. Jim worked tirelessly on the ranch implemented a short duration-high intensity grazing system, building fence and water developments, planting 1,000's of trees and managing the timber and riparian areas. At the time of his death, Jim was working tirelessly on his new passion, writing a book on sheep wagon builders. Jim and Lora's collection of 21 sheep wagons are housed in a building with the goal of establishing a museum that represents a sheep wagon made by each of the major builders. Jim was restoring his eighth wagon at the time of his death. Jim was also currently working as a Technical Service Provider under the Natural Resources Conservation Services CSP program. He worked with over a 100 ranchers teaching rangeland assessment and livestock grazing management. Jim thoroughly enjoyed working with ranchers throughout the Nebraska panhandle and sandhills. His other passion was restoring the historic 1870 Lawrence Brothers Mercantile which sits in the historic mining town of Ophir, Utah. Jim is survived by his wife, Lora of 38 years; daughter, Shannon and son, Seth; daughter, Valerie; son, Keith and his wife, Denia O'Rourke (daughters Kaelyn and Kiana) and son, Charles and his wife, Sonja O'Rourke (daughters: Madison and Ariana and son, Charles); brother, Jack and his wife, Mary O'Rourke (sons: Mark and Michael) and sister, Janice and her husband, Jeff Cowger (son, Matthew and daughter, Carrie) and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Jim was a compassionate husband, loving father, dedicated brother, and friend to so many. Jim lived his life to the fullest and touched many, many lives and will forever be remembered. A celebration of life will be held June 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., at the RUJODEN Ranch, 61 Country Club Road, 5 miles south of Chadron, Nebraska. A memorial has been established for the completion and publishing of Jim's "Sheepwagon Builders" book. Donations can be sent to Homestead Bank, P.O. Box 1351, Chadron, NE 69337. Inside the Childrens Home Society of South Dakota at the end of Jolly Lane in Rapid Valley is a small room with colorful sound-dampening panels on the walls, a simple table, a mic underneath a lampshade hanging from the ceiling and cameras. Every year, about 350 children sit in the room for forensic interviews and recount stories of abuse experienced or crimes they witnessed. Forensic interviewers at the Childrens Home Child Advocacy Center a program within the Childrens Homes Rapid Valley building conduct the interviews with children ages 3 to 18 and adults with developmental disabilities. Family advocates also work in the center. An interview itself is a non-leading, non-suggestive, developmentally appropriate interview of a child that is culturally responsive and trauma informed, said Tifanie Petro, director of child and family services. [Forensic interviewers] are skilled at collecting the most accurate information that a child can share. Petro works on an as-needed basis as a forensic interviewer in addition to her other duties. In 1999, the Childrens Home Society launched the CAC in Rapid City. Petro said the CAC partners with law enforcement, prosecution, child protection services, mental health providers, advocates and medical partners. The bulk 70% of cases that go through the CAC are child sexual abuse-related. Thirty to 40% of those involve children inappropriately touching other children, Petro said. Forensic interviews also stem from incidents where children are the victims or witnesses to violence, and when theyve been exposed to or consumed drugs. In the drug cases, Petro said the information is helpful to facilitate medical treatment. Theyre invaluable as far as interviewing a child that may have experienced a traumatic incident, said Pennington County Sheriffs Sgt. Scott Sitzes. We want to make sure that we give them an opportunity for their voice to be heard, but we want to make sure that we do it in a way thats comfortable for them. Sitzes said investigators corroborate the interviews with follow up, but they are "incredibly reliable." Part of that comfortable setting includes items for the child to play with while they are interviewed and not forcing them to talk. A cabinet outside the room contains items such as playdough and fidget toys. Petro said child advocacy centers are born out of the need to reduce multiple interviews and the systemic traumatization children experience when theyve disclosed abuse. Pennington County States Attorney Lara Roetzel said forensic interviews are a crucial part of our case. Prosecutors utilize the interviews as evidence in criminal cases and as an aid when working with child witnesses and victims. Were watching that interview even before we meet the child to kind of get a feel for their developmental stage, their personality, Roetzel said. That's the most important piece of evidence that we have when we're talking about child sexual assault cases, especially." The certification process for a forensic interviewer involves 40 hours of training, but Petro said, being an interviewer is so much more than just the training. Its really about how you do the work versus how you do the training, Petro said. Petro said that involves working in a multidisciplinary team, peer review and having others watch interviews and provide feedback. The emotional toll of working as a forensic interviewer can be difficult as well. Petro said the average time someone spends as a forensic interviewer is two years, but CAC has not experienced that rate of turnover. When you think about what keeps people in this work, it's how we handle it, its how we process it, and because the team is there, we share this lift together, Petro said. The work will always be hard, and we don't have to let it destroy us in the process. Forensic interviews are one of many services CHS offers. Founded in 1893 as an orphanage, the Children's Home Society of South Dakota stands as the oldest nonprofit human service organization in the state. The Black Hills Childrens Home in Rockerville is CHSs West River residential treatment and education center. In 2022, the Childrens Home served 53 children. The Sioux Falls Childrens Home is the East River residential treatment and education center that also offers a day school program. The Jolly Lane building houses the foundation and community-based programs, such as CAC. The center also offers counseling and prevention education, which includes classes on topics such as trauma-informed parenting. Therapeutic foster care serves children who have needs that exceed basic foster care. It involves a case manager and in-home therapy wraparound services that would not be available through other organizations. We fill a gap, honestly, that the justice system can't provide because of the way that it's designed, Petro said. In Dec. 2023, CHS announced plans to consolidate the Jolly Lane location and the Black Hills Childrens Home in Rockerville at the former National American University, which sits on 12 acres on Mount Rushmore Road. CHS also purchased an additional adjacent 17 acres for future expansion. Kara Flynn, director of development, said March 2026 is the hopeful move-in date for the new campus, which will also offer day school in addition to residential and community-based services. Were meeting with architects right now, Flynn said. David here with some of my favorite selections from our Literature of Resistance Book Club. In that club we focus on writers and thinkers who have fought against the oppression of marginalized people across the globe, and while I don't usually agree with everything they write, the perspective I gain from reading these works has helped me understand the state of the world that we live in and the problems that we face as a society. Come to the club and let us know what you think! "Anarchism and the Black Revolution" by Lorenzo Komboa Ervin A lot of people are having a hard time figuring out what to do about the socio-political mess weve gotten ourselves into, myself included. When the box we know doesnt include the answers that were looking for, we need to look outside of the box, and thats exactly what this book does. Ervin uses his experiences working with and learning from many different people and organizations to build an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of our various political structures, coming to the conclusion that none of the established options can fix the problems theyve created. Hes equally critical of capitalism and state socialism/communism, preferring the small-scale organization and personal responsibility of libertarian socialism because of the emphasis it puts on community relationships and its flexibility. He doesnt shy away from discussing the problems in the anarchist movement, particularly its deeply embedded racism, but hes hopeful that a new approach can help alleviate those issues. The idea of true democracy (one person, one vote) seems impossible given the circumstances and the longstanding propaganda campaigns of both the left and right against anarchism, but this book presents it in a way that made me hopeful about the potential of a political system for the first time in a very long time. If youre looking for a way to make change, this is a good place to start. "Women, Race, and Class" by Angela Davis It is not an easy task to write about the convoluted history of social movements in our country in a way that wont put the reader to sleep, but Davis has it down to a science. Her ability to break down complex situations in a few easily digestible pages is remarkable, and her status as one of the foremost social critics in the world is easy to understand after reading her work. The interplay of gender, economics, and race has been monumental in shaping modern history, and this book gives much needed context on the intimately connected issues in the fights for womens rights, African American and Black rights, and workers' rights. In a world that is slowly but surely realizing the importance of intersectional analysis, this book stands as an aspirational model and makes it obvious that none of these issues can be addressed effectively on their own. The plight of disenfranchised people is a universal issue, and only by making connections between the various movements will we be able to see the whole picture clearly. This is required reading for anyone who wants a better understanding of how all the pieces of the social puzzle fit together and continuously impact and influence each other. The March for Jesus organized by Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot will take place on Saturday, March 30. The event starts at 6:30 a.m. at Anglers Roost south of Hamilton and proceeds north on the Bitterroot Trail along U.S. Highway 93, ending at Set Free Christian Fellowship Church in Lolo around 8 p.m. Organizers are looking for individuals, families, or churches to walk 3 miles as they carry a wooden cross from south of Hamilton to Lolo. Organizer Brian Wrede said the event creates fun memories, can become a tradition and everyone is welcome. Some people think it is just for veterans but it is open to everyone, he said. Weve had families who bicycle or roller skate as someone is carrying the cross. Weve had fellowships carry a banner as they walk along for advertisement. Every is welcome we exclude no Christians. Wrede said they are encouraging valley churches, youth groups, families, friends, and individuals to participate by walking the 3-mile section as a group. Your time commitment is the drive to the checkpoint, a one-hour walk, and then the drive home, Wrede said. We still need cross bearers for this years march. He said as they walk the path along Highway 93 most of the responses are positive. Even when it is snowing it is a great time of fellowship, he said. "Some groups sing songs as they walk, and some groups pick up trash as they walk along. This year Wrede will be driving the shuttle service to drive walkers the 3 miles back where they left their vehicles. He said there are ways people can be involved that dont include walking. Some people cant walk but do support at the check points like serving water," he said. There are all kinds of ways for people to be involved in this. If you can walk you only need to walk what you can. Wrede said carrying the cross is symbolic and meaningful. The cross is not made out of railroad ties, it is wood, lightweight and easy to carry, he said. I encourage people to pass it around, take pictures to remember and make it a fun event make a new tradition. The March for Jesus is held on a Saturday, the day before Easter. The next day is resurrection day, unfortunately some people forget that, Wrede said. This is another way of remembering what it is all about. It is not sponsored by any church; it is just Christians of the valley who want to get out and do something. It lasts all day, 3 miles at a time. People are welcome to join after their Easter Egg hunt. We dont want to detract to whats already happening, but add a special element. The number of participants in the March for Jesus varies greatly from year to year. But every year we have had every slot covered, Wrede said. We have 12 check points, 12 segments. Sometimes the slots arent covered until the last minute and some people do all 40 miles. We have several families who have done it year after year after year. For more information or to register, contact Wrede at 406-369-5813. People can also attend the Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot prayer breakfast at BJs every Monday at 7 a.m. or online go to http://corvallispost91.blogspot.com/ or facebook.com/corvallispost91. Our motto is give back with love, and our goal is to help fellow veterans, their families and the local community through prayer and work, Wrede said. We want all Christians, particularly veterans, to know that they are not alone, and we and others are here to help them. Montana utility regulators and NorthWestern Energy failed to follow state law requiring the development of community renewable energy projects, the state Supreme Court has ruled. For years, Montanas Public Service Commission gave NorthWestern a pass for not building or buying community renewable energy projects for its generation lineup. At one point, the PSC granted waivers to NorthWestern five years running. Tuesday, the Montana Supreme Court faulted the PSC for not enforcing the law, including one year when commissioners indicated they were doing so to send a message to the Legislature about the law that had been on the books for about a decade. Commissioners will now have to revisit a waiver granted to NorthWestern for 2016 and determine whether the company was compliant with its legal obligation for that year. The lawsuit was brought by the Montana Environmental Information Center. CREPs, as the renewable energy projects are known, stemmed from a 2005 Montana law that required the states two monopoly electric utilities to incorporate a combined 75 megawatts of capacity from projects typically built by a third party with a lot of community ownership. On average, a 75-MW wind farm would generate enough electricity to power slightly more than 26,000 Montana homes for a year. The states largest monopoly, NorthWestern, with 400,000 metered electric customers shouldered a 65.4-megawatt capacity share of the obligation. Montana Dakota Utilities, with 26,000 electric meters spinning in Montana, was obligated for the other 9.6 megawatts. In this ruling, the court laid out a scenario in which NorthWestern once a year issued a request for proposals, or RFP, for community renewable energy projects, but with requirements that no developer was likely to meet, namely that the proposed projects be completed in 18 months. The following year, the process would start over. In its 2015 RFP, NorthWestern unreasonably required projects to be operational by the end of year, while it had previously acknowledged that no CREP project has ever been newly constructed in less than two years, the court said. The record demonstrates that NorthWesterns determination to set a short time frame for project completion was unreasonable as it needlessly inhibited NorthWestern from examining longer term opportunities to obtain future CREP compliance. With no community renewable energy projects able to meet the one year start to finish scenario, the utility would then petition the PSC to waive the CREP mandate, which regulators reliably did. There were commissioners uncomfortable with flouting the law. In 2018, Commissioner Travis Kavulla noted that the law does require the commission to consider whether a utility has taken all reasonable steps within its control and if we find they have not, the commission shall impose a penalty. Kavulla said NorthWesterns time from bid to finished product wasnt long enough. He suggested that instead of starting over, the utility select a project from the previous year that hadnt met the deadline. NorthWestern also could have complied by building its own project. The law, as Kavulla observed, said the PSC shall impose a penalty if a utility is hasnt complied with the CREP law. That penalty is at play in the Supreme Courts decision. A lower court had determined NorthWestern was noncompliant with the law and fined the company $2.5 million. But the Supreme Court ruled that the compliance issue, and the penalty had to be determined by the PSC, specifically for 2016. As the PSC consistently issued waivers to NorthWestern, state legislators attempted to amend the CREP requirement out of the law by repealing the renewable portfolio standard, in 2015, 2017, and finally 2021 when a Republican majority repealed the renewable standard on a party line vote. In the 2021 repeal bill, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Schillinger, R-Circle, lawmakers attempted to exempt utilities from the CREP requirement retroactively. However, the High Court ruled the 2021 repeal didnt exempt utilities for years NorthWestern and the PSC were being sued. Richmond police announced they had arrested a suspect in the March 8 shooting at a bus stop outside of City Hall in Richmond. Police said officers on Wednesday arrested Jonathan Jackson, 29, of Richmond, in connection with the shooting death of Vincent Robertson Jr., 33, also of Richmond. Jackson has been charged with murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Jackson was arraigned Thursday, according to court records. His next hearing date could not immediately be determined. Officers initially responded to the Government Center GRTC Pulse bus stop outside City Hall in the 900 block of East Broad Street at around 7:47 a.m. March 8 for the reports of a shooting. At the scene, officers found Robertson suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Robertson was transported to VCU Medical Center, where he died his injuries. Police said the shooting stemmed from a brief interaction between Jackson and Robertson. Immediately following the shooting, Jackson fled the scene on foot. Police have been searching for him for nearly two weeks. I am constantly impressed by the dedicated persistence of our officers and detectives, by the steadfast assistance of our partner agencies and by the important contributions of tips from the public, Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said. Richmond police were assisted in the investigation by the Virginia Capitol Police, Virginia State Police and VCU police. 9 Richmond-area restaurants that closed in 2024 Hurleys Tavern SB's Main Street Love Shack Nick's Roman Terrace Baker's Crust City Dogs District 5 Nama Indian Hatch Local Food Hall Coco + Hazel Property comes with deeded boat slip (#10). This stunning and meticulously designed home located at Lake Anna offers an abundance of space for both guests and family members. A total of 5 bedrooms, including 2 owner's suites, and 4.5 bathrooms, this property offers a luxurious retreat with all the amenities you could desire, providing convenience and functionality for entertainment on any of the 3 levels. The main floor features an open kitchen with ample storage and countertop space. Spacious living room with a stone fireplace. One of the owner's suites with vaulted ceilings, a walk-in closet, a bathroom equipped with twin vanities, a deep soaking jetted tub, and a separate shower. Furthermore, the main floor offers 2 additional bedrooms, a full bathroom, and additional storage space. Upstairs is where you will find your second owner's suite which offers a spacious and comfortable living space. There is also a deep storage closet and a bonus room that can be used for various purposes, such as a home office, playroom, or another guest room. 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View More Petersburg City Public Schools Superintendent Tamara Sterling announced her resignation Wednesday evening after she has been gone for nearly a month and the school division has refused to comment on her absence. Sterlings last day on the job was in late February, according to a state education official with knowledge of the matter. On March 1 after news reports about Sterlings absence, Petersburg School Board Chair Kenneth Pritchett released a statement that said Sterling was on leave. Pritchett had not responded to calls, texts, emails and voicemails from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and he did not answer questions about the superintendent role when approached in person. Sterling updated her LinkedIn profile in late February and listed her tenure as Petersburgs superintendent as lasting from September 2022 to February 2024. The 6 p.m. Wednesday announcement comes after nearly a month of Petersburg city and school officials refusing to answer questions about Sterlings status or who is in the superintendent role. The news release did not provide a reason for Sterlings resignation. In a portion of her resignation letter, shared with the media, Sterling said: After a great deal of reflection and conversations with my family, I am writing this letter as formal notification of my resignation as the Superintendent of Petersburg City Public Schools at the end of April. As I announce my resignation, I am filled with gratitude for the time I have been able to serve in Petersburg. I will cherish every encounter with our students, staff members, community members, and the Petersburg School Board, as they have been the driving force behind the divisions many successes. I am confident that the dedication and hard work of the staff, faculty, and administration, with governance from the School Board, will continue to propel the district toward even greater heights in the future. John Farrelly, the school divisions chief of staff, will oversee the day-to-day operations of the school division, and details regarding the School Boards plans for hiring a new superintendent with be forthcoming, according to a news release from the school division. The school division is under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Virginia Department of Education due to its schools troubles. The state education department declined to comment on Sterlings official resignation Wednesday evening. According to state data, the Petersburg school division enrolls about 4,300 students, 86% of whom are Black and 86% of whom are deemed by the state to be economically disadvantaged, a rough gauge of poverty. Before assuming the role in Petersburg on Dec. 1, 2022, Sterling was the superintendent of Franklin City Public Schools. Prior to that, she was a school administrator in Chicago, Houston and Providence, R.I. Gallery: Colorado State stomps Virginia in March Madness NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball NCAA Colorado St Virginia Basketball A Powhatan family has sued the county School Board, the county superintendent and Virginia Superintendent Lisa Coons over implementation of special education services for their child, who is diagnosed with autism. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia last week, claims that the defendants violated federal disability law when Powhatan Schools refused to pay for an elementary school students tuition at a private day school that the school division agreed was the appropriate placement for him. Federal law requires all children with disabilities to receive a free and appropriate public education. State Superintendent Lisa Coons in August sent a letter to the school division saying that it could no longer delay placing the student in the private day school. She also said that if the school division does not comply, the Virginia Department of Education will seek remedies available under the Federal Code of Regulations, which may include withholding federal funding from the school division. The plaintiffs John and Kathy Halvorsen argue in the lawsuit that Coons had a duty to carry out her warnings against Powhatan Schools, and her failure to do so constitutes a denial of their right to due process of law. They also argue that Coons contributed to their severe emotional distress. Coons is being sued in her personal capacity. Spokespeople for the Virginia Department of Education and Powhatan County Public Schools said they cannot comment on pending litigation. The Halvorsens enrolled their son in Believe-N-You Academic Center, a private day school that uses multi-sensory strategies, at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. This placement was agreed upon by Powhatan County Public Schools, which the child had previously attended before the Pocahontas Elementary School head principal assaulted (the child) by grabbing and holding him so he could not move for more than 15 minutes, the lawsuit alleges. The child suffered significant emotional trauma from the incident and refused to return to school, according to the lawsuit. The childs individualized education plan, a legal document under U.S. law that is developed for each public school child who needs special education, said that Believe-N-You Academic Center was the appropriate private placement for the child. The plan was agreed to by the Halvorsens and by Powhatan Schools, according to the lawsuit. Virginias Children Services Act, which establishes a single state pool of funds to support services for eligible troubled or at-risk youth, typically pays for private school placements for students with disabilities that are agreed upon by the local public school division. The Halvorsens refused to give Children Services Act their consent to pay the private school tuition because of a requirement for the family to include personal and financial information to allow CSA to pay the childs tuition. Parents are not required to sign the consent, but their refusal makes the CSA funds inaccessible. A message from the Powhatan CSA to Powhatan Schools sent in June 2022 said in part: For these reasons, Powhatan must deny CSA funding, and the school system is responsible for the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The lawsuit claims Powhatan County Public Schools is on the hook for paying the private school tuition. The school division to date has refused to pay for the childs tuition to attend BNU. Coons, in her letter to the Powhatan school division, said that there is no requirement in Virginia law that restricts the payment source for public placements in private day schools. In fact, such a requirement would be contrary to federal law, as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) simply does not allow the provision of (a free and appropriate public education) to be conditioned on a funding source, Coons wrote. Coons urged the school division to stop delaying completion of the private school placement, according to the lawsuit. This February, BNU sent a letter to the Halvorsens advising them that their child would be unenrolled effective March 1 because the school has not received any communication from the Powhatan school division regarding its financial responsibility for the students placement. The parents argue that their child is being denied his constitutional right to a free and appropriate education. The Halvorsens in the lawsuit are asking for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the School Board and Superintendent Beth Teigen requiring them to pay enough tuition to BNU to keep their child enrolled pending the outcome of the litigation. They are also asking the court to declare that the School Board and Teigen discriminated against their child because of his disability, and that Coons violated their childs rights under the 14th Amendment. The parents are asking for $3.5 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. A hearing on the plaintiffs motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction is set for April 30. Atlee Teacher wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth on Wednesday announced reductions in a dozen Virginia cities where a program called Operation Ceasefire is in operation. Operation Ceasefire, which emphasizes both prosecution and community efforts to prevent crime, was announced in October 2022 as part of Gov. Glenn Youngkins Operation Bold Blue Line. Both projects consisted of a series of investments in law enforcement training, recruitment, equipment, and prosecution. During an announcement Wednesday in Norfolk, the officials said Portsmouth, which Scott represents in the House of Delegates, saw a 5% reduction in offenses overall with an 8% reduction in violent offenses. The violent offense categories are aggravated assault, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape and robbery. Richmonds reductions included a 7% reduction in violent offenses and a 7.2% reduction in all offenses. Statewide, violent offenses went down by 1.5% Eleven other cities targeted by the program include Petersburg, Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Roanoke, Emporia, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Danville and Hopewell. Twelve of the 13 Ceasefire cities saw reductions in crime, and nine saw an overall reduction in violent crime, according to the Attorney Generals Office. It said the cities saw 225 fewer violent crimes in the designated categories in 2023 than in 2022. Hopewell, with a population of about 23,000 residents, saw the largest overall percentage decrease of 33%. Newport News Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn joined the news conference on Wednesday and noted how happy he was to see his jurisdiction selected for assistance with Operation Ceasefire. But, he added: that (happiness) is a double-edged sword. Youre selected because your crime stands out. The Attorney Generals Office secured $2.6 million from the state Department of Criminal Justice Services to disburse over two years. The money stemmed from the state Operation Ceasefire Grant Fund, which the department administers. It enabled the Attorney Generals office to hire a handful of prosecutors and group violence intervention coordinators. At Wednesdays gathering in Norfolk, Miyares called it a holistic approach to reducing and preventing crime with a goal of increasing coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement and attorneys. In a call with the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Miyares said a key to success for the prosecution side of the initiative has been to target those repeat violent offenders and make sure that they are not in our streets in our neighborhoods. His office brought in seven special assistant United States attorneys to work with his office on prosecutions. Of the 155 cases so far, 38 have involved repeat violent offenders, he said. On the prevention side, Miyares said the collaboration has meant working with private partners, providing grant money to different entities doing mentorship and education of our young people I think its important as well. During the gathering in Norfolk, he said: You cant just prosecute your way out of crime. Thats where organizations like Ketchmore Kids, a Newport News-based nonprofit he mentioned, come in. The organization is one of several around the state to sponsor programs that engage with youth and prevent violence. Scott celebrated the program Wednesday along with the still-pending state budget that he and his fellow lawmakers will reconcile with the governor over the next month. The best way to keep kids from getting in the justice system is through education, and our budget funds public education at the highest level ever, Scott said. Were doing those things that make it easy nobody wants to go and do any crime when they study. Its hard to get somebody to do something wrong when they got a job, and then go into work every day. Miyares noted illegal gun seizures that he said have occurred while handling crimes through Operation Ceasefire. Democrats have sent a number of bills to Youngkin aimed at further helping prevent gun violence, that they hope he will sign. Scott noted one such bill during the event, which would hold people accountable for crimes committed with guns that were not properly stored and were stolen from their vehicles. Were going to continue to make sure that we do everything that we can to empower our communities to help themselves, he said. PHOTOS: Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth address Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., wasted no time in getting to the bottom line on whether Congress would fully fund the federal government for the fiscal year that began more than six months ago. Im going to talk about a familiar topic government shutdown and the fact that were going to avoid it, Kaine said at the beginning of a briefing for Virginia news media on Wednesday. The senators confidence reflected an agreement reached on Tuesday by President Joe Biden and congressional leaders including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. on an appropriations package to fund six federal agencies and end a long, often bitter struggle to keep the federal government running. Congress approved a $467 billion spending package almost two weeks earlier to avoid the shutdown of six other departments of the federal government. Now, it faces a deadline at midnight on Friday to adopt appropriations for the rest of the government, including the Department of Defense, which is particularly critical for the Virginia economy because of its reliance on federal military spending. Meeting the deadline will not be easy because of a rule in the House of Representatives requiring 72 hours notice to allow members to review the spending bill before voting. Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, urged congressional Republicans on Wednesday to insist on AT LEAST 72 hours to read it because you will own every dollar of increased spending, every disastrous Biden policy this funds, and (every) crazy wasteful earmark. Budget earmarks, now called community project funding, allow members of the Senate and House to request money in the appropriations bills for priorities in their districts. Kaine acknowledged that the timing of congressional approval could be a little bit iffy, but he said, The fact that theres a deal is good news. Delaying votes by the House and Senate until the weekend would not be anything new in this Congress, which has dodged a potential default on the national debt with a deal last spring to raise the debt ceiling and has postponed budget deadlines four times in the past six months to avoid a government shutdown. The first stop-gap funding bill, adopted just before the end of the last fiscal year on Sept. 30, triggered a revolt by members of the Freedom Caucus that cost then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., his job. All legislative work then came to a halt in the House, as it struggled for three weeks to elect a new speaker in the face of opposition by Good and other conservatives to further compromise with congressional Democrats and the White House on federal spending and policies. I joked with my husband that I knew I was going to make history, but not this much history, quipped Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, who voted for the first spending package on March 6, the day before the first anniversary of her swearing in as the first Black woman elected to Congress from Virginia. Its been a bit more chaotic than anyone expected. The political division that has paralyzed Congress in enacting a federal budget also is reflected in Virginias U.S. House delegation, which includes six Democrats and five Republicans. Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., are both Democrats and former Virginia governors. McClellan represents Richmond; portions of Chesterfield and Henrico counties; Petersburg and the Tri-Cities area; and rural localities from Charles City County to the North Carolina line in a solidly Democratic district. Good represents part of Hanover County and the counties of Powhatan, Goochland, Amelia, Louisa in a heavily Republican district that runs from Albemarle County through central Virginia to North Carolina. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, also represents portions of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover in a Republican-leaning district that extends from the Potomac River through much of eastern Virginia. Ive been long frustrated that Congress continues to budget by crisis, Wittman said after voting for the first funding package on March 6. It shouldnt be this difficult or take this long to fund the government so that it operates effectively for the American people. The Virginia delegation also is divided on the use of budget earmarks for community projects. Good opposes them, as does Wittman, although he supports federal funding for a half-dozen priorities, including money for processors of wild-caught blue catfish. McClellan said she secured more than $15 million in the first package for priorities in her district, including funding for advanced manufacturing and life sciences. Kaine and Warner touted $148 million in funding for more than 100 projects covered in the first spending package, including $4 million for a U.S. Army Reserve training facility in Richmond. The second funding package also will include money for what they called congressionally directed spending by the six agencies covered by the spending bills, but they have not released details. The biggest obstacle to funding the rest of the government has been the appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes border protection, immigration and customs enforcement a hot-button issue for Republicans in a presidential and congressional election year. The battle over border policy scuttled a proposed foreign aid package in the Senate that also included money for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. Earlier this week, Good and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, led a push to tie the power of the purse to an end of what they call open borders policies to prevent undocumented immigrants from crossing into the U.S. from Mexico. No members of the Freedom Caucus voted for the first spending package two weeks ago. It doesnt reflect the Republican majority that ran on reducing spending, Good said in an interview then. It doesnt make meaningful policy changes to reflect Republican priorities either. While Good has argued that Congress should not fear a government shutdown, McClellan asserted, It would definitely be catastrophic for Virginia and for a Virginia congressman to say that is frankly irresponsible. Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan is sworn in on historic day RHB Bank has partnered with SkyWorld Development Bhd in an inaugural collaboration to offer its green home financing scheme to individuals who purchase units from the developers The Vesta Residences and Curvo Residences. This is in a bid to promote green-certified homeownership among more Malaysians. In a joint statement, RHB said that it will offer a higher margin of 95% green home financing for both projects via this scheme. This is in comparison to the usual maximum margin of 90% that is provided by conventional mortgages. To note, RHBs green home financing scheme offers a minimum financing amount of RM30,000 with a minimum tenure of five years. Managing director of group community banking at RHB Banking Group, Jeffrey Ng said that the bank recognises the critical role of green financing in driving the nations transition to a low-carbon future. We are firmly committed to supporting this crucial journey by promoting sustainable financing solutions with a positive environmental impact, he said, adding that the bank has provided financing of close to RM700 million to support the development and certification of green buildings in Malaysia. Meanwhile, the chief executive officer of SkyWorld, Lee Chee Seng hopes that customers will be encouraged and incentivised to invest in eco-friendly, green-certified homes with this financing scheme. This will ultimately enable them to contribute to a more sustainable future. For context, The Vesta Residences as SkyWorlds latest project is developed as part of the 13.6-acre SkySierra mixed development in Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur. Featuring multiple green elements and facilities, such as a rain harvesting system and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, it has been awarded a provisional GreenRE SILVER rating. Meanwhile, Curvo Residences is the final residential phase of the 28-acre SkyArena master development in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, and it is certified with Green Building Index (GBI). 0 0 votes Article Rating SHARE Cancun thief who turned to extortion jailed Cancun, Q.R. A man accused of extortion against a Cancun business owner was arrested Wednesday. Oscar Dario N was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant after the business owner filed a legal complaint. The now detained, Oscar Dario N, is believed one of seven people who arrived at her business on January 20, tied up her and her employees and stripped them of their cash as well as the companys sales. Less than a month later, the same business owner found an envelope taped to her door with banking instructions demanding 20,000 pesos per month. On March 20, one of those men believed responsible for the extortion demand was arrested. The State Attorney General detailed that on January 20 of this year, approximately seven people arrived driving motorcycles to the victims business, located in Supermanzana 100 in Cancun where they subdued the employees and owner, stripping them of cash and a weeks sales. On February 14 of this year, the victim found an envelope, addressed to her, taped to the door of her premises. In a note they provided her with the number of a bank account to which she had to deposit 20,000 pesos per month. Oscar Dario N is facing charges of extortion as well as drug-related offenses. CFE attempts repairs to decaying Isla Mujeres poles Isla Mujeres, Q.R. CFE personnel were in La Gloria Wednesday in response to a hanging overhead line. Personnel from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) Cancun Zone made adjustments to the sagging line after residential complaints. CFE trucks were also seen in other areas of the island where heavily weather-worn poles have been reported. The company responded to the report after a child was injured by falling pole debris last week. On March 13, a young girl received two stitches on the top of her head after being hit by a piece of concrete. The girl was walking with her mother in residential Coca-cola when a small chunk of concrete fell from a CFE pole. She was taken to hospital where doctors determined stitches were necessary. In regard to the Wednesday repairs, the CFE said that the staff is carrying out supervision on the lines with the purpose of identifying defects in the networks and avoiding any incident that affects citizens, in addition to the timely attention of citizen reports. When contemporary transhumanists like Yuval Noah Harari speak about future migrations and amalgamations of human consciousness, they generally preface their ideas with outright dismissals of religion and the truths it may offer. In A Cloud of Unknowing, the new book by Andrew Gillsmith, transhumanism, among other topics, is grappled with alongside and in the context of religions pervasive truths. Indeed, it is difficult to tell if the novels archvillain, a scientist named Ralph Channing, is himself the actual antichrist or just a particularly nasty version of a Harari-like figure. This is no criticism, as the book is actually made the better for the readers inability to make a distinction on this point (or on many other philosophical questions). That is to say, Gillsmiths book is a satisfying read that achieves its goals by, in many ways, not satisfactorily resolving the thorny and deeply complex issues it raises. A Cloud of Unknowing is a sequel to 2022s Our Lady of the Artilects, which introduced a future world of neural implants in most human brains and a population of humanoid cyborgs designed to reason and make moral judgments just as humans do. (The first book certainly needs to be read in order to understand the second.) A religious vision shared by all the cyborgs (or artilects) and the apparent demonic possession of one of them drives the plot of the first installment. Prison camps in Xinjiang, China, where a holocaust of the countrys Christians had previously occurred, also play an important role in the story. The newly released sequel likewise focuses on the artilects and their moral status, and it draws the reader even deeper into the mysterious camps. Channing is the common antagonist in both installments, although he is revealed to be far more sinister and far more enduring a threat than the first book had suggested. The other characters, too, are mostly returning ones from Our Lady, including priests, cardinals, imams, soldiers, scientists, and artilects. Most prominently, Fr. Gabriel Serafian, the hero of the initial story, remains at the center of the proceedings in Cloud. Much of the Serafian character (and the books plot) owes a good deal to a real-life person from recent history, one Fr. Malachi Martin. Martin was a one-time academic, a Jesuit priest (and later, a non-Jesuit priest), an exorcist, a confidant of cardinals in Rome, and a keen observer of geopolitics (especially in his nonfiction book The Keys of This Blood, which placed the Catholic Church at the center of an assessment of the struggle for global power in the closing decades of the 20th century). Across multiple hours-long interviews on Art Bells overnight conspiracy theory/occult radio program, Coast to Coast AM, in the late 1990s, Martin shared his (sometimes deeply unserious) views on the antichrist, astronomical signs and the Vaticans observatories, and the Luciferian manipulation of radiation. For his part, the character Serafian is a one-time academic turned Jesuit, an exorcist, and a confidant of a cardinal in Rome. Key plot points in Cloud include the ways in which the Church is trying to maintain its central role as it navigates complex geopolitics, confrontation with a potential antichrist, an intervention by the director of the Vatican Observatory, and mysterious radiation (dubbed Lucifer particles) besetting the Earths atmosphere. Indeed, Gillsmith hat tips the connection in the most obvious of ways: Martin sometimes wrote under the pen name Serafian. That said, and thankfully, the books priest-protagonist lacks some of the silliness of the man upon whom he is based. (In one installment of Bells show, a caller claimed to be a vampire, which Martin accepted as the basis for an extended and nonconfrontational conversation in which the priest stated that he was familiar with the vampire school the caller attended.) Serafian is rather a more sober and reliable guide through the events of Cloud, in which he plays a role in a papal conclave, seeks to further understand and counteract the threat of the Lucifer particles, and tries to prevent the destruction of the artilect population by global leaders who blame them for a dramatic and frightening event that took place at the end of the previous book. Through these efforts, he begins to realize the full importance of the camps at Xinjiang, where he must travel to finally put all the pieces together. It is there, too, that he must make the storys crucial decisionone that leaves the reader conflicted. To be sure, this new installment is a more challenging read than the preceding one. This is both because it delves deeper into both scientific and philosophical questions about consciousness, belief, and human value in repeated, extended conversations, but also because it is simply a darker and more brutal story. A Cloud of Unknowing borrows its name from a mystical treatise from the 14th century that focused on the unknowability of God and the manner in which this unknowing allows the faithful to grow closer to Himan approach that Yuval Noah Harari or Ralph Channing would certainly reject outright. But other characters in Gillsmiths book struggle mightily with the appropriate extent of knowing, and the positions they take have eternal consequences. Gabriel Serafian stands firm in his view on the subject, leading him to a stunning act of sacrifice that feels necessary but unheroic even to himself. Sacrifice itself is a major theme in the story, and three separate characters make some version of the statement that the universe requires sacrifice. It always has, and it always will, because the universe is sacramental. Its a statement that was likewise made multiple times in Our Lady of the Artilects, in which its implications were both far less severe and more satisfying. In Cloud, the author seems to be challenging the reader to consider which sacrifices are worthy and who can choose what is sacrificed and when. To this point, it is telling that the book mentions the story of Abraham and Isaac more than once, and that the statement about sacrifice being needed because of the sacramental nature of the universe is made by actors on opposite sides of the moral spectrum. Of course, those who hold a sacramental worldview acknowledge that the sacraments themselves entail more than sacrifice: they also impart grace. Transformative, sanctifying, and actual graces abound in the world and are appreciated and longed for, by definition, by any person who believes in sacraments at all. One can in fact say that a sacramental universe is defined by grace, by the real working of God using the materials and humans of His creation. It seems likely that there will be a third book in this series (and readers should look forward to it). Perhaps it will have a place for the grace as well as the sacrifice that make the universe sacramental. He is of the view that Member States may not request the Commission to examine a concentration which does not have a Community dimension, even where they have no competence to review such a concentration under national law The EU system of merger control governed by the Merger Regulation[1] is primarily based on the turnover of the merging companies. Some provisions in that regulation, particularly Article 22, by way of exception empower the Commission to review mergers not meeting the turnover thresholds in question, when cases are referred to it by the Member States authorities and, as the case may be, after being invited to do so by the Commission. In the present case the Court of Justice is essentially required to assess whether Article 22 of the Merger Regulation enables the Commission to review a merger referred to it by some Member States authorities, where the latter lack any competence to review it, since the merger in question falls below the thresholds set out in their national legislation on merger control. The merger involves the acquisition of sole control of Grail LLC, a US-based company that develops blood tests for the early detection of cancer, by Illumina Inc. another US-based company marketing sequencing- and array-based solutions for genetic and genomic analysis. Since the merger did not have a European dimension, due to the low turnover of the parties as defined by the Merger Regulation, it was not notified to the Commission. Additionally, since it did not fall within the scope of national merger control rules, it was also not notified to EU and EEA Member States. Following a complaint relating to the concentration and having invited the Member States to submit a referral request, the Commission received such a request from the French Competition Authority asking it to examine the concentration at issue[2]. Through an information letter, the Commission informed Illumina and Grail of the referral request, stating that the concentration at issue could not be implemented provided that, and in so far as, the standstill obligation laid down in the Merger Regulation was applicable. By its judgment in Illumina v Commission[3], the General Court dismissed the action by Illumina challenging that information letter and the Commissions decisions accepting the referral and the requests to join it. Illumina and Grail have appealed this judgment. In todays Opinion, Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou proposes that the Court should set aside the General Court judgment and annul the Commission decisions accepting the referral and the requests to join it as well as the Commissions information letter. Advocate General Emiliou finds that the General Court erred in its interpretation of Article 22 of the Merger Regulation when it came to the conclusion that a literal, historical, contextual and teleological interpretation of that provision supported the view that Member States may request the Commission to examine a concentration which does not have a Community dimension, even where they have no competence to review such a concentration under national law. After considering the wording, origin, context and purpose of that provision, and having taken into account the logic of the EU system of merger control as well as of some fundamental principles of EU law (such as institutional balance, subsidiarity, legal certainty, and territoriality), the Advocate General takes the view that Article 22 of the Merger Regulation cannot be interpreted as supporting the General Courts broad interpretation of the provision. Such interpretation gives rise, inter alia, to a very significant extension of the scope of the Merger Regulation and of the Commissions jurisdiction. In one fell swoop, the Commission would gain the power to review almost any concentration, occurring anywhere in the world, regardless of undertakings turnover and presence in the European Union and the value of the transaction, and at any moment in time, including well after the completion of the merger. Moreover, the procedures that would result from a broad interpretation of Article 22 of the Merger Regulation would hardly be efficient, predictable and capable of ensuring legal certainty to the parties. AG Emiliou concludes that the General Court erred in its interpretation and application of Article 22 of the Merger Regulation. Under a proper construction, that provision does not empower the Commission to adopt decisions such as those challenged, and therefore those decisions and the information letter should be annulled. [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (the EC Merger Regulation) [2] The referral request was made by the French Competition Authority while the Belgian, Greek, Icelandic, Netherlands and Norwegian authorities asked to join the referral. [3] Judgment of 13 July 2022, Illumina v Commission, T-227/21, (see Press release No 123/22). :: Advocate Generals Opinion in Joined Cases C-611/22 P | Illumina v Commission and C-625/22 P Grail v Commission and Illumina Roanoke public schoolchildren will travel this fall with the technology-assisted student transportation company Zum to and from the schoolhouse under a five-year, $77 million contract OKd by the school board last month. Zum, pronounced zoom, is a 10-year-old private company based in Californias Silicon Valley that has garnered substantial outside support for its mission to modernize student transport. Those efforts include AI-assisted routing and a phone app available to parents that pinpoints bus location. Fortune described the back story of founder and CEO Ritu Narayan, a parent and a Stanford Graduate School of Business fellow with prior jobs at eBay, Yahoo, Oracle and PricewaterhouseCoopers. What started as a way to improve pick-up and drop-off for parents evolved into a complex business involving AI, electric vehicles, and public-private partnerships with school districts. It had not been confirmed as of press time that electric vehicles will be used in Roanoke. Zum succeeds Durham Student Services of Lisle, Illinois, which had issues with buses running late. White former officers get sentences of 10 to 40 years in torture of 2 Black men in Mississippi A federal judge has given prison terms of about 10 to 40 years to six white former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to breaking into a home without a warrant and torturing two Black men The Latest | Blinken says he'll talk with Israelis about alternatives to Rafah ground assault U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he will share alternatives to Israels planned ground assault into the southern Gaza town of Rafah when he meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his War Cabinet this week US Jews upset with Trump's latest rhetoric say he doesn't get to tell them how to be Jewish Why Israel is so determined to launch an offensive in Rafah Israel is determined to launch an offensive against Hamas in Rafah, Gazas southernmost city, a plan that has raised global alarm because of the potential for harm to the hundreds of thousands of civilians sheltering there Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Electricity, water, and heating are essential utilities that form the backbone of household infrastructure and contribute significantly to the cost of living in both the U.S. and Canada. But despite both countries sharing a border, utility prices between these two North American neighbors can differ substantially due to factors such as government policy, local resources, and climate variations. Understanding the reasons behind these differences can help shed light on the factors that influence affordability and resource management in both countries. This article from debtreliefcanada.com will compare electricity, water, and heating costs in the U.S. and Canada, examining how they vary across borders and impact the daily lives of their residents. Electricity Electricity consumption is a fundamental aspect of modern living in todays world, powering homes, appliances, and electronic devices. In the U.S., electricity rates vary considerably by state due to factors like energy source diversity, infrastructure investments, and regulatory frameworks. States that are heavily reliant on renewable energy sources like hydroelectric and wind, for example, often boast lower electricity rates compared to those dependent on fossil fuels or nuclear power. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that the average residential electricity rate in 2020 was 13.19 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Conversely, Canadian electricity costs exhibit regional disparities influenced by factors such as energy generation methods, population density, and infrastructure maintenance. Northwest Territories tend to have higher electricity costs due to the region's rugged and harsh terrain requiring more costly methods of generation while Quebec benefits from greater hydroelectricity potential and therefore lower electricity prices. Overall, the Canadian Electricity Association reports that the average residential electricity rate across the country stood at 14.21 cents per kWh in 2020. Water Access to clean and reliable water is essential for various household activities, sanitation, and daily living. In the U.S., water rates can fluctuate wildly based on a number of key factors, such as regional climate conditions, water source availability, and population density. Municipalities often implement tiered pricing structures, where higher consumption incurs progressively higher rates to incentivize conservation. According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average household water bill in the U.S. was $104 per month in 2018. Similarly, water rates in Canada also tend to fluctuate based on geographic location, water source availability, and treatment processes, and conservation-oriented pricing mechanisms are widely used to encourage responsible water usage. Some areas, however, prefer to charge water at a flat rate where all residents pay the same amount per month regardless of usage. Statistics Canada indicates that the average monthly water bill for households was $53 in 2019. Heating Heating is vital for maintaining comfort and livability, especially in regions where the temperature can drop significantly during the winter months. In the U.S., heating costs vary depending on factors such as energy source availability, heating system efficiency, and insulation quality, and homes predominantly heated with natural gas or electricity may experience different cost dynamics compared to those reliant on oil, propane, or wood. According to the EIA, the average annual heating cost for households using natural gas in the U.S. was $630 in 2020, while those using electricity incurred an average cost of around $1,155. In Canada, heating expenses are influenced by similar factors but are mainly based on climate conditions and home insulation standards. Provinces with harsh winters, such as Alberta and Manitoba, tend to have higher heating costs compared to regions with milder climates, such as British Columbia and Ontario. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reports that the average annual heating cost for Canadian households ranges from $700 to $2,300 depending on the heating fuel and climate zone. Comparing Utility Costs When comparing electricity, water, and heating costs between the U.S. and Canada, several key observations emerge. Firstly, the average electricity rates in both countries are relatively close, with variations primarily driven by regional factors and energy source distribution. However, Canadas electricity rates tend to be slightly higher on average, possibly due to differences in energy generation methods and infrastructure investments. Secondly, water expenses in the U.S. are notably higher than in Canada, with the average household paying nearly double for water services. This disparity may stem from differences in water management practices, infrastructure development, and pricing policies between the two countries. Finally, heating costs exhibit significant variations depending on factors such as energy source availability, climate conditions, and home insulation standards. So, while both countries experience substantial regional differences in heating expenses, Canadas colder climate and reliance on certain heating fuels may contribute to higher average costs compared to the U.S. Environmental Impact Beyond financial considerations, it's also important to address the environmental impact associated with electricity, water, and heating in both the U.S. and Canada. For example, fossil fuels have been proven to contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, which directly impacts climate change and has a negative effect on public health. In contrast, renewable energy sources like hydroelectric, wind, and solar power offer cleaner alternatives with lower carbon footprints. Similarly, water management practices, such as wastewater treatment and conservation measures, play a vital role in preserving a healthy ecosystem. By promoting energy efficiency, both countries can take steps towards reducing their environmental impact and creating a more sustainable future for current and future generations. Conclusion Overall, electricity, water, and heating costs represent significant components of household expenditures in both the U.S. and Canada. However, while there are some similarities between some factors, such as utility provision and pricing structures, there are notable differences when it comes to government approaches and climate variations. By understanding these cost disparities, you can better manage your budget and stay informed of rising living costs, ultimately reducing the likelihood of utility bill debt. So, whether youre relocating across the border or from further afield, knowing how the U.S. and Canada compare when it comes to electricity, water, and heating costs can help you make an informed decision and manage your finances accordingly. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this contributor content belong solely to the contributor. This provided content was produced by Lee Enterprises. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. The Mary Wallopers: (From left to right) Roisin Barrett, Ken Mooney, Andrew Hendy, Sean McKenna, Charles Hendy, and Finnian OConnor (Sorcha Frances Ryder) On a grey day in central Manchester, the three founding members of The Mary Wallopers are chatting to me on the upper floor of the universitys concert hall. They play traditional Irish music, raucously, with the wildness of The Pogues and the heart of a young Christy Moore with harmonies all their own. Theyre not short of an opinion either. We said something like, F*** the Catholic Church in some article, one of the trio, Charles Hendy, tells me, and some f***ing p**** of a priest down the country read mass, saying, Theres a band called The Mary Wallopers. Theyre turning people away from the church. How did they feel? F***ing delighted! Thats the biggest compliment you can get. The group fronted by vocalists Charles, 30, his brother Andrew, 29, and Sean McKenna, 31 seem to have a take on just about everything and everyone. Irish humour? The English dont get jokes. Shane McGowan? His poetry could move mountains. Bono? F*** Bono! They have a way with words thats both profane and rich in colour, brought to life in thick, charismatic brogues. Under our conversation is the long, mellifluous drone of pipes: the final stages of a sound check. A few hours later theyll be onstage doing some preaching of their own this time very much to the converted. The Wallopers started out as a trio, playing for pints in their hometown of Dundalk, halfway between Dublin and Belfast. Over the past few years, theyve blown up (were like diarrhoea, Charles interjects) an expansion that began in lockdown, as they performed increasingly buzzy gigs to pandemic-trapped listeners over livestream. When they were loosed, they hit the live circuit with a vengeance. Gigs were manic, sweaty, jovial affairs. The aim: bedlam. Within a short time, theyve gone from total anonymity to selling out serious venues. Their number swelled to six with the additions of bassist Roisin Barrett, drummer Ken Mooney, and Finnian OConnor on whistle and pipes. On New Years Eve, they stole the show on Jools Hollands Hootenanny. We have a tour bus now. Things are nice! says Charles. Well, now it f***ing smells and were all on top of each other. As part of their ongoing UK tour, theyre playing this week at east Londons Troxy and The Roundhouse in Camden, to a combined audience of thousands. In a few months, the band are set to return to Glastonbury, this time on the long-coveted Park Stage. Story continues What, exactly, is the secret of their appeal? Theres something very genuine and accessible about us, says McKenna. Things are very plastic, I suppose. People say bubblegum music and pop music are so fake. We try to remove the pedestal between the audience and musicians. I first saw the Wallopers in 2022, when they were playing before a small crowd of middle-class revellers at Wilderness, a notoriously bourgeois music festival. Throughout their set, they seemed palpably mocking of their audience, cracking jokes about the IRA and telling them repeatedly, this is our first ever gig. At one point, they stared menacingly at the crowd, introducing Rich Man and the Poor Man: This is a song about rich people going to hell. They were, despite this brazen, unrecognised scorn or perhaps because of it absolutely brilliant. Oh yes! Thats the real Tory festival. They told us about David Cameron going, so we had a prejudice towards it, Andrew says. And then we arrived and our prejudice was correct! Dundalk trad band The Mary Wallopers pose for a photo (Sorcha Frances Ryder) It was full of Tories in tutus, which is an unimaginable horror, says Charles. We had this f***ing group of English girls at the front, who kept going Sing Galway Girl. And we were like, Shut the f*** up, you f***ing English bastards! Mostly, though, festivals are a lark. Except for the hippies, he continues. F*** them c***s. They were annoying bastards. We hate hippies. All types of hippies. If you dont like wearing shoes, f*** off! Most hippies are not too far away from Tories anyway, Andrew adds, a little more sincerely. Theyre all far right, his brother says. F***ing hippies used to be like, Peace and love, man. Now theyre like, Jews run the world, man. Theyre f***ing wasters. Hippies are wasters, and they should all get jobs. They all burst into laughter. It can be tricky getting a completely straight answer out of the Hendy brothers or even an answer thats legally acceptable to publish. Charles, the elder Hendy, does the most talking, and has his face fixed in an infectious, rabble-rousing grin. Andrew, the younger and slighter of the two, looks almost sweet as punch but then chips in with something sharp and outrageous, like a choirboy possessed by the spirit of a more vicious Bugs Bunny. The moustached, deceptively gruff-looking McKenna, meanwhile, is almost mild by comparison. All three seem completely without filter. Charles Hendy performs as part of The Mary Wallopers at Jools Annual Hootenanny (BBC Studios / Michael Leckie) Before the Wallopers took off, the Hendys had brief viral success with a hip-hop single under the moniker TPM (Tax-Payers Money). On paper, this is quite the genre shift imagine the horrors of a Bob Dylan grime album but in practice, it speaks more to the Wallopers understanding of what folk actually is: something urgent and pugnacious. Folk music got this name for a while that it was a lad in a f***ing tweed f***ing hat. Folk music is radical music, he says. Theres this perception that its safe, something to put on in art class. Whereas it should be, Oh my God, theres a folk artist playing. I wonder what theyre gonna say. How much money would be in England if you got rid of the royal family? You could sell the big gaff by the park as well This is the Wallopers whole musical ethos. In their covers, they sing about social issues: from poverty, immigration, the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church. It is original songs, though, that will be the true test of greatness. The three originals included on their 2022 sophomore album Irish Rock N Roll (The Idler, Vultures of Christmas and Gates of Heaven) suggest they have the goods, fitting in seamlessly with the established classics some centuries old not just in the musical style, but in the punch and flow of the lyrics. Their next record, still a few months away, will be mostly original material. (You just have to f***ing do it, you know?) There seems to be little difference between their onstage personas and everyday convictions. The trio have predictably robust opinions on everything from the violence in Palestine a recent fundraiser for medical aid saw the band hit with fascist abuse from creepy bastards on the internet to the British royal family. Theyve been ripping off the people of England for years, says Charles. That fella with the fingers [the King] I saw people were talking about him and saying, Well, Jesus, if he dies now, how are we going to be able to afford another coronation? Heres an idea dont bother! How much money would be in England if you got rid of the royal family? You could sell the big gaff by the park as well. Sell the f***ing s***hole! In the jacks: pubs and venues are usually turned upside down during Mary Wallopers shows (Sorcha Frances Ryder) Go to the bar or the toilets at a Wallopers gig, and wherever in the world you are, youll likely be surrounded by Irish accents. I ask about their own relationship to Irishness whether they ever feel wary of how they present their culture when, for instance, touring around England. Irish people a very small amount of Irish people have complained more about it being paddywhackery. Theyre making Irish people out to be eejits and all that, he says. But theyre Irish people who denounce being Irish. Theyre ashamed of their culture. We sing a lot of old songs that a lot of bands wouldnt sing because they sound too Irish. Well we are f***ing Irish. We are incredibly proud of that. Theres been enough bands that have pretended not to be Irish like f***ing U2. Later that night, the gig is in full swing. The crowd is rapt; packed; yelling along to every song. But even this isnt enough. We want you to tear the f***ing roof off, they tell the crowd. It feels almost lacking if a Mary Wallopers night doesnt devolve into mayhem. And when the encore arrives, surely enough it does. The Mary Wallopers will play The Troxy, London on 21 March; all tour dates can be found here. Palm Sunday Dinners Bethany Lutheran Church, 1201 Dubuque St., will host its annual Palm Sunday Brunch after the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, March 24. Serving will be from about 11:30 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m. and will feature waffles and syrup, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, orange juice, coffee and milk. The public is invited to both the worship service and brunch, and there will be a free-will offering. Community United Methodist Church, 101 Baker St., Sergeant Bluff, will hold a ham dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, sponsored by Methodist Women. Food served will include ham, au gratin potatoes, vegetable with a salad bar and desert. Free will offering. Holy Week Services Grace United Methodist Church, 1735 Morningside Ave, will begin Holy Week with the Palm Sunday services at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday where palms will be processed. Services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday will be at 7 p.m. The Easter worship service will be at 10 a.m. All services at Grace Church are open to the general public. Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport, invites the public to Holy Week and Easter Services. Beginning with Palm Sunday, please join on Sunday, March 24, at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m., Maundy Thursday services on Thursday, March 28, at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. with Holy Communion. Good Friday services on Friday, March 29, at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Easter Sunday services with Holy Communion and the Hallelujah Chorus on Sunday, March 31, at 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast served 7:30 to 10 a.m. Augustana Lutheran Church, 6th and Court St., will be holding worship services throughout Holy Week, including Palm Sunday on March 24 at 10 a.m., Maundy Thursday on March 28 at 7 p.m., Good Friday on March 29 at 7 p.m., Easter Vigil Saturday on March 30 at 7 p.m., and Easter Sunday on March 31 with breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and worship of the Risen Lord at 10 a.m. All are welcome! United Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd., will hold services for Holy Week. Maundy Thursday service will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28; Good Friday service will be at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 29; and service will be at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 30. Easter Sunday services will be a sunrise service at 7 a.m. and regular service at 10 a.m. with an Egg Bake Breakfast following the sunrise service. St. Mark ELCA, 5200 Glenn Ave., will hold Holy Week services this week with Maundy Thursday worship at 7 p.m. on March 28, Good Friday worship at 7 p.m. on March 29, and Easter Sunday worship at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on March 31. Living Faith Lutheran Church, a new ELCA congregation in Le Mars, meets at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ, 858 7th Ave SE, Le Mars, will hold Easter Sunday Worship at 11:15 a.m. on March 31. Monthly Carmelite Board Meeting The monthly Carmelite Board Meeting will be held Monday, April 1, at the Carmelite Monastery, 2901 S. Cecelia Street with Mass at 7 a.m. and refreshments at 8 a.m. The business meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m., the rosary will start at 9 a.m. and prayers with the Sisters at 9:15 a.m. Honorary members are always welcome. Leonetti to keynote Mens Conference National Catholic speaker, youth minister, parish mission leader, author and Des Moines Catholic radio host Jon Leonetti will be the keynote speaker for the April 6 Mens Conference in Le Mars, Iowa. The Men of the Cross conference is co-sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Sioux City and the Le Mars All Saints Catholic Parish Mens Ministry group. Leonetti shared that he will be talking to the conference participants about humans being created in Gods image and likeness, as described in the book of Genesis. He pointed out that humans are the highest form of Gods creation. Men of the Cross will include three keynote presentations from Leonetti, two 30-minute breakout sessions, lunch and Mass at 2 p.m. with Bishop Nickless. The Plymouth County Pork Producers will be providing a hearty pork chop lunch for the men, which has become an annual favorite for the participants. Bower explained the breakout speakers will include Father Zach Jones, Father Michael Erpelding and Daniel Swalve, parishioner and father of young children. To register for the conference, participants can go to scdiocese.org/mensconference. Cost is $40 per person if registered by March 22. After March 22, the fee increases to $50 per person. Fathers and sons registering together will receive a $5 discount off of each registration. The conference will be held at All Saints Catholic ParishSt. Joseph Church, 605 Plymouth St. NE in Le Mars. Carmelite Shower of Roses Luncheon and Card Party All parishioners and friends are invited to attend the annual Carmelite Shower of Roses Luncheon and Card Party on April 9 with doors opening at 11 a.m. Free will donations accepted. The event will take place at St. Michael Parish Center, 2223 Indian Hills Drive. The day includes a light luncheon: chicken salad on lettuce, croissant, a wonderful dessert bar, coffee and ice tea. Cards may be played until 3 p.m. following lunch. There will be an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets until 1:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold for $1.00 apiece and winners will be announced at 2:15 p.m. The Luncheon and Card Party is sponsored annually by the Carmelite Board members to assist the Carmelite Nuns of Sioux City. Please come and enjoy an afternoon of fun, food, cards and socialization. For more information please call 212-0248 or 898-6267. Citywide confessions In an effort to encourage the Catholic faithful to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), the four Catholic parishes in Sioux City are collaborating on citywide confessions throughout the next year. Each parish will host one of four come and go confessions to remind Catholics that the sacrament is available throughout the year not just during the liturgical (church) seasons of Advent and Lent. Confessions will be available at the following locations from 7 to 8 p.m. and the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for confession participants to pray in adoration if they wish. Multiple priests will be present at each citywide confessions event. June 18, 2024 at Sacred Heart Parish at 5010 Military Road. Pastors of the four parishes include: The Rev. David Hemann of Holy Cross Parish, which includes Blessed Sacrament and St. Michael churches; the Rev. David Esquiliano of Cathedral Parish, which includes the Cathedral of the Epiphany, St. Boniface and St. Joseph churches; the Rev. Brad Pelzel of Mater Dei Parish, which includes Immaculate Conception and Nativity churches, and the Rev. Tim Friedrichsen of Sacred Heart Parish. Food pantry St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays. STORM LAKE, Iowa Tyson Fresh Meats has reached settlements with the families of three workers who contracted COVID-19 at the company's Storm Lake pork plant and later died. In June 2022, the estates of Ken Jones, 60, a 12-year employee who died on June 3, 2020; Juan Jauregui Samudio, 60, who died on June 10, 2020, and had worked for more than five years at Tyson; and Victor Barahona Rivera, a 27-year Tyson employee who died on June 15, 2020, filed negligence lawsuits against the Arkansas-based meatpacker and plant managers in Buena Vista County District Court. The families said in the lawsuits that Tyson and its managers knew of the COVID-19 risks soon after the outbreak in early 2020 but continued to expose workers to high risks of contracting the virus by forcing them to work in close quarters without proper personal protection. The suit also said Tyson's sanitizing and disinfecting procedures and COVID-19 testing and screening were inadequate, and the company didn't comply with state and national safety precautions. Each lawsuit sought judgments to compensate the families for losses and damages in excess of $10,000. Storm Lake attorney Willis Hamilton, whose firm represented the workers' families, said they had reached monetary settlements with Tyson and did not wish to divulge the amounts. The lawsuits were dismissed March 4. A Tyson spokeswoman said the company had no information to share regarding the settlements. Tyson, which employs more than 2,300 workers at its Storm Lake pork and turkey processing plants, had said in earlier court filings that it was not liable for the workers' deaths. A similar lawsuit filed in Buena Vista County against Tyson in December 2020 by the family of 65-year-old Michael Everhard, a 27-year Storm Lake plant worker who died from COVID-19 in June 2020 has yet to be resolved. The case has been stayed for months while appeals are heard in similar lawsuits involving COVID-19 deaths of workers at Tyson's Waterloo, Iowa, plant. Tyson in mid 2021 said that, up to that point, it had spent more than $700 million on COVID-19 protective measures and on-site testing and vaccinations for its workers and had hired dozens of additional nurses. HARTLEY, Iowa -- A 16-year-old was killed Wednesday morning in a single-vehicle crash northwest of Hartley, according to a minimal crash report from the Iowa State Patrol. The juvenile male, who was from Hartley, was not named in the report. The crash happened at 8:30 a.m. in the area of 300th Street and Van Buren Avenue. The report stated that the 16-year-old was driving a 2000 Honda Accord eastbound on 300th Street, when the vehicle left the roadway and struck a creek embankment. "The driver was not restrained and suffered a fatal injury," the report stated. Hartley EMS, the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa DNR assisted the Iowa State Patrol at the scene. Australia ready to work with China to seek common interests as far as possible: Australian PM Xinhua) 09:32, March 21, 2024 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Canberra, Australia, March 20, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) CANBERRA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Differences and disagreements should not define the Australia-China relations, and both countries should seek common interests as far as possible, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday. Albanese made the statement while meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Canberra. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is currently on a tour from March 17 to 21 for an official visit to New Zealand and to Australia. The Australian side is pleased to see that in the past two years, Australia-China relations have returned to the right direction, and Australia is willing to keep close high-level exchanges with China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, Albanese said. Albanese stressed that Australia always has and will adhere to the One-China policy. Noting the obstacles encountered in China-Australia relations have been overcome one by one, and the outstanding cases are being properly resolved, Wang said China-Australia relations have realized a second important transformation after the current Australian Labor government came to power. China is willing to work with Australia to promote high-level exchanges, resume the dialogue mechanism between the two countries, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, Wang said. Calling for efforts to manage and transcend differences in a spirit of mutual respect, Wang said the two countries should jointly promote the building of a more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SOUTH SIOUX CITY Roughly a year ago, 35 cameras were affixed to black poles on major thoroughfares in South Sioux City. The cameras, which capture high resolution images of the backs of vehicles and license plate data, are a component of Flock Safety's license plate recognition, or LPR, system. Since the LPR cameras were implemented last April with City Council approval, the Police Department has located 20 stolen vehicles and aided in three outside agency homicide investigations, including the fatal stabbing of a Dakota Dunes woman in August. "It really helped us, ultimately, with providing information to attempt to get him located," Police Lt. Jeanette McFee said of Alfredo Castellanos-Rosales. The 39-year-old Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, contributing to the neglect of a child and contributing to the abuse of a child in connection with the April 25 stabbing death of 23-year-old Jordan Beardshear in her apartment at The Wellington at the Dunes complex. South Sioux City license plate cameras A license plate recognition camera is shown near the intersection of West 29th Street and Highway 77 in South Sioux City. The northeast Nebras Flock Safety's LPR system allows South Sioux City police officers to use their laptops and cellphones to query identifying vehicle features, such as color, make, bumper sticker, top rack and pickup box. It also sends an alert to law enforcement when a vehicle on the "hot list" is detected in the area. The system leverages the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), a computerized index of missing persons and criminal information. "If a license plate is entered into NCIC, once it passes one of those cameras, an internal system notifies us that possibly the owner has a warrant, or there's possibly a missing person inside this vehicle," McFee said. 'We're not trying to be big brother' Flock Safety's cameras, which are in operation in more than 4,000 cities in 42 states, have come under fire from the American Civil Liberties Union, which has asked citizens to reach out to local elected officials and law enforcement to "pump the brakes" on the use of what is calls a "nationwide mass-surveillance system." "Such a system provides even small-town sheriffs access to a sweeping and powerful mass-surveillance tool, and allows big actors like federal agencies and large urban police departments to access the comings and goings of vehicles in even the smallest of towns," the ACLU said in a February 2023 report published on its website. South Sioux City Police Chief Ed Mahon said he's only heard from a couple of individuals who are concerned about "big brother" potentially watching in South Sioux City. He said only one person he talked with was "strongly opposed" to the cameras. "We're not trying to be big brother. We just want another tool. We can reach out and get information we really need for the worst crimes," he said. South Sioux City license plate cameras South Sioux City Police Chief Ed Mahon, right, and Lt. Jeanette McFee talk underneath a license plate recognition camera near the intersection Mahon said Flock Safety's LPR system doesn't use facial recognition technology, the ability to match a human face from an image to a database of faces. "It's just to the rear of the car," he said of what the cameras capture. "Occasionally, we'll get a front plate, but I don't know if you could really identify anybody out of the front." When searching the data LPR cameras capture, McFee said officers have to report what they're looking for. She said Nebraska state statute requires that searches be related to criminal activity. She said the images taken by the cameras "are gone" from a secure cloud server after 30 days. "If I'm driving down the street as a patrol officer, I'm seeing all kinds of license plates. That's exactly what these cameras are getting," she said. "They're not telling me whose car that is. I don't know that. I would have to do further investigation -- running the plate and doing all that before I know whose vehicle that would be. If someone's not involved in a crime, I'm not looking at their car." Crimefighting tool Mahon said Flock Safety's LPR cameras, which are solar and battery-powered, are "a really good tool" for his department. Even the dispatchers have access to the internet-based system, which allows them to assist officers in locating a vehicle when an alert comes in. "I think there's been a tremendous amount of interest from the officers and a lot of activity. It's one of the high-tech items that really the officers use all the time," Mahon said. South Sioux City is leasing the camera system from Flock Safety at a cost of around $100,000 over a two-year period. American Rescue Plan Act funding is covering the cost of the cameras, which Flock Safety provides 24/7 technical support for. Dakota County also has four LPR cameras. "From my perspective, they've been working extremely well. We've found several missing cars. We found the issues with murder cases here that happened in other areas. We're glad to see that it's expanding and covering many more cities across the county," South Sioux City Administrator Lance Hedquist said of the Flock system. "I think it's done great." South Sioux City license plate cameras A license plate recognition camera is shown near the intersection of West 29th Street and Highway 77 in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Since the cameras were installed, McFee said the system helped police locate six missing people who were entered into the NCIC, including a juvenile female who was found in an adult male suspect's vehicle. She said the cameras even led to the identification of individuals who were passing counterfeit bills in Sioux City and South Sioux City. "We found that the vehicle had been a rental vehicle and, in the last month, it had gone from Michigan to Iowa, through Illinois, Des Moines, Nebraska, and back through Illinois and Wisconsin to Michigan. It's basically a big counterfeiting ring, where they're getting items with these counterfeit bills at different businesses," McFee said. "We have nationwide access, so any agency that has a Flock camera we can search. I was able to search this particular vehicle going through all of these areas." South Sioux City saw a 6.3% decrease in serious and violent crime last year, as well as a 6.7% decrease in total crime. Motor vehicle thefts dropped by nearly 44%, from 41 in 2022 to 23 in 2023. Mahon is unsure whether LPR cameras are a contributing factor in the decline, but he hopes they are deterring criminals. "If we could afford it, I'd love to double the number of cameras and really put out there, 'If you're going to do this, don't come here, because we're going to do everything we can to arrest you,'" he said. Are LPR cameras coming to Sioux City? Last April, the Sioux City Council approved a resolution allowing South Sioux City to install two of its LPR cameras on the Iowa side of the Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge. During a Feb. 17 operating budget session, Sioux City Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr asked Police Chief Rex Mueller if his department intends to pursue LPR cameras. "Right now, the state is kind of lumping LPRs into ATE (automated traffic enforcement), so we're unsure where that's going to go. We're monitoring that," said Mueller, who mentioned there are some private LPR cameras operating in the city. "Depending how automated traffic enforcement comes out, we think that's a positive resource. But what we're also looking at is some of the automated traffic enforcement companies out there actually have LPR capabilities. So rather than just putting in LPR cameras, you have ATE cameras that can also have that capability." Sioux City Police Capt. Ryan Bertrand told The Journal the police department is going to ask the council for permission to apply for a Byrne-JAG grant to fund the purchase of LPR cameras. He said the police department is partnering with the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office and Tri-State Drug Task Force on the grant request, which will be in the neighborhood of $125,000. Bertrand said there are half a dozen other LPR systems, but he said Flock Safety's is the one the police department spent the most time researching. "For quality, network, bang for the buck, affordability, Flock is the one we're looking at right now. It's a subscription-based kind of service. Flock owns the camera, hardware and equipment. They maintain the equipment. If the equipment breaks, there's no charge," he said. "If every police agency in the United States had a Flock system, you'd have an incredibly powerful intelligence network. Your crime-fighting abilities would be amazing." Bertrand said as few as 10 LPR cameras could have an impact in the city if they were put in the right places. Exactly how many cameras Sioux City could acquire is up in the air, as the grant funding is not guaranteed. Bertrand said the cameras would be placed in public locations where anybody has the right to be. "There's no Fourth Amendment concerns. There's no privacy concerns. The license plate readers focus on license plates. They're not capturing data 24/7. They're not full-time surveillance cameras that way," said Bertrand, who said he thinks more people today expect businesses and property owners to have working cameras. "People actually are embracing technology that way. Most people want to be safe. They want to be protected." SIOUX CITY -- A former delivery driver for an Onawa, Iowa, pharmacy has been charged in federal court with stealing prescription opioids from a former customer's home. Sarah Haptonstall, 46, of Onawa, was arrested Tuesday and is charged by a complaint in U.S. District Court in Sioux City with one count of acquiring and attempting to acquire a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge. She also faces charges in Monona County of breaking into former customers' homes and stealing their prescription painkillers. Haptonstall was a delivery driver for Stangel Pharmacy in 2021 and later resigned after it was discovered she was stealing drugs. A complaint filed in federal court said a 2023 Monona County Sheriff's Office investigation of burglaries and drug thefts showed that all victims had been customers of the pharmacy while Haptonstall worked there. A U.S. Department of Health & Human Services special agent said in the complaint that Haptonstall targeted homes of her former customers to steal leftover painkillers. Monona County deputies on March 8, 2023, took a report of stolen prescription pills and oxycodone from an Onawa home. A neighbor's surveillance camera showed Haptonstall leaving the home. A deputy was granted a court order to place a GPS tracker on Haptonstall's vehicle. Tracker data showed Haptonstall's vehicle had been driven to the victim's home a day later. The deputy met with the victim again, and they discovered a bottle of hydrocodone had been stolen from a bedroom. Deputies interviewed Haptonstall and searched her vehicle, finding a 9mm pistol. She was prohibited from possession firearms because of a previous conviction for stealing drugs. Several empty prescription bottles also were found. Haptonstall was arrested March 10, 2023, and charged in Monona County District Court with stealing prescription drugs, including percocet, oxycontin and hydrocodone, from at least three homes. She has pleaded not guilty to six counts of third-degree burglary, five counts of drug diversion and single counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance. She's scheduled to stand trial in June. Haptonstall previously pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of drug diversion for swapping out 10 hydrocodone tablets with Tylenol and keeping the hydrocodone for herself while she was a delivery driver for the pharmacy. She received a 10-year suspended prison sentence and was placed on three years' probation. Haptonstall previously worked as a nurse and has since surrendered her license to the Iowa Nursing Board. SIOUX CITY Days after an internal memo about the suspension of the City of Sioux City's cultural inclusion liaison was leaked to The Journal, city staff have declined to release information about what exactly prompted the disciplinary action. On March 14, a Journal reporter filed an open records request with the city under the Freedom of Information Act, seeking the following: Documents including but not limited to an investigation concerning violations of city work rules by Semehar Ghebrekidan Documents placed in Ghebrekidan's personnel file providing the reasons and rationale for certain disciplinary actions, which would be considered public records and must be provided in response to an open records request per House File 291 City Attorney Nicole DuBois denied the requested documents in an email Monday, writing that documents including but not limited to an investigation concerning violations of city work rules "are confidential under Iowa Code 22.7(11)." The code section cites an exemption to the open records law for "personal information in confidential personnel records of government bodies relating to identified or identifiable individuals who are officials, officers, or employees of the government bodies." In response to the Journal's FOIA request for documents placed in Ghebrekidan's personnel file, DuBois wrote, "there are none." As of Wednesday afternoon, DuBois had not yet responded to a modified request The Journal emailed Tuesday afternoon. Under Iowa open records laws, the city has 10 business days to reply to the request and up to 20 calendar days to determine what should be made available, if the request could include confidential records or information. Ghebrekidan was suspended with pay effective Feb. 21, pending the completion of an investigation concerning "violations of city work rules," according to the internal memo. She has been employed with the city since 2021. During Monday's City Council meeting, several residents spoke out against Ghebrekidan's suspension. "She's suspended. Her supervisor will tell her when it ends. She's been on it 30 days Thursday," said Jim Jung, who serves on the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory Committee, which Ghebrekidan oversees. "No reason is given in this memo why she's at home. So, I'm here to show my support for Semehar." City staff and council members said little during the exchange, which occurred during the citizen comments portion of the meeting. At one point, when a supporter asked whether she could pose questions to the council, Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr responded, "We're not allowed to answer." Sioux City resident Trisha Rivers said she's not sure why Ghebrekidan was suspended, but she said she's upset about the suspension and wants answers from the city. "We are the second-most-diverse county here in the state of Iowa, and we're doing this to a pregnant Black woman. Do none of you care? Bob, do you care?" Rivers said, directing her question at Mayor Bob Scott. Scott responded by saying that Ghebrekidan has hired an attorney. "When someone hires an attorney, we don't have the privilege or the opportunity to say anything in the public about that," he said. DuBois said that personnel matters are confidential and "the city is prohibited from comments." Mariana Pacheco, a Sioux City resident and educator, said the city has taken "cruel measures" against Ghebrekidan, "whose role is centered around fostering a more inclusive workplace." "It is a shame that instead of acknowledging Semehar's valuable contributions to the community, your perspective is blinded by animosity, leading to cruel measures, such as unwarranted and unlawful house arrest upon a pregnant woman who you all know is at high-risk," Pacheco said. The memo states that during Ghebrekidan's suspension, her residence essentially becomes her assigned work area. "If you want to be absent from your residence for any reason other than a lunch period, you must contact your supervisor in advance and obtain the appropriate authorization. If you want to leave town at any time during this time period, you need to contact your supervisor in advance and obtain the appropriate authorization. If approved, your timecard will reflect the use of sick leave." The memo goes on say that Ghebrekidan must contact her supervisor if she needs to go to a medical appointment or pharmacy, or schedule a medical treatment. "You must contact your supervisor in advance (where practicable) for authorization. If approved, your timecard will reflect the use of sick leave," the memo states. Ghebrekidan's suspension is in effect until she is notified by her supervisor to return to work, according to the memo. "You will be notified at the completion of the investigation," the memo states. Ghebrekidan's husband Logan Arguello told the council there have been "many times" that he wanted to come before the council and express his concerns. He spoke about his wife being put in uncomfortable and even dangerous situations while on the job. But Ghebrekidan asked him to refrain from doing so. Arguello mentioned that Ghebrekidan's performance was "brought up" by Councilman Matthew O'Kane last year and Councilman Alex Watters this year, during city budget sessions. "It seems that the city only appreciates my wife when it's easy and it makes you look good. As soon as it is uncomfortable, you lash out and hurt her. I didn't say anything, because my wife handled all of these incidents and more without any support," he said. "But I do have to say something about what you did to her almost four weeks ago. You put my wife on suspension for doing her job, which is calling out social injustices at the City of Sioux City." Ike Rayford, the president of Sioux City's chapter of the NAACP, said the community inclusion liaison is "very important" to the community, as well as the NAACP. He described the city's internal memo as "vague" and said, "It really made no sense." "We are concerned. We would love to know what needs to happen and what we can do to ensure that (Ghebrekidan) is protected. I believe that she has done the job she was hired to do," he said. Ghebrekidan worked in a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion positions throughout her time in college. Before coming to work for the City of Sioux City, she was employed as an HIV case manager at Siouxland Community Health Center. Last March, Ghebrekidan was honored during the 38th annual Women of Excellence Awards ceremony with the award for "Women Striving to Improve the Quality of Life." Then, in November, Ghebrekidan launched a campaign for a vacated Sioux City school board seat. She ultimately lost the election to Dan Greenwell, who is currently serving the two-year term on the board. JERUSALEM A 12-year-old boy in east Jerusalem lights the fuse of a long firework and hoists it in the air. Then, just before it explodes and illuminates the night sky with a burst of red, Israeli police shoot him in the chest and he falls dead to the ground. A clip of Rami Halhouli's final moments last week has been circulating on social media for days. Human rights activists say it shines a light on the surge of Palestinians including dozens of children who Israeli forces killed without justification since Oct. 7. Halhouli's family says the boy was struck by a bullet fired from the direction of an Israeli police watchtower looking over the Shuafat refugee camp. Halhouli, his brother and four friends, the family says, were lighting fireworks to celebrate the end of another day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month marked by dawn-to-dusk fasting. Israeli police say the officer who fired the shot acted appropriately, citing regulations that permit shooting someone who is aiming a firework at another person in a life-threatening way. The Israeli government says the shooting is under investigation. Ali Halhouli, the boy's father, was at home when he heard the gunshot and then his son crying out for his mother. "When I rushed out of here I saw him lying on his face," he said. Violence across east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank has spiked since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants staged a surprise attack on southern Israel and sparked a brutal war in the Gaza Strip. Israelis killed at least 435 Palestinians from east Jerusalem and the West Bank since then, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Many have been shot dead in armed clashes, others for throwing stones at troops. Some appear to have posed no apparent threat. About 100 of these 435 fatalities have been children under 18, according to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem. In 60 of these cases, the group say there seems to have been no justification for the use of lethal force. These include cases where teens or younger children were hurling rocks or participating in protests. "It's clear there is a trigger-happy attitude among Israeli soldiers and border-police officers, and it affects Palestinian children too," said Sarit Michaeli, a B'Tselem spokeswoman. "Regarding the specific case in Shuafat refugee camp," she said, " a young child was not posing any threat to a heavily armed border police officer." Halhouli, the youngest of seven siblings, was shot at around 8 p.m. last Tuesday outside his home on a garbage-strewn alleyway, his father said. He was about 200 feet from the Israeli police watchtower; video of the incident shows Halhouli pointing the firework in the rough direction of the watchtower, but not directly at it. The police acknowledged the fatal shooting that evening, saying its forces shot after fireworks were launched at the watchtower. Throughout the night last Monday and Tuesday, Palestinian protesters from the camp threw Molotov cocktails and launched fireworks at Israeli forces, police claimed. Standing at the spot where the shooting took place, Ibrahim Halhouli, a 16-year-old relative of the slain boy, said they now all steer clear of the alleyway. "We are scared," he said, looking up at the watchtower. Shuafat, home to some 60,000 Palestinians, has long been a flashpoint. It is a poor, densely packed neighborhood that lacks municipal services despite falling within Jerusalem's city borders. It is the only Palestinian refugee camp in Jerusalem, and a number of militants involved in attacks on Israelis have come from the area. It is segmented from the rest of Jerusalem by a heavily manned checkpoint and Israeli forces regularly raid the camp to arrest suspected militants. After the shooting, Ali Halhouli said his other sons took the body to a medical center in Shuafat where staff pronounced him dead. In desperation, the family found an ambulance to transport him to Hadassah hospital, one of Israel's largest medical facilities, where doctors said the bullet had struck his heart. "The boy is dead, you brought him dead," Ali Halhouli said, recounting one of the doctor's words. Soon after, a police officer arrived at the ward and said they needed to transfer the body to an Israeli forensic institute for an autopsy. Ali Halhouli, 61, said he was left in limbo for days, contacted three times by different police officers, each of whom told him his son's corpse would soon be returned. On one occasion he was told he must keep the funeral to fewer than 40 people or face a fine. Funerals of slain Palestinians often escalate into protests. The body was eventually handed back to the family overnight Sunday and buried the next morning, he said. On-duty police officers and soldiers are rarely prosecuted for killing Palestinians. According to Israeli legal rights group Yesh Din, a police officer was last charged of murder in 2021 after shooting dead an unarmed autistic Palestinian in Jerusalem's Old City. The officer was later acquitted in 2023, it said. Today in history: March 21 1685: Johann Sebastian Bach 1952: Moondog Coronation Ball 1965: Rev. Martin Luther King Jr 1997: Bill Clinton 2006: Jack Dorsey 2007: Al Gore 2012: Kofi Annan 2012: Sean Payton 2016: Raul Castro 2017: Chuck Barris 2017: Neil Gorsuch 2019: Donald Trump DES MOINES A proposal that would change the structure and funding of Iowas nine Area Education Agencies, set general state funding for K-12 public schools, and boost public teacher salaries narrowly passed the Iowa House on Thursday at the Iowa Capitol. It was the latest legislative attempt by Republican state lawmakers to follow through on Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds proposal to overhaul AEA operations and funding, a pitch she made in January during her Condition of the State address to the Iowa Legislature. Area Education Agencies oversee education of Iowa students with disabilities and offer media and consulting services to schools and students within their boundaries. On Thursday, the House voted 51-43 to approve the legislation, which is significantly pared back from what Reynolds proposed and similarly does not go as far in overhauling AEAs as a bill that Senate Republicans passed earlier this week. Only Republicans voted for the latest House bill Thursday, while nine Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against the bill. The proposal now goes back to the Senate. Reynolds and legislative leaders in the House and Senate have been negotiating their differences. House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, called the bill passed by the chamber Thursday night his caucus final position. We wanted to make sure that as we went home this weekend that our schools and Iowans had an idea of where House Republicans stand and where our final position is going to be on these three topics, Grassley told reporters after the debate. Asked if that meant the proposal is House Republicans take it or leave it proposal, Grassley said, Thats our expectation. In a statement issued after the bill passed Thursday, Reynolds thanked House Republicans for passing a bill that represents a compromise that honors the intent of her original proposal. Todays vote by the House paves a path forward to further strengthen Iowas education system in meaningful ways, Reynolds said in the statement. Every student deserves a quality education that helps them reach their potential. By reforming the AEA system, empowering school districts and improving oversight and transparency, we are committing to better outcomes and brighter futures for Iowas students with disabilities. They deserve nothing less. Sen. Jack Whitver, a Republican from Grimes and the Senate majority leader, said in a statement he is happy to see progress on the topics covered in the latest House bill. He said Senate Republicans will discuss the new proposal next week and that he is "looking forward to resolution on these issues." What lawmakers said during debate Democrats levied heavy criticism of the bill and the legislative process that brought it to House debate Thursday night. Republican leaders set a hard deadline for debate to be concluded by 6:30 p.m., which prevented Democrats from speaking on the bill beyond that point. During their remarks, just shy of two hours of debate, Democrats called on Republicans to ditch the proposal altogether and form a task force to study the topic and Area Education Agencies after the legislative session, and have that task force make recommendations next year. They also read letters and emails from special education professionals and families who pleaded with legislators to not change the way AEA services are delivered. Democrats also charged that the entire legislative proposal is simply a political ploy by Reynolds and pushed back at some Republicans assertion that their remarks were fear mongering. There are consequences to every part of this legislation unintended and intended consequences, said Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, the leader of the House Democrats from Windsor Heights. Its already happening. And nothing about what were doing today is exaggerated or fear mongering. Two House Republicans with students who have received special education services from AEAs spoke in favor of the bill. I want to make it very clear that AEAs are not failing students. The people that work in the AEAs are not failing the students. My two children have benefited greatly because of the people that work at the AEA, said Rep. Chad Ingels, a Republican from Randalia who has two children with Down syndrome. Rep. Skyler Wheeler, a Republican from Hull, said he asked to be the bills manager because he has a 5-year-old daughter with autism who receives special education services from an AEA. I assigned it because I knew if this deals with special education, this deals with my daughters future. But it also deals with so many of the different families and individuals that I know in the disabilities community, Wheeler said during debate. To say that this is destroying them, an attack on them, disrupting them is ridiculous, in my mind. I would never support or push for any piece of legislation that I thought would harm that community. What's in this latest bill? The provision passed by House Republicans on Thursday would keep in place much of what they passed last month, according to a summary provided by a House Republican spokesperson, and combine it with funding for schools and increasing pay for teachers. The plan has drawn strong opposition from educators and parents of students with disabilities who worry it will hurt special education in the state. Some school superintendents are in favor of the bill, saying they want more control of their special education dollars. Currently, federal and state special education funding goes directly to the area education agencies, which provide support services to schools. AEAs also receive property tax funding for media services and other education services for schools in their region. The House and Senate had both sent separate versions of the bill to the opposite chamber, with major differences in how AEAs are funded and how they provide services. House amendment keeps most special ed funding with AEAs The latest House proposal keeps much of the components of the chambers previous bill in place. Once fully phased in, it would require schools to spend 90% of their special education funding with the AEAs, while 10% could be used for special education through a third party. After the first year, funding for media and other education services would go directly to the schools, who would have the option to spend it with the AEAs or with another party. The Houses initial bill would have sent state special education funding directly to school districts, while requiring them to spend the money with the AEAs. Federal special education funding would stay with the AEAs. The Senate proposal would allow schools to retain 90% of their special education funding, while 10% would stay with the AEAs. The schools would be allowed to use that funding with the AEAs or with another provider. Both proposals also call for creating a division of special education in the Department of Education, and the House bill would convene a task force to study the structure and funding of the AEAs and suggest future changes. The House amendment would raise the starting teacher salary to $50,000 over two years, and provide a fund to increase the hourly wage of paraprofessionals and other support staff. It also would give Iowa schools a 2.5 percent funding increase for the coming school year, matching Reynolds' proposed budget. Democrats: Republican proposals is 'all politics' Speaking to reporters before the latest proposal was unveiled shortly before debate started Thursday Konfrst said Republicans were trying to play political games by not providing Democrats or the public with an amendment sooner. It is disgraceful, it is unacceptable, Konfrst said. To imagine, that on Thursday of this week, with no necessary deadline they are dropping a 49-page amendment with the three most important issues to educators and kids in this state, and expecting us to vote on it in a couple hours. Lawmakers from both parties have said they have received a flood of messages from constituents in opposition to the bill and a far smaller number of messages in support. Two groups of superintendents sent letters to lawmakers this week advocating both for and against the bill. Konfrst said Republicans should listen to their constituents and slow down the major changes to the AEAs. We don't work for the governor. We don't work for the Senate. We don't work for the speaker, she said. We work for Iowans. Iowans have told us they dont want this. Theyre shoving this bill down our throat and its absolutely deplorable. A spokesperson for House Republicans said lawmakers have debated the issues in the bill several times, and the public has had the chance to weigh in on its components through subcommittee and public hearings. These are concepts that have been debated on the House and Senate floor and in the committee process. Iowans have been able to weigh in on these pieces of policy for weeks, said Melissa Saitz, the House Republicans spokesperson. We have worked hard to take feedback from the AEAs, superintendents and parents to find resolution on this topic so we can continue with the rest of the priorities that remain this session. DES MOINES Cedar Rapids' police chief joined other law enforcement officials in the state in advocating support for proposed legislation working its way through the House and Senate to regulate the use of automated traffic enforcement cameras across the state. A House subcommittee on Wednesday advanced a bill that would require Iowa cities to obtain approval from the Iowa Department of Transportation for the placement of speed cameras along interstates and highways. The DOT rolled out a policy a decade ago in 2014, but the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the agency lacked the legal authority to regulate traffic cameras. The cities of Des Moines, Muscatine and Cedar Rapids filed lawsuits in 2015 successfully challenging the DOT rules that prohibited cities from placing the systems on highways and interstates. The DOT had ordered some of those cameras turned off in 2015, sparking the lawsuit. Cedar Rapids Police Chief David Dostal joined police chiefs from Des Moines and Altoona on Wednesday in support of measures in the House and Senate to preserve, regulate and standardize automated traffic enforcement across the state as an alternative to a separate effort that would ban their use. Cedar Rapids uses the cameras at nine locations along its primary highway system and major thoroughfares for both speed and red-light enforcement, including four speed cameras around the S-curve on Interstate 380 near downtown. Dostal told lawmakers the cameras have resulted in a significant reduction in serious injury crashes over the past three years. Theres a change in traffic behavior, resulting in traffic safety, Dostal said. Lawmakers have attempted several times over the years to prohibit or regulate use of the devices, citing concerns over their growing use, including in smaller communities, and that theyre principally being used to generate revenue because of a lack of funding. The devices capture video of vehicles speeding or running red lights. Law enforcement then reviews the images captured by a camera vendor, and issues citations to the vehicle's registered owner. House Study Bill 740 advanced out of a three-member subcommittee Wednesday with unanimous support. It moves next to the House Ways and Means Committee. Police chiefs urge regulation in lieu of ban Iowa cities, including Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Davenport, see the cameras as traffic safety tools that reduce public safety costs, providing 24/7 traffic monitoring and enforcement at a significantly lower cost than deploying officers to those areas. That frees cities to focus strained resources elsewhere. The city of Cedar Rapids began using automated traffic enforcement in 2010. Speeding citations are issued for vehicles that exceed the posted speed limit by 12 mph or more. Revenues from traffic citations issued for violations captured by cameras often go to fund police departments. Cedar Rapids anticipates the cameras will generate $7.2 million in revenue for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2025. Roughly $5.5 million of that amount is budgeted to fund 41 police officer positions. More than $1.7 million is earmarked for the citys traffic camera service provider and collection costs. Cedar Rapids partners with vendor Sensys Gatso USA Inc., to run the program. For red light citations, Sensys Gatso receives $22 per paid citation and the city receives $78 per paid citation. For speed citations, the vendor receives $18 per paid citation and the amount to the city varies depending on the amount of the fine. Dostal and law enforcement officials said theyre willing to put guardrails on the use of traffic cameras to make sure that they're used as intended for safety purposes, and support a regulatory structure that creates a reliable, standardized process. I appreciate having this conversation about a regulatory bill. Its long overdue, Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert said. There are jurisdictions out there that are doing it the right way. Some that are not. But all the things I see in this bill on the regulation side are things that we're already doing; things we've been doing since the inception. What the bill does The bill codifies the previously adopted 2014 DOT rules. Cameras would only be allowed in areas with documented high-crash or high-risk locations that make it unsafe for police to make in-person traffic stops, such as the I-380 S-curve. Cities and counties would be required to apply to the Iowa DOT for permission to install a speed camera on a state highway or interstate and justify the location with data showing a high volume of crashes, as well as documentation of alternative solutions tried and considered but not implemented, including engineering and design changes, and public education campaigns. The bill applies only to cameras used by local jurisdictions to monitor and enforce excessive speed violations on DOT-maintained primary road systems. The Iowa DOT would not have authority to regulate traffic cameras that issue tickets for vehicles caught speeding or running red lights on city streets. It also would prohibit the DOT from using automated traffic enforcement or receiving related payments from cities and counties. Cities and counties could appeal the DOT denial of a traffic camera location, and would be required to report back to the DOT annually on the number of citations issued and any change in crash volume to justify the continued need for a camera at approved sites. The bill requires stationary cameras be calibrated quarterly, and mobile systems calibrated before each use at a new location. Cities and counties also would be required to post signs in advance of locations where traffic cameras are in use to alert drivers. It also states automated traffic enforcement cameras must be used in conjunction with conventional law enforcement methods, not as a replacement for law enforcement officer contact. Wingert suggested House lawmakers amend the bill to standardize fines across the state so that Iowa drivers know what to expect. Altoona Police Chief Greg Stallman, representing the Iowa Police Chiefs Association, also suggested including red-light cameras, which are not addressed in the bill, and requiring a public information and education program to take place before cameras are used to issue warnings. Subcommittee chairman Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone, said hes open to amending the bill to include those suggestions. Where the bill goes from here The Senate has advanced its own bill to regulate the use of automated traffic enforcement cameras. Unlike Senate File 2408, the House bill does not specify how local governments must handle revenues from traffic tickets. The Senate bill would require communities to give up a share of revenues to the state for law enforcement training and an award program for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Revenues kept by cities and counties could only be used to pay for road projects or to offset police or fire department operating costs. The Senate bill also would ban traffic cameras for communities under 20,000 in population, and specifies how fines could be issued by larger communities. I fully expect us to marry language between the House and the Senate on a regulatory piece and move that forward, subcommittee chair Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone, said. Both chambers also introduced legislation this year that combined a traffic camera ban with another controversial bill that would ban the use of hand-held phones or other devices behind the wheel. Senate File 2337 is on unfinished business in the Senate. A similar House bill failed to advance. I really think there is a middle ground here, Thompson said. I totally understand the perspective of people who want an all out ban. I'm honestly philosophically probably in that camp. But working with (police) chiefs, especially in the Cedar Rapids area these can play a good role in public safety. So I think we're really striking a good middle ground here, as far as making sure that it is about public safety, and not about revenue generation. Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee who proposed the Senate regulation bill, said he intends to sit down with House lawmakers in the coming days to hammer out compromise language. I've always been pro-regulation and look forward to continue to work on that as it moves forward and see what kind of compromise we can come up with, Klimesh said. One city's surprising tactic to reduce gun violence: Solving more nonfatal shootings One city's surprising tactic to reduce gun violence: Solving more nonfatal shootings Other cities have woken up to Denver's example Nebraska is now down to one surgical abortion provider less than a year after lawmakers passed a 12-week ban. The Bellevue clinic founded by the late Dr. LeRoy Carhart once one of only three providers in the country to perform third-trimester abortions no longer does surgical procedures but does offer patients abortion pills, clinic employees confirmed to the Flatwater Free Press. That means Nebraskans who want a surgical abortion or who are past the cutoff for the abortion pill must go to Planned Parenthood, their sole legal option left in the state. Nebraskans options are dwindling even as more out-of-state abortion seekers, residents of states with stricter abortion bans like Missouri, Mississippi and Texas, come to Nebraska to receive abortion services, abortion rights advocates said. The increased out-of-state demand, limited availability and packed appointment schedules is causing more Nebraskans, in turn, to travel outside the state to seek an abortion. Leaders of Nebraska Abortion Resources, a nonprofit abortion fund, told the Flatwater Free Press the rate of their clients crossing state borders to get an abortion has more than doubled since the 12-week ban. Using an abortion medication also continues to grow more popular since Roe v. Wade was overturned, Nebraska abortion rights advocates believe. The abortion pill is often perceived as less intrusive, but there are limitations, including potential diminished effectiveness later in the pregnancy. Most clinics only administer the medication up to the 11-week mark. I have seen that jump personally, and some of that is because it's like, Well, we can get you in for a medication abortion next week, but if you want a surgical abortion, it might be another three weeks, said Shelley Mann, executive director of Nebraska Abortion Resources, which provides financial assistance to those seeking an abortion. Medication abortion made up 75% of abortions reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in 2022, under Nebraskas old 20-week ban. That rate will likely rise now that the stricter, 12-week ban is in place, abortion rights advocates said. The Bellevue clinic that has stopped surgical abortions has long been situated, both symbolically and practically, at the center of Nebraskas abortion fight. Carhart, who died last year, was the lead plaintiff of two cases heard by the U.S. Supreme Court after he challenged laws prohibiting an abortion procedure that removes an intact fetus from the uterus, which anti-abortion activists refer to as a form of partial-birth abortion. Carhart faced threats and his friend and colleague Dr. George Tiller was murdered by an anti-abortion extremist in Wichita, Kansas. Carharts clinic was the leading abortion provider in Nebraska as recently as 2022, when it was responsible for 58% of all abortions reported to HHS, according to the department's latest report. Janine Weatherby, Carharts daughter and operator of the clinic, didnt respond to requests to discuss the clinics decision to switch to medication abortion only. But leaders of Planned Parenthood say the availability of abortion services often boils down to a single problem: staff. Planned Parenthoods only full-time Nebraska-based physician retired in 2022, and her position is unfilled, said Andi Curry Grubb, state executive director of Planned Parenthood North Central States. Mounting abortion restrictions and the ongoing uncertainty amid legal fights have made it challenging for the organization to recruit more doctors. Planned Parenthoods Nebraska clinics now rely on part-time abortion providers who live in Nebraska and other states, Curry Grubb said. Patients who want a surgical abortion but cant get one in Nebraska are often sent to Minnesota, said Mann. Planned Parenthood closed its Council Bluffs clinic at the beginning of 2024. Its currently only providing abortion services in its Lincoln location while its Omaha health center undergoes construction. The organization plans to eventually move all abortion services to Omaha. A Nebraska law passed in 2011 requires a physician to be physically present in the room when a patient takes the first pill to begin an abortion. This law outlaws abortion medication bought on the internet or delivered via telehealth. Violators can be charged with a felony, though the law says patients shouldnt face any civil and criminal penalties. Patients then take misoprostol, often within 48 hours of the first pill, mifepristone, which contracts and empties the uterus. Heavy bleeding is expected after the misoprostol intake. The so-called abortion pill has become more widely used since the COVID-19 pandemic, when many clinics cut down in-person visits. Anti-abortion advocates question the safety of mifepristone and misoprostol. We've always had great concern for the chemical abortion drugs, said Sandy Danek, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, citing its failure rate, as well as risk for side effects or complications when used past the suggested time frame. Danek applauds the state ban on distributing abortion medication via telehealth and says the measure increases medical scrutiny. Danek said she and other abortion opponents are concerned that the Biden administration is trying to remove the medical oversight and medical safeguards that (we) need to protect the health and safety of the women. Data show the drugs are safe, said Dr. Amy Bryant, a gynecologist based in Durham, North Carolina, and board member of the Society of Family Planning. Going through a medication abortion is safer than carrying a pregnancy to full term, she said. Nonetheless, having surgical providers available is important, Bryant said, so that they can help patients when a medication abortion is unsuccessful or unavailable. What we're going to be seeing is a real maldistribution of people with expertise in this area, Bryant said, where people in some areas of the country have access to excellent care and others in areas that just don't have that and are at risk for more pregnancy complications. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Photos: Anti-abortion advocates rally in downtown Lincoln for 50th annual Walk for Life DES MOINES Cedar Rapids' police chief joined other law enforcement officials in the state in advocating support for proposed legislation working its way through the House and Senate to regulate the use of automated traffic enforcement cameras across the state. A House subcommittee on Wednesday advanced a bill that would require Iowa cities to obtain approval from the Iowa Department of Transportation for the placement of speed cameras along interstates and highways. The DOT rolled out a policy a decade ago in 2014, but the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the agency lacked the legal authority to regulate traffic cameras. The cities of Des Moines, Muscatine and Cedar Rapids filed lawsuits in 2015 successfully challenging the DOT rules that prohibited cities from placing the systems on highways and interstates. The DOT had ordered some of those cameras turned off in 2015, sparking the lawsuit. Cedar Rapids Police Chief David Dostal joined police chiefs from Des Moines and Altoona on Wednesday in support of measures in the House and Senate to preserve, regulate and standardize automated traffic enforcement across the state as an alternative to a separate effort that would ban their use. Cedar Rapids uses the cameras at nine locations along its primary highway system and major thoroughfares for both speed and red-light enforcement, including four speed cameras around the S-curve on Interstate 380 near downtown. Dostal told lawmakers the cameras have resulted in a significant reduction in serious injury crashes over the past three years. Theres a change in traffic behavior, resulting in traffic safety, Dostal said. Lawmakers have attempted several times over the years to prohibit or regulate use of the devices, citing concerns over their growing use, including in smaller communities, and that theyre principally being used to generate revenue because of a lack of funding. The devices capture video of vehicles speeding or running red lights. Law enforcement then reviews the images captured by a camera vendor, and issues citations to the vehicle's registered owner. House Study Bill 740 advanced out of a three-member subcommittee Wednesday with unanimous support. It moves next to the House Ways and Means Committee. Police chiefs urge regulation in lieu of ban Iowa cities, including Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Davenport, see the cameras as traffic safety tools that reduce public safety costs, providing 24/7 traffic monitoring and enforcement at a significantly lower cost than deploying officers to those areas. That frees cities to focus strained resources elsewhere. The city of Cedar Rapids began using automated traffic enforcement in 2010. Speeding citations are issued for vehicles that exceed the posted speed limit by 12 mph or more. Revenues from traffic citations issued for violations captured by cameras often go to fund police departments. Cedar Rapids anticipates the cameras will generate $7.2 million in revenue for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2025. Roughly $5.5 million of which is budgeted to fund 41 police officer positions. More than $1.7 million is earmarked for the citys traffic camera service provider and collection costs. Cedar Rapids partners with vendor Sensys Gatso USA Inc., to run the program. For red light citations, Sensys Gatso receives $22 per paid citation and the city receives $78 per paid citation. For speed citations, the vendor receives $18 per paid citation and the amount to the city varies depending on the amount of the fine. Dostal and law enforcement officials said theyre willing to put guardrails on the use of traffic cameras to make sure that they're used as intended for safety purposes, and support a regulatory structure that creates a reliable, standardized process. I appreciate having this conversation about a regulatory bill. Its long overdue, Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert said. There are jurisdictions out there that are doing it the right way. Some that are not. But all the things I see in this bill on the regulation side are things that we're already doing; things we've been doing since the inception. What the bill does The bill codifies the previously adopted 2014 DOT rules. Cameras would only be allowed in areas with documented high-crash or high-risk locations that make it unsafe for police to make in-person traffic stops, such as the I-380 S-curve. Cities and counties would be required to apply to the Iowa DOT for permission to install a speed camera on a state highway or interstate and justify the location with data showing a high volume of crashes, as well as documentation of alternative solutions tried and considered but not implemented, including engineering and design changes, and public education campaigns. The bill applies only to cameras used by local jurisdictions to monitor and enforce excessive speed violations on DOT-maintained primary road systems. The Iowa DOT would not have authority to regulate traffic cameras that issue tickets for vehicles caught speeding or running red lights on city streets. It also would prohibit the DOT from using automated traffic enforcement or receiving related payments from cities and counties. Cities and counties could appeal the DOT denial of a traffic camera location, and would be required to report back to the DOT annually on the number of citations issued and any change in crash volume to justify the continued need for a camera at approved sites. The bill requires stationary cameras be calibrated quarterly, and mobile systems calibrated before each use at a new location. Cities and counties also would be required to post signs in advance of locations where traffic cameras are in use to alert drivers. It also states automated traffic enforcement cameras must be used in conjunction with conventional law enforcement methods, not as a replacement for law enforcement officer contact. Wingert suggested House lawmakers amend the bill to standardize fines across the state so that Iowa drivers know what to expect. Altoona Police Chief Greg Stallman, representing the Iowa Police Chiefs Association, also suggested including red-light cameras, which are not addressed in the bill, and requiring a public information and education program to take place before cameras are used to issue warnings. Subcommittee chairman Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone, said hes open to amending the bill to include those suggestions. Where the bill goes from here The Senate has advanced its own bill to regulate the use of automated traffic enforcement cameras. Unlike Senate File 2408, the House bill does not specify how local governments must handle revenues from traffic tickets. The Senate bill would require communities to give up a share of revenues to the state for law enforcement training and an award program for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Revenues kept by cities and counties could only be used to pay for road projects or to offset police or fire department operating costs. The Senate bill also would ban traffic cameras for communities under 20,000 in population, and specifies how fines could be issued by larger communities. I fully expect us to marry language between the House and the Senate on a regulatory piece and move that forward, subcommittee chair Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone, said. Both chambers also introduced legislation this year that combined a traffic camera ban with another controversial bill that would ban the use of hand-held phones or other devices behind the wheel. Senate File 2337 is on unfinished business in the Senate. A similar House bill failed to advance. I really think there is a middle ground here, Thompson said. I totally understand the perspective of people who want an all out ban. I'm honestly philosophically probably in that camp. But working with (police) chiefs, especially in the Cedar Rapids area these can play a good role in public safety. So I think we're really striking a good middle ground here, as far as making sure that it is about public safety, and not about revenue generation. Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee who proposed the Senate regulation bill, said he intends to sit down with House lawmakers in the coming days to hammer out compromise language. I've always been pro-regulation and look forward to continue to work on that as it moves forward and see what kind of compromise we can come up with, Klimesh said. Not a month goes by, it seems, when the country doesn't have some minor cultural trend to spar over. These "debates" can be fun or not. But in almost every case, fights over these passing fixations are futile. OK. Let's get specific. There's that recent skirmish over something called "bookshelf wealth." Never heard of it? Well, Architectural Digest called bookshelf wealth "2024's first major design rrend." TikTok is all over it. What is bookshelf wealth? It is arranging your bookshelf in a visually pleasing manner. For fancy people, that means amassing a "curated" collection of books placed just so. The intention is to advertise one's brainy interests. A related TikTok phrase is "dark academia." It refers to a subculture that venerates reading and writing. Typical decor includes overstuffed couches, sculpture and walls painted a murky midnight blue. Needless to say, there's been considerable blowback by people who are serious readers or claim to be. Books to them are holy objects with value far beyond the decorative. A yellowing paperback of "The Sound and the Fury" deserves more veneration than a ceramic horse. Some TikTok influencers address this objection, or try. "These aren't display books," one insists in a not convincing way. "These are books that have actually been curated and read." If she says so. Some widely circulating videos on bookshelf wealth show shelves laden with vases, candlesticks and black-and-white art photography -- interspersed with a few book spines. "Embrace odd numbers," the instructions say. And "keep your shelves feeling as intentional as possible." One critic responded: "Bookshelf wealth doesn't mean you have books. It means you have built-ins." As proof that she reads, the woman supplied pictures of books piled on her floor. Libraries have become hoo-ha designations in upscale new houses. They imply that the owners don't spend all their free time frozen before the monster screen in the "media room." They also do quiet contemplation My favorite fake library was in the now-defunct Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manalapan, Florida, just south of Palm Beach. I was meeting someone there and thought, oh, a hushed library would be a nice place to hang out. The "clubby room" had carefully arranged books, all with leather covers in the same moss green. Closer inspection showed titles all in Dutch. I decided to wait in the bar. As you may guess by now, we're not here to discuss the merits or silliness of bookshelf wealth. We are here to argue against arguing about it for any purpose other than the recreational. If someone wants to arrange a bookshelf in a way to imply intellectual heft -- or to display a bowling trophy -- it's their bookshelf. As for those who don't read but want to portray a rich life of the mind, no one's stopping them. Kindle has complicated matters for readers who like to have physical books around them. An interesting thing about bookshelf wealth is that it promotes sales of the old-fashioned paper product. Serious readers can stick a finger in the eye of the bookshelf wealth aesthetic by topping a stack with a Big Bird plush toy, but they should know, that's posing, too. Given today's politics, one is not sure how long TikTok will be with us. But as long as it is, be aware that what TikTok features, TikTok mocks. There may be important concerns over whether the social media platform gives the Chinese government a tool to spy on us, but TikTok does one useful thing: It cuts silly cultural conflicts down to size. Thus, declaring winners in the bookshelf wealth debate is of no consequence, even to the winners. Everyone does what they want with their bookshelves. That's as it should be. When 20 Days in Mariupol won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, March 10, Jordan Dykstra wasnt on the stage of the Dolby Theatre, basking in the spotlight. Instead, the Sioux City native was cheering his team on from the audience. Dykstra, a 2003 Bishop Heelan Catholic High School graduate, wrote the musical score for 20 Days in Mariupol, a film which revolved around a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. The 38-year-old Dykstra had already written scores for such films as Blow the Man Down, Hail Satan? and 2019s Documenting Hate, which had won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative Documentary. However, 20 Days in Mariupol directed by Mstyslav Chernov was a unique experience for everyone involved in the making of the film. I think I can speak for the whole team in saying we knew the film was going to have an impact, Dykstra said. The film also allowed Dykstra a chance to mingle at the Oscars, while wearing a responsible wool suit by COS as well as an off-white shirt by Another Aspect. Which was at least one nice aspect. 20 Days was such a tough film for me to work on, Dykstra said. Ive never wept so much on the job before. Dear Annie: My parents have had property for many, many years. This property was to be divided among us kids upon their death. My father passed away, which puts my mother in charge of everything. Recently, we found out that she gave ALL this property to one of our siblings. We were always a close-knit family, but this has caused a huge rift among us. I know its her money/property and she is entitled to do what she wants, but it really hurt us that she chose one child over her other children. We always suspected he was her chosen one, but now we really know he is the chosen one. We ALL have been there for her, and this brother has only been there for her since our dad passed. How do we move past this? Hurting Kids in Ohio Dear Hurting Kids: I am sorry for your loss both of your father and now your inheritance. It is no surprise that you feel hurt so much. Im not sure how close your siblings are to each other, but maybe the brother who inherited everything will try to make things more equitable. I would suggest having a family get-together, mother included, and discuss the situation as calmly as possible. Remind everyone that family is more important than possessions. Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our mid-60s and have been married for almost 50 years. We married and started our family very early in life. My problem, Im sure, is shared by many women my age. My husband cant stop ogling other women in public. He is always secretly looking up the sexually dressed women and videos. I have told him many times how that hurts me. He says hes sorry, but then later his behavior rears its ugly head again. He also is very friendly with females in public. He says hes just being nice. Ive gotten so that I dont want to go to public places with him. I love him, but I dont like how he disrespects me as his wife and especially as a woman. I cant compete with whats out there, nor do I want to. Disrespected Wife Dear Disrespected Wife: Your husband is acting like a louse. You should keep talking to him about how disrespected you feel he is being to you and to the women who he is ogling in public. If he continues to ignore your requests, it is time to seek the help of a professional marriage counselor. 'GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE' (Rated PG-13 for supernatural action/violence, language and suggestive references) When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age. 'IMMACULATE' (Rated R for strong and bloody violent content, grisly images, nudity and some language) Cecilia, a woman of devout faith, is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors dark and horrifying secrets. 'SLEEPING DOGS' (Rated R for violence/bloody images, sexual content and language) An ex-homicide detective (Russell Crowe) with memory loss is forced to solve a brutal murder, only to uncover chilling secrets from his forgotten past. 'LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL' (Rated R for violent content, some gore and language including a sexual reference) A live television broadcast in 1977 goes horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation's living rooms. 'ON FIRE' (Rated PG-13 for action/peril, disturbing images and some strong language) Follows a family who lives in a trailer home in the woods and are suddenly confronted by a wildfire. Survival becomes their main objective. NEW DVD RELEASES FOR THE WEEK Cult Killer' 'Niki and Nora' 'Rick & Morty: The Complete Seventh Season' 'Jonah' 'Sonic Prime," season one Each week in Dear Prudence Uncensored, Prudie discusses a tricky letter with fellow Slate writer (and her husband!) Joel Anderson, only for Slate Plus members. This week, they dig into Food Fling. Dear Prudence, My question concerns asking someone out on a date. I (50s gay man) work at a food pantry which has regular clients who can come in once a month. Over the last couple of years there is one client (40s gay man) who comes in and is very friendly and slightly flirty. We have client information, including phone numbers. Would it be completely inappropriate to text with a casual It was great to see you today at the pantry, I would like to get to know you better outside of work, would you want to grab a coffee/have lunch sometime? I know that might seem innocuous, but he didnt give me his phone number, so would know that I looked it up (Creepy, right?). And since he receives a service from me which he counts on, it could make it awkward for him to come back. (Really bad, yes?) He is really nice, and I think we would have a good time hanging out, but having been out of the dating scene for a while Im hesitant. Food Fling Read Prudies original response to this letter. Jenee Desmond-Harris: So I chose this one because I wanted to err on the side of making sure the letter writer didnt sexually harass a client (particularly someone vulnerable and in need of food), but Im worried I missed a creative way for him to make a move. As someone whos always been a good flirt and has a knack for pickup lines, what do you think? Joel Anderson: Hold up before I answer anything, I need to clear the air: Youre the one who once told me that you were a flirt, and you said it in a way that made clear it was an immutable fact about yourself, like having curly hair or long legs. Whereas I never remember saying this about myself, ever! Jenee: Maybe Im misremembering and you just said you never had trouble getting a date. Whatever! Do you have anything to add to help this man? Joel: Thats also false but let me get down to business. This is a terrible idea. I actually thought you chose this letter because of that time I was setting up landline phone service in Florida (yes, this was many, many years ago) and the customer service rep texted me back after the call to I dont really know what youd call it. But she said she thought I sounded cute. And you know what I couldnt help but think after initially being flattered? That it was wildly unprofessional and inappropriate. Sir, please dont do this. It seems like you have a good thing going for now. If things are going to turn personal, you should let the client be the one to make that happen. Jenee: Id forgotten about that customer service interaction. At least in that case, you never had to see her again and werent relying on her for anything after the call ended. It also reminds me of when I made a report about a stolen cell phone and the police officer who came to take it kept asking where I was going to hang out that weekend. Not great. I do wonder, though, if theres some way thats still within the bounds of professionalism that the letter writer can communicate warmth and openness. Like, I dont know Oh I see you got some apples this week! I make an amazing apple pie. If you want, I could bring some in for you to try next time I bake one. What do you think? Too much?? Joel: Oooooh look at the flirt, back in action! But thats pretty good. I also think if the LW just lets the interactions continue, if theyre as friendly and flirty as he believes, that itll gradually escalate to a point where the client will eventually ask them out. But if the LW just doesnt want to leave fate to chance, then yeah, maybe making it clear hes doing something special for the client, like making an amazing apple pie, is a potential opening. Jenee: I guess the rule Im comfortable with is You can be really, really nice and friendly to set the stage for him to make a move but you should stop short of suggesting spending time outside of the food pantry. The closest Id be comfortable with would be Any fun plans this weekend? Im going to the Memorial Day parade. Maybe Ill see you there! Joel: No wonder you used to have so many suitors! But yes, the details of the invitation are much less important than what the LW shouldnt do, which is make a direct ask or call or text them at their personal number. In fact, if the LW did the latter, they could find themselves being fired from their position. Jenee: Nothing that would require the client to say no. Joel: Its definitely an open-ended invitation, like Im going to be here on this day and then let them take it from there. Or per your earlier advice, the LW should do something that lets the client know hes interested in him beyond their routine interactions at the food pantry. Even if its complimenting a special item of clothing, or turning How was your weekend? into a real opportunity for engagement and not polite small talk. Jenee: Yep. Also: Do you ever wonder what could have been with the Comcast rep? Joel: Not really, because I was in a relationship at the time! Do you wonder about what couldve happened with the cop who wanted to help you with your phone? Jenee: Not in the least. Imagine me as a Blue Lives Matter wife! Joel: Well, you did once give money to a police fund but Im glad were on the same page, lol. Jenee: Okay that was a very different time and they got me with a story about injured officers. Well save the analysis for another column. Joel: I cant wait to read all about it. My sister Theda had been bedridden for seven years when she first decided she wanted to die. She was 32 then, and a mysterious chronic illness had diminished her will to live. Though it wasnt legal in Australia at the time, she wanted to die by euthanasia. Technically, this would classify the death she wished for as a suicide. But ethicallyand within the familywe understood it differently. Theda was 24 when her symptoms began. The fatigue came on first. A few years later, she developed chronic nerve pain, light and sound sensitivity, and multiple food intolerances. Our mother cared for her at home, and Theda only left the house for medical appointments. She lost any semblance of a social life, and eventually, she could no longer read, watch TV, or use a computer without getting migraines. Conversing with her became difficult because she couldnt concentrate enough to construct sentences. Her suffering was physical, but it was also socialit affected our family and community. Nothing helped. The only change, despite so much effort, was that it got worse. I was backpacking around India when she initially broached the topic of euthanasia. My mom had called to explain the situation, and I talked to Theda the next day from a public phone on a dirt path atop a cliff overlooking the coast. I remember some backpackers haggling with a street vendor nearby, and feeling anxious because I wasnt sure what I would say. Her voice came wispy and weak over a crackling connection, but it was clear enough. At first, I did most of the talking. I spoke of India and made some jokes about backpacking culture. Then she told me how things were at home. She had almost run out of treatment options. Her doctors were scratching their heads. One had diagnosed her with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Others argued her problem was a mental illness with psychosomatic symptoms. Theda had chosen to follow the doctor claiming it was chronic fatigue. This doctors treatments were slowly bankrupting our family, and we hadnt seen any improvements. Our father had checked out and moved away, so it was just Theda, Mom, and me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khin, she said. Ive read some chapters of a book about euthanasia, and it suggests asking your loved ones permission before you start making plans. This was in 2006. The book she was talking about was by Derek Humphry, a controversial figure who advocated for extending medically assisted dying to the chronicallynot just terminallyill. He offers an ethical framework and practical advice to those wishing to pursue a peaceful death, even when doing so may be illegal where they live. I accepted my sisters request over the phone that day. I realized as we were speaking that I couldnt refuse her the right to die. Here I was exploring the world with a backpack and a healthy life while shed been in bed for seven years. It was deeply troubling: Part of me resisted her wish, but another part knew that shed proceed regardless without my blessing, which meant shed potentially face a lonelier and more distressing death. Advertisement Advertisement She assured me she wasnt ready to give up living yetshe was just setting her ducks in a row. Enjoy India, she said. Ill see you when you get back. Advertisement Theda didnt follow through until six years later. In that time, her symptoms worsened. New doctors appeared, and with them came new treatments and cycles of hope and disappointment. Mom suffered two stress-related strokes, and my mental health declined. We tried mainstream medicine, and dipped into the outer reaches of alternative therapies. We got scammed by questionable people promising impossible cures. Mom lost all her retirement savings, and Theda began to experience regular psychotic breaks. Then, in 2013, Theda found a website that sent euthanasia drugs internationally using a process called hushmail. For years she had followed the work of Philip Nitschke, whose organization Exit International helps people seek euthanasia in places where its illegal. She worried the drugs she saw online might not be real, but with advice from Nitschkes website at her fingertips, she felt confident enough to proceed without getting scammed. Advertisement The drugs arrived in a nondescript cardboard box postmarked from Mexico. Inside were two vials of sodium pentobarbitala clear liquid used in animal euthanasia and death row executions. She locked the vials in a petty cash box under her bed. Im not going to take it yet, she told me. Its just comforting to know its there. I can go on longer knowing an escape hatch exists. But she would use them soon enough. She took the drugs a few months later. Advertisement Advertisement I had told Theda in no uncertain terms that I didnt want her to die. My mother was hit hardest, but we both had to accept it. Its only because of these thingsour familys embrace of Thedas choice and the medical method she used to diethat our story is about euthanasia, not suicide. Euthanasia involves loved ones, dignity, and a peaceful method. Suicide usually is decided alone. Its generally performed haphazardly, with uncertain and often traumatic results. Advertisement Advertisement The complex ethics of euthanasia are tackled differently across the globe. Some of the most permissive assisted dying laws can be found in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, which offer people with chronic nonterminal conditionsincluding mental illnessesthe right to die. These conditions can range from severe autoimmune diseases and nonterminal cancers to treatment-resistant forms of depression and schizophrenia. In Belgium and the Netherlands two doctors must deem a persons suffering as incurable and intolerable, and they must also agree that the patient is mentally equipped to make such a request. In the United States, the debate is complicated by a lack of universal access to health care; experts point out that suffering from a chronic condition may be exacerbated or even caused by an inability to get treatment, making euthanasia a grim option. Currently, euthanasia is allowed in a small number of states, each of which has slightly different laws. In those states, only people with a terminal illness like ALS/Lou Gehrigs disease or some forms of cancer may access the drugs, and in some cases, the patient must have been given a prognosis of having six months or less to live. This is, perhaps, the option that is easiest for the general public to get on board with: the right to dictate when ones impending death will happen, and that it will proceed in a predictable manner. Advertisement Advertisement Canada currently offers medically assisted deaths to people with terminal illnesses and chronic illnesses. The debate about whether that should extend to chronic mental illness has caused a stir. The current Canadian government has a plan to offer medically assisted death to mental illness patients on a case-by-case basis, but it hasnt yet put it into action. A process for assessing these patients was originally slated to begin in March of this year, but it has recently been pushed back to 2027, after Canadas next federal election. Advertisement My family tackled euthanasia from an especially troubling angle, one that falls far outside firm categories of illness. The question of whether Thedas condition was mental or physical was constantly debated, and it initially weighed heavily on me when thinking about her right to die. Doctors who believed mental illness was at the core of her problem argued that her physical symptoms were psychosomatic. This is known as conversion disorder, where people experience physical and sensory problems because of psychological distress. Others who diagnosed her with physical conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Lyme disease eschewed psychiatric explanations and treatments altogether. The tension between these two camps was never resolved. Even after her death and an autopsy, the nature of her illness remains uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That uncertainty highlights the way our culture ranks suffering in conversations about who deserves the right to die. Were socialized to see some types of suffering with less sympathy. Wellcome Prizewinning neurologist Suzanne OSullivan discusses this prejudice in her 2016 book Its All In Your Head, which focuses on psychosomatic illnesses. I have come to realize that not all suffering is the same, she writes. It is not necessarily the greater suffering that receives the greatest consideration and sympathy. Illness is not scored in that way. Deadly disease obviously scores higher than others. After that there is an unofficial ranking system for illness in which psychiatric disorders are the out-and-out losers. Psychiatric disorders manifesting as physical disease are at the very bottom of that pile. Advertisement This distinction between physical, psychological, and hybrid suffering didnt matter much to Theda in the end. After 13 years of being unable to get out of bed, suffering was suffering. What we called itor what her diagnosis waswas beside the point. Advertisement All of the diagnoses she was given, whether mental or physical, relied on clinical assessments. No blood tests or scan-based technologies were capable of definitively proving what was causing her sickness. For each possible diagnosis, a doctor would interview her about her symptoms, and she could only describe them. The symptoms she described were on lists for multiple diseases. Definitively proving any diagnosis was impossible, so she had to choose among those on offer, and then commit to a treatment plan. Advertisement Advertisement Over the years, I tended to believe the doctors who attributed my sisters condition to mental illness. I felt this way for a number of reasons, but I learned to keep my mouth shut about it because I soon realized that evoking mental illness upset her immensely. I started to think about why we stigmatize some diseases, especially those linked to mental health. Stigma affects a sick persons life profoundly. It adds to their suffering. And it affects their family. Importantly, it can perpetuate their resistance to a diagnosis that involves the mind, keeping them from trying treatments that might help. Part of the reason I believed Thedas physical symptoms were connected to a deeper psychological issue was that she started to have regular psychotic breaks at the age of 26. Looking back, I see that these psychotic breaks could have been caused by her ongoing physical pain and social isolationbut psychiatrists often told us that it was the reverse. They believed her physical symptoms were hallucinations caused by an underlying psychiatric issue. I privately agreed with them, though I didnt judge my sister for it as she feared some people might. Im not crazy! she told me when mental illness causing physical symptoms came up once. She neednt have worried, because I never saw her as crazy. I loved her and only wanted her to get better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she was psychotic, she talked to me a lot. I would be her confidant in the locked psychiatric wards in which she was sometimes committed. In these wards, she was stripped of her rights and unable to leave, so I would visit her daily. Her personality was completely transformed. Usually mild-mannered, polite, and cautious, she became melodramatic, forthright, and charismatic when a psychosis hit. She could be violent and irrational, too. We usually had to call the police to get her from my mothers house to the hospital. These breaks with reality came about once every nine months. She would barely recognize me as her brother during those times. She preferred to categorize people according to archetypes. I was often the brother or sometimes Neo; Mom and our father were the mother and the father. She even spoke about herself in the third person, as if commenting on a troubled twin with whom she occasionally shared a body. Shed also talk to people who werent there, babbling about gods and demons. It was during these times that I first heard her talk about our childhood traumas. Advertisement Theda and I grew up in a broken household with ethnic tensions. Dad was a Burmese refugee, and Mom was a working-class Englishwoman who couldnt afford to get back to the Northern Hemisphere. Cut off from any extended family, one parent wanted us to identify as Asian, and the other as Western. Throughout adolescence, we were bullied for being dark-skinned in a predominantly white neighborhood. We lived in a suburb adjacent to where the Australian Nationalist MovementPerths active white supremacy grouphad set up its headquarters. We went through adolescence in a backwater part of the worlds most isolated city in the 1980s, and when I was 12, nearly half a million posters appeared around town stating that our kind were not welcome. Anti-Asian immigration had been the government policy in my country until just before Theda was born, so the bigotry in our city was still strong. Racism came at us from teachers, peers, and adults. It was implied in stories we read and the television we watched. That made for a tough and confusing childhood, leaving both Theda and me with a sense that something was intrinsically wrong with us. We internalized racism because we werent empowered with a language to describe what we were experiencing. We blamed ourselves. For me, that manifested as major depression from the ages of 13 to 24. For Theda, I believe it contributed to her getting sick. I later discovered research that links poor adult health to the particular kinds of developmental stress minorities often face as children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Theda was sane, she never talked about our childhood. Only psychotic Theda did that. During a psychosis, it was like she became another person. Her speech patterns changedshe had what psychiatrists call pressured speech, which is the constant need to talk (somewhat incoherently). She also clanged, which is a tendency to fill silence with simple rhyming speech patterns. She trusted me during these times in a way she didnt seem to trust anyone else. She tried to communicate with me, and there were narratives in the content of her speech that I recognized. She talked a lot about her physical condition, calling it the sickness Theda has. She believed that her illness existed because our family was in the wrong realm. She mythologized our migration and ethnic experience when speaking like this, saying our parents had migrated from more agreeable realms in their past lives. She also commonly linked her physical illness to trauma from a past life in which shed been raped and buried alive for attempting to move freely in a single-ethnicity culture while being a half-caste. Advertisement It was my sisters personality to repress painful childhood memories, but they came tumbling out when her sanity was compromised. Most importantly, all her physical symptoms would temporarily vanish as that occurred. This is one reason I always felt her illness had psychological rootsher physical symptoms seemed capable of transforming into mythic narratives about trauma. It was remarkable to witness. Her food intolerances would stop, light and sound would no longer give her migraines, she didnt experience any fatigue or pain, and her short-sightedness improved, quite dramatically. The abatement of symptoms would last for the duration of each psychosis, usually around 10 days. After that, her symptoms would return. This tracks with theories about how repressed trauma can drive psychosomatic illnesses. These theories, which began with Freud in the late 1800s, revolve around the idea that when people cannot consciously process trauma, their brains manifest perceptions of physical symptoms instead. When they find a way to face the trauma consciously, those physical symptoms tend to abate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The world of psychogenic research is fascinating, sometimes counterintuitive, and often deeply resonant. Functional neurologic disorderanother name for conversion disorderappears in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and it can include symptoms like blindness, paralysis, allergies, seizures, fatigue, and pain. Once known as hysteria and attributed mostly to women, it still gets some bad press. Many people, including some doctors, equate it with faking or hypochondria, whereas others imagine that it simply doesnt exist, citing sexist ignorance in past eras as the only reason such things were ever diagnosed. But psychogenic diseases do exist, and much research confirms that they arent the same as faking. These conditions have been recorded since ancient Egypt, and they happen to both men and women. They have been cured in some people, and they remain incurable in others. Diagnosing them is difficult, but proof often appears when a psychological treatment eliminates otherwise inexplicable physical symptoms. Research estimates that 20 percent of all neurology consultations include patients with some conversion disorder symptoms. Advertisement For many years I believed that my sister had severe conversion disorder. But as I learned more about medically inexplicable conditions, I also began to consider other possibilities. Emotional distress can change our cells, which is quite different from conversion disorder and explains why my sisters hormone levels were often out of whack when tested. Chronic teen bullying victims, for example, can have higher levels of disease-indicating C-reactive proteins that can last a lifetime. Women who have been physically or psychologically abused by a partner show altered neurological and gastrointestinal function. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a strikingly illustrative example of how emotional and social distress can potentially alter our physical health through our hormones. It is a heart disease that shows up on echocardiograms as a deformation in a patients left ventricle, caused by spikes in their stress hormone levels. It can kill, and it occurs in in people who are struggling with grief, financial stress, or social isolation. Crohns disease and endometriosis are two more well-known physical conditions that have also been partially linked to psychological trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like many people, I once classified mental and physical diseases as quite distinct from each other. In my mind, a key difference involved their cause and cure. My perception was that mental illnesses were generally caused by social and familial distress, and that they could be cured with medication and/or therapy. The reality is that mental illnesses can be, for some, a lifelong burden. They have genetic factors too. And social and familial distress can cause physical illnesses just as they can cause mental illness. When we recognize that mental and physical illnesses are not so cleanly divided, we can also question the usefulness of that divide for deciding on someones right to die. Should a person experiencing a temporary mental health episode be considered a euthanasia candidate? Everyone would agree the answer is no. Just like someone experiencing a bad case of mononucleosis shouldnt be given the right to a medically assisted death, nor should someone experiencing an episode of depression. Advertisement But should someones right to die be explicitly about their diagnosis? When someones suffering is intolerable and without an end in sight, that should be enough of a reason to consider their right to a peaceful death, on a case-by-case basis. We should listen to people in that situation when they ask for more rights, no matter the cause of their illness, as a cause may not be able to be neatly untangled. Advertisement Advertisement Stigmatizing some types of diagnosesand seeing some terrible chronic conditions as worthy of the right to die and not othersis a form of collective victim-blaming. Social psychologist Melvin Lerner can give us insight there. He hypothesized in the 1970s that victim-blaming is driven by the blamers desire for an illusion of safety. When we imagine that someones misfortune is caused by their own folly, we can strike that misfortune from our own list of personal concerns. Consider how that plays into the ways we stigmatize some illnesses. Blaming the patient alleviates our anxiety about that particular sickness. Hence, mental illnesses get stigmatized because many people wish to imagine themselves immune. As noted by OSullivan, psychosomatic conditions attract the intense victim-blaming because they challenge the very framework separating mental and physical illnesses. This challenges our illusion of invulnerability in a significant way. Advertisement Advertisement I learned to see beyond that as I went through this story with my family. My big sisters illness was not her fault. It was an illness as real as any other, and beyond her control regardless of whether it was mental or physical in origin. It was likely caused by social trauma, but it proved untreatable. And her suffering was terrible. In a 2023 essay for the Atlantic, David Brooks argues that the right to die should be afforded narrowly, only for people with terminal physical conditions. You dont have the right to make a choice you will never be able to revisit, he writes. Banish the question from your mind, because the answer is a simple no. He believes sick people owe it to their ancestors and society to continue living despite their suffering. He blames modern liberal culture for prioritizing individual well-being over our responsibility to others. Our individual choices take place within the framework of the gifts we have received, and the responsibilities to others that those gifts entail, he continues. Advertisement I agree with Brooks that tackling the rights of chronically ill patients involves thinking about responsibility. But instead of putting the emphasis on the individual, as he does, we must think about responsibility more broadly. We need to examine how we rank illness-related suffering as a culture. Thats our responsibility. We also need to consider how social injustice plays a role in causing chronic and mental illnesses. In the final month of my sisters life, I traveled to America because of pressing concerns in New York. Meanwhile, Theda was back in Australia with pentobarbital under her bed. She had promised me she wouldnt end her life without first calling me back to Australia. I knew it was a risk leaving, but I took it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The night I arrived in New York, George Zimmermans trial was on a TV in the reception area of my accommodation.* It was mainstream news, and two anchors were orchestrating a conversation between talking heads in live feeds. The topic turned to growing up Black in America and how it could affect the long-term psychological well-being of people like Trayvon Martin. They argued about the impact of racial inferiority complexes. I remember watching that debate with awe. Theda and I hadnt grown up in a society debating such ideas. We never encountered those thoughts in our social circles or on national news. Some of our ignorance came from growing up working class, and the rest was colonial Australias tendency to sweep discomfort under the rug rather than discussing it on TV. Id never heard the term racial inferiority complex until that year, but it resonated. I remember being affected by how my sister would perceive and react to what I was seeing. Witnessing a nation discuss such things makes thinking about them possible. A robust public discourse on racism would have helped her to shine a light on the childhood experiences that she seemed to understand in her head when psychotic, and in her body when she was sane. I realized that night in New York that I was witnessing one of the ways a society can speak to the sick. Advertisement A month later, Theda euthanized herself while I was still abroad. It happened after shed attended a medical appointment with a neurologist who implied her suffering was her fault becausethat neurologist believedit had a mental health component at its core. I was staying at an Airbnb in Ithaca at the time. I hadnt truly imagined Theda ending her life without calling me home. That day, Mum phoned while I was at a cafe getting ready to catch a bus to Albany. After the call, I remember walking down the main street toward the bus station on autopilot, unsure where I was going. Mums voice was playing over in my head, telling me that my sister was gone. It felt like I was watching myself from outside my own flesh. Advertisement Advertisement I wasnt mad at Theda for ending her life. She had chosen euthanasia after reaching the end of what she could tolerate. I knew that it no longer mattered whether her illness had been in her body or mind. All I knew is that she was no longer suffering. If you need to talk, or if you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Biden administration faces increasing backlash over new legislation that will re-classify gig workers as employees. The Labor Departments (DOL) new Independent Contractor Rule came into effect on March 11. It imposes six criteria that employers must consider when deeming whether to classify a worker as an independent gig contractor or an employee. The new rule makes it more difficult for employers to classify workers as independent contractors, which is likely to have a significant impact on industries that rely heavily on gig workers, such as ride hailing, food delivery and creative services. According to Statista data, as of February 2024 there were 76.4 million freelance workers in the US. Turning a sizeable amount of the millions on independent contractors into unionized employees would help President Joe Biden achieve his promise of being the most pro-union president in American history. But the new law has been criticized by gig workers, small business advocates, trade groups, and lawmakers. They liken it to the controversial rule in California, which governs gig work and that came into effect on January 1, 2020. The law, known as Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), requires many businesses to treat gig workers as employees. Under the rule, the number of articles freelance journalists can be paid for are capped. However, following an outcry by gig workers, the legislature in California passed over 100 exemptions for industries that were being impacted by the law. At least five lawsuits have been filed against the Biden administration to stop the new Independent Contactor Rule. The US Chamber of Commerce is one of the latest groups challenging the law. But the DOL argues that the legislation helps protects workers rights and offers more consistency through the Fair Labor Standards Act. More Perfect Union, the union-friendly organization, support the rule, argues that the forthcoming legislation will result in higher wages and overtime pay for millions of workers in gig jobs. However, workers continue to prioritize the flexibility and autonomy that contracted employment models provide, as a Harvard Business Review study found. Karen Anderson, founder of the Freelancers Against AB5, described the rule as disruptive and cruel. Within our membership, weve identified more than 600 categories of professions affected by this destructive, disruptive and cruel law, she said. Mary Kathleen Rhodes (Kathy), 66, of Leonardtown, MD, passed away on March 12, 2024, at home with her family by her side after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Kathy was born on April 26, 1957, in Leonardtown, MD, to the late George Kalnasy and Patricia Ann (Reithmeyer) Kalnasy. Kathy was the second oldest of six children and a lifelong resident of St. Mary's County, Maryland. She attended Father Andrew White, S.J. School, and was a 1975 graduate of St. Mary's Academy. Shortly after graduation, Kathy started her career with the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, DC. Several years later, she transferred to the U.S. Department of the Navy at Patuxent River, MD, where Kathy remained until she retired as a Supervisory Human Resources Specialist in 2017. Kathy met and became lifelong friends with many co-workers, and even stayed in touch throughout her retirement. On May 21, 1982, she married John Taylor Rhodes in Leonardtown, MD. They were blessed with two daughters who gave them four grandchildren. Family was extremely important to Kathy and she was a proud wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. Her grandchildren meant the world to her and she would call them every evening to check in and say goodnight. In her free time, she enjoyed restoring furniture and some of her favorite pieces were those she refinished for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed photography, especially when the subjects were her grandchildren, as well as annual vacations with her daughters and extended family. Kathy also served the community as a volunteer EMT with the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad for many years. She was a Past President and member of the Executive Board. She is survived by her husband, John; daughters, Kelley Grace Bean (Sean) of Hollywood, MD, Emily Taylor Franklin of Leonardtown, MD; siblings, George Kalnasy, Jr. (Dolores) of Leonardtown, MD, Paul Kalnasy (Debbie) of Valley Lee, MD, Khriss Howard (Jimmy) of Tall Timbers, MD, Marta Bullis (Ritch) of Leonardtown, MD, Patty Dabbs (Jay) of St. Mary's City, MD; grandchildren, Madelyn, Sophia, Maci Ann, and Maxwell, and many nieces and nephews. At Kathy's request, all services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (ocrahope.org), or Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. On March 15, 2024, Deborah Kathryn "Kathy" Vassallo, 69, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Deale, MD, with her family by her side. After a 2.5-year battle with cancer, Kathy's strength and grace throughout her illness were an inspiration to all who knew her. Born to Richard and Frances Mayer on August 11,1954 in Camp Springs Maryland, Kathy attended St. Philip the Apostle School and graduated from Crossland High School in 1972. Marrying the love of her life, with whom she shared over 50 beautiful years, they settled in Dunkirk, MD. Their union was blessed with two wonderful daughters, and together they shared the importance of the Catholic faith. Kathy's professional life was deeply rooted in Catholic education, having worked for 20 years at St. Mary of the Assumption School and later 9 years at St. Pius X Regional School, where she would say the highlight of her career was working with both of her daughters. Kathy's warm smile greeted countless families, sharing with them the importance of a faith-based education. It was within these communities that she formed enduring friendships, which evolved into family. Kathy loved the beach, boat rides, shopping, reading, cruises with family and friends, and of course a good chocolate martini. Her compassionate spirit extended into her role as a founding member of the St. Mary of the Assumption Ladies Auxiliary, where she relished in planning events and volunteering to support those in need. Kathy leaves behind her beloved husband, John; daughters, Vicky (Rich) McCann and Stephanie (Brian) Heller; and her grandson, Stewart. She is also survived by her sister, Theresa Fanone, and was preceded in death by her brother, Stephen Mayer, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends who were blessed to know her. A Visitation for family and friends will be held Wednesday March 20, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, followed by a Mass to celebrate Kathy's life at 11:00 A.M. A Private Interment will take place at a later date. Kathy loved to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The family asks in her memory to wear a bit of green and make this a Mass of celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to support tuition assistance within The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Schools. Donations can be made payable to the "Catholic Education Foundation" and mailed to the Catholic Education Foundation, C/O Office of Development, P.O. Box 29260, Washington, DC 20017-0260, in memory of Kathy Vassallo. Visit Spring music festival or screening of French film Annie Colere. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Music | Nature | Film Music video //www.youtube.com/embed/G6GJLYQWbhA Bratislava Spring festival 2024 March 24-26, 19:00 in Hall of Mirrors of the Primate's Palace, Primacialne namestie. The international choral festival in Bratislava, brings the most interesting from the field of choral singing. We invite choirs from all over the world to contribute to the peaceful spring mood with their singing, traditional culture and spontaneous performance. 11 choirs from 5 countries will participate in the festival, coming from Serbia, Slovenia, Denmark, Lithuania and of course Slovakia. You can learn more about the ensembles on the main page of the festival. https://en.frame.mapy.cz/s/lejucupatu Nature Vapenna (Source: One2We) Hike to Klokoc and Vapenna Meeting point: March 23 at 7:20 at Nivy bus station. This weekend the hikers will head out on a challenging hike to the peaks at Klokoc and Vapenna. They will cover 12-13 km in just over 4 hours over steep elevations and rocky terrain. So, the group will meet at Nivy bus station early in the morning, at 7:20, for the 7:33 bus on Platform 14. On their way to Plavecke Podhradie, where the hike will start, they will make a change at Rohoznik. The hikers will take the path out of the village, into the forest, and then to the first peak at Klokoc (661 m). They will continue along the ridgeway to Vapenna (752 m) then head down to Solosnica for the bus back at 14:00. If you'd like to go on a hike by yourself, see the map below. https://en.frame.mapy.cz/s/cucononalo Film video //www.youtube.com/embed/Bh67hz0eAww Screening of the film "Annie Colere" March 26, at 18:20 at the French Institute (Sedlarska 7). January 1974. Annie, a working-class mother of two, accidentally becomes pregnant and encounters the Abortion and Contraception Liberation Movement, which provides illegal abortions to the public. The film depicts how Annie meets both comrades and opponents through her struggle. The film is in French, but English subtitles will be available. https://en.frame.mapy.cz/s/dovazezoza If you have tips for free events in Bratislava or you would like to share your hiking or cycling trip ideas with readers, let us know at kseniia.husieva@spectator.sk. A story about a Ukrainian mother living in Bratislava, one of the largest banks to increase fees, and an idea to save a famous museum. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Good evening. Here is the Thursday, March 21 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Slovakia refuses to support Czech initiative Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, second left, welcomes his counterparts from Poland Radoslaw Sikorski, left, from Slovakia Juraj Blanar, right, and Hungary Peter Szijjarto, second right, as they meet in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 21, 2024. (Source: TASR) Slovakia won't join the Czech Republic's initiative to buy ammunition for Ukraine from third countries, said Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer) following a meeting of the heads of diplomacy of the V4 countries in Prague on Thursday, writes the TASR news agency. Hungary won't join the initiative, either. Poland supported the Czech move on Wednesday, however. The Czech Republic is trying to swiftly buy ammunition from countries outside Europe, asking several of its allies to finance this. A number of European countries, including France, have supported the initiative. The Slovak minister reiterated that there's no military solution to the conflict in Ukraine. He added that Slovakia is not isolated in the world of diplomacy, although Slovakia was not invited to a recent tele-conference on Ukraine. "We have also achieved results, for example, we managed to have a Slovak citizen removed from the list of anti-Russian sanctions, which was agreed upon by all EU member states. Do you think that if we had been isolated we would have achieved this result?" asked Blanar. Ministers in Prague also decided to increase the budget of the International Visegrad Fund, which should be headed by Slovak Linda Kapustova Helbichova from summer. Opposition: "Our neighbour is facing brutal aggression and we expect it to defend itself with pillows and duvets?" asked Progresivne Slovensko leader Michal Simecka in response to Blanar's decision. He added that the Slovak administration is sabotaging the good name of Slovakia. FEATURE STORY FOR THURSDAY The Ukrainian mother who has found a home and love in Slovakia Olena Kulish. (Source: The Nest Away From Home) For Olena Kulish's small family from eastern Ukraine, a simple room in a dormitory accommodation in Bratislava has become a place where she and her children can exist, safely, and can laugh as much as their lives allow them to. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website Business: Tatra Banka to introduce change to its price list, including new fees. Tatra Banka to introduce change to its price list, including new fees. Culture: The Slovak Mining Museum has come up with an idea to please collectors and raise money for the restoration of the famous Berggericht museum. The Slovak Mining Museum has come up with an idea to please collectors and raise money for the restoration of the famous Berggericht museum. Bratislava: After many years behind a lock, Bratislava may finally open its historic attraction to the public. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. WHAT TO DO IN BRATISLAVA Pay a visit to the French Institute Vapenna (Source: VaGa) You can look forward to a film screening at the institute next week or join other hikers on a trip to the Small Carpathians this weekend. In other news The General Prosecutor's Office has dropped the charges pressed against former head of the Slovak Information Service, Vladimir Pcolinsky, and head of the National Security Office, Roman Konecny. The Office used Section 363 the Criminal Procedure Code to do so. The charges concerned a criminal group that allegedly thwarted investigations into corruption cases. pressed against former head of the Slovak Information Service, Vladimir Pcolinsky, and head of the National Security Office, Roman Konecny. The Office used Section 363 the Criminal Procedure Code to do so. The charges concerned a criminal group that allegedly thwarted investigations into corruption cases. Electronic Maturita school-leaving exams at secondary schools and the testing of ninth graders at primary schools called 'Testing 9' might be introduced as of 2026, and at some schools even as of next year, said Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Hlas) on Thursday. at secondary schools and the testing of ninth graders at primary schools called 'Testing 9' might be introduced as of 2026, and at some schools even as of next year, said Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Hlas) on Thursday. An emergency situation has been declared in several districts in the north of Slovakia due to the occurrence of synanthropic bears, which have got used to living near humans. It applies to the districts of Liptovsky Mikulas, Ruzomberok, Zilina, Martin, Turcianske Teplice, Poprad and Kezmarok. in the north of Slovakia due to the occurrence of synanthropic bears, which have got used to living near humans. It applies to the districts of Liptovsky Mikulas, Ruzomberok, Zilina, Martin, Turcianske Teplice, Poprad and Kezmarok. A 52-year-old woman from Senica, Trnava Region, died after being shot dead in the street by her former husband, who fled the crime scene. The police launched a manhunt for the man and a patrol found him half an hour later by a shopping mall near the Jewish cemetery, where he turned the gun on himself. by her former husband, who fled the crime scene. The police launched a manhunt for the man and a patrol found him half an hour later by a shopping mall near the Jewish cemetery, where he turned the gun on himself. The Defence Ministry is considering the purchase of four more F-16 supersonic aircraft, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak told the Pravda daily. The number could thus increase from 14 to 18 jets. Exhibitions entitled Silence Will Not Protect Us in the Synagogue - Contemporary Art Centre in Trnava on March 13, 2024. (Source: TASR ) WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: On Friday, expect varying degrees of cloud cover across the country, with some areas experiencing temporary reductions in cloudiness. Occasional showers or rain are likely throughout the day, so it's wise to be prepared with umbrellas or rain jackets if you plan to be outdoors. Temperature-wise, the day will range from 10C to 17C. Wind speeds will remain light, with breezes reaching up to 20 kilometres per hour. (SHMU) MARCH 22 NAME'S DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Benadik. Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook and Instagram (@slovakspectator). Bay Area coffee lovers, head out to Oakland immediately. Mr. Espresso is collaborating with Bay Area chef Michael Woods to craft a signature beverage for their gorgeous flagship location The Caffe for a limited time. The Bussdown is a toasted marshmallow candied yam latte, named after Woods innovative concept kitchen, offering an elevated dining experience, delivered to your door. Chef Michael Woods has created a latte that tells the story of the African diaspora, just as he does with his innovative Bussdown menu, says The Caffes co-owner and Mr. Espresso Vice President Luigi Di Ruocco. Chef Michael Woods got his start staging at 2-3 star Michelin star restaurants, and cooking for award-winning area restaurants such as Zuni Cafe, Delfina, Sobra Mesa, Plum, and Gather. Hes now the owner of & Grits, Bussdown Delivery, and Too Much Sauce. He brings fine dining technique to Pan African Soul food, Di Ruocco explains, and you taste it in this balanced spiced and heated drink, mellowed by marshmallow cream. We start by roasting whole sweet potatoes, then combine with dark brown sugar to create a puree, says Di Ruocco. Adding allspice, berbere, cinnamon, and cayenne sourced from the local Oaktown Spice Shop, the puree takes on a complexity while still letting the espresso shine through. I can still taste the coffee, a customer noted. To build the drink, baristas pull an espresso shot over the candied puree, stir to combine, and top it with steamed milk. We top off the candied yam latte with a dollop of house-made, toasted marshmallow cream, Di Ruocco adds. The drink is an entry in The Caffes ambitious chef collaboration series, celebrating local chefs like Woods to create truly inventive signature drinks. We approached [Chef Michael Woods] about collaborating with us for The Caffes Chef Series, Di Ruocco explains, this was the idea he brought to the table. Chef Mike and I worked together to develop the final recipe. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mr. Espresso (@mrespressooak) Over at The Caffe, The Bussdown latte ($6.50) is turning heads and the response has been overwhelming. Its delicious! Its the best yam drink Ive had! Flavor is there. Its not too sweet but sweet enough, and has spice yet you can still taste the coffee, said one customer, while another added, This drink is AMAZING! I dont live downtown, but, damnit, Im gonna try to make it at least one more time. On social media, customers sing the beverages praiseson Instagram, a customer reported, Had it last week super delish. The spice is what makes it! while another added, Delicious! I am definitely going back. Folks who havent had the opportunity to try it have a few days left before its gone. The Bussdown Toasted Marshmallow Candied Yam Lattes last day is this Saturday, March 23rd. Visit The Caffe in Oakland, California at 1120 Broadway. Follow The Caffe @thecaffeoak and Mr. Espresso @mrespressooak on Instagram. For more, visit their official website. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/antwerp-is-crowned-as-europes-cocaine-capital-for-the-second-time-in-a-row-1117473324.html Antwerp 'Crowned' Europe's Cocaine Capital for Second Straight Time Antwerp 'Crowned' Europe's Cocaine Capital for Second Straight Time Sputnik International Expert analyses reveal the prevalent use of illicit substances like cocaine, ketamine, 'esctasy' in Europe, especially in major European coastal cities with seaports. 2024-03-21T19:23+0000 2024-03-21T19:23+0000 2024-03-22T08:07+0000 world europe newsfeed antwerp belgium european union (eu) european monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (emcdda) cannabis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104906/25/1049062541_0:254:4928:3026_1920x0_80_0_0_44123666545c648f20450afb24c64cb2.jpg Belgiums port city of Antwerp has claimed the dubious honor of being "Europes cocaine capital" for the second time.That is the verdict of a report by the European Union (EU) drugs agency in conjunction with the SCORE group a network analyzing sewage across Europe.The report is a compilation of wastewater analyses conducted in 88 cities across the EUs 23 nations and Turkiye, which has a population of roughly 55.6 million.The data revealed a spike in cocaine consumption, along wth ketamine and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy). The study indicated that consumption trends for amphetamines and cannabis were imprecise.According to the experts, wastewater analysis offers valuable insights into drug use prevalence in a particular area.Following the findings, the director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Alexis Goosdeel, said the report gives an early warning of emerging health threats and shifting trends."Antwerp kept its place as Europe's leading cocaine consumer, with 1,721 milligrams detected per 1,000 people daily although that was a decrease from 2022's figures.Authorities seized a record-breaking 116 tons of cocaine in the port of Antwerp in 2023, six tons more than in 2022, Belgian Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem announced in January.Source: EMCDDAFranky De Keyzer, chief of Antwerp's public prosecutor's office, admitted a week ago that Dutch criminal gangs are overrunning the port.The EMCDDA chief said the study demonstrated growing similarities in drug habits between large and small cities.The top five locations with increased cocaine use are coastal cities, including Antwerp in Belgium, Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Tarragona in Spain. Among the top-five, only the Dutch city of Leeuwarden is situated inland.The skyrocketing demand for cocaine fuels alarming levels of gang violence, the EU drug agency warned earlier this month.Europes illicit drugs market is estimated to have a turnover of at least 31 billion annually, according to EMCDDA.Also disturbing is the growing involvement of minors in drug-peddling, with some even resorting to gun violence. Ports authorities in Antwerp and Rotterdam have witnessed numerous cases of adolescents being recruited to extract cocaine hidden inside shipping containers in exchange for cash rewards. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/us-investigators-found-cocaine-on-hunter-bidens-gun-holster-last-year---reports-1116218815.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230825/spanish-police-seize-record-95-tonnes-of-cocaine-coming-from-ecuador-1112890279.html antwerp belgium Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg cocaine, ketamine, mdma, emcdda, europe's cocaine capital, major cocaine ports in europe. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/bidens-point-man-visits-ukraine-with-bundle-of-promises-on-getting-aid-out-the-door-1117462999.html Biden's Point Man Visits Ukraine With Bundle of Promises on Getting Aid 'Out the Door' Biden's Point Man Visits Ukraine With Bundle of Promises on Getting Aid 'Out the Door' Sputnik International Joe Bidens National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan makes covert trip to Kiev on Wednesday. 2024-03-21T06:49+0000 2024-03-21T06:49+0000 2024-03-21T06:49+0000 world us ukraine jake sullivan joe biden https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/15/1117460745_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_774cd44f8c46c998797f4fcb0dfade01.jpg A big bag of nothing but promises is what Joe Bidens national security advisor brought with him on his covert trip to Kiev on Wednesday.As Jake Sullivan offered a rehash of the same old promises of Washingtons commitment to supporting Ukraine, he could not put any specific timeframe as to when more aid might be forthcoming.It would appear that the whole point of Bidens point man visiting Ukraine was to placate Kiev while exuding confidence that the gridlock in Congress over supplementary aid to Ukraine would end at some point.This was Sullivans first trip to Ukraine since he accompanied Biden to the Ukrainian capital on February 20, 2023. This hurried visit could be taken as a sign that things look pretty bleak when it comes to hopes of getting the aid package out the door. And yet, Sullivan ruled out any "Plan B," saying:Im confident that we will achieve Plan A... We are confident we will get a strong bipartisan vote in the House for an assistance package for Ukraine Its already taken too long," he said, noting, however, that "Im not going to make predictions about exactly when this will get done. Media reported that House Republicans are in the early stages of work on an alternate foreign aid bill that they hope will be ready by April. Current discussions are believed to be centered on trying to get the aid approved in the form of a loan.Last week, Pentagon cost savings allowed Washington to scrounge up $300 million in Ukraine military assistance that included air defense interceptors, artillery rounds, and armor systems. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin touted it before European allies at a meeting of Ukraines Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base on March 19."Those supplies rush to you as we speak, said Sullivan. As for Kiev's coveted larger package, he reiterated that we are confident that we will get this aid to Ukraine.Sullivan also put a damper on the Kiev regimes hopes of getting their hands on American longer range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) with a range of up to 300 kilometers. There were reports that these systems might be included in the $300 million Ukraine aid package.It is worth noting that Kiev already has in its possession an older and shorter-range version of the ATACMS, which Russian forces have successfully been shooting down. Last year when Ukraine first used them to attack the port city of Berdyansk in Zaporozhye, Russia's President Vladimir Putin called the missiles delivery a mistake and stressed that the weapons would create additional threats. Putin assured that Russia would be able to repel ATACMS strikes, and that the weapons wouldnt change the situation on the battlefield.Earlier, US officials predicted Ukraine's failure in the NATO proxy conflict with Russia in a worst-case scenario unless Congress approves additional military aid to Kiev."This doesn't go well for Ukraine over time without a supplemental, and it could lead to potential collapse," an unnamed official was quoted by The Washington Post as saying, adding:"But here's the bottom line: Even if Ukraine holds on, what we really are saying is that we are going to leverage countless lives in order to do that."Western countries have pumped hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. But since then, the neo-Nazi forces of the Kiev regime, bulked up by mercenaries after the failed summer counteroffensive, have had little battlefield successes to boast of. Ukraine has lost more than 71,000 soldiers and over 11,000 units of various weapons since the start of the year, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday.Ukraine has also lost four Abrams tanks, five Leopard tanks, six HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems, and five Patriot complexes, he added.The Kremlin has consistently warned against the West's continued arms deliveries to Ukraine, saying that they only prolong the conflict, adding that Western military equipment will eventually be destroyed. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240309/us-republican-lawmakers-work-on-alternative-aid-for-ukraine-including-loan-format---reports-1117223657.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240314/pentagons-300-mln-mini-bailout-for-ukraine-will-run-out-in-matter-of-weeks-1117336759.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240315/us-officials-predict-kievs-potential-military-collapse-without-washingtons-aid---reports-1117351386.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko joe bidens national security adviser jake sullivan visits ukraine, ukraine aid stalled in congress, ukraine, ukrainian crisis, aid for ukraine, nato's proxy conflict against russia in ukraine, is ukraine losing, https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/get-a-sneak-peek-at-new-russian-troop-arrivals-training-in-special-op-zone-1117468026.html Get a Sneak Peek at New Russian Troop Arrivals Training in Special Op Zone Get a Sneak Peek at New Russian Troop Arrivals Training in Special Op Zone Sputnik International The Russian army's success on the front lines of the special operations zone can be attributed to the soldiers' supreme skills in managing weaponry, carrying out precision strikes and navigating the terrain in the course of combat missions. This is precisely why new Russian troop arrivals undergo thorough military training 2024-03-21T14:28+0000 2024-03-21T14:28+0000 2024-03-21T14:32+0000 multimedia russia sergei shoigu zaporozhye ministry of defense russian army military training https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/15/1117467805_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_bb8e61e0312a30f203c0f8458a28a91c.jpg Earlier this week, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported on Ukraine's losses since the start of the year. According to the Ministry of Defense, so far Ukrainian troops have lost over 71,000 soldiers in 2024. "In general, the losses of the Ukrainian armed forces during this period [...] exceeded 71,000 people and 11,000 units of various weapons. This is almost three times higher than the same period last year," the defense chief said at a meeting with senior military brass.These numbers reflect how dire the situation is for the Ukrainian military. Furthermore, the Kiev regime is suffering such losses specifically because of the superior combat skills that Russian soldiers possess. This edge is attained through the mandatory and rigorous training that all new troops undergo.Check out Sputnik's exclusive photo gallery to find out more! 1 russia zaporozhye Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russias special military op in ukraine, special military operation, special military operational zone, special op zone, russian troops in special op zone, ukraine casualties in conflict, total ukrainian losses, how many people did ukraine loose, how many people did kiev loose, new russian weapons in ukraine, advanced russian weapons, russian defense ministry statements, latest russian military statements, what did shoigu say about ukraine, donetsk peoples republic, nato in ukraine, is nato in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/macron-sending-troops-to-ukraine-like-a-dog-urinating-on-odessa-1117460033.html Macron Sending Troops to Ukraine Like a 'Poodle' Urinating on Odessa Macron Sending Troops to Ukraine Like a 'Poodle' Urinating on Odessa Sputnik International Russian Foreign Intelligence Chief Sergey Naryshkin said on Tuesday that thousands of French troops are being prepared for deployment in the Odessa region of... 21.03.2024, Sputnik International 2024-03-21T02:20+0000 2024-03-21T02:20+0000 2024-03-21T09:07+0000 analysis mark sleboda emmanuel macron sergey naryshkin odessa russia ukraine nato sputnik the critical hour https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105698/75/1056987594_0:0:2945:1657_1920x0_80_0_0_1d29b6253dce953ef34b39be5fb09b72.jpg French President Emmanuel Macrons plan to put around 2,000 troops in Odessa would only serve as a human tripwire force and would be the equivalent of NATO, like a dog, urinating on Odessa, marking it as NATOs territory, Mark Sleboda, an international relations and security expert, told Sputniks The Critical Hour on Wednesday. He added that in this analogy, France is like a poodle.On Tuesday, French ground army chief of staff General Pierre Schill said in an op-ed that his forces are ready to respond to the toughest engagements and said the country could engage a division of 20,000 troops within 30 days.By comparison, Russia has more than 600,000 troops deployed in the special operation zone, according to both Russian and Western analyses. There is a likelihood that the French believe that Russia will not fire on these French troops, [because] they are under uniform, out of fear of striking a NATO member, even though of course, NATOs Article Five would not apply, Sleboda explained.Sleboda added that he believes Macron thinks that if French troops are killed by Russia, then that will create more support for the conflict domestically and help politically mobilize other European countries to join the fight.Of course, with NATO troops officially in uniform dying in Ukraine, that would take us to a whole other level, he warned.Sleboda predicted that there will be a very big information warfare game, the targets of which will be the French people, and other NATO member states, noting that Finland, the Czech Republic, the Baltics and Canada have all already suggested that they might join the French.Co-host Wilmer Leon asked if Macron could seriously believe a behind whopping isnt on the horizon, Sleboda responded by describing NATOs salami-slicing tactics of incrementalism.We now have NATO leaders openly admitting, yeah, weve got troops all over Ukraine. Theyve been heavily involved in all operations of combat, he said, citing a Spanish newspaper. Russia has still not taken any retaliatory actions against NATO outside of Ukraine, outside of the parameters of the proxy war. So, I think this is one more escalation they believe they can get through [using] incrementalism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240319/french-troops-in-ukraine-may-be-play-by-macron-to-propel-himself-to-status-of-21st-century-sun-king-1117433277.html odessa russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino mark sleboda, emmanuel macron, sergey naryshkin, odessa, russia, ukraine, nato, sputnik, the critical hour https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/putin-addresses-russian-public-following-presidential-election-results-1117466107.html Putin Addresses Russian Public Following Presidential Election Results - Full Video Putin Addresses Russian Public Following Presidential Election Results - Full Video Sputnik International Sputnik goes live as Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses Russian citizens after the official results of the Russian presidential election. 2024-03-21T10:01+0000 2024-03-21T10:01+0000 2024-03-21T14:30+0000 russia vladimir putin 2024 russian presidential election russian central election commission russia ella pamfilova https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/15/1117468168_92:0:1328:695_1920x0_80_0_0_9d84f33709cfb03713d12402b0506a87.jpg Watch the full video of Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing the nation's citizens after the official results of the Russian presidential election.A total of 76,277,708 citizens went to the ballot box in Russias presidential election, casting their votes for incumbent President Vladimir Putin, according to the Russian Central Election Commission's report on Thursday. Hence, Putin received an overwhelming 87.28% of the votes, while Nikolai Kharitonov from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation garnered 4.31% of the ballots, Vladislav Davankov from the New People's Party received 3.85%, and Leonid Slutsky from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia obtained 3.20%.The three-day voting process for the Russian presidential election ran from March 15 to March 17. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Putin Addresses Russian Public Following Presidential Election Results Sputnik International Putin Addresses Russian Public Following Presidential Election Results 2024-03-21T10:01+0000 true PT3M03S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian president vladimir putin, russian citizens, russian presidential election https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/russias-presidential-election-turnout-amounts-to-7749---cec-1117465191.html Russia's Presidential Voter Turnout Comes to 77.49%, Election Officials Report Russia's Presidential Voter Turnout Comes to 77.49%, Election Officials Report Sputnik International The final turnout in Russia's presidential election amounted to 77.49%, Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said on Thursday. 2024-03-21T08:54+0000 2024-03-21T08:54+0000 2024-03-21T08:58+0000 russia 2024 russian presidential election central election commission russia ella pamfilova https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/10/1117363522_0:4:3630:2046_1920x0_80_0_0_426ca04a6fd1a559fe70bc19888be5c0.jpg "It has been established that the final turnout at the presidential election of Russia amounted to 77.49% of the number of voters ... In absolute terms, 87,576,075 voters took part in the election. In the modern history of Russia, such indicators have never been seen before, " Pamvfilova said at the Central Election Commission meeting.The three-day voting in the Russian presidential election ended on March 17. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/election-and-polls-show-russia-is-united-while-west-fractures-1117460371.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia's presidential election, central election commission chief ella pamfilova https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/saudi-arabia-to-allocate-40mln-to-unrwa-for-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-strip-1117460228.html Saudi Arabia to Allocate $40Mln to UNRWA for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip Saudi Arabia to Allocate $40Mln to UNRWA for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip Sputnik International Saudi Arabia will allocate $40mln to the UN Relief and Works Agency for its humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) said. 2024-03-21T02:06+0000 2024-03-21T02:06+0000 2024-03-21T02:06+0000 world saudi arabia gaza strip united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east (unrwa) israel-gaza conflict israeli-palestinian conflict palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/0f/1097352357_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_fe979db1b760b268b059a7bded791acb.jpg "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, enhances its funding to UNRWA with USD 40 million to support lifesaving operations in Gaza," the center said on X. The additional funding will help provide food for more than 250,000 people and shelter for about 200,000 people, the organization added.UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in the Gaza Strip, with over 2 million people depending on it for their survival. In January, Israel shared data with UNRWA's leadership on the alleged involvement of some of the agency's staff in Palestinian movement Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023.Several countries, including the United States, Finland, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom, suspended funding for UNRWA. Canada, Sweden and Australia have lifted their suspensions of UNRWA funding after a pause of more than two months. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/un-agency-for-palestine-refugees-calls-suspension-of-funding-by-some-nations-insane-1116980050.html saudi arabia gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International unrwa, sponsors, unrwa, humanitarian efforts in the gaza strip, king salman humanitarian aid and relief center, ksrelief https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/us-frustrated-by-ukraines-fanatical-defense-of-areas-of-limited-strategic-value-1117478114.html US Frustrated by Ukraine's Fanatical Defense of Areas of Limited Strategic Value US Frustrated by Ukraine's Fanatical Defense of Areas of Limited Strategic Value Sputnik International Russian forces are engaged in a slow, methodical advance through the Donbass, cracking heavily fortified Ukrainian defenses after blunting last years counteroffensive. Meanwhile, Kievs NATO allies have been dropping increasingly obvious hints that theyre looking for a way out of the quagmire after leaving their client state in ruins. 2024-03-21T19:12+0000 2024-03-21T19:12+0000 2024-03-21T19:19+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine military & intelligence vladimir putin ukraine russia nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/18/1116954498_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c569947ccac3e9a5361784291b083840.jpg Americas self-anointed newspaper of record has called into question Ukraines strategy of defending places with little strategic value at the cost of both men and weapons as Washingtons military support shows signs of running dry.That strategy has led to a brutal, months-long slog in Rabotino, Zaporozhye, one of the few places where Ukraines disastrous summer 2023 counteroffensive managed to make any headway. Ukrainian forces captured the village, maneuvering themselves into a vulnerable bulge which Russian can now push back on from three sides, creating a dilemma: abandoning that pocket, which NYT said would ease the pressure on them, or risking another symbolic setback in the war, losing territory they gained last year at a high cost in casualties and destroyed weaponry.Ukrainian troops interviewed by the newspaper complained of Russias artillery superiority, and described unrelenting Russian attacks in and around the ruins of the village.But Ukrainian officials have their justifications. At some point, symbolic becomes strategic, former Ukrainian Ministry of Defense advisor Yurii Sak said, arguing that holding on to the ruins is important for morale, for the support of the population and the hope that Ukraine can still somehow win.In the meantime, NYT noted, Russia is continuing an offensive along the entire frontline, cracking through fortified defenses in the Donbass, and pursuing Ukrainian forces in Kherson, Kharkov and Zaporozhye.The NYT expose is one among a growing number of increasingly frank stories in Western legacy media hinting at Ukraines Western partners growing weariness with the conflict, with similar stories pointing to the Russian defense industrys overwhelming superiority over that of NATO, reporting on the potential resumption of behind-the-scenes peace talks, and increasingly blaming Kiev for assassinations and terrorist plots targeting Russia.Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans Monday to pursue the creation of a buffer zone inside Ukraine to protect Russian territories from Ukrainian attacks. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/bidens-point-man-visits-ukraine-with-bundle-of-promises-on-getting-aid-out-the-door-1117462999.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/whats-the-buffer-zone-putin-proposed-in-ukraine-1117410009.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov who's winning in russia-ukraine conflict, will ukraine lose https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/us-weighs-plea-deal-for-wikileaks-founder-assange-with-espionage-charges-dropped---report-1117465035.html US Weighs Plea Deal For WikiLeaks Founder Assange, With Espionage Charges Dropped - Report US Weighs Plea Deal For WikiLeaks Founder Assange, With Espionage Charges Dropped - Report Sputnik International The US government is considering offering WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a plea deal, The Wall Street Journal reported. 2024-03-21T11:19+0000 2024-03-21T11:19+0000 2024-03-21T13:24+0000 world us us justice department wikileaks founder julian assange case julian assange barry pollack london https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/15/1117464798_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_860ac35b358cb4b545abc640487021a7.jpg The US government, according to The Wall Street Journal, is exploring the option of offering WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a plea deal. The Justice Department is contemplating the possibility of dropping the 17 current charges against him under the Espionage Act. This would be in exchange for Assange pleading guilty to a lesser offense of mishandling classified information, which is categorized as a misdemeanor.Assange would be able to enter such a plea deal remotely from Londons HM Prison Belmarsh, where he has been incarcerated since April 2019. By accepting this plea bargain, the whistleblower would effectively end his prolonged legal battle against being extradited to the US on espionage charges. Additionally, the publication noted that since Assange has already spent five years in custody in the UK, it is likely that he would be released shortly after the deal is finalized.In response to the report, one of Assanges defense attorneys, Barry Pollack, said in a statement:Back in January 2021, a British judge ruled it would be oppressive to extradite the WikiLeaks founder to the US.However, the decision was overturned after an appeal by US authorities.In a filing to the UK court this February, lawyers representing the US government claimed Assange threatened the strategic and national security interests of the United States and put the safety of individuals at serious risk. In response, his defense lawyers argued in a hearing that Assange could become a target for extra-legal attack elimination by US security services.During the two-day hearings of arguments over whether to grant the WikiLeaks founder a fresh appeal against his extradition on February 20 and 21, Assange was absent from court due to illness, his lawyers said. Outside, crowds of supporters demanded a ruling in his favor. However, the judges refrained from making an immediate decision. Now, in a matter of weeks, Britains High Court is expected to make its final decision.Should Julian Assange exhaust all of his legal options in the UK, his wife, Stella, said earlier that they would apply to the European Court of Human Rights for an order under Rule 39 to stop the extradition while it considers his case. Stella Assange has repeatedly claimed that her husband's extradition would result in his demise, underscoring that "his health is in decline, mentally and physically. His life is at risk every single day he stays in prison, and if hes extradited, he will die." https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/us-always-planned-for-assange-to-die-in-prison-1116910930.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240304/scholz-speaks-up-against-assanges-extradition-to-us-due-to-prosecution-threat-1117129888.html london Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko us justice department, wikileaks founder julian assange, a plea deal, julian assange extradition trial, day x trial, free assange, will julian assange be sent to the us, when is assange's trial https://sputnikglobe.com/20240321/watch-russias-smerch-mlrs-annihilate-ukrainian-artillery-1117466551.html Watch Russia's Smerch MLRS Annihilate Ukrainian Artillery Watch Russia's Smerch MLRS Annihilate Ukrainian Artillery Sputnik International The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing a Russian Smerch MLRS crew demolishing the artillery crews of Ukrainian terrorist formations in the border area with the Belgorod region of Ukraine. 2024-03-21T12:34+0000 2024-03-21T12:34+0000 2024-03-21T12:34+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine video ukraine belgorod russia russian defense ministry multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs) smerch https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/15/1117471206_92:0:1340:702_1920x0_80_0_0_d11cf26252bd3928b0a661bda2292033.jpg The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing its Smerch MLRS crew demolishing the artillery crews of Ukrainian terrorist formations in the border area near Russia's Belgorod region.According to the ministry, the crew of the Zoopark radar station detected the deployment of enemy MLRS and foreign artillery howitzers in the border area of the Belgorod region. Subsequently, the crew calculated the trajectory of the shells to pinpoint the targets' locations. Upon acquiring the target, the Smerch MLRS crews of Battlegroup Zapad promptly moved into firing positions. Following precision rocket strikes and consecutive salvos, the soldiers successfully neutralized the enemy's artillery.The crews eliminated US-made M777 howitzers, Grad MLRS and armored combat vehicles of Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups, the ministry added. ukraine belgorod russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Smerch MLRS crews wipe out artillery crews of Ukrainian terrorist formations in border area in Belgorod region Sputnik International Smerch MLRS crews wipe out artillery crews of Ukrainian terrorist formations in border area in Belgorod region 2024-03-21T12:34+0000 true PT1M04S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian defense ministry, annihilate ukrainian artillery, russian smerch mlrs Bucktober is no stranger to the headlines and returned to the top once again in the Wednesday (March 20) evening Preferred Handicap Trot at The Raceway at the Western Fair District. However, the Katie MacNeil student had to climb from last to first to earn the winner's share of the $11,600 purse. Bucktober and Tyler Borth got away last in the field scratched down to five. After panels in :28.3 and :58.3, Bucktober moved into fourth as Insanity (Jason Ryan) stepped backwards. With the field now standing at four in contention, Bucktober continued with a view of the field ahead at the three-quarters in 1:28.3. With a zippy :30.1 final panel, Bucktober swooped the group to win by one length in 1:59.4. Stablemate Johnny Buckshot (Scott Wray) took second and favoured Dahlquist Hanover (Travis Henry) had to settle for the show spot. Tyler Borth, William Borth and Karen Sparling own the five-year-old Flanagan Memory-Armbro Equinox gelding. Bucktober moved his seasonal tally to 3-2-2 in nine starts and career record to 22-4-8 in 55 starts. He now owns $132,840 in career earnings. He returned $6.20 to win as the 2-1 second choice. To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - The Raceway at the Western Fair District. (Standardbred Canada) Robyn Ryan hopes her new exhibit, which chronicles the monthlong artist residency at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, will impact others the way the canyons, mesas and caves carved into cliffs of soft rock spoke to her. She spent November 2022, living in a casita or small house provided by the park as she sketched rock walls, scenic vistas and local wildlife. Then, back home in her Fauquier County studio, she devoted last year, and all of 2024, to putting the finishing touches on 50-plus pieces which are part of her solo exhibit in Manassas. Ryan described the New Mexico visit and subsequent creations a 16-month passion project. I hope my transformational journey, as depicted through this body of artwork, will inspire others to embark on their own adventures and reclaim their own sense of awe and wonder with the beauty that surrounds us, she wrote in an email. Ryans exhibit will be on display through April 28 at the Caton Merchant Family Gallery at the ARTfactory, 9419 Battle St. in Manassas. The nonprofit organization provides programs in the arts for ages 5 and above and features local and regional artists in its displays. For three Saturdays in April, Ryan will talk about the month she spent immersed in the beauty of Bandelier in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Shell be at an artist reception from 6-8 p.m. on April 6; present an artist talk from 2-4 p.m. on April 13; and provide a demonstration of her artwork from 2-4 p.m. on April 20. Shes titled her exhibit, Pathways & Precipices, a nod to the fear she had to overcome as she found herself on the edge of canyons, which produced stomach-flopping feelings that she had to overcome. The artwork highlights Robyns personal and artistic journeys moving from simple observation, to exploration and discovery of new environments, to considering the lasting impacts on herself and her artwork, said Jordan Exum with ARTfactory. The pieces were created using water-based media including watercolors, gouache and acrylics as well as mixed media, including collage and Ryans unique technique of acrylic layers. More information is available online at virginiaartfactory.org/pathways-and-precipices. Culpeper first responders evacuated 15 homes Wednesday night following a large brush fire that burned well into the night in the area of Obannons Mill Road in Boston, on the countys western side. Firefighters were also busy elsewhere around the county Wednesday, as weather conditions resulted in the ideal storm with low humidity and windy conditions with high gusts bringing down powerlines, resulting in several outside fires, stated Junior Perryman, Culpeper County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association president and deputy chief at Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Co. 1. Both the northern and western parts of the county dealt with significant brush fires in difficult areas, resulting in a great deal of hand work (rakes and chainsaws) to bring them under control, he said. No injuries to first responders were reported, just a lot of tired firefighters, Perryman said. One civilian was transported to the hospital after passing out, according to Culpeper County Board Chairman Paul Bates. The OBannons Mill fire, first reported around 4 p.m. Wednesday, consumed approximately 60 acres and was contained as of Thursday morning. Some outbuildings in the area were burned, but no homes, Perryman said. A couple of units stayed on scene until about 6 a.m. on Thursday, he stated. Multiple units from around Culpeper County and other counties, as well as the state, responded to the wildfire. Some private citizens also offered use of bulldozers and other equipment while firefighters built fire lines to contain the blaze that neared several residences, but never reached them. We got fire five-feet from two structures up here, one firefighter could be heard on the scanner, at the height of the event. We need water. At one point Wednesday evening, Rappahannock County deployed a tanker with 4,500 gallons of water to help. Trees were knocked over by the wind onto powerlines, there was fire in the woods, on the road and, at one point, close to Longlea Conference Center. Firefighters navigated many dangers, including the presence of large fuel tanks outside homes in the area. Local crews undergo wildland fire training using tools of the trade chainsaws, rakes and leaf blowers, Perryman said. They coordinate with the Department of Forestry, which brings in bulldozers that plow lines around the fire, he added. This time, DOF resources were tied up with multiple other fires around the state, so firefighters reached out to private companies for equipment assistance, Perryman continued. Meanwhile, local crews battled another smaller brush fire, about half-acre in size, Wednesday night in Culpeper near Rixeyville, he said. According to Perryman, it had the same root cause as the one in Boston a tree fallen onto a power line. The tree was energized and started the fire on the ground. Whipping winds gave it and others fuel. The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors declared a local state of emergency at 6:10 p.m. Wednesday, as high winds made containment difficult. On Thursday, Bates said the countys volunteer companies are top notch. We are extremely fortunate and grateful to have such dedicated men and women, he said. Bates said the county would lift the state of emergency. Six evacuees were housed during the height of the fire Wednesday at a shelter at Culpeper Volunteer Rescue Squad. Many residents sheltered in place and were ready to go, if needed. Culpeper Police Department drones assisted in the air above the fire, reporting location and size to firefighters for targeted suppression. Every agency contributed to the success Wednesday, Perryman stated in an email to his volunteer chief on Thursday morning, naming Culpeper, Brandy, Richardsville, Salem, Little Fork, Rapidan and Reva volunteer fire companies. Culpeper Rescue staffed two medic units and provided emergency shelter for evacuated residents until late into the evening. The Sheriffs Office assisted with evacuations, career staff opened the EOC to coordinate outside agency responses and other key resources needing support, Perryman said. At the heart of all these activities, our E911 Center, our dispatchers, did an amazing job multi-tasking with dispatching and keeping track of responding units. There were a lot of demands/requests, radio traffic was almost constant while all calls for service were efficiently dispatched and the community was always in great hands, he said. The response efforts displayed on a very busy and dangerous afternoon is a testament to magnificent job by many, Perryman added. For those who spent the night in the woods, for those who contributed to the 10-plus hours on the ground across the county, doing what we are trained and called to do, a big pat on the back to every one of you. Virginia Department of Forestry reported that amid Wednesdays elevated fire weather conditions, its firefighters and various partners contained 16 wildfires and were actively working to contain dozens more. Red Flag Warnings were in place due to high winds, dry conditions and low relative humidity. Louisa County also declared a local state of emergency on Wednesday night due to a large fire there and evacuations in the area of West Old Mountain and Shannon Hill Road. Wildfires were also reported in Madison and Rappahannock counties and elsewhere around Virginia. A local state of emergency was declared Wednesday in Madison in response to ongoing fires in their area. Fires burned near Main Street in town as well as Weaver Hollow in the Syria area, the Madison County Eagle reported. Rappahannock Electric Cooperative cut power to the Etlan, Syria and Poorhouse areas as a precaution as downed power lines can spark additional fires and help spread existing fires, the local newspaper reported. Shenandoah National Park closed Skyline Drive on Thursday, from Thornton Gap to Mathews Arm, due to the Rocky Branch Wildfire. Trail closures were in the area along the Appalachian Trail, and a parkwide fire ban was in effect. The park fire started Wednesday afternoon, estimated at 450 acres burning timber litter, according to a park release Thursday afternoon. National Park Service firefighters were working with Luray Fire Department and Virginia Department of Forestry. No structures were immediately threatened by the fire and the cause was unknown, according to the release. The county board expressed intent to begin discussion of the countys fiscal year 2025 budget sooner than usual at a meeting on Monday. The budget discussion was placed on Mondays agenda by commissioner Charlie Knapper, who noted that the board often discusses starting the budgeting process sooner, but typically puts it off due to the deadlines for budgets set by state statute being so late in the year. The commissioners tossed around several potential ideas for kicking off their budget work, including holding a work session or forming a small committee that could meet with management accountant Lisa Rein between scheduled board meetings. Although chairman Ken Meyer and commissioner Mike Blue were supportive of a committee to streamline the process, Knapper and commissioner Russ Reisig pushed back against the idea. Im not interested in streamlining the budget process, Knapper said. I think we need to be hands-on, all five on deck. Reisig said, Every time we budget, someone always comes up with an idea or solution. The board agreed to place a brief budget discussion on the agenda for its next meeting on Monday, April 1. At that time, the commissioners will bring forth their initial budget goals to help inform the countys department heads in their decision making process. Assessor Robert Simpson also spoke regarding the countys budget, encouraging the board to help push a completed budget out by the beginning of the fiscal year in the future rather than by the statutory deadline in the fall. I think its important for people to have time to come up with a thoughtful budget and have that approved so they know what their limitations are for the fiscal year rather than waiting three months, Simpson said. Commissioner Mark Harris agreed with Simpsons line of thinking. Its absolutely ridiculous to me that we start our new fiscal year before we have a budget set. That seems totally crazy to me, but the process certainly allows for that. Knapper also noted the current state of Legislative Bill 1067, which will potentially shake up the budgets of counties across the state by eliminating inheritance taxes, among other changes. The board has discussed the LB 1067 at previous meetings, with the general sentiment among commissioners being that eliminating inheritance taxes without providing replacement funding sources would be a detriment to Nebraska counties. According to commissioners previous discussion, such a change would result in a collective loss of $90 million for the budgets of those counties. LB 1067 will potentially return to the Legislatures agenda later this week. The Nebraska Association of County Officials is pushing for the replacement of all funding that would be lost with the elimination of an inheritance tax. I dont know that we should be too concerned. I think well have replacement funding, Knapper said. Another budget item on the agenda included consideration of a spending adjustment for the countys relief/aid fund, which Rein said is being spent at a pace that is likely to exceed the appropriated funds by the end of the fiscal year. The relief/aid fund utilizes Keno funds to serve as a last resort in filling the needs of county residents experiencing poverty, such as purchasing gas or paying for cremations. The board gave Rein the go-ahead to spend whatever is necessary on those services, and agreed that the budget could be adjusted later in the interest of filling the needs of all legitimate applicants for those resources. The Scotts Bluff Commissioners meet on the first and third Mondays of every month at 4:30 p.m. on the second floor of the county administrative building. North Platte state Sen. Mike Jacobson served notice Wednesday night that hell push for changes in a homestead exemption bill melded from several others that won first-round approval. The District 42 lawmaker joined three of western Nebraskas other four senators in the 39-0 vote for first-round approval of Legislative Bill 126. But Jacobson told his colleagues that hes bothered by findings in analyses for the Star-Herald and the North Platte Telegraph that lower-income senior citizens in modestly valued homes could lose ground under the Revenue Committees call for homestead exemption recipients to make minimum property tax payments. I will tell you that if we adopt the bill the way it is, he said, there will be more people losing their homestead exemption than benefiting from it. Jacobson said hes working on an amendment to fix that for second-round debate on LB 126. Meanwhile, senators are awaiting completion of a revised fiscal note on the committees plan by the Legislative Fiscal Office. Jacobson was one of several senators to offer 2024 bills to reform the 55-year-old homestead exemption program. Its currently available to qualified Nebraskans who are 65 and older, have various disabilities, are veterans with disabilities or surviving spouses of such veterans who havent remarried. A Star-Herald story Tuesday reported that total annual exemptions have varied little since 2008 in Scotts Bluff County, the Panhandle and statewide. In Lincoln County, County Assessor Julie Stenger said newly approved exemptions roughly offset former recipients who die, leave the state, sell their homes or lose their exemptions as taxable values grow. Omaha Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, chairwoman of the Revenue Committee, said the panel sought to include the best of the bills before them in a near-total rewrite of Omaha Sen. Jen Days LB 126. The new version would replace partial exemptions based on taxable values by saying houses are eligible unless their owner has $1 million or more in total household assets. The rewrite of LB 126, accepted on a 39-0 vote Wednesday, would allow disabled veterans to gain partial exemptions if they have a service-related disability rated at 50% or higher by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Totally disabled veterans now can receive full exemptions. But the revised bill would do away with total exemptions for other current recipients unless they qualify for one in 2024 and opt to stay with the current system. People now receiving partial exemptions could choose likewise. LB 126 says future homestead exemption applicants would have to pay at least $1,200 in annual property taxes in exchange for exempting the rest of their gross tax bill based on their homes taxable value. That minimum payment would grow according to a new sliding, income-based scale. But Stenger said she knows single seniors on fixed incomes for whom even a $1,200-per-year minimum payment would be difficult. Unicam homestead-exemption plan could hurt some seniors, help others First-round Unicameral debate is expected this week on a Revenue Committee plan to require most homestead exemption recipients to pay a set amount of property taxes based on household income. The Star-Herald analysis found that the minimum tax payment system would result in higher effective exemptions for senior Scottsbluff homeowners who make Scotts Bluff Countys per-person average income ($33,158 in 2022) but own homes worth more for tax purposes than the countys average residential taxable value ($122,748 in 2022). If their homes were valued at or under the county average, their partial exemptions would be slashed. Single homeowners with a $33,158 income and $100,000 taxable value actually would have paid more in 2023 under LB 126s system ($2,100) than their gross Scottsbluff tax bills before state credits ($1,972.05). But 65-and-older homestead exemption recipients in Gering and Terrytown each of which had combined 2023 property tax rates about 25 cents per $100 higher than Scottsbluffs would receive higher effective exemptions than their Scottsbluff counterparts under LB 126s new system. A similar analysis for the Telegraph found similar results to Scottsbluffs for senior North Platte homeowners. Thats not what the homestead exemption program ought to do, Jacobson told senators Wednesday. I think when you start looking at all the disparity across the state in terms of household income and average (home) values and tax rates, it creates some problems without further changes to the revised LB 126, he said. Linehan didnt address Jacobsons concerns during Wednesday nights first-round debate. She said the Revenue Committee favored setting minimum tax payments in part to hold down state reimbursement costs that have nearly doubled since 2008. If youre staying in your house, youre paying insurance, youre paying utilities, the police still have to come by and the Fire Department still has you there, you should pay something, she said. To further hold down the states reimbursement costs, Linehan said, the rewritten bill also would require eligible homeowners 65 and older to be receiving some type of retirement income to qualify. In other words, youre not going to be qualified for a homestead exemption just because you turned 65, because many of us are 65 and still working, she said. So you actually have to be retired. Day, LB 126s original sponsor, said she and Jacobson had discussed his concerns. She took the rewritten bill to AARP, and they assured us twice that seniors will be better off overall even with minimum tax payments, she said. However, I am flexible with that if thats a sticking point for several people to backing the bill, he said. Jacobson emphasized that he wants to see the partial homestead exemptions for disabled veterans added to the program. If we get nothing else done than that, Id be OK, he said. Senators Wednesday also attached the language of Bellevue Sen. Rick Holdcrofts LB 1019, which would eliminate the need for county boards to rubber-stamp a state Tax Equalization and Review Commission decision on a property owners valuation protest. Western Nebraskas five state senators generally supported a bill on obscenity in school and public libraries that proved emotionally explosive over two nights and a morning of discussion. The Legislature voted 30-17 Wednesday in favor of ending debate on Thurston Sen. Joni Albrechts Legislative Bill 441, three votes shy of the 33 needed to move the bill to a first-round vote after eight hours. The bill would have removed the ability for K-12 educators or public librarians criminally charged with providing obscene materials to minors to claim an affirmative defense that they did so in connection with their jobs. LB 441 also would have excluded from that defense relevant references to, accounts or portrayal of nudity, sex or excretion in the context of non-postsecondary education and public libraries, according to a Judiciary Committee statement on its contents. Sens. Brian Hardin of Gering, Steve Erdman of Bayard, Tom Brewer of Gordon and Teresa Ibach of Sumner voted to break a filibuster led by Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad and reinforced by the Unicamerals liberals. North Platte Sen. Mike Jacobson was excused from Wednesdays morning session and did not vote on the cloture motion to end debate on LB 441. He told The Telegraph later that he was in Omaha for an appointment that was scheduled three weeks ago. LB 441 had great intentions, but I did have issues with the solution, Jacobson texted. In the end, my vote would not have helped since the cloture vote fell three votes short. Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, who spoke repeatedly against LB 441 earlier in floor debate, also was excused from the Wednesday morning session. Opposing senators warned that exposing librarians to prosecution would create a chilling effect on educating people about sexual assault and other uncomfortable topics. K-12 schools have processes for parents to question such materials or shield their children from them, LB 441s foes added. After Wednesdays vote, Ibach noted in a statement that she was one of five Judiciary Committee members who voted to advance LB 441 to the floor. During its public hearing, I sat and listened to multiple hours of testimony wherein the public quoted countless books which contained objectionable material that can be found in school libraries, the District 44 senator said. LB 441 is not a perfect bill, Ibach added, but she supported seeking a compromise to address such material while at the same time protecting the librarians who work in these important institutions. In a brief floor speech before Wednesdays vote to break the filibuster, Hardin traced the high emotions that repeatedly boiled over during the bills debate to Americas 21st-century attitudes about sex. Culturally, we reject Gods context for this powerful part of life, the District 48 lawmaker said. Unfortunately, weve decided that sex is not just for marriage, sex is not just for a man and a woman, sex is not just for adults, its not just for the privacy of your bedroom and its really for everyone of any age group. So sex has been stripped of its context. And so we live in a world where obscenity hurts. And we want to protect our kids from that. Erdman did not return a text from The Telegraph seeking comment. Brewer said he supported LB 441 but also referred to the latest outbreak of highly charged partisanship its debate set off in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. I think it became a fight over left vs. right and not the content of the bill, the District 43 senator said. Chief Glenn Kurfees of the Statesville Fire Department announced the successful completion of a comprehensive inspection conducted by the North Carolina Association of Rescue and EMS. The inspection has not only resulted in the reaffirmation of existing certifications but has also led to the acquisition of several new certifications, showcasing the departments commitment to excellence and community safety. The Statesville Fire Department has undergone successful reinspection of Medical Responder, Heavy Rescue Provider, High Angle Rescue, and Confined Space Rescue certifications, demonstrating the departments dedication to maintaining high standards of service delivery in these critical areas. In addition to the reaffirmed certifications, the department has been awarded new certifications in Trench Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, Agriculture Rescue, and Surface Water Rescue. These certifications are a testament to the hard work, training, and professionalism exhibited by every member of the Statesville Fire Department, Kurfees said. Kurfees expressed his gratitude to all department members for their dedication and efforts in achieving these certifications. He emphasized that the acquisition and maintenance of these certifications reinforce the departments commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community in various emergency situations. We are proud of our teams accomplishments and their dedication to serving our community with integrity, compassion, and proficiency, said Kurfees. These certifications, alongside our esteemed ISO-1 rating and reaccreditation with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE), are a testament to our commitment to excellence in emergency response. A growing consensus among Syrians recognizes the nation as a casualty of international conflict, Marwan Qabalan writes in al-Araby al-Jadeed. This week, Syrians from all political backgroundswhether they are supporters, opponents, or somewhere in betweenrevisited the beginnings of the revolution/crisis that unfolded 13 years ago. Emulating the movements in Tunisia, Egypt, and other nations of the Arab Spring, a significant number of Syrians sought freedom and a better life. Among the Arab revolutions, Syrias uprising was perhaps the most unexpected, challenging the regimes decades-long reliance on violence and cruelty as deterrents against societal dissent. Notably, US intelligence assessments to President Barack Obama in 2010 had anticipated protests in several Arab countries due to long-simmering internal issues exacerbated by the global economic crisis, yet Syria was not mentioned. Despite this, Syria witnessed a revolution marked by noble intentions and significant sacrifices but ultimately limited by the absence of a unifying vision and leadership, alongside external interventions that derailed its aspirations. Thirteen years later, Syrians are divided in their perspectives on the revolution/crisis, its origins, and its transformation from peaceful protests to a proxy conflict with international implications. However, there is unanimous acknowledgment of the calamity it brought: over half a million dead, a million injured, approximately 150,000 missing, and millions displaced both internally and abroad. The destruction has touched nearly a quarter of all Syrian homes, with financial losses estimated between 400-1300 billion dollars. The presence of foreign military forces has effectively fragmented Syria into separate territories. A growing consensus among Syrians recognizes the nation as a casualty of international conflict, where neither the oppositions nor the regimes allies have prioritized Syrian welfare or aspirations. This global chess game has been played at the expense of Syrian lives, with foreign policies and military actions contributing to the nations fragmentation and the exploitation of its remaining resources. This realization has sparked widespread disillusionment with both the opposition and the regime, each demonstrating incapacity and neglect toward their constituents. The opposition appears debilitated, while the regime struggles to meet even the basic needs of its populace, undermining its claims of victory with the stark reality of hunger and sickness among its people. Amidst these challenges, a unified Syrian sentiment is emerging, recognizing the urgent need for action to salvage a nation on the brink of disintegration. This collective awakening underscores the importance of swift, inclusive efforts to foster a national dialogue and implement a realistic plan for democratic change. Such a transformation requires compromise and a departure from vengeful tactics, aiming instead for a future where all Syrian political forces, free from foreign influence, can collaborate to establish a new democratic governance structure. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Talks in Damascus centred on enhancing collaboration between Syria and the IAEA, the pro-government Tishreen writes. On Wednesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad welcomed Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), along with his team for discussions. The talks centred on enhancing collaboration between Syria and the IAEA in various peaceful initiatives, with a special focus on health, cancer therapy, agriculture, and scientific research projects. Grossi highlighted the significance of establishing a productive and ongoing dialogue between the IAEA and Syria to foster cooperation. In a related meeting, Syrias Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Fayssal Mikdad, and Grossi explored efforts Syria is making to strengthen its partnership with the IAEA and strategies to overcome obstacles hindering this cooperation. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Sources lauded Mekdad's visit to Riyadh as highly fruitful, according to al-Watan. Arab diplomatic sources disclosed to Al-Watan that significant diplomatic efforts have been underway recently in preparation for the second meeting of the Arab Liaison Committee. This meeting, hosted in the Egyptian capital Cairo in August of the preceding year, faced delays due to various factors, including the war in Gaza. However, a positive turn of events, particularly marked by the successful visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad to Riyadh, has reinvigorated these efforts. During his visit, Mekdad affirmed Syrias readiness to participate in the upcoming meeting, with strong Saudi support, thus propelling the scheduling of the committees next session. The sources lauded Mekdads visit to Riyadh as highly fruitful, where discussions encompassed a spectrum of topics pertinent to joint Arab endeavours. Syria reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to bolster Arab cooperation in confronting regional challenges. It has been revealed that the second meeting of the Arab Liaison Committee is slated for May 8th, with expectations leaning towards the attendance of foreign ministers from all involved countries. Anticipation is high for positive outcomes from this gathering, seen as a significant stride toward normalizing Syrian-Arab relations. Deputy Prime Minister and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, during his encounter with Mekdad on March 5th on the sidelines of the League of Arab States ministerial-level session, underscored the urgency of convening the liaison committee and expressed Iraqs readiness to host such a meeting. Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted in a post on his official X platform account after a meeting between Mekdad and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on March 6th, that discussions centred on resolving the Syrian crisis and monitoring the efforts of the Arab Ministerial Liaison Committee on Syria. The Arab Liaison Committee comprises the foreign ministers of Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt, alongside the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. Its formation was announced on May 7, 2023, following the decision to readmit Syria to the Arab League. This decision emphasized the establishment of the committee to oversee the implementation of various agreements concerning Syria, with a focus on gradual crisis resolution in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 2254 and the principles of direct dialogue with the Syrian government. Additionally, it called for Syrias renewed participation in the League of Arab States activities. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Major General Hossam Louka, head of the regime's General Intelligence Service, reportedly facilitated dialogue between the UAE and Hezbollah. The Bashar al-Assad regime has embarked on a strategic maneuver, seeking to reposition itself as a significant regional player, partly to break out of its isolation and partly to secure financial advantages amidst Syrias dire political and economic crisis. In a surprising move, Major General Hossam Louka, head of the regimes General Intelligence Service, has facilitated dialogue between the UAE and Hezbollah. This development is noteworthy given Hezbollahs designation as a terrorist organization by the UAE, accused of destabilizing the security of the Persian Gulf, while Hezbollah, in turn, has labeled the UAE a den of Zionists. Reportedly, Louka has diligently worked over recent months to mediate between Hezbollah and the UAE, offering political and security assurances that the regime claims it can uphold. Wafiq Safa, leading Hezbollahs liaison and coordination unit, travelled to the UAE accompanied by a delegation on a private plane. His visit coincided with the arrival of the Syrian intelligence chief, Major General Hossam Louka. Sources indicate that Safa is scheduled to meet with UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed and UAE Intelligence Director Ali al-Shamsi. This marks a shift away from the previous diplomatic involvement of General Security Director Abbas Ibrahim. The negotiations, ongoing since the inception of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, were initiated at the personal request of Assad to his Emirati counterpart, Mohammed bin Zayed. Safas visit aims to address several key issues, including the establishment of a lasting political relationship between Hezbollah and Abu Dhabi. This move leverages the perceived thaw in Gulf-Iran relations, potentially impacting Lebanon and Syria. Of particular interest is the discussion surrounding the Lebanese presidential candidacy, with reports suggesting the UAEs support for George Khoury, known for his ties to Abu Dhabi, and his favorable relations with both the Syrian regime and Hezbollah. This strategic realignment is occurring against the backdrop of strained relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Assad and Hezbollah are capitalizing on these regional dynamics, exploiting Arab divisions to foster closer ties with various nations. Hezbollah aims to allay Abu Dhabis security concerns, offering assurances that no subversive activities will be conducted within the UAE. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Fidan emphasized the importance of upholding the Astana agreement. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently affirmed that Turkey remains open to engaging in talks with Syria, indicating a shift from his earlier statement about unsuitable conditions for reconciliation between Ankara and Damascus. During a televised interview on March 18th, Fidan stated, Turkey has never shied away from dialogue with Damascus to address ongoing issues. Highlighting Turkeys stance on the Syrian matter, Fidan emphasized the importance of upholding the Astana agreement, urging restraint to prevent clashes between opposition factions and the Syrian army. He underscored the need for resolving current challenges and disparities through mutual respect and shared interests. This assertion contrasts with Fidans remarks during a press conference on March 3, held at the conclusion of the third Antalya Diplomatic Forum, where he deemed the conditions unfavourable for normalization with Damascus. During the forum, Fidan reportedly discussed the Syrian issue extensively with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Further efforts toward dialogue were evident on March 16 when Turkish and Russian officials, led by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar and Russian counterpart Mikhail Galuzin, conducted joint consultations. Sources confirmed that discussions encompassed various aspects of the Syrian conflict, acknowledging the complexity of resuming normalization between Turkey and Syria. Meanwhile, Damascus has reiterated its demand for the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syrian territories under their control as a prerequisite for rapprochement. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however, reaffirmed Turkeys commitment to its operations in Syria during a speech in Ankara on March 4th, emphasizing progress in securing the border with Iraq. The public journey toward Syrian-Turkish reconciliation commenced on December 28, 2022, with a meeting of defense ministers from Russia, Syria, and Turkey in Moscow. Subsequent engagements at the ministerial level involving Syria, Russia, Turkey, and Iran, alongside their deputies and defence ministers, marked further steps in this diplomatic process. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Syria said it stands in solidarity with Cuba, condemning the sanctions and the harsh blockade imposed by the U.S. Syria has unequivocally condemned what it describes as overt interference by the United States in Cubas internal affairs. The Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry issued a statement denouncing the U.S.s provocative tactics, which include instigating unrest, distorting facts, and levying unfounded accusations against the Cuban government. The ministry accuses the U.S. of exacerbating Cubas economic challenges through immoral sanctions and a comprehensive financial, trade, and economic embargo lasting over 64 years, which it deems illegal. Furthermore, the ministry highlighted the Cuban governments efforts to mitigate economic hardship through proactive measures, asserting that the U.S. could genuinely aid the Cuban populace by lifting the blockade, facilitating maritime access, and removing financial restrictions on Cuban banks. Syria stands in solidarity with Cuba, condemning the sanctions and the harsh blockade imposed by the U.S., and calls upon the international community to take action towards lifting this blockade. The ministry urges global partners to support Cuba in meeting its peoples fundamental needs and pursuing sustainable development. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria. Nowruz meaning new day is an ancient festival celebrating the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Syrian Kurds celebrated the event on Wednesday. More than 300 million people celebrate the Persian New Year, which has been observed for more than 3,000 years in different regions, including the Balkans, the Black Sea basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. Nowruz is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually takes place on March 21. The festival that lasts 13 days is rooted in Zoroastrianism, a religion practised in ancient Persia that predates Christianity and Islam. It is listed as part of the worlds intangible cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In 2021, the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as International Nowruz Day. Given its origins, the festival is marked in countries with significant Persian cultural influence, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Syrian Kurds march with torches during the celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in Syrias northeastern Hasakeh province, Syrias Kurds celebrate Newroz despite years-long oppression For decades, Syrias Kurds celebrating Newroz have been subjected to attacks motivated by racial and ethnic discrimination. Even though the perpetrators varied between the security services of the Syrian government, the Islamic State group (ISIS), and the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA) but the victim remained the same. Yet the millennia-old holiday bears a special significance for Kurds. Newroz represents renewal, liberation, and the victory of justice over injustice in the context of the Kurds ongoing struggle for survival, recognition, and peace. Syria Nuclear Probe Reactivated After UN Watchdog Meets Assad A stalled investigation into an alleged clandestine military-nuclear facility in Syria was renewed this week, signaling President Bashar al-Assad may be ready to resolve questions about a site bombed by Israel almost two decades ago, Bloomberg reported. The International Atomic Energy Agency began investigating the Deir al-Zour site in eastern Syria in 2007, weeks after Israeli forces destroyed it in a midnight raid. Subsequent years of war and official stonewalling delayed the probe until Tuesday, when the IAEAs Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met Assad in Damascus. We are re-engaging, Grossi said Thursday on the sidelines of a nuclear-power meeting in Brussels. It was very important I had the opportunity to speak directly with President Assad. While Syria has always maintained the destroyed facility was non-nuclear, IAEA inspectors detected uranium particles on site. The case was referred to the UN Security Council in 2011. For too long, Syria has sought to put forward a public facade of cooperation without engaging on matters of substance, Laura Holgate, the US ambassador to the IAEA, said earlier this month. The only path to a meaningful process is for the Assad regime to finally provide the IAEA with access to all sites, information, materials, and persons. The IAEAs visit yielded tangible steps that could move the investigation forward, according to Grossi. We are going to try, he said. One Year of the Islamic State Worldwide Activity Map The analysis provided by Aaron Y. Zelin and Ilana Winter, based on the Islamic State Worldwide Activity Map by The Washington Institute, outlines significant insights into the global activities of the Islamic State (IS) over the past year. The main findings include: Diversification of Activities: Despite the degradation of core IS provinces in Iraq and Syria, the group has diversified its operations. The Khorasan province in Afghanistan (IS-K) leads external operations, while various African provinces have established territorial control. Major Terrorist Attacks and Law Enforcement Responses: IS supporters continue to plot significant terrorist attacks, particularly in Turkey, with most thwarted by law enforcement. However, bombings in Kerman, Iran, in January 2024, were a notable exception. Claims of Responsibility: IS claimed responsibility for 1,121 attacks, causing approximately 4,770 casualties. The West Africa province (ISWAP) and provinces in Syria, Iraq, Central Africa, and Mozambique were particularly active. The Khorasan province had the most devastating attacks on average. Designations and Sanctions: The U.S. government sanctioned 24 individuals for IS-related activities, targeting financial and operational aspects of the group. These actions spanned a variety of locations and aimed to disrupt ISs funding and recruitment networks. Arrests: The IS Activity Map tracked 470 legal cases in 49 countries, covering attack plots, propaganda activities, financial transfers, foreign fighter involvement, and recruitment. Turkey, Iraq, and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria had the most cases. Policy Implications: The findings suggest an increasing global threat from IS, especially from IS-K plots, and an uptick in IS territorial control in Africa. Theres a noted potential for new foreign fighter mobilizations and the necessity for continued vigilance in counterterrorism efforts. Additionally, changes to the U.S. military presence in Syria or Iraq could have broad implications for global and regional security, potentially enabling IS to regain strength. This analysis underscores the importance of maintaining focused counterterrorism efforts against IS and adapting to the evolving threat landscape. I Was a US Embassy Officer in SyriaThat Kid Still Haunts Me In 1963, amidst a year marked by significant global and personal events, Otho Eskin began his journey as a Foreign Service officer in Damascus, Syria. During this tumultuous period, characterized by an attempted coup and a near-revolution, Eskin encountered various challenges, including dealing with the political instability and witnessing the harsh realities of conflict. One of the most haunting memories from his time in Syria involves aiding an American undergraduate who suffered a severe drug overdose and was detained in a condition that threatened his sanity and well-being. Tasked with ensuring the safety and care of American citizens abroad, Eskin managed to arrange for a psychiatrist from Beirut to examine the young man and eventually secured permission to transport him to Lebanon for treatment, under the vigilant care of an embassy Marine and with the aid of diplomatic privileges. This experience left a lasting impact on Eskin, prompting him to reflect on the vulnerability of youth to drug addiction and the devastating consequences it can bring. It influenced his later work as a fiction writer, where he explores themes of justice, the opioid crisis, and the moral complexities of combating such pervasive issues. Through his novels, Eskin seeks to expose the dark underbelly of the pharmaceutical industry and the societal injustices that continue to plague the world, all while holding on to the hope for a better future, inspired by his efforts to make a difference during his time in Syria. Otho Eskin, now 89, is a published author with a career spanning law, military service, and the Foreign Service. His experiences, particularly the encounter with the young American in Damascus, serve as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind global crises and the enduring impact of individual acts of kindness and responsibility. The commander of the Irish Peace Force in the Syrian Golan, noted in February that tensions along the Syria-Israel border had escalated significantly. On Wednesday, the Irish Peace Force withdrew from its positions in the Quneitra countryside and the Yarmouk Basin, located within the Syria-Israel disengagement zone, according to private sources confirmed by Sowt al-Asima. The withdrawal consisted of a convoy of ten cars belonging to the Irish Peace Force departing from points in the Quneitra countryside. Approximately half an hour later, another convoy of nine cars carrying around 50 members followed suit, heading towards the capital, Damascus. Key locations where the Peace Force had been stationed included Hader, JJubata, al-Hurriya, al-Hamidiya, Khan Arnaba, Jabba, Bariqa, Bir al-Ajam, Ruwaihina, Quneitra, al-Qahtaniyah, Kodna, al-Rafid, Ghadeer al-Bustan, al-Muallaqa, Jamla, Nafaa, and Ain Dhikr. Irish media reports from Tuesday, March 5th, indicated that the peace force was preparing to withdraw from the Golan Heights in early April, following the governments decision to cease contributing personnel to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. A substantial amount of equipment, valued at around 23 million and comprising approximately 280,000 pieces, is scheduled to be transported to Ireland by sea. This includes 14 Mowag armoured personnel carriers, each weighing 20 tonnes. Colonel Oliver Claire, the commander of the Irish Peace Force in the Syrian Golan, noted in February that tensions along the Syria-Israel border had escalated significantly since the commencement of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in October. Since their deployment to Syria five months prior as part of the 68th Infantry group, the Irish Peace Force has been compelled to seek shelter in fortified locations on four occasions due to the volatile situation in the region. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Suweida mouvement progresses towards curbing the longstanding presence of the party institution in the province, Enab Baladi writes. Since August 2023, the governorate of Suweida has witnessed a revolt, marked by demands for the overthrow of the Syrian regime and the implementation of UN Resolution 2254, which advocates for a peaceful transfer of power in Syria to end the longstanding conflict. The peaceful uprising, which has persisted on the streets of the province for over six months, has targeted the branches of the Baath party. Some of these branches have been repurposed into headquarters for charitable endeavors, while others have been closed altogether. Demonstrators have scattered security reports found within the party headquarters onto the streets. Periodically, protesters in the province occupy the party branches, signaling a trend towards the disestablishment of the partys presence in the region. Previously, the spiritual leader of the Druze Almohad sect, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, had identified the party institution, alongside the security establishment, as one of the two entities causing suffering to the Syrian people. Does Suweida exclude the party establishment? In the initial month of protests in Suweida, demonstrators shuttered Baath Party centers across villages and towns in the governorate following an incident where protesters came under fire from a security group stationed in the party building in the heart of Suweida city. Fortunately, there were no injuries or damages reported. During this period, local news outlets specializing in coverage of the province circulated photos and videos depicting the closure of partisan offices across the region. One such outlet, al-Rased, shared footage showcasing the closure of the partys headquarters in al-Ghariya village, located southwest of the governorate. Similarly, in Rima Hazem village, protesters repurposed the Baath Party headquarters into a charitable associations headquarters. Furthermore, protesters closed two Baath Party offices in the towns of Mazraa and Ghariya following the aforementioned shooting incident. It was reported that the demonstrators aimed to transform the Ghariya Division building into a kindergarten named Freedom. Jamal al-Shoufi, a political affairs researcher residing in Suweida, informed Enab Baladi that the rejection of Baath Party branches in Suweida by its inhabitants is not an organized movement but rather a collective sentiment against the negative impact of this party institution on Syrian society, including Suweida. Shoufi stated that the anti-party movements in the province stem from the Baath Partys failure to heed the demands of the demonstrators to cease operations in the area, leading to the eventual closure of these party establishments by protesters. However, Shoufi expressed skepticism regarding the demise of the party establishment in Suweida, as it remains tethered to the ruling authority in Damascusa characteristic applicable to all Syrian provinces, not just Suweida. Thus, the partys dissolution can only occur with the downfall of the ruling authority. The researcher posited that the demand for political change under UN Resolution 2254, as advocated by the people of Suweida, symbolizes the end of the regimes political hegemony and the dismantling of Baath Party control over Syria. Are movements reflected on the street? The party apparatus of the Syrian regime, under its control for many years, has been a focal point for security operations targeting regime opponents, often resulting in their arrest, as evidenced by security reports discarded onto the streets of Suweida by protesters. As the movement in Suweida progresses towards curbing the longstanding presence of the party institution in the province, it prompts consideration of the potential implications of its demise. Researcher Shoufi suggests that while the overarching trend is towards demanding political change at the national level in Syria, there are also perspectives advocating for halting the Baath Partys activities in Suweida as a precursor to broader cessation across Syria post-political transformation. While plausible, this outcome remains uncertain. He asserts that power in Syria will persist unless political change, whether in security apparatuses or partisan structures, is realizeda change that could extend to Suweida. Regarding the impact of totalitarian ideologies, such as that espoused by the Baath Party, al-Shoufi notes that their demise hasnt yielded unequivocally positive results since the onset of the Arab Spring in 2011. He warns of potential adverse effects on Syria and the wider region if demands to overthrow the regime are met, citing Iraqs struggles post-Baath Party removal, marked by sectarianism, religious divisions, and political factionalism. Given Syrias aspiration for a state not monopolized by a single ideology, al-Shoufi emphasizes that the aim isnt to sever Syrias ties with the Arab world entirely but rather to dismantle the pervasive dominance of a singular ideology, allowing for diverse political engagement. Drawing lessons from past experiences, al-Shoufi highlights Iraqs challenges following the Baath Partys removal, suggesting that a binary approachtotal retention or total demiseis insufficient. Instead, he advocates for a continual push towards establishing a national state that fosters political freedoms. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. WENATCHEE Sweet cherry growers in Washington state are eligible for up to $500,000 in federal Emergency Farm Loans following a formal disaster declaration from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for the 2023 cherry harvest season. The designation will result in low-interest emergency loans for cherry farmers, according to a news release from the offices of U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray, and U.S. House Representative Kim Schrier on Tuesday. Last year, Washingtons cherry growers lost around half their crop to extreme weather. Now, as they prepare to kick off their new season, this disaster designation from the Secretary of Agriculture will help growers access federal assistance to keep this $1 billion industry going and ensure Washingtons famously delicious sweet cherries make it into shopping carts, Cantwell said in the release. Warm weather last spring caused the Washington cherry harvest season to compress from the usual 90 days to 30 days, while at the same time, rain and cold weather delayed the California cherry harvest season, causing both to overlap and resulting in an oversupply of cherries on the market. Because of the compressed cherry season, many farmers opted not to pick all of their cherries to save labor costs, resulting in a 50% loss of the cherry crop, according to the release. However, Northwest Cherries, managed by the Washington State Fruit Commission, estimated a cherry crop of 22-23 million 20-pound boxes of cherries for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Utah in 2023. But due to the compressed market, the total amount of cherry boxes harvested was estimated at around 18 million. Washington state is famous for our delicious sweet cherries but throughout the 2023 season, sweet cherry growers in our state saw major weather-driven losses and were forced to leave crops unharvested, Murray said in the release. This disaster declaration will open up access to emergency loans to help sweet cherry growers get back on their feet I want to thank President Biden and his administration for always supporting Washington state growers. In February, the Washington congressional delegation sent Vilsack a letter to ask him to declare a Secretarial Disaster Designation for the 2023 Washington cherry harvest. Gov. Jay Inslee also requested a Secretarial Disaster Designation. Through no fault of their own, our cherry growers experienced immense challenges and economic losses last season, with data showing growers experienced losses of more than 50%, Schrier said in the release. Thats why I proudly joined my colleagues in the Washington delegation in calling for a disaster declaration to help our growers recover and prepare for this upcoming growing season, and Im pleased to see the administration officially make this declaration. Thumbs up: Rainier museum funding Its a great thing to see people be rewarded after theyve worked so long on a project. Thats what happened for the Rainier Historical Society, which recently received a $500,000 grant from the Oregon Legislature to build a stand-alone building to house the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum. Currently, the museum is inside Rainier City Hall, where it has resided since 2017. While it was a great start for the collection, the limited space presents problems for displaying certain items, such as Rainiers first fire truck, which dates back to 1936. The collection has simply outgrown its home which is a great thing to be able to say. But the new museum has required a lot of hard work and planning from the society. We first reported on members securing and clearing a site back in 2020. At that time, the historical society had less than $2,000 in its building fund. The gap between the money members had and the cost of the museum they wanted must have seemed insurmountable, but the people at the historical society didnt let that stop them. They spent years pursuing grants and squirreling away donations. By late 2023, they had nearly $400,000 in their building fund, with a target number of $2 million. Thanks to the recent grant from the state of Oregon and an in-kind donation of $1 million, theyve finally hit that target. The museum is expected to open in spring 2025, and to say were excited is putting it lightly. The chance to see the displays they have planned for their new building become reality cant come soon enough. Thumbs down: Smelt licenses The state of Washington has decided that unlicensed smelt fishing is something officials can no longer allow. The state Legislature has passed a bill requiring all dippers to have a license, and once Gov. Jay Inslee signs the bill, a 90-day clock begins ticking. After that, theres one fewer outdoor activity that can be enjoyed without having to get a pass, permit or ticket. A one-day license for smelt would cost about $10. But officials say that its not about collecting funds but, instead, closing loopholes. Tom McBride, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlifes legislative director, said that requiring a license would help enforce overfishing rules. But this just doesnt add up to us. With or without a license, overfishing is a violation of the Endangered Species Act. What happened to ignorance of the law is no excuse? If not knowing the rules is somehow getting citations excused, thats the problem that legislators should be trying to solve, rather than doing something that burdens law-abiding recreational fishers as well. The other goal that legislators hope to accomplish is to close a loophole currently used by people hoping to illegally catch salmon. According to McBride, game wardens are often told that people fishing illegally claim that they are just fishing for carp. We strongly support protecting salmon, and if that means closing this carp-fishing loophole, thats what needs to be done. However, we dont see them as the same issue that can be fixed with the same solution. One is a question of enforcing an existing law more thoroughly, and the other is about closing off an alibi used by poachers. A one-size solution doesnt seem like it fits all in this case when the core causes are so different. Thumbs up: Net Nanny stings Earlier this week, we reported that the Net Nanny stings had produced yet another conviction. Wed like to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work that goes into the program. The initiative has been responsible for more than 300 arrests since it began in 2015, according to the Washington State Patrol. That number includes 15 men arrested as part of a November bust in Cowlitz County. Theres a lot of unpleasant jobs out there, but being part of the Net Nanny sting crew has to be among the most emotionally taxing. Even just reading some of the crimes that are investigated by Net Nanny operatives like attempted child rape or the commercial sexual abuse of a minor are hard to think about even as abstract criminal charges. Now just imagine having to talk to the people who perpetrate these crimes, and having to pretend to be a child to lure them in. Its a dark and difficult task, but if it helps keep kids safe, its worth it. We dont need to know whos behind the keyboard; whomever it is, they have more than earned their privacy. We just want to say thank you, and that youre making a difference. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain For the thousands of tech workers recently laid off in California and across the country, the future may not be as bleak as it looks right now: Many are likely to retrain fairly quickly for new jobs in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence. The massive rounds of layoffs at tech giants and many smaller companies were largely the result of stricter investor demandswhat managers saw as over-hiring during the pandemic and a stock market that rewarded those personnel cuts. But the industry also was clearing the way to focus on AI, which is expected to revolutionize computer-related technology and work in the years aheadeven as it displaces jobs, previously handled by humans, in areas as varied as coding and background acting. Not only is AI taking over more standard computer programming once done entirely by humans, it is also starting to spur waves of new applicationsand with them, jobs, both tech and non-tech, in a wide range of industries, including in Southern California. "What we're seeing is a lot of tech companies are actually monetizing the AI solution," said Jenn Longnion, the Los Angeles-based founder of See & Free Consulting, which helps businesses grow sustainably. "They've had AI for a very long time. But they're finding ways now to monetize that and actually promote that and sell that as a solution to other businesses. ... Every industry is now having those conversations." Job postings in the U.S. that specifically mention AI, though still a tiny fraction of all openings, were up by 13% in February from a year ago, even as software development was off more than 30%, according to the employment website Indeed. Silicon Valley, where most of the AI action is today, figures to lead the way. In February, 9% of companies in the Bay Area said they already use AI, compared with a little more than 5% in the U.S. as a whole, according to the Census Bureau. The share of Los Angeles-area companies wasn't significantly higher than the national average, but about 8% of firms in the Southland said they expected to adopt AI in the next six months. In Silicon Beach, which has emerged as a home for companies focusing on AI and augmented reality, firms are hiring for hundreds of AI-related jobs, including content writers and software developers who will train the technology. Tom Case, a founder at Atticus Growth Partners, a tech recruiting firm in San Francisco, said the proliferation of AI entrepreneurs and startups translates into more jobs. In the last few years, companies have been hiring primarily for research labs, he said, but the industry is beginning to move from AI models to getting them into production. "We're in an almost gold rush where everybody's building an AI company model," he said. "Very little AI is deployed in production. ... At the moment, it feels like the dawn of job creation." After pivoting her startup from business operations software to customer service ticketing through AI, Sophie Wyne saw interest skyrocket. "I actually have never seen this amount of interest before for a product," said Wyne, founder and chief executive of Ariglad in San Francisco. "It's really just combining two things which people are really caring about. One is AII think everyone's really interested in how can that actually help my day-to-day in reality and not be so abstract. And the other side is, I just hate updating my knowledge base." Among the hundreds of AI startups looking for talent is Quest Labs, a Bay Area firm co-founded by Debparna Pratiher. The 27-year-old previously worked as a product manager at Nvidia, the highly publicized Silicon Valley supplier of chips used in gaming and other high-performance computing, particularly AI. Pratiher is an alumnus of UC Davis and Carnegie Mellon University. Her firm, with seed money from Techstars and Afore Capital, has a staff of about 20. The business has been moving quickly to build data sets for ecommerce as Google has started to phase out third-party cookies, which track and learn what users are doing online. "If cookies are gone, you're blind to consumers," Pratiher said. She said she's had difficulty finding qualified data scientists and other AI engineers with deep experience in machine language learning. "For all the AI hype and interest, buyers need to adopt the technology, and for that, they need better data," Pratiher said. For those recently laid off, getting up to speed on machine language learning and other in-demand AI skills isn't as daunting as one might think. Some skills, such as learning programming languages and databases to build AI models, might take a matter of weeks for IT workers. Even those with little or no experience in tech have been able to pivot. Shakil Kamran attended a Salesforce conference in 2017, set on trying to break into tech and transition out of his retail management career, which regularly involved 60-hour weeks and left little time to spend with his son. He took courses through Trailhead, San Francisco-based Salesforce's online learning platform, increased his skills and began seeing AI as the future. Today, Kamran, 37, is a Salesforce consultant and focuses on helping organizations use AI to help their business grow. "AI is going to help us. It's going to assist us in growing and becoming more effective and efficient," said Kamran, who lives in Connecticut. "It's going to supercharge our lives." Others are following Kamran's lead. Trailhead expanded its AI curriculum last year to include 43 "badges" that are earned by completing courses. So far, users have tallied more than 1.1 million badges , said Ann Weeby, senior vice president of Trailhead. "We're seeing employees from every level, in every type of business ... jump in and start learning, because they want to apply generative AI to their business yesterday," Weeby said. For their part, many universities are pivoting to incorporate AI in courses on computer science and other disciplines. "It's not a death knell," said Charles Lee Isbell Jr., who studied at MIT's AI Lab and recently became provost at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Isbell is pushing for classroom emphasis on AI data-driven simulations and so-called deep learning, which uses multiple layers of what are called "artificial neural networks"complex algorithms designed to mimic the human brain to generate new data. "Coding and programming aren't going away," he said. Tech layoffs have slowed from last year's frenetic pace, but they remain substantial. More than 28,000 job cuts by tech firms nationwide were announced in the first two months of this year, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement and research firm. Only a few hundred of those layoffs were explicitly attributed to AI, but thousands more cuts in tech and other industries were said to be the result of "updating or incorporating new technology," Challenger said. It noted that some of that may be companies overhauling budgets and staffing to make room for AI work. Although AI may not be directly responsible for most of the tech sector's job cuts, companies are realizing that greater utilization could mean they don't have to rehire for some positions, or that they can transition parts of those jobs over to the new technology, said Longnion of See & Free Consulting. Background actors expressed fears during last summer's strike that AI technology would be used to replace their jobs. Their new contract secured rules to guard against that. Data from Layoffs.fyi show that a growing number of layoffs have hit software developers, also known as coders, whoafter decades of disrupting other industries and other workers' jobs with their programsfind themselves victims. In recent months, hundreds of coders and other IT specialists have been let go by tech giants Google, Meta and Apple, as well as many smaller industry-focused digital platforms and cloud services, including Toast (restaurants), Flexport (logistics) and Block (financial services). Many of the layoffs have come in the Bay Area, putting a pause to two decades of growth at California's computer-systems design firms and related services. Most of the cuts probably reflect a pullback after excessive pandemic-driven hiring, due in part to ecommerce and remote work. But the correction may be ending soon, as new tech jobs come into view and workers adjust. Ayanna Howard, a robotics expert and dean of the engineering college at Ohio State University, said it wasn't long ago that coding was all the rage, and people were flocking to computer boot camps. She remembers how hard it once was for people to create a website. Now, with AI tools, you can build one within minutes by simply putting in blocks of information, she noted. AI can also do coding on back-end servers, the side responsible for storing and organizing data, including security. But Howard said not all is lost for even low-level coders. "If you're trained to learn, you can evolve," she said, just as those who began by using Pascal and BASIC learned to program in Assembly and Python, used for many machine learning and AI solutions. Others are emphasizing the inimitable human touch that AI could never replace. Since Alissa Marr was laid off last month from an early-stage AI startup, the product designer has mostly focused on building her business acumen and strategic problem-solving ability rather than just retooling her software skills. "Those kinds of things are not something an AI can do," said Marr, 39, who lives in Providence, R.I. "You need to have a human with expertise and knowledge about the customer and the business problem. There needs to be someone pulling the strings, because it can't just be automated by AI and just go out as is." AI may ultimately lead to a smaller tech workforce, said Howard of Ohio State. But there will also be AI-augmented jobs, as well as new jobs. One position in high demand is prompt engineer, who designs prompts and other processes to get optimal performance from generative AI tools, whether text or images. A company buying AI conversational programs such as ChatGPT (from OpenAI) or Gemini (from Google) will still need engineers to refine and customize the tools to replicate human-like dialogue suitable for its customers. "We don't necessarily know what it is that we need," Howard said. "But they will come out, and when they do, it'll be like, 'Oh, guess what? It's another field.'" 2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new method for classifying electronic music has been developed by researchers in China. The approach offers a novel solution in an age of exploding digital content to curating music libraries and streaming services. Writing in the International Journal of Arts and Technology, Hongyuan Wu and Lin Zhu of the College of Music at Chong'qing Normal University, explain how such services are currently overwhelmed in terms of valid classification methods. Traditional approaches are simplistic, based on labeling, and not keeping up with modern use and tastes. The team points out that classifying electronic music by genre is particularly difficult as this broad genre has wide and diffuse boundaries between different styles that are often highly subjective and influenced by cultural nuances. The team's new approach uses a complex decision tree framework to achieve high accuracy and speed up processing times, making a leap from 33-and-a-third to 45, you might say. The process starts with noise removal using principal component analysis and then segments the track into small chunks. The features from each chunk are then extracted using a method known as short-time Fourier transform. The team then fine-tunes their decision tree model to achieve the most precise classification possible. Indeed, their tests have shown that their method can be very effective, with a classification accuracy up to 98.6%. The implications go far beyond academic interest, with potential applications across the music and other industries. Music streaming services and online libraries rely heavily on accurate genre classification and could take advantage of this new approach to allow them to organize their collections and market music more subtly to their users. Users might include everyday music fans or those involved in the media or elsewhere who need specific styles of music to accompany their creative outputs. For instance, the classification approach should make it easier for everyday users to explore music, discover new sounds or retrieve golden oldies. In marketing and advertising and other areas, understanding music preferences based on genre classification is critical for targeted campaigns based on music taste. More information: Hongyuan Wu et al, Adaptive classification method of electronic music based on improved decision tree, International Journal of Arts and Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2024.137296 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Albstadt, Germany, is an early example of a textile-reinforced concrete structure. The bridge is about 100 meters long. Credit: Udo Jandrey By reinforcing concrete with textiles instead of steel, it is possible to use less material and create slender, lightweight structures with a significantly lower environmental impact. The technology to utilize carbon fiber textiles already exists, but it has been challenging, among other things, to produce a basis for reliable calculations for complex and vaulted structures. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, present a method that makes it easier to scale up analyses and thus facilitate the construction of more environmentally friendly bridges, tunnels and buildings. "A great deal of the concrete we use today has the function to act as a protective layer to prevent the steel reinforcement from corroding. If we can use textile reinforcement instead, we can reduce cement consumption and also use less concrete and thus reduce the climate impact," says Karin Lundgren, who is Professor in Concrete Structures at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers. Cement is a binder in concrete and its production from limestone has a large impact on the climate. One of the problems is that large amounts of carbon dioxide that have been sequestered in the limestone are released during production. Every year, about 4.5 billion metric tons of cement are produced in the world and the cement industry accounts for about 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Intensive work is therefore underway to find alternative methods and materials for concrete structures. Picture from the construction of a pavilion at the RWTH Aachen University of Technology in Germany. The shell-shaped roof structure has been reinforced with carbon fiber textile and is only six centimeters thick. Credit: Robert Mehl Picture from the construction of a pavilion at the RWTH Aachen University of Technology in Germany. The shell-shaped roof structure has been reinforced with carbon fiber textile and is only six centimeters thick. Credit: Robert Mehl Reduced carbon footprint with thinner constructions and alternative binders By using alternative binders instead of cement, such as clay or volcanic ash, it is possible to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions. But so far, it is unclear how well such new binders can protect steel reinforcement in the long term. "You could get away from the issue of corrosion protection, by using carbon-fibers as reinforcement material instead of steel, because it doesn't need to be protected in the same way. You can also gain even more by optimizing thin shell structures with a lower climate impact," says Karin Lundgren. In a study published in the journal Construction and Building Materials, Karin Lundgren and her colleagues describe a new modeling technique that was proved to be reliable in analyses describing how textile reinforcement interacts with concrete. The paper is titled "Textile reinforced concrete members subjected to tension, bending, and in-plane loads: Experimental study and numerical analyses" "What we have done is to develop a method that facilitates the calculation work of complex structures and reduces the need for testing of the load-bearing capacity," says Karin Lundgren. One area where textile reinforcement technology could significantly reduce the environmental impact is in the construction of arched floors. Since the majority of a building's climate impact during production comes from the floor structures, it is an effective way to build more sustainably. A previous research study from the University of Cambridge shows that textile reinforcement can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 65 percent compared to traditional solid floors. Concrete reinforced with carbon fiber textile. Credit: Stipriaan | Wikimedia Commons Test set-up where textile-reinforced concrete is loaded in the Structures Lab at Chalmers. Credit: Chalmers University of Technology | Sebastian Almfeldt Method that facilitates calculations A textile reinforcement mesh consists of yarns, where each yarn consists of thousands of thin filaments (long continuous fibers). The reinforcement mesh is cast into concrete, and when the textile-reinforced concrete is loaded, the filaments slip both against the concrete and against each other inside the yarn. A textile yarn in concrete does not behave as a unit, which is important when you want to understand the composite material's ability to carry loads. The modeling technique developed by the Chalmers researchers describes these effects. "You could describe it as the yarn consisting of an inner and an outer core, which is affected to varying degrees when the concrete is loaded. We developed a test and calculation method that describes this interaction. In experiments, we were able to show that our way of calculating is reliable enough even for complex structures," says Karin Lundgren. The work together with colleagues is now continuing to develop optimization methods for larger structures. "Given that the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) expects the total floor area in the world to double over the next 40 years due to increased prosperity and population growth, we must do everything we can to build as resource-efficiently as possible to meet the climate challenge," says Karin Lundgren. More information: Adam Sciegaj et al, Textile reinforced concrete members subjected to tension, bending, and in-plane loads: Experimental study and numerical analyses, Construction and Building Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133762 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Flow of the physics-based energy yield simulation framework. Credit: IMEC The journey toward a sustainable future hinges on our ability to harness the power of renewable sources effectively. Solar energy, in particular, has emerged as a cornerstone of this transition. However, the unpredictable and variable nature of sunlight poses a significant challenge for accurately predicting energy yields. This uncertainty not only hampers innovation, but unnecessarily delays the sun's use in global energy production. While a solar cell's conversion efficiency is conventionally measured in a controlled environment, its real-world performance, influenced by diverse weather conditions, can significantly deviate. For stakeholders such as solar farm managers and energy providers, the paramount concern lies not in the cell's efficiency percentage, but in understanding its actual annual power generation in a specific location. With this (financial) yield uncertainty, the full potential of solar panelsand their integration into buildings, car roofs or agricultural applicationsmight remain unharnessed. The pressing need for precision Predictive models of energy yields currently exist, aiming to enhance accuracy and applicability across various photovoltaic (PV) technologies. But traditional 'grey box' models are often reliant on historical data and empirical insights, struggling to provide the precision required for optimizing solar installations. In response to this pressing need for precision, imec's Energy Systems team at EnergyVille, Belgium, presented their own model in 2017. Unlike conventional approaches, the model adopts a bottom-up approachit delves into the intricate interplay of light, temperature, and electrical dynamics within solar panels, with a physics-based model of their interactions. This holistic approach is crucial, especially as the renewable energy landscape expands into uncharted territories of integrated photovoltaics, such as integration in infrastructure. Understanding the Energy Yield model: A physics-based simulation framework The system model weaves together three interlinked components: an optical, a thermal, and an electrical model. The optical model employs sophisticated "ray tracing" techniques, simulating how solar modules respond optically. By also considering reflection or absorption across various wavelengths and angles, the model excels in capturing the nuances of sunlight interaction with different panel technologies. Second, the thermal model takes a leap beyond global module temperature estimates for solar panels, by factoring in local variations. This distinction is particularly significant for building-attached installations, where adhesion to e.g., concrete walls can be done seamlessly or by including space for airflow. Understanding these local '"chimney" effects is key to accurate temperature modeling and provides more nuanced predictions. Last, delving into the core of power generation, the electrical model considers various factors, such as the specific type of solar cell and the presence of (acoustic) absorbing material. It provides insights into the generated current and identifies potential areas of efficiency loss. "The synergy of these three models, responding to environmental inputs like meticulous meteorological data and positioning, paints a comprehensive simulated 3D picture. Besides the straightforward impact of direct sunlight, factors like elevated temperatures and diminished wind currents can adversely impact solar panel yields. "The model's focus on local meteorological intricacies ensures a more accurate and dynamic representation of real-world conditions, enabling the model to predict the daily or yearly energy yield of solar cells under varying meteorological and irradiation conditions," emphasizes Prof. Michael Daenen, Principal Investigator at imo-imomec/EnergyVille. From theory to real-world validation Beyond theoretical simulations, the Energy Yield model has since served as a practical guide for optimizing PV integrationwith experimental energy yields being compared to the simulated ones. The Interreg Rolling Solar project, for example, focused on the integration of PV systems into public infrastructure, envisioning large-scale electricity generation without the need for additional land. Among others, a concrete noise barrier wall was built at EnergyVille, Belgium, in which existing and newly developed solar modules were incorporated, to showcase their feasibility and measure their energy yields over the course of several years. Prof. Ivan Gordon, Department Director at imo-imomec/EnergyVille, explains the energy yield results. "Our physics-based model gave remarkably accurate predictions, especially for crystalline silicon solar panels, within a 15-minute window. With over 95% of current PV installations being silicon-based, you can imagine the value of such accurate predictions. "Challenges arose when we extended the predictions to thin-film technologies like CIGS modules. In response, we developed a separate electrical model for thin-film materials and included empirical corrections. With iterative refinement, we were able to significantly reduce the error (Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)) of our predictions to minor margins. This showcases the model's adaptability to different materials and technologies." In a second phase of the Rolling Solar project, modular bifacial solar panels were included in the wall, extending the model's scope again. While bifacial PV systems can generate up to 20% more electricity, compared to monofacial PV, their energy dynamics are significantly altered since photons can enter from both sideshighly dependent on the surroundings and varying throughout the day. These unique challenges were addressed with modifications in the optical model. "The key strength of the Energy Yield model lies in its flexible framework," emphasized Dr. Arnaud Morlier, team lead of the Energy Systems team at imec/EnergyVille. "This enables our model to evolve with real-world experimentation and progress in solar panel technologies and applications. It serves as a foundational framework that can be expanded to incorporate different materials and applications, providing insights into energy generation under different conditions." Beyond model optimization A precise energy yield prediction of a specific application offers numerous advantages: a module engineer can assess the real-world impact of technical adjustments made to solar cells without the need for physical production. Additionally, a virtual presentation can aid in optimizing and testing scenarios for solar panel placement, considering factors like angle adjustments. From the design of PV-integrated solutions to estimating its energy yield in a specific location and optimizing investment strategies, the Energy Yield model can be a guiding beacon throughout the entire journey. Together with the software company PVcase, imec has transformed the predictive model into a commercially available simulation software, tailored for solar parks. The software is versatile, incorporating bifacial and other state-of-the-art technologies, allowing for easy design and accurate prediction of the energy yield in PV power plants. The predictive model continues to play a crucial role in designing and optimizing curved solar panels for car roofs. Recognizing that current solar roofs offer only a limited increase in driving range, the SNRoof project integrated highly efficient solar cells into car roofs. Simultaneously, the HighLite project explored the development of cost-effective solar car roof modules, aiming to contribute to a competitive EU PV manufacturing industry. Currently, the Energy Systems team is evaluating the optimal placement of solar cells to facilitate the development of fully autonomous electric vehicles. More recently, building on the success of Rolling Solar, the SolarEMR project was finalized. This 18-month endeavor focused on demonstrating cost-effective automated PV module production and electric interconnection of solar cells, for both building and infrastructure integration. Interestingly, the project also considered aspects beyond technical and financial optimization, such as regulatory frameworks and business viability, paving the way for large-scale PV projects. By collaborating with energy market providers, the simulation model was used to not only create more efficient solar cells, but also improve installation techniques, and micro-grid stabilitya collaborative effort thus enabling quicker green solutions. Take, for instance, the profitability of investing in solar-integrated sound barriersa venture that hangs in the delicate balance of their placement. With roads winding and meandering, at times veering away from the sun's rays, the integration of PV technology into sound barriers may not always be a straightforward choice. Enter the Energy Yield model, offering insights for the seamless execution of such large-scale projects based on intricate road maps, solar cell properties, and local weather conditions and regulations. A beacon for a sustainable tomorrow Beyond design and optimization, an accurate virtual presentation of PV-integrated applications can also aid in its operation and maintenance. When an experimental energy yield is not reaching its simulated one, this can indicate e.g., damage to the solar panels or overgrowing grass which needs to be cut, offering a way to detect anomalies. This enables a centralized operating system, reducing the need to visit the solar-sitebeneficial for remote or isolated solar farms. Ongoing projects utilizing the prediction model involve the improvement of accurate weather forecasting (E-TREND) and "nowcasting" (TRUST-PV) with the help of sky-imagers and artificial intelligence (AI). The prospects for precise solar energy modeling hold immense promise, spanning from individual installations to entire energy networks. Finally, consider this: to guarantee its stability, it is crucial for supply and demand to always be balanced. A simulation model predicting energy yields with a 15-minute window of accuracy, can not only assist in grid management for large manufacturing facilities or urban areas, but can also enable countries to trade energy more efficiently on the international market. Kenmare Resources plc (LON:KMR Get Free Report) insider Andrew Webb bought 10,000 shares of Kenmare Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 20th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 302 ($3.84) per share, with a total value of 30,200 ($38,446.85). Kenmare Resources Stock Performance Shares of LON KMR traded up GBX 11.50 ($0.15) during trading hours on Thursday, reaching GBX 313 ($3.98). The stock had a trading volume of 493,367 shares, compared to its average volume of 251,393. The businesss fifty day moving average is GBX 311.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 369.82. Kenmare Resources plc has a twelve month low of GBX 291 ($3.70) and a twelve month high of GBX 500 ($6.37). The company has a market cap of 279.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 177.35, a PEG ratio of 0.03 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.78, a current ratio of 4.84 and a quick ratio of 1.22. Get Kenmare Resources alerts: Kenmare Resources Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 10.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 11th. This is a positive change from Kenmare Resourcess previous dividend of $0.18. Kenmare Resourcess dividend payout ratio is 2,882.35%. Kenmare Resources Company Profile Kenmare Resources plc, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells mineral sand products in China, the rest of Asia, Europe, the United States, and internationally. It operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine located on the northeast coast of Mozambique. The company's products include ilmenite, rutile, and zircon; and concentrates, including secondary zircon and mineral sand concentrates. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kenmare Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kenmare Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ares Commercial Real Estate (NYSE:ACRE Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by stock analysts at UBS Group from $10.50 to $8.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. UBS Groups price target would indicate a potential upside of 2.17% from the companys current price. Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate from $9.50 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate from $10.25 to $8.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 26th. TheStreet cut shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. JMP Securities cut shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. Finally, Bank of America restated an underperform rating and issued a $7.00 price objective (down from $11.00) on shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate in a report on Monday, March 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $9.00. Get Ares Commercial Real Estate alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ares Commercial Real Estate Ares Commercial Real Estate Price Performance Insider Transactions at Ares Commercial Real Estate Shares of ACRE stock traded up $0.07 on Wednesday, reaching $7.83. The companys stock had a trading volume of 320,565 shares, compared to its average volume of 751,738. The company has a market capitalization of $426.11 million, a P/E ratio of -10.87 and a beta of 1.41. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $8.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.50. Ares Commercial Real Estate has a 12-month low of $7.15 and a 12-month high of $11.24. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.42. In other news, CEO Bryan Patrick Donohoe sold 18,868 shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.32, for a total transaction of $194,717.76. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 197,414 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,037,312.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Bryan Patrick Donohoe sold 18,868 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.32, for a total value of $194,717.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 197,414 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,037,312.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Anton Feingold sold 5,890 shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.37, for a total value of $61,079.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 68,975 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $715,270.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.95% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ares Commercial Real Estate Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. UBS Group AG lifted its position in Ares Commercial Real Estate by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 95,757 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,486,000 after acquiring an additional 999 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in Ares Commercial Real Estate by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 83,893 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $799,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its stake in shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 386,179 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,001,000 after buying an additional 1,219 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 49,285 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $511,000 after acquiring an additional 1,258 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 37,300 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $390,000 after acquiring an additional 1,400 shares during the last quarter. 38.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Ares Commercial Real Estate (Get Free Report) Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a specialty finance company, originates and invests in commercial real estate (CRE) loans and related investments in the United States. It provides a range of financing solutions for the owners, operators, and sponsors of CRE properties. The company originates senior mortgage loans, subordinate debt and preferred equity products, mezzanine loans, and other CRE investments, including commercial mortgage-backed securities. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ares Commercial Real Estate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ares Commercial Real Estate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Black Diamond Group Limited (TSE:BDI Get Free Report) Director Steve Stein sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$8.84, for a total value of C$44,200.00. Steve Stein also recently made the following trade(s): Get Black Diamond Group alerts: On Monday, March 4th, Steve Stein sold 500 shares of Black Diamond Group stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$9.28, for a total value of C$4,640.00. Black Diamond Group Stock Performance Shares of BDI traded down C$0.06 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting C$8.85. The companys stock had a trading volume of 17,055 shares, compared to its average volume of 47,632. The stocks 50-day moving average is C$9.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$7.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 72.03, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market capitalization of C$532.86 million, a PE ratio of 18.06 and a beta of 1.73. Black Diamond Group Limited has a one year low of C$5.35 and a one year high of C$9.92. Black Diamond Group Dividend Announcement Black Diamond Group ( TSE:BDI Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported C$0.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.10 by C$0.03. The business had revenue of C$103.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$89.70 million. Black Diamond Group had a return on equity of 11.11% and a net margin of 7.72%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Black Diamond Group Limited will post 0.4650565 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.03 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.36%. Black Diamond Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 24.49%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on Black Diamond Group from C$9.50 to C$11.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 4th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Black Diamond Group from C$11.00 to C$12.00 in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Acumen Capital upped their target price on Black Diamond Group from C$12.00 to C$12.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 4th. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BDI About Black Diamond Group (Get Free Report) Black Diamond Group Limited rents and sells modular space and workforce accommodation solutions. It operates through two segments, Modular Space Solutions and Workforce Solutions. The Modular Space Solutions segment provides modular space rentals to customers in the construction, real estate development, education, manufacturing, health care, financial, government, and defense industries in North America. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Black Diamond Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Diamond Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the nineteen analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $61.12. BMY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $58.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Societe Generale lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 11th. Redburn Atlantic lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $77.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com upgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Bank of America lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $68.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance BMY opened at $51.88 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $104.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.44, a PEG ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1 year low of $47.58 and a 1 year high of $71.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $50.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.73. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.95% and a net margin of 17.83%. The company had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.19 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.82 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to purchase up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.63%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 62.18%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bristol-Myers Squibb A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BMY. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. 74.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Get Free Report Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 6,522 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $437,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. DecisionPoint Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Masco during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Masco in the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter valued at $44,000. Center for Financial Planning Inc. boosted its stake in Masco by 270.6% during the third quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 667 shares of the construction companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 487 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in Masco in the third quarter worth $64,000. 91.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Masco alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup assumed coverage on Masco in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. They set a neutral rating and a $70.00 price target on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Masco from $66.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Masco from $58.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Truist Financial increased their price target on Masco from $65.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Masco from $58.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.92. Insider Activity In other news, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total transaction of $385,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 10,465 shares in the company, valued at approximately $806,328.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider Jai Shah sold 42,552 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total value of $3,249,270.72. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 15,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,208,778.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total transaction of $385,250.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 10,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at $806,328.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 83,762 shares of company stock worth $6,337,597 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock. Masco Stock Performance Masco stock traded up $2.03 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $78.26. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,094,788 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,111,844. Masco Co. has a 12-month low of $46.69 and a 12-month high of $78.85. The company has a market capitalization of $17.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.61, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.05, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.68. The firms fifty day moving average price is $72.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $63.13. Masco (NYSE:MAS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The construction company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $1.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.79 billion. Masco had a return on equity of 3,111.50% and a net margin of 11.40%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.65 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Masco Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 21st. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.48%. This is a boost from Mascos previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Mascos payout ratio is currently 28.93%. Masco Profile (Free Report) Masco Corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes home improvement and building products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company's Plumbing Products segment offers faucets, showerheads, handheld showers, valves, bath hardware and accessories, bathing units, shower bases and enclosures, sinks, toilets, acrylic tubs, shower trays, spas, exercise pools, and fitness systems; brass, copper, and composite plumbing system components; connected water products; thermoplastic solutions, extruded plastic profiles, specialized fabrications, and PEX tubing products; and other non-decorative plumbing products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Masco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Masco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG Free Report) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund acquired 8,588 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $200,000. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 1.3% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 36,882 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,126,000 after purchasing an additional 483 shares in the last quarter. Firsthand Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Koninklijke Philips by 4.5% in the second quarter. Firsthand Capital Management Inc. now owns 11,373 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $247,000 after buying an additional 486 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE raised its holdings in Koninklijke Philips by 0.8% in the second quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 66,485 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,442,000 after purchasing an additional 496 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC raised its holdings in Koninklijke Philips by 28.7% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 2,226 shares of the technology companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 496 shares during the period. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in Koninklijke Philips by 1.1% in the first quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 56,735 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,708,000 after purchasing an additional 619 shares during the period. 6.64% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Koninklijke Philips alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently weighed in on PHG. BNP Paribas downgraded shares of Koninklijke Philips from an outperform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Koninklijke Philips from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $19.00. Koninklijke Philips Stock Performance NYSE PHG traded down $0.21 during trading on Thursday, reaching $20.40. The companys stock had a trading volume of 377,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,022,546. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.20. Koninklijke Philips has a 12 month low of $15.63 and a 12 month high of $24.27. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $21.37 and a 200 day moving average price of $20.97. Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 29th. The technology company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.03. Koninklijke Philips had a negative net margin of 2.53% and a positive return on equity of 14.17%. The company had revenue of $5.45 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.47 billion. Sell-side analysts expect that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Koninklijke Philips Company Profile (Free Report) Koninklijke Philips N.V. operates as a health technology company in North America, the Greater China, and internationally. The company operates through Diagnosis & Treatment Businesses, Connected Care Businesses, and Personal Health Businesses segments. It also provides diagnostic imaging solutions, includes magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray systems, and computed tomography (CT) systems and software comprising detector-based spectral CT solutions, as well as molecular and hybrid imaging solutions for nuclear medicine; echography solutions focused on diagnosis, treatment planning and guidance for cardiology, general imaging, obstetrics/gynecology, and point-of-care applications; integrated interventional systems, and interventional diagnostic and therapeutic devices to treat coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PHG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Koninklijke Philips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Koninklijke Philips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) had its target price upped by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from $95.00 to $103.00 in a research note issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an overweight rating on the medical research companys stock. Morgan Stanleys price target indicates a potential upside of 8.72% from the stocks previous close. EW has been the subject of several other research reports. StockNews.com cut Edwards Lifesciences from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup cut Edwards Lifesciences from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. Wolfe Research cut Edwards Lifesciences from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $57.00 price target for the company. in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Edwards Lifesciences from $82.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $93.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $88.50. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Edwards Lifesciences Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance EW traded up $1.70 on Thursday, reaching $94.74. 844,721 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,114,188. The companys 50-day moving average price is $83.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $75.23. Edwards Lifesciences has a fifty-two week low of $60.57 and a fifty-two week high of $95.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 3.38 and a quick ratio of 2.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.97 billion, a PE ratio of 41.19, a PEG ratio of 4.68 and a beta of 1.05. Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.64. The business had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.50 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a return on equity of 23.56% and a net margin of 23.35%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.64 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Edwards Lifesciences will post 2.76 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 14,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.01, for a total transaction of $1,319,645.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 39,503 shares in the company, valued at $3,595,168.03. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 14,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.01, for a total transaction of $1,319,645.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 39,503 shares in the company, valued at $3,595,168.03. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 14,510 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total value of $1,110,740.50. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 19,248 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,473,434.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 196,859 shares of company stock valued at $16,445,296 over the last quarter. 1.29% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,181 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,081,000 after buying an additional 941 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 34.7% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,738 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $204,000 after purchasing an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 18.2% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,223 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $144,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 53.5% during the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 7,182 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $846,000 after purchasing an additional 2,503 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 3.1% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 655,567 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $77,173,000 after purchasing an additional 19,798 shares in the last quarter. 79.25% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile (Get Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC cut its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 4.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,510 shares of the companys stock after selling 105 shares during the quarter. Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,463,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at $3,416,206,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 102,752.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,446,026 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,992,374,000 after buying an additional 5,440,731 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 44.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,059,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,411,740,000 after buying an additional 3,691,436 shares during the last quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 53,716.8% during the 2nd quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC now owns 1,751,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $175,120,000 after buying an additional 1,747,946 shares during the last quarter. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at $445,944,000. 81.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on LLY shares. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $800.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $815.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $689.52. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 78,573 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $648.07, for a total value of $50,920,804.11. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,333,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $64,375,262,246.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657 in the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of NYSE:LLY traded up $1.49 during trading on Thursday, reaching $774.35. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,508,164 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,292,820. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $323.26 and a 12 month high of $800.78. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $714.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $628.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $735.76 billion, a PE ratio of 132.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.34. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.19. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 51.22%. The firm had revenue of $9.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.09 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.42 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Eli Lilly and Company (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report)s share price was up 1.4% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $176.62 and last traded at $176.45. Approximately 1,690,178 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 71% from the average daily volume of 5,918,734 shares. The stock had previously closed at $173.93. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Barclays boosted their price target on General Electric from $153.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Oppenheimer reissued a market perform rating on shares of General Electric in a report on Tuesday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of General Electric from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the company from $166.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Friday, March 8th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of General Electric from $148.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on General Electric from $180.00 to $195.00 in a report on Monday, March 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, General Electric currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $146.54. Get General Electric alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on GE General Electric Price Performance The business has a 50 day moving average price of $146.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $126.83. The company has a market capitalization of $193.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.18. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.13. General Electric had a net margin of 13.95% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The company had revenue of $19.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.27 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.24 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that General Electric will post 4.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total transaction of $3,195,107.85. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 56,284 shares in the company, valued at $8,153,863.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total value of $1,843,615.55. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 48,339 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,552,351.45. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of General Electric stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total value of $3,195,107.85. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 56,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,153,863.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On General Electric A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GE. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of General Electric by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 88,444,222 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $11,288,136,000 after acquiring an additional 550,996 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in General Electric by 4.4% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 70,480,887 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $7,742,325,000 after purchasing an additional 2,974,946 shares during the period. Capital International Investors increased its position in General Electric by 0.3% in the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 54,261,585 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $5,960,462,000 after buying an additional 156,054 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of General Electric by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 50,207,805 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $5,515,327,000 after buying an additional 1,717,793 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of General Electric by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,748,382 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $2,162,919,000 after acquiring an additional 476,355 shares during the period. 74.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. General Electric Company Profile (Get Free Report) General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Glatfelter (NYSE:GLT Get Free Report) and Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing (OTCMKTS:LMPMY Get Free Report) are both construction companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, dividends, earnings and risk. Insider and Institutional Ownership 79.3% of Glatfelter shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing shares are held by institutional investors. 2.6% of Glatfelter shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Glatfelter alerts: Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Glatfelter and Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Glatfelter 0 0 0 0 N/A Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing 1 0 0 0 1.00 Valuation & Earnings This table compares Glatfelter and Lee & Man Paper Manufacturings gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Glatfelter $1.39 billion 0.06 -$79.05 million ($1.75) -1.05 Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing N/A N/A N/A $4.02 0.75 Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Glatfelter. Glatfelter is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Glatfelter and Lee & Man Paper Manufacturings net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Glatfelter -5.71% -14.04% -2.45% Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing N/A N/A N/A Summary Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing beats Glatfelter on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Glatfelter (Get Free Report) Glatfelter Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of engineered materials worldwide. It operates through three segments: Composite Fibers, Airlaid Materials, and Spunlace. The Composite Fibers segment offers food and beverage filtration materials for single-serve coffee and tea products; wallcover base materials for wallpaper manufacturers; metallized products that are used in labels, packaging liners, gift wraps, and other consumer product applications; composite laminates consisting of decorative laminates for use in furniture, household and commercial flooring, and other applications; and specialty engineered products, which are used in electrical energy storage, home, hygiene, and other engineered fiber-based applications. The Airlaid Materials segment supplies absorbent cellulose-based airlaid nonwoven materials that are used to manufacture consumer products, such as feminine hygiene and other hygiene products, specialty wipes, tabletop, adult incontinence, home care, food pads, and other consumer and industrial products. The Spunlace segment manufactures spunlace nonwovens for cleaning, high-performance materials, personal care, hygiene, and medical applications. The company was formerly known as P. H. Glatfelter Company. Glatfelter Corporation was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. About Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing (Get Free Report) Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the manufacture and trading of packaging papers, pulps, and tissue papers in the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Macau, and Hong Kong. The company operates through Packaging Paper, Tissue Paper, and Pulp segments. It offers various pulp products, such as dissolved pulps for use in viscose chemical fibers, bamboo fibers, glass papers, acetate fibers, refined rayons, etc.; unbleached bamboo kraft pulps for use in ecru life papers, environmental table wares, food bags, etc.; and bleached bamboo kraft pulps for use in tissue papers, fine papers, cigarette papers, cup papers, etc. The company also provides containerboard products, including kraft and test linerboards for use in cartons, paper bags, file boxes, paperboards, wall papers, etc.; and corrugating liners for use in corrugated layer and septi-layer of paperboards, and honeycomb-like products. In addition, it offers white lined chipboards and environment friendly white linerboard coated products for use in graphic cartons, color card printing, and offset printing, as well as in packaging of commodities, household appliances, IT products, medicine/health care products, food products, toys, gifts, ceramic products, stationery products, beverages, etc.; toilet rolls for wiping and cleaning of hands, faces, food, etc.; and unbleached paper for use in various applications, such as baby care, menstruation, facial, sensitive skin, table, kitchen, etc. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in North Point, Hong Kong. Receive News & Ratings for Glatfelter Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Glatfelter and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Whittier Trust Co. raised its stake in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Free Report) by 2.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 305,866 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,990 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. owned 0.10% of Graphic Packaging worth $7,536,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Citigroup Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 1,490,937 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $33,218,000 after buying an additional 19,514 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,681,314 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $282,540,000 after purchasing an additional 628,663 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 7,128,914 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $158,832,000 after purchasing an additional 241,245 shares during the period. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in Graphic Packaging during the 3rd quarter valued at about $480,000. Finally, ASB Consultores LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $263,000. Institutional investors own 99.67% of the companys stock. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GPK has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Raymond James downgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a report on Monday, November 27th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Graphic Packaging currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $28.22. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP Joseph P. Yost sold 70,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.20, for a total transaction of $1,834,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 205,231 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,377,052.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. Graphic Packaging Stock Up 2.1 % Graphic Packaging stock traded up $0.57 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $27.84. The company had a trading volume of 544,992 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,916,413. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.60 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The firms fifty day moving average is $25.90 and its 200-day moving average is $23.83. Graphic Packaging Holding has a fifty-two week low of $20.07 and a fifty-two week high of $28.64. Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The industrial products company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $2.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.67% and a return on equity of 35.66%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.59 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.71 earnings per share for the current year. Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Graphic Packagings dividend payout ratio is 17.02%. About Graphic Packaging (Free Report) Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides paperboard packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Manufacturing, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Graphic Packaging Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graphic Packaging and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IDACORP (NYSE:IDA Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $92.00 to $95.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the energy companys stock. Morgan Stanleys price objective suggests a potential upside of 5.46% from the stocks current price. Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on IDA. TheStreet cut shares of IDACORP from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of IDACORP from $100.00 to $94.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 16th. Guggenheim downgraded IDACORP from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $93.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on IDACORP from $99.00 to $88.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $93.80. Get IDACORP alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on IDA IDACORP Stock Down 0.3 % IDA stock traded down $0.29 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $90.08. 45,835 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 383,193. The firm has a market cap of $4.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.54, a P/E/G ratio of 3.88 and a beta of 0.55. IDACORP has a 1-year low of $86.43 and a 1-year high of $112.96. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $90.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $94.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 1.58. IDACORP (NYSE:IDA Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The energy company reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $411.95 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $429.84 million. IDACORP had a net margin of 14.79% and a return on equity of 9.06%. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.83 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that IDACORP will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On IDACORP Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in IDACORP by 50.3% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,634,463 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $160,700,000 after acquiring an additional 546,818 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of IDACORP by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 266,005 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $26,154,000 after purchasing an additional 8,479 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its position in shares of IDACORP by 19.7% during the 4th quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 42,569 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $4,185,000 after purchasing an additional 6,997 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in IDACORP by 11.1% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 52,986 shares of the energy companys stock worth $5,210,000 after acquiring an additional 5,304 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP increased its holdings in IDACORP by 16.5% in the 4th quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 11,942 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,174,000 after acquiring an additional 1,687 shares during the last quarter. 83.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About IDACORP (Get Free Report) IDACORP, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase, and sale of electric energy in the United States. The company operates 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon; three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho; and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for IDACORP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IDACORP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Get Free Report) major shareholder Pgim Strategic Investments, In purchased 1,191,895 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $25.17 per share, for a total transaction of $29,999,997.15. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 4,056,632 shares in the company, valued at $102,105,427.44. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC. Prudential Financial Price Performance Shares of Prudential Financial stock opened at $115.33 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.13 and a current ratio of 0.13. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $107.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $100.31. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a twelve month low of $75.37 and a twelve month high of $115.57. The firm has a market cap of $41.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.36. Get Prudential Financial alerts: Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The financial services provider reported $2.58 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.67 by ($0.09). Prudential Financial had a net margin of 4.89% and a return on equity of 14.52%. The business had revenue of $13.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.99 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.42 earnings per share. Prudential Financials revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 13.42 EPS for the current fiscal year. Prudential Financial Increases Dividend Hedge Funds Weigh In On Prudential Financial The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This is a positive change from Prudential Financials previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.51%. Prudential Financials payout ratio is 77.73%. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FMR LLC boosted its position in Prudential Financial by 2.9% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,315,215 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $124,801,000 after buying an additional 36,599 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank boosted its position in Prudential Financial by 46.8% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 63,444 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,020,000 after buying an additional 20,235 shares in the last quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP boosted its position in Prudential Financial by 80.5% in the second quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 248,877 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $21,956,000 after buying an additional 110,982 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 14.5% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 268,728 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,500,000 after acquiring an additional 34,054 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allen Mooney & Barnes Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Prudential Financial in the third quarter worth about $9,507,000. 54.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently commented on PRU shares. TheStreet upgraded shares of Prudential Financial from a c+ rating to an a- rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $105.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Raymond James lowered shares of Prudential Financial from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $118.00 target price (down from $119.00) on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and ten have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $105.60. Read Our Latest Stock Report on PRU About Prudential Financial (Get Free Report) Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life, and International Businesses segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Prudential Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prudential Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. nib holdings limited (ASX:NHF Get Free Report) insider Mark Fitzgibbon sold 35,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of A$7.92 ($5.21), for a total value of A$277,025.00 ($182,253.29). NIB Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.78, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a current ratio of 2.13. Get NIB alerts: NIB Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a Interim dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. This is an increase from NIBs previous Interim dividend of $0.10. NIBs dividend payout ratio is 71.43%. About NIB nib holdings limited, together with its subsidiaries, underwrites and distributes private health insurance to residents, international students, and visitors in Australia and New Zealand. The company operates in five segments: Australian Residents Health Insurance, New Zealand Insurance, International (Inbound) Health Insurance, nib Travel, and nib Thrive segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for NIB Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NIB and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (LON:IHG Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Hold by the six brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 6,415 ($81.67). A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and set a GBX 6,400 ($81.48) price target on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Citigroup reiterated a sell rating on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Berenberg Bank raised their price objective on InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 6,000 ($76.38) to GBX 7,400 ($94.21) and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 5,400 ($68.75) to GBX 6,100 ($77.66) and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 27th. Get InterContinental Hotels Group alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on InterContinental Hotels Group InterContinental Hotels Group Stock Down 0.2 % InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend Shares of LON:IHG opened at GBX 8,056 ($102.56) on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of GBX 7,864.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 6,863.85. InterContinental Hotels Group has a 12-month low of GBX 5,086 ($64.75) and a 12-month high of GBX 8,790 ($111.90). The firm has a market capitalization of 13.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,328.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.98. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 4th will be paid a dividend of $1.04 per share. This is a positive change from InterContinental Hotels Groups previous dividend of $0.48. This represents a yield of 1.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. InterContinental Hotels Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 3,497.11%. About InterContinental Hotels Group (Get Free Report InterContinental Hotels Group PLC owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China. The company operates hotels under the Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, EVEN, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Garner, avid hotels, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites brand names. Read More Receive News & Ratings for InterContinental Hotels Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for InterContinental Hotels Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA:EQAL Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $45.65 and last traded at $45.65, with a volume of 2733 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $45.32. Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF Stock Up 0.7 % The firm has a market capitalization of $705.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.57 and a beta of 1.11. The firms 50 day moving average is $43.90 and its 200 day moving average is $41.98. Get Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. UBS Group AG increased its stake in shares of Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF by 23.4% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 173,097 shares of the companys stock worth $6,903,000 after acquiring an additional 32,852 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF by 56.3% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 9,621 shares of the companys stock valued at $384,000 after buying an additional 3,464 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF in the third quarter worth approximately $556,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF by 7.1% during the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 31,878 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,271,000 after acquiring an additional 2,124 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new stake in Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF Company Profile The Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF (EQAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell 1000 Equal Weight index. The fund tracks an index of the 1,000 largest US stocks. Each sector receives equal weight, and each stock within a sector receives equal weight. EQAL was launched on Dec 23, 2014 and is managed by Invesco. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:EWY Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $68.20 and last traded at $68.20, with a volume of 211016 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $66.83. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Trading Up 1.4 % The stock has a market capitalization of $3.95 billion, a PE ratio of 7.39 and a beta of 1.05. The companys 50-day moving average is $63.06 and its 200 day moving average is $61.86. Get iShares MSCI South Korea ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $213,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 28,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,650,000 after purchasing an additional 3,600 shares in the last quarter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter. Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC now owns 291,300 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $17,169,000 after purchasing an additional 29,500 shares during the period. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 70.0% during the third quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 4,089 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $241,000 after buying an additional 1,683 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the third quarter valued at $1,041,000. About iShares MSCI South Korea ETF iShares MSCI South Korea Capped ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Market Division of the Korean Exchange. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI South Korea ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tesco PLC (LON:TSCO Get Free Report) insider Ken Murphy bought 48 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 15th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 288 ($3.67) per share, for a total transaction of 138.24 ($175.99). Ken Murphy also recently made the following trade(s): Get Tesco alerts: On Friday, February 16th, Ken Murphy purchased 49 shares of Tesco stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 277 ($3.53) per share, with a total value of 135.73 ($172.79). On Friday, January 19th, Ken Murphy purchased 47 shares of Tesco stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 298 ($3.79) per share, with a total value of 140.06 ($178.31). On Friday, December 22nd, Ken Murphy purchased 48 shares of Tesco stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 288 ($3.67) per share, with a total value of 138.24 ($175.99). Tesco Stock Down 0.7 % LON:TSCO opened at GBX 285.70 ($3.64) on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 129.69, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.74. The company has a market cap of 20.11 billion, a PE ratio of 1,428.50, a PEG ratio of 3.72 and a beta of 0.52. Tesco PLC has a 52-week low of GBX 244.20 ($3.11) and a 52-week high of GBX 303.70 ($3.87). The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 286.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 280.88. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Tesco in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on TSCO Tesco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery retailer in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It offers grocery products through its stores, as well as online. The company is also involved in the food and drink wholesaling activities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Tesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Moody National Bank Trust Division lessened its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 61.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,070 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 4,997 shares during the quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Divisions holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $1,184,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 33,677 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $12,991,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. raised its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 70,387 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $27,152,000 after purchasing an additional 810 shares during the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC raised its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 25.4% during the 4th quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 33,660 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $12,985,000 after buying an additional 6,810 shares during the last quarter. Chapin Davis Inc. raised its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 14.7% during the 4th quarter. Chapin Davis Inc. now owns 6,248 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $2,410,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BKM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.06% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 11,650 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $390.64, for a total value of $4,550,956.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the treasurer now owns 18,408 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,190,901.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total value of $5,001,372.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,417 shares in the company, valued at $11,602,947.31. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 11,650 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $390.64, for a total transaction of $4,550,956.00. Following the sale, the treasurer now owns 18,408 shares in the company, valued at $7,190,901.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 38,907 shares of company stock valued at $15,080,021 over the last 90 days. 0.54% of the stock is owned by company insiders. The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Up 3.5 % NYSE:GS traded up $13.79 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $410.26. The stock had a trading volume of 1,470,895 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,312,206. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $289.36 and a 1-year high of $412.30. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $385.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $354.25. The company has a market cap of $133.14 billion, a PE ratio of 18.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.42. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.62 by $1.86. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 7.85% and a return on equity of 8.03%. The company had revenue of $11.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.80 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.32 earnings per share. The Goldman Sachs Groups revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.79 EPS for the current year. The Goldman Sachs Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be issued a $2.75 dividend. This represents a $11.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 48.20%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In GS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and set a $440.00 price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $421.00 to $424.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $506.00 to $446.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley raised shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $333.00 to $449.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, Edward Jones assumed coverage on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $406.87. Read Our Latest Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group The Goldman Sachs Group Profile (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of NCR Voyix (NYSE:VYX Free Report) in a research note published on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm issued a neutral rating and a $14.00 price target on the stock. Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $23.00 target price on shares of NCR Voyix in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. DA Davidson decreased their target price on NCR Voyix from $24.00 to $20.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price objective on NCR Voyix from $22.00 to $20.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Northcoast Research upgraded NCR Voyix from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $17.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, NCR Voyix has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $18.83. Get NCR Voyix alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on NCR Voyix NCR Voyix Stock Up 2.8 % VYX stock opened at $13.10 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 102.52. NCR Voyix has a 52-week low of $10.99 and a 52-week high of $19.01. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $14.33. The stock has a market cap of $1.89 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.35 and a beta of 1.58. NCR Voyix (NYSE:VYX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.82 by ($0.92). The business had revenue of $963.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $959.23 million. NCR Voyix had a positive return on equity of 21.46% and a negative net margin of 5.98%. The businesss revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that NCR Voyix will post 3.17 EPS for the current year. About NCR Voyix (Get Free Report) NCR Voyix Corporation provides various software and services in the United States, Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through Retail, Hospitality, Digital Banking, Payments & Network, and Self-Service Banking segments. It offers managed services, including ATM-as-a-Service solutions that allow banks to run their end-to-end ATM channels; software, services, and hardware; and digital banking solutions for financial institution's consumer and business customers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for NCR Voyix Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NCR Voyix and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the fourteen ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $69.56. Several research firms recently issued reports on OXY. Morgan Stanley upgraded Occidental Petroleum from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $68.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $80.00 to $77.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Raymond James cut their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $74.00 target price on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Occidental Petroleum from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 15th. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on OXY Institutional Inflows and Outflows Occidental Petroleum Trading Down 0.4 % Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Berkshire Hathaway Inc raised its position in Occidental Petroleum by 8.7% during the 4th quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 243,715,804 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $14,552,271,000 after purchasing an additional 19,586,612 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 0.4% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,090,043 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $767,346,000 after acquiring an additional 50,848 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in Occidental Petroleum by 24.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 12,021,929 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $779,983,000 after purchasing an additional 2,334,651 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 22.2% in the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 5,995,258 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $357,977,000 after purchasing an additional 1,088,052 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 2.4% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,035,799 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $285,732,000 after buying an additional 118,928 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.54% of the companys stock. Shares of Occidental Petroleum stock opened at $63.78 on Thursday. Occidental Petroleum has a 1 year low of $55.12 and a 1 year high of $67.67. The company has a market capitalization of $56.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.63. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $59.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $60.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.69. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.74 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.74. Occidental Petroleum had a net margin of 16.24% and a return on equity of 20.63%. The business had revenue of $7.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.93 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.61 EPS. Occidental Petroleums quarterly revenue was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Occidental Petroleum will post 3.57 EPS for the current year. Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This is an increase from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.38%. Occidental Petroleums dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.51%. About Occidental Petroleum (Get Free Report Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The company's Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops, and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. OneAscent Financial Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD Free Report) by 30.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,688 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 390 shares during the quarter. OneAscent Financial Services LLCs holdings in Lithia Motors were worth $556,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LAD. Mariner LLC grew its stake in Lithia Motors by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 4,401 shares of the companys stock worth $1,300,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in Lithia Motors by 95.6% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 12,649 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,736,000 after acquiring an additional 6,181 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its position in Lithia Motors by 93.2% during the 3rd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 9,412 shares of the companys stock worth $2,780,000 after purchasing an additional 4,541 shares during the period. Comerica Bank acquired a new position in Lithia Motors during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $4,608,000. Finally, Mirabella Financial Services LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $758,000. Get Lithia Motors alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Shauna Mcintyre sold 135 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $297.84, for a total transaction of $40,208.40. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,662 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $495,010.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets LAD has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Lithia Motors in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. They set an outperform rating and a $400.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Lithia Motors from $298.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $375.00 target price on shares of Lithia Motors in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Lithia Motors from $300.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Lithia Motors from $440.00 to $380.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lithia Motors presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $336.40. Get Our Latest Analysis on LAD Lithia Motors Price Performance Shares of LAD stock traded up $3.03 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $297.50. 11,359 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 189,740. The company has a market capitalization of $8.19 billion, a PE ratio of 8.12, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 1.59. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $293.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $286.67. Lithia Motors, Inc. has a 12-month low of $203.65 and a 12-month high of $331.96. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported $8.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.11 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $7.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.95 billion. Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 17.33% and a net margin of 3.22%. Lithia Motorss quarterly revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $9.05 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Lithia Motors, Inc. will post 35.27 earnings per share for the current year. Lithia Motors Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Saturday, March 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Lithia Motorss payout ratio is 5.51%. Lithia Motors Profile (Free Report) Lithia Motors, Inc operates as an automotive retailer worldwide. It operates in two segments, Vehicle Operations and Financing Operations. The company's Vehicle Operations segment sells new and used vehicles; provides parts, repair, and maintenance services; vehicle finance; and insurance products. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LAD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Lithia Motors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lithia Motors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Paragon Capital Management Ltd lowered its stake in shares of WestRock (NYSE:WRK Free Report) by 17.9% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 7,195 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 1,571 shares during the period. Paragon Capital Management Ltds holdings in WestRock were worth $299,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in WRK. Norges Bank purchased a new position in WestRock in the 4th quarter worth $194,739,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 59.0% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 9,318,827 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $283,947,000 after purchasing an additional 3,459,641 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 9.6% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 26,528,567 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $808,325,000 after purchasing an additional 2,320,073 shares in the last quarter. Pentwater Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of WestRock during the 3rd quarter valued at about $61,378,000. Finally, Segantii Capital Management Ltd bought a new stake in shares of WestRock during the 3rd quarter valued at about $59,428,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.51% of the companys stock. Get WestRock alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other WestRock news, insider Vicki L. Lostetter sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.77, for a total transaction of $149,695.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 92,117 shares in the company, valued at $3,939,844.09. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.49% of the stock is owned by company insiders. WestRock Stock Performance Shares of WRK traded down $0.72 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $48.72. 847,243 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,117,841. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.55. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $43.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $39.87. WestRock has a 1 year low of $26.85 and a 1 year high of $49.66. The stock has a market cap of $12.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.32, a P/E/G ratio of 4.01 and a beta of 1.09. WestRock (NYSE:WRK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.15). WestRock had a positive return on equity of 6.87% and a negative net margin of 8.58%. The firm had revenue of $4.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.55 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that WestRock will post 1.95 earnings per share for the current year. WestRock Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were given a dividend of $0.3025 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $1.21 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.48%. WestRocks dividend payout ratio is -18.01%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently commented on WRK. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of WestRock in a research note on Friday, March 15th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn lowered shares of WestRock from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $42.00 price objective on shares of WestRock in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an equal weight rating and set a $45.00 price objective (up previously from $42.00) on shares of WestRock in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of WestRock from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, WestRock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $42.40. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on WRK About WestRock (Free Report) WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WestRock (NYSE:WRK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for WestRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WestRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:PNW Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by equities research analysts at Morgan Stanley from $69.00 to $70.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an equal weight rating on the utilities providers stock. Morgan Stanleys price objective suggests a potential downside of 3.83% from the stocks previous close. A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. UBS Group upgraded shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the stock from $68.00 to $71.00 in a report on Monday, March 11th. StockNews.com cut shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, March 14th. Guggenheim upgraded shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $78.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $76.00 to $69.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 4th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $77.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pinnacle West Capital currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.91. Get Pinnacle West Capital alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on PNW Pinnacle West Capital Trading Up 0.0 % Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pinnacle West Capital Shares of PNW traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $72.79. The stock had a trading volume of 93,802 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,497,156. Pinnacle West Capital has a 1 year low of $65.20 and a 1 year high of $86.03. The firm has a market cap of $8.26 billion, a PE ratio of 16.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.50. The stocks 50 day moving average is $69.54 and its 200 day moving average is $72.54. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 338.3% during the 3rd quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 355 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the period. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new stake in Pinnacle West Capital in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. First United Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in Pinnacle West Capital in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Tobam grew its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 2,620.0% in the 4th quarter. Tobam now owns 408 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.95% of the companys stock. About Pinnacle West Capital (Get Free Report) Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities. Its transmission facilities include overhead lines and underground lines; and distribution facilities consist of overhead lines and underground primary cables. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle West Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle West Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Redrow (LON:RDW Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Royal Bank of Canada to a sector perform rating in a report released on Thursday, LSE.Co.UK reports. They currently have a GBX 750 ($9.55) price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price objective would indicate a potential upside of 12.61% from the companys current price. RDW has been the topic of several other research reports. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 643 ($8.19) price objective on shares of Redrow in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and issued a GBX 756 ($9.62) price objective on shares of Redrow in a research note on Friday, February 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Redrow currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 627 ($7.98). Get Redrow alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Redrow Redrow Stock Performance Insider Transactions at Redrow Shares of LON RDW traded up GBX 13 ($0.17) during midday trading on Thursday, reaching GBX 666 ($8.48). The companys stock had a trading volume of 569,101 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,593,033. Redrow has a 12-month low of GBX 423.63 ($5.39) and a 12-month high of GBX 700 ($8.91). The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 635.73 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 564.59. The stock has a market capitalization of 2.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,040.63, a PEG ratio of -0.81 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 4.08 and a quick ratio of 0.36. In other news, insider Matthew Pratt sold 27,430 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 653 ($8.31), for a total value of 179,117.90 ($228,030.43). Insiders own 25.08% of the companys stock. Redrow Company Profile (Get Free Report) Redrow plc focuses on housebuilding activities in the United Kingdom. It is involved in acquires, develops, and resells land; develops and sells residential housing properties; and business park maintenance services. Redrow plc was founded in 1974 and is based in Flintshire, the United Kingdom. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Redrow Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Redrow and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (NYSE:SKX Get Free Report) CEO Robert Greenberg sold 30,339 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.11, for a total value of $1,854,016.29. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 132,783 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,114,369.13. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Robert Greenberg also recently made the following trade(s): Get Skechers U.S.A. alerts: On Thursday, February 8th, Robert Greenberg sold 99,139 shares of Skechers U.S.A. stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.87, for a total value of $5,737,173.93. On Tuesday, January 2nd, Robert Greenberg sold 12,605 shares of Skechers U.S.A. stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.21, for a total value of $784,157.05. Skechers U.S.A. Stock Up 0.8 % SKX stock opened at $61.02 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $60.99 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $56.10. The company has a market cap of $9.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.32. Skechers U.S.A., Inc. has a twelve month low of $43.67 and a twelve month high of $65.17. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Skechers U.S.A. ( NYSE:SKX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The textile maker reported $0.56 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $1.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.03 billion. Skechers U.S.A. had a return on equity of 12.89% and a net margin of 6.82%. The businesss revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.48 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Skechers U.S.A., Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year. SKX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America initiated coverage on Skechers U.S.A. in a research note on Friday, March 8th. They set a neutral rating and a $67.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen increased their target price on Skechers U.S.A. from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. Wedbush decreased their price target on Skechers U.S.A. from $75.00 to $68.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Raymond James decreased their price target on Skechers U.S.A. from $68.00 to $66.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Skechers U.S.A. in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. They issued an outperform rating and a $73.00 target price on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Skechers U.S.A. currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.18. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Skechers U.S.A. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bfsg LLC boosted its stake in shares of Skechers U.S.A. by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 6,545 shares of the textile makers stock worth $408,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in Skechers U.S.A. by 13.1% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,618 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $101,000 after purchasing an additional 187 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI raised its holdings in Skechers U.S.A. by 7.1% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 3,035 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $188,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Skechers U.S.A. by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 8,646 shares of the textile makers stock worth $423,000 after buying an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of Skechers U.S.A. by 30.1% during the 2nd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,021 shares of the textile makers stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. 80.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Skechers U.S.A. Company Profile (Get Free Report) Skechers U.SA, Inc designs, develops, markets, and distributes footwear for men, women, and children worldwide. The company operates through Wholesale and Direct-to-Consumer segments. It offers footwear under Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins, Skechers Arch Fit, and Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam brands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Skechers U.S.A. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Skechers U.S.A. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rockland Trust Co. trimmed its position in shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 24.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 10,246 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 3,263 shares during the quarter. Rockland Trust Co.s holdings in American Express were worth $1,919,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in American Express by 118,198.3% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,732,068 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $2,028,913,000 after acquiring an additional 13,720,460 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of American Express in the 4th quarter worth approximately $911,554,000. Boston Partners bought a new position in shares of American Express in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $210,540,000. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its stake in shares of American Express by 162.6% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,961,999 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $289,885,000 after purchasing an additional 1,214,731 shares during the period. Finally, CI Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of American Express in the 4th quarter worth approximately $124,325,000. 83.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get American Express alerts: Insider Transactions at American Express In related news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 7,029 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $203.65, for a total value of $1,431,455.85. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 12,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,522,816.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Laureen Seeger sold 84,420 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.98, for a total transaction of $17,979,771.60. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 57,512 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,248,905.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Howard Grosfield sold 7,029 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $203.65, for a total value of $1,431,455.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 12,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,522,816.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 172,047 shares of company stock worth $36,528,388. Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In AXP has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Oppenheimer raised their target price on shares of American Express from $208.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Monness Crespi & Hardt initiated coverage on shares of American Express in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. They set a neutral rating for the company. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of American Express from $188.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of American Express from $157.00 to $159.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, DZ Bank lowered shares of American Express from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $189.00. Read Our Latest Report on AXP American Express Stock Performance AXP stock opened at $227.88 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.63. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $206.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $177.91. The company has a market capitalization of $164.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.33, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.23. American Express has a 1-year low of $140.91 and a 1-year high of $228.06. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The payment services company reported $2.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.64 by ($0.02). American Express had a net margin of 13.84% and a return on equity of 30.99%. The company had revenue of $15.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.07 EPS. American Expresss revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that American Express will post 12.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. American Express Cuts Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.18%. American Expresss payout ratio is 21.41%. American Express Company Profile (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Free Report) had its target price upped by investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $68.00 to $77.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus price target would indicate a potential upside of 11.05% from the stocks previous close. GIS has been the topic of several other reports. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of General Mills from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of General Mills from $75.00 to $72.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 11th. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of General Mills from $70.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of General Mills from $77.00 to $76.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on General Mills from $74.00 to $72.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.44. Get General Mills alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on GIS General Mills Price Performance NYSE GIS opened at $69.34 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. General Mills has a 52 week low of $60.33 and a 52 week high of $90.89. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $64.56 and a 200-day moving average price of $64.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.87, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.15. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 20th. The company reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $5.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a return on equity of 25.44% and a net margin of 12.06%. General Millss revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.97 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that General Mills will post 4.49 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Activity In other news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 7,671 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.15, for a total transaction of $492,094.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 102,924 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,602,574.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 7,671 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.15, for a total value of $492,094.65. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 102,924 shares in the company, valued at $6,602,574.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jeffrey L. Harmening sold 60,056 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.44, for a total transaction of $3,870,008.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 318,483 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,523,044.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of General Mills A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in GIS. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of General Mills by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,278 shares of the companys stock worth $722,000 after buying an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Adviser Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of General Mills during the third quarter valued at approximately $323,000. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lifted its position in shares of General Mills by 5.9% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 342,794 shares of the companys stock worth $21,935,000 after purchasing an additional 19,209 shares in the last quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP lifted its holdings in General Mills by 60.4% in the 3rd quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 12,261 shares of the companys stock worth $785,000 after buying an additional 4,616 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Savoie Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of General Mills during the third quarter worth about $724,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.31% of the companys stock. General Mills Company Profile (Get Free Report) General Mills, Inc manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates through four segments: North America Retail; International; Pet; and North America Foodservice. It offers grain, ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream and frozen desserts, nutrition bars, and savory snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trilogy Capital Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report) by 12.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,923 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 554 shares during the period. Trilogy Capital Inc.s holdings in Black Hills were worth $212,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in Black Hills during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Black Hills by 87.3% in the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 562 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new stake in Black Hills in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its stake in Black Hills by 678.4% in the third quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 685 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 597 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Black Hills by 60.6% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 652 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 246 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.64% of the companys stock. Get Black Hills alerts: Black Hills Stock Performance Black Hills stock traded down $0.21 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $51.99. 242,802 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 577,654. Black Hills Co. has a 52 week low of $46.43 and a 52 week high of $66.85. The firm has a market cap of $3.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.32 and a beta of 0.64. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $51.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $52.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.70. Black Hills Increases Dividend Black Hills ( NYSE:BKH Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.11. Black Hills had a net margin of 11.25% and a return on equity of 8.09%. The business had revenue of $591.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $863.67 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.11 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Black Hills Co. will post 3.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th were paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. This is a boost from Black Hillss previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.00%. Black Hillss dividend payout ratio is presently 66.33%. Analyst Ratings Changes BKH has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank raised their target price on shares of Black Hills from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. StockNews.com upgraded Black Hills from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Black Hills from $61.00 to $57.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Black Hills has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $55.80. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Black Hills Black Hills Company Profile (Free Report) Black Hills Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the United States. The company operates in two segments: Electric Utilities and Gas Utilities. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 222,000 electric utility customers in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and owns and operates 1,394 megawatts of generation capacity and 9,106 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Black Hills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Hills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. True North Commercial REIT (TSE:TNT.UN Get Free Report) had its price target decreased by research analysts at Raymond James from C$11.25 to C$10.00 in a report issued on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a market perform rating on the stock. Raymond James price objective suggests a potential upside of 10.62% from the stocks previous close. Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. CIBC increased their price target on True North Commercial REIT from C$8.05 to C$9.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on True North Commercial REIT from C$7.25 to C$9.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, National Bankshares raised their target price on True North Commercial REIT from C$8.65 to C$8.75 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Get True North Commercial REIT alerts: Read Our Latest Report on TNT.UN True North Commercial REIT Stock Performance True North Commercial REIT Company Profile Shares of TNT.UN stock traded down C$0.11 on Thursday, hitting C$9.04. 61,213 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 42,007. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 178.41. The firm has a market capitalization of C$142.74 million, a PE ratio of -2.54 and a beta of 1.50. True North Commercial REIT has a one year low of C$6.33 and a one year high of C$20.58. The firms 50 day moving average is C$9.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$6.14. (Get Free Report) The REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust established under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The REIT currently owns and operates a portfolio of 46 commercial properties consisting of approximately 3.7 million square feet in urban and select strategic secondary markets across Canada focusing on long term leases with government and credit-rated tenants. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for True North Commercial REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for True North Commercial REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virgin Money UK (LON:VMUK Get Free Report)s stock had its hold rating reaffirmed by analysts at Shore Capital in a research report issued on Thursday, LSE.Co.UK reports. Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Virgin Money UK from GBX 265 ($3.37) to GBX 180 ($2.29) and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 27th. Berenberg Bank cut their price target on shares of Virgin Money UK from GBX 220 ($2.80) to GBX 200 ($2.55) and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 27th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 198.75 ($2.53). Get Virgin Money UK alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Virgin Money UK Virgin Money UK Stock Up 2.7 % Virgin Money UK Company Profile LON VMUK traded up GBX 5.60 ($0.07) during midday trading on Thursday, hitting GBX 213.40 ($2.72). The company had a trading volume of 25,768,662 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,626,633. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 165.13 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 161.43. The stock has a market cap of 2.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,185.49, a P/E/G ratio of 5.69 and a beta of 1.87. Virgin Money UK has a fifty-two week low of GBX 134.20 ($1.71) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 218.80 ($2.79). (Get Free Report) Virgin Money UK PLC provides banking products and services for consumers, and small and medium sized businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. The company offers savings and current accounts, mortgages, credit cards, and home loans; business loans, overdraft facilities, treasury solutions, and corporate and structured finance; risk management; asset and invoice finance services; international trade services; and home, car, and life and critical illness insurance products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Virgin Money UK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Virgin Money UK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. trimmed its holdings in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 105,694 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,747 shares during the quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc.s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $6,229,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Coca-Cola in the first quarter valued at $77,000. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 16.7% during the first quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 12,227 shares of the companys stock worth $758,000 after acquiring an additional 1,754 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 41.4% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 149,275 shares of the companys stock worth $9,255,000 after acquiring an additional 43,680 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 385.3% during the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 19,032 shares of the companys stock worth $1,180,000 after acquiring an additional 15,110 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 11.9% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,840,557 shares of the companys stock worth $176,115,000 after acquiring an additional 301,804 shares in the last quarter. 68.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of KO stock traded up $0.06 on Thursday, hitting $60.81. The stock had a trading volume of 1,592,506 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,101,519. The firm has a market cap of $262.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.50, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $60.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $58.24. The Coca-Cola Company has a twelve month low of $51.55 and a twelve month high of $64.99. Coca-Cola Increases Dividend Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $10.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.68 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.50% and a net margin of 23.42%. Coca-Colas revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.45 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.485 per share. This is a boost from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.23%. Insider Activity at Coca-Cola In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 247,188 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.94, for a total value of $15,063,636.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,968,753.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 247,188 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.94, for a total transaction of $15,063,636.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,968,753.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Bruno Pietracci sold 18,551 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.41, for a total value of $1,102,114.91. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 375,407 shares of company stock valued at $22,795,742. 1.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on Coca-Cola from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Citigroup increased their target price on Coca-Cola from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Coca-Cola from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.00. Check Out Our Latest Report on KO Coca-Cola Profile (Free Report) The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China's development opportunity for Australia, not threat: Chinese FM Xinhua) 09:38, March 21, 2024 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with members of the Australia-China Parliamentary Group in Canberra, Australia, March 20, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) CANBERRA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Wednesday with members of the Australia-China Parliamentary Group, saying China's development is an opportunity for Australia, not a threat. The journey since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries shows that China and Australia are partners, not rivals, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. China is willing to work with Australia to enhance trust, minimize misunderstanding and eliminate interference, Wang said, adding members of the Australia-China Parliamentary Group are welcome to visit China more often. At the meeting, the Australian parliamentarians said the Australia-China relationship is very important. They welcomed the significant improvement and progress in the Australia-China relationship in recent years. The Australian Parliament supports the enhancement of dialogue and exchanges between Australia and China, and looks forward to the resumption and strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, trade, education and other areas, they said, adding Chinese students and tourists are welcome to return to Australia. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Adam E. Jarzynka, 49, of Grand Island was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Lincoln to 10 years in prison for the distribution of methamphetamine. Senior U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Jarzynka for one count of distribution of methamphetamine mixture, one count of distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual), and two counts of distribution of fifty grams or more of meth (actual). There is no parole in the federal system. After Jarzynkas release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. In August and September of 2021, drug investigators used a confidential informant (CI) to arrange the controlled purchase of meth from Jarzynka. Four meth purchases were conducted during that time period at various locations in Grand Island. The quantities purchased during those buys ranged from a quarter of an ounce to nearly three ounces. In total, Jarzynka sold more than 167 grams of lab-confirmed meth to the CI. The case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County Sheriffs Office, Buffalo County Sheriffs Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriffs Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Kearney Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol. The employees of the Hall County Attorneys Office want to make sure that the contributions and personality of the late Lisa Wooten are not forgotten. Wooten, who worked as a paralegal, passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 15 at the age of 59. She had worked in the office for 21 years. On March 12, a group of women from the office appeared at a Hall County Commission meeting. Two of the women, Bunny Schlick and Brandy Stjohn, talked about how much Wooten meant to their office. In her statement, Stjohn said Wootens departure has been an immeasurable loss to the Hall County Attorneys Office. On Tuesday of this week, Schlick and Stjohn kept tissues handy as they talked about their thoughtful co-worker. Schlick is the office manager. Stjohn is a paralegal. Wooten worked 4.75 hours on the day she died. She sent an email saying she would be leaving at 12:15 p.m. for an appointment. She was apologetic about leaving because she knew the office was short-handed that day. She hoped to be back as soon as she could. In a later email that morning, Wooten wrote, I am dealing with a serious issue. I have spoken with my doctors office a couple of times this morning and will be going in this afternoon. I anticipate this involving a trip to the hospital, but hope so much that I am wrong. She expressed regret that another paralegal would be working alone. She would try to get through as much of her work as she could before she left. At 4:35 p.m. that day, Schlick received a phone call saying that Wooten had passed away about an hour earlier at CHI St. Francis. Having to return to work the next day, trying to deal with business as usual, is something we do not wish for anyone to experience, Schlick said. On March 12, Schlick read a statement to Hall County Commissioners. As we go through the course of our days, weeks, months and years it is nonstop business as a public servant. This is exactly what Lisa Wooten did honorably, willingly and with extraordinary pride until the day she left us. She took her job duties very seriously and had profound respect for Hall County citizens, Schlick said. The news of her passing was devastating to our office, Schlick said. While people say that everyone is replaceable, Schlick would have to differ. The role she filled as a Hall County employee will be tough to fill, particularly with the dedication and integrity she demonstrated. The people who work in the Hall County Attorneys Office regularly deal with the effects of crime, tragedy and death. They hear about children who are mistreated, and lives that end too early. Stjohn told commissioners that Wooten truly cared about the taxpayers and the office. I intend to try to live more like her, Stjohn said. She saw the emotions and humans behind the people she encountered and when she asked how you were doing, she wanted the long version. I think we can all do better on this. She would often leave treats on our desk and would never let a birthday, death or sickness pass without asking you about it. Stjohn said Wooten was always thinking about work and Hall County first. She told commissioners that Wooten trained many past employees and was an expert at creating and editing documents in our CMS program and Karpel. There were many nights and weekends spent catching up on work or pulling and verifying data for our Karpel conversion. She was someone who would work until the work was done. From day one, she took this job very seriously very seriously, Schlick said in an interview. When you told her this was confidential, even if you worked here, she wasnt going to share it with you. It also didnt matter what needed done. and when it needed done. I mean, bless her heart, she would put her life on hold for this place, Schlick said. She was always dedicated to her job. She thought very highly of the people that she worked with. She was very compassionate with all of them, Schlick said. Even if she struggled with a personality or struggled with a situation, you would have never known it. When they had something going on in their life that was a crisis, if there was a celebration in their life, she was always there for her co-workers. She was just genuinely a very caring person. On Facebook, Stjohn wrote that when you work with people, especially in high-stress professions, you end up a trauma-bonded family. Its just a very stressful fast-paced beehive, and she was such an important part of that beehive, Stjohn said this week. In her address to commissioners, Stjohn said, It was a hard lesson to learn that no one should work themselves to death and to not spend so much time worrying about tomorrow, which may never come. To Wooten, this place was more important than her own damn health, Schlick said this week. On Facebook, Stjohn wrote that Wooten was one of the kindest souls, always caring so deeply for everyone else. There wasnt a sickness or life event that she didnt acknowledge or let you know she cared. A lot of people didnt get to know off-the-clock Lisa, but she was so funny. Schlick was on vacation in Texas when Wooten died. She wanted to return to Nebraska, but didnt because everyone knew Wooten would have been angry if she had. Still, Schlick thought about Wooten the whole time she was gone. Schlick said Wootens passing left a huge void in the office. Its not as though her co-workers are waiting for Wooten to come back from vacation. They know shes gone, and its really tough. Just seeing her parking stall out there always empty, its hard. Its really, really hard. And we just want to make certain that shes not forgotten, Schlick said. When high-profile figures retire, they get a lot of attention, Schlick said. Lisa was a quiet individual that dedicated her life to Hall County, to a T. And she left quietly, Schlick said. But we want to make certain that her time spent as a county employee, representing the county, focusing on the taxpayers of the county, that she is recognized as a marvelous individual. And the county as a whole not only lost a true citizen, but one heck of an employee. Foreign investors to be allowed to trade stocks in Vietnam without pre-funding: draft circular By My Ha, Minh Hue Thu, March 21, 2024 | 10:54 am GMT+7 Foreign institutional investors will not have to deposit 100% of the transaction value before trading stocks in Vietnam, according to a draft circular. The draft circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of circulars on securities transactions on the stock trading system; clearing and settlement of securities transactions; operations of securities companies and information disclosure on the stock market has just been released by the State Securities Commission (SSC) for public feedback. Six months ahead of the market status upgrade is the best time to buy stocks, say experts. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. Under the circular, securities companies will be responsible for evaluating customer capacity to determine the pre-funding rate under the signed contract and make up for the shortfall via a self-directed brokerage account if the customer does not pay in full. The securities company can sell shares as soon as they come to the self-directed brokerage account. Differences arising will be settled according to the contract signed by the two parties. The bank where the foreign institutional investor opens a securities depository account is responsible for paying the shortfall in the case of incorrect confirmation of the customer's deposit balance, leading to a lack of money to pay for securities transactions. In necessary cases, to stabilize the market, the SSC has the right to temporarily suspend foreign institutional investors trading without 100% pre-funding. According to the SSC, the requirement for 100% pre-funding before trading ensures safety but makes foreign investors miss investment opportunities if they cannot transfer money in time or lose fees when they cannot buy shares. In addition, foreign investors also suffer losses due to frozen capital during the time of transferring money to Vietnam without successful transactions, and risks related to exchange rate fluctuations. This has become one of two major bottlenecks preventing the Vietnamese stock market status from being upgraded from a frontier to an emerging market, said the commission. At a conference entitled Vietnam stock market: status upgrade and transparency in listed firms information disclosure held by The Investor in October 2023, economist Vo Tri Thanh, director of the Institute for Brand and Competitiveness Strategy, said transactions in the financial market, especially large transactions by foreign investors, have a huge spillover impact. Therefore, unfinished transactions affect not only the securities company where the order is placed, but also market sentiment. Meanwhile, Dr. Can Van Luc, chief economist at Hanoi-based BIDV bank, said in the case of no pre-funding, the rate of investors around the world who do not pay is only 2%, equivalent to a loss of $3 billion per year. Therefore, Luc advocated increasing the power given to securities companies to assess risks and make their own decisions. This proposal is supported by the majority of securities companies who are confident in their own risk management capabilities. The government's current goal is to have the stock market upgraded before 2025, said Pham Thi Thuy Linh, deputy director of the SSCs market development department. Vietnam has met seven out of nine criteria for the market status upgrade. The two remaining criteria are 100% pre-funding and the ownership ratio cap for foreign investors, she said. According to Maybank Investment Bank (MSVN), market access including information disclosure in English and raising the foreign ownership limit (FOL) are the main obstacles to the upgrade of Vietnam's stock market. The FOL issue can be resolved through the introduction of non-voting depository receipts (NVDR), which was included in the new Securities Law in 2021. The stock market often performs positively before being upgraded, MSVN recommends that investors should seize the opportunity to participate in the market early. The appropriate time to buy stocks is about six months before the official market status upgrade. Malaysia leads global Halal food market By Vietnam News Agency Thu, March 21, 2024 | 8:51 am GMT+7 Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said that the global demand for halal products is steadily increasing, with forecasts estimating a market worth $5 trillion by 2030. AZahid, who is also Chairman of the Malaysia Halal Council, told local press on the sidelines of a regular cabinet meeting that the global Muslim market represented 24% of the world's population in 2022, amounting to 1.9 billion people, and is forecast to reach 2.2 billion by 2030. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Photo courtesy of bernama.com. He said with available potential and strength in this area, Malaysia has to look within the context of halal product exports, given that the global market for such exports was valued at $3 trillion in 2023 quite a substantial amount, and it is anticipated to reach $5 trillion by 2030. He urged Bumiputera entrepreneurs to be aware of the vastness of the global halal market, which sees demand stemming from both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers who place importance on cleanliness. The Deputy PM said that he has also asked the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) to accelerate the issuance of halal certificates to Bumiputera entrepreneurs, under the condition that they fulfil the guidelines outlined by the agency. He also said the Rural and Regional Development Ministry has divided halal certification applications into four categories, namely High Critical, Critical, Semi-Critical, and Green Lane. Certification schemes placed under the High Critical category, with an application review period of 14, 10, five and three working days respectively, cover food and beverage products, cosmetics, consumer goods, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and food premises (hotel/convention kitchen/hospital). Malaysia has been a global market leader in the Halal food industry and has secured the top position in the Global Islamic Economy Index for nine consecutive years. In 2022, the total halal export value was MYR59.46 billion ($12.56 billion), contributing 7.4% to the country's GDP. Public companies to disclose information in English from 2025 By Tri Duc Thu, March 21, 2024 | 3:34 pm GMT+7 Public companies will have to disclose information in English, starting 2025, according to a draft circular issued by the Ministry of Finance in line with a request from the State Securities Commission (SSC) of Vietnam. Accordingly, large public and listed companies must periodically disclose information in English from January 1, 2025, and ad-hoc and at-request information in English from January 1, 2026. Vietnam's State Securities Commission is headquartered in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Cong Thuong (Industry & Trade) newspaper. Other public companies must periodically disclose information from January 1, 2027, and ad-hoc and at-request information in English from January 1, 2028. Similarly, the Vietnam Stock Exchange and the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation will have to publish information in both Vietnamese and English. In case there are differences or different interpretations between information in Vietnamese and English, the information in Vietnamese shall prevail, according to the draft circular. Additionally, the draft circular has updated terms related to securities transactions on the securities trading system, clearing and settlement of securities transactions, and activities of securities companies. US chip tool maker Lam Research eyes $1-2 billion investment in Vietnam By Minh Anh Thu, March 21, 2024 | 11:09 am GMT+7 California-based chip manufacturing equipment supplier Lam Research has plans to partner with Koreas Seojin Company to develop factories and establish a supply chain with an investment of $1-2 billion in the first phase as it seeks to expand in Asia. In the next phase, the U.S. firm will consider direct investment or expansion in Vietnam, Karthik Rammohan, vice president of global operations at Lam Research, told Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Wednesday. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) hosts a reception for Karthik Rammohan, vice president of global operations at Lam Researchin, Hanoi, March 20, 2024. Photo courtesy of the government's news portal. Seojin already has factories in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, and both house major multinational semiconductor and electronics manufacturers. Rammohan expressed interest in studying Vietnam's investment promotion policies and potential initiatives to support the development of a supply chain ecosystem for the semiconductor industry in the Southeast Asian country. For his part, Chinh stressed that both the U.S. and South Korea are comprehensive strategic partners of Vietnam, and science-technology and innovation are key pillars of their partnerships. Vietnam is looking to develop its high-tech and semiconductor industries with leading players like Lam Research by providing incentives and modern infrastructure, the government chief added. To realize this goal, Vietnam is training a workforce of 50,000-100,000 engineers by 2030. He said that major tech companies such as Samsung, Intel, and Foxconn are already present in Vietnam while many other leading global corporations are exploring opportunities and planning investments in the country. Chinh suggested both companies focus on research and development and technology transfer, helping develop a robust semiconductor ecosystem in Vietnam. The two companies should continue working with relevant Vietnamese authorities and localities to ensure a smooth and legal investment process, the Prime Minister said. In 2023, Lam Research booked revenue of $14.3 billion in 2023 and spent $1.7 billion on R&D, the firm said on its website. Mainland China accounted for 40% of its 2023 revenue, followed by Korea with 19%, Japan with 14% and Taiwan with 13%. Vietnam policies to remain the same despite presidents resignation: VinaCapital By Quang Minh Thu, March 21, 2024 | 3:56 pm GMT+7 The surprise resignation of Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on Wednesday after being in office for only a year will have no bearing on Vietnams economic development or other policies, asset management firm VinaCapital has commented. While this sort of news is unwelcome, we believe that it will have no effect whatsoever on Vietnams economic development strategy. This has remained remarkably consistent over the last two decades, irrespective of the individuals holding the key positions, the firm said. Former President Vo Van Thuong. Photo courtesy of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The Party Central Committee on Wednesday agreed to relieve Thuong from all Party and State positions due to violations and shortcomings, without offering further details. Although the specific reasons for Thuongs resignation have yet to be disclosed, there has been some speculation that it may be related to the ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has been in full swing for two years, VinaCapital said. The campaign has ensnared officials at all levels of government as well as several business executives who have allegedly violated the law. In a talk to The Investor last month, Adam Sitkoff, executive director of AmCham in Hanoi, noted a slowdown in the investment approval process as local officials were afraid of getting involved in a corruption investigation. VinaCapital said: As we have stated in the past, this campaign is ultimately positive for Vietnam as it demonstrates the governments commitment to tackling this issue and will help build greater confidence among citizens and foreign investors. The government has consistently pursued pro-business, investor-friendly policies over the years, and we have every reason to believe that will continue, it adds. VinaCapital said it maintains its views on the growth of the economy and market in 2024. While developments of this nature can understandably raise some questions among foreign investors, it did not believe that this should warrant serious concern. In an article published shortly after Thuongs resignation, Le Hong Hiep, a senior fellow and coordinator of the Vietnam Studies Program at the Singapore-based ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, said like his predecessor, Thuongs departure will not result in significant policy shifts. However, the resignation has raised concerns among investors. Many of these investors were drawn to Vietnam precisely because of its relatively stable political climate compared to other countries in the region. The West Lake area in Hanoi, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines. To counteract the political uncertainties and restore investors confidence in the countrys political and economic prospects, Hiep suggested the government improve the investment climate through streamlining bureaucratic procedures, enhance decision-making efficiency, and remove legal and regulatory barriers for investors. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Lets hear it for women who make change happen! March is Womens History Month and the 2024 theme is Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. I know March is nearly over but there are plenty of opportunities now and throughout the year to learn about women who have made a difference throughout history, as well as today. For example, the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery showcases womens achievements in its Recent Acquisitions exhibit with each of the 21 portraits either representing a woman or created by a woman artist. Its on view until Oct. 27. The Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) celebrates Black women entrepreneurs the entire month of March on the museums social media channels @NMAAHC. In New Orleans, The National WWII Museum recently debuted Our War Too: Women in Service, a groundbreaking special exhibit honoring the nearly 350,000 American women who answered the call to serve their country during World War II, serving in the womens component branches of the US Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps, and with the civilian Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), as well as the additional 73,000 women who served in the Army and the Navy Nurse Corps. In Philadelphia, celebrate revolutionary women at the Museum of the American Revolution. They include Deborah Sampson who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War and Phillis Wheatley, Americas first published B lack female poet. And in Hyde Park, N.Y., two miles from Franklin D. Roosevelts home, you can visit Eleanor Roosevelts home at Val-Kill, preserved as a National Historic Site. She is the only first lady with her own national park site. An active partner in FDRs political career, she became an important Democratic Party leader and humanitarian in her own right after his death. She was also an early champion of civil rights, traveled widely to see how FDRs policies impacted ordinary people, and broke precedent by holding her own news conferences and penning a widely syndicated newspaper column. The National Park Foundation notes 10 sites that celebrate womens history around the country, including the young immigrant women who worked the textile mills at Lowell National Historic Park in Massachusetts to the female shipyard workers at Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond, California. The Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in Keene, California, also honors the work of Dolores Huerta who was key in expanding the United Farm Workers of America. The Womens Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, N.Y., honors the beginning of the womens suffrage movement. Take the opportunity to chat up women you meet national park rangers, for example. They account for about a third of park rangers. When the organization was formed in 1916, few female rangers worked within its ranks. In case you are wondering, records show that the first paid female park ranger in the National Park Service was Esther Brazell at Wind Cave National Park. Brazell was hired as a park ranger in 1916, by her father Thomas W. Brazell. In Denver, visit the Center for Colorado Womens History that focuses on the experiences of women who helped build Colorado. (Kids are free!) Another good bet in Denver is the Molly Brown House Museum. Molly Brown famously became the unsinkable Molly Brown when she survived the sinking of the Titanic. What is less well- known is that she helped the survivors of that tragedy, spoke out for miners and womens rights, and worked on relief efforts in France during World War I. Seek out women who are outstanding in their fields. If you are in London, you can have sushi crafted by Miho Sato, the citys only female sushi master. The qualification can take up to a decade to achieve, Miho now heads up the sushi offering at The Aubrey, at the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park. Have a suit made at The Deck, the first womens- only tailoring house on Savile Row, long synonymous with fine mens tailoring. Founded by Daisy Knatchbull, The Deck specializes in heritage tailoring for the modern woman, from suits to bridal. Chat up women ski instructors or female wranglers at dude ranches. Better yet, take your favorite gal pals, sisters, daughters, nieces to a girlfriend getaway at a Dude Ranch. Bar W Guest Ranch in Montana, for example, offers a package for women to Cowgirl Up and take over the ranch; White Stallion Ranch in Arizona offers several Cactus Cowgirls packages each year. Sustainable luxury travel curator Up Norway invites travelers to explore Norway from a gender-equality perspective with its Tracing Norways Super Women journey. Norway is one of the worlds most gender equal countries, and this journey (available year-round) offers a historical and geographical adventure that introduces travelers to remarkable stories. Highlights throughout the 10- day journey include Scandinavias only Womens Museum; witchcraft and wildlife at the Steilneset Memorial; king crab fishing with storytelling about strong female characters who historically have served the same roles as men; Ekeberg Sculpture Park, acclaimed as one of the worlds top five sculpture parks, which features depictions of women and work by female artists, and more. Make sure to ask the women in your lives about their accomplishments. I bet there are lots of their stories you dont know. (For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kids Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kids Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.) There has never been a better time to establish a new College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in South Carolina. The human-animal bond is profound and unique, and with the changing face of animal agriculture, efforts to capture the new colleges mission and vision are more important than ever. Building the CVM team The College of Veterinary Medicine plans to welcome its first class of veterinarians in 2026 upon receiving provisional accreditation. Dr. Steven Marks, the Colleges founding dean, continues leading the team in hiring faculty and finalizing plans for state-of-the-art facilities and a rigorous curriculum. Our goals are to provide an exceptional student experience in a challenging, nurturing and values-driven environment to produce prepared veterinarians from Day One, Marks said. In the companion animal world, the human-animal bond has a very positive and important impact on the physical and mental health of their human families. In the large-animal and production animal world, there are still important impacts of the human-animal bond, but there are also important public health, food safety and economic impacts in the state. Breed joins Clemson as attending veterinarian Experienced veterinarian Matt Breed has joined Clemson University as attending veterinarian and director of the Office of Animal Resources and Godley-Snell Research Center. Need for SC veterinarians Clemson studied the need and found that a third of South Carolina counties have fewer than five veterinarians. Additionally, qualified candidates are applying to veterinary colleges, yet there needs to be more seats nationwide to accommodate students desire to become veterinarians. Clemson trustees OK property acquisition, veterinary school progresses The Clemson University Board of Trustees met virtually on Friday to approve the acquisition of an 87-acre tract of land immediately adjacent to the Clemson Experimental Forest and to approve appropriated funding by the South Carolina General Assembly for the continued development of the state's first College of Veterinary Medicine. According to Dr. Michael J. Neault, the South Carolina state veterinarian and Clemsons director of Livestock-Poultry Health, there is a particular need for large-animal practitioners. Right now, agribusiness is the largest industry in the state, and that field needs veterinarians, said Neault. Im excited about whats going on at the College, and this is a great opportunity for the state of South Carolina to train and retain its veterinarians. This is a win-win for the field of veterinary medicine and the state. Clemson trustees OK new College of Veterinary Medicine Clemson University is preparing to launch the first College of Veterinary Medicine in South Carolina. Impacting public health Veterinarians are key to monitoring the animal population for a variety of illnesses. When animals are healthy, communities thrive. The training of veterinary clinicians and scientists can impact public health in many ways, said Marks. Public health can be impacted by promoting and protecting the human-animal bond but can also be related to food safety and infectious disease management. Variety of career opportunities There are many career opportunities within the field of veterinary medicine. Students can work in private practices treating large and small animals and pursue a focus on clinical and scientific work. Veterinary medicine is a popular career, and we hope that will bring more people to the state, said Neault. From there, we hope people will stay and practice in the state. The animal-human bond is extremely important. Animals are our pets and companions, and they are livestock as well. There is this drive to care for the animals in our lives, and Clemsons College of Veterinary Medicine is a key piece of this equation. Journey is just beginning The College of Veterinary Medicine is uniquely positioned to support Clemsons land-grant mission. The land-grant mission is to teach and educate, conduct research, and provide service to the community, said Marks. The College of Veterinary Medicine will contribute in each of these areas. The Orangeburg County School District has entered into a partnership with the Charleston-based International African American Museum to provide students with access to the museum. The district and the IAAM leadership signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow all district fourth, eighth and eleventh-graders to visit the museum free of charge. The museum will cover all transportation and entry fee costs. In addition, the IAAM will provide district third, seventh and tenth-grade classrooms with in-classroom instruction twice a year. Orangeburg is only the second school district in the state to sign such an agreement with the IAAM. Charleston County is the other school district. The partnership will be fully rolled out in the fall semester. A signing ceremony was held at the district's headquarters in Orangeburg on Monday to make the partnership a reality. We are extremely excited to be able to continue to expand partnerships but also provide additional opportunities for our students, OCSD Superintendent Dr. Shawn Foster said during the signing ceremony. Foster said the district's mission is to ensure all students discover and develop their person, purpose and platform and that the partnership with the IAAM aligns with the district's strategic plan and mission. The first one is understanding who they are, Foster said. There is an old saying that you have to read history because oftentimes it defines who you are. The district hopes to expand the opportunity to all grades in the future, Foster said. The partnership will include educator professional development opportunities, such as teacher nights and educator panels. The IAAM is a museum of African-American history on the site where Gadsden's Wharf once stood. It was the disembarkation point for up to 40 percent of all American enslaved persons. The museum opened on June 27, 2023. It provides visitors with a history of how Africans and African Americans have shaped the world. We don't just focus on Charleston. We do have information about Orangeburg in our museum and about many other places throughout the state of South Carolina, IAAM Director of Education Dr. Felice Knight said. We tell a local story, a statewide story, a nationwide story and a global story. We are really excited to have your students come and join us for what we have found with the students who have come so far is truly a transformative experience, Knight said. The number one remark we have gotten so far is We just wish we had more time. Foster said the partnership came about when the district and members of its Classroom and Instruction team visited the museum, looked at the resources and made sure the standards were aligned with state standards. That is why we selected and they agreed to select the fourth and eight and eleventh grade, because those are the grade levels that teach South Carolina history, Foster said. This was not done haphazardly. IAAM Chief Learning and Engagement Officer Malika Pryor said the partnership will include a museum liaison with the district to plan school trips and expose students to content outside of the classroom walls. Following the signing ceremony, Foster encouraged everyone to visit. He has been to the museum twice. It is an experience, Foster said. One particularly poignant experience for him was reading the names of 2-year-olds who were slaves. While the museum teaches about transatlantic slavery, Foster said it also includes the story of domestic slavery. There were more slaves traded in the domestic slave trade in Orangeburg than anywhere in the country, Foster said. For us to have our kids to understand that impact and where these things happen, it is encouraging to know the significance this place has played in history." (TBTCO) - Ngay 1/4/2024, Kho bac Nha nuoc buoc sang nam thu 34 truong thanh va phat trien. Trong hon 30 nam qua, tu mot Kho bac truyen thong voi 4 nghiep vu chinh (ke toan thong ke, kho quy, giao dich va ke toan tong hop), Kho bac Nha nuoc a tro thanh kho bac ien tu, tao nhieu thuan loi cho khach hang trong giao dich. Trong tien trinh chuyen oi so hien nay, Kho bac Nha nuoc ang tiep tuc thuc hien nhieu cai cach, hien ai hoa e huong toi kho bac so vao nam 2030. Whatever Happened to Whats his name? by | 21/03/2024 Danny O'Neills recent Talking Point article about under-rated Everton players made me think about some of the many players we have signed under our current ownership who were most definitely over-rated. We all usually know what happens to players who become top players, even if they move on to other clubs. The poor players move on and seem to disappear off the radar. The one that has stuck in my mind was Sandro Ramirez, a Steve Walsh signing quite early in Moshiris reign and before we knew the disasters that would follow. I remember my expectations being high because he was so massively hyped. That was obviously before I saw him play. He had come through the ranks at Barcelona before moving on to Malaga. Everton triggered a 5.2M release clause to sign him, but the implication was that his real value was much more and the club had a steal. I remember walking to Goodison for the first home game after he had signed and seeing several young lads (2 actually) wearing dazzling new shirts with SANDRO emblazoned on the back. Expectations were high. Ex Barca, we could have paid 30M according to the hype. Then we saw him play. He started the home game with Stoke City, 12 August 2017. Oh dear. Although we won 1 - 0, he was largely anonymous. Now that I think about it, the second shirt might have been on Ramirez himself Article continues below video content In total, he made 8 appearances for Everton, mainly as a substitute, for no goals. It soon became patently obvious that he was nowhere near Premier League quality. Just 6 months later, he was gone in the January 2018 window to Sevilla on loan. It was around this time that I read that the Barcelona technical director had said that he had only been retained in the squad as the club was under a transfer embargo for breaking some rule or other. Everton really should have refunded for all the Sandro shirts (surely greater than 2). You dont expect to buy a shirt with a new top players name on the back, only to find that, 6 months later, hes gone. Then, 7 months after that, he was shipped to Real Sociedad, again on loan. A bit of a hot potato. By the start of the next season, he was at Real Valladolid on another loan for a year. Here, he scored his first goal for 2 years, having failed to score for his three previous clubs. The next season, he signed on a free transfer for Huesca on a 3-year deal. The hot potato had cooled somewhat, you may think but no, as 12 months later he signed a 1-year loan deal with Getafe. After another 12 months, he was on the move once more with a loan deal to Las Palmas in the Segunda Division. To be fair, he scored 7 goals in 21 appearances and Getafe were promoted to La Liga. This season however (he has remained there) he has made only 10 appearances out of 29 games for no goals, so it looks like he has lost his place. Sandro must be jinxed. He finds his level in the second division, gets a goal every three games and gets them promoted back to Liga 1 where he struggles and loses his place. So it looks like his level is the Spanish second division. Of course, if we should be relegated in the next two seasons. No, forget I said that! Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () How to get rid of these ads and support TW ToffeeWeb You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). This file photo taken on Dec. 17, 2022 shows Leo Varadkar (C) in Dublin, Ireland. The prime minister of the Republic of Ireland Leo Varadkar announced Wednesday that he will resign as party leader immediately and as Taoiseach as soon as his Fine Gael successor is selected. (The Houses of the Oireachtas/Handout via Xinhua) LONDON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The prime minister of the Republic of Ireland Leo Varadkar announced Wednesday that he will resign as party leader immediately and as Taoiseach as soon as his Fine Gael successor is selected. "One part of leadership is knowing when the time has come to pass on the baton to somebody else, and then having the courage to do it," Varadkar said in a statement. "That time is now. So I am resigning as president and leader of Fine Gael effective today and will resign as Taoiseach as soon as my successor is able to take up that office," he said, adding that his reasons for stepping down are "both personal and political." Varadkar said the current government "could be re-elected" but he did not feel he was the "best person for the job anymore". Varadkar, 45, has led the Fine Gael party since 2017 and served as Taoiseach twice. He currently leads the coalition government in Dublin along with Fianna Fail and the Green Party. In the 2020 Irish general election, Varadkar's party ended in the third place in terms of number of seats in Dail Eireann, the lower house of the country's parliament. His resignation announcement followed the Irish government's defeat in twin referendums earlier this month. As part of the coalition deal struck between the parties, Varadkar and Micheal Martin of Fianna Fail would hold the position of Taoiseach for two years each. In 2020, Martin was appointed Taoiseach with Varadkar serving as his Tanaiste (deputy prime minister), before the two swapped roles in 2022. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he was "very surprised" at Varadkar's resignation. "I want to take the opportunity to thank him sincerely. We got on very well. We had a strong personal relationship... which I think was important in terms of the continuity and stability of the government," Martin said. This file photo taken on Dec. 17, 2022 shows Leo Varadkar (C) in Dublin, Ireland. The prime minister of the Republic of Ireland Leo Varadkar announced Wednesday that he will resign as party leader immediately and as Taoiseach as soon as his Fine Gael successor is selected. (The Houses of the Oireachtas/Handout via Xinhua) The story of Wyomings housing woes cannot be boiled down to one statistic, map or issue. If it could, the Wyoming Community Development Authoritys recent housing needs assessment wouldnt need to be 300 pages long. That said, one thing is clear: Theres a need for more and better affordable housing, said Scott Hoversland, executive director of the development authority. Theres a current need for almost 50,000 homes or some types of modifications, he emphasized. Thats because more than 50,000 Wyoming households at or below 100% area median income are overcrowded, lack adequate facilities or plumbing or cost more than local workers can comfortably afford, Hoversland said. Additionally, Wyoming will need a larger, more diverse housing stock for the states changing employment landscape and to encourage future growth, the assessment found. That translates to a need for between 20,700 and 38,600 new units in Wyoming between 2021 and 2030 for a range of income levels, report authors said. At the same time, counties differ significantly in the challenges they face and the solutions theyll need to bolster housing at the local level. Break it down The report shows that certain housing struggles are nearly ubiquitous, while others vary greatly across Wyoming. It found certain industries do pay enough for their workers to afford housing, but in some cases, those industries are shrinking in Wyoming. Meanwhile, other industries dont pay enough for workers to afford a home without requiring them to overextend themselves financially. For example, only in Carbon County can people in the leisure and hospitality industry earn an average annual wage and still afford median rent prices without being cost burdened a term for when workers spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Every other countys rental prices have outgrown these employees ability to comfortably afford housing, even though the industry makes up around 14% of employment in the state. Considering the median sale prices for houses with a mortgage, interest and other home costs very few industries pay enough to allow single people to buy a house without being cost burdened in Wyoming. Meanwhile, the mining and natural resources industry which does have a median income high enough for employees to buy houses in most of the state saw a 31% decline in employment between 2010 and 2022. Lower-paying industries like education and health services are on the rise, but workers in those fields struggle to afford housing, according to the report. Beyond the overall trends, there are several key differences between counties. While most counties are suffering Johnson County arguably the most others must be doing great because median wages are keeping up with median rent growth. But the truth is more complicated, and comparing just median income and median rent doesnt paint the whole picture. Hoversland sent this report to legislators around the state, he said, and some said it didnt look like there was any issue. You can look at one specific thing, and it doesnt look like a problem, he said. You may have enough homes, but then you may have a lot of the service industry workers that are in your county, but they cant afford either the rent or the homeownership. For example, in Hot Springs County, median income is growing faster than median rent an indication that workers there can afford housing but other stats dont look so good. The countys poverty rate increased from 9% to 13% between 2010 and 2021, according to the report. Hot Springs is also projected to lose 6% of its population by 2030 while still needing between 40 and 204 new houses by then (depending on how many residences need to be replaced). And while these median rent and income growth statistics are helpful, they dont capture the experiences of those making far more and far less money. Just look at Albany County, where median income is reportedly keeping up with median rent. Its also home to the states largest gap between rental needs and infrastructure for people making less than $25,000 a year. And then theres Teton County, which is its own thing. Statistics may show a surplus of affordable housing for people earning less than $25,000 a year in Teton County, but the report states that this can be misleading given how many people making a low income relocated to live outside the county. Beyond that, 60% of the housing thats affordable for people making less than $35,000 a year is taken up by higher-income earners in Teton, Hoversland said. So even though theres more available, the higher income renters are taking those, he said. All this is to say, housing issues are complicated and affected by several factors in each area. Planning for housing in Wyomings future will likely be just as complicated. Next, stakeholders around Wyoming will create a strategic plan using this new data, Hoversland said. Forming over the next nine months, he said it will include the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, the Wyoming County Commissioners Association and the Wyoming Economic Development Authority, among others. And then Hoversland expects outcomes and suggestions to go to the Wyoming Legislature. The WCDA will also be publishing short, individual reports for each county and 99 communities around Wyoming in the near future. To see the broader, initial report, go here. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. In the latest barrage against the Bureau of Land Managements Rock Spring Resource Management Plan proposal, a land-use guideline for 3.6 million acres of public lands in the states south-west, Rep. Harriet Hageman introduced a bill that bluntly seeks to prohibit the agency from enacting its conservation-centric draft plan. If the bills passage is farfetched, its message, at least, is crystal clear: Wyomings congressional representatives have no intention of letting up in their fight against the Biden Administrations conservationist prerogatives. The Rock Springs plan has become an emblematic battle between conservation-minded citizens and commercial sectors eager to capitalize on the states abundant natural resources. But its also become a symbol for the troubled relationship between Wyoming and its federal partners, with whom attitudes have soured over disagreements on mineral developments and fossil energy policy. Hageman insists that the plan process has been skewed and predetermined from the start, and pointed out that the agencys preferred alternative received inordinate attention from federal staffers, while other options, including plans to promote more commercial development and additional uses, were summarily sidelined. The point was corroborated by Land Use Director for Sweetwater County, Eric Bingham, who testified before the committee and suggested that local interests could seek legal action to thwart the plan. I dont think there is a better example of [federal overreach] than what has been happening in Wyoming with the BLM Rock Springs District Office Resource Management Plan. It is very apparent to me that that particular documentis a test case.. and effort by the BLM to determine whether they can turn our BLM lands essentially into National Parks Service Lands, Hageman said during a House Federal Lands Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday. She expressed frustration that by implementing the drafts sweeping conservation standards the state would loose revenue from unrealized mineral development. Though her bill captures the issues prevailing antagonismechoed by a recent legislature attempt to spend more money to sue the federal governmentHagemans assertions of local stakeholder exclusion are contradicted by recent developments. Following intense blowback from the initial draft release, Gov. Gordon instituted a special Rock Springs task force, who were brought earnestly into the process following the BLMs decision in December to extend the public comment period beyond the original deadline. Then in January BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning met with the Governors task force in a meeting participants described as fruitful. The fact that [Director Stone-Manning] cared enough to come out here and meet with the governor and meet with us gives me a little bit of hope. Time will tell whether the BLM was really listening to us or not, but at least at this time I hold out some hope that they will pay attention, Jim Magagna, who represents stockgrowers on the task force, said at the time. And in a separate but related initiative, the states long dormant Resource Advisory Council in January reconvened a quorum that puts local voices at the center of federal land-use decisions in the Cowboy State. How much the plan ultimately reflects local perspectives remains to be seen. FOLLOWING a spate of robberies at its outlets across the country in just over a year and a half, Massy Stores yesterday replaced the firm responsible for its security. G4S Secure Solutions Trinidad Ltd yesterday assumed the role of security provider for Massy Stores, replacing Amalgamated Security Services Ltd. Kadeem Charles should be a dead man. On February 3, 2019, Charles, then just 20 years old, found himself looking down the wrong end of the barrel of an assault rifle, held by a masked assailant. Already shot in the back and unable to move his legs, the frightened Sea Lots-born youngster closed his eyes and silently called out for Jesus Christ. An elderly man visiting Trinidad from Canada has been murdered in his familys home by intruders. The body of Hilton Smith, 75, was found on Friday on a bed. His mouth was gagged, and his feet and hands tied. Last Tuesday, 17 prison officers and six inmates were injured at the Port of Spain prison. Social media had described the incident as a riot, but when contacted by the Express, Commissioner of Prisons Deopersad Ramoutar downplayed the event, stating in a media release later that it was all in a days work for the prison officers who are at times, undervalued, and unappreciated. Everyones injuries were said to be minor, although all the officers involved were still sent on sick leave. The day after the country learned the cause of death for an LGBTQ+ Owasso sophomore who had been bullied, President Joe Biden said: Nex Benedict, a kid who just wanted to be accepted, should still be here with us today. The 16-year-old died Feb. 8, one day after being involved in a fight at Owasso High School. Jill and I are heartbroken by the recent loss of Nex Benedict, Biden said in a statement Thursday. Every young person deserves to have the fundamental right and freedom to be who they are, and feel safe and supported at school and in their communities. A summary report of the autopsy for Benedict, who used masculine or gender-neutral pronouns, states a fatal combination of antihistamines and antidepressants was found in their system. Nonbinary and transgender people are some of the bravest Americans I know, Bidens statement reads. But nobody should have to be brave just to be themselves. In memory of Nex, we must all recommit to our work to end discrimination and address the suicide crisis impacting too many nonbinary and transgender children. In a police interview at the hospital after the fight, Benedict said a group of freshmen girls had been antagonizing Benedict over a period of weeks. Benedict said they did not report the bullying to any teachers or administrators, only a parent, because I didnt really see the point of it. Biden in his statement said no one should face the kind of bullying Benedict experienced, stressing the importance of taking reports about bullies seriously. To all LGBTQI+ Americans for whom this tragedy feels so personal, know this: I will always have your back, Biden said. To LGBTQI+ young people across the country you are loved exactly as you are. A statement released to media Thursday by the familys attorney says the Benedicts continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. The Benedicts continue to call on our schools, administrators, lawmakers, and communities to come together to prevent any other family from having to suffer through the heartache now borne by Nexs loved ones, the statement reads. Reforms creating school environments that are built upon the pillars of respect, inclusion and grace, and aim to eliminate bullying and hate, are the types of change that all involved should be able to rally behind. Nicole McAfee, executive director of Freedom Oklahoma, said the summary report of Benedicts autopsy offers only limited insight into the reason for the students death. We have said from the beginning that whether Nex died as a result of the physical or emotional harm, our elected officials, our appointed State Board of Education, Owasso High School, and all of us failed Nex in allowing for policies and rhetoric that created a regularly hostile environment. McAfee called out those in power who are using their platforms to advance anti-trans rhetoric. We reaffirm our calls for (State) Superintendent Ryan Walters, state library advisory board member Chaya Raichik who also operates the anti-2SLGBTQ hate account LibsOfTikTok and any other policymaker who has and continues to contribute to Oklahomas culture of anti-trans bigotry to step down immediately, McAfee said. A statement from Walters, sent Thursday to the Tulsa World, reads: The loss of our student in Owasso is tragic for the family, the community, and our state. The LGBTQ groups pushing a false narrative are one of the biggest threats to our democracy and I remain, more than ever, committed to never backing down to a woke mob. More than 100 people, including some area high-schoolers, gathered Thursday at the Oklahoma Capitol to express their grief for Benedict and the messaging surrounding their death. We have leaders in here that never got out of high school, said Kris Williams, a program developer at Diversity Center of Oklahoma, gesturing toward the Capitol. They are literally gaining their popularity from our deaths. Williams said the group wanted to bring awareness that were not being represented appropriately. They dont know how resilient we are. They dont know how wonderful and bright and talented we are. They dont open their eyes because they dont actually understand what the word woke means, said Williams. My people love me. The rural areas of Oklahoma have much more accepting people than they do hateful people. Reps. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, and Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, are among eight Oklahoma House members who released a statement Thursday about Benedicts death, calling it a harsh reminder of the power that words have. As public officials and policy makers, we have a sacred obligation to ensure that as we do the work of the people, we do so with respect and dignity, the statement reads. Every human life is precious and created in the image of God regardless of who they are or who they love. We call on all Oklahomans to join us in our commitment to being respectful and deliberate in our language. Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, released a statement, saying: I believe Nex Benedicts death is a direct result of a society and government that consistently pushes back and restricts their identity and those of other LGBTQ+ individuals. To LGBTQ+ people grappling with this tragedy, we see you and we are doing everything we can to stop the harmful legislation and policies that attack your existence. World Capitol Bureau reporter Melissa Jacques contributed to this story. March and rally for Nex Benedict at Oklahoma Capitol on March 14, 2024 031524-tul-nws-nexreax-p12 031524-tul-nws-nexreax-p2 031524-tul-nws-nexreax-p3 031524-tul-nws-nexreax-p6 031524-tul-nws-nexreax-p8 031524-tul-nws-nexreax-p9 031524-tul-nws-nexreax-p11 Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now HIDE VERTICAL GALLERY ASSET TITLES The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. ISLAMABAD, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces conducted an operation on Wednesday night and killed a terrorist and injured two others in the country's southwest Balochistan province, the military said on Thursday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that security forces conducted the intelligence-based operation in Panjgur district of Balochistan. The ISPR said that the troops effectively engaged the terrorists' location during the operation and killed a wanted terrorist named Chakar Liaquat besides leaving two others wounded. "Weapon and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities," said the ISPR. According to the statement, security forces launched a clearance operation to eliminate any other terrorists in the area. Arizona stakeholders are calling for Congress to fully fund the installation of non-intrusive inspection technology at U.S. ports of entry, following a national report that a lack of Congressional funding has left critical scanning machines sitting unused in warehouses. This week U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders, urging them to fully fund installation of fentanyl scanners and other non-intrusive technology, which allow the agency to quickly x-ray vehicles without impeding the flow of commerce and traffic across the border. Fentanyl scanners, which are in place at ports of entry in Nogales, are critical to stopping dangerous fentanyl from entering our country through our ports of entry, wrote Grijalva, a Tucson Democrat. However, recent reports indicating that fentanyl scanners are sitting unused in warehouses because Congress has not appropriated funding to install them is incredibly troublesome and must be immediately addressed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not yet responded to the Arizona Daily Stars inquiry about whether there is any unused inspection equipment waiting for installation at Arizona ports of entry. Grijalva is the latest Arizona official to issue such a call, in the wake of NBC News reporting that some ports of entry have uninstalled equipment due to the lack of funds. We do have technology thats in the warehouse that has been tested, CBP Commissioner Troy Miller told NBC News, during a tour of the Mariposa port in Nogales earlier this month. But we need approximately $300 million (to) actually put the technology in the ground. Its extremely frustrating. In a Monday visit to Nogales with Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, state Attorney General Kris Mayes called out extremists in Congress for blocking the failed bipartisan border-security package in early February, which would have funded tools to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. Under pressure from former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans, GOP senators voted to kill the bipartisan legislation, co-authored by Sen. Krysten Sinema, I-Arizona. Half of the fentanyl seized in the U.S. in recent years was interdicted in Arizona, Mayes wrote in a March 7 letter to Arizonas Congressional delegation urging funding to install scanning equipment. Because of the actions of the Mexican drug cartels, Arizona now serves as the fentanyl funnel for the rest of the nation, the Democratic attorney general said. This devastating public health crisis has wrecked communities, harmed families, and pushed drug overdose deaths to astronomical heights. It is ridiculous that technology that would help prevent the flow of this drug into our country sits unused because of Congressional inaction. About 90% of drugs seized nationally by CBP are discovered at the ports of entry, rather than by border agents between ports of entry, according to CBP. So far, in fiscal year 2024, which began in October, CBP has seized more than 7,000 pounds of fentanyl; 6,000 pounds of that was seized by officers at the ports of entry. CBP has stopped more fentanyl in the last two years than in the previous five years combined, and we continue to optimize our intelligence and field operations to stop these deadly substances from reaching American communities, according to a February CBP statement. Yet CBP is only able to scan a fraction of personal and commercial vehicles that enter the U.S. at ports. Miller told NBC News that less than 5% of personal vehicles entering the U.S. are scanned, and 20% of commercial vehicles. Hed like to raise those figures to 40% and 70%, respectively. Nogales Mariposa and DeConcini ports of entry interdict more fentanyl than any other port in the nation, said Jaime Chamberlain, board chairman for the Greater Nogales and Santa Cruz County Port Authority. Providing adequate resources, and the latest technology, at ports of entry is critical, he said. Surges in migrant arrivals between ports of entry have led to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reassigning port officers to assist Border Patrol agents with processing migrants, he said. This week, Gallego, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, and other Arizona legislators have also been pressing legislators to approve additional Shelter and Services Program funding, which would prevent the unsheltered street releases of legally processed migrants, expected to begin in Tucson on April 1. Shifting resources from the ports into the field is short-sighted and detrimental to national security, Chamberlain said. How can we continue with this uncertainty? he said. Were always waiting for the ax to fall, or in this case, a decision to come from DHS to pull men and women in blue from Customs away, to give them to Border Patrol. And for what? For processing (migrants), not for patrol. While Chamberlain said hes not aware of non-intrusive inspection equipment thats sitting uninstalled in Arizona ports of entry, this type of equipment working in concert with highly-trained human and canine inspectors is critical for the countrys fight against fentanyl smuggling, he said. This is one of the reasons why were saying that DHSs decision to pull people away from the ports of entry just doesnt make sense at this critical time, when were being flooded with (fentanyl), he said. Affirm Wealth Advisors: Affirm Wealth Advisors, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. in Peoria, Tucson and Sierra Vista, has earned the Ameriprise Client Experience Award for 2023. Award recipients earned an overall client satisfaction rating equal to or greater than 4.9 out of 5.0 and maintained stellar business results. The award represents an elite group of Ameriprise advisors recognized as leaders for their commitment to making a difference in the lives of their clients. Gordley Group: Tucson-based marketing firm Gordley Group brought home a total of five awards during the 2024 Annual American Advertising Federation (AAF) Tucson ADDY Celebration, the most received by any one agency this year. The agency received two Gold awards and three Silver awards. Gordley received two Gold ADDYs for its 2023 interactive holiday card in the categories of Augmented Reality and Direct Marketing & Specialty Advertising. Gordley was awarded two Silver ADDYs for its I will be campaign with Pima Community College (PCC) in the Integrated Branding Content and Out-of-Home categories. A third Silver was awarded to the firm in the Brand Elements category for creating Oro Valleys Path Forward general plan branding for the Town of Oro Valley. True Ranch Collection: True Ranch Collection announced that two of its historic southern Arizona dude ranches have been named among the countrys best by the USA Today 10Best Readers Choice Awards. White Stallion Ranch placed second, and Rancho de la Osa placed ninth in this years Best Dude Ranch contest. The two ranches were nominated to a selection of 20 finalists by a panel of USA Today editors and other travel experts, then voted on by visitors to the 10Best website over four weeks. White Stallion Ranch is a historic dude ranch on the west side of Tucson, bordering Saguaro National Park. It has been owned and operated by the True family for more than 55 years and offers a year-round, family-friendly dude ranch experience. True family member Russell True founded Ranch Preservation Holdings, LLC, with partner Jaye Wells to preserve and manage additional historic dude ranches within the True Ranch Collection, including Rancho de la Osa. Located in Sasabe, along the U.S.-Mexico border and adjacent to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Rancho de la Osa features a Spanish-style Hacienda and is home to the longest continually operated building in Arizona, built in 1722 by Jesuit missionaries and now the ranchs Cantina. The Republican-backed bill aiming to limit shared governance at public universities is headed to the full Arizona Senate after narrowly passing through a committee Wednesday. The Senate Education Committee advanced the bill on a vote of 4-3. According to Rep. Travis Grantham of Gilbert, University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins, who has not made a public statement about the proposal, said he had no opposition to the bill, HB 2735. The bill, cosponsored by Grantham and David Livingston of Peoria, would require the Arizona Board of Regents and university presidents to consult rather than share responsibility with faculty regarding educational and personnel matters. Grantham told the Education Committee that he met with Robbins in the last couple of weeks to let him know this isnt an attack on the university or the faculty. Not everyone sees it that way, however. Proponents of shared governance say it would destroy governing bodies such as the UAs Faculty Senate. Mark Stegeman, a professor in the UA Eller College of Management and the parliamentarian for the Faculty Senate, drove two hours to speak to the committee for around 10 minutes. There have been well publicized administrative issues at the UA recently, he told the senators. None of them have anything to do with the Faculty Senate. Because the Faculty Senate doesnt make any budgetary decisions it only discusses and approves academic program changes it should not be blamed or punished for the universitys financial crisis, Stegeman said. The bill would force the (Faculty) Senate to lose those responsibilities and force them to return those to the (UA) administration, he said. It removes a tiny amount of authority to the (Faculty) Senate and gives it back to the administration. In fact, Stegeman said, the Faculty Senate hasnt actually blocked a proposed program in the last five years. The ability to block provides useful public discussion and useful public record, he said. He said that is important because the university administration is a large, substantially unsupervised, bureaucracy. Sen. Justine Wadsack, a Tucson-area Republican, asked Stegeman about the political ideology of the Faculty Senate. He responded that there was no political litmus test for being in the Faculty Senate and issues relating to that rarely come up in the (Faculty) Senate. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has released documentation indicating that an Owasso student died by suicide the day after a fight at the high school. Nex Benedict, 16, who identified as nonbinary and used gender-neutral pronouns, died Feb. 8, one day after being involved in a fight at Owasso High School, police say. The summary report provided Wednesday by the state medical examiner states that Benedict took a fatal combination of two drugs commonly known as Benadryl and Prozac. A full autopsy report, including toxicology results, has yet to be released. Benedicts death became a rallying cry for LGBTQ+ allies after allegations surfaced in mid-February that the Owasso sophomore was fatally injured when beaten by a group of bullies. The Owasso Police Department released video footage from a hallway at the high school, as well as a police interview at the hospital, showing that Benedict was not injured fatally in the fight. When interviewed by a school resource officer, Benedict said the group of freshmen girls had been antagonizing Benedict over a period of weeks. Benedict did not report the bullying to any teachers or administrators, Benedict said, because they had no hope of effecting change. I didnt really see the point of it, Benedict told the officer. An Owasso school resource officer told Benedict in the hospital that Benedict would be subject to discipline for assault because they had admitted to pouring water on the bullies, starting the fight. From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many indications that this death was the result of suicide, Owasso Police Lt. Nick Boatman said Wednesday in an emailed statement. However, investigators did not wish to confirm that information without the final results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office. The investigation into Benedicts death remains open, Boatman said, with findings being presented to the district attorney. The Owasso Police Department would like to take this moment to inform anyone in crisis or contemplating suicide of the Oklahoma Mental Health Lifeline, just call or text 988, the Police Department said in a Facebook post. Owasso Public Schools also mentioned the 988 crisis hotline in a statement from Superintendent Margaret Coates. The district said Wednesday that counseling would be available for students and staff. As we mourn together, OPS remains focused on the safety and well-being of our students and staff, Coates statement reads. Lets continue to lean on each other in the days ahead. A national survey last year by the Trevor Project found that 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth. The Trevor Project provides confidential counseling and 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth: Text START to 678-678 or go to thetrevorproject.org/get-help. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. PHOENIX A Senate panel voted Thursday to shut the public out of the key business of the state agency tasked with finding new water for Arizona. House Bill 2014 authorizes the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to enter agreements to facilitate construction of a project to bring water from outside the state into Arizona. It also empowers the agency to negotiate deals with others to agree to purchase the water once it becomes available. And it exempts all communications and information gathered about water augmentation from being subject to the states Public Records Law. The only time anyone could get information would be on the consent of the authority. That secrecy is necessary for the authority to accomplish its goal of supplementing Arizonas water supply, Chelsea McGuire, an assistant director of the agency, told the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water. The GOP-led committee approved the bill on a 4-3 party-line vote Thursday, sending it to the full Senate. Arizona Sierra Club leader Sandy Bahr told lawmakers, You should say no to this confidentiality. It will guarantee more sweetheart deals with no opportunity for public review until it is too late to stop the runaway train, Bahr said. And it can potentially encumber millions of taxpayer dollars. Lawmakers previously allocated $1 billion over three years for the water authority, known as WIFA. But Gov. Katie Hobbs, citing the states budget deficit, has proposed reducing this years allocation from $333 million to just $33 million. McGuire acknowledged the fiscal issues. Its not the best year for an ambitious appropriations act, as Im sure everybody is aware, she said. And so what we were tasked with was giving the Legislature a non-monetary pathways for showing tangible support for the mission of bringing a new, sustainable water supply to a drought-stricken state thats one of the fastest growing in the nation. One form that could take is borrowing money for construction costs which could run into the billions of dollars with repayment pledged from future revenues. That financing structure could include off takers, essentially cities and water companies that would pledge to buy a certain amount of the water when it becomes available. The agency wants to do that without having to disclose to the public what deals it is negotiating. That alarms Bahr, president of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club. She reminded lawmakers of a mess left the last time WIFA tried to negotiate a behind-closed-doors deal. The Ducey administration tried to rush through a deal with IDE Technologies via WIFA, Bahr said. That refers to former Gov. Doug Duceys efforts to have a desalination plant built on the Sea of Cortez in Mexico in order to pump water north to Arizona. He had hoped to have a deal inked before he left office in January 2023. After behind-the-scenes talks with Israel firm IDE about terms to build a $5.5 billion desalination plant in Mexico, the WIFA board agreed to begin negotiations strictly with IDE. Some of the people involved in those talks, including state lawmakers, signed non-disclosure agreements. It all blew up when word got out. McGuire told Capitol Media Services after the meeting that it is not the intent to shield the entire process from the public. What needs secrecy, she said, are talks with those with whom WIFA is negotiating to buy future water. She compared it to the procurement process in which the state seeks sealed bids. In those cases, the government wants the lowest cost. By contrast, any deal to sell water would be looking to bring in as much money as possible. When youve got a bunch of people bidding for a contract, their bid, their ability to pay, their needs, those arent subject to public record until the end of the process, McGuire said. Thats what were trying to do. But she conceded thats not whats in the measure as approved Thursday. The language does not reflect that very well, McGuire said, calling the wording inartful. She said there will be an effort to narrow its scope when the measure now goes to the full Senate. That still raises the question of whether there could be a repeat of what happened with IDE. Its a fair question, she said. As for what happened previously with non-disclosure agreements, That was IDE going out and asking the people that they were talking to to sign those non-disclosure agreements, McGuire said. She said thats part of the reason the board ultimately decided it didnt have enough information about the company and its plan to sign on the dotted line. McGuire also said the board has since crafted a policy in response to what happened to very clearly delineate that public process and very clearly state that there is no avenue for an IDE-like non-solicited proposal to come before us. That wasnt the way we wanted that to happen, she said. We not only want to make it clear to proposers what were asking for, but we want to make it clear to the public what were asking for. Because, otherwise, were just going to run into more problems than are worth solving. Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson, said she could not support the legislation with the current language that exempts various records from the Public Records Law. These are public funds, she said. Its a public entity. We would like to keep open as much disclosure and public engagement as possible. That includes providing relevant information from the agency to legislators as well, she said. Public disclosure aside, Sundareshan said she appreciates WIFA for trying to do more with what is available given the current budget situation. When Mabelle Kennedy came to Oklahoma in a covered wagon with her parents and three siblings, her grandmother was sure the family would be killed by outlaws or scalped by Indians. Years later, the woman who became known as "the grand dame of Oklahoma politics" and who served in many political and governmental roles, told a reporter that period's often-rumored Indian Territory dangers remained just rumors. "It was a delightful trip," she said. The 1891 trip was made in two covered wagons by the family of five from near Kansas City to the Enid area, where they disliked the wind and blowing sand, and eventually to Ralston where they settled -- long before her political career began. "We bought produce from farmers along the way and camped by streams. It was a picnic to me all the way and I was sorry when it was over," she told a reporter. While living in Ralston, which she said was "as big as any town in Oklahoma at that time," Kennedy returned to Missouri for schooling. It was on one of her trips home from Oakland College that she met her future husband, Edmund Kennedy, a young Kansas City banker. He had come to Oklahoma for a visit. After their marriage, they moved to Pawhuska, where he bought the National Bank of Commerce in 1909. She spent much of her time raising five children until her husband died in 1936, leaving her the bank and five Osage County ranches. "I had never done anything about business in any way," she said. "I told myself 'I'm not going to let this go down under me' " and enrolled in banking and ranch management courses so she would be more capable of handling business. She also got more involved in politics. She served as mayor of Pawhuska, delegate to four national Democratic conventions, Democratic national committeewoman from Oklahoma, assistant treasurer of the United States and on a goodwill commission to Brazil -- a position that carried the rank of ambassador. Kennedy had met Harry Truman at one of the political conventions, was impressed by him and joined his "Whistle Stop" campaign when he was a candidate for his own term as president after serving out the unexpired term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She later served on Truman's inaugural committee and he ap pointed her as assistant secretary of the treasury, the second woman to hold such a position. He later appointed her to the goodwill commission to Brazil, a job she accepted with her usual joking humor: "If I made a failure of it, I was not well-known enough that it would make a difference." In 1980, Kennedy was chosen by Gov. George Nigh to receive the fourth annual Pioneer Woman Award. Nigh said she was a person who was "highly deserving and a natural recipient because of her true pioneer heritage and lifelong civic involvement." In 1974, she had been honored with a "Mabelle Kennedy" day in Oklahoma. Kennedy told a reporter in 1971 that she'd had some heart problems. "It's bound to get out of balance once in a while," she said about her health. She said the first flare-up came 30 years earlier when her doctor told her she should relax. "I told him to relax," she said, adding "you needn't worry about me; they don't have any wings up there to fit me anyway." She also explained the unusual spelling of her name. She said she was named May Belle after two aunts but when she started to school, she couldn't make the "y" correctly. Her mother told her that a child should have a voice in how he or she is named and added, "From now on, you are Mabelle." She was "deeply touched" in 1975 when a new highway that replaced a 32-mile stretch of U.S. 60 known as "Lizard Lane" was named the "Mabelle Kennedy Highway." It was the first stretch of highway in Oklahoma to be named for a woman. The opening of the new highway climaxed a 23-year fight to improve the road between Ponca City and Pawhuska. "I prayed to live long enough to see this highway finished," Kennedy said at its opening. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to kick off tomorrow. I'm going to live to enjoy it." She died six years later, at the age of 93. Illustration research by Rachele Vaughan. Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A Tulsa city councilor said Wednesday he has yet to determine whether he will move forward with a proposed ordinance that would prohibit the use of city funds to house, accommodate or provide public benefits to illegal immigrants. The statement from Jayme Fowler, also a Tulsa mayoral candidate, comes a week after his colleagues on the City Council voted to reject the proposal and just days after he vowed to reintroduce the ordinance. We have so many opportunities, Fowler said of his work on the council. Weve got other issues to address. The latest version of the proposed ordinance would have added asylum seekers to the definition of illegal immigrants and imposed a fine of up to $5,500 for individuals or organizations that failed to comply with the ordinance. The proposed ordinance also would have required recipients of grants from the city to maintain and make readily accessible to the city their ledgers documenting the allocation and expenditure of funds. Nonprofits or other nongovernmental organizations that failed to comply with the ordinance would have been disqualified from receiving city funding for a minimum of three years. City employees and contractors who violated the ordinance would have been terminated and could not have worked for the city again for a minimum of 10 years. Fowler has said his proposed ordinance was not intended to prohibit illegal immigrants from accessing public safety services or other benefits protected under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Fowler has argued that his proposal is a prudent measure intended to ensure that Tulsa does not end up like Denver or New York City, which have had to spend millions of dollars to handle waves of illegal immigrants, many of whom were sent by bus from Texas. Among his concerns, Fowler told councilors last month, was that busloads of illegal immigrants arriving in the city would overwhelm Tulsas capacity for assistance. However, Gov. Kevin Stitt and Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts office told Fox 23 in Tulsa this week that they knew of no plans to send migrants to Tulsa. Fowler on Wednesday said his remarks had been misunderstood and that he was not speaking specifically about the migrants being bused to major cities by the state of Texas. That was meant really to be an example of our capacity of being able to handle things, Fowler said. Just to give some scope and scale to an issue that is all that was meant. Hypothetically, if we had two busloads of immigrants brought into our city, that will simply exhaust our emergency shelter. In an unusual move, a majority of city councilors voted last week to suspend City Charter and City Council rules to vote on the measure after its first reading. Proposed ordinances typically are voted on after a second reading. The councilors action caught Fowler by surprise, prompting an extended and sometimes heated exchange among him and several of his council colleagues. I think it was just kind of a real cheap shot, quite frankly, Fowler said at the time. A low blow. On Wednesday, he made clear that the spat was history. My respect for my fellow councilors, the mayor, is just that a deep and professional respect, Fowler said. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. The Tulsa-based Terence Crutcher Foundation is one of 279 nonprofits selected to receive a $2 million grant, foundation officials announced this week. A total of $640 million was awarded from Yield Giving, a benevolence project started by billionaire philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott. Of the total awarded, some 361 small nonprofits received either $2 million or $1 million grants. Its just a beautiful, beautiful feeling, said Tiffany Crutcher, founder and executive director of the Tulsa foundation. She said the foundation submitted an application as part of an open call launched in March 2023. Yield Giving, which netted more than 6,300 applications, planned initially to give out 250 awards of $1 million each. But it was later decided to expand the pool and the amount. Crutcher said she didnt know the foundation was receiving $2 million until this week. We were in disbelief in shock, really, said Crutcher, whose foundation is named for her late twin brother, who was fatally shot by a Tulsa police officer in 2016. My team was there when we got the news, she said. There were a lot of tears and hugs. Tears of joy. I told them it was the first time in a very long time Ive felt so seen and valued. Crutcher said the $2 million gift comes with no restrictions on use but that she expects most if not all of it will go toward one project the foundations restoration of the North Pointe Shopping Center, which is part of its larger mission to help revitalize north Tulsa and the Black Wall Street area. The foundation bought the shopping center property, located on the northeast corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Pine Street, over a year ago for $1.7 million after it sat in disrepair for several years. MacKenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, so far has given away $16.5 billion from the fortune she came into from the couples divorce. The donations announced this week are more than double what Scott initially had pledged to give away through the application process. Nearly 2,000 nonprofits have received gifts through Scotts Yield Giving since she began her philanthropy in 2019. Previously, Scott and her team researched and selected organizations without an application process. The $2 million recipients included 279 nonprofits, while 82 organizations in a second tier received $1 million each. Crutcher said its expected that at least $15 million will be needed to renovate the shopping center. We hope this gift can be a catalyst and help bring in more support, Crutcher said. Among needed improvements are a new roof and new heating and air systems. She said the idea is for the center to combine a variety of services at one location, including food and retail, mental health services and co-working spaces. Now in its seventh year, the Terence Crutcher Foundations range of initiatives has grown to include several that support youth. That includes the RISE program, a partnership with the USA BMX Foundation that connects north Tulsa youth with athletes and mentors. More recently, the foundation started the Black Mental Health Alliance and expects to announce plans related to it soon. Crutcher said her parents, who helped start the foundation to honor their son, deserve much of the credit. Her late mother, who died from COVID-19 in 2021, would be so proud of whats happening and to know that we arent giving up the fight, she said. Crutchers father, the Rev. Joey Crutcher, continues to raise her late brothers son, Terence Jr., who is now 11, she said. The foundations work includes advocating for policy changes, honoring the legacy of Black Tulsans, including those affected by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and strengthening the community through leadership and economic development. Yield Giving seeks to support community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources. For more information, go to terencecrutcherfoundation.org and yieldgiving.com. <&rule> Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY State lawmakers citing the need for government transparency have chimed in after it was reported that District Attorney Jason Hicks maligned the attorney general for sharing his views during a highly publicized death-penalty case. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has been criticized by some state prosecutors for taking the position that the death-penalty conviction of Richard Glossip should be set aside. Glossip was first convicted in connection with the death of his employer, Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese, in January 1997. The case has been back and forth in court, but jurors in 2004 determined that Glossip should be sentenced to death after concluding that he paid to have Van Treese murdered. Last year, Drummond told the U.S. Supreme Court that the 2004 verdict should be set aside because a key witness against Glossip gave false testimony that was not corrected by the prosecution. The Supreme Court in January agreed to give new consideration to the case. Months ago, state Reps. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, and Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, asked to see public records and communications from state district attorneys related to the Glossip appeal. In a press release Wednesday, Humphrey said he and McDugle filed the records request and a lawsuit to promote transparency in government. These records show that some district attorneys are more interested in protecting their own than acknowledging how problems in the Glossip investigation undermined the integrity of his death sentence, Humphrey wrote. The public deserves to know if district attorneys illegally opposed Oklahomas chief law enforcement officer in the Richard Glossip case. We will continue our pursuit for transparency. District attorneys are officials who wield enormous power in our justice system, and they should be held to the highest standards. McDugle has said he believes that members of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council had improper communications with the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board prior to Glossips clemency hearing in April 2023. Hicks, a prosecutor in south-central Oklahoma who serves on the District Attorneys Council, released texts and emails only recently, after Humphrey and McDugle filed a public records lawsuit. According to The Oklahoman reporter Nolan Clay, the communications revealed that district attorneys referred to Drummond as a douche and complained among themselves that the attorney general had turned Glossips clemency hearing into a circus and that Drummond needs to stick to his job, not looking at his run for governor. It is time to end the shiny politicians who have no spine and get people who are willing to fight for justice into the offices that can change things for victims and law enforcement, Hicks wrote in one exchange. Glossip, 61, was not recommended for clemency because the Parole Board split 2-2 after one member recused. He is suing for another clemency hearing. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Wednesday urged the Legislature to enact a law similar to a disputed Texas statute that allows state and local law officers to arrest people for being in the state without proper documentation. Shortly afterward, Speaker of the House Charles McCall said he will oblige. The Supreme Court may well be poised to set new precedent allowing state law enforcement to act, Drummond said in a press release. If and when that day comes, I want Oklahoma to be prepared with a robust law that empowers local law enforcement. Drummond was referring to a U.S. Supreme Court decision announced Tuesday lifting its enforcement hold on the Texas law while challenges in lower courts continue. Hours later, however, a divided three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new stay while it hears arguments in the case. Oklahoma is a law and order state, and should be the last place illegal immigrants want to settle when they cross over the border, McCall said in a written statement. For those reasons, and in light of recent court rulings regarding Senate Bill 4 out of Texas, I am immediately introducing legislation to secure the borders of Oklahoma in the same fashion as our neighbors to the south. Iowa passed similar legislation on Tuesday, and a few other states reportedly are considering it. The Oklahoma Legislature is out the remainder of the week and doesnt seem to have any such legislation in play. One bill passed by the House last week would bar illegal immigrants from some taxpayer-supported services. In recent years, Oklahomas highest-profile issue with immigration has involved the smuggling of laborers into the state to work on marijuana farms. It is unclear how many were undocumented. Public safety is my paramount concern, Drummond said. Oklahoma state, county and local law enforcement know all too well the impact of the nations porous border. The Biden administration has failed to secure our border, leaving us to suffer the consequences. If the federal government wont do its job, then it is imperative that Oklahoma be allowed to protect our citizens. Historically, immigration has been a federal matter, but some border states have attempted, off and on for decades, to enforce their own laws when they think the national government is not doing the job. In November, Texas passed legislation creating a misdemeanor for first offense and felony thereafter for people crossing into the U.S. at other than a legal port of entry. Republicans and some Democrats say the Biden administration is allowing widespread misuse of asylum claims to essentially open the southern U.S. border to all comers. The administration blames Congress, and especially congressional Republicans in recent weeks, for failing to enact meaningful immigration reform over the past three decades. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. PARIS/NANCHANG, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Fine lines of blue and red shaped an Eiffel Tower on the surface of a pure and thin porcelain cup, integrating elements with distinctive features from both China and France. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, these types of cups were packaged into exquisite gift boxes with French cosmetics. This gift box recently attracted the attention of Europe as soon as it was unveiled at an exhibition of porcelain artworks from Jingdezhen, east China's Jiangxi Province, at the China Cultural Center in Paris. As a witness and promoter of the friendship between France and China, L'Oreal Paris collaborated with Jingdezhen Longzhuge, a century-old porcelain brand, to launch the "Heart-to-Heart, Word-of-Mouth" 60th Anniversary Limited Gift Box, which includes a French red lipstick and a pair of porcelain cups. Alexis Perakis-Valat, president of the L'Oreal Consumer Products Division, told Xinhua that this collaboration embodies the diverse cultural craftsmanship of both nations, transcending borders, cultures and time. The collision of traditional Chinese art and French fashion colors reveals to the public the beauty of cultural diversity. In the Yishan Industrial Zone in Jingdezhen, white porcelain cups with the Longzhuge pattern on the bottom were produced on the production lines. This historically significant pattern has new connotations and has become an essential symbol of Jingdezhen's cultural and creative products. In history, Longzhuge was one of the important back stamps for Jingdezhen's exports. Emblazoned with the logos of European royal families or social groups, etc., various types of armorial porcelain were made by craftsmen in Jingdezhen during the Ming and Qing dynasties to meet the requirements of overseas clients, including the French royal courts. "Jingdezhen has long played the role of 'cultural exchange envoy' between China and France," said Weng Yanjun, director of Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum. Exquisite blue and white porcelain was transported thousands of miles across the sea along the Maritime Silk Road, enriching European cultural life. The living room of the House of Victor Hugo in Paris is decorated with a "Chinese porcelain wall," an example of the common pursuit of beauty between China and France. Jingdezhen is home to an extensive network of supply chains and state-of-the-art facilities. Today, it pays more attention to creative design and innovation, said Gang Hao, general manager of Jingdezhen Towyi Cultural Development Co., Ltd. "The dreamy linkage between the two brands of Longzhuge and L'Oreal Paris represents the integration of international aesthetics, creating a unique aesthetic identity," said Gang. "Beauty is a heritage that transcends different cultures. We firmly believe that beauty has the power to preserve cultural heritage, stimulate innovation, foster social and economic growth, promote diversity and inclusiveness, and contribute to harmony with life," said Fabrice Megarbane, Chief Global Growth Officer of L'Oreal Group. "Our goal is to continue being a friendly ambassador in all fields of Sino-French exchange," said Megarbane, "especially in the cultural and economic areas." PARIS -- France's competition watchdog on Wednesday said it fined Alphabet's Google 250 million euros ($271.73 million) for breaches linked to EU intellectual property rules in its relationship with media publishers, citing concerns about the company's AI service. The watchdog said Google's AI-powered chatbot Bard - since rebranded under the name Gemini - was trained on content from publishers and news agencies, without notifying them. Google has pledged not to contest the facts as part of settlement proceedings, the watchdog said, adding the company also proposed a series of remedy measures to certain shortcomings. Google said it accepted the settlement "because it is time to move on", adding "we want to focus on the larger goal of sustainable approaches to connecting people with quality content and on working constructively with French publishers." The company said the fine was disproportionate, and said the watchdog had not sufficiently taken into account its efforts "in an environment where its very hard to set a course because we cant predict which way the wind will blow next." The fine is linked to a copyright dispute in France over online content in a case triggered by complaints from some of the country's biggest news organisations, including Agence France Presse (AFP). The dispute appeared to be resolved in 2022 when the U.S. tech giant dropped its appeal against an initial 500 million euro fine issued at the end of a major investigation carried out by the Autorite de la Concurrence. But in Wednesday's statement, the watchdog said Google violated the terms of four out of seven commitments agreed in the settlement, including conducting negotiations with publishers in good faith and providing transparent information. The watchdog in particular cited Google's AI chatbot Bard, launched in 2023, which it said was trained on data from unspecified media outlets and news agencies without the company informing them or the regulator. "Subsequently, Google linked the use of the content concerned by its artificial intelligence service to the display of protected content", the watchdog said, adding that in doing so Google hindered the ability of publishers and press agencies to negotiate fair prices. The fine comes as many publishers, writers and newsrooms seek to limit the scraping - or automatic collection of data - by AI services of their online content without their consent of fair compensation. The New York Times in 2023 sued Google rivals Microsoft and OpenAI, the creator of the popular artificial-intelligence platform ChatGPT, accusing them of using millions of the newspaper's articles without permission to help train chatbots. "We - and others - need more clarity on whom we are paying for what", Google said. ($1 = 0.9200 euros) A tidal wave of plastic trash has left a normally pristine beach on the Indonesian resort island of Bali awash with garbage, a bleak annual event caused by the monsoon that has left tourists vexed and local officials scrambling to clean up. The Southeast Asian nation has a mammoth marine waste problem, ranking as one of the world's biggest contributors of plastic pollution and marine debris. Images showed Kedonganan beach in Bali's popular Kuta area covered in discarded plastic bottles, cups and packaging, much of which was driven towards Bali from Indonesia's cities by prevailing monsoon winds and rains. "I call on all people in Indonesia, don't litter in empty lands, don't throw rubbish on cliffs and rivers because it will end up on sea and will arrive at our beautiful beaches," said local environment agency official Anak Agung Dalem. Around 300 officers and six excavators were made available to help clear the trash, he said, with a local NGO also helping out. For tourists -- on whom much of Bali's economy depends -- the garbage-strewn sands were a stark contrast to what they had seen in travel brochures. "I came here because I heard that it was a very nice place to visit, but what I see is all of this plastic. It's a real disaster for me," said Frenchman Denis Le Merre, who flew from Australia. "It's impossible to (stay) here. I think I will never come back." Nearby, some locals picked through the plastic trash for recyclable material, which can be sold for a few dollars. Each year, pounding rains wash away mountains of plastic waste from Indonesia's cities and bulging rivers into the ocean, with some of it drifting for hundreds of kilometres (miles) and ending up on Bali's beaches. The trash wave is "something that repeats" on Kedonganan beach and others in the area annually due to the monsoon rains and winds between November and March, according to Dalem. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, has pledged to reduce marine plastic waste by 70 percent by 2025. Tourists were frustrated by the sight of plastic piles washed up on the island's beaches. "I think it's a horrible thing. And for tourists, it's the reason why a lot do not visit Bali. Because of the trash," said Russian Danil Kovalev, who has visited the island three times. "Sometimes I see this on other beaches." While concerned about the trash problem, locals were confident the beauty of their island -- which attracts millions of visitors every year -- would come to the fore once again. "If the trash is cleaned, this place will be more beautiful to see, and more people will come here," said Paulina Kaka, who lives in the Kedonganan area. Dalem called on the tourists to be patient because "the beach cannot be separated" from the ocean. "The rubbish that entered the sea came from all over the regions," he said. "So we will clean it up but it will take time." Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly (NA) dismissed Vo Van Thuong from his posts of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the 2021-26 tenure and Deputy of the 15th NA at an extraordinary meeting in Hanoi on Thursday morning. Lawmakers approved a resolution on the dismissal at the meeting presided over by NA chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. On Wednesday afternoon, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam agreed to relieve Thuong of the following roles: member of the Politburo, member of the 13th Party Central Committee, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council for the 2021-26 term. Reports from the Central Inspection Commission and relevant authorities indicate that he has breached regulations prohibiting certain actions for Party members. He has failed to fulfill the responsibility of setting an example for officials and Party members, particularly crucial for members of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Party Central Committee. He has also been held accountable as a leader in accordance with Party rules and state laws. Thuong's violations and shortcomings have stirred negative public sentiment and have had an adverse impact on the reputation of the Party, the state, and his personal integrity. Having a clear understanding of his responsibilities to the Party, the state, and the people, he submitted a request to relinquish all of his assigned positions and duties. Vo Van Thuong, 54, a native of the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long, was sworn in as state president in March 2023. He holds a master's degree in philosophy. Thuong was a standing member of the Party Central Committees Secretariat from February 2021 to March 2023 and the head of the Partys Central Propaganda Department from February 2016 to January 2021. Thuong served as a member of the all-powerful Politburo from January 2016 and a member of the Party Central Committee from January 2011. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have issued an urgent dispatch requiring all medical units and rabies vaccination facilities to promptly take measures to curb the disease that killed over 20 people in Vietnam in the first two months of this year. In the emergency message issued on Wednesday, the Department of Health requested that all its units in districts and the citys Center for Disease Control (HCDC) closely monitor suspected rabies cases, typically resulting from dog or cat bites, offer guidance on rabies vaccinations, and promptly address rabies outbreaks. According to the Ministry of Health, rabies killed 22 people in Vietnam over the January-February period, compared to 10 cases recorded from a year ago. The Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute administered 4,813 rabies vaccinations in the same period, including 2,622 inoculations in February, far higher than the average of 2,100 per month in the first two months of 2023. The Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases has also recorded a sharp increase in rabies immunization, with 5,296 cases in the first two months of this year compared to 4,221 from a year earlier. During this timeframe, the hospital admitted seven patients with rabies, all of whom succumbed to the disease, contrasting with only two cases reported in the same period of 2023. The department asked grassroots health authorities to coordinate with animal medicine facilities to timely provide information about cases of people bitten by dogs or cats having or seemingly having rabies. The department also called for boosting communication about the dangers and consequences of rabies, alongside measures aimed at preventing and managing the disease, such as advocating for rabies vaccinations for both humans and animals. People should be encouraged to promptly seek medical attention at healthcare facilities for examination, consultation, and rabies vaccination if bitten by dogs or cats suspected of having rabies. The department tasked the HCDC with providing guidance, monitoring, and oversight of efforts to combat rabies in humans, as well as coordinating with the Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine under the citys Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to promptly investigate and address outbreaks, aiming to prevent the transmission of rabies from animals to humans. A week ago, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an official dispatch urging efforts from the health sector and other agencies to prevent and control rabies nationwide. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies is estimated to cause 59,000 human deaths annually in over 150 countries, with 95 percent of the cases occurring in Africa and Asia. WHO said dogs are the primary source of human rabies deaths, responsible for 99 percent of all transmissions to humans. Thus, preventing rabies can be achieved through vaccinating dogs and preventing dog bites. Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease that affects the central nervous system, and once clinical symptoms of rabies appear, the disease is virtually 100 percent fatal, with children aged five to 14 making up 40 percent of the death toll, according to WHO. The incubation period for rabies is typically two to three months, but may vary from one week to one year, depending on factors such as the location of virus entry and the viral load. The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to the flu, including weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache, but patients may have discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. These symptoms may last for days before progressing to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation. As the disease progresses, patients may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia before death, CDC stated. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Peoples Court of Tu Son City in Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam on Wednesday ordered major state-run lender Vietcombank to compensate a customer VND700 million (US$28,259) of the VND11.9 billion ($480,409) she had lost in a scam. Earlier, the victim, 50-year-old Tran Thi Chuc, filed a lawsuit against Vietcombank to the Tu Son City Peoples Court, demanding that the bank compensate her the VND11.9 billion she had lost to swindlers. On April 22, 2022, Chuc visited the Kinh Bac branch of Vietcombank in Bac Ninh Province to open an account. Between April 22 and 24, 2022, Chuc and her family members transferred over VND11.9 billion to the account. However, she received neither phone calls nor text messages about changes to her account balance. As the bank was closed for the weekend on April 23 and 24, Chuc reached out to it on April 25, 2022 to check her balance. She was shocked when the banks employee said her account had just VND114,718 ($4.6) though she had never made any withdrawal. During the court proceedings, Chuc stated that the bank's employee failed to clarify Vietcombank's regulations or guide her to review pertinent documents at the Kinh Bac branch when assisting her in opening the account. Chucs lawyer, Le Ngoc Ha from the Hanoi Bar Association, said the lender failed to instruct Chuc on how to protect the money in her account and never provided measures to prevent the loss of the money to swindlers. Meanwhile, Vietcombank affirmed that it had properly followed procedures on the opening and use of its bank accounts. Chuc must take responsibility for her failure to protect her bank account information, as stated in Vietcombanks regulations and the contract betweeb her and the lender, a bank representative said. According to the court, the bank has publicized documents relating to the opening and use of bank accounts at its Kinh Bac branch and on its website. The documents, however, are not easy to access and the banks employees did not help the victim access such documents before opening her account. These are indirect reasons for the loss of Chucs money in her account, the court stated. The Kinh Bac branch of Vietcombank also failed to explain the banks regulations and warn of swindlers new tricks to the customer. As Chuc was never told about the bank account authentication process, she installed an app under a swindlers instructions which led to her losing control of her phone and allowed the thieves to access her account, according to the court. Chuc on Thursday lodged an appeal to the court. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Four part British drama Litvinenko, starring David Tennant as a former Russian secret service agent, and defector, recruited to MI6 before being poisoned in the United Kingdom. This premiered in the UK in December. David Tennant portrays Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian Spy whose death from Polonium-210 poisoning in November 2006 triggered one of the most complex and dangerous investigations in the history of the British Metropolitan police. During the police interviews, Litvinenko provided meticulous details from his hospital bedside about the events leading up to his illness, which he knew would prove fatal. The story also focuses upon Marina, portrayed by Margarita Levieva, Alexanders fearless, dignified widow who fought tirelessly to persuade the British Government to publicly name her husbands killers and acknowledge the role of Vladimir Putin & the Russian State in his murder. Episode One: November, 2006. Two Police officers are summoned to a hospital in London to interview a man named Alexander Litvinenko, who claims to have been poisoned. Wednesday, 27 March at 9.30pm on SBS Veteran US character actor M. Emmet Walsh, best known for Blade Runner, Blood Simple, My Best Friends Wedding has died, aged 88. His manager Sandy Joseph confirmed that he died on Tuesday in Vermont of cardiac arrest. In Ridley Scotts 1982 Blade Runner, Walsh was Harrison Fords LAPD boss, while he played the vicious private detective Loren Visser in the Coen brothers directing debut Blood Simple. His other roles included the corrupt sheriff in the 1986 horror film Critters and a small role as a security guard in Knives Out. Walsh appeared in 150 films, including Little Big Man, Whats Up Doc?, Slap Shot, The Jerk, Fletch, Back to School, Raising Arizona and Twilight. Walsh made his debut in movies in Alices Restaurant in 1969. He was also active on TV, appearing in Sneaky Pete, The Mind of the Married Man and guesting on dozens of series including Frasier, The X-Files, NYPD Blue and The Bob Newhart Show. Every time, you [have to] try to figure something individual that works for the character, Walsh told The Guardian about his private detective in Blood Simple. If youre playing a villain, you dont play villain. Visser doesnt think of himself as particularly bad or evil. Hes on the edge of whats legal, but hes having a lot of fun with all that. Hes a simple fella trying to make an extra buck and going a little further than hed normally go in his business enterprises. In a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Walsh said he was asked about Blade Runner more than any other movie he had ever made. We shot down in [Los Angeles] Union Station, he recalled. They set it all up in a little office over in a corner, and we had to be out by five in the morning because commuters were coming in for the train. I dont know if I really understood what in the hell it was all about. Source: Variety Versie 46 van Gnome is uitgekomen. Deze uitgebreide, gebruiksvriendelijke opensource-desktopomgeving is verkrijgbaar voor besturingssystemen die tot de Unix-familie behoren, zoals Linux en de diverse BSD-varianten. De naam is een afkorting voor GNU Network Object Model Environment. Gnome bestaat uit een desktopomgeving en een ontwikkelplatform voor het maken van andere applicaties, die in de desktopomgeving kunnen worden geintegreerd. Het is in dat opzicht vergelijkbaar met de KDE. Uitgebreide informatie over de veranderingen in versie 46 kunnen op deze pagina worden gevonden; dit is de aankondiging: Introducing GNOME 46, Kathmandu March 20, 2024 The GNOME project is excited to present the latest GNOME release, version 46. This latest version is the result of 6 months hard work by the GNOME community. Thank you to everyone who contributed! GNOME 46 is code-named Kathmandu, in recognition of the amazing work done by the organizers of GNOME.Asia 2023. Lets dive in and explore whats new in GNOME 46. Search Everywhere Files comes with a new global search feature in GNOME 46. The feature is simple: activate it by clicking the new search button, or by using the Ctrl + Shift + F shortcut, then enter your query to search all your configured search locations. Global search is a great way to jump directly into search, without having to think about where the items you want are located. The new feature also leverages GNOMEs existing file search capabilities, including the ability to search the contents of files, and filter by file type and modification date. Another great thing about global search is that it makes it possible to search multiple locations simultaneously, which can include locations that arent in your home directory. To set this up, go to the newly refined search locations settings, and add the locations that you want to be included. Enhanced Files App In addition to global search, the Files app has had a serious upgrade for GNOME 46. Feedback about long-running file operations has been improved, with a new dynamic progress section at the bottom of the sidebar. This makes it possible to view the progress of individual operations, as well as see which operations are ongoing and which have finished. Significant code refactoring during the development of GNOME 46 has also delivered a welcome performance upgrade in the Files app. In the past, switching between list and grid view would involve a delay and content would progressively load on screen. In GNOME 46, this is gone: changing view is instantaneous, making for a faster and more frictionless experience. Finally, Files in GNOME 46 also comes with a fantastic set of other smaller improvements: Search for preferences: you can now search within the Files preferences to locate specific settings. you can now search within the Files preferences to locate specific settings. Detailed date and time: the Files preferences now include an option to show the date and time in a more comprehensive and consistent format. the Files preferences now include an option to show the date and time in a more comprehensive and consistent format. Location entry on click: quickly access the file location address bar by clicking on the file path area. quickly access the file location address bar by clicking on the file path area. Starred favorites in grid view: quickly identify and access your starred files with visual markers in grid view. quickly identify and access your starred files with visual markers in grid view. Improved network discovery: more available networked devices now appear in the Other Locations view. We encourage you to explore the new features in Files and experience a whole new level of file management efficiency! Upgraded Online Accounts, Now With OneDrive GNOMEs Online Accounts feature have had a major upgrade for GNOME 46. The biggest improvement is the new support for Microsoft OneDrive. Setup a Microsoft 365 account from the settings, and your OneDrive will appear in the Files sidebar, where it can be easily browsed and accessed alongside your local files and folders. A collection of additional improvements to Online Accounts have also been made, thanks to funding from the Sovereign Tech Fund: The default web browser is now used when signing into accounts as part of account setup. This allows a wider range of authentication methods to be used, such as USB tokens. to be used, such as USB tokens. A new WebDAV account type has been added, providing a generic method for integrating online contacts, calendars and files into your GNOME experience. has been added, providing a generic method for integrating online contacts, calendars and files into your GNOME experience. The Online Accounts settings have also had a complete revamp, and now have modern up to date designs. A necessary consequence of these changes is that Online Accounts are no longer included as part of the initial system setup assistant. Remote Login with RDP GNOMEs remote desktop experience has been significantly enhanced for version 46, with the introduction of a new dedicated remote login option. This allows remotely connecting to a GNOME system which is not already in use. Connecting in this way means that the systems display can be configured from the remote side, resulting in a better experience for the remote user. The new remote login feature means that GNOME systems can be used as fully fledged remote resources. It can be found in the Remote Desktop settings, which provide information on how to connect. Stepped-Up Settings The Settings app has received a comprehensive update in GNOME 46. Navigation Improvements The Settings app has been reorganized for GNOME 46, to make it easier to navigate. To this end, a new System section has been created, which contains preferences for Region & Language, Date & Time, Users, Remote Desktop, Secure Shell, and About. The Apps settings have also been consolidated, and now include the Default Apps and Removable Media settings. These changes have the effect of reducing the total number of sections in the Settings app, giving you fewer places to browse and a faster path to the settings you need. New Touchpad Settings The touchpad settings have been expanded for GNOME 46, with two new settings. The first, called Secondary Click provides configuration for how secondary clicks (often called right click) are performed with a touchpad, and includes options to use either two fingers on the pad, or to click in the corner of the pad. The second new setting allows the Disable Touchpad While Typing behavior to be turned off. Doing this allows touchpad movement to be combined with key presses, which can be necessary for some apps and games. Massive Polish Effort The Settings app has also received a vast amount of polish for GNOME 46. This includes: improved settings descriptions and tooltips more keyboard mnemonics, to enhance keyboard navigation (hold down Alt to see these) extensive UI modernization and refinement additional options for compose key assignment faster loading of the appearance settings, as well as sharper previews additional fine-grained control when setting Wacom stylus pressure Altogether, these improvements result in a Settings app which is clearer, easier to understand, and is fantastic to use. Accessibility Improvements Accessibility has been a strong work theme for GNOME 46, with multiple aspects of accessibility seeing improvements. Much of this work has centered on the Orca screen reader: Under the hood, a significant modernization effort has been under way. This will result in improved performance and reliability, and will enable compatibility with Wayland and sandboxed apps in the future. has been under way. This will result in improved performance and reliability, and will enable compatibility with Wayland and sandboxed apps in the future. A new sleep mode feature has been added. This much requested feature allows users to temporarily disable Orca, using the Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Q shortcut. Sleep mode is useful when using virtual machines that have their own screen readers, as well as self-voicing apps. feature has been added. This much requested feature allows users to temporarily disable Orca, using the + + + shortcut. Sleep mode is useful when using virtual machines that have their own screen readers, as well as self-voicing apps. New commands allow Orca to report system status , including battery status, CPU and memory usage. , including battery status, CPU and memory usage. Table navigation has been much improved, with more apps being supported and new commands added, including toggle table navigation ( Orca + Shift + T ) and move to the final cell ( Orca + Alt + Shift + / / / ). has been much improved, with more apps being supported and new commands added, including toggle table navigation ( + + ) and move to the final cell ( + + + / / / ). Orca now has experimental support for Spiel, an exciting next generation speech synthesis API. Those who are interested in this feature are invited to help test it. Orca hasnt been the only place where accessibility improvements have happened for GNOME 46. Other accessibility improvements include an high contrast mode which is now more consistent and usable, and a new setting to show on and off symbols in switches. Much of this accessibility work was funded by the Sovereign Tech Fund and Igalia. System Enhancements GNOME 46 contains many small improvements and polish changes to the core GNOME experience: Beautiful fallback avatars: if you dont specify an avatar for your user account, GNOME generates one for you. These fallback avatars have been refreshed for 46, and look fantastic. If you are upgrading from a previous version, clear out your old avatar to see the new default avatars in action. if you dont specify an avatar for your user account, GNOME generates one for you. These fallback avatars have been refreshed for 46, and look fantastic. If you are upgrading from a previous version, clear out your old avatar to see the new default avatars in action. Enhanced notifications: with improved layouts, and a new header in each notification to show which app sent it. It is now also possible to expand notifications in the list, in order to use notification actions at a time that suits you. New app launching shortcuts: apps which have been pinned to the dash can now be launched using Super +