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Chargers Vs. Chiefs Live Score, Updates, Highlights From NFL ‘Thursday Night Football’ Game – Sporting News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/chargers-vs-chiefs-live-score-updates-highlights-from-nfl-thursday-night-football-game-sporting-news/ Two AFC West hopefuls are getting an early-season gut check, as the Chiefs host the Chargers on the inaugural (regular season) Amazon Prime “Thursday Night Football” broadcast. The Chargers are coming off a revenge game against the Las Vegas Raiders, having beaten them 24-19 behind a sterling day from Justin Herbert, who threw for three touchdowns on 26 of 34 passing for 279 yards. Los Angeles, however, has its work cut out for it as the Chiefs remain the team to beat in the division. Kansas City throttled the Cardinals Sunday, winning 44-21 behind a characteristically outstanding day from Mahomes. The Chiefs will look to humble the Chargers, who have aggressively been looking to dethrone the six-time reigning AFC West champs. Khalil Mack has already made waves to that end, logging three sacks in his debut. The Chargers may be shorthanded, however, with Keenan Allen looking doubtful to play. The Chiefs managed to thrive without Tyreek Hill in play, with Travis Kelce logging 121 yards and Mahomes hitting nine different receivers. MORE: NFL Week 1 overreactions The pressure is on in this early-season matchup that could have ramifications down the road, The Sporting News is tracking it all live. Chargers vs. Chiefs score   Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F Chargers 3 7 7 — — Chiefs 0 7 7 — — Chargers vs. Chiefs updates, highlights from “Thursday Night Football” (All times Eastern) 10:29 p.m. — Brutal play by Cook on the kickoff, as he catches a personal foul to give the Chargers the ball at their own 40 to open this drive. Equivalent to kicking the ball out of bounds. 10:28 p.m. — It’s a testament to how this game is going, but the Chiefs bring in Ammendola ot kick the chip shot and tie the game up. Boring choice, but with the pace of this game, perhaps the right one. Chargers 17, Chiefs 17. 10:26 p.m. — Frankly, it’s weird this wasn’t a flag. You aren’t generally allowed to make wrestling moves on defense. Derwin James just went WWE on Travis Kelce. Mercy. pic.twitter.com/a0w8YZ6xB8 — Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 16, 2022 10:24 p.m. — Mahomes put a one-read throw to the end zone on second down, but Asante Samuel jumps it and nearly picks it off. On third down, the Chiefs run a shovel pass and get down to the goal line to end the third quarter, and it’ll be fourth down on the other side. Big choice upcoming here for Reid and the Chiefs. 10:23 — ????. Mahomes completes a big pass to Kelce to get down to the Chargers 4-yard line, and Kelce gets body-slammed and the ball pops out. Kelce, of course, was down by contact, but that was brutal. 10:20 p.m. — After a first down incompletion, Asante Samuel Jr. forces third down by blowing up a swing pass. Chargers come out in a bunch set on third down, and Mahomes finds Hardman for a Chiefs first down. Good stick play by the Chiefs to convert. 10:18 p.m. — Skyy Moore takes a fair catch at the Chargers 35. Another golden opportunity for KC. 10:16 p.m. — Chiefs get pressure on the first two downs, and it’ll be third-and-10. Crowd noise is becoming a real factor now. On third down they get to him, as Chris Jones sacks Herbert, and the Chargers will punt from the shadow of their own goalpost. Huge possession for the Chiefs defense. 10:14 p.m. — Well, so much for that. The Chargers force a three-and-out in quick succession. The Chargers have dialed up some really well-timed blitzes tonight, and it’s left Mahomes frazzled at times. Chargers will get the ball at their own 9-yard line after the punt. 10:10 p.m. — Big turnaround here in this game, as now the Chargers go three-and-out and will punt it away to the Chiefs. Chiefs will look to take their first lead of the game, and they’ll start from their own 30. 10:05 p.m. — What an unbelievable third down play from the Chiefs. JC Jackson gets beat on an out-and-up from Justin Watson and gets in from 41 yards out. This Chiefs offense really needed that, and it’s a one-possession game again. Also, great play by Mahomes to step up in the pocket and keep his eyes downfield. He’s still the best in the game at that. Chargers 17, Chiefs 14. MAHOMES TO WATSON FOR SIX #LACvsKC on Prime Video Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/Fa02SqPmRn pic.twitter.com/RkY8KyfhFd — NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2022 10:02 p.m. — The Chiefs are showing a bit of urgency here, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire is making his presence felt with a slant over the middle. In a two-possession game in the second half, they aren’t running tempo yet, but they’re running plays designed to give them some more space. 10 p.m. — Review finds the ball did hit the ground, and the ball goes back to the Chiefs for second-and-10. Samuel wasn’t happy, but it was clear. 9:57 p.m. — Asante Samuel Jr. may have finally gotten an LA pick after he drops a ball and it bounces off his knee toward the ground. The play is under review, as Mahomes threw the ball to Kelce as he was carried in Samuel’s zone. 9:55 p.m. — The Chargers are going to get a second interception wiped off the board, as offsetting penalties lead to a replay of first down. Mecole Hardman was also slow getting up down the field. 9:51 p.m. — Mike Williams gets his touchdown from 15 yards out! Williams makes an outstanding one-handed catch and drags his feet to score, as Herbert puts an incredible pass on him for the score. It caps off an 11-play drive that took about five minutes off the clock. Chargers 17, Chiefs 7. Mike Williams is balling out tonight @darealmike_dub #TNFonPrime #LACvsKC on Prime Video Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/Fa02SqPmRn pic.twitter.com/dNRVcKQJ0j — NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2022 9:49 p.m. — The Chargers are driving early on here, but they’re going to be forced to make another decision on fourth-and-1 as Austin Ekeler gets stacked up at the Chiefs 18. They convert, however, and it’ll be first-and-10 from the Chiefs 15. 9:46 p.m. — Chargers get away with a questionable play call, as they run a swing pass against the grain out of play action that nearly gets blown up. Ekeler, however, makes a man miss and goes for 18 yards. 9:44 p.m. — Coming out of the half, the Chargers get the ball at their own 25. They quickly get into third-and-1, and Austin Ekeler converts with the quickness. 9:32 p.m. — Overall a pretty clean half of football. Chargers keep the lead with scores on their first two drives, and Justin Herbert is a modest 12 of 17 for 125 yards and a touchdown. Mahomes, meanwhile, is 12 of 14 for 98 yards and a TD. Both teams are pushing for TOP today, and are trying to establish the running game. Both defenses, however, have been stout thus far. We’ll have to see what adjustments are made in the second half, and if both teams try to get more aggressive going downfield. 9:31 p.m. — Chargers take a knee, and we go to the half with it being Chargers 10, Chiefs 7. 9:30 p.m. — Townsend BOOMS a punt down to the Chargers 8-yard line. One has to think the Chargers will be happy to take it to the half with the lead on the other side of the break. 9:29 p.m. — The Chiefs still have three timeouts, but both teams seem ready to take this game to the half for different reasons. The Chiefs will be forced to punt again with 22 seconds on the clock, and they’re frustrated with the officials right now. 9:28 p.m. — Mahomes comes up limping after throwing a ball away on first down, and to make matters worse the Chiefs get hit with holding as Wylie takes down Joey Bosa. It’ll be first down again for the Chiefs, but they lose precious time. 9:23 p.m. — The Chargers roll out on third-and-1, but despite Herbert’s best efforts he goes down two yards short and the Chargers line up to punt. Both teams seem content to take this game down to the half. Chargers down the punt at the 14-yard line, and the Chiefs will have 53 seconds and all three timeouts. 9:20 p.m. — We hit the two-minute warning, as the Chargers look to extend their lead before the half. They’ll have the ball at the Kansas City 47-yard line. 9:19 p.m. — Palmer is getting involved, with two receptions in three plays. First it was a rollout, then it was an out route into space. Chargers are in their four-minute offense with three minutes in the half. 9:14 p.m. — On two straight run plays, the Chargers completely stack up the Chiefs to force a fourth and short. Big stop, and the Chiefs punt down to the Chargers 10 where Carter steps out of a tackle and gets to his own 23. 9:11 p.m. — Mahomes finds Kelce over the middle of the field, and Kelce steps out of a tackle from JC Jackson to get a nine-yard gain and a first down for the Chiefs. First-and-10 from the 20, and Mahomes hits Hardman on a zag route for a gain of eight. 9:09 p.m. — These offenses are clearly run very differently. Where Mahomes is heavily reliant on timing-based routes (unless he’s doing something ridiculous like his touchdown scramble and pitch to McKinnon), Herbert and the Chargers rely a lot on the physicality of their receivers. Against these relatively small Chiefs corners, that’s been an early problem. 9:07 p.m. — Chargers are slowing down the pace here, going with a rare run-run-pass sequence. After eight yards from Ekeler on two straight four-yard carries, Herbert misses Palmer to force a Chargers punt. Scott kicks too Skyy Moore, who calls a fair catch at the eight. 9:05 p.m. — Mike Williams again makes a great catch as he climbs the ladder to snap a ball out of a curl route. He just looks too big for these Chiefs corners as Ekeler rushes for the first down. 9:04 p.m. — DeAndre Carter catches a huge break, as he goes down on the kickoff return and the ball pops out. Carter was clearly down, and the Chargers will start from their 33. 8:58 p.m. — Mahomes finds Kelce after drawing Bosa offside, a...

Nikko Unveils Metaverse ETF In Hong Kong – ETF Strategy https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/nikko-unveils-metaverse-etf-in-hong-kong-etf-strategy/ Nikko Asset Management has unveiled a thematic equity ETF in Hong Kong providing actively managed exposure to companies worldwide that are developing and enabling the metaverse. The metaverse is a hypothesized iteration of the internet, supporting persistent online 3-D virtual environments. The NikkoAM Metaverse Theme Active ETF is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in Hong Kong dollars (3091 HK) and US dollars (9091 HK) and has estimated ongoing charges of 1.25%. The fund has been created by revamping one of Nikko’s existing strategies, the NikkoAM E-Games Active ETF. The metaverse is a term used to describe the concept of a future iteration of the internet, made up of persistent, shared, 3D virtual spaces linked into a perceived virtual universe. Combining aspects of social media, online gaming, augmented & virtual reality, e-commerce, and blockchain technology, the metaverse is expected to influence many aspects of people’s lives including how they interact, socialize, learn, shop, work, and play virtually. While still in its infancy, the metaverse has already attracted billions of dollars of investment. Morgan Stanley analysts predict the metaverse has the potential to generate $8.3 trillion in total consumer expenditure in the US alone, depending on the level of disruption. Investment approach The ETF utilizes Nikko’s proprietary research to identify companies across several metaverse-related business categories. Hardware companies refer to those that are developing physical technologies such as augmented & virtual reality devices, mobile phones, and enterprise hardware that will allow individuals and businesses to interact in a virtual environment. Computing companies refer to those that are delivering computer power to support the operation of the metaverse. The category includes companies involved with semiconductors, data matching, and artificial intelligence. Connectivity companies refer to those that are providing high bandwidth or networks enabling data transmission on the metaverse. Eligible firms include cloud service providers and telecommunication companies providing fiber networks. Platform companies refer to those that are creating and operating immersive 3D worlds in the metaverse. Eligible firms include online gaming and social media platforms. Tools companies refer to those that are providing protocols such as Web 3.0 and the facilitation of 3D rendering. Payments companies refer to those that are facilitating transactions in the metaverse via fiat currency on-ramps, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens. Content companies refer to those that are facilitating the creation, storage, distribution, and protection of digital assets such as games, online avatars, and NFTs. Eligible firms include electronic game developers and companies that offer NFTs on underlying assets. There is one other ETF in Hong Kong targeting the global metaverse theme – the CSOP Metaverse Concept ETF (3034 HK) – which also adopts an actively managed approach. Its estimated ongoing charges are 2.00%. The Samsung Asia Pacific ex NZ Metaverse Theme ETF (3172 HK), meanwhile, targets metaverse-related companies specifically located in the Asia Pacific region, also utilizing an active approach. Its ongoing charges are 0.85%.

These Luxurious Amazon Products Will Make You Feel Like British Royalty – 22 Words https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/these-luxurious-amazon-products-will-make-you-feel-like-british-royalty-22-words/ With the British Royal Family in the spotlight, it’s easy to picture yourself living the life of a prince or princess. Shows like Downton Abbey, House of the Dragon and Bridgerton don’t help either! They all have such beautiful clothes, accessories and palaces. I know it’s unlikely I’ll wake up tomorrow inside a castle with all of the luxuries I could ever want, but a girl can dream. If you want to bring that enchanting, gorgeous lifestyle to your home, I’ve put together a list of my favorite budget-friendly items from Amazon. You may not have a castle, but you can absolutely get your hands on some elegant satin pajamas, 24K gold face masks and gourmet teas worthy of the Windsors. I hope you enjoy these items inspired by the British royals! You will love our editor’s curated product picks! FYI: We are an Amazon affiliate partner and may get a share of the sale of your purchase (at no cost to you). Enjoy Your Single Malts in These Stylish Old Fashioned Whiskey Glasses If you’ve ever wanted to debate politics in your study like the kings of old, this is the classiest way to do it in 2022. All you need is a cigar, a world map and these old fashioned glasses. Reviewers love these glasses for their vintage appeal and weight – apparently, they’re perfect for making Old Fashions! A Luxurious Wine Aerator and Dispenser for Your Dining Table An aerator and dispenser all in one? Wow, talk about luxury living. Unless you’re planning to go all the way and hire professional bottle service for every dinner party, this self-pouring gadget is the next best thing. It’s rechargeable, easy to use and is compatible with most standard bottles sizes. You’ll Want to Stay in Bed All Day After You Try These Satin Sheets These silky, cool sheets are going to feel SO good after a long day on your feet. Slip into bed with your favorite herbal tea for a little me time! Even the sweatiest husbands and over-enthusiastic pets won’t ruin your luxury experience – these sheets are made to be cooling and tear resistant! Excuse me while I add these to my cart… Get That Pair of Satin Silk Pajamas You’ve Always Wanted! Real talk: I’ve been lusting after a pair of these since I first saw Princess Diaries 2 (if you know, you know). There’s nothing like a bunch of mattress surfing princesses in classy nightwear to inspire your next clothing obsession! If you want to feel like you’re part of the fairy tale every night, this silky upscale fit will not disappoint you. It’s light and breezy, perfect for lounging or sleeping during warm nights. Turn Boring Tap Water into a Spa Experience with These Bath Bombs If you seek to emulate the palace lifestyle, here’s one tidbit of advice: the royals never rush. Why hurry through a five minute shower when you could luxuriate for an hour in a bathtub that smells like roses? Um, yes, I’ll take that with a glass of wine! Swap Your Candles out for This Essential Oil Diffuser Candles are lovely, but they burn out so quickly! A few hours in and many of mine simply stop working, usually thanks to an ill-placed wick. A diffuser like this is a much better investment. It’s reusable, it comes with seven different light-up color options and it helps add a little humidity to the air (which should help keep your lungs clear overnight). It’s really easy to use! Just add water and your favorite essential oil. Get the Beauty Sleep You Deserve with This Sleep Mask While the Royal Family can expect to enjoy quiet seaside cottages and private castles, the rest of us have to endure every little disturbance of tight-quartered city living. If the 4 am headlights or your night owl roommates are giving you a headache, consider grabbing one of these to block out the world. Available in more than 10 different colors, these satin eye masks are also perfect for pairing with your favorite pajamas and intimates! Erase Dark Circles and Puffiness with These 24K Gold Under-Eye Masks I laughed the first time I saw a 24K gold mask. I thought, “These are so extra, there’s no way they actually work.” According to the reviews, I’m dead wrong and I’ve been missing out. Buyer C. Blake was skeptical like me, but his experience with them completely changed his mind: “I took a chance on these to help get rid of my dark circles/lines/puffiness around my eyes and it works! I’m also a 40 year old man, but I look much better rested now and healthier. At first I was skeptical, but now they are just part of my evening routine. You need to use them consistently, every night, and use all of them. At the end, you will see they really worked.” Wow, I guess I’m going to have to try these! This Bidet Attachment Will Make Your Toilet Feel So Fancy! All the finest establishments have bidets, and your home isn’t exempt! When you add this bidet to your bathroom, you’ll be offering your family and your guests a luxury experience. I’ve used one and I can tell you from experience that it’s totally worth it. It takes a little bit to get used to, but once you’re hooked, there’s no going back. For the cost of one 24 pack of bamboo toilet paper, you can ditch TP forever and enjoy the freshest bum of your life. Only the Finest Gold Face Serum for Your Spa Day There’s nothing that says palace luxury like spreading actual gold on your skin. Apparently, a similar gold-based product was used by Cleopatra in ancient Egypt to maintain a glowing, flawless complexion. If you want that drowning in jewels and riches kind of aesthetic for your next home spa sesh, be sure to grab this serum. It’s loaded with all the other goodies you want too: Vitamin C serum, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E cream. Enjoy Your Own High Tea with a Gourmet Tea Sampler Box Bring a little bit of that British regency feel to your home by hosting a high tea. This isn’t your average mug of evening chamomile – I’m talking tiny sandwiches, scones, mini desserts and your best china. Even if you don’t have the fancy three-tiered display or sandwich ingredients on hand, there’s nothing to stop you from brewing some of this gourmet tea and enjoying a couple of chocolates with your favorite people. This will be even more fun if you dress for the occasion! An Electric Tea Kettle with a Magical Surprise Tea enthusiasts, you HAVE to get this kettle! This review by Laura says it all: “THIS IS THE COOLEST GOSH DANG KETTLE. Listen, I bought this thing cuz I needed hot water, and I needed it fast. Simple enough. It does that. It also does that quieter than my previous kettle. But this isn’t just any old ordinary kettle, my friend, oh no. Have you ever thought to yourself, boy I wish I could keep a mini ocean wave inside my home somehow? WELL NOW YOU CAN! Watching the water boil through the glass, lit by the electric blue light, was fascinating enough that myself and two roommates stared at it in awe… and the finale? When it’s reached boiling temperature, it looks like a MINIATURE TSUNAMI!!! Buy this electric kettle. Buy it now.” I Just Added These Plush Slippers to My Wish List Mom, if you’re reading this, THIS is what I want for Christmas! These are so cute, and they would pair especially well with a vintage robe. None of us should have to endure the constant crumbs underfoot, not when there are gorgeous slippers like this out there to be had. They look so soft too…

First Mover Asia: Ether Tumbles Below $1.5K; Ethereum Merge May Ding Demand For Chips, But Semiconductor Stocks Could Still Be A Good Buy – CoinDesk https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/first-mover-asia-ether-tumbles-below-1-5k-ethereum-merge-may-ding-demand-for-chips-but-semiconductor-stocks-could-still-be-a-good-buy-coindesk/ Good morning. Here’s what’s happening: Prices: Ether plummets in the hours after the Merge; bitcoin declines. Insights: The Ethereum Merge could lessen the need for chips powering GPUs, but semiconductor stocks could still be a good buy. Catch the latest episodes of CoinDesk TV for insightful interviews with crypto industry leaders and analysis. And sign up for First Mover, our daily newsletter putting the latest moves in crypto markets in context. ● Bitcoin (BTC): $19,708 −2.7% ● Ether (ETH): $1,474 −9.8% ● CoinDesk Market Index (CMI): $981 −4.4% ● S&P 500 daily close: 3,901.35 −1.1% ● Gold: $1,671 per troy ounce −1.5% ● Ten-year Treasury yield daily close: 3.46% +0.05 Bitcoin, ether and gold prices are taken at approximately 4pm New York time. Bitcoin is the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX); Ether is the CoinDesk Ether Price Index (ETX); Gold is the COMEX spot price. Information about CoinDesk Indices can be found at coindesk.com/indices. Ether Plummets Post-Merge; Bitcoin Sees Red as Well After holding steady in the hours immediately following the Ethereum Merge on Thursday, ether and other major cryptos tumbled. Ether was recently trading below $1,500, a roughly 10% dive over the past 24 hours, and its largest, daily drop since late August. The second biggest cryptocurrency by market capitalization had topped $2,000 earlier that month largely on Merge euphoria. The technological overhaul that has changed the Ethereum blockchain to a more energy efficient proof-of-work protocol went seamlessly, and data from crypto futures markets on Thursday showed that many investors seemed to have closed out hedged positions in the ensuing hours. The trend signaled that they were wrapping up trades they had made during the previous month or past few weeks to bet on possible outcomes of the event, including the possibility of a revolt by crypto miners wanting to continue operating in the PoW system. “We’ve seen that there was bullish positioning into the Merge, and as an industry we’re already looking for what’s next,” Jon Campagna, Partner, head of trading and capital markets at crypto investment firm CoinFund, wrote in an email to CoinDesk. Campagna noted ether and other cryptos’ recent tendency to track stocks, and riskier assets ongoing vulnerability to wider uncertainties. “We’re at the throes of challenging macroeconomic factors, which seem to persist,” he wrote. “It’s unclear if we will see enough idiosyncratic performance in the asset class to materially deviate from equities at this time.” Bitcoin fell below the psychologically important $20,000 barrier for the first time since Sept. 8, a nearly 3% drop from the previous day. The largest crypto in market value has tended to underperform ether in recent weeks. Other cryptocurrencies from the CoinDesk top 20 by market cap stood firmly in a red swamp with popular meme coins DOGE and SHIB and ADA recently off more than 3%. Equity markets also had their problems with the tech-focused Nasdaq and the S&P 500, which has a strong technology component, both declining more than a percentage point, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) losing about 0.5%. Investors remain skittish about inflation and the looming robustness of the U.S. central bank’s next interest rate hike at its Federal Open Reserve Committee meeting in less than a week. Observers of monetary policy widely expect a third, consecutive 75 basis point increase, although the odds of a 100 basis point rise ticked higher on Wednesday. Among the latest data in a week of key economic reports, retail sales kicked higher by 0.3%, reflecting consumers continued buying strength and an about-face from July when sales declined 0.4%. But rates for 30-year fixed, residential mortgages hit 6% on Thursday for the first time in nearly 15 years, another blow to a weakening housing market. Merge issues dominated crypto news. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the event had lowered the world’s energy consumption by 0.2%, marking what may be one of the single biggest decarbonization efforts in history. And U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler said that staked cryptocurrencies may be subject to federal securities regulations, repeating a pro-oversight stance in the wake of Ethereum’s transition to just such a method. CoinFund’s Campagna suggested that ether’s price drop could be temporary, highlighting its fluctuations after the Ethereum network’s last major upgrade in August 2021. “It spent the following days slowly trading down 5% to $3060, before rallying 30% in two weeks, closing at $3940 on September 3rd,” he said. “Granted, the macro environment has shifted during that time.” “Could we see the pattern repeat?” Biggest Gainers Biggest Losers An Inconvenient Merge, but Semiconductor Stocks Could Still Be a Good Buy Chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, which once provided the brains to ether mining farms worldwide, are having a rough year. Their struggles are not entirely because of crypto, yet Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake might provide an interesting opportunity for investors. Despite an exciting few moments where record-setting exchange inflows of ether signaled a potential sell-off, ether traded flat in the hours following the Merge and then dropped more than 9% at one point during the following U.S. trading day.. Ethereum Classic was recently  up 1% as proof-of-work fans stage a protest vote with their trading accounts. As a result of this, Graphics Processing Unit  prices are in freefall, and data from analyst house John Peddie Research shows that channel supply (distributors) is bulging. Nvidia, never a fan of crypto mining, will always downplay things. Nvidia CFO Colette Kress’ line is that the company has “limited visibility into how much this impacts our overall GPU demand” and is “unable to accurately quantify the extent to which reduced cryptocurrency mining contributed to the decline in Gaming demand.” Perhaps these non-answers have resulted from Nvidia’s settlement with the SEC for failing to disclose that crypto mining was a major contributor to its 2018 revenue. It would be reasonable to assume that Nvidia’s stock is being driven down because of the glut of GPUs on the market. But that’s not entirely the case. Nvidia does not only sell GPUs on the retail level but also to organizations using data centers and high-performance computers that crunch large stacks of numbers for research purposes. The ability of these chips to address massive amounts of information and make CPUs more efficient through what’s called parallel computing, makes them a considerable asset worldwide. Thus, data center is the company’s largest segment. China has been a large buyer of these data center chips during the last decade, as the country’s industries double down on artificial intelligence and its universities catch up to their American counterparts in research. Within these companies and universities data centers are Nvidia’s chips. This demand is why Nvidia’s stock tumbled when Washington announced an export ban on its most advanced AI chips to China, alongside AMD which also designs similar products.  Nvidia said the new ban could mean the loss of up to $400 million in revenue; AMD didn’t disclose its loss but it’s expected to also be large. This scenario has precedent. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce banned the export of Intel’s Xeon chips, used in data centers, to some of China’s largest universities, including China’s National University of Defense Technology, which was at the time developing the world’s fastest supercomputer. The rationale given was that these universities were engaged in nuclear weapons research. Intel’s stock was unaffected by the news. In contrast, Nvidia’s dropped nearly 10% on the news of its export ban, compounding losses throughout the year as tech stocks have struggled. Nvidia has lost nearly half its value, putting it back to where it was in October 2020. Could this all be an overreaction, and the market acting irrationally? Maybe, says one analyst. “We view the 8% selloff in the stock yesterday (vs 2% SOX) as an overreaction, and view the recent weakness as a particular buying opportunity,” Jeffries analyst Mark Lipacis was quoted as saying. Lipacis notes that most of Nvidia’s business in China goes to tech giants not the government which would make it easier for the company to get an export license, insulating its loss potential. Analysts polled by Dow Jones seem to agree that there’s a value buy here, 27 give it a buy rating, 11 say it’s best to hold, and one says it’s a sell. The decline of mining has likely already been priced into the stock too. As early as February, when the company closed its fiscal fourth quarter, the mining market was beginning to bottom out. Of course, other proof-of-work tokens like Ethereum Classic. But Etherem Classic’s post-Merge jump in hashrate is frivolous: It’s only at 142 TH/s, which is a fraction of the roughly 950-1000 TH/s with which Ethereum finished its last quarter. Nvidia is going to fight against a nearly 13% decline of PC sales year-over-year and glut in the channel. Meanwhile,, the gaming market is expected to cross $200 billion this year – which gives Nvidia plenty of room to move past Ethereum. 10 a.m. HKT/SGT(2 a.m. UTC): China industrial production (Aug./YoY) 10 a.m. HKT/SGT(2 a.m. UTC): China retail sales (Aug./YoY) 10 a.m. HKT/SGT(2 a.m. UTC): U.K. retail sales (Aug./YoY) In case you missed it, here is the most recent episode of “First Mover” on CoinDesk TV: Special Ethereum Merge coverage included a look at the historic transition fro...

Despite Gains By Ukraine Against Russia, U.S. Expects Much More Fighting – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/despite-gains-by-ukraine-against-russia-u-s-expects-much-more-fighting-the-washington-post/ Despite Ukrainian forces’ startling gains in the war against Russia, the Biden administration anticipates months of intense fighting with wins and losses for each side, spurring U.S. plans for an open-ended campaign with no prospect for a negotiated end in sight. The surprise success by Ukrainian forces in areas of the country occupied by Russian troops during the weekend generated euphoria among Ukrainians sapped by months of fighting. It also fueled hopes among many of Kyiv’s foreign backers that its scrappy military might be able to expel Russia’s larger, better-armed force. President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising his country’s blue-and-yellow flag Wednesday over the liberated city of Izyum, promised it would be “definitely impossible to occupy our people, the Ukrainian people.” Officials in Kyiv said forces recaptured some 3,000 square kilometers in the Kherson and Kharkiv regions. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry described its forces’ disorderly withdrawal as a tactical “regroup.” U.S. officials, providing a quiet check to Ukrainian exuberance, said that while Ukraine troops have performed better in offensive operations than even their American backers had anticipated, those forces will encounter a period of intense fighting in the lead-up to winter as part of what they expect to be a “nonlinear” trajectory for the war. A senior State Department official, who like other officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning, said Thursday that while Ukrainian forces had proven they can reverse advances made by Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion, Russia retained a potent force. “They have significant equipment and arms and munitions positioned in the occupied territories, not to mention what they have in Russia,” the official said. “And so it is far from over, despite the momentum.” Those expectations undergird a U.S. strategy of attempting to hold together international support and gradually expanding American military aid without the immediate injection of heavier weaponry that might trigger a wider war. The advances in Izyum and other areas — which allowed shellshocked local residents to venture out of their homes, sharing stories of occupation and abuse — were all the more rousing following Ukrainian setbacks, including the withdrawal from the city of Lysychansk in July. After the weekend advances around Kherson, Russia hit electricity plants and other infrastructure, illustrating its willingness to strike civilian targets in an attempt to weaken Ukrainian resolve. U.S. officials expect intense fighting for the remainder of the fall, as both sides attempt to put themselves in the best possible position before the onset of winter makes transport and combat more difficult. Russian forces still control vast sections of Ukraine — including the cities of Kherson, Melitopol, Mariupol and Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014 — and U.S. officials anticipate Putin may use the coldest months to refit his spent, demoralized military before launching a renewed campaign in the spring. Putin has remained defiant, threatening to cut off gas supplies to Europe even as hints of public dissent raise questions about how long he can keep Russia behind what the Kremlin has dubbed its “special military operation.” Pentagon officials have said they are looking at ways to assist Ukraine’s evolving defense needs, focusing on areas including air defenses, surveillance and fighter capability. So far, the total of U.S. security aid to Ukraine amounts to some $15 billion since Russia’s invasion. Despite Ukraine’s ongoing calls for new, more sophisticated military hardware, U.S. officials don’t plan to immediately expand the array of weaponry they are providing, which has included High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems armed with midrange Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. So far, the officials have stopped short of authorizing systems with much longer ranges, including the Army Tactical Missile Systems. Russia’s Foreign Ministry illustrated the stakes of such decisions on Thursday when it warned that supplying longer-range missiles to Ukraine would cross a red line for Russia and make nations providing them a “party to the conflict,” reinforcing earlier suggestions that Russia could strike NATO nations if they authorized shipments of more potent arms. Russia’s setback in Kharkiv has prompted speculation about whether Putin would be forced to resort to a general mobilization to fuel his war — a possibility the Kremlin has dismissed for now — or even use a nuclear device as Russia seeks to compensate for its defeat. Samuel Charap, a Russia expert at at Rand Corp., said the counteroffensive success was shaping the dynamics around the conflict, in part by illustrating Ukraine’s ability to successfully conduct complete offensive operations. “We had no evidence of that before,” Charap said. “That very fact is likely to disincentivize them to seeking compromise because they think they can do more of that.” To date, the U.S. strategy has been informed partly by what U.S. officials see as the remoteness of any possible negotiations to halt the fighting. A flurry of attempts to kindle substantive talks early in the fighting fizzled out as each side embraced a harder line. “Right now the Ukrainians do not have a viable map from which to negotiate. Twenty percent of their territory has gone; something like 30 percent of their industrial and agricultural potential is gone,” a senior State Department official said last week. “That’s why we’re supporting this counteroffensive.” U.S. officials expect it would be difficult for Zelensky to negotiate a settlement even if he wanted to do so, after Russian abuses have hardened public opinion against possible concessions to Moscow’s war aims. Moreover, officials say, Russia remains an untrustworthy negotiating partner and Putin’s war aims have shifted repeatedly as the tactical situation has evolved. The U.S. goal remains helping Ukraine make battlefield advances that will strengthen its negotiating position should eventual negotiations with Russia occur. The current moment draws attention to a tension that underlies America’s strategy for the war, as officials channel massive military support to Ukraine, fueling a war with global consequences, while attempting to remain agnostic about when and how Kyiv might strike a deal to end it. President Biden has vowed to support Ukraine in asserting its independence and sovereignty, promising in an opinion piece this spring to do so without pressuring Kyiv to make territorial concessions. He did not however explicitly back the goal of recovering all territory occupied by Russia, including areas taken or contested since 2014. The first senior State Department official said another key part of the Biden administration’s plan for propelling the conflict toward a settlement was its efforts to weaken Russia’s economic and technological edge through sanctions and other means. “But telling a sovereign country what success looks like for them, or what a negotiated solution looks like, that just isn’t where we want to be,” the official said. So far, U.S. officials appear to have kept to that pledge, taking a hands-off approach that marks a sharp contrast to U.S. actions in places where officials have at times adopted a much more expansive approach in dealing with foreign leaders supported by U.S. aid. “For both political and strategic reasons, they’ve been uninterested in drawing lines on the map and I think they’re absolutely justified in that reluctance,” Daniel Fried, a veteran diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Poland, said this week. Biden will attempt to stiffen international support for Ukraine’s self-defense at the United Nations next week, seizing the annual General Assembly meetings as a chance to smooth over friction caused by global inflation and food insecurity linked to the war. The resolve of European nations in particular, which have been among Ukraine’s biggest backers, will be tested this winter by high energy prices. But experts including Alexander Vershbow, who served as U.S. ambassador to Russia and deputy secretary general of NATO, say that tension may eventually come to a head, for example if Ukraine faces a choice between settling for territory it controlled before Feb. 24 and embracing a longer conflict with the goal of recapturing all areas under Russian control since 2014. “The Ukrainians are right now adamant that they would say we won’t concede one inch, but at some point difficult choices will be needed,” Vershbow said Thursday. Right now, however, “the administration doesn’t want to take a position.” Fried said the Biden administration was right to approach the months ahead with caution, but said Ukraine was different than other recent U.S. conflicts. “We’ve been so traumatized by our failures in Afghanistan and, partially, in Iraq. This is a situation where an actual success is possible — not inevitable — and it’s not a long shot,” Fried said. “Leaning into that prospect is in our national interest.” ​ Dan Lamothe and Alex Horton contributed to this report. War in Ukraine: What you need to know The latest: Grain shipments from Ukraine are gathering pace under the agreement hammered out by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations in July. Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports had sent food prices soaring and raised fears of more hunger in the Middle East and Africa. At least 18 ships, including loads of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, have departed. The fight: The conflict on the ground grinds on as Russia uses its advantage in heavy artillery to pummel Ukrainian forces, which have sometimes been able t...

Tech ‘capitulation’: BofA Top Banker Rick Sherlund Predicts Breakout In Mergers Due To Troubled Economy – CNBC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tech-capitulation-bofa-top-banker-rick-sherlund-predicts-breakout-in-mergers-due-to-troubled-economy-cnbc/ Mergers in software may be about to break out. Top investment banker Rick Sherlund of Bank of America sees a wave of struggling companies putting themselves up for sale at cheaper prices due to the economic downturn. “You do need to see greater capitulation,” the firm’s vice chair of technology investment banking told CNBC’s “Fast Money” on Thursday. “Companies will have their valuation expectations soften, and that will combine with more fully functional financial markets. I think it will accelerate the pace of M&A [mergers and acquisitions].” His broad analysis comes on the heels of Adobe‘s $20 billion dollar deal Thursday for design platform Figma. Adobe failed to generate excitement on Wall Street. Its shares plunged 17% due to questions about the price tag. Sherlund, a former software analyst who hit No. 1 on Institutional Investor’s all-star analyst list 17 times in a row, worked at Goldman Sachs during the 2000 tech bubble. He believes the Street is now in the beginning stages of a difficult market cycle. “You need to get through third quarter earnings reports to feel confident that maybe the bad news is largely out into the market because companies will be reporting lengthening of sales cycles,” he said. “We need to reset expectations for 2023.” Read more about tech and crypto from CNBC Pro Sherlund and his team are very active in the M&A market. “You have private equity with a boatload of cash, and they need functioning debt markets for leverage to do deals,” Sherlund noted. “They’re very eager and actively looking at this sector … It suggests that [for] M&A, in absence of an IPO market, we’re just going to see a lot more consolidation coming in the sector.” He notes the IPO has been hurt in connection with rising interest rate headwinds and inflation. “[The IPO market] is not open. But when the window does open back up, you are going to see a lot of companies going public,” he added. The long-term prospects for software are extremely attractive, according to Sherlund. “You’ve got to be very bullish on the long-term fundamentals of the sector,” Sherlund said. “Every company is becoming a digital enterprise.” Disclaimer

Tencent Lays Off Nearly All Of Staff At Its Gaming Site Fanbyte – TechCrunch https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tencent-lays-off-nearly-all-of-staff-at-its-gaming-site-fanbyte-techcrunch/ The first rule of conducting layoffs is to not be a jerk about it. The second rule is to make sure the social media manager you just laid off doesn’t still have access to your accounts. Today, Tencent violated both of those rules as it laid off nearly all of the editorial staff at Fanbyte, an online gaming publication. Tencent is the world’s biggest gaming company and the most valuable company in China, holding a stake in dozens of international game studios and gaming companies: Riot Games, Epic Games, Roblox, Discord, Pocket Gems, you name it. Tencent also owns WeChat, the Chinese social media superapp, as well as Tencent Music. After posting its first revenue decline ever last quarter, Tencent laid off about 5% of its workforce, impacting 5,000 people. But a month later, it looks like Tencent is still making cuts. I have some degree of sympathy for burgeoning startups that are navigating a challenging market and make the painstaking decision to cut jobs — but Tencent is a mega-company that earned over $88 billion in revenue last year. Sure, its valuation has taken downturn after it almost reached an unfathomable $1 trillion last year. But is laying off some writers really the answer to these problems? I see a lot of empathy going out to everyone who was fired today but let’s please also spare some thought for the people who had to fire everyone one by one over the course of countless hours, drawing out the delicious psychological torture — merritt k (@merrittk) September 15, 2022 According to tweets by Merritt K, one of the final remaining staff at Fanbyte, the layoffs included the site’s editor-in-chief, head of media, features editor, social editor, news editor, graphic designer, podcast producer and several writers. Tencent did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the layoffs. As promised, these layoffs were handled so terribly that it almost makes Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, look good. Fanbyte employees were laid off slowly, one by one, over the course of several hours. There’s nothing like sitting alone in your apartment, waiting to find out if you still have a job, watching as your coworkers tweet that they’re looking for new work. I do firmly believe that the future of games media lies in independent outlets – Into The Spine, Uppercut, RPG Site, and so on. How can anyone be expected to truly care about the work they put out if their job could disappear tomorrow because of gross corpo negligence — Cian Maher (@cianmaher0) September 15, 2022 One extremely small silver lining, though, was that the social media manager got laid off while she still had access to the Fanbyte social media accounts. She basically gave Tencent the middle finger, and after years of watching writers that I love lose their jobs for reasons far beyond their control, I’m living for it. For several hours, the Fanbyte Instagram bio has read, “Tencent made $35 billion in net income last year and laid off almost every member of child company Fanbyte! Please support the staff elsewhere :)” The account is currently sporting the display name, “forgot the keys?” Ah, sweet revenge. You know what would be even sweeter, though? If the biggest media companies in the world stopped gutting good publications to save a couple hundred thousand dollars a year, which is only about a fraction of a fraction of a percent of their net income anyway.

Benton Co. Animal Control Vehicle On Video Leaving Dog – KNWA https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/benton-co-animal-control-vehicle-on-video-leaving-dog-knwa/ SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) – A Siloam Springs man’s outdoor camera captured the moment a Benton County Animal Services deputy dropped off a dog and drove away. In the video, the deputy driving the animal control vehicle came to a stop at the end of the road and opened a door to let the dog out. The dog then started running down the road and the vehicle drove off. Reed lives by a busy highway. He was immediately concerned for the loose dog and drivers on the road. “I know I don’t want to hit a dog on 412 [highway 412]. So, if you’re going to swerve and cause a wreck, it’s more likely to happen with a dog running out in front of your car,” said Reed. His kids also play in the open front yard of his home. He worried about the dog being dropped off so close to where they play. “I don’t want an aggressive dog in my front yard or a dog that might have a disease or anything like that,” said Reed. Animal Control is a team within the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. We reached out to the Sheriff’s Office Thursday. In a text correspondence, the office said the deputy was attempting to return the dog to a home in which he believed the owner lived. “We do not and have not ever dumped a dog anywhere,” said a spokesperson for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. However, Reed said this dog wasn’t his. He said he tracked down the dog when he got home and asked his neighbors if it belonged to them. They all said no. “It was somebody else’s dog. That was not my dog. I have one dog. It’s an Alaskan Malamute, completely different breed, and it’s an inside dog,” said Reed. The Sheriff’s Office said there is normally a $50 fee for picking up dogs that are on the loose, and the deputy was trying to drop off the dog at the owners home without charging a fee. “We would have liked for him [the animal control deputy] to have tried knocking on the door before hand, and this has been discussed,” said Reed. According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the dog is now with a local humane society. Read the full text correspondence with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office below: “The deputy was trying to be helpful and return a dog to the home in which he believed the dog belong to because he was told the dog belonged at that home. We do not and have not ever dumped a dog anywhere. We spend a ridiculous amount of money each year (million dollars) on taking dogs to shelters when their families cannot be located. We are supposed to charge people $50 when when we have to pick a dog up that is lose. However, our deputies try to save people money when they can and since he was told this dog belongs to that home, he was being helpful in dropping the dog off. Now, with that said, we would have liked for him to have tried knocking on the door before hand and this has been discussed. His helpfulness to the woman who had the dog in the first place and to the person he reasonably believed owned the dog is being falsely stated that a dog was being dumped. BCSO does not dump dogs. Our animal control deputies love what they do and are complete animal people. They do an outstanding job,” Spokesperson, Benton County Sheriff’s Office

What Is Overtourism? And What Can Be Done To Combat It – Travel Noire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/what-is-overtourism-and-what-can-be-done-to-combat-it-travel-noire/ Photo Credit: The Lazy Artists Gallery/Pexels What Is Overtourism? And What Can Be Done to Combat It What is overtourism? Wanderlust is all too real. The desire to experience different cultures, cuisine, people, and places, is a strong one. But travel is a privilege and when the travel bug beckons, it comes with responsibility.  Tourists have been flocking to popular travel destinations for decades, but in recent years the issue of overtourism has gained more public awareness. Just take a look at the #overtourism hashtag on social media showing photos of overcrowding at sought-after locations or videos of locals begging tourists not to travel to their city.  While travel is a beautiful thing that can bring people from diverse backgrounds together it can also cause harm to residents and resources. Especially now as travel picks up across the globe and reflects pre-pandemic levels, it’s important to practice responsible tourism and be mindful of your travel impacts. What Is Overtourism?  It’s the overwhelming influx of tourists to a destination. But how many tourists are too many? It’s subjective but generally, if a high volume of visitors is negatively impacting locals and their quality of life, then that destination is being plagued by overtourism.  The Impacts Overtourism can impact a community in many ways. For example, more visitors to a location might result in raising rent prices and pushing locals out to make room for vacation rentals and hotels. It can also lead to local businesses being replaced by chain stores and shopping outlets. But humans aren’t the only ones being pushed out by overtourism. Wildlife is also often affected. When large masses of people descend on natural ecosystems animals are forced to find another home outside of their natural habitat. In addition, overtorism increases noise, air, water, and land pollution. All of these can be signs of overtourism.  How to Combat It Here are five simple ways you can help effect change and resist contributing to overtourism. Travel to less-visited areas The next time you feel that traveler’s itch, why not consider visiting a more off-the-beaten-track destination? The world is a vast place with thousands of beautiful and unique destinations. Instead of jumping on the bandwagon to popular destinations seek out a location facing undertourism. There are tons of great places that actually encourage travelers to come and visit, so check them out. Plan your trip during the off-season It’s ok if your bucket list includes visiting hotspot destinations like Europe or a popular island getaway, but you can still do it mindfully. One simple way to do this is to visit during the off-season when popular destinations are less likely to be packed with visitors. Not only is this better for locals and the environment but it’ll also probably be more pleasant for you. It might be cheaper to travel and tourist attractions will be less crowded. Support local businesses One of the beauties of travel is immersing yourself in a new community and exploring local life. This includes spending money at local and family-owned businesses. For example, instead of staying in a fancy hotel or using a mainstream vacation rental company like Airbnb, try booking your accommodations with a locally owned guesthouse. Instead of shopping at a chain supermarket, do your shopping at a local market. There are many little things you can do to ensure your money is supporting locals. Make sustainable choices As a tourist, you should always aim to be a sustainable traveler. This means enjoying your trip without contributing to the destruction of natural and cultural environments. There are several simple ways you can do this including choosing a non-stop flight to reduce carbon emissions, using reusable bottles and toiletries, and traveling shorter distances. You can even opt for carbon-neutral hotels and support rewilding projects when you travel.    Travel solo or in small groups If it can be avoided, you should try to travel in a small group (generally 4 or fewer people) in order to minimize your contributions to overtourism. But don’t overlook the venture that is solo travel. A solo trip can be empowering and eye-opening for any traveler. While it might seem scary and overwhelming at first a good solo trip can be life-changing and it’s a great way to reduce the impacts of overtourism.  Soul Hollywood Travel Noire, Food, Cooking, Savor %

What To Expect From The Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Decision – 69News WFMZ-TV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/what-to-expect-from-the-federal-reserves-interest-rate-decision-69news-wfmz-tv/ The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. The Federal Reserve’s job hasn’t been easy amid this year’s economic volatility. The Consumer Price Index, a key inflation gauge, rose 8.3% year over year in August — well over the Fed’s 2% target. The stock market hasn’t been well-behaved either: The S&P 500 index is down by more than 10% so far this year. The Federal Open Market Committee is due to meet Sept. 20-21, when it will decide whether to raise interest rates for the fifth time this year — and by how much. Here’s what economists and a financial planner have to say about what’s going into the decision, how the stock market might react, and what it means for long-term investors. Why is the Federal Reserve raising interest rates? In short, the Fed is considering raising interest rates again to reduce inflation. But it’s trying to do so in a way that doesn’t burden consumers and businesses. According to Terrance Grieb, a professor of finance at the University of Idaho, the Federal Reserve’s operations follow a dual mandate. Its two responsibilities are “to provide price stability within the economy, and also to provide a healthy job market.” “What they’re trying to do is set interest rates — which are a key component of monetary policy — in order to balance those two things against each other,” he says. The federal funds rate, which is guided by the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee, is the interest rate at which banks can borrow money from each other. Banks earn profits by borrowing money at a low interest rate and then lending it out to customers at a higher rate. Changes to the federal funds rate trickle down through the banking system, influencing interest rates on a variety of things, including mortgages and bonds. Higher interest rates decrease spending by making it more expensive to borrow money. That decreases demand for goods and services throughout the economy, then slows down the price increases that we call inflation. But when the Fed raises interest rates, it also runs the risk of hurting the economy — and the stock market in particular — by slowing down spending too much. “Corporations borrow a lot of money every day to run their businesses, and when it costs them more money to borrow, it means their profits go down. And if their profits go down, then their stock is not as attractive,” says Delia Fernandez, a Los Alamitos, California-based certified financial planner with Fernandez Financial Advisory. What are markets expecting from the next meeting? “The markets are clearly expecting a 0.75% increase in [the Fed’s] target for the federal funds rate,” says Grieb. He explains that stock market valuations can act as a predictor of future rates and that the current level of the S&P 500 and similar indexes points toward a 0.75% increase. “If we saw a 1% rise or 1.25%, I think the markets would react very badly to that. We would see stock prices decrease. And vice versa — if it were only 0.5%, the markets would react very strongly,” he says. Grieb says that any decision other than a 0.75% rate increase would be a surprise — but that a higher increase might be slightly less of a shock than a lower one. “Chairman [Jerome] Powell has been pretty clear that they feel the need to be aggressive about this,” Grieb says of the Federal Reserve chair. Keith Jakob, a professor of finance at the University of Montana, says that if rates go up by the expected 0.75%, the market reaction may be driven by what the Fed says about expectations for the next FOMC meeting in early November. If the Fed hints that more increases are ahead, that could push markets down. But if it doesn’t, markets could rise. “If they say, ‘Yeah, we’re doing 0.75% but we think that’s enough,’ that maybe would lead to the market saying, ‘OK, let’s have a relief rally because we think they’re finished raising rates,’” Jakob says. How do the August inflation numbers affect the decision? On Sept. 13, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported inflation numbers for the month of August that were higher than economists’ expectations. In response, the S&P 500 and other major stock indexes fell by several percentage points. “There was a grain of hope in the markets that inflation was going to start cooling more quickly,” Grieb says. That might have given the Fed the opportunity to be more gentle with its interest rate increases. But Grieb says that the higher-than-anticipated inflation numbers show that “the Fed will have to stick to its guns,” with an aggressive course of interest rate increases in the near future — hence the negative stock market reaction. “The markets are realizing that the aggressive path the Fed has laid out — they don’t have much room to adjust that,” he says. Should long-term investors pay attention to Fed interest rate policy? Fernandez says no. “They should ignore the news, they should ignore the ups and downs, they should know that they’re in it for the long term,” she says. Ideally, Fernandez says, investors should be making small, but frequent contributions to their investment accounts over time (for example, a set amount from each paycheck). This approach, which is called dollar-cost averaging, can help them buy into investments at lower prices during periods of turmoil. The article What to Expect From the Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Decision originally appeared on NerdWallet.

September Community Garden Class Celebrates Farm To Fork Month | Press Releases – Yolocounty.org https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/september-community-garden-class-celebrates-farm-to-fork-month-press-releases-yolocounty-org/ Press Release (PDF) For Immediate Release  John Fout Public Information Officer john.fout@yolocounty.org (Woodland, CA) – September is Farm to Fork month. To celebrate, the Hanna and Herbert Bauer Memorial Community Garden and the CalFresh Healthy Living Program are hosting a free class at the end of September that will focus on food preservation. This class will be taught by UCCE Master Food Preservers. The class will be held on Wednesday, September 28, from 5:15 pm to 7:30 pm. The class topics will include fruit and vegetable canning and drying. No gardening experience is necessary to participate, and all are welcome to attend. The Sacramento region is known as the Farm to Fork capital of the country. This class offers Yolo County residents an opportunity to enhance their ability to consume fresh, local produce by gaining skills and knowledge that make home gardening and food preserving fun and easy. Pre-registration is required for the class. To register, contact David Linebarger at (530) 666-8429 or david.linebarger@yolocounty.org.    The garden is located at 137 N. Cottonwood Street in Woodland, on the west side of the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency Bauer Building. Participants are encouraged to dress for warm weather and bring water. In the event of extreme heat or poor air quality, the classes will be moved inside. Classes are offered for at no cost throughout the year at the Hanna and Herbert Bauer Memorial Garden. To learn more about the garden activities and classes, visit: www.yolocounty.org/garden. ###

LeBron’s Bold Plan To Play Alongside ‘Chosen Sons’ Detailed In Sports Illustrated Magazine – Business Wire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/lebrons-bold-plan-to-play-alongside-chosen-sons-detailed-in-sports-illustrated-magazine-business-wire/ September 15, 2022 05:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LeBron James has a grand plan to play in the NBA with his 17-year-old son Bronny… and maybe 15-year-old son Bryce too. The trio was shot exclusively in LeBron’s Akron, Ohio high school gym and broke records as the most viewed Sports Illustrated Daily Cover this summer. The King explained his audacious plan with Chris Ballard, adding that they don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of that dream, in the October Sports Illustrated issue on newsstands and at SI.com/issues today, with additional features below. October Issue Features Their Decision: LeBron James isn’t done dreaming: Chris Ballard takes us inside LeBron’s plan to end his career by playing alongside his son (or sons?) in the NBA. Aaron Judge: According to Tom Verducci, the easy narrative is that Aaron Judge bet big on himself when he rejected a mammoth contract offer from the Yankees before this season. But maybe it’s not a gamble if, after years of work and study, he’s a hitting master coming into his own at just the right time. He Plays For Sean: It’s been 15 years since Washington Commanders safety Sean Taylor was shot and killed by burglars in his home, a tragedy that sparked an outpouring of support across the country. Now his younger brother Gabriel is honoring Sean’s football legacy—and creating his own as a defensive back at Rice University according to Alex Prewitt. New York Mets: New York’s other team is poised to play in October, thanks to a turnaround project by new Mets owner Steve Cohen’s efforts to transform a bumbling franchise. Stephanie Apstein investigates if one competent season erases decades of dysfunction. Roll With It: More than a decade ago, an avid cyclist named Ian Mackay was paralyzed in a horrific bike crash. Now he finds happiness and inspires others by getting back on the road—as a record-setting endurance wheelchair racer, by Joseph Bien-Kahn. Also in this issue: As four iconic female athletes retire this fall, SI says goodbye with a photo tribute to Serena Williams, Sue Bird, Allyson Felix and Sylvia Fowles. Longtime SI writer/editor Jerry Kirshenbaum remembers a momentous Munich night 50 years ago: his dinner with Mark Spitz hours after the swimmer won his seventh gold medal of the Olympics, and hours before a brutal terrorist attack that changed the Games forever. SI Gameplan: Mark Bechtel on a new collection of football photos from longtime photographer Michael Zagaris. Richard Johnson on five college coaches sitting on the hot seat this fall. Point after: Shohei Ohtani’s incredible two-way encore performance. Follow Sports Illustrated on Twitter @SInow, Instagram @sportsillustrated, or Facebook. Subscribe to Sports Illustrated today or purchase single issues at SI.com. About Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated (SI) is an unparalleled and influential leader recognized for shaping modern culture and uniting athletes, teams and fans worldwide. SI’s award-winning media enterprise brings powerful storytelling to life across platforms ranging from Emmy-winning video to the monthly print magazine with a 67-year heritage. Get in-depth features, probing profiles, and iconic and beloved photography from the best writers and photojournalists in the game at SI.com. About The Arena Group The Arena Group creates robust digital destinations that delight consumers with powerful journalism and news about the things they love – their favorite sports teams, advice on investing, the inside scoop on personal finance, and the latest on lifestyle essentials. With powerful technology, editorial expertise, data management and marketing savvy, the transformative company enables brands like Sports Illustrated, TheStreet and Parade to deliver highly relevant content and experiences that consumers love. To learn more, visit www.thearenagroup.net.

Meta: More Than Just A Story (Upside Beyond The Metaverse) – Seeking Alpha https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/meta-more-than-just-a-story-upside-beyond-the-metaverse-seeking-alpha/ Fritz Jorgensen I have written an article on Meta (NASDAQ:META) that illustrates an opportunity for a huge rally in the second half of 2022. While the focus on Meta has understandably been more on the metaverse, I think that the opportunity for Meta in the near term lies beyond the metaverse. The real near-term opportunity and catalyst is in its Family of Apps and more importantly, Reels. As we look to Meta’s experience and learnings from monetizing and ramping up Stories, I am of the view that the opportunity for Reels in terms of engagement and monetization is much more. This article aims to explain this and provide an update on my investment case for Meta. Reels improving engagement With Reels, I think the message that management has been wanting to bring across is that it is growing rather quickly, and perhaps faster than they would have anticipated. As mentioned in my earlier article, Reels took up about 20% of the total time spent on Instagram, which to me, was rather encouraging given that Reels is in its early days. In the current quarter, this time spent increased by more than 30% on both Instagram and Facebook, implying that about 26% of total time spent on Instagram was in Reels. While most of these gains in the early days are likely driven by advances Meta has made in its artificial intelligence, I also think that this proves the point of the importance of Reels and short-form videos for Meta as a social media company today. An example of AI improving time spent on Reels was that there was an increase of 15% in time spent on Reels in Facebook after the addition of a recommendations AI model. In my view, there is without a doubt that the company will need to continue to make improvements and add new AI models to, over time, increase engagement and time spent of Reels across its platforms. In building Reels, it is becoming clear that Mark and the team have a vision for it based on the past experience in building social media products for consumers. The focus is on connecting people as a social media company and this involves creating a flywheel effect through its network. As such, the important thing is for consumers to comment on and interact on these platforms. As such, I think that Reels is headed the right way as more than half of the content that consumers have been sharing on Instagram is Reels. This implies to me that Reels is helping improve engagement on Instagram and helping elevate the platform through better interactions and ultimately create a strong moat for Meta in Instagram. With regards to how Reels could add to time spent on Meta’s platforms, I get the sense that Reels could result in some form of cannibalistic effect on the overall company. However, management has reiterated that while there will be some form of cannibalistic impact from rolling out reels, there are incremental benefits to time spent on the company’s platform. Put it in another way, I am of the view that Reels, while having some cannibalistic impact, will see a net positive effect as short-form videos like Reels are the way to go moving forward to improve engagement in the long run. As such, it would be beneficial for Meta in the long run to focus its efforts on Reels to boost engagement of its platform. Reels monetization shows huge potential I think that the Meta team is doing good work in the monetization progress for Reels, given that Reels ads have officially reached the $1 billion annual revenue run rate. The progress that has been made for Reels at this point in time is actually faster than the monetization progress and pace for Stories a couple of years ago. As such, I am of the view that while we cannot hurry the monetization process for Reels as much as investors would really like to, the current progress made thus far has been really decent, especially when benchmarking it to Stories. While Reels is currently at a faster pace of monetization in a similar time frame compared to Stories, I think we have to be patient with the monetization process for Reels. A successful strategy does not happen overnight. For Stories, the monetization journey really began in 2018 and in 2022, and the company just reached parity on it. As such, I would expect Reels to take a multi-year process to fine-tune and optimize monetization in a way that works best for the businesses, consumers and Meta. While Meta reached a $1 billion run rate faster for Reels than for Stories, I think that the optimism that this brings should be put into perspective. This faster monetization was a result of Meta having a familiar playbook it could rely on where it has been successful in making products that its users love, and to integrate advertisement formats that works for its customers. As a result of its experience and lessons learnt from Stories, this $1 billion run rate was achieved faster than Stories. However, there are still challenges Meta faces in its monetization of Reels. One example of a challenge includes the video format of Reels being more difficult for small businesses that are more used to static photos as an advertisement format. As a result, some form of adjustment is necessary for Meta to take to drive further monetization results from Reels. So, what is next for Reels monetization? It is really about improving the performance and ramping up of Reels ad load. The use of AI will be crucial to ensure that the relevant videos are being pushed to consumers while the relevant ads are used to target these consumers. Meta gave an example where Wild Alaskan Company’s use and testing of ads on Reels resulted in 36% return on their spend as well as 26% decrease in cost per new subscriber. Second quarter results While there were fears about headwinds from a weakening demand for digital advertising, Meta reported 2Q22 advertising revenues that were better than expected, rising +3% year on year. However, operating margins disappointed as there were pressures from both Family of Apps and Reality labs. This came as management was spending more in 2Q22 than expected as they invested heavily into core business investments of AI and machine learning, needing to spend and invest in talent and infrastructure. In addition, Meta continued with its share buybacks in 2Q22, with a total of $5.2 billion worth of shares being bought back. Meta announced further reductions to its guidance for expenses from by about 3% to 4%, with the mid-range being around $89.5 billion. This lowering of expenses is part of management’s continued efforts to align the expectations and cadence for investments with its growth in revenues and margin profile. Weakening demand for digital advertising a near-term headwind Although 2Q22 beat on revenues and missed on operating margins, management’s commentary suggests that the opposite will be true in the next few quarters. This is due to more uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment while the company focuses on streamlining its costs structure in the next few quarters. While Mark’s commentary that we are seemingly about to move into an economic downturn is no surprise given the latest news about the economy, it is still pertinent to take this into account given that Mark did comment that he views the current macroeconomic environment as worse than 1 quarter ago. This will have an impact on the whole digital advertising industry and thus, if prolonged, could have a material and severe impact on Meta’s business. As such, the company’s guidance for 3Q22 implied a negative 10% to negative 2% growth for the quarter, which was lower than my initial expectations. This weakness was driven by the current sentiment on weakening demand for advertising as well as headwinds from foreign exchange. The metaverse As elaborated by Mark several times, Meta will, over the next decade, be building a platform for the metaverse across use cases including work and gaming. The focus on developing these platforms comes as Meta will then have the freedom to develop experiences in ways it wants without any external constraints. As this will be an expensive project that will take up heavy capital expenditures in the years to come, the metaverse project is a work in progress and provides the upside to Meta as it works towards being ahead of its competition. I firmly believe that the company’s near-term catalysts are unlikely to be the metaverse, and the metaverse then is likely to be a medium to longer-term project. However, as updated in the second quarter, Meta is looking to expand its metaverse platform, Horizon, as well as make improvements to its Avatars platform. These efforts will help to improve the user experience and user engagement in the metaverse to achieve its end goal. With regards to hardware of the metaverse opportunity, Mark has committed to releasing Project Cambria later in the year. This hardware will be focused on professionals, and it is expected to be a high-end device. As highlighted earlier, the main focus right now is more on its Family of Apps rather than on the metaverse opportunity, although the company is and intends to invest into the metaverse for the long term. What it has announced so far is only the beginning in a rather long-term opportunity, and this project requires patience in the near term. Valuation The negative sentiment around Meta has caused its P/E multiple to contract significantly from more than 1 year ago as concerns about increasing competition, weakening advertising demand and significant spending on the metaverse weighed on the company. Meta is now trading at 11.9x 2023F P/E and 10x 2024F P/E based on my estimates. Multiple expansion is very much in the cards given that it is trading at a discount to its peer group. Applying a 15x P/E multiple on 2024F EPS, I derive a target price of $225 for ...

10 Gadgets Spider-Man Has But Never Uses Anymore – CBR – Comic Book Resources https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/10-gadgets-spider-man-has-but-never-uses-anymore-cbr-comic-book-resources/ Since his first appearance back in 1962, Spider-Man has become one of Marvel Comics’ most popular heroes. With his cool superpowers, wise guy persona, and determination to do the right thing, Spider-Man has become a staple in pop culture. However, Peter Parker doesn’t just use his powers to solve every situation. Using his genius intellect, he can find simple solutions to save lives and take down his many foes. One way Sider-Man accomplishes this is through his many inventions over the years. While some tools, such as his web shooters, have become synonymous with the character, there are a few that have managed to fall to the wayside. From being used sparingly to gimmicks solving one particular issue, there are a few products of Parker that will continue to collect dust for a while. 10 The Spider Signal Stopped Shining First appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #3 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the Spider Signal was one of Parker’s first gadgets used in his crime-fighting career. This device was part of his utility belt, which shined a bright red light reflecting his face on whoever came across it. While readers could detect that the signal shared a similar approach to a certain hero in Gotham City, they do have a difference. While Batman has the Bat Signal to alert him of a crime, Spider-man uses his to alert criminals of his arrival. However, over time, the Signal began to be used on and off again, depending on the creative teams of the series. Though the light may have been diminished, it still remains a fan favorite for long-time readers. 9 Many Alternate Suits, But Only One Use Not every situation can be handled the same, and no one knows that better than Spider-Man. With each new foe with an unforeseen power comes the need for scientific invention. And there have been none as awesome (or as silly) as Peter’s need to don a new wardrobe to fight particular threats. From wearing an Electro-proof suit to stop Electro, to wearing a full suit made of steel, Peter has worn them all. Sadly though, after each villain encounter, these clothes tend to either be destroyed or retired. Though fans enjoy a return of some fan favorites, there is no doubt that the red and blue is still the most beloved. 8 Impact Webbing: Webs By Another Spider It’s no surprise that Spider-Man has used his intelligence to create different types of webbing for different uses. However, unlike most tools, this one has a different owner. Impact webbing was made popular in part to Ben Reilly, or as some would come to know him, the Scarlet Spider. Impact Webbing dealt with normal web fluid, now shaped into little spheres that could be launched at rapid speed, growing around an opponent when in contact. This form of webbing was used mostly during Reilly’s run as Spider-Man, going with him after he left. Though not used as much by Peter, it still shows up from time to time, including in the PS4 video game. 7 WebWare Was Cool, But Had To Be Destroyed During Peters’ time as CEO of Parker Industries, his company would create Web Ware, a device similar to current-day smartwatches. The users could access the internet and call from their wrists simply by pressing the pad. For, Peter, the device served another function. Connected to his Spider Armor, the devices gave Spider-Man unlimited access to all users and to track their locations. At first, Web Ware proved popular and resourceful in stopping crimes. Unfortunately, Peter would be forced to hack and destroy each one after they were infected by the Carrion Virus, ending his company. 6 The Spider Tracer Tracker Was Useful, But Irrelevant Later On Spider Tracers have been one of Peter’s long-lasting inventions, useful for tracking criminals who get away. However, sometimes in order to find these bugs, there needs to be a tracer for the tracer. Introduced in Amazing Spider-Man # 11 by Lee and Ditko, Peter sought to use the device in order to track down a now freed Doctor Octopus. Spider-Man would go back to using the device a few more times in other situations. However, by advancing his technology to respond with his own Spider-Sense, the tracer seemed redundant at best. The tracker has since been used sparingly, such as Peter losing his Spider Sense or tracking his former sidekick, Alpha. 5 Waldoes/Tentacles Reminded Peter Of His Past Misfortunes During Civil War, by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, Iron Man blessed Peter with a gift: a mechanized Spider-Man suit filled with many gizmos and cool features. However, one standout was the Waldoes, four mechanical arms that increased mobility and offensive attacks. While the suit was a cool addition, Peter abandoned it when he betrayed Tony during the series. However, a new incarnation would arise thanks to Otto Octavius during his possession over Peter’s body in Superior Spider-Man, by Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman. Unlike before, the arms resembled pincers, and allowed for better, faster attacks. These too would be abandoned once Peter regained control of his body. 4 The Arachnaughts Were Overkill Established during Superior Spider-Man, Octavius’s takeover of Peter’s body would bring Otto’s own expertise to the Spider name. One such creation would be the Spiderlings, armed mercenaries who would serve as his enforcers around New York City. And on patrol, they would bring heavy artillery in the form of the Arachnaughts. With these giant spider-like robots, Otto was able to bring militia style combat to the field, each robot equipped with huge lasers and video surveillance. However, just like Otto’s career as a hero, all the Arachnaughts were destroyed once Peter regained consciousness of his body, blowing up Otto’s base. And due to the damage Octavius caused (as well as poor funds), Peter has never sought to revive them. 3 The Belt Camera, Useful For Photographers Only After getting picked up by J Jonah Jameson for The Daily Bugle, Peter would attach a micro camera to his utility belt. With this, he managed to obtain photos of his battles as Spider-Man and later submit them as Peter to the Bugle. At first, this device was one of Peter’s mainstays, serving as a tool for both of Peter’s professions. However, once Peter left the company, it served him no purpose to keep the camera. Even so, with that old Parker luck usually forcing him to go back to the Bugle, the camera may not stay as dormant. 2 The Web Wings Were A Design Choice Appearing back in Amazing Fantasy #15 by Lee and Ditko, One of the features that Steve Ditko drew on the character was webbing under his armpits. This unique feature originally served as a way to convince readers that Peter could fly, using them to glide down. While an interesting choice, this feature would be later implemented with another hero, Spider-Woman. Even so, the webbing has since become a choice between writers and artists on whether to use it. Some prefer the classic design, while others feel they get in the way. Although used in later Spider-Man films, the webbing still remains a debatable option. 1 The Spider Mobile Never Caught On In 1974, Spider-Man had to face his greatest foe in all history: car promoters. Appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #126 by Gerry Conway and John Romita Sr, Corona Motors begged for Spider-Man to promote their non-polluting engine, which required a car. Although he thought it ridiculous due to never needing a car in the city, Spider-Man would later rope the Human Torch into helping him construct a car aptly themed around the webhead. Spider-Man and his vehicle would go on a few strange adventures, from battling Hammerhead to the Tinkerer after he gave the car an evil makeover. However, the vehicle was scrapped due to the concept still coming across as ridiculous. The car has since served as an Easter egg among fans, who look upon and go, ‘Oh yeah, that was a thing.’ NEXT: Marvel: The 10 Most Useless Gadgets Used In The Comics

Cowboy Maverick Johnny Cash Mines 2.6 BTC Jackpot In Gold Rush At Bitcoin.com’s Crypto Casino – Promoted Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/cowboy-maverick-johnny-cash-mines-2-6-btc-jackpot-in-gold-rush-at-bitcoin-coms-crypto-casino-promoted-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ Gold Rush with Jonny Cash dishes out a massive win of 2.6 BTC! Massive Win on Casino Slot Jackpot wins on our crypto casino Bitcoin.com Games have become a regular phenomenon with players winning insane amounts of BTC every month. Just yesterday, a lucky player’s mining adventures on the smashing slot game Gold Rush with Johnny Cash took an extremely fortuitous turn. One of the bets that they had made on the slot was destined to land them a massive win of 2.6 BTC. Gold Rush with Johnny Cash Gold Rush with Johnny Cash is a western-themed slot from the popular games provider BGaming where the infamous bandit cactus named Johnny Cash searches for money and gold. Players can join the notorious gold digger in his underground quest for gold in a splendid vista of western drylands. High volatility and 25 pay lines exacerbate the chances of winnings bets landing a big win multiplier of up to 5,820x the bet value. Player gets lucky with a small bet, lands a big multiplier! Bitcoin.com Games offers various types of casino games including exciting slot and table games, games with big jackpots, and even a live casino with real dealers on the other side interacting with you. Players can choose from a range of fantastic slots that often accumulate crazy jackpots. Placing a bet on these games unlocks the opportunity for players to land insane multipliers, many of them going upwards of 100,000x! Bitcoin.com Games is a premium gaming portal that has been growing in popularity ever since its inception. With big jackpots and money multipliers being rewarded every week, the casino has seemingly become a thriving place for players to test their luck, and possibly, win life-changing money. Play Gold Rush with Johnny Cash now or check out other games with big jackpots and bonuses that you can play on Bitcoin.com Games. What do you think about this big win on Gold Rush with Johnny Cash? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Tags in this story big win, Bitcoin, Casino, crypto casino, Cryptocurrency, Games, gold rush, Johnny Cash, online casino, Prize Pool, Promotion, Tournament This is a promoted post. Learn more on how to reach our audience here. Read the disclaimer below. Bitcoin.com Since 2015, Bitcoin.com has been a global leader in introducing newcomers to crypto. Featuring accessible educational materials, timely and objective news, and intuitive self-custodial products, we make it easy for anyone to buy, spend, trade, invest, earn, and stay up-to-date on cryptocurrency and the future of finance. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

U.S. Rail Strike Averted, But Labor Deal Faces Tough Union Votes – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-rail-strike-averted-but-labor-deal-faces-tough-union-votes-reuters/ Rail labor dispute had threatened massive work stoppage Workers agree not to strike while ratification votes tallied WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s administration secured a tentative deal on Thursday to avert a railway strike that could have wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy, but union members angered by tough work conditions have yet to ratify the agreement. A deal between major U.S. railroads and unions representing tens of thousands of workers was reached after about 20 hours of talks brokered by Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. Workers agreed not to strike while votes are tallied over the next several weeks, avoiding a stoppage that could have started on Friday. Walsh told Reuters it was a “very nice contract, good contract for workers” and for employers. It had provisions that “have never been in contracts before” for rail workers. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Delivering remarks in the White House Rose Garden, Biden called the deal a “big win for America” and promised more worker-company agreements in the future. Averting a strike helped the Democratic leader avoid fresh supply chain shortages and inflation hikes ahead of November’s midterm elections. “I’m optimistic that we can do this in other fields as well,” Biden said. “Unions and management can work together for the benefit of everyone.” Walsh held the contract talks in Washington between unions representing 115,000 workers and railroads including Union Pacific (UNP.N), BNSF, CSX (CSX.O), Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) and Kansas City Southern . If they accept the deal that was announced at about 5 a.m. (0900 GMT), workers whose pay had been frozen would win double-digit increases and would be allowed to seek certain types of medical care without fear of being punished, union leaders said. The agreement also includes an immediate 14.1% wage rise. Workers have gone three years without a raise amid the contract dispute, with talks stalling over attendance, sick time and scheduling issues. Only two of 12 unions – representing less than 10% of the workforce – are known to have ratified new contracts with freight railways. The unions, including two large groups representing around 60,000 workers, will need to persuade their members to vote for Thursday’s deal. That might be a tough sell, labor experts warned. read more Walsh said unions will get the deal over the next month or two and then hold votes. “There’s a lot of anger among the members of these two unions because they feel, after being essential workers during the COVID pandemic, they were getting screwed on the attendance policy and getting punished for taking sick leave,” said Seth Harris, a professor of Northeastern University and former Biden administration official focused on labor and the economy. MIDTERMS, ECONOMIC DISRUPTION Negotiations on an agreement had stretched for more than two years, leading Biden to appoint an emergency board in July to help break the impasse. Biden’s Democrats, who regularly voice support for unions, face November elections that will determine whether they retain their narrow control of Congress. Republican control would likely block much of Biden’s legislative agenda for the next two years of his presidency. Congressional leaders had threatened to pass legislation imposing a resolution on the railroads and unions if the negotiations were not successful. U.S. President Joe Biden grabs onto Labor Secretary Marty Walsh as he greets negotiators who brokered the railway labor agreement after U.S. railroads and unions secured a tentative deal to avert a rail shutdown, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the tentative agreement and said Congress was ready to act. “Thankfully this action may not be necessary,” Pelosi said in a statement. A rail shutdown could have frozen almost 30% of U.S. cargo shipments by weight, stoked inflation, cost the American economy as much as $2 billion per day and unleashed a cascade of transport woes affecting U.S. energy, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and retail sectors. General Motors (GM.N) Chief Executive Mary Barra said Thursday a rail shutdown would have forced the closure of some truck plants “within a day” and snarled new car deliveries to dealerships. Railroad shares pared premarket gains as Wall Street closed sharply lower on economic jitters, but Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern outperformed the broader market. Oil futures fell over 3% to a one-week low on the deal amid expectations for weaker global demand. read more The impact of a shutdown would have stretched beyond U.S. borders because trains link the United States to Canada and Mexico and provide vital connections to massive ships that ferry goods from around the globe. Amtrak, which runs U.S. passenger rail, said it will resume normal service on Friday after canceling long-distance trains in anticipation of a strike. read more WORKFORCE CUTS The railroad industry slashed almost 30% of its workforce over the past six years, cutting pay and other costs as companies increased profits, stock buybacks and dividends for investors. Profits at BNSF, owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N), rose 9.8% in the quarter ending June 30 to $1.66 billion. The number of U.S. railway workers has dropped from more than 600,000 in 1970 to about 150,000 in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, due to technology and cost-cutting. The result is that many industry workers are on call at all hours, waiting to respond at short notice to work for days at a time. Thursday’s deal follows some earlier recommendations of the president’s emergency mediators. It includes a 24% percent wage increase over a five-year period from 2020 through 2024 as well$1,000 lump sum payments in each of the next five years. Biden, who has criticized companies for raking in “excessive” profits, faces other supply-chain labor issues. Some 22,000 union workers at 29 West Coast ports that handle almost 40% of U.S. imports are also in high-stakes labor contract negotiations. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, Susan Heavey in Washington, Stephanie Kelly in New York, and Jahnavi Nidumolu, Aishwarya Nair, Bansari Mayur Kamdar and Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Writing by Rami Ayyub; Editing by Heather Timmons, Catherine Evans, Jonathan Oatis and Richard Pullin Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Tech News: 5 Things To Know In Australia Today – Gizmodo Australia https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tech-news-5-things-to-know-in-australia-today-gizmodo-australia-6/ Happy Friday. This week has been heavy on the iPhone content, with the new 14 range going on sale today (if you’re after a good deal, we’ve got some), bringing with it a tonne of new things to do in iOS 16 and a throwback to the ’90s with an Apple website blunder. But there’s more happening outside of the Time Cook empire. 1. YouTube will now sell you ads vertically It’s well established that, if a major tech company sees another platform succeeding based on a (relatively) original idea, it’s going to want to shamelessly copy that idea. And it’s probably also going to want some upgraded ad-tech to go with it. That’s what YouTube is doing. Google is bringing vertical ads to your phone, using AI to translate the horizontal to a more TikTok/Instagram Reels-like experience. Ugh. Fab. 2. TikTok’s newest feature is a brazen copy of BeReal While YouTube is trying to be TikTok, TikTok is trying to be BeReal. The company is experimenting with a new feature called TikTok Now that, just like the once-a-day photo app BeReal, will prompt users to capture what they’re doing at a moment using both front and rear cameras. The key takeaway? Originality is a dead language, at least in the world of social media apps. TikTok Now sends users push notifications to record a picture or quick video of whatever they’re doing. Image: TikTok 3. Zoom outage gives quick solace Zoom went down for around an hour super early this morning, giving everyone working from home on the other side of the world a bonus brief period of time without back-to-back meetings. As reported by The Verge, users saw plenty of “an error occurred” messages, and most weren’t able to launch meetings. Zoom’s main website, zoom.us, even displayed a 502 gateway error for the majority of the outage. 4. Ethereum just completed ‘The Merge’ The Ethereum network, which powers the second largest cryptocurrency in the world, completed a long-planned upgrade known as “The Merge”, moving from a proof-of-work system to a proof-of-stake system. And nothing catastrophic has happened yet, despite plenty of dark predictions by an army of short-sellers. Read our explainer on The Merge over here. 5. myGov audit is go Prior to the election, Labor said if it were successful, myGov would undergo an audit. The user audit, Albanese said previously, would take a “fresh look at how well myGov is performing when it comes to reliability and functionality for a user-friendly experience”. Well, that audit is actually going ahead. The man who led the last major review of the Australian Public Service will also chair the myGov audit: none other than former Telstra CEO David Thodey. BONUS ITEM: Here’s some fresh nightmare fuel for your Friday. — Attractive Patriot (@RAF_Valerie) September 13, 2022 Have a great weekend.

Michigan We Choose Lifts Up Voices Of Members Of Black And Brown Communities – Second Wave Media https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/michigan-we-choose-lifts-up-voices-of-members-of-black-and-brown-communities-second-wave-media/ Editor’s note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave’s On the Ground Calhoun County series. Sonya Brown was the lone voice of opposition among trustees on the Albion Board of Education who voted in 2016 to close the Albion Community Schools. While she knows that there’s nothing she can do to reverse this outcome, now she is lending her voice to a statewide organization to ensure that what happened in her hometown of Albion doesn’t happen anywhere else.   Shortly after school board trustees voted to annex their schools to Marshall, Brown, joined forces with Michigan We Choose, established to give members of the state’s Black and Brown communities a voice in decisions that directly impact their lives.   “These communities have always been vulnerable and have traditionally not been fairly represented or given a seat at the table where decisions are being made that impact their lives, often in negative ways,” says Brown, who works at Calhoun County’s Justice Center.   Proof that members of Michigan We Choose are lifting up their voices and being heard became clear after the city of Benton Harbor’s only high school was spared from a potential closure in 2019.   “We showed up when state education officials were threatening to close Benton Harbor’s high school,” Brown says. “People were watching. I don’t think our state legislators realized that keeping the high school open had the statewide support that it did.”   A large share of that support came from members with Michigan We Choose and national support from the Journey for Justice Alliance and other We Choose member organizations representing cities and states throughout the United States that are members of the Journey for Justice Alliance. These groups routinely show up where they’re needed to make sure those who stand to lose the most know that they are not alone, says Kamau Kheperu, a member of Michigan We Choose and a Community Organizer in Detroit.   Michigan We Choose members and community residents in Benton Harbor shown at a meeting to discuss the proposed closure of Benton Harbor High School.According to its website, the Journey for Justice Alliance launched in 2012 “in response to the growing problem of school privatization (starving of neighborhood schools, school closings, charter and contract school expansion, turnarounds) impacting cities across the United States.”   Brown says she got involved after reading comments from a board member with the Inkster School District who said that losing a school district is like losing the heart of the community. Those comments came after that school district was dissolved in July 2013. And Brown learned that a similar fate awaited Saginaw’s Buena Vista schools in July 2013.   She learned of these closures through research she had been doing in her role as an Albion school board trustee, and at the same time she discovered that the majority of people in these communities did not know that what they were experiencing was happening in other school districts across the state.   “Since the Inkster schools dissolved that school board member became a member of the Inkster City Council and she invited me to go to a Michigan We Choose meeting,” Brown says.   She organized a Michigan We Choose chapter in Albion after that meeting. The state organization has member cities throughout Michigan who meet regularly to share information about potential threats to the quality of life of marginalized individuals in communities throughout the state. It focuses its efforts on elevating their voices at the national level.   Among these efforts was a trip to Washington, D.C., in 2016 organized by the Journey for Justice Alliance to protest the appointment of then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos who was nominated for that position by former President Donald Trump. Kheperu, of the Detroit chapter, says busloads of individuals with Journey for Justice state affiliates attended to support the national organization.   “We look at it this way. Folks get elected and sometimes the community trusts their judgement and doesn’t hold them accountable,” Kheperu says. “In order to hold them accountable a community has to know what’s going on. When a community questions legislators and sees that these elected officials aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do what’s the next move? Get this person out of office or what? People have to realize the power they have and not just sit back and hope for change. We’ve still got to hold these elected officials accountable. Let’s put a structure in place to hold them accountable.”   Michigan We Choose members and community residents in Benton Harbor shown at a meeting to discuss the proposed closure of Benton Harbor High School.As one more step towards this process of accountability, the Journey for Justice Alliance is hosting an event in the nation’s capital Sept. 22-24 focused on quality-of-life issues within marginalized communities throughout the United States. Kheperu says much of this event will include advocacy work and organizing. In May, he says, Journey for Justice held a national convention in Baltimore, Md., where representatives from various We Choose cities and states came with their particular areas of expertise in sectors including affordable housing, food security, and employment with a goal to create a Quality-of-Life platform based on specific demands focused on various sectors.    “That meeting was an opportunity for us to come together as a national collective and write down our concerns and take a list of demands to our state legislators and speak to them during our upcoming meeting in Washington,” Kheperu says. “Different We Choose member-states are going to meet with their legislators. We’re going to have a dialog and begin to build bridges. We want to nationalize our local work.”   Among the strongest and most effective statewide We Choose networks is one in New York. Kheperu says that coalition is “mean” in a good way because of the work they have done which included the election of Bill DeBlasio, a Democrat, as the mayor of New York City.   Sharing information, creating connections   Kheperu says there was no excuse for cities throughout Michigan to be unaware of what was taking place in the Inkster and Saginaw schools. He says Michigan We Choose is working to ensure that when closures like this are on the table, his organization will have a seat at that table and the opportunity participate in the dialog.   A Critical Conversation in Detroit led by Zakiyah Ansari, far left, who leads the We Choose coalition in New York.“What happened in Inkster made us realize that we’ve got to share our own individual stories and our solutions,” he says. “It was clear that we didn’t know what was going on. That sparked an interest in how can we have close proximity to city and not know what was going on in education in Black and Brown communities. What was going on was happening in isolation and we wanted to know how we could build a bridge to different cities where this was taking place.”   They created Listening Projects targeted at education and traveled to different cities where community members were given the opportunity to speak and give voice to their concerns and propose solutions. What Michigan We Choose representatives heard is that school systems were taken over by the state without community input, Kheperu says.   The first listening session in Albion happened in 2016, followed one year later by a Critical Conversations meeting with community members and State Rep. John Bizon and Calhoun County Commissioner Gary Tompkins, Brown says.   “The school is the hub in Black and Brown communities. If you close our schools it just tears our community up,” Kheperu says. “We as citizens in the community have to figure out not only how to pull people back together because now you’ve got people in community traveling other places to get their kids to school and back and they don’t have a lot of time to spare. It’s hard to pull them back together to talk to us.”   The majority of these individuals also don’t have jobs that offer the flexibility to engage with the work of Michigan We Choose, Brown says.   “With the people I talk to, education is still an important issue in Albion,” she says. “But housing is also an issue, particularly the lack of a variety of housing including affordable options and senior housing. When you don’t have a sustainable, viable, thriving school in your community it’s hard to attract people and companies that will create jobs and a tax base to fund different housing options. We want to highlight how all of these quality-of-life areas are so intertwined. Not having a school is affecting economic development, housing, jobs and so much more.”   Michigan We Choose also has broadened its scope to include a growing list of issues including disparities in economic prosperity, healthcare, the environment, investing in youth, housing, safety, senior care and food security which impact Black and Brown communities.   “Institutional racism is affecting all of those areas,” Kheperu says. “We want to stop working in silos and start working together. Even though these are different sectors, the root causes of the disparities are the same.”   Through their work in education, he says his group was able to find individuals already working in some of the other areas needing attention.   “Now that we know we have the same playbook in each different city with Black and Brown communities, it’s a matter of opening the channels, so if there’s something going on in Albion that needs our support we will be there.”   Brown says among her focuses with Michigan We Choose in Albion is training people to ...

Travel + Leisure Co. Provides Update On Strong Momentum In Third Quarter Prior To Conference Presentations – Business Wire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/travel-leisure-co-provides-update-on-strong-momentum-in-third-quarter-prior-to-conference-presentations-business-wire/ ORLANDO, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL), the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, provided an update on its third quarter results and outlook for the remainder of 2022 in advance of presentations at several conferences in September. Travel + Leisure Co. will be attending NYSE’s 3rd Annual Investor Access Consumer Day on September 20, 2022, Deutsche Bank’s 30th annual Leveraged Finance Conference on September 20, and Wells Fargo’s Consumer Conference on September 21. A link to the company’s updated Fall 2022 investor relations presentation is available online at travelandleisureco.com/investors. Third Quarter Update The company is reiterating the third quarter and full year outlook provided on July 28, 2022, in its earnings press release, including the following measures1: Third quarter adjusted EBITDA of $230 million to $240 million Full year adjusted EBITDA of $860 million to $880 million “The strong momentum we saw in the second quarter continued through August as our vacation ownership business continues to draw families prioritizing their vacations. Through the end of the year, booking pace at our vacation ownership resorts remains strong with room nights on our books 8 percent above 2019,” said Michael D. Brown, president and CEO of Travel + Leisure Co. About Travel + Leisure Co. Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) is the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, with nearly 20 travel brands across its resort, travel club, and lifestyle portfolio. The company provides outstanding vacation experiences and travel inspiration to millions of owners, members, and subscribers every year through its products and services: Wyndham Destinations, the largest vacation ownership company with more than 245 vacation club resort locations across the globe; Panorama, the world’s foremost membership travel business that includes the largest vacation exchange company and subscription travel brands; and Travel + Leisure Group, featuring top travel content and travel services including the brand’s eponymous travel club. At Travel + Leisure Co., our global team of associates brings hospitality to millions each year, turning vacation inspiration into exceptional travel experiences. We put the world on vacation. Learn more at travelandleisureco.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “should,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “future,” “intends” or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of Travel + Leisure Co. and its subsidiaries (“Travel + Leisure Co.” or “we”) to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the acquisition of the Travel + Leisure brand and the future prospects and plans for Travel + Leisure Co., including our ability to execute our strategies to grow our cornerstone timeshare and exchange businesses and expand into the broader leisure travel industry through new business extensions; our ability to compete in the highly competitive timeshare and leisure travel industries; uncertainties related to acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic transactions; the health of the travel industry and declines or disruptions caused by adverse economic conditions, unemployment rates and consumer sentiment, terrorism or acts of gun violence, political strife, war, including hostilities in Ukraine, pandemics, and severe weather events and other natural disasters; adverse changes in consumer travel and vacation patterns, consumer preferences and demand for our products; increased or unanticipated operating costs and other inherent business risks; our ability to comply with financial and restrictive covenants under our indebtedness and our ability to access capital markets on reasonable terms, at a reasonable cost or at all; maintaining the integrity of internal or customer data and protecting our systems from cyber-attacks; uncertainty with respect to the scope, impact and duration of the novel coronavirus global pandemic (“COVID-19”), including resurgences, the pace of recovery, distribution and adoption of vaccines and treatments, and actions in response to the evolving pandemic by governments, businesses and individuals; the timing and amount of future dividends and share repurchases, if any; and those other factors disclosed as risks under “Risk Factors” in documents we have filed with the SEC, including in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2022. We caution readers that any such statements are based on currently available operational, financial and competitive information, and they should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinion only as of the date on which they were made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to review or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances as they occur. 1 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. This guidance is presented only on a non-GAAP basis because not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is available without unreasonable effort, primarily due to uncertainties relating to the occurrence or amount of these adjustments that may arise in the future. Where one or more of the currently unavailable items is applicable, such items could be material, individually or in the aggregate, to GAAP reported results. %

STOCK MARKET NEWS: Stocks Close Lower On Mixed Economic Data – Fox Business https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/stock-market-news-stocks-close-lower-on-mixed-economic-data-fox-business/ US stocks fell for the second time in three days as the latest economic reports gave investors little reassurance that inflation is under control. The Nasdaq falls 1.4%, the S&P slipped 1.1% and the Dow lost 0.56%. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 0.047 percentage point to 3.458%. FOX Business is providing real-time updates on the markets, stocks, commodities, acquisitions and businesses on the move. incoming update… Coverage for this event has ended. It looks like what would have been a crippling strike by workers at freight railroads has been avoided. U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh sent out a tweet early Thursday morning indicating that a tentative agreement had been reached. “Following more than 20 consecutive hours of negotiations, the rail companies and union negotiators came to a tentative agreement that balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation’s economy.” During marathon negotiations early Thursday morning, talks were taking place with three remaining unions. The White House released a statement applauding the tentative agreement calling it “an important win for our economy and the American people.” The statement continued, “It is a win for tens of thousands of rail workers who worked tirelessly through the pandemic to ensure that America’s families and communities got delivers of what have kept us going during these difficult years.” President Biden thanked the unions and rail companies for reaching an agreement. Posted by FOX Business Team Symbol Price Change %Change ADBE $307.42 -64.10 -17.25 Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) on Thursday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $1.14 billion. The San Jose, California-based company said it had net income of $2.42 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $3.40 per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $3.33 per share. The software maker posted revenue of $4.43 billion in the period, matching Street forecasts. For the current quarter ending in November, Adobe expects its per-share earnings to be $3.50. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had forecast adjusted earnings per share of $3.43.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $4.52 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $4.6 billion. Adobe shares have declined 34% since the beginning of the year. The stock has declined 42% in the last 12 months. Posted by Associated Press US stocks fell for the second time in three days as the latest economic reports gave investors little reassurance that inflation is under control. The Federal Reserve meets on interest rates next week. The CME FedWatch tool shows a 20% chance the Fed will raise rates by 100 basis points and an 80% chance the increase will be 75 basis points. The S&P 500 fell 1.13%, to end at 3,901.35 points, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.43%, to 11,552.36. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.56% to 30,961.82. Retail sales rose 0.3% in August while industrial production dipped 0.2%. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 0.047 percentage point to 3.458% today. Nymex Crude for October delivery lost $3.38 per barrel, or 3.82% to $85.10.Gold for September delivery lost $31.10 per troy ounce, or 1.83% to $1665.40. Posted by FOX Business Team Symbol Price Change %Change GM $41.22 0.60 1.47 General Motors plans to invest $491 million at its Marion, Indiana metal stamping operations to help support electric vehicle production, the largest US automaker said. The funds will prepare the facility to produce a variety of steel and aluminum stamped parts for future products built at multiple GM assembly plants. “While this investment prepares the facility for our all-electric future, it’s really an investment in our talented Marion team and will keep the plant working for many years to come,” said Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability. Posted by FOX Business Team IRS plans to improve technology and taxpayer services while bolstering tax compliance among wealthy Americans and corporations with its $80B in new funding, said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Providing the IRS with an influx of funding has been a top priority for Democrats and emerged as one of the most prominent financiers of the $739 billion Inflation Reduction Act. Posted by FOX Business Team Symbol Price Change %Change STOR $32.13 5.34 19.93 OWL $11.41 0.38 3.40 Singapore’s GIC and private equity firm Oak Street, a division of Blue Owl Capital Inc OWL.N, will buy commercial real estate investment trust Store Capital Corp STOR.N in a deal valued at about $14 billion, the companies said on Thursday. Store Capital’s shares jumped about 21% to $32.50 in premarket trading. As part of the agreement, Store Capital shareholders will get $32.25 per share in cash, which represents a 20.4% premium to the stock’s last close. The deal agreement has a 30-day “go-shop” period that will expire on Oct. 15, which will allow Store Capital to solicit and consider alternative acquisition proposals, the companies said. Posted by Reuters Amtrak plans a full schedule Friday after U.S. railroads and their unions reached a tentative deal. The passenger rail operator had cancelled all long-distance routes. Some Amtrak trails use freight lines. Posted by FOX Business Team Symbol Price Change %Change GPS $9.04 -0.30 -3.27 The Gap will soon have a retail hole to fill. Kanye West is ending his collaboration with the casual clothing retailer to start his own chain of Yeezy retail clothing stores. The musician-fashion mogul accuses the owner of Athleta, Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy of failing to live up to its agreements to market the billionaire’s Yeezy fashion line. Posted by FOX Business Team Symbol Price Change %Change FMCC $0.58 0.00 0.62 Mortgage rates continued to rise alongside hotter-than-expected inflation numbers this week, exceeding six percent for the first time since late 2008, Freddie Mac reported. • The 30-year fixed rate rose to 6.02%. • The 15-year fixed rate reached 5.21% Although the increase in rates will continue to dampen demand and put downward pressure on home prices, inventory remains inadequate. This indicates that while home price declines will likely continue, they should not be large, Freddie Mac said. Posted by FOX Business Team Interest payments on the national debt will rise further if the Federal Reserve lifts interest rates next week. Interest on the federal debt is already projected to be the fastest-growing part of the federal budget in fiscal year 2022. The national debt is set to hit $31 trillion as soon as this month amid a slew of new spending by President Biden and Democratic lawmakers. Posted by FOX Business Team Symbol Price Change %Change ADBE $371.52 3.13 0.85 Adobe fell 13% as trading opened Thursday. The maker of Acrobat and Photoshop also announced it will acquire Figma for $20 billion, comprised of approximately half cash and half stock. Figma is a design platform for teams who build products together. The transaction is expected to close in 2023, subject to the receipt of required regulatory clearances and approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions, including the approval of Figma’s stockholders. Adobe reports fiscal third quarter earnings after the US markets close Thursday. Posted by FOX Business Team US stocks opened lower Thursday as declining gasoline prices supported spending and initial jobless claims fell. Retail sales increased 0.3% last month, the Commerce Department said Thursday, surprising economists who expected sales to be flat. The national average gasoline price dropped to about $3.82 per gallon in late August after hitting an all-time high just above $5.00 in mid-June, according to data from AAA. Prices at the pump were averaging $3.698 per gallon on Thursday. A separate report from the Labor Department on Thursday showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 213,000 for the week ended Sept. 10.There were 11.2 million job openings at the end of July, with two jobs for every unemployed person. Meantime the Federal Reserve reported industrial production decreased 0.2 percent in August. Oil and gold are lower. Reuters contributed to this report. Posted by FOX Business Team Industrial production decreased 0.2% in August, the Federal Reserve reported. Manufacturing output edged up 0.1% after increasing 0.6% in July. The index for mining was unchanged, and the index for utilities decreased 2.3%. At 104.5% of its 2017 average, total industrial production in August was 3.7% above its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization declined 0.2 percentage point in August to 80.0%, a rate that is 0.4 percentage point above its long-run (1972–2021) average. Posted by FOX Business Team The Ethereum blockchain has undergone a major software upgrade, drastically reducing its energy usage, its inventor and co-founder tweeted on Thursday. The new system will use 99.95% less energy, according to the Ethereum Foundation. The upgrade, which changes how transactions occur and how ether ETH=BTSP tokens are created, could give Ethereum a major advantage as it seeks to surpass rival blockchain bitcoin. Ethereum has moved from a “proof of work” system, in which energy-hungry computers validate transactions by solving complex maths problems, to a “proof of stake” system, where individuals and companies act as validators, using their ether as collateral, to win newly created tokens.  Ethereum was born in 2013. Proponents say it will form the backbone of much of the widely hyped...

Chicago Half Marathon Celebrates 25 Years On September 25 With ‘All Things Chicago’ Theme – Endurance Sportswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/chicago-half-marathon-celebrates-25-years-on-september-25-with-all-things-chicago-theme-endurance-sportswire/ September 15, 2022 Chicago musician NNAMDÏ to perform for more than 10,000 runners at post-race finish festival; Famed Willis Tower to host Healthy Way of Life Expo CHICAGO – (September 15, 2021) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The HOKA Chicago Half Marathon produced by Life Time will celebrate its 25th anniversary as the Windy City’s most established and iconic half marathon on September 25. In recognition of the historic milestone, race organizer Life Time has created an ‘All Things Chicago’ theme for the 10,000+ runners who signed up for the half-marathon and popular 5K distances. Beloved Chicago artist, NNAMDÏ, will perform at a post-race festival, and the event expo will be hosted at Chicago’s historic Willis Tower. Runners from 49 states and 38 countries will descend upon Chicago to participate in this year’s commemorative events. “From our incredible expo venue to finish festival entertainment and eats, we’re thrilled to infuse the spirit of the city we love into all aspects of event weekend,” said Allison Humbert Wilkinson, Sr. Marketing Manager at Life Time. “We’re proud to host such a large and diverse audience from across the country and around the globe as we celebrate the ‘golden birthday’ of this event with them.” Popular local indie artist and producer, NNAMDÏ, will perform in Jackson Park on Sunday. The performance is just ahead of the October 7 release of his upcoming album, Please Have A Seat from Secretly Canadian / Sooper Records, and national tour. NNAMDÏ also has received accolades from NPR and The New Yorker, among others, and was named 2020 Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Tribune. Well known for its oversized finisher’s medal, this year’s version is intricately inscribed with 25 uniquely-Chicago emblems, including Buckingham Fountain, Art Institute Chicago’s regal lions (the city’s unofficial mascot), and a folding chair featuring the word ‘dibs’ (from the local practice of reserving shoveled-out parking spots during the winter months). The post-race finish festival will also feature Chicago-themed food for runners. The event weekend kicks off with the grand opening of Life Time Lake Zurich on Friday, Sept. 23. Lake Zurich joins twelve other Chicagoland Life Time destinations, including at River North – the first downtown location which opened earlier this year. Willis Tower, the second tallest building in North America and staple of the Chicago skyline, will play host to the event’s Healthy Way of Life Expo, serving as the packet pickup location and bringing together sponsors, vendors, retailers, and nutritionists with the latest gear, product sampling and health and wellness information. The Half Marathon commences in historic Jackson Park and winds through the picturesque Hyde Park neighborhood and University of Chicago campus. Runners turn south on Lake Shore Drive and are met with views of the skyline, Lake Michigan, and Museum of Science and Industry. The half marathon and 5K distances share a finish line at the Golden Statue of the Republic in Jackson Park. Life Time owns and produces a portfolio of iconic athletic events, including the Chicago Spring Half Marathon (May), Chicago Triathlon (August), and Turkey Trot Chicago (November). Registration for both distances are still available. For more information, visit www.chicagohalfmarathon.com. For more information about Life Time, visit www.lifetime.life. About Life Time®, Inc. Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of nearly 160 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada. The company’s healthy way of life communities and ecosystem address all aspects of healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment for people 90 days to 90+ years old. Supported by a team of more than 30,000 dedicated professionals, Life Time is committed to providing the best programs and experiences through its clubs, iconic athletic events and comprehensive digital platform. # # #

Car Strikes Worker At North Collins School | News, Sports, Jobs – Evening Observer https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/car-strikes-worker-at-north-collins-school-news-sports-jobs-evening-observer/ North Collins Central School is reporting one of its bus attendants was injured after being struck by an automobile. The district reported the incident occurred around 7:25 a.m. Thursday while outside bus No. 111 at a student pickup. No students were involved in the accident and law enforcement is investigating the incident. “Students from the bus were then dropped off at their respective schools and were met by our counseling staff,” the district reported. “Please be assured that we will do everything we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our children. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the district office at (716) 337-0101 ext. 1301 or your child’s principal.” Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Does The Ethereum Merge Open The Door To The Metaverse For Miners? – Digital Journal https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/does-the-ethereum-merge-open-the-door-to-the-metaverse-for-miners-digital-journal/ As the Ethereum merge approaches, the anticipation of what the end of 2022 will bring has reached fever pitch in the market. The merge is widely regarded as one of the most significant events in cryptocurrency’s short but explosive history and has the potential to trigger the next crypto bull run. After the merge, miners will be faced with a handful of options, and whatever they choose they will still want healthy returns. Is the metaverse one of those options and does it have the infrastructure for mining? Of all its stakeholders, miners have historically derived the most benefit from the Ethereum proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, and they are the group that will suffer most when it changes to proof-of-stake (PoS) after the merge. While assessing their future, miners would be wise to consider transferring their operations to a public metaverse blockchain with high performance, cheap cost, and low energy usage. Typically, ‘metaverse’ refers to a virtual, computer-generated world that is separate from – but connected to, via specialist hardware and software – the real world. Among other things, the metaverse renders digital representations of people and objects into an online, virtual world. Interactions in the metaverse are similar to those in the real world, with users able to shop, travel, work, study and play, while generally being depicted as an avatar in a 3D environment, often anonymously. Caduceus Metaverse Protocol, a blockchain launched in mid-2022 dedicated to metaverse development, has been announcing substantial partnerships in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, making it a desirable prospect for metaverse investors and an attractive option for GPU miners. Caduceus’ partnerships already include Bin Zayed Group, top Hollywood production company One Van Films and a host of British sporting legends. Seven-time snooker world champion Stephen Hendry, England rugby world champion Lawrence Dallaglio, England cricket captain and sporting icon Ian Botham, and young British motorsport star Sonny Smith, signed by Infinity Sports, are all Caduceus partners, advisors or investors. This diverse, multi-domain group of collaborators continues to grow and paves the way for Caduceus to develop exciting and innovative experiences in the metaverse. Caduceus’ edge rendering distribution client will be released in the 3rd quarter of 2022, along with numerous application launches that will combine to provide miners with valuable alternatives to PoW. Caduceus is an infrastructure-layer public blockchain designed specifically for the metaverse and the decentralised world, lowering barriers to entry and providing developers with flexible tools to build the foundations of the metaverse ecosystem. The current benefits of the Caduceus Metaverse Protocol are as follows: In conjunction with P2P and DHP networks, a hypercube design and a network of nodes with distinct purposes, the transaction costs, speed and efficiency of Caduceus are unrivalled. Innovation in edge computing and decentralised edge rendering technology offer infrastructure developers simple and secure operating services, remove restrictions on developers, and enable flexible computing and analysis of edge frameworks. Microservice architecture allows the deployment of each microservice individually, meaning that developers are not required to coordinate the rollout of service enhancements or modifications. This also makes it easier for developers to rapidly create and customise their own chains. The consensus mechanism, block size, and storage technique can easily be modified by developers in accordance with their performance and security needs. The incentive model offers a promising revenue source for miners. Since the P2P network, DHP network, and hypercube design combine the bandwidth of all nodes, the more nodes that are deployed, the larger the network’s capacity and the more the revenue of a single node will grow. Ethereum may be more secure, scalable and sustainable after the merge, but gas fees will remain high and compliance will become the sword of Damocles for the PoS network. If PoW miners want to increase their rewards over time, the metaverse is a vital opportunity that cannot be missed. Caduceus Metaverse Protocol has a formidable team that secured significant A-round investment, making substantial funds available for developers to build applications at lower cost, faster speed and greater security, with the metaverse ecosystem growing quickly as a result. For miners new to the metaverse space, Caduceus represents a great opportunity. With an attractive incentive model and a robust long-term development plan, Caduceus miners will be well-positioned to capture future returns. Overall, although the merge brings with it some risk, the subsequent benefits and rewards for the wider blockchain industry will make it more than worthwhile. The metaverse has the potential to grow into a $5 trillion market by 2030 and Caduceus, with its unique, decentralised metaverse infrastructure layer, may be exactly the opportunity that PoW miners have been waiting for. Join Caduceus Community for latest update Telegram: https://t.me/CaduceusMetaverseProtocol  Discord: https://discord.com/invite/caduceus  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Caduceus_CMP Media Contact Company Name: Caduceus Metaverse Protocol Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email Country: United Kingdom Website: https://caduceus.foundation/

Thermal Interface Materials Market Size Share Trends Growth Demand And Competitive Analysis Insights 2022-2029 | DataM Intelligence – Digital Journal https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/thermal-interface-materials-market-size-share-trends-growth-demand-and-competitive-analysis-insights-2022-2029-datam-intelligence-digital-journal/ The Global Thermal Interface Materials Market is expected to reach a high CAGR of 10.10% during the forecast period (2022 – 2029). Market Overview: TIM is an important thing of any thermal management system that is physically small. Thermal interface materials are widely used to produce the maximum crucial components of the heat dissipation gadget, which might be used to cool and defend integrated circuit (IC) chips. Most TIMs are based on proprietary polymer matrix and thermally conductive filler technologies, permitting them to deal with tough warmth dissipation issues with long-time period reliability and coffee price of ownership. The electronics industry severely wishes TIM. To Download free sample @ Click Here Market Dynamics The software of carbon-based thermal interface materials as a cheap substitute for metallic & aluminum is a prime marketplace motive force for the global thermal interface materials marketplace. Nonetheless, immoderate material and manufacturing charges might be a first-rate market restraint. Increasing energy densities in digital devices and the growing want for cheap warmness management answers Power densities in digital devices, mainly microprocessor chips, have multiplied exponentially over the last few decades. The ongoing fashion of shrinking device dimensions has appreciably multiplied thermal troubles in digital circuits. As a end result, thermal control is becoming critical in making sure that electronic gadgets operate in step with their specifications. Since thermal interface substances are cheap and could be injected into gaps of any length, they’re broadly identified as cheap and applicable thermal control answers. As the call for and different market prospects for thermal interface substances upward thrust because of the aforementioned elements, they will be diagnosed as a prime marketplace motive force for the respective market. Market Segmentation By Chemistry Silicone Epoxy Polyimide By Type Greases & adhesives Tapes & Films Gap Fillers By Application Computers Telecom Consumer Durables Medical Devices Others Competitive Landscape The global thermal interface materials market is rich in the number of market players, prospects and strengths and is growing rapidly. Furthermore, technological behemoths such as Honeywell International, 3M, Henkel AG, Parker Hannifin, Dow, Laird Technologies, Momentive, Indium Corporation, Wakefield Thermal and Zalman Tech Co., Ltd make the market extensively competitive. The market is fragmented and key market participants use tactics such as mergers, acquisitions, product launches, contributions and collaborations to gain a competitive advantage and recognition in their respective markets. Trending Topics Thermochromic Materials Market Thermoplastics Material Market Automotive Interior Materials Market Media Contact Company Name: DataM Intelligence Contact Person: Sai Email: Send Email Phone: +1 877 441 4866 Country: United States Website: https://www.datamintelligence.com/research-report/-thermal-interface-materials-market

Crypto.com Successfully Renews Top Tier NIST Cybersecurity Ranking – BSC NEWS https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/crypto-com-successfully-renews-top-tier-nist-cybersecurity-ranking-bsc-news/ Disclaimer: Overall it is vital to proceed with caution when purchasing tokens that have just been listed. For those who have not already read our articles on safety in the BSC it is crucial to reference the following items, HERE and HERE. This is a paid press release, BSC.News does not endorse and is not responsible for or liable for any content, accuracy, quality, advertising, products, or other materials on this page. The project team has purchased this advertisement article for $1500. Readers should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company. BSC.News is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services mentioned in the press release. Disclaimer: Overall it is vital to proceed with caution when purchasing tokens that have just been listed. For those who have not already read our articles on safety in the BSC it is crucial to reference the following items, HERE and HERE. This is a paid press release, BSC.News does not endorse and is not responsible for or liable for any content, accuracy, quality, advertising, products, or other materials on this page. The project team has purchased this advertisement article for $2500. Readers should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company. BSC.News is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services mentioned in the press release. Disclaimer: This is a paid Ask Me Anything (AMA), BSC.News does not endorse and is not responsible for or liable for any content, accuracy, quality, advertising, products, or other materials on this page. The project team has purchased this advertisement AMA for $2000 Readers should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company. BSC.News is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services mentioned in the AMA. Don’t forget to download the BSC News mobile application on iOS and Android to keep up with all the latest news for BNB Chain and crypto. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram! If you need tools and strategies regarding safety and crypto education, be sure to check out the Tutorials, cryptonomics explainers, and Trading Tool Kits from BSC News. Looking for a job in crypto? Check out the CryptoJobsNow listings! Disclaimer: This article is exclusive BSC News Premium Content. Premium content is viewable without a membership for a limited time. After the limited time period expires, readers will need to either subscribe or hold a BSC News NFT to view Premium Content. Visit the BSC News NFT website, Discord, and Twitter to learn more about becoming a Premium member.

President Biden Announces Three New Nominees To Serve As U.S. Attorneys – The White House https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/president-biden-announces-three-new-nominees-to-serve-as-u-s-attorneys-the-white-house/ President Biden is announcing three new nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys. These are officials who will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law as top federal law enforcement officials. These individuals were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials, their dedication to pursuing equal justice for all, and their commitment to the independence of the Department of Justice. The President has proposed a budget that would significantly increase funding for law enforcement as part of a comprehensive approach to tackling the rising crime rate this administration inherited last year. The President has also launched a comprehensive effort to take on the uptick in gun crime that has been taking place since 2020—putting more cops on the beat, supporting community prevention programs, and cracking down on illegal gun trafficking. Confirming U.S. Attorneys as the chief federal law enforcement officers in their district is important for these efforts. The President has now announced 60 nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys. United States Attorney Announcements 1. Roger B. Handberg: Candidate for United States Attorney nominee for the Middle District of Florida Roger B. Handberg has been the appointed United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida since 2021. Mr. Handberg was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida from 2002 to 2021. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Handberg served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Florida Attorney General’s Office. From 1994 to 1999, he was an associate at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Handberg received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1994 and his B.A. from the University of North Carolina in 1991. 2. Markenzy Lapointe: Candidate for United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe has been a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in Miami, Florida since 2017.  Before joining Pillsbury, Mr. Lapointe was a partner at Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP in Miami, Florida, where he first began working in 2006. From 2002 to 2006, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Lapointe served as a law clerk for Florida Supreme Court Justice Harry Lee Anstead from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Lapointe received his J.D. from Florida State University College of Law in 1999 and his B.S. from Florida State University in 1993. Mr. Lapointe is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. 3. McLain J. Schneider: Candidate for United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota McLain J. Schneider is a partner at the Schneider Law Firm, where he has worked since 2008. Previously he served in the North Dakota Senate from 2008 to 2016. From 2011 to 2017, Mr. Schneider was an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Dakota School of Law. Mr. Schneider received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2008 and his B.A. from the University of North Dakota in 2002. ###

Major Gaming Brands Wade Deeper Into The Realm Of Blockchain Technology – Kitco NEWS https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/major-gaming-brands-wade-deeper-into-the-realm-of-blockchain-technology-kitco-news/ Editor’s Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today’s must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) – Epic Games, the company behind the popular online multiplayer game Fortnite, has officially waded into the world of blockchain gaming by launching Blankos Block Party on the Epic Games Store.   Blankos Block Party is a nonfungible token (NFT) powered online creation game created by Mythical Games that was originally launched as an open beta in December 2020. Since its launch, the Web3 game has accumulated more than one million users according to Mythical Games.  The game studio first revealed its plans to bring the free-to-play title to the Epic Games Store back in June, managing to beat out Gala Games and its western-themed shooter Grit for the honor of being the first Web3 game to launch on the popular PC gaming marketplace.  Blankos Block Party was inspired by designer/vinyl toy culture and allows users to play and collaborate in a colorful online world. NFT technology is used to represent unique items in the game, like avatar designs and accessories, which users can buy and sell through the game’s marketplace.  A number of well-known brands and artist partners have already signed on to be part of Blankos Block Party by offering limited-edition drops, including Burberry, Atari, and musician Deadmau5. For interested players, it’s important to note that owning an NFT is not required to play the game.  The version of Blankos Block Party that launched on the Epic Games store is functionally identical to the playable version on the games website. Both versions are currently available in an “early access” state ahead of the game’s full launch, which is scheduled to occur on Sept. 28. SWIFT explores the use of blockchain technology to improve efficiency Final Fantasy creators double down on blockchain In other blockchain gaming news, Square Enix, the Japanese game developer behind the globally popular Final Fantasy franchise, has signed on to become a node validator for the blockchain gaming project Oasys.  According to the announcement from Oasys, Square Enix managed to claim the last of the project’s 21 initial validator slots. Along with becoming a validator, the pair has also teamed up to create the next generation of blockchain games on Oasys’ EVM-compatible proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain. The main focus of the collaboration will be on the creatine of Triple-A quality games with play-to-earn (P2E) integrations. Other Oasys gaming partners include Double Jump, Bandai Namco and Ubisoft.  In January, Square Enix president and CEO Yosuke Matsuda signaled that he was interested in the idea of introducing blockchain-enabled “token economies” into games to incentivize both players and users that generate content to add to the games. “With advances in token economies, users will be provided with explicit incentives, thereby resulting not only in greater consistency in their motivation, but also creating a tangible upside to their creative efforts,” Matsuda wrote. “From having fun to earning to contributing, a wide variety of motivations will inspire people to engage with games and connect with one another. It is blockchain-based tokens that will enable this. By designing viable token economies into our games, we will enable self-sustaining game growth.” The company’s first dip into the realm of NFTs occurred in July with the release of tokenized character figures for $129.99 featuring characters such as Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Council Passes Resolution Supporting Jail Expansion In Benton County – Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/council-passes-resolution-supporting-jail-expansion-in-benton-county-northwest-arkansas-democrat-gazette/ A view of a cell block at the Benton County Jail on Thursday July 30, 2015 in Bentonville. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF) BENTONVILLE — The Benton County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council unanimously adopted a resolution Wednesday supporting the ballot questions to expand and operate the Benton County Jail. “I am thankful the mayors of our great communities have recognized the importance of preserving our quality of life here in Benton County, and ensuring the safety of our families in the future,” said Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway. The council recognizes Benton County’s continual population growth has put a strain on the criminal justice system and has led to crowding of the current jail, according to a news release. An expansion is needed to provide adequate facilities for the future population of Benton County, increase mental health assessment, and provide drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs among other improvements, a news release states. Benton County Judge Barry Moehring said passage of the resolution is a resounding message to county residents the mayors and police departments support the role a safe, right-sized and well-run jail plays in ensuring public safety and protecting the quality of life. “This expansion of the jail is critical to the safety of Rogers residents and of Benton County as a whole,” said Rogers Mayor Greg Hines. “I saw firsthand the need to expand the facility and ensure the safety of our community. I support this expansion and believe it will provide sufficient space to protect the public.” The sales tax measures will be on the Nov. 8 ballot. Holloway previously said the expansion is necessary to deal with crowding issues in the jail. Justices of the peace set the rates for a proposed one-eighth percent sales tax increase to pay for the bond for the expansion and a one-quarter percent sales tax increase to pay for the operations and management of the jail. A county criminal justice committee recommended earlier this year nearly $250 million be spent on a jail expansion and a courts complex. Money from the one-eighth percent increase would pay off the bonds to finance the jail expansion. The tax will end when the bonds are paid. The one-quarter percent increase, which would pay for jail operations, would be a permanent tax. The ballot measures will only concern expanding the jail because justices of the peace plan to pay for the courts project with county money. The estimated budget for the jail expansion project is $206.2 million. “I am grateful that the mayors in Benton County unanimously recognized the need to prioritize public safety,” said Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith. “For our community to remain one of the best places in America to live, work and raise a family, we must invest in the infrastructure we need to keep criminals off our streets.” Bella Vista Mayor Peter Christie said the additional space and increased funds into inmate rehabilitation are critical to continuing to keep the area one of the safest in the country. The Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition has called for a moratorium on any new jail beds in both Benton and Washington counties, arguing alternatives to incarceration have yet to be explored by either county and should take precedence over bigger jails. Sarah Moore of the coalition said additional sales taxes on the communities is unwarranted for jail expansion. She said people across all walks of life are coming together to oppose the tax increases. MORE NEWS The Benton County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council is comprised of the 20 cities within Benton County, the Benton County Judge, and Benton County Clerk. The council meets annually in a public meeting to review and discuss services and issues relevant to the public. The council was created pursuant to Arkansas Code § 14-27-104. Source: Benton County

Avoya Travel Joins Industry Consortium Travel Leaders Network – GlobeNewswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/avoya-travel-joins-industry-consortium-travel-leaders-network-globenewswire/ FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Avoya Travel®, one of the travel industry’s most innovative brands, has just announced its affiliation with Travel Leaders Network (TLN), the largest travel agency consortium. Avoya spent months meticulously researching and vetting potential partners and made the decision to affiliate with TLN based on a multitude of well-aligned visions and goals for both organizations, including aggressive growth plans and mutually beneficial partnership programs for travelers, travel advisors, and suppliers. “Avoya’s ambitious growth plans required an extensive process to evaluate which travel consortia might best match our ethos,” said Jeff Anderson, Co-CEO of Avoya Travel. “Running this process gave us a double win: not only did we find a great consortium in Travel Leaders Network, we also bonded deeply with other consortia leaders, competitors, and travel providers throughout the industry. 2023 is going to be a banner year for Avoya and we couldn’t be more excited.” A main focal point of Avoya’s search for a new consortia partner was to find a relationship with an organization that is deeply rooted in the travel distribution channel with highly respected leaders and a model that is symbiotic with the Avoya platform. Avoya will be taking advantage of several of the industry-leading programs offered by the powerhouse consortium which will greatly enhance the selling potential of the Independent Agencies in the Avoya Travel Network. The strength of Avoya’s model, proprietary technology, and patented Live Leads program will likewise generate an abundance of opportunities for TLN. “We are elated that Avoya Travel will be joining the Travel Leaders Network and are already working on strategic initiatives with Avoya to increase leisure travel sales,” said Roger Block, President of Travel Leaders Network. “Avoya is known for its innovation and forward-thinking approach to increasing market share, and their business philosophies and energy match Travel Leaders incredibly well. We are looking forward to the future and what our amazing companies can build together.” For more information, visit www.AvoyaTravel.com or www.AvoyaNetwork.com. About Avoya Travel Avoya Travel® is redefining how vacations are booked by providing unmatched resources, services, proprietary technology, and patented solutions to thousands of companies including cruise lines, tour companies, resorts, and the Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network. Through its innovative vacation platform model and vast demand channels, Avoya utilizes powerful marketing technology and data intelligence, alongside its patented Live Leads program, to connect travelers with independent travel advisors who deliver personalized service and value throughout the vacation planning and booking process. Avoya continues to develop groundbreaking technology solutions to offer travelers access to exclusive discounts and amenities in partnership with travel suppliers. Avoya has won numerous awards for its technology and innovation, including holding multiple patents, and serves travelers in North America and beyond. Travel agency owners, travel professionals, and others interested in receiving the unmatched services, marketing, support, and technology needed to own and operate their own travel business should contact Avoya Travel at 800-521-2597 or visit www.AvoyaNetwork.com. Travelers interested in booking their next vacation with an expert Independent Agency in the Avoya Network should call 800-753-1463 or visit www.AvoyaTravel.com. Media Contact: PublicRelations@AvoyaTravel.com %

Legal Briefs: News From Around NH – New Hampshire Business Review https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/legal-briefs-news-from-around-nh-new-hampshire-business-review-2/ SEC files insider trading suit against exec in NH court … and more In a suit filed in federal court in Concord, the Securities and Exchange Commission is charging a former vice president at Align Technology Inc., with trading on confidential information the company. According to the SEC, the former executive, Todd C. Doucette, 50, made nearly $349,000 in illegal profits by buying Align shares ahead of company earnings announcements in April 2018 and October 2020. Doucette worked at the Tempe, Ariz.-based company from March 2016 to July 2021, most recently serving as vice president of business transformation for the Americas, according to the suit. The SEC is seeking an order forcing Doucette to give up all ill-gotten gains as well as pay a civil penalty. BIA to honor Samuels for lifetime achievement Dick Samuels McLane Middleton attorney Richard A. Samuels is being honored next month as a 2022 recipient of the Business & Industry Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes business leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to leadership in their professions, communities and New Hampshire. Samuels, who joined McLane Middleton in 1980, has been a director of the firm since 1987 and served as the firm’s managing director from 2013 to 2019. He specializes in securities law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate business law, banking law, and energy, utilities and telecommunications. This year’s awards will be presented on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Manchester. For more information, click here. SIG Sauer prevails in NH P320 suit Gunmaker SIG Sauer has won a product liability lawsuit brought by a Hillsborough man who alleged he was hit in the leg by a bullet because his pistol fired without pulling the trigger. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty ruled that the plaintiff failed to prove SIG Sauer knew an advertisement — a “Safety Without Compromise” notice that the plaintiff said he read on the gunmaker’s website before purchasing his P320 in December 2016 — was false. In the advertisement, SIG Sauer promised the P320 “won’t fire unless you want it to.” The plaintiff had alleged SIG Sauer sold the P320 pistol in an unreasonably dangerous condition. The lawsuit claimed the pistol has a defect, allowing it to fire without the trigger being pulled under certain conditions.