Anna Garraway

Sion Power Announces Appointment Of Carlos Restrepo As Chief Technology Officer – Business Wire https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/sion-power-announces-appointment-of-carlos-restrepo-as-chief-technology-officer-business-wire/ TUCSON, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sion Power Corporation (Sion Power) announces the appointment of Carlos Restrepo as chief technology officer (CTO). In his role as CTO, he will oversee all activities from the core electrochemistry to the incorporation of cells into application-specific battery packs. “As Sion Power takes the next step towards commercialization, Carlos’s experience in incorporating cell technologies into commercial energy storage systems will be invaluable,” stated Tracy Kelley, Sion Power’s CEO. “We are extremely fortunate that Carlos has joined the Sion Power family at such a pivotal time.” Restrepo has more than 20 years of technology experience in a variety of industries, with a focus on energy storage solutions within renewable and clean energy markets, both in commercial and residential spaces. Before joining Sion Power, he was the CTO for Eos Energy Enterprises, a developer of zinc aqueous battery technologies, where he led the Innovation, R&D, Engineering, and IT organizations. “Extremely excited to join an amazing group of folks that have forged a remarkable history in the next-generation lithium battery space. Sion is at the doorstep of this energy transformation with an incredible opportunity to be a compelling provider of products and solutions suited for high-power, high-energy applications. I positively consider this to be a great place to contribute and grow, in which we can achieve amazing results. I am honored by the appointment and highly motivated to help Sion take solids steps forward to get us there,” said Restrepo. About Sion Power Sion Power advances the rechargeable battery industry with its Licerion® technology. Licerion® is an advanced approach to lithium-metal batteries containing twice the energy in the same size and weight battery, compared to a traditional lithium-ion battery. At up to 500 Wh/kg, Licerion batteries are produced at scale in large-format cells. As a result, Licerion® batteries have the potential to significantly enhance the performance of commercial and consumer electric vehicles. Visit Sion Power on the web at www.sionpower.com.

Council Proposes Another Gaming-Related Resolution | Riverbend News | Advantagenews.com – AdVantageNEWS.com https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/council-proposes-another-gaming-related-resolution-riverbend-news-advantagenews-com-advantagenews-com/ The Alton City Council Committee of the Whole has laid over a proposed ordinance that would amend the city code to further restrict the number of video gaming licenses in the city. Second Ward Alderwoman Carolyn MacAfee introduced a resolution that would prohibit any establishment from getting a license unless it has been in continuous operation for at least 24 months. But three aldermen were absent last night, so the decision was made to lay it over until everyone could have a say. MacAfee explains the reasoning behind the proposal. Your browser does not support the audio element. Two weeks ago, the council laid over a resolution that would have granted gaming licenses to four businesses that claimed they had license applications in the works when the council capped the number of licenses. It was laid over again on Monday. The full council meets Wednesday at 6:30pm.

Addison-Based Advocacy Group Is Behind A Federal Lawsuit Challenging Student Loan Forgiveness – Dallas Observer https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/addison-based-advocacy-group-is-behind-a-federal-lawsuit-challenging-student-loan-forgiveness-dallas-observer/ If everything stays on track, the U.S. Department of Education will be issuing applications for President Joe Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan any day now. Designed to forgive up to $20,000 for certain student loan holders, the plan is facing several legal challenges across the country, the latest coming from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. As first reported by The Associated Press, Job Creators Network Foundation, a small-business advocacy group based in Addison, filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education, claiming it didn’t follow procedures when approving the relief program. Specifically, the group argues in its legal filing that the Biden administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by not taking public comment on the program before it was approved. “The Department of Education has flagrantly violated the APA’s notice-and-comment requirements,” the group’s suit read. “Behind closed doors, the Department promulgated a new Debt Forgiveness Program that will affect tens of millions of Americans and cost more than 400 billion dollars.” The Congressional Budget Office estimates the program will cost $400 billion over the next 30 years. To justify the program, the Biden administration used a law passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that gives “sweeping authority” to reduce or eliminate student debt during national emergencies. In a legal opinion from the U.S. Justice Department in August, the administration cited the pandemic as the national emergency. But the suit argues that because there was no opportunity for people to comment on the program before its approval, it leaves some people out. The suit was filed on behalf of two people: one won’t see the full benefit of the plan and the other won’t see any. The plan provides up to $20,000 in debt relief to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 to those who didn’t receive Pell Grants. To be eligible for relief, one’s individual income must be less than $125,000 or $250,000 for households. Myra Brown, one of the plaintiffs in the case, doesn’t qualify for any relief because the forgiveness program doesn’t cover commercially held loans that are not in default. The other plaintiff, Alexander Taylor, doesn’t qualify for the full amount of debt forgiveness because he didn’t receive a Pell Grant when he was in college, according to the suit. “Behind closed doors, the Department promulgated a new Debt Forgiveness Program that will affect tens of millions of Americans and cost more than 400 billion dollars.” – lawsuit tweet this Brown got her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1993 and attended graduate school at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. Graduating from SMU in 2002, she received student loans through the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) totaling more than $17,000. Initially, the Department of Education said these privately held loans were also eligible for relief if borrowers consolidated them into the Direct Loan Program. On Sept. 29, though, the Department of Education changed its guidance on the loan relief, saying Federal Family Education Loan Program and Perkins loans were no longer eligible for forgiveness. Borrowers with these loans who requested they be consolidated into the Direct Loan program before Sept. 29 “are eligible for one-time debt relief.” The new guidance excludes some 800,000 from relief, according to NPR. However, some of these loan holders, about 1.5 million, have borrowed from both the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the Direct Loan program, and will still qualify for some relief. But the department said it was still looking for ways to offer relief for borrowers like Brown. “[The Education Department] is assessing whether there are alternative pathways to provide relief to borrowers with federal student loans not held by [the department], including FFEL Program loans and Perkins Loans, and is discussing this with private lenders,” the new guidance said. Taylor got his undergraduate degree from the University of Dallas using loans from the Direct Loan Program. He now has four loans totaling more than $35,000. He didn’t have a Pell Grant, so he’s eligible for only up to $10,000 in relief. “Ms. Brown believes it is irrational, arbitrary, and unfair to exclude her from the program because her federal student loans are commercially held and not in default,” the suit says. “Mr. Taylor believes that it is irrational, arbitrary, and unfair to calculate the amount of debt forgiveness he receives based on the financial circumstances of his parents many years ago.” The suit says they both want a chance to comment on “any proposal from the department to forgive student loan debts.” Because they weren’t given this opportunity, the suit argues the Department of Education shouldn’t be allowed to roll out the program. In a statement to The Associated Press on Monday, White House Spokesperson Abdullah Hasan defended the program. Hasan said in the statement, “While opponents of our plan are siding with special interests and trying every which way to keep millions of middle-class Americans in debt, the President and his Administration are fighting to lawfully give middle-class families some breathing room as they recover from the pandemic and prepare to resume loan payments in January.” In an emailed statement to the Observer, Elain Parker, president of Job Creators Network Foundation, said even if the Biden administration rolled out programs that would offer relief to people like Brown and Taylor (in Taylor’s case, more relief), the group would still have a problem with the program because of the lack of public input. The group “believes in the rule of law, and requires government agencies to follow notice-and-comment procedures outlined in the Administrative Procedure Act [APA] when implementing new programs, like the Debt Forgiveness program we are challenging,” Parker said. “The APA ensures that Americans have a chance to provide information about how certain government programs will impact them and provide their opinions. The government ignored the law and did not follow proper procedures when pushing out this new program that some estimate will cost over $400 billion,” she added.

Can You Get A Tax Exemption For Travelling? – CNBCTV18 https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/can-you-get-a-tax-exemption-for-travelling-cnbctv18/ Mini The LTA is only applicable if an employee takes planned leave from work and travels during the period of leave. Travelling during public holidays is not considered for LTA reimbursement Are you aware of the component of Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) for employees, that covers your travel expenses? Do you know that the component is already part of your salary and you are eligible to use it for your travels? Read on to find out all about LTA and tweak your upcoming travel plans accordingly. What is the allowance for? Leave Travel Allowance is a component that has to be included by employers in their employees’ annual CTC, as a best practice, to enable people of the working class to enjoy vacations with their families. This allowance does not come under the total taxable income, which means that the employee need not pay tax for receiving LTA. As evident from the name itself, LTA covers only the travel expenditure involved, and not expenses related to staying, food, shopping, short travels within the vacation destination or international travel. LTA can only be claimed for travels made within India. Who is eligible? If you are a salaried employee and your offer letter contains the LTA component, you are eligible for the allowance. There is no waiting period for the LTA, the eligibility begins on the first day of employment. It can cover the actual travel expenses of you, your spouse and your immediate family (parents, in-laws and two children if they are born after 1 October 1998.) After the trip, you can submit bills of travel collectively, for all persons who travelled, to your admin/finance department, for reimbursement, subject to your salary slab. No amount will be credited to you in advance. What routes and transport can I take? You are eligible for reimbursement only for the travel fare between your starting point (origin) and your farthest destination in the trip. Stops or reroutes in between will not be considered. The first preference is for you to travel by first-class AC train or by air. If a railway connection is available for a portion of the route or is unavailable, the employer would consider the fare equivalent to that of an established transport medium (first class AC, or deluxe bus, whichever is appropriate to the route.) for reimbursement. When can I avail of LTA? An employee can avail of LTA twice in 4 years (a block year). The latest block year was 2018-2021, and the current block year is 2022-2025. If you fail to avail of LTA in the last two years of the block year, you can avail of the allowance in the succeeding block, subject to terms and conditions. LTA cannot be availed for a yearly vacation. Can I travel during public holidays and claim LTA? The LTA is only applicable if an employee takes planned leave from work and travels during the period of leave. Travelling during public holidays is not considered for LTA reimbursement, however, some companies make the exemption. How to claim LTA? After the travel, the employee is required to submit all bills relating to travel to the HR/Admin department of the company, after considering your eligibility, the HR approves and sends it to finance, after which they proceed with your reimbursement. (Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)

Bank Of England In Fresh Emergency Move To Calm Markets – BBC https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/bank-of-england-in-fresh-emergency-move-to-calm-markets-bbc/ Image source, Getty Images The Bank of England has warned of a “material risk” to financial stability as it made a fresh emergency move to try to calm investors. The Bank said it would buy more government bonds to try to stabilise market conditions. Its emergency scheme started after September’s mini-budget, which spooked markets and drove up borrowing costs. Government borrowing costs rose again sharply on Monday after the Bank said the scheme would end this week. A decision by the chancellor to bring forward his plan to balance the government’s finances by three weeks also failed to reassure investors. Kwasi Kwarteng promised billions of pounds of tax cuts in his mini-budget without explaining how he would pay for them. It worried investors causing the pound to slump to a record low, government borrowing costs to surge and forcing the Bank of England to step in and take emergency action after the dramatic market movements put some pension funds at risk of collapse. Since then, the government has come under huge pressure from the markets and its own MPs to change course. It has already U-turned on a promise to cut the top rate of income tax. Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey told the BBC she was “absolutely confident pensions are safe” and said the Bank was independent from government and trying to bring some stability to markets. The chancellor will take questions from MPs this afternoon in the Commons for the first time since being appointed. On Tuesday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank warned that Mr Kwarteng would have to make “big and painful cuts” of up to £60bn to balance the books when he announces his economic plan on 31 October. The Bank said government bonds had seen a “significant repricing” since the start of the week and warned there was a risk of a fresh downturn in markets. It said it would now buy a wider range of bonds as well as continue to buy bonds as part of the original emergency measures it launched on 28 September. Analysis: By Dharshini David, BBC economics correspondent “A material risk to UK financial stability” are words the Bank of England uses rarely. It’s even more rare for several senior Bank executives to have indicated part of the blame for the turmoil may lie at the government’s door, the result of domestic policy. They’re not alone. The sharp rise in the cost of new government borrowing – the interest on those bonds – reflects an anxiety amongst investors that its tax-cutting plans risk the UK overstretching itself. And it’s pensions funds and borrowers who are hit by the fallout. It’s the Bank who – again, a rare event – had to try to ease their pain. But it’s made it clear that the medicine is a stop gap – and the lingering unease in the market emphasises it’s ultimately looking for a more fundamental approach. Resolving this crisis of faith will ultimately depend on what the Chancellor unveils in his Hallowe’en plan. If the IFS is right, the price of restoring credibility could involve upwards of £60bn worth of cuts to public spending.

Health Calendar: Oct. 11, 2022 – Florida Today https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/health-calendar-oct-11-2022-florida-today/ FLORIDA TODAY  |  Florida Today Support local journalism. A digital subscription is incredibly affordable and makes you the most informed person around. Click here and subscribe today. Upcoming 8-Week Walking Group. Each Saturday beginning Sept. 10 and going through Oct. 29. People interested in joining will meet at 8 a.m. on the Running Zone patio for the first 7 weeks, 3696 N Wickham Road, Melbourne. On Oct. (8th week) we will walk/run the Ghostly Gecko together! To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Melbourne/GhostlyGecko5K. All participants of the walking group and the Ghostly Gecko receive a gift bag and an entry into a raffle for a free pair of shoes after the final walk. For more information call Running Zone at 321-781-8890. Hemorrhoid Embolization, Ask the Doctor Lunch & Learn Series. Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Presented by Dr. Derek Mittleider with Vascular & Interventional Physicians. Lunch provided by Vascular & Interventional Physicians for all registered attendees. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. RSVP required, call 321-751-6771. Goals of Care, Lunch & Learn. Monday, Oct. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Presented by Dr. Ashlee Moore, Board-certified Acute Care Surgeon with Health First Medical Group. This trauma surgeon will discuss how to make complex medical decisions in the face of illness and critical injuries. Lunch sponsored by Viera Health and Rehabilitation Center. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. RSVP to 321-751-6771. Senior Health Fair. The Barefoot Bay Seniors Health Fair will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community Center, Building A. At the event seniors will have a chance to speak with knowledgeable representatives, meet face to face with health and legal professionals, receive free health screenings, socialize with other seniors, enjoy coffee, giveaways and try for fun door prizes. On site screenings for early memory loss free of charge for all attendees. For more information on the event call 321-773-1454 FREE Memory Testing. Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Merritt Island Medical Research will be offering free memory screenings at One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. Please call 321-305-5015 to schedule an appointment. FREE Liver Scans. Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ClinCloud is offering FREE Fibroscans at One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. Please call 321-751-6771 to schedule your half hour appointment. Hearing Loss [= Brain Stress?], Lunch and Learn Seminar. Friday, Oct. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This presentation brought to you by Personal Hearing Solutions and Clinical Education Specialist Dr. Susan de Bondt, AUD from Widex. During this presentation, you will learn how living with hearing loss negatively impacts our ability to think and what we can do about it. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. Boxed lunch provided, must RSVP to 321-751-6771. Living Well After Loss Series. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m.  This series first topic is, Caring for Yourself: Cooking and Shopping for One and Getting Help Getting Help When I’m Sick or Injured, hosted by VITAS Healthcare. Presented by Lisa Conway, RN, CCM, VP Senior Partner Care Services, and Pat Deangelis, RN, Clinical Nutrition Counselor. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. RSVP to 321-751-6771. Low Back Pain. Thursday, Oct. 27, from noon to 1 p.m. Presented by Aquatic Health & Rehab. Causes, Prevention, and Treatment. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. For more information and to RSVP, call 321-253-6324. Support Groups Loss, Grief & Bereavement Support Group. Thursdays, Oct. 13, and Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon. While the feelings and emotions associated with grief and loss are unique and individual to each person, one often can find comfort from the experiences of others. Limited seating must RSVP to 321-751-6771. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. Facilitated by VITAS Healthcare. Parkinson’s Discussion Group. Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 10–11 a.m. Come and share ideas, make new friends at the Parkinson’s Discussion Group. Bring your questions and let us discuss our experiences and feelings as we deal with Parkinson’s disease. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. RSVP to 321-751-6771. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Group. Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. The group encourages caregivers to maintain their own personal, physical and emotional health as well as optimal care for the person with dementia. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. RSVP call 321-751-6771. Veterans Support Group. Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to noon. This support group is for Veterans and families. Facilitated by Michael Tucker, MSW, Veterans Liaison, VITAS Healthcare. At One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. RSVP call 321-751-6771. Ongoing Line dancing class. An excellent was to stay physically and mentally fit while also enjoying the social benefits. Beginner level. Larry Wright, Instructor (321-323-4928), Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., $5 a class, Viera Regional Community Center, 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Fl 32940.  Free memory screenings. The Memory Disorder Clinic at Health First, 3661 Babcock St. 2nd floor, Melbourne, FL 32901, one of 17 state-funded memory clinics, provides free memory screening to anyone over the age of 18 who is concerned about memory. Memory screenings are not a diagnosis but an important first step in the evaluation process, serving a vital role toward detection and treatment. Call 321-434-7614 for an appointment. Zumba Gold. Perfect for active adults looking for a modified Zumba class that recreates the original moves you love at a lower intensity. Come ready to dance every Monday and Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Freedom 7 Senior Community Center, inside the Cocoa Beach Country Club, 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Everyone is welcome. Visit www.freedom7seniors.org  or 321-783-9505 for more information. Drop in, no preregistration required. Questions About Your Hearing? Personal Hearing Solutions, every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera. Sandra Wagner will be on hand to share information and answer your questions about hearing loss and solutions to it for a safe and healthy lifestyle. For more information, stop by or call 321-253-6310. Overeaters Anonymous (OA) Meetings in Brevard County. Do you worry about the way you eat? Overeaters Anonymous may have the answer for you. For more information on the Space Coast chapter, including more meetings and contact info, visit https://oaspacecoast.org/ Cocoa Beach: 11 a.m. on Monday at the Cocoa Beach Public Library, 550 N. Brevard Avenue, Cocoa Beach Merritt Island: 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Hobbs Pharmacy, 133 N. Banana River Drive, Merritt Island – person to person meeting or call into meeting 515-604-9755 Enter 558911# Indian Harbor Beach: 11 a.m. on Friday at Circle Club, 230 E. Eau Gallie Blvd., Indian Harbor Beach Indialantic: 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Eastminster Church, Melvin Hall, 106 N.Riverside Drive, Indialantic, FL TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) TOPS Chapter FL 0043 Meets at 4:10 p.m. Tuesdays at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 3050 N. Hwy A1A, Indialantic, FL 32903, Room 101. Weigh-in begins at 3:30 p.m. Cost is $4 monthly chapter dues and new member fee is $49.72 first year only; yearly member renewals are $37. More info, call 321-271-9427 or visit http://www.tops.org . TOPS Chapter FL 0066 Meets at 6:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Catherine Schweinsberg Rood Central Library, 308 Forrest Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922. Weigh-in begins at 5:45 p.m. Cost is $4 monthly chapter dues and new member fee is $49.72 first year only; yearly member renewals are $37. More info, call 321-271-9427 or visit http://www.tops.org . TOPS Chapter FL 0164 Meets at 9:30 a.m. Thursdays at Wesley Methodist Church, 2075 Meadowlane Ave., West Melbourne (Mask optional). Weigh-in begins at 8:45 a.m. Cost is $5 monthly chapter dues and the new member fee is $49.72 first year only; yearly member renewals are $37. More info, call 321-271-9427 or visit http://www.tops.org. TOPS Chapter FL 0307 Meets at 10 a.m. Fridays St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church, 1255 Knox McRae Dr, Titusville, FL 32780. Weigh-in begins at 8 a.m. Cost is $5 monthly chapter dues and the new member fee is $49.72 first year only; yearly member renewals are $37. More info, call 585-305-0626 or visit http://www.tops.org . TOPS Chapter FL 0456 Meets at 09:30 a.m. Fridays, Building C, Room 1, 625 Barefoot Bay Blvd, Barefoot Bay, FL 32976. Weigh-in begins at 9 a.m. Cost is $3 monthly chapter dues and new member fee is $49.72 first year only; yearly member renewals are $37. More info, call 321-271-9427 or visit http://www.tops.org . TOPS Chapter FL 0473 Meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Roseland United Methodist Church, 12962 Roseland Road, Roseland, FL 32968. Parking provided behind building. Weigh-in begins at 6 p.m. Cost is $5 monthly chapter dues and new member fee is $49.72 first year only; yearly member renewals are $37. More info, call 321-271-9427 or visit http://www.tops.org. TOPS Chapter FL 0506 Meets at 10 a.m. Thursdays at the Palm Bay Public Library, 1520 Port Malabar Blvd NE, Palm Bay, FL 32905. Weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $6 monthly chapter dues and new member fee is $49.72 first year only; yearly member renewals are $37. More info, call 321-271-9427 or visit http://www.tops.org . TOPS Chapter FL 0544 Meets at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays in the Fellowship Hall, Ascension Lutheran Church, 1053 Pinetree Drive, Indian Harbour Beach, FL...

Erica Elizabeth Yunghans (Nee Losonczy) | News, Sports, Jobs – Evening Observer https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/erica-elizabeth-yunghans-nee-losonczy-news-sports-jobs-evening-observer/ Erica Elizabeth Yunghans (nee Losonczy) Erica Elizabeth Yunghans, 45, of Fredonia, died suddenly on Oct. 1, 2022, at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk. She was born May 24, 1977 near Poughkeepsie N.Y. She was the beloved wife of recently deceased Steven Yunghans, and devoted mother of Patrick and Emma. She was the daughter-in-law of Penelope and Wayne Yunghans. She was the unofficial adopted daughter of Larry and Judy Crook. Erica was raised by her grandmother, and received bachelors and masters degrees from SUNY Fredonia. Erica was also a devote singer, and had attended NYSMA programs. Erica was past assistant layout editor at The Observer, Dunkirk. In spite of her cerebral palsy, Erica was resourceful, diligent, and a productive worker. She was an activist for the rights of people with disabilities. Erica also had been a part of many different community organizations some with Steven. She was known for her humble and kind attitude towards herself and others. She was very thankful for encouragement and support from numerous people of the community. Erica will always be missed. A celebration of her life will be held at Grace Lutheran Church W, 6th and Eagle St. Dunkirk, NY., on Oct. 12, 2022, Wednesday at 6 p.m., that evening. Arrangements are by the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home.

X-Metaverse Partners With USM Metaverse – CryptoNewsZ https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/x-metaverse-partners-with-usm-metaverse-cryptonewsz/ X-Metaverse recently announced a strategic collaboration with the USM Metaverse. The collaboration will result in an X headquarters developed within the USMverse. According to the latest tweet by X-Metaverse, its latest partnership has been established with RadioCacaNFT. The development will lead to a giveaway in the future, so users should follow its social media channels for the latest updates. The gaming and DeFi ecosystem has been expanding its user base with new partnerships and collaborations. The platform joined hands with Mones, a F2P (free-to-play) fantasy RPG on the BNB Chain.  This partnership exposed X-Metaverse users to new gameplay while helping them connect with new players via social features. The player-ruled economy also presented an array of earning opportunities to users. A few days before that, X-Metaverse joined hands with Assure, a Web3-based multi-chain cryptocurrency aggregation service provider. The collaboration resulted in the X-Metaverse dApp being added to the Assure ecosystem. Similarly, USM.World has also been working on the partnership front to explore new opportunities. The platform initiated a collaboration with WOO Network Metaverse for deep liquidity. Their partnership also assisted WOO Network in launching a headquarters in the metaverse. As the metaverse is gaining global recognition, partnerships like X-Metaverse and USM Metaverse are expected to lead the market. Their collaborative efforts will result in proposing high-quality services and results to users. That is why many industry experts and projects are eyeing to join the ventures in their endeavors.  Roxanne Williams Roxanne Williams has recently joined as a market reporter for CryptoNewsZ – the 24/7 crypto news site, where she produces recent stories, technical analysis and price updates on world’s leading cryptocurrencies.

All The Best Amazon Prime Early Access Deals We Can Find – Ars Technica https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/all-the-best-amazon-prime-early-access-deals-we-can-find-ars-technica/ Prime Day Part Deux — We’ve sorted through Amazon’s pre-holiday sale to find the stuff that’s worth your time. Corey Gaskin – Oct 11, 2022 7:00 am UTC Amazon’s Prime Day sales event came and went this past July, as it has every year since 2015. The two-day shopping event is exclusively for Amazon Prime members and features thousands of products spanning all categories. This year the company has plopped another sales event on the calendar from October 11 through 12 called the “Prime Early Access Sale.” Meant to preempt the holiday shopping season, it’s a smaller, albeit still massive discount event on thousands of items. To be clear, Amazon remains a behemoth that has done (and continues to do) many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many things worthy of criticism, and Prime Day itself tends to be loaded up with a lot of junk offers and misleading “discounts” that don’t make products significantly cheaper than they usually are. Much like Prime Day, these deals range widely in their value. But among the literal tens of thousands of sale items, there are some genuinely good deals on a lot of the items and categories we cover here at Ars. We spent several hours combing through the offers to compile a list of the best values available. Many of the items are devices we’ve reviewed well here at Ars, while the rest have been well-reviewed at multiple review sites we trust. Using tools like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel, we verified that the deals below offer prices as low or lower than they’ve been in the past three to six months. Many of these match the types of discounts you’ll see during other major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The comprehensive roundup below will be updated periodically throughout each day of the event to reflect changes in stock, pricing, and additive deals. Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs. Featured Amazon Prime Day deals LG C1 (2021) 65-inch 4K OLED TV for $1,497 ($2,499) Peloton Bike indoor stationary exercise bike 22 HD Touchscreen $1,225 ($1,445) Beats Fit Pro true wireless ANC earphones for $160 ($195) Beats Studio3 wireless ANC over-ear headphones for $170 ($270) Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earphones for $50 ($70) (also at Best Buy) Jabra Elite 45h wireless on-ear headphones for $70 ($100) Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless ANC headphones for $348 ($400) Blueair 211+ air purifier for $256 ($300) Coway Airmega HEPA air purifier for $155 ($200) Garmin Fenix 6x pro GPS sports watch for $450 ($750) Garmin Vivoactive 4S (40mm) smartwatch for $187 ($249) Google Pixel 6a (128GB) smartphone for $349 ($449) (Pixel 6 Pro for $629) Intel Core i9-12900KF 16-core/24-thread desktop CPU for $440 ($550) Fire HD 10 tablet (2021) 32GB, 10.1-inch, 1080p for $75 ($150) (Fire HD 8 for $45) Microsoft 365 Personal + $30 Amazon gift card 12-Month Subscription (digital download) for $59 ($90) Microsoft 365 Family + $50 Amazon gift card 12-Month Subscription (digital download) for $90 ($143) Enlarge / The Peloton Bike+ is a cool-looking machine with it’s matte black finish and red accents. It’s also exceptionally well-built. Corey Gaskin Best Prime Day Amazon device deals Ring Alarm 5 Piece Home Security Kit for $139 ($199) at Amazon Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker for $20 ($40) (Kids version for $25) Amazon Echo Show 5 5.5-inch smart display for $35 ($65) (Kids version for $40) Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (8GB, with ads) 6.8-inch e-reader for $100 ($140) at Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids (8GB, no ads) 6.8-inch e-reader for $105 ($155) Amazon Kindle (8GB) 6-inch e-reader for $45 ($90) (no ads for $60) Amazon Kindle Kids 6-inch e-reader for $50 ($100) Amazon Kindle Oasis (8GB) 7-inch e-reader for $175 ($250) (no ads for $190) Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) 8-inch tablet for $45 ($80) Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) 10.1-inch tablet for $75 ($137) (no ads for $90) Enlarge / The new $100 Kindle is Amazon’s best entry-level model ever, though it still has to live in the Paperwhite’s shadow. Andrew Cunningham Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (32GB) 10.1-inch tablet for $105 ($165) Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (32GB) 8-inch tablet for $70 ($120) (Kids Pro for $70) Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids (32GB) 10.1-inch tablet for $120 ($183) (Kids Pro for $120) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max media streamer for $35 ($50) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K media streamer for $25 ($40) Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker for $20 ($40) (Kids version for $25) Amazon Echo Show 5 5.5-inch smart display for $35 ($65) (Kids version for $40) Amazon Echo smart speaker for $60 ($90) Amazon Luna Controller wireless gamepad for Luna + PC for $40 ($70) Amazon Echo Show 8 8-inch smart display for $75 ($120) Amazon Echo Show 15 15.6-inch smart display for $170 ($250) Best Prime Day headphone and audio deals Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless ANC headphones for $348 ($400) Sony MDR-7506 wired headphones for $79 ($89) Beats Fit Pro true wireless ANC earphones for $160 ($195) Beats Studio3 wireless ANC over-ear headphones for $170 ($270) Bose QuietComfort 45 wireless ANC over-ear headphones for $229 ($329) Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro true wireless ANC earphones for $120 ($163) Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earphones for $50 ($70) Jabra Elite 45h wireless on-ear headphones for $70 ($100) Jabra Elite 85h wireless ANC on-ear headphones for $200 ($249) JBL Boombox 2 Bluetooth speaker, IPX7 water-resistant $300 ($500) Marshall Emberton portable Bluetooth speaker for $120 ($150) after clipping coupon Enlarge / Sony’s WH-1000XM5 (left) and WH-1000XM4 (right) wireless noise-canceling headphones. Sony promises improved active noise cancellation and audio quality with the XM5s. Jeff Dunn Best Prime Day electronics deals Apple iPad Mini (2021) Wi-Fi, 64GB for $400 ($460) iRobot Roomba i2 robot vacuum + self-emptying dock for $200 ($291) iRobot Roomba S9+ robot vacuum for $799 ($900) iRobot Roomba i4+ robot vacuum for $400 ($570) iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum w/ self-emptying dock for $580 ($760) (also at Target, Best Buy for $600) iRobot Roomba j7 robot vacuum for $399 ($565) (also at Target, Best Buy) iRobot Roomba 694 robot vacuum for $200 ($245) (also at Best Buy, iRobot) Enlarge / The Pixel 6 Ron Amadeo Google Pixel 6a (128GB) smartphone for $349 ($449) Google Pixel 6 Pro (128GB) smartphone for $629 ($875) Google Nest smart thermostat for $100 ($110) NETGEAR Orbi whole home Wi-Fi 6 System for $450 ($500) Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop for $409 ($650) Roborock S7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop for $680 ($950) Roborock E5 Robot Vacuum for $180 ($280) TP-Link Deco AXE5400 (3-pack) Wi-Fi 6 mesh system, up to 7200 sq.ft for $360 ($450) Enlarge / The Roku Streaming Stick 4K and Streaming Stick 4K+ replaced the Roku Streaming Stick+. Roku Best Prime Day TV deals LG C1 (2021) 65-inch 4K OLED TV for $1,497 ($2,499) LG A1 (2021) 48-inch 4K OLED TV for $647 ($700) Samsung QN90B (2022) 75-inch QLED 4K TV with Alexa built-in for $2,498 ($2,800) Sony A80K (2022) 55-inch 4K OLED TV for $1,300 ($1,500) Roku Streaming Stick 4K media streamer for $27 ($40) Hisense U7G (2021) 65-inch 4K LED Android TV for $700 ($850) Hisense U8G (2021) 65-inch 4K LED Android TV for $800 ($970) TCL 43S446 (2022) 43-inch 4K TV for $230 ($250) Enlarge / The 2022 MacBook Air has MagSafe and two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports. Samuel Axon Best Prime Day laptop and desktop PC deals Apple MacBook Air (2022) 13.6-inch laptop (Apple M2, 2560×1664, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,049 ($1,199) Microsoft Surface Pro 8 13-inch tablet PC (2880×1920, Core i5 Intel Evo Platform, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $869 ($1,000) (with Surface Pro Keyboard for $1,000 at Best Buy) Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15-inch laptop PC (2496×1664, Core i7-1185G7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $2,099 ($2,400) ViewSonic Elite XG320U 32-inch gaming monitor for $800 ($900)—3840×2160, 150 Hz, FreeSync Samsung Odyssey G9 49-inch gaming monitor for $1000 ($1200)—5120×1440, 240 Hz, FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible Samsung Odyssey G5 27-inch gaming monitor for $290 ($320)—2560×1440, 165 Hz, FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible LG 34WN80C-B 34-inch ultrawide IPS PC monitor (3440 x 1440) for $460 ($550) WD Black P10 (5TB) portable external HDD for $100 (normally $108) WD My Passport (1TB) portable SSD for $105 ($120) WD Elements + My Passport (6TB and 4TB) external desktop HDD and portable HDD for $220 ($300) Samsung T7 (1TB) portable SSD for $100 ($145) (2TB for $200) SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 (2TB) for $160 ($235) Enlarge / Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8. Andrew Cunningham SK Hynix Platinum P41 (1TB) PCIe 4.0 SSD for $120 ($150) after clipping coupon (2TB for $260) Samsung 870 Evo (1TB) internal SSD, 2.5-inch SATA III SSD for $90 ($106) (8TB for $600) Samsung 980 Pro (2TB) SSD PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for $211 ($230) Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB (2×16GB) 5600 MHz RAM for $169 ($200) (also at Newegg) Crucial MX500 (4TB) 2.5-inch SATA internal SSD for $315 ($360) Crucial P5 Plus (500GB) PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for $58 ($100) Crucial X6 Portable SSD for $122 ($200) Crucial RAM 64GB Kit (2x32GB) DDR5 4800MHz for $270 ($342) Intel Core i9-12900KF 16-core/24-thread desktop CPU for $440 ($550) Logitech MK270 wireless keyboard and mouse for $20 ($28) Logitech M720 Triathlon wireless keyboard and mouse $35 ($40) Enlarge / Garmin’s Vivomove series employs a traditional watch design with futuristic flourishes. Corey Gaskin / Ars Technica Best Prime Day wearables deals Garmin Fenix 6x pro GPS sports watch for $450 ($750) Garmin Vivoactive 4S (40mm) smartwatch for $187 ($249) Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (40mm) smartwatch for $150 ($180) Garmin Venu Sq GPS smartwatch and activity tracker for $149 ($200) Garmin Lily (34 mm, Tan) smartwatch for $150 ($190) Fitbit Sen...

Crypto’s Evolution As An Asset Class Needs Better Accounting – Bloomberg Tax https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/cryptos-evolution-as-an-asset-class-needs-better-accounting-bloomberg-tax/ Last year, bitcoin passed a key milestone toward institutional acceptance as an array of publicly traded companies added it to their corporate treasuries. Alongside traditional financial instruments, and despite a significant price drawdown, companies such as Tesla, Block (formerly Square), and Coinbase still hold over $100 million worth of bitcoin today. But after last year’s initial hype, the corporate balance sheet clamor for bitcoin has slowed to a crawl, likely due in part to complex accounting rules. For observers and investors in public companies holding bitcoin, disclosure rules are also vague and deter transparency. Tesla recently left a mystery in its wake as it sold 75% of its initial $1.5 billion bitcoin stake, leaving questions about its initial cost basis and disposition unanswered. To be fair, such transparency is by no means required under current accounting rules. According to today’s accounting standards, bitcoin, which is considered an “intangible asset,” is disclosed in a markedly different way than typical investments such as cash, stocks, or bonds. Publicly traded firms are required to incur impairment charges against their bitcoin purchases whenever prices dip below the initial cost basis. In other words, and especially for volatile assets like bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, impairment ends up harming the bottom line of public earnings reports and requires companies to hold these assets on their balance sheets at their lowest valuation since the point of purchase. It also can be a significant logistical challenge for accounting teams to accurately track intraday price movements to properly record impairments. As crypto winter has set in, the bitcoin-heavy balance sheet for the publicly traded Microstrategy has weighed especially heavily, as it has had to report hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of losses via impairment charges over recent quarters. While corporates have slowed or reversed their bitcoin balance sheet acquisitions, institutional adoption is continuing in other meaningful ways. Blackrock recently teamed up with Coinbase to enable crypto investment for institutional investors, and Fidelity plans to enable 401(k) investment in bitcoin later this year. If the digital asset class is truly ready for maturity, however, it’s past time for better accounting rules and regulatory transparency. Transparency enforced by official institutional guidance can help prevent meltdowns and undue harm to investors. In the wake of high-profile crypto bankruptcies such as Celsius and Voyager, these tenets are as critical as ever. Key institutions such as the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission are poised to fill the digital asset accounting gap for public and private firms. Last March, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, which offered SEC staff interpretations on crypto accounting safeguards. In this guidance, the SEC staff expressed views related to “entities that have obligations to safeguard crypto-assets held for their platform users.” The guidance requires that these entities recognize a safeguarding asset and liability and notes “that crypto-assets should be recorded as a liability and corresponding asset on their balance sheet at fair value.” The staff interpretation recommends that companies gross up their balance sheet when they are responsible for safeguarding customer assets. But soon after SAB 121 was issued, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce raised several dissenting concerns. First, she wondered “why now?” as bankruptcies and thefts from cryptocurrency custodians have been occurring for years. Second, she noted, “the SAB does not acknowledge the Commission’s own role in creating the legal and regulatory risks that justify this accounting treatment. The Commission has refused, despite many pleas over many years, to provide regulatory guidance about how our rules apply to crypto-assets, so some of the responsibility for the lack of legal and regulatory clarity lies at our doorstep.” Further, Peirce seeks coordination between the SEC and the FASB in setting official accounting standards. In that regard, and after requests by companies and investors frustrated by impairment charges and lack of transparency, the FASB may soon share its own official guidance. Ideally, the new FASB rules will lead to clearer accounting outcomes that are more aligned with economic realities—for example, holding digital assets on the balance sheet at fair value rather than impaired cost—along with better disclosure and transparency rules for crypto-asset holdings by corporations. Given official accounting standards and guidance by institutions such as the FASB, crypto should evolve to meet the same standards as traditional asset classes. Similar to what traditional asset classes experienced in 2008, cryptocurrency recently experienced its own high-profile Lehman-like bankruptcies. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, a speech by SEC Commissioner Kathleen Casey homed in on the need for accounting standards to promote transparency. After the traditional mark-to-market accounting standard came under duress as asset prices dropped and liquidity receded, the FASB and other institutions swiftly coordinated to offer definitive guidance for fair value accounting in illiquid markets, in addition to improved disclosure transparency. Crypto needs similar standards—and fast. The FASB is coordinating with other relevant agencies to offer formal guidance in the foreseeable future, and that will be critical for cryptocurrency’s maturation as a new asset class. After a chaotic crypto winter, regulatory clarity, transparency, and better accounting will let spring finally emerge again. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners. Author Information Aaron Jacob leads TaxBit’s efforts in building and scaling TaxBit’s ERP solution—the Core Accounting Suite—which streamlines and automates the financial reporting needs that businesses and management teams face regarding digital assets. We’d love to hear your smart, original take: Write for Us

Secretary Blinken’s Call With Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba – US Embassy In Georgia https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/secretary-blinkens-call-with-ukrainian-foreign-minister-kuleba-us-embassy-in-georgia/ Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba  US Embassy in Georgia

McCourt Alumna Recognized Among The Nation’s Top Technology Talent – McCourt School Of Public Policy https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/mccourt-alumna-recognized-among-the-nations-top-technology-talent-mccourt-school-of-public-policy/ As a U.S. Digital Corps Fellow, Sahithi Adari (MS-DSPP‘22) is leveraging data science to drive equity and impact at the highest levels of government. McCourt alum Sahithi Adari (MS-DSPP‘22) was selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the U.S. Digital Corps (USDC), an early‑career fellowship program designed for the country’s top technology talent. The program, launched in August 2021 by the Biden-Harris Administration, offers unique benefits, including a dedicated learning and development curriculum, mentorship, a cohort-based community and the opportunity for permanent career positions in federal service. Over the next two years, the Fellows will be spread across 12 federal agencies. Adari will work at the Office of Personnel Management, leveraging data on the largest workforce in the country to increase the federal government’s capacity to recruit and retain employees. She was one of 38 Fellows selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 1,000 applicants from across the country. “How many people can say that the tools that they are helping to develop will impact the nation’s largest workforce? Or that they talk to the Chief Data Scientist of the United States on equitable data issues?” Sahithi Adari “My McCourt education helped me understand that data is human,” said Adari. “It isn’t enough, as a data scientist, to have a technically strong background; it needs to be coupled with domain knowledge in order to have the greatest impact.”  “Through the USDC program, I am leveraging data science to help solve large public policy problems in an equitable manner, reducing barriers and ensuring that data is being used to help, not harm,” she said.  As a graduate student at McCourt, Adari focused her research on racial equity, technology policy and the intersection of the two. She was an inaugural Racial Equity Fellow of the D.C. Council Office of Racial Equity, as well as a data science intern for the Development Impact Evaluation team of the World Bank.  Learn more about how to become a U.S. Digital Corps Fellow here.

MA Gaming Commission Chair Concerned About Slow Progress – World Sports Network https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/ma-gaming-commission-chair-concerned-about-slow-progress-world-sports-network/ Last Week’s MA Gaming Commission Meeting Ends with No Launch-Related Votes The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MCG) met last week for the 6th time since August when Gov. Charlie Baker signed a legal sports betting bill into law and for anyone concerned about a careless rush to launch, rest easy, this group is moving with cautious deliberation. MGC’s slow crawl is intentional, and they have applied this careful strategy to their mission, which is to “oversee the promulgation of MA’s sports wagering industry,” but at the last meeting Chair Cathy Judd-Stein seemed worried that the process is stalling, saying out loud: I am very concerned about our decision making and our inability to move forward. It’s the job of Chair Judd-Stein and commissioners Eileen O’Brien, Bradford R. Hill, Nakisha Skinner, and Jordan Maynard to work out the details regarding the upcoming launch of the legal retail and mobile sports betting markets, and for now they have offered up a temporary timeline. That timeline has a retail launch happening by February 2023, but the group’s executive director Karen Wells made sure to point out at last week’s MGC meeting that “this is not a definitive timeline, but a tool for discussion. There is no way we can do this any earlier.” First, though, the MGC must decide whether it wants to launch the mobile and in-person markets together or one at a time. Both Sides of the CA Sports Betting Issue Have Spent Millions on Advertising Back in August, we did a piece about the money already invested in advertising this CA sports betting issue called California Has Spent Record $364M on Sports Betting Ballot Measure Advertising and in it we also broke down what each of these initiatives would mean for voters. The goal of Proposition 26 is to restrict sports betting to the local casinos and four racetracks so that market remains in the hands of the state’s native tribes who currently run the legal gambling action in California, so voters who side with the existing market will perhaps favor this initiative. Prop 27, on the other hand, would legalize online sports betting which would automatically include outside operators who would be running those mobile sportsbooks, an option that pro sports leagues like the MLB favor since it would mean big profits for those teams. Those in favor of Prop 27 have spent millions of dollars to get their side of the argument known to voters and meanwhile so have those favoring Prop 26 getting their word out, and both sides still have just over a month to get any last messaging out there. Sticking Point: Launching In-Person and Mobile Wagering Simultaneously or Gradually There are two legal sports betting markets readying for launch in Massachusetts – in-person and mobile – and whether they start together or gradually has become a sticking point between the MGC commissioners, with some not willing to risk the fallout from a launching rush job. The state’s three casinos and two horse racetracks will operate mobile and retail sportsbooks plus there are multiple untethered mobile markets at play, with some commissioners pushing for a digital launch in time for the Super Bowl and others not happy about that preset target date. Commissioner O’Brien seems to be pushing for a more patient approach not aimed at assigning a predetermined deadline that revolves around a major sporting event like the upcoming Super Bowl in February, saying: Speed is not the sole measure of performance. The issue is with a date-determined timeline vs. best practices … and we have to think back and see what we’re giving up. In the over thirty other states that have already legalized sports betting, the regulatory process has proven to take more time than all involved were hoping, but with all those examples to follow, the MGC’s process is likely to benefit, though that is not making it go any quicker. MA Legal Sports Betting Timeline “Might Not Allow for Super Bowl Bets” It must be tempting to work toward giving resident bettors a chance to wager on Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023, since it is the biggest generator of sports betting action that exists, and without a MA market to take bets on that game, all that money will end up out of state. New England bettors have plenty of choices now, with most states there taking legal sports bets, so Super Bowl wagers will be made, and that handle will no doubt break records, a lucrative opportunity that the MGC is most likely considering. At last week’s MGC meeting, tempers apparently flared which indicates a frustration with the slow process, an irritation probably also felt by MA sports gamblers who are forced to watch the MLB’s postseason and the NFL’s regular season opportunities for wagering slipping right by.

Docs For Migrant Flights Show Possible Violation Of FDOT Contract Guidelines – NBC 6 South Florida https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/docs-for-migrant-flights-show-possible-violation-of-fdot-contract-guidelines-nbc-6-south-florida/ Documents released through public records requests show more details on how the state of Florida paid to move migrants from Texas to the small island community of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, last month. More than 50 pages show contracting guidelines, emails, and other proposals for the operation. The documents appear to show a violation of state contract guidelines given to companies bidding for the transportation job. NBC 6 reported earlier how state lawmakers approved $12 million to move “unauthorized aliens” from within the state of Florida. These migrants were found and transported from Texas to Massachusetts. A state senator has filed a lawsuit over that possible violation of state law, asking a judge to stop the program. Records show how much Florida taxpayers spent to send a group of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. NBC 6’s Steve Litz reports According to recently released guidelines from the Florida Department of Transportation, the program was meant to “assist in the voluntary relocation of unauthorized aliens who are found in Florida.” These guidelines may bolster the lawsuit from Florida State Sen. Jason Pizzo asking a judge to stop the program immediately. “No one approved you (Gov. Ron DeSantis) to spend this money outside the state of Florida on an issue or condition that was not existing,” said Pizzo, D-Miami. “We were sold a bad bill of goods that there’s an existential crisis going on with immigration inside the state of Florida. So there should have been plenty of people to choose from. You don’t have to go all the way to Texas.” Local NBC 6 requested comment from DeSantis’s office and has not yet heard back. In the past, he’s said the migrants were moved from Texas because they may have eventually moved to Florida. Most of the 48 migrants were originally from Venezuela. Part of the program, according to DeSantis at an earlier news conference, was to highlight the number of immigrants crossing the Mexico-United States border and to get northern more democratic states more invested in the problem. The contract guidelines also required the contractor, Vertol Systems, to check in with FDOT throughout the operation and confirm whether the migrants were “unauthorized aliens” under federal law. The migrants’ attorneys told NBC 6 most are permitted to be in the United States because they are seeking asylum and should not have been transported. The documents released included emails between the Florida Department of Transportation’s general counsel and James Montgomery, the owner of Vertol Systems. The emails show estimates for moving migrants from Florida to Los Angeles and Boston. Los Angeles was near twice the price. The migrants were eventually moved near Boston, where many democratic politicians and donors have houses in Martha’s Vineyard. NBC 6 texted and called Montgomery for a response and has not yet heard back. More documents are likely to emerge in this case as Pizzo’s court challenge gets its first hearing in the days ahead. The documents also reveal two other companies submitted paperwork to be involved: Gun Girls Procurement Solutions Inc. and Wheels Up. Susan Kushlin, the president of Gun Girls, told NBC Boston her company did not get the bid and was not involved in the flight to Martha’s Vineyard. She did not comment any further. Her company quoted the state of Florida $26,000 to transport up to five people with a bilingual security officer to Massachusetts. Her company often does work with the Florida Department of Corrections according to the state contractor portal. Wheels Up is a New York charter jet company. They also sent a brochure with pricing to the state, according to the documents. Florida-based Vertol Systems Co. eventually received the contract. That company has received $1.5 million out of the $12 million approved by lawmakers for two trips. Only one trip for more than $600,000 has become reality. The second trip, worth more than $900,000 according to state documents, appeared to be canceled. Several of the migrants’ attorneys have also filed suit against the DeSantis administration. Sheriff Javier Salazar from Bexar County in Texas has launched an investigation because the migrants were originally recruited from the San Antonio area. Governor DeSantis said at a news conference last month the program would continue.

German Tourism Industry Leaps Into The Digital Age – Hindustan Times https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/german-tourism-industry-leaps-into-the-digital-age-hindustan-times/ In this day and age, planning and booking a holiday on the internet has become the norm. So is trawling social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube for vacation inspiration. As a result, to stay competitive, travel companies and hotel chains must keep up with the digital age and ensure prospective holidaymakers can find and book their offerings online. The German tourism industry, however, has been slow to embrace the digital solutions. When the COVID pandemic hit, however, many were left with no choice but to go digital. Pandemic kick-starts digitization When pandemic-related travel restrictions made it difficult to travel abroad in 2020 and 2021, many Germans opted to spend their vacations within Germany. During the warmer months, German beaches were packed with holidaymakers, and many campsites and hotels were booked out for weeks. On top of that, many companies working in the tourist sector began advertising their services online. “The coronavirus pandemic forced and convinced small companies in particular to embrace digitization,” a spokesperson for the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) tells DW. (Also Read: China holiday tourist trips fall 18% over the week-long National Day holiday) Hotels and restaurants introduced a spate of innovations, such as virtual menus, online reservation and booking systems, as well as contact-less check-in options. A 2021 survey by the German Tourism Association (DTV) found that 84% of businesses said the pandemic had spurred digital transformation in the industry. Tourists visiting Germany’s East Frisian Islands can now, for example, use a special app to check-in and out of hotels, or book restaurant tables. Guests wishing to book and pay for a beach chair along Germany’s popular North Sea or Baltic Sea coast can do so online. And vacationers heading for spa towns can now buy virtual visitors’ cards, entitling them various discounts and free beach access. While progress has been made in some areas, Germany still lags behinds in others. Take cashless payments, for instance. While card payments are widely accepted in Denmark, Poland and Lithuania, many German businesses still run on cash. When out and about in rural Germany, you are also likely experience poor phone reception, slow internet, and a dearth of public wifi. Travelling back in time Overall, however, Germany’s tourism sector seems to have awoken from its analog slumber and is embracing the digital age. Almost overnight, many business have begun advertising their services online, investing in mobile-first and social media platforms, and using Instagram as a marketing tool. Some are even developing new gadgets and technologies to pull in new clients. City marketing agencies in Munich, Bamberg and Wolfenbuttel, for instance, now offer virtual tours to attract prospective tourists. The city of Essen, in Germany’s far-west, began running hybrid tours that combine virtual and analog elements in 2021. Visitors don virtual reality goggles, which track their GPS location, showing them what Essen city life was like in the late 19th century. Other companies offer similar history tours of Cologne. Sign up with TimeRide Go!, and you can experience certain parts of Cologne as they were decades ago thanks to special virtual reality glasses. Airbnb, the popular accommodation platform, also offers virtual cooking classes, and online-only tours of famous landmarks, such as India’s iconic Taj Mahal palace. Travel agencies are also letting clients explore potential holiday destinations with virtual reality goggles. All this helps attract and retain customers. Managing visitor flows Traveling around Germany has become much easier in recent years thanks to new digital technologies. Some are applied to better manage visitor flows and avoid overcrowding of roads, tourist attractions, beaches and so forth. When masses of German holidaymakers streamed to the North Sea coast in the summer of 2020 and 2021, crowding beaches, authorities found themselves worrying about how to ensure social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They then tasked a marketing agency with developing a virtual traffic light system indicating how many people are frequenting local beaches at any given time. Laser sensors register the number of beachgoers and vehicles in an area, then translate this information into a simple, color-coded traffic light heuristic accessible online and displayed on local monitors. This way, people at home, and nearby, can pick less frequented beaches to avoid overcrowding. Challenges remain Germany’s Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) says some business still, however, have a hard time integrating digital technologies into their existing infrastructure. Two reasons explain this sluggish uptake, according to industry association DTV: A lack of funds and pronounced staff-shortages. The latter has meant that companies lack employees with the necessary expertise to oversee such changes. That said, not all services could or should be shifted online. The tourist trade is built, after all, on interpersonal encounters, hospitality, brick-and-mortar hotels and restaurants, great food and friendly smiles. After all, this is what holidays are really all about.

Seattle DJC.com Local Business News And Data – Construction – Light Rail Reopening Today In Tacoma – Seattle Daily Journal Of Commerce https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/seattle-djc-com-local-business-news-and-data-construction-light-rail-reopening-today-in-tacoma-seattle-daily-journal-of-commerce/ Subscriber content preview October 11, 2022 TACOMA — Sound Transit today expects to reopen its light rail line in Tacoma. The line was closed in early August so that crews could hook up new tracks to the existing line as part of the $282 million Hilltop Link Extension project. It was supposed to reopen Sept. 16, but engineers found areas of stray electrical current under a segment of the new track during final systems testing.  . . .

Philips Drives Purposeful Partnerships Towards Sustainable Healthcare With Future-Ready Solutions At Global Health 2022 – ZAWYA https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/philips-drives-purposeful-partnerships-towards-sustainable-healthcare-with-future-ready-solutions-at-global-health-2022-zawya/ Philips’ comprehensive future-ready solutions are designed to make healthcare work better, while enabling inclusive, sustainable and resilient healthcare systems. Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, is pioneering purposeful partnerships embedded in future-ready solutions at Global Health 2022 (9 – 11 October 2022) in Riyadh. At the heart of future-ready innovations and partnerships, Philips is enabling inclusive and resilient healthcare systems, while reducing the fraternity’s dependency on natural resources, to ensure sustainable care across the continuum – from healthy living and prevention to diagnosis, treatment and home care. “We know that health technology solutions have great potential to improve patient outcomes and care delivery, but technology is only as strong as the people behind it,” says Mohamed Sindi, CEO for Philips Saudi Arabia. “If these solutions are underpinned by long lasting expert partnerships, collaboration at the system level between all stakeholders including governments, public and private providers and healthcare payors, and continued investments in bringing the vision of healthcare transformation to life, progress and a positive impact is inevitable.” Innovation at the centre of future-ready partnerships By combining and leveraging advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions, Philips is continuously developing portfolios of scalable smart connected innovations that help to alleviate healthcare challenges, strengthen the health system and improve lives across the region. A prime example is emerging smart technologies such as AI and machine learning that will increasingly shape the future of care. These technologies are the driving force behind innovative solutions – and have the potential to transform patient care, quality and outcomes. Philips uses AI to turn data into actionable insights that enable more precise, predictive, personalised and accessible care across the continuum. This equips healthcare providers to do what they do best – prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor – and helps people take better care of their own health and well-being. Core to its innovation, Philips places a growing focus on the role that informatics plays in improving health outcomes and improving patient and staff satisfaction. Informatics is key to facilitating collaboration among caregivers and allowing a more complete view of the patient in order to support clinical decision making. Informatics is also the backbone of telehealth, which helps increase access to care as well as instrumental in improving operational efficiency. Ultimately, planet- and people-conscience, interoperable and future-ready innovations will support healthcare partners to deliver against the quadruple aim: meeting the challenge of improving health outcomes, at a lower cost, while increasing patient and staff experiences. “Philips has long been at the forefront of developing and deploying solutions that enable more precise, more predictive, more personalized and more accessible healthcare, while improving patient and staff experience,” says Sindi. “With the healthcare systems across the Middle East primed to undergo a radical transformation, we are excited co-create the future of patient-centric care to make the world healthier and more sustainable, which is our ultimate ambition.” Global Health 2022 is taking place at the Riyadh International Convention Center from 9 – 11 October 2022. For more information, visit the Philips Global Health webpage and follow @PhilipsME on Twitter for live #GlobalHealth2022 updates. -Ends- For further information, please contact: Philips Middle East & Turkey Rengin Erdinc Head of Brand and Communications Email: Rengin.Erdinc@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 79,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Teachers Call For End To Mandatory Retention Policy – Warren Tribune Chronicle https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/teachers-call-for-end-to-mandatory-retention-policy-warren-tribune-chronicle/ A Campbell teacher joined the Ohio Education Association on Monday to urge the Ohio Senate to pass a bill that would eliminate a requirement that third-graders be held back a grade if they do not hit a certain score on a standardized reading test. Since the 2013-14 school year, third-grade students have taken a standardized test each spring and the score they get determines if they will continue to fourth grade, or be retained in third grade. House Bill 497 would change that, so students still would take the test, but parents would work with their child’s teacher to decide if retention is best for that student. It has been approved by the Ohio House, but not the Ohio Senate. OEA President Scott DiMauro said this is a one-size-fits-all approach that data shows does not benefit students and has not been an effective approach to raising reading scores. One local teacher has seen how this negatively affects students firsthand. Karen Carney, a fourth-grade teacher at Campbell Elementary School, said being retained is devastating to a child’s self-esteem and compared it to wearing a scarlet letter around school. In her many years of teaching, she has taught students in first through fourth grade. “Unfortunately, that third grade reading guarantee and that retention piece that goes with it is something that has just caused nightmares all around,” Carney said. “My first year in third grade, I overheard two little girls taking about, ‘oh my gosh did you hear that if we don’t pass this test, they won’t let us go to fourth grade?’ No 8- or 9-year-old should have to go through anything as stressful as that. School should be a place where you feel safe — where you feel people are your cheerleaders — and that’s exactly what we do here. That was an incident that completely broke my heart.” Since the mandatory retention policy began in Ohio, Ohio State Board of Education member Christina Collins said an average of 3,628 students are retained per year. Of those, only 8 percent hit a proficient mark in reading in fourth grade. She also said this policy disproportionately affects minority and disadvantaged students. Of those students who are retained each year, 48 percent are black, 31 percent are white and 92 percent are economically disadvantaged. “In the business world, such minimal return on investment would be considered a failure,” Collins said. The featured speakers agreed that retention is sometimes necessary, but that decision should be between those who know students best, their teachers and parents, not a score they earned one time. Carney pointed out that some students have anxiety and are bad test-takers, so the score they earn on one day at one time may not be reflective of their actual abilities. The House bill is co-sponsored by Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and Phillip Robinson Jr., D-Solon. It was passed by the house June 1 by a vote of 82-10, then introduced into the Senate on June 8. Manning said she originally voted for the legislation that instated the mandatory retention policy, but since then, she has seen how it has hurt students. “Ending mandatory retention has broad bipartisan support because it’s the right thing to do for kids,” Manning said. “These decisions should be made by parents and educators, not dictated by a score on a test.” The Senate will take up the legislation when it returns to session later this fall. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Intellectual Property Enforcement In The Metaverse, Part 1 – Lexology https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/intellectual-property-enforcement-in-the-metaverse-part-1-lexology/ For creators who seek to protect their intellectual property (IP), the idea of enforcing intellectual property rights in the metaverse may initially appear to be daunting. After all, given the metaverse’s association with blockchain and land ownership, it is easy to think of enforcement of intellectual property rights in the metaverse as being very different from enforcement on traditional media platforms such as YouTube. But is enforcement of intellectual property in the metaverse all that different from enforcement outside the metaverse? The answer is complicated and depends to a large extent on the Terms of Service that different media platforms and metaverse companies implement. In Part 1 of this three-part blog series, we examine how intellectual property rights online are normally enforced and how that model may translate to the metaverse. In Part 2, we will focus on the implications for IP enforcement of certain metaverse properties linked to the blockchain. We will conclude in Part 3 with a bigger-picture analysis of the future of IP enforcement in the metaverse. Enforcement Outside the Metaverse Enforcement outside the metaverse is governed by a mix of self-policing based on various platforms’ Terms of Service, lawsuits seeking the removal of infringing content and international dispute resolution bodies. Different dispute resolution procedures are available for different types of infringement. For example, to contest the use of another’s trademark in a domain name, the trademark owner can submit a Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) complaint to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Registrars must require all website owners who register domain names with them to agree to the UDRP dispute resolution terms, and the registrars have the power to cancel the domains and transfer them to the rightful trademark owner if the WIPO administrative panel determines the domain name is confusingly similar to another’s trademark and was registered in bad faith and without any legitimate interest in the domain name. But this procedure is available only for trademark infringement in a domain name (i.e., the URL). For trademark infringement (and copyright infringement) occurring within the pages of a website, the trademark or copyright owner can request removal from the website owner, the website’s host or the platform (for third-party content), according to procedures often laid out in each entity’s Terms of Service. If the website owner, host or platform elects not to remove the content, then litigation is likely the only remaining option. For copyright infringement (but not trademark infringement), the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) creates a safe harbor that limits liability for service providers who, inter alia, “respond[] expeditiously to remove, or disable access to … material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity.” (17 U.S. Code Section 512). The DMCA incentivizes service providers to promptly remove content infringing another’s copyright and is likely the catalyst for some service providers’ robust Terms of Service and self-policing enforcement mechanism. For example, YouTube’s Terms of Service prohibit the uploading of content that violates intellectual property rights, gives YouTube the ability to remove purportedly offending content, provides a designated agent for the submission of copyright removal requests and allows for the termination of account holders who repeatedly infringe. For website operators who are themselves directly infringing another’s copyright or trademark (as opposed to third-party content posted on a platform such as YouTube or Facebook), the rights owner can report the infringement to the website’s hosting company. But often the only effective means of removing such content is by filing a lawsuit and obtaining an injunction from a court ordering that the website host remove the content. Enforcement in the Metaverse Looking inside the metaverse, things are not necessarily that different. Here, it is important to note that not all metaverses are associated with the blockchain and land ownership. Meta’s Horizon Worlds, for instance, is a metaverse that is not on the blockchain and also doesn’t provide for land ownership in its metaverse. And at least based on the Terms of Service for Horizon Worlds, enforcement of intellectual property in its metaverse looks a lot like enforcement of intellectual property on the outside. Broadly speaking, Meta’s Terms of Service, which covers products such as Horizon Worlds, similarly prohibits content that infringes on intellectual property rights and gives Meta the sole discretion to remove content that it determines to be in violation, providing a Designated Agent for submitting notification of any infringement (including both copyright and trademark). It additionally allows Meta to disable or delete the accounts of persons who repeatedly breach such violations. So, at least in its general contours as it relates to intellectual property enforcement, Meta’s Terms of Service look fairly traditional. In Part 2 of this blog series, we will show how adoption of the blockchain by some metaverse properties may disturb this status quo of IP enforcement.

27 Best Amazon Prime Day Deals 2022 For The Home, According To AD Editors–Shop Apple, Kindle, Tuft & Needle And More – Architectural Digest https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/27-best-amazon-prime-day-deals-2022-for-the-home-according-to-ad-editors-shop-apple-kindle-tuft-needle-and-more-architectural-digest/ Just when you thought your bank account was safe until the holidays, the best Prime Day deals 2022 has to offer showed up in full force. More than a month before the classic Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shopping rush, we wouldn’t blame you for feeling a bit thrown off guard. To help you wade through the Early Access Sale deals, we’re curating the best deals on offer, with deep discounts on Amazon devices like Kindles and smart home tech gadgets to furniture, mattresses and more. Read on for the best of the best Amazon Prime Day deals our editors have been eyeing. Best Amazon Prime Day deals: Personal Tech When else are you going to see deals on hands-free Apple AirPods, Bluetooth smart speakers, as well as home security and Amazon Alexa–assisted speakers? Check out the best Prime Day deals 2022 we’re eyeing when it comes to tech.  How often do you see Apple products on sale? Prime Day is the time to snag a pair of discounted AirPods. Beats Fit Pro – True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds – Apple H1 Headphone Chip, Compatible with Apple & Android Wireless earbuds with noise cancellation are a must, and these Beats offer a six-hour battery life and powerful sound quality. If you’re one of the seemingly few people who haven’t purchased a Kindle yet, scoring one while it’s $40 off could be the move.  Best Amazon Prime Day deals: Home Goods If you’re in the mood to upgrade your bedroom, you’ll find everything you need to design a space that looks and feels like a million bucks (but certainly doesn’t cost it) during this second Prime Day. LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home This Levoit air purifier has a three stage filtration system and is capable of filtering the air in rooms up to 178 square feet. Levoit Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier For something with a little more power, try the Levoit 400S, which can clean a room over just over 400 square feet and cured social media manager Rebecca Grambone’s puffy morning eyes. Casper Sleep Original Pillow for Sleeping, Standard, White The Casper pillow offers a down alternative fill that is supportive at the core and covered in a soft shell that makes it as cozy as it is structured. Nod by Tuft & Needle 6-Inch Twin Mattress This Tuft & Needle is the perfect lightweight mattress option. It comes in a box, is made of six inches of responsive memory foam, and is nicely discounted during the shopping event of the season. Mayfair Linen 100% Cotton Sheets Let’s look at the numbers: These ultra durable cotton sheets come in 44 colors, 13 bed sizes, and are 14% off. We like the sound of that. Best Prime Day Deals: TV & Entertainment Insignia 32-inch Class F20 Series Smart HD 720p Fire TV (NS-32F201NA22, 2021 Model) Upgrade your TV with this 32-inch Insignia. It offers 720p resolution and has smart capabilities that make it super convenient. Insignia 24-inch Class F20 Series Smart HD 720p Amazon Fire TV Maybe you don’t need all the fixings of a super high tech TV, but you still want a reliable machine to binge a show every once in a while. Might we suggest this under-$100 HD TV with more than 26,000 happy shoppers?  More than 14,000 customers have given this best-selling Apple TV a five star review. Best Amazon Prime Day deals: Kitchen Appliances Home chefs and kitchenware aficionados will be happy to hear that there are lots of good deals being cooked up this time around. Don’t skip a Prime Day sale must-have like a coffeemaker or an Instant Pot. COSORI Electric Gooseneck Kettle with 5 Variable Presets, Pour Over Kettle & Coffee Kettle With five presets and a gooseneck spout, this electric kettle makes it easy to get hot water fast. It can boil up to .85-quarts of water in 1-5 minutes. Ninja AF101 Air Fryer that Crisps, Roasts, Reheats, & Dehydrates, for Quick, Easy Meals, 4 Quart Capacity, & High Gloss Finish, Black/Grey This Ninja air fryer makes it easy to cook, crisp or dehydrate your favorite foods. It holds up to four quarts, so you can cook as many french fries as your heart desires. Vitamix 5200 Blender Professional-Grade, Self-Cleaning 64 oz Container, Black – 001372 If you’ve ever wanted a Vitamix, today is the day! We’d highly recommend taking advantage of this price tag while you can.  Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker, Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer, With Iced Coffee Capability, Brushed Gold Whether you like it iced or piping hot, this single-serve Keurig coffee maker is here to help you out. You can choose your cup size and brew it perfectly with just the touch of a button. Best Amazon Prime Day Deals: Smart Home & Security Join the 21st century this Prime Day with some top of the line home tech. Several of our perennial favorites, like the wi-fi enabled August Smart Lock, are marked down for the big day—no coupon required. We also highly recommend checking out the Prime Day TV deals if you’re making big ticket purchases in that category (Samsung Frames are a popular choice amongst Clever home tour subjects), or for any laptops or streaming devices. August Wi-Fi (4th Gen) Smart Lock We love a good smart home device. This smart lock from August makes it way easier to secure your home–and to share access with friends and family–without keys. It works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit for seamless connection. SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class QLED 4K UHD Q80A Series Smart TV A smart TV with Alexa built in for under $1,000? That doesn’t happen every day. You’ll be captivated by lifelike color and 3D audio all in one.  Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with latest Alexa Voice Remote (includes TV controls), Dolby Vision Make all your home theater and streaming dreams come true with a Fire Stick at 25% off. More than 123,000 customers have testified to its value.  Blink Outdoor – wireless, weather-resistant HD security camera, two-year battery life, motion detection, set up in minutes Keep your home safe and secure (as well as an eye on your Prime Day packages!) with a handy Blink video doorbell. Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) | Smart display with Alexa and 2 MP camera | Charcoal If you’re looking for security and a personal assistant all in one, an Echo Show could be the deal for you. The Show will connect and manage all of your smart home gadgets and even keep you entertained with Netflix or Prime Video.  Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Smart Speaker Nearly one million reviewers have given Amazon’s lightweight smart speaker a run for its money. Best Amazon Prime Day deals: Vacuums Vacuuming doesn’t have to suck (metaphorically, that is). We’re excited to see that more than a few reliable cleaners we’ve tested—like contributor Terri Williams’ favorite Shark robot vacuum designed for hardwood floors and the iRobot Roomba 692 that was one of the most purchased products by Clever readers last year—are on sale during the 2022 Prime Day bonanza. If you’re casually in the market for a vacuum, keep scrolling! We can pretty much guarantee that there’s a vacuum for every household on sale somewhere across the internet right now.  iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum This Roomba has all the fixings of a perfect robot vacuum at a fraction of the price–and more than 22,000 Amazon customers agree. The best part? It gets better every time it does its job with advanced mapping technology. Dreametech T10 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Calling all minimalists: feast your eyes on this crisp white and stainless steel vacuum. The Dreametech T10 boasts Dyson-style cordless technology and a detachable battery, plus powerful suction, a long runtime, and an incredibly sleek design.  Shark RV1001AE IQ Robot Self-Empty XL, Robot Vacuum with IQ Navigation, Home Mapping, Self-Cleaning Brushroll, Wi-Fi Connected, Works with Alexa, Black If you prefer an upright model with an extra boost of power, try this Shark specimen, which is bagless and formulated for pet hair. iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Bundle What’s not to love about a self-emptying vacuum? This very special Roomba claims to be so intelligent that it can not only detect pet waste, but also avoid it–and thus any messes that come with it. Shark AV752 ION Robot Vacuum, with Tri-Brush System, Wi-Fi Connected, 120min Runtime, Works with Alexa, Multi-Surface Cleaning, White This cool, sleek Shark has more than 12,000 positive reviews to back it up. Control it with your phone (you can even schedule cleanings while you’re not around) and watch it do its thing for 120 minutes on a single charge.  BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum, Flexi Blue/Grey/White (HHVI315JO42) Is there anything more handy than powerful little dustbuster? Pick up small spills, keep your car clean, or trail that messy family member as they leave crumbs around the house. And it’s priced under $40!  When is Amazon Prime Day? Technically, the two-day sales extravaganza started very early this morning at 12 a.m. PST and will run through 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, October 12.  How does Prime Day work? A Prime membership is required to take advantage of the deals. Luckily, it doesn’t take much to become an Amazon Prime member. They offer a free 30-day trial for newbies, and after that it’s $14.99 per month to take advantage of their blazing fast shipping, Prime Video, and all the other benefits the mega retailer offers. And a note for book on tape nerds, an Audible membership is sold separately.  Now, on to the deals. Some last the full 48 hours, others are what they call “lightning deals” and don’t last more than a few hours.  We recommend a few things:

Crypto News Today: Here’s Why You Should Look Out For Ethereum, Binance Coin, And Moshnake For The Next Bull Market? – Analytics Insight https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/crypto-news-today-heres-why-you-should-look-out-for-ethereum-binance-coin-and-moshnake-for-the-next-bull-market-analytics-insight/ Crypto News Today: Here’s Why You Should Look Out for Ethereum, Binance Coin, and Moshnake For The Next Bull Market?  Analytics Insight

Hong Kong Nixes US Sanctions On Russian-Owned Superyacht – KY3 https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/hong-kong-nixes-us-sanctions-on-russian-owned-superyacht-ky3/ HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader John Lee said Tuesday he will only implement United Nations sanctions, after the U.S. warned the territory’s status as a financial center could be affected if it acts as a safe haven for sanctioned individuals. Lee’s statement Tuesday came days after a luxury yacht connected to Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov docked in the city. Mordashov, who is believed to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was sanctioned by the U.S., U.K. and the European Union in February after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hong Kong authorities have said that they do not implement unilateral sanctions imposed by other governments. “We cannot do anything that has no legal basis,” Lee told reporters. “We will comply with United Nations sanctions, that is our system, that is our rule of law,” he said. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement Monday that “the possible use of Hong Kong as a safe haven by individuals evading sanctions from multiple jurisdictions further calls into question the transparency of the business environment.” The State Department spokesperson also said the city’s reputation as a financial center “depends on its adherence to international laws and standards” and that U.S. companies “increasingly view Hong Kong’s business environment with wariness” due to an erosion of Hong Kong’s once high degree of autonomy and its freedoms. The $500-million superyacht Nord, allegedly owned by Mordashov, moored in Hong Kong’s harbor on Wednesday following a weeklong journey from the Russian city of Vladivostok. Mordashov is one of Russia’s richest men, with an estimated wealth of about $18 billion. He also is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel and mining company. Mordashov has tried to challenge the sanctions against him in European courts. U.S. and European authorities have seized over a dozen yachts belonging to sanctioned Russian tycoons to prevent them from sailing to other ports that are not affected by the sanctions. So Russian oligarchs have begun docking their yachts at ports in places like Turkey, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Russia since the war began. The Nord measures 141.6 meters (464.6 feet), has two helipads, a swimming pool and 20 cabins. It is operating under a Russian flag. Beijing sets foreign policy for Hong Kong and has demurred from participating in sanctions against Russia for its attack on Ukraine. Britain handed control over its colony Hong Kong to China in 1997, promising to respect its semi-autonomous status as a separate economic and customs territory. The semi-autonomous city’s status as an international business hub and financial center has suffered in recent years after Beijing imposed a tough national security law on the city, aimed primarily at stamping out dissent following months of antigovernment protests in 2019. Critics say the security law, which in certain cases allows for suspects to be transferred to mainland China for trial in its opaque legal system, could threaten Hong Kong’s rule of law. Following passage of the law in 2020, the United States sanctioned Lee, then Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other Hong Kong and mainland Chinese government officials, for “undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly.” Lee blasted the ban on personal and official travel to the U.S. and access to the American financial system. He was responding to a question of whether he is paid in cash, as was the case for Lam, who was also placed under U.S. sanctions that limit the ability of those designated for such penalties to transfer funds across national boundaries or convert them into different currencies. “The second thing about the so-called sanction imposed on people in Hong Kong without justification, it is a very barbaric act, and I’m not going to comment on the effect of such barbaric act, because officials in Hong Kong do what is right to protect the interests of the country, and the interests of Hong Kong, so we will just laugh off the so-called sanctions,” Lee said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Virginia Tech Advises Coal Counties On Job Growth – Cardinal News https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/virginia-tech-advises-coal-counties-on-job-growth-cardinal-news/ A study commissioned by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority confirmed it is on the right track when it comes to the targets of its job growth and investment efforts. The study, conducted by the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement, recommends that VCEDA continue to focus on the advanced manufacturing, electronic information technology, energy-related enterprises and creative tourism industries. Jonathan Belcher. Courtesy of VCEDA. Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA’s executive director and general counsel, called the results of the study “reassuring.” “Overall, the targets made sense to us. It was well researched and validated what we’re focusing on. It helps us better understand that the targets valued have not changed,” he said. Four target industries These are the four target industries identified in the Tech study: Advanced manufacturing — machinery manufacturing, fabricated metal manufacturing, wood product and furniture-related manufacturing and electrical equipment manufacturing Electronic information technology — software development, telecommunications and data, and IT support services Energy-related enterprises — renewable energy and manufacturing and battery storage and manufacturing Creative tourism — including artisan restaurants and traded sector pursuits, food-based agriculture and research and outdoor recreation The results of the study were presented in September to the VCEDA board. The authority was created in 1988 by the General Assembly to diversify the region’s economy and create jobs. It covers the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, Wise and the city of Norton. The study cost about $25,000, according to Belcher. The last such study was done in 2014 by a North Carolina consulting firm and the results were similar, he said. Scott Tate, associate director of the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement, worked on the report along with two colleagues. It was conducted between February and August, he said. The center has done a number of the studies for counties and regional economic development organizations, he said. “It makes sense every few years to reassess the economic context and look at trends and opportunities to see how best to align a region’s efforts at economic development, including attracting prospects,” Tate said. After the four targets were identified, the report pinpointed several sub-sectors of interest and included justifications for zeroing in on those target firms, challenges that must be overcome and opportunities for each sector. Results One of the most positive takeaways from the analysis was that the region is outperforming national averages in key sector areas, Belcher said. That was the case in advanced manufacturing, particularly machinery manufacturing, fabricated metal products and electrical equipment, which all grew more than the national average over the last five years, according to the report. In 2021, there were 26 businesses involved in machinery manufacturing in the VCEDA region that accounted for nearly 800 jobs, according to the report. That number is “126% greater than the national average for employment. From 2017-2021, the VCEDA region experienced a 23% increase in jobs in this sector compared to a 3% national decrease and a 0% change in Virginia,” the report states. The report cited three companies in the area that are involved in machinery manufacturing, Tadano Mantis Corp. in Richlands, which makes telescopic boom crawler cranes; Komatsu, which has locations in Abingdon, Duffield and Norton and manufactures construction, mining, forestry and industrial equipment; and Simmons Equipment Co. in Tazewell, which makes mining equipment. Challenges Belcher said the challenge that stood out most to him was the lack of enough available land in the region and too few sites for some categories of industries. The report states that the region has a number of sites, but “product quality varies, and larger shovel-ready sites are a challenge. The region’s largest ready-to-go site is under 100 acres, smaller than desired by larger manufacturing prospects. Specifically looking at Southwest, currently, only five sites over 100 acres were identified for investment by Virginia Build Ready Sites program.” According to the report, many sites and buildings aren’t “ideal fits” for typical industries due to topography, workforce and proximity to infrastructure such as interstates, airports and the Port of Virginia. “These challenges, particularly topography, mean that sites will often cost more to develop in Southwest Virginia than in other parts of the state and may take longer to realize project wins,” it states. A number of manufacturing and supply chain projects are lost due to the lack of well-prepared sites or available buildings. Plus, some sites are in “distressed communities” with higher-than-average unemployment or poverty rates, which make it tough to attract businesses, according to the findings. There are also challenges with employees, the study found. Some employers say they have difficulty filling open jobs because a high number lack the skills required and many fail to pass a drug test or criminal records check. Opportunities Opportunities identified for the region include its low cost of living and low labor and energy costs, which are highly competitive in Virginia and the nation, the report states. Another strength is the region’s higher education institutions, which have partnerships with manufacturers in job training, research and development. An example cited in the report was a partnership developed by Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College, and Wytheville Community College to expand the training and development to prepare workers to enter the supply chain manufacturing for the offshore wind energy field. One service that was mentioned as both a positive and a negative in the study was broadband access. Broadband is now available in many areas in the VCEDA region. The study points out that in 2021, the region received more than $45 million in broadband grants to install more connections. However, another section of the report notes that while broadband access has improved, “there are still areas lacking infrastructure, making it difficult for small business owners, remote workers, and others to have that last mile broadband access. Survey results show that the majority of the Pound River region in Dickenson County is devoid of anything that could be considered a reliable internet connection.” Conclusions Tate said two things stood out to him in the study’s findings. The first was that an identified target sector was energy-related enterprises and the sub-sector of renewable energy and battery storage and manufacturing. In 2021, the VCEDA region had nearly 1,400 jobs in these industries and the workers had average earnings of more than $75,000, he said. The other was that creative tourism was identified as a sector of importance. VCEDA has been providing seed funding to help businesses start and grow in this sector, Tate said. Over the last five years, 43 small businesses related to accommodation and food services received VCEDA seed capital funding, which created at least 131 full-time jobs and 239 part-time jobs. Seed capital funding was granted to 49 small businesses in the region related to arts, entertainment, recreation and retail trade, creating at least 99 full-time jobs and 115 part-time jobs, he said. Belcher said he was also struck by the recommendation of creative tourism, which he said is fairly new as an industry target and is tourism plus added value. To help the region grow, the analysis made the following recommendations: –   Improve the number and quality of “shovel ready” sites –  Collaborate with regional educational institutions to align programs with industry needs –  Create a foundation for cooperative partnership initiatives and alliances in the region – Market universal broadband coverage coming to residents and businesses –  Offer entrepreneurial services and resources to assist companies in the early stages.

Annual Global Gaming Expo Returns To Las Vegas And Its Bigger Than Ever – KLAS – 8 News Now https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/annual-global-gaming-expo-returns-to-las-vegas-and-its-bigger-than-ever-klas-8-news-now/ (KLAS) (KLAS) by: Madison Kimbro Posted: Oct 10, 2022 / 10:45 PM PDT Updated: Oct 10, 2022 / 10:46 PM PDT LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Annual Global Gaming Expo is back at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas and it is bigger than ever this year. More than 300 exhibitors from all over the world will showcase their latest products and innovations in an expanded showroom floor spanning over 250,000 square feet. This year is offering much more to see and more people are seeing it. Many international travelers are attending this year’s expo after restrictions on overseas travel led to a decline in visitors in 2021. When asked about what the future of gaming will look like, Phil O’Shaughnessy, with International Game Technology, says it’s all about going cashless. “What we are accustomed to doing like getting a cup of coffee with our phone is now becoming the norm in casinos. We just announced in Station Casinos here in Vegas, six of their properties will offer IGT’s technology in cashless gaming,” O’Shaughnessy shared. Sports betting has also increased in popularity. There is also a huge demand for land base and digital gaming. “We offer Game King Video Poker and Ultimate X Video Poker. We were thrilled to win the best slot product at the Global Gaming Awards incorporating sports betting within it,” said O’Shaughnessy. The showroom floor opens on Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. and runs through Thursday, Oct. 13 with registration open throughout the entire expo.

40 Acres Burn During Large Brush Fire In Southeast Bexar County – KENS5.com https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/40-acres-burn-during-large-brush-fire-in-southeast-bexar-county-kens5-com/ A total of 60 personnel with 20 units from SAFD and Wilson County were on the scene. SAN ANTONIO — A large brush fire seen spreading through southeast Bexar County Monday afternoon has been contained, according to Tom Peine, Bexar County Spokesperson.  The fire was reported in the 1200 block of Donop Road around 4:30 p.m. Donop Road off Highway 181 and Corpus Christi Road has also been reopened. Officials say 40 acres along with one abandoned structure was burned. Peine said no evacuations are underway. A total of 60 personnel with 20 units from SAFD and Wilson County were on the scene. SAPD Eagle was also in the area. No deaths were reported and cause of the fire is still under investigation. Adriana Olalde sent us this video of the fire:

NIU Jazz Orchestra And Jazz Ensemble ‘travel’ The World Through Music – Northern Star Online https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/niu-jazz-orchestra-and-jazz-ensemble-travel-the-world-through-music-northern-star-online/ By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Writer|October 10, 2022 Madelaine Vikse NIU Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble hosted their first concert of the semester on Oct. 6 in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star) The NIU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra held their first concert of the fall semester on Thursday.  Led by professor Rodrigo Villanueva Conroy and graduate teaching assistant Austyn Menk, the Jazz Ensemble started the concert with “Hay Burner,” a chart by Sammy Nestico. “I missed the music,” said Tim Schultz, a DeKalb resident. Schultz came to see his son Jared, a sophomore music major, play. “It’s good to be back,” Schultz added.  After the saxophone soli and trumpet solo in “Hay Burner,” the band moved on to their second song, “Beyond the Limit,” a Bob Mintzer composition. The ensemble’s third song, “A Child is Born,” written by Thaddeus Jones, was slower than the first two songs. The song started with a piano solo which morphed into a flugelhorn solo by trumpet player Olivia Garcia. “We have been working on these tunes,” said Garcia, a junior music education major. “When we get up there, I think the energy’s gonna be there, and then we’re just going to execute it well.”   Paisley Stevens, a junior music major, said she attended the concert because she used to play jazz and hopes to join the band next year. “Thad Jones’ charts have so much crazy stuff, so that’s fun to hear,” Stevens said. The Jazz Ensemble finished their set with “Boplicity,” made famous by Miles Davis and written by Cleo Henry and Gil Evans.  “Ain’t it feel good to swing!” said Jazz Orchestra director and professor of jazz studies Reginald “Reggie” Thomas after walking on stage. Menk struck the first chords to “Corner Pocket (Until I Met You)” by Freddie Green and the Jazz Orchestra was underway.  Going into the next song, Thomas announced a project the jazz department is starting. This year, the bands will be “traveling” through music to places that helped form jazz, according to Thomas.  Thomas figuratively took the band to New Orleans and introduced them to Louis Armstrong through a song written by Armstrong’s second wife, Lil Hardin Armstrong, “Struttin’ With Some Barbeque.” The song was centered around a trombone solo from Kirby Fellis, a second-year graduate teaching assistant, which felt straight out of a New Orleans second line. Its simplistic melodic progression and intense dancing spirit filled the room. In a conversation after the show, Fellis and Menk talked about their favorite parts of the show.  “It is inspiring to play with people like this,” Fellis said about his performance. Menk responded, saying, “That’s what it’s all about.”  The smooth alto saxophone from second-year music performance graduate student Evon Sams shone in the group’s slowed-down version of Billy Strayhorn’s “Take The ‘A’ Train.”  The concert closed with another Thomas-led musical vacation, this time to Trinidad and Tobago with the song “Calypsoscope” composed by Matt Harris. “Calypsoscope” featured Sams, Menk and guitarist Jackson Wheeler, a junior music major.  For those who attended the concert for loved ones, the music played a part in the decision. Amanda Perez, a junior music major, came to watch her boyfriend perform.  “I look forward to jazz,” Perez said. “It’s good to hear something different from day to day music.” The NIU Jazz Ensemble will have their next concert on Nov. 14 and the Jazz Orchestra will have theirs on Nov. 17. To students thinking about coming to these shows, Zaire Burks, a sophomore music major, said the show was “a concert you needed to go to. If you love good music, know it’s on your campus.”

AP Business SummaryBrief At 12:54 A.m. EDT – Federal News Network https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/ap-business-summarybrief-at-1254-a-m-edt-federal-news-network/ Supreme Court to hear case that could raise price of pork WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday over a California animal cruelty law that could raise the cost of bacon and other pork products nationwide. The case’s outcome is important to the nation’s $26-billion-a-year pork industry. But the outcome could also help define the limits of states’ ability to pass laws with impact outside their borders, including laws aimed at combating… READ MORE Supreme Court to hear case that could raise price of pork WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday over a California animal cruelty law that could raise the cost of bacon and other pork products nationwide. The case’s outcome is important to the nation’s $26-billion-a-year pork industry. But the outcome could also help define the limits of states’ ability to pass laws with impact outside their borders, including laws aimed at combating climate change or improving drug prices. The case before the court involves a California law that says pork sold in the state needs to come from pigs whose mothers were raised with at least 24 square feet of space, including the ability to lie down and turn around. Ex-Fed Chair Bernanke shares Nobel for bank failure research STOCKHOLM (AP) — This year’s Nobel Prize in economic sciences has been awarded to former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke and two other U.S.-based economists. Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip H. Dybvig were recognized Monday for their research into the fallout from bank failures. The Nobel panel at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm said the trio’s research had shown “why avoiding bank collapses is vital.” The panel says that the findings of the three in the early 1980s laid the foundations for regulating financial markets and dealing with financial crises. Tourists flock to Japan after COVID restrictions lifted TOKYO (AP) — Eager to admire colorful foliage, eat sushi and go shopping, droves of tourists from abroad started arriving in Japan. The government lifted border restrictions Tuesday, which had been in place for more than two years to curb the coronavirus pandemic. The daily cap of 50,000 arrivals is gone. Airlines have added flights. Visa-free travel is back for short-term business and tourism. Travelers are expected to deliver a sorely needed $35 billion boost to the world’s third-largest economy. And the flood of visitors is expected to keep growing. Families of crash victims rain wrath on Airbus, Air France PARIS (AP) — Distraught families whose loved ones died in Air France’s worst-ever crash have shouted down the CEOs of the airline and of planemaker Airbus as the two companies go on trial on manslaughter charges in Paris over the 2009 crash. The flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris in 2009 plunged into the Atlantic amid thunderstorms. The crash killed all 228 people aboard and led to changes in air safety regulations. Families from around the world are among the plaintiffs. The companies insist they are not criminally responsible and Air France has already compensated families. The trial that began Monday is expected to focus on the icing over of sensors called pitot tubes and pilot error. Small business group files suit over Biden student loan plan WASHINGTON (AP) — A small business advocacy group has filed a new lawsuit seeking to block the Biden administration’s efforts to forgive student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans. The suit, filed Monday by the Job Creators Network Foundation, argues the Biden administration violated federal procedures by failing to seek public input on the program. It also argues the program is arbitrary, benefiting some borrowers, but not others. It’s one of a handful of lawsuits filed by conservative business groups, attorneys, and Republican lawmakers in recent weeks as the Biden administration tries to push forward with its plan to cancel billions in debt before November’s midterm elections. Florida shrimpers race to get battered fleet back to sea FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The seafood industry in southwest Florida is racing against time and the elements to save what’s left of both a major shrimping fleet and a lifestyle battered by Hurricane Ian. The ferocious wind and powerful storm surge from Ian threw a couple dozen shrimp boats atop wharves and homes along a harbor at Fort Myers Beach, and such vessels don’t fare well out of the water. So workers are trying to get boats back in the water and resume fishing with the few that are left. Fleet manager Jesse Clapham says the industry already operates on tight profit margins and needs help. Hong Kong nixes US sanctions on Russian-owned superyacht HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader John Lee says he will only implement United Nations-imposed sanctions after the U.S. warned that the territory’s status as a financial center could be hurt if it acts as a safe haven for U.S- sanctioned individuals. Lee’s statement Tuesday came days after a luxury yacht connected to Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov, who has been sanctioned by Washington, docked in the city. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement Monday that “the possible use of Hong Kong as a safe haven by individuals evading sanctions from multiple jurisdictions further calls into question the transparency of the business environment.” Hong Kong authorities have said they won’t implement unilateral sanctions imposed by other governments. Asian shares fall as technology shares pull benchmarks lower TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are mostly lower as losses in technology-related shares weighed on global benchmarks. Taiwan dropped 3.8% after reopening from a holiday. It was the first trading session since the U.S. imposed new limits on exports of semiconductors and chip-making equipment to China. TMSC, the world’s biggest chipmaker, plunged 7%. Benchmarks also dropped in Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Shares closed lower on Wall Street ahead of the beginning of the corporate earnings reporting season, which will provide insight into how high inflation and rising interest rates have been affecting companies. An update on consumer price inflation and minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting are due out this week. New Zealand proposes taxing cow burps, angering farmers WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government is proposing a tax on the greenhouse gasses that farm animals make from burping and peeing as part of a plan to tackle climate change. The government says the farm levy would be a world first and that farmers should be able to recoup the cost by charging more for climate-friendly products. But farmers quickly condemned the plan. The liberal Labour government’s proposal Tuesday harks back to a similar but unsuccessful proposal made by a previous Labour government in 2003, when it proposed taxing farm animals for their methane emissions. China lashes out at latest U.S. export controls on chips BEIJING (AP) — China has criticized the latest U.S. decision to tighten export controls that would make it harder for China to obtain and manufacture advanced computing chips, calling it a violation of international economic and trade rules that will “isolate and backfire” on the U.S. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused the U.S.  of abusing its export control measures to maliciously block and suppress Chinese companies. She spoke after the U.S. on Friday updated export controls that included adding certain advanced, high-performance computing chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment to its list. Washington says it’s part of efforts to protect its national security. Copyright © 2022 . All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

People With Schizophrenia Are 2.5 Times More Likely Develop Dementia: Study – Bel Marra Health https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/people-with-schizophrenia-are-2-5-times-more-likely-develop-dementia-study-bel-marra-health/ A recent study has found that people with schizophrenia are 2.5 times more likely to develop dementia than those without mental illness. While the correlation between the two conditions has long been known, researchers are still trying to determine the exact cause. The study’s authors say that more research is needed to better understand the link between schizophrenia and dementia and to explore possible ways to prevent or delay the onset of dementia in those with schizophrenia. However, researchers believe this new study’s outcome may help protect mental health throughout life, which could help prevent dementia. The study highlighted the direct correlation between psychotic disorders and dementia over other mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. It was the first high-quality study to look at a range of psychotic disorders and their associations with dementia risk. Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that is characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and social withdrawal. It is a complex disorder that is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Many people also experience impairments in cognitive and functional skills. Schizophrenia can devastate individual and their families, but there is hope for recovery. With treatment, many people with schizophrenia can lead fulfilling and productive lives. Researchers pulled together evidence from 11 studies from nine countries on four continents for the study. It included close to 13 million participants in total. They found that across multiple different psychotic disorders, there was 2.5 times higher risk of dementia later in life. The study included those diagnosed with psychotic disorders as young adults and those diagnosed later in life. It was found that those diagnosed with psychotic disorders at a younger age were much more likely to be diagnosed with dementia while still in their 60s. Researchers were able to make these associations, but it is still unclear if it is because of the mental illness itself or because psychotic disorders increase the likelihood of conditions that may increase the risk of dementia. Dr. Orgeta said: “People with psychotic disorders are more likely to have other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease or obesity, which can increase the risk of dementia, while they are also more likely to have a poor diet, smoke or use drugs, which may harm their health in ways that could increase their likelihood of developing dementia.” Enhancing Cognitive Function While some degree of cognitive decline is nearly inevitable as we age, this study shows how those with certain psychotic disorders may be at a higher risk of brain health problems. This can affect memory, concentration, and overall brain function. The Smart Pill can help to enhance cognitive function and memory through 9 ingredients that help to support, nourish, and maximize brain health. These include ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. The formulation of these ingredients is an excellent way to help fight free radicals, boost circulation, and provide nutritional support to assist with cognitive skills.

News Of Record: Oct. 11, 2022 | News, Sports, Jobs – Fort Dodge Messenger https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/news-of-record-oct-11-2022-news-sports-jobs-fort-dodge-messenger/ Magistrate Court WEBSTER COUNTY Saturday Third-degree theft — Thomas Harold Rokes, 34, 311 First Ave. S., preliminary hearing waived. Monday Violation of parole — Christopher Joseph Gartin, 34, no address given, transferred to Parole Board. Possession of marijuana, first offense — Thomas William Brown, 35, 1414 S. 24th St., preliminary hearing Oct. 28. Fifth-degree criminal mischief — Cody Joseph Boyd, 36, Eagle Grove, trial Nov. 2. Driving under suspension — Benjamin Michael Kirk, 48, Webster City, $491.25. No valid driver’s license — Jeffrey Alan Tutor, 54, 2237 15th Ave. N., dismissed. Police Log FORT DODGE Friday Three domestic calls were reported. Harassment was reported. A suspicious person was reported in the 2200 block of Second Avenue North. Theft was reported in the 200 block of North 15th Street. A suspicious person was reported near Ninth Avenue South and South 19th Street. A car accident was reported at Lainson Avenue and Third Avenue Northwest. Juvenile problems were reported in the 800 block of North 32nd Street. Juvenile problems were reported in the 100 block of South 29th Street. Harassment was reported in the 800 block of North 32nd Street. A car accident was reported in the 2700 block of Second Avenue South. Theft was reported in the 300 block of Fourth Street Northwest. A suspicious vehicle was reported near 13th Avenue South and South 25th Street. A car accident was reported in the 500 block of South 29th Street. Harassment was reported in the 600 block of North Eighth Street. Theft was reported in the 400 block of Second Street Northwest. A shoplifter was reported in the 1900 block of First Avenue North. Juvenile problems were reported in the 200 block of Avenue M West. A person with a gun was reported near Fourth Avenue South and South 18th Street. An assault was reported in the 300 block of First Street Northwest. A car accident was reported at Eighth Avenue North and North Seventh Street. A runaway was reported in the 200 block of Avenue M West. An unknown problem was reported in the 1200 block of First Avenue South. A hit and run was reported in the 3000 block of Fifth Avenue South. Juvenile problems were reported in the 200 block of Avenue D. An unresponsive subject was reported in the 300 block of South Fourth Street. Fireworks were reported near Fifth Avenue South and South 31st Street. Saturday Four domestic calls were reported. A fight was reported in the 10 block of North Seventh Street. Criminal mischief was reported in the 400 block of North Ninth Street. An assault was reported in the 1600 block of Eighth Avenue South. A suspicious person was reported in the 1600 block of Triton Drive. A suspicious person was reported in the 100 block of South 12th Street. An unknown problem was reported in the 1100 block of South 26th Street. Fraud was reported in the 400 block of Second Avenue South. A car accident was reported in the 3000 block of First Avenue South. A car accident was reported in the 400 block of Second Avenue South. A hit and run was reported in the 2500 block of 16th Avenue North. A civil disturbance was reported in the 200 block of South 19th Street. A car accident was reported at Third Avenue North and North 16th Street. An unknown problem was reported in the 600 block of North Second Street. A car accident was reported at Seventh Avenue North and North 14th Street. A car accident was reported in the 3000 block of First Avenue South. A car accident was reported in the 1200 block of Seventh Avenue North. A fight was reported in the 300 block of North 17th Street. Juvenile problems were reported in the 800 block of North 20th Street. A fire was reported in the 300 block of K Street. A missing juvenile was reported in the 1100 block of South 17th Street. A car accident was reported at South 15th Street and Fifth Avenue South. Juvenile problems were reported in the 2700 block of North 28th Street. Juvenile problems were reported in the 800 block of North 25th Street. A suspicious person was reported in the 2200 block of 14th Avenue South. A suspicious person was reported in the 900 block of Northwood Avenue. A car accident was reported in the 2100 block of Seventh Avenue South. Sunday Two domestic calls were reported. Shots fired were reported in the 900 block of Third Avenue North. A burglary was reported in the 100 block of South 16th Street. A fight was reported in the 10 block of North 10th Street. A suspicious vehicle was reported near South 17th Street and 12th Avenue South. Counterfeiting was reported in the 2500 block of Fifth Avenue South. A car accident was reported at A Street and Second Avenue South. A person with a weapon was reported in the 300 block of K Street. Harassment was reported in the 500 block of South 16th Street. An unknown problem was reported in the 800 block of Avenue C. A structure fire was reported in the 200 block of Avenue M West. An unknown problem was reported near Seventh Avenue North and Sixth Avenue North. A person with a weapon was reported near Target. Criminal mischief was reported in the 3400 block of Maple Drive. A runaway was reported in the 300 block of Avenue M West. A suspicious vehicle was reported in the 2000 block of Third Avenue North. A car accident was reported in the 700 block of Avenue C. Criminal mischief was reported in the 300 block of South Eighth Street. Juvenile problems were reported in the 900 block of South 17th Street. Theft was reported in the 1100 block of South 22nd Street. An unknown problem was reported in the 800 block of North 32nd Street. Theft was reported in the 10 block of North 10th Street. Trespassing was reported in the 600 block of Central Avenue. A suspicious vehicle was reported in the 1500 block of 12th Avenue Southwest. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Should Banks Be In The Metaverse? JPMorgan Opens A Lounge In Decentraland – CoinDesk https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/should-banks-be-in-the-metaverse-jpmorgan-opens-a-lounge-in-decentraland-coindesk/ Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG .