Benton County News Now

U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Hit Five-Month Low; Economic Picture Darkening – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-weekly-jobless-claims-hit-five-month-low-economic-picture-darkening-reuters/ Weekly jobless claims drop 16,000 to 193,000 Continuing claims decrease 29,000 to 1.347 million Second-quarter GDP contraction unrevised at 0.6% rate Gross domestic income revised down towards GDP WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell to a five-month low last week as the labor market remains resilient despite rising headwinds from the Federal Reserve’s stiff interest rate increases and slowing demand. The weekly unemployment claims report from the Labor Department on Thursday, the most timely data on the economy’s health, also showed jobless rolls shrinking to their lowest level in just over two months in mid-September. That raises the risk that the unemployment rate will drop this month, keeping the Fed on its aggressive monetary policy tightening path. “The Fed won’t be slowing the pace of their rate hikes yet with 75 basis points in November and 50 basis points more in December a virtual certainty,” said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS in New York. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “The Fed is going to go until something breaks, but so far, nothing is breaking besides the stock market and early signs that home prices are starting to fall.” Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 193,000 for the week ended Sept. 24, the lowest level since April. Data for the prior week was revised to show 4,000 fewer applications filed than previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 215,000 applications for the latest week. While there have been reports of some companies laying off workers, economists say most employers are hoarding labor after experiencing hiring difficulties in the past year as the COVID-19 pandemic forced some people out of the workforce, in part because of prolonged illness caused by the virus. They expect companies to pull back on hiring before resorting to widespread job cuts. Hurricane Ian, which slammed Florida on Wednesday, could distort claims in the weeks ahead. “The message here is still a historically tight labor market, with companies holding on to workers,” said Conrad DeQuadros, senior economic advisor at Brean Capital in New York. Unadjusted claims declined 12,642 to 156,060 last week. There was a sharp drop in applications in Michigan, as well as notable decreases in New Jersey, New York and Missouri. They more than offset increases in Massachusetts and Ohio. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics The Fed wants to cool labor demand in order to bring inflation down to the U.S. central bank’s 2% target. The oversized rate hikes are heightening recession risks. Stocks on Wall Street were trading lower. The dollar rose against a basket of currencies. U.S. Treasury prices fell. TIGHT LABOR MARKET The Fed bank last week raised its policy interest rate by 75 basis points, its third straight increase of that magnitude, and signaled more large increases to come this year. Since March, the Fed has hiked its policy rate from near zero to the current range of 3.00% to 3.25%. There were 11.2 million job openings at the end of July, with two jobs for every unemployed person. The claims report showed the number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid fell 29,000 to 1.347 million in the week ending Sept. 17, the lowest level since July. The so-called continuing claims data, a proxy for hiring, covered the week that the government surveyed households for September’s unemployment rate. Continuing claims dropped by 65,000 between the August and September survey periods. The unemployment rate rose to 3.7% in August from 3.5% in July. The Fed last week raised its median forecast for the unemployment rate this year to 3.8% from its previous projection of 3.7% in June. It boosted its estimate for 2023 to 4.4% from the 3.9% projected in June. Despite labor market strength, the economy is struggling. A separate report from the Commerce Department on Thursday confirmed that gross domestic product fell at an unrevised 0.6% annualized rate in the second quarter. The economy contracted at a 1.6% rate in the first quarter. Details of the third estimate of GDP were mixed. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, was stronger than previously estimated. But corporate profits, wages and proprietors’ income were revised lower. As a result, growth in gross domestic income (GDI), which measures economic activity from incomes earned and the costs incurred in the production of GDP was revised sharply down to a rate of 0.1% from the previously reported 1.4% pace. In principle, GDP and GDI should be equal, but in practice differ as they are estimated using different and largely independent source data. Historically, GDP has been revised towards GDI, and this year marked a reversal of the trend. The average of GDP and GDI, also referred to as gross domestic output and considered a better measure of economic activity, was revised lower to show it falling at a 0.3% rate instead of rising at a 0.4% pace as previously reported. It declined at a 0.4% rate in the first quarter, revised down from a the previously reported 0.1% growth pace. The government also revised GDP data from the fourth quarter of 2016 through the end of 2021, which showed the gap between GDP and GDI was only -0.6% of GDP in 2021. The so-called statistical discrepancy was previously reported at -2.3%. The revisions also showed the economy’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic was much stronger than initially thought, but the recession remained the deepest on record. In addition to rising borrowing costs, inventories are also casting a pall over the economy. A sharp slowdown in the pace of inventory accumulation from the first quarter accounted for the weakness in GDP in the April-June quarter. But businesses are sitting on a larger stockpile of goods than previously estimated. “Inventories are financed with short-term borrowed money, making them most sensitive to Fed policy,” said Chris Low, chief economist at FHN Financial in New York. “Companies have a growing financial incentive to trim them. They have not even started to cut back and when they do, if they cut them quickly, the recession will be deep.” Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Paul Simao and Andrea Ricci Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

How Hotels Are Using Robots To Reduce Costs, Improve Operations And Enhance The Guest Experience | – Hotel Technology News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-hotels-are-using-robots-to-reduce-costs-improve-operations-and-enhance-the-guest-experience-hotel-technology-news/ Today, robots are being used in a variety of hotel departments, including housekeeping, food and beverage, and even security. By Marv Allen, Sales Director, Starfleet Media – 9.29.2022 Hotels are increasingly utilizing robotic technology to improve operations and enhance the guest experience. From check-in to checkout, robots are playing an increasingly important role in the hospitality industry. The history of robots in the hospitality industry dates back to the early 2000s when the world’s first robotic concierge was introduced at the Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, California. Since then, the list of hotel robot solution providers, now dominated by companies like Relay Robotics, KEENON Robotics, Pudu Robotics, RichTech Robots and Bear Robotics, has grown exponentially as has the use of robots in hotels. Today, robots are being used in a variety of hotel departments, including housekeeping, food and beverage, and even security. And the benefits of using robots in the hotel industry are many. Robots can help to improve operational efficiency by automating tasks that are typically done manually. They can also help to enhance the guest experience by providing a more personalized service. In addition, robots can help to reduce costs and save time. For example, robotic valets can park cars for guests and robotic concierges can provide information about the hotel and its amenities. The challenges and obstacles related to robots in hotels are also many. One of the biggest challenges is the cost of implementing and maintaining a robotic infrastructure. Another challenge is the lack of standardization. There are no industry-wide standards for hotel robots, which makes it difficult for hoteliers to compare and select the right robot for their needs. Finally, there is the issue of public perception. Some people may view robots as a threat to jobs. Others may see them as a nuisance. Despite the challenges, the future of hotel robotics is very bright. The global market for hotel robots is expected to grow from $79 million in 2020 to $338 million by 2025, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.8%, according to a report by MarketsandMarkets. This growth is being driven by the increasing adoption of robots in the hospitality industry and the growing need for efficient and cost-effective solutions. Hotels are increasingly turning to robots to improve operations and enhance the guest experience. And the future of hotel robotics is very bright. How leading hotels and resorts are utilizing robotic technologies to reduce costs, improve operations and enhance the guest experience is the focus of a new Smart Decision Guide, scheduled to publish in January 2023. The 2023 Smart Decision Guide to Hotel Robotics, produced by Starfleet Research based on best practices IT market research, is currently in development. Underwriting partners have not yet been announced. If you are a related technology solution provider and you wish to learn about the opportunity to participate as an underwriter, with benefits that include a turnkey content marketing and lead generation program, please contact Marv Allen at Starfleet Media.

Statue Of Harry Truman Unveiled In U.S. Capitol Rotunda – Washington Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/statue-of-harry-truman-unveiled-in-u-s-capitol-rotunda-washington-times/ Associated Press Thursday, September 29, 2022 Former President Harry S. Truman was remembered by Democratic and Republican leaders as one of the most consequential presidents in history during a ceremony Thursday unveiling a statue of Truman in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Speakers at the ceremony unveiling the 7.5-foot bronze statue of the nation’s 33rd president remembered the numerous substantial decisions Truman made, despite being vice president for only 82 days before President Franklin Roosevelt died in April 1945. Truman, who was born and reared in Missouri, helped end World War II, created the United Nations and NATO, desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces and federal workforce, recognized Israel and helped lead the world’s response to the Soviet Union and Communism. The statue, sculpted by Tom Corbin of Kansas City, looks like Truman, wearing a double-breasted jacket, is walking down steps. It includes a phrase Truman is famous for – “The buck stops here.” U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, said “no president in such a short period of time made more consequential decisions then Harry Truman. “If you’ve ever been in a job where you made decisions, just imagine the decisions he had to make and how quickly he had to make them and how well he made them,” Blunt said. PHOTOS: Statue of Harry Truman unveiled in U.S. Capitol Rotunda Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniels, said of all of his grandfather’s accomplishments, his most significant “was reminding us that a farmer, a citizen solider, a small businessman can rise to the highest office in this land and do a better job of it than almost anybody else.” U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, said Truman rose from being a farmer, a soldier, small businessman, county judge, and U.S. senator before becoming president. Cleaver, who is Black, praised Truman’s decision to integrate the armed forces and the government work force, saying it helped create a middle class for Black people. “From this day forward may Harry Truman’s statue serve as a reminder of his courage, and courage we need to have to take on projects that will help build this nation,” Cleaver said. “For my congressional colleagues and I, we too should accept the responsibility, as did Truman, and declare ‘The buck stops here.’” Truman’s statue will be the 10th presidential statue in the Capitol Rotunda, flanked by George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant. The Truman Library Institute led a campaign to raise more than $400,000 to fund the statue. Each state has two statues in the Rotunda to honor people notable in the state’s history. In 2019, the Missouri Legislature voted to install Truman’s statue to replace an 1899 statue of Thomas Hart Benton, a five-term U.S. senator from Missouri. Benton’s statue will be moved to the State Historical Society Art Gallery in Columbia, Missouri. Copyright © 2022 The Washington Times, LLC.

Gadsden Area Siblings Witness History On Vacation Trip To England – Gadsden Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/gadsden-area-siblings-witness-history-on-vacation-trip-to-england-gadsden-times/ Skip to main content This content is only available to subscribers. Get unlimited digital access. $1 for 6 months. Your subscription supports: Investigative reporting that makes our community a better place to work, live and play Expert coverage of high school sports teams The best tips on places to eat and things to do Daily newsletter with top news to know Mobile apps including immersive storytelling This content is only available to subscribers. Get unlimited digital access. $1 for 6 months. Your subscription supports: Investigative reporting that makes our community a better place to work, live and play Expert coverage of high school sports teams The best tips on places to eat and things to do Daily newsletter with top news to know Mobile apps including immersive storytelling %

House Approves Antitrust Bill Targeting Big Tech Dominance – 69News WFMZ-TV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/house-approves-antitrust-bill-targeting-big-tech-dominance-69news-wfmz-tv/ WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday approved antitrust legislation targeting the dominance of Big Tech companies by giving states greater power in competition cases and increasing money for federal regulators. The bipartisan measure passed by a 242-184 vote. It was separated from more ambitious provisions aimed at reining in Meta, Google, Amazon and Apple and cleared by key House and Senate committees. Those proposals have languished for months, giving the companies time for vigorous lobbying campaigns against them. The more limited bill would give states an upper hand over companies in choosing the location of courts that decide federal antitrust cases. Proponents say this change would avert the “home-court advantage” that Big Tech companies enjoy in federal court in Northern California, where many of the cases are tried and many of the companies are based. Many state attorneys general have pursued antitrust cases against the industry, and many states joined with the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission in their landmark lawsuits against Google and Meta (then called Facebook), respectively, in late 2020. The bill also would increase filing fees paid by companies to federal agencies for all proposed mergers worth $500 million or more, while reducing the fees for small and medium-sized transactions. The aim is to increase revenue for federal enforcement efforts. Under the bill, companies seeking approval for mergers would have to disclose subsidies they received from countries deemed to pose strategic or economic risks to the United States — especially China. “We find ourselves in a monopoly moment as a country,” Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., said before the vote. “Multibillion-dollar corporations have grown into behemoths, eliminating any real competition in their industries and using their dominance to hurt small businesses and consumers. Meta’s monopoly power has enabled it to harm women, children and people of all ages without recourse. Amazon has used its dominance to copy competitors’ products and run small businesses into the ground.” The Biden administration, which has pushed for antitrust legislation targeting Big Tech, endorsed the bill this week. The legislation drew fierce opposition from conservative Republicans who split from their GOP colleagues supporting the bill. The conservatives objected to the proposed revenue increase for the antitrust regulators, arguing there has been brazen overreach by the FTC under President Joe Biden. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., described the FTC’s leader, Lina Khan, as a “a radical leftist seeking to replace consumers’ decisions with her own.” Another California Republican, Rep. Darrell Issa, told his colleagues, “If you want to stifle innovation, vote for this.” If Republicans win control of the House or Senate in the November elections, they are certain to try to crimp the activism of the FTC and to challenge its broader interpretation of its legal authority. The more sweeping antitrust proposals would restrict powerful tech companies from favoring their own products and services over rivals on their platforms and could even lead to mandated breakups separating companies’ dominant platforms from their other businesses. They could, for example, prevent Amazon from steering consumers to its own brands and away from competitors’ products on its giant e-commerce platform. The drafting of that legislation marked a new turn in Congress’ effort to curb the dominance of the tech giants and anti-competitive practices that critics say have hurt consumers, small businesses and innovation. But the proposal is complex and drew objections to some provisions from lawmakers of both parties, even though all condemn the tech giants’ conduct. Lawmakers have faced a delicate task as they try to tighten reins around a powerful industry whose services, mostly free or nearly so, are popular with consumers and embedded into daily life. So with time to act running out as the November elections approach in about six weeks, lawmakers extracted the less controversial provisions on antitrust court venues and merger filing fees, putting them into the new bill that passed. Lawmakers added the provision targeting foreign subsidies to U.S. companies. Republicans especially have vocally criticized the Chinese ownership of popular video platform TikTok. In the Senate, Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar is sponsoring similar legislation with Republicans Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Mike Lee of Utah. “Effective antitrust enforcement is critical to ensuring consumers and small businesses have the opportunity to compete,” Klobuchar said in a statement Thursday. “Enforcers cannot take on the biggest companies the world has ever known with duct tape and Band-Aids.” Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

National Walk, Roll To School Day Set For Oct. 5 – Tahlequah Daily Press https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/national-walk-roll-to-school-day-set-for-oct-5-tahlequah-daily-press/ Shape Your Future, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, and the Active Living and Transportation Committee of Cherokee County are promoting healthy habits and encouraging physical activity by inviting students, families, and communities to walk and roll to school on Oct. 5. Cherokee County’s Walk and Roll to School Day events include Cherokee Elementary, Greenwood Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Hulbert Public Schools, and – new this year – Briggs Public School. Each school site will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the designated locations and begin walking shortly after. Each eligible student at the different school sites, will be sent home with a flyer that includes a map of the drop-off locations and walking routes. “Starting healthy habits early can help children grow into healthy adults, continuing those habits as they get older,” said Julie Bisbee, executive director of TSET. “Active transportation such as walking, biking or even riding a scooter to school is a simple and easy way for children to add physical activity into their daily lives.” National Walk and Roll to School Day provides kids, and the adults accompanying them, the opportunity to improve brain health, strengthen bones and muscles, and have fun with friends. The occasion is also a great way to work toward achieving the 60 minutes a day of physical activity for children recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. “Adding a bit of adventure to a child’s daily routine, like walking or rolling to school, can help children connect positive feelings with physical activity,” said Lindsey Durant, TSET Healthy Living Program assistant coordinator serving Cherokee County. “Walking to school can be fun and teach kids that healthy living doesn’t have to be boring or hard. Research shows that when children aged 6 to 13 are physically active, it can immediately improve brain function and, over time, help with learning, judgment and better sleep.” Not only does Walk and Roll to School Day benefit students, but it also positively impacts the community. Since the event began in 1997, the program has kicked off improvements like long-term walking and rolling programs, new sidewalks, and policy changes at schools and in communities. That is because the event offers public officials the opportunity to see and address challenges to active transportation in the community and lowers the amount of morning traffic. The Active Living and Transportation Committee is comprised of partners including the City of Tahlequah, NIWHRC, Cherokee Nation Public Health, Tahlequah BEST, Cherokee County Health Department, OSU Extension, CCHSC, RCORP, TSET Healthy Living Program Serving Cherokee County, and Tahlequah Public Schools. Some Shape Your Future’s tips for a safe Walk and Roll Day include walking with the child; planning a route; teaching the children to stay away from vehicles; looking left-right-left when crossing the street; telling kids to never talk to strangers; and to wear bright colored clothing to increase visibility. For more kid-friendly physical activity tips and ideas on living healthy for all Oklahomans, visit ShapeYourFutureOK.com.

Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa Taken Off On Stretcher During Thursday Night Matchup With Bengals After Sack – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/dolphins-tua-tagovailoa-taken-off-on-stretcher-during-thursday-night-matchup-with-bengals-after-sack-cbs-sports/ Katie Stratman / USA TODAY Sports Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa came into Thursday night’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals questionable to play with back and ankle injuries, but he did suit up. Late in the second quarter, however, he was taken off the field on a stretcher after taking a violent sack.  On second-and-7, Tagovailoa was sacked by Bengals defensive lineman Josh Tupou for a loss of 10 yards. Tagovailoa went down on his already-injured back, and appeared to hit his head as well. It was a frightening scene, as Tagovailoa raised his hands with what was described by the Amazon broadcast as a neurological response to head trauma. He remained on the turf for several minutes before ultimately being loaded on a stretcher and taken off the field. Teddy Bridgewater replaced Tagovailoa under center. The Dolphins quickly ruled Tagovailoa out with what they classified as head and neck injuries. The team also said he was conscious and had movement in all his extremities. Per Amazon’s broadcast, Tagovailoa was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. NFL Media reported Tagovailoa was transported there via ambulance. Many hypothesized Tagovailoa suffered a concussion last week against the Buffalo Bills after taking a hard sack from linebacker Matt Milano. Miami’s QB was stumbling on the field after the hit, causing many to believe he had suffered a head injury. He exited and returned to the game, however, and finished out the 21-19 win. The NFLPA said afterward it would review whether the Dolphins followed the concussion protocol, but the team has maintained it was a back issue. Tagovailoa completed 8 of 14 passes for 110 yards and one interception on Thursday night before exiting the game.  Tagovailoa entered this matchup second in the NFL with 925 passing yards, and tied for third in passing touchdowns with eight.

Busan Taps K-Pop Metaverse To Win 2030 World Expo Bid – Forkast News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/busan-taps-k-pop-metaverse-to-win-2030-world-expo-bid-forkast-news/ Image: Busan City, Naver Z Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, is opening a virtual space on Naver Z’s Zepeto metaverse at 12 p.m. on Friday, Korea time, to promote the city in efforts to host the World Expo in 2030. See related article: South Korea’s Busan city wants to be blockchain central. Did everyone get the memo? Fast facts The metaverse lot, named the ‘2030 World Expo X4 Entertainment World,’ resembles the port city and aims to attract the attention of millennials and Generation Z users for the 2030 Expo. Busan’s metaverse space features a virtual entertainment agency named ‘X4 Entertainment’ established by Lee Jung-jae, the Emmy-award winning actor of Squid Games. Visitors will be joined by a virtual idol band formed by avatars representing some of Korea’s popular musical acts — Zion.T, Arin of Oh My Girl, JEON SOMI and Wonstein. Metaverse visitors can experience being a K-pop trainee at X4 Entertainment, and participate in games, and educational content. Busan City, along with Rome and Riyadh, are vying to host the World Expo in 2030. The upcoming Expo in 2023 will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The city has been officially designated as a ‘blockchain regulation-free zone’ of the country, and is developing its first city-backed crypto exchange with help from Binance, FTX, and Huobi Global. Zepeto, established by the metaverse subsidiary of South Korean internet giant Naver, had over 20 million monthly average users in March this year, according to its website. See related article: Huobi becomes third global exchange to sign with S.Korea’s Busan city subscribe to our newsletter Get the best of Forkast delivered to your inbox daily

Tim Drake’s Newest Upgrades Comes From His Worst Suit – CBR – Comic Book Resources https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tim-drakes-newest-upgrades-comes-from-his-worst-suit-cbr-comic-book-resources/ The following article contains spoilers from Tim Drake: Robin #1, on sale now. Tim Drake’s new solo series has introduced not only a new part of Gotham City to be explored, but also given Tim some pretty cool upgrades. Tim Drake: Robin #1 (by Meghan Fitzmartin, Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge, and Tom Napolitano) saw its titular hero unveil a new feature in his costume. When he needed to move quickly and scan an area, Tim jumped off a building, activating a flight function in his cape that allowed him to fly. While this may be a new function for his current costume, it actually isn’t the first time he’s employed such tech. This kind of functionality comes from what many fans will argue is the worst costume Tim ever wore during the New 52. With this added feature though, Tim reclaims what is arguably the most useful tool he’s ever had, and incorporated it in such a way that it avoids the criticism fans had about his New 52 look. Now, in Tim’s defense, the New 52 came with a whole range of changes for multiple characters, many of them relating to their classic costumes. More than a few fans were upset about the loss of Superman and Batman’s classic trunks. That being said, Tim drake’s costume when he was operating under the Red Robin moniker got an incredible amount of backlash from fans. It was so disliked in fact that even in comics the other members of the Bat-Family still occasionally make fun of Tim for it. In all honesty, the costume wasn’t the worst he’s ever worn, but many fans were disappointed by the loss of the original Red Robin costume. Tim dropped the cowl, suddenly wore two belts across his chest, and his cape was replaced with one that was meant to act as bird wings, separating when he needed to take flight. While it might not be his most popular costume, the wings were easily the best gadget he’s ever used, having a variety of purposes. Now, it seems that he’s reclaimed that part of his past. His current cape still looks like a classic Robin cape, but it can now take on a wing-like function without going too overboard in the design. Now that this feature is a part of his arsenal again, Tim doesn’t have to worry about swinging through Gotham or chasing people over rooftops, He can instead just quickly fly above the streets, avoiding traffic and obstacles altogether. He’s already made excellent use of it when his new enemy once against struck with a spectral animal, looking for the source of the construct overhead instead of wasting time searching on foot. Looking closer now, Tim’s new wings are oddly suited towards his new neighborhood. The marina of Gotham is filled with open space, and if he’s going to patrol here he’ll probably have to pursue or sneak onto more than one boat. Having wings to glide across the water isn’t just a smart decision, it is a necessary one.

Will Rate Hikes Spell More Trouble For Crypto Markets?s – Business Standard https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/will-rate-hikes-spell-more-trouble-for-crypto-marketss-business-standard/ Global recession fears, stronger dollar, higher interest rates and spike in bond yields, are building pressure over the crypto markets. Since crypto markets move in tandem with global equity markets, the ongoing volatility in the US markets have cast a shadow on crypto-currencies as well. All the three major indexes in the US markets like Dow Jones, NASDAQ Composite, and the S&P 500 have shed in the range of 19 per cent to 30 per cent so far this year. Therefore, the promise of more rate hikes proclaimed by the US Fed till 2023 is likely to keep crypto markets volatile too. According to coinmarketcap.com, the global market capitalisation of crypto assets has tumbled over 57 per cent to 935 billion dollars, so far this year. Popular crypto asset Bitcoin, for instance, has tanked nearly 60 per cent so far in 2022. Other assets like Ethereum, BNB, Solana, Dogecoin and Polkadot have declined in the range of 46 per cent to 81 per cent, during the same period. Analysts believe that the reduced risk appetite among investors compelled them to shift to less riskier assets like bonds. Going ahead, they expect the volatility in crypto markets to continue in the near-term. Minal Thukral, Executive Vice-President, Growth and Strategy, CoinDCX, says equity selling pressure to cast a shadow. Crypto markets continue to be sideways. Ethereum, Bitcoin are deflationary assets. On the other hand, Devangshu Datta, independent market expert, says that the lack of any fundamental benchmark makes crypto assets a riskier bet to hold for the long-term horizon. Devangshu Datta, Independent Market Expert, says Bitcoin’s decline up to 99% possible. No fundamental benchmark for crypto. Crypto assets not a safe bet for long-term. Meanwhile, technical charts suggest a ‘death cross’ pattern for bitcoin, which signals a bearish market ahead. As regards today, investors will closely track the Reserve Bank of India’s interest rate stance post the 3-day monetary policy committee meeting. According to experts, the central bank is likely to raise interest rates up to 50 basis points. FII flows, rupee movement and crude oil prices, will also be on investors’ radar.

S.Korea, U.S., Japan To Stage Anti-Submarine Drills Amid N.Korea Tension – Reuters.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/s-korea-u-s-japan-to-stage-anti-submarine-drills-amid-n-korea-tension-reuters-com/ SEOUL, Sept 30 (Reuters) – The naval forces of South Korea, the United States and Japan will stage their major trilateral anti-submarine exercises for the first time in five years on Friday, amid tension over North Korea’s recent series of missile tests. The drills will be held in international waters off the Korean peninsula’s east coast, just a day after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles toward its east coast and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Seoul and the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas. “The exercises are designed to improve their capability to respond to increasing North Korean submarine threats, including its submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) at a time when it consistently poses nuclear and missile threats with a series of ballistic missile tests,” the South Korean navy said in a statement. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The one-day drills are a flagship maritime training that has not been conducted since 2017 because the former progressive South Korean government sought to improve inter-Korean relations and facilitate denuclearsation talks between Pyongyang and Washington, which have stalled since 2019. Under the programme, the three countries’ navies will track down a mock North Korean submarine while exchanging information with each other, a South Korean military official said. The exercises will bring together the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, the 9,800-ton guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville, the 6,900-ton Aegis-equipped destroyer USS Barry, South Korea’s 4,400-ton destroyer Munmu the Great and Japan’s 5,100-ton tanker Asahi, among other warships, the South Korean navy said. The drills came days after a U.S.-based think tank said North Korea may be preparing to launch a new submarine believed to be capable of firing ballistic missiles, citing commercial satellite imagery. South Korea’s military has also detected signs that the isolated country might be gearing up for an SLBM test, Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Jamie Freed Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Girls Soccer: Dickinson, Warriors Shutout Tech – Brainerd Dispatch https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/girls-soccer-dickinson-warriors-shutout-tech-brainerd-dispatch/ The Brainerd Warriors traveled to St. Cloud Tech Thursday, Sept. 29. Gracelyn Dickinson Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch September 29, 2022 09:28 PM We are part of The Trust Project. ST. CLOUD — Brainerd goalie Gracelyn Dickinson registered 11 saves for the Warriors as the Warriors shut out the St. Cloud Tech Tigers 2-0 Thursday, Sept. 29, in a Central Lakes Conference game. Paige Yeager opened the scoring in the first half with a goal off an assist from Cally Robertson. Gabby Eckman also scored for the Warriors on an assist from Emma Balsley. First half: B-Paige Yeager (Cally Robertson) 8:37 Second half: B-Gabby Eckman (Emma Balsley) 30:42 Shots on goal: Brd 9, SCT 11 Goalkeepers: Brd-Gracelyn Dickinson (11 saves); SCT-Hannah Hatling (7 saves) Conference: Brd 4-2-1, SCT 4-1-2. Overall: Brd 5-5-1, SCT 6-2-2. Next: Brainerd hosts Bemidji 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story. Hi, I’m the Brainerd Dispatch. I started working a few days before Christmas in 1881 and became a daily paper two years later. I’ve gone through a lot of changes over the years, but what has never changed is my commitment to community and to local journalism. I’ve got an entire team of dedicated people who work night and day to make sure I go out every morning, whether in print, as an e-edition, via an app or with additional information at www.brainerddispatch.com. News, weather, sports — videos, photos, podcasts and social media — all covering stories from central Minnesota about your neighbors, your lakes, your communities, your challenges and your opportunities. It’s all part of the effort to keep people connected and informed. And we couldn’t do it without support.

Sheriff’s Office Honors Exemplary Performance In 2021 – Santa Barbara Independent https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sheriffs-office-honors-exemplary-performance-in-2021-santa-barbara-independent/ Press releases are posted on Independent.com as a free community service. Santa Barbara, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office would like to congratulate the Sheriff’s employees and community members who were recently honored at an Annual Recognition Awards Program and Luncheon held at the Earl Warren Showgrounds on Wednesday, September 21, 2021. The award recipients were recognized for their exemplary service during 2021. Lunch was graciously provided by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse who have consistently hosted this event as a gesture of support and thanks to the honorees. The awards presentations began with the Certificate of Merit, an award presented to private civilian citizens who perform superior accomplishments, which result in significant contributions to the efficient operation of the Sheriff’s Office and furthers its mission.  Elvira Carrera, Ayres Mitchell and Julian Paley were honored for the lifesaving efforts they took on July 16, 2021, when they rescued an unconscious man from the swimming pool at the Santa Ynez YMCA. Sheriff Brown commended them for their swift action, exceptional teamwork and their commitment to the wellbeing of others.  The next honoree for the Certificate of Merit was American Medical Response (AMR) Supervisor Pat Crull who was honored for actions he took on May 31, 2021, where he intervened in a fight between a theft suspect and a victim who was trying to recover his stolen cell phone. Crull was thanked for his prompt actions which prevented any further injury to either party, and for his assistance in the recovery of stolen property.  The next Certificate of Merit honored Lucas Lamoutte for swift action he took on February 25, 2021, when he came to the aid of a loss prevention officer. Lamoutte was commended for his tremendous courage when he selflessly helping the loss prevention officer and for pursuing and overpower the suspect, even when threatened with a potentially deadly weapon.  Nineteen Sheriff’s deputies received a commendation for naloxone saves where they administered Narcan in a manner that resulted in the reversal of a suspected opioid overdose and prevented a victim from dying. These deputies include; Sheriff’s Sergeant Matthew Banks, Sheriff’s Sergeant Joshua Cockrell, Sheriff’s Sergeant Eric Delgadillo, Sheriff’s Sergeant Thomas Green, Sheriff’s Sergeant Travis Henderson, Sheriff’s Deputy- Special Duty Dave Frawley, Sheriff’s Deputy- Special Duty Julio Gutierrez, Sheriff’s Deputy- Special Duty Doug Jones, Sheriff’s Deputy- Special Duty Matthew West, Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Banks, Sheriff’s Deputy Anna Carranco, Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Fournier, Sheriff’s Deputy Garrett Gish, Sheriff’s Deputy Christian Harrington, Sheriff’s Deputy Guadalupe Ibarra, Sheriff’s Deputy Kody Kiesow, Sheriff’s Deputy Damien Marquez, Custody Deputy Maxwell Moore, Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Moore, Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Morales, Sheriff’s Deputy Gregory Plett,  and Sheriff’s Deputy Benjamin Sanabria.  The Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau was honored with a Sheriff’s Unit Citation for their extraordinary dedication to duty, adaptability, resiliency, and teamwork for their work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spike in overdose related deaths and their work on several high-profile death investigations.  Sheriff Brown presented the Lifesaving award to members of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, members of allied agencies or civilians who perform CPR or other lifesaving first aid procedures upon ill or injured persons, resulting in the individual surviving their immediate injury or medical emergency. Honorees included Custody Deputy Arturo Alvarez, Sheriff’s Deputy James Duncan,  Retired Army Medic James “Russ” Sandy, Custody Deputy- Special Duty Livdi Escobedo, Custody Deputy Cody Goodwin, Custody Deputy Bertin Hernandez, Custody Deputy Trenten Howell, Custody Deputy David Villavicencio, Sheriff’s Sergeant Neil Gowing, Benton County Washington Firefighter Manny Estrella, Sheriff’s Deputy John Froelicher, Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Morales, Park Ranger Duke Loster, Park Ranger Anthony Munoz, Sheriff’s Sergeant Dan Nelson, Detective Andre Long, Detective Matthew Cianciarulo, Fish and Wildlife Warden Israel Magana, Fish and Wildlife Warden Max Schad, Deputy Matt Dawson, Sheriff’s Deputy Garrett Ross, Sheriff’s Deputy Brett White, and Sheriff’s Deputy Ross Vantassel.  Computer Systems Specialist Kristy Glisson and Custody Lieutenant William Wolf were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for their outstanding efforts, leadership and dedication to the Northern Branch Jail project and its successful completion, and to the mission of the Sheriff’s Office.  A second Meritorious Service Medal was awarded to Custody Deputy- Special Duty Anthony Delira, and Custody Deputies Tonia Bennet, Cody Goodwin, Roberto Gutierrez, and Paul Otero for their quick thinking, bravery and effective teamwork during their response to an altercation at the Main Jail Medium Security Facility. A third Meritorious Service Medal was presented to Sheriff’s Deputy John Valenti for his integrity, professionalism, mentorship, and expertise in the fight to keep our streets and highways safe. In 2021, Deputy Valenti apprehended a total of 130 people for driving under the influence.  Sheriff Brown presented the Distinguished Service Medal to members of the Sheriff’s Office who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in assigned duties with loyalty and dedication over a prolonged period. This award is not intended to recognize length of service but is intended to recognize sustained distinguished performance above and beyond normal job requirements.  Recipients were Sheriff’s Detective Chad Biedinger and Sheriff’s Pilot Loren Courtney.  The final awards were the Sheriff’s Medal of Valor and the Exceptional Citizen Award, presented to Sheriff’s Deputy David Ashley, Sheriff’s Deputy Rockwell Ellis and John Ornelas. The Medal of Valor is the Sheriff’s Office’s highest award and is awarded to persons who distinguish themselves by displaying an act/s of extraordinary or outstanding personal bravery, or heroism intelligently performed with knowledge of the risk involved, above and beyond the call of duty, in the face of imminent and personal life-threatening peril and in an official capacity. This medal may also be awarded to a member of the Sheriff’s Office who, through the course of events, is prevented from accomplishing such an act/s by either a disabling injury or death. The Exceptional Civilian Award is the Department’s highest civilian honor. This award is presented to private citizens for distinguished service involving an act of bravery at great risk of personal injury, or for major or sustained contributions or meritorious service which furthers the Department’s mission. On November 9, 2021, Property Manager John Ornelas was home when he was alerted of a fire in a nearby apartment by other residents. He ran to the apartment and found it filled with smoke. He knew the resident was home and recently underwent surgery. John tried to enter the apartment several times, but the smoke was too thick, and he could see flames inside. He called out for the resident, and she called back to him, confirming his grave fear that she was still in the apartment.  John ran back downstairs and retrieved a fire extinguisher and gave it to another resident who arrived to assist while he called 9-1-1. John returned to the apartment and tried again to enter, this time with the extinguisher, however it was having little impact on the fire, and he was unable to go inside without being overwhelmed by the heat and smoke.  Sheriff’s Deputy David Ashley and Sheriff’s Deputy Rockwell Ellis were the first to arrive on scene. They were directed to the burning apartment by the building manager, John Ornelas. The deputies saw black smoke billowing from the doorway of the apartment, but they could not see inside.  Deputy Ellis tried to lean inside to search the apartment, but he was quickly overwhelmed by the heat and smoke. Deputy Ashley dropped to the ground, and through a clear layer of air about a foot and a half off the floor, he saw a woman down on the floor about twenty feet inside the apartment.  Deputy Ashley held his breath and crawled along the floor to the woman. When he reached her, he saw that her clothing was on fire, and that she was unconscious.  He patted the flames out on her clothing, and he began crawling out of the apartment, pulling the unconscious woman behind him.   When he was almost out of the building, Deputy Ashley took a breath and immediately felt the effects of the smoke and hot air. He had difficulty breathing and started to get dizzy. Deputy Ellis saw what was happening and then went into the apartment and pulled both Deputy Ashley and the woman to safety outside the apartment.  John Ornelas, Deputy Ashley, and Deputy Ellis recognized the gravity of the situation and the immediate danger to the resident of the apartment. They showed extraordinary bravery in the face of imminent and personal peril, which ultimately resulted in the preservation of life.For their lifesaving and heroic actions that day, Sheriff’s Deputy David Ashley, and Sheriff’s Deputy Rockwell Ellis were awarded the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor. For his extraordinary efforts and tremendous courage John Ornelas was awarded the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office’s highest Civilian honor, the Sheriff’s Exceptional Civilian Award. The Sheriff’s Office congratulates and thanks all the award recipients for their exemplary service to the community.

18 Latinx-Owned Brands Making Travel Gear We Love – Condé Nast Traveler https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/18-latinx-owned-brands-making-travel-gear-we-love-conde-nast-traveler/ I’m a big fan of the brand’s leather bags—they’re functional, chic, and well-made. When I first used Cuyana’s mini leather backpack, I was immediately impressed with the quality. I could tell this was a piece I would be using for years to come and its style is timeless. I’ve recently been using the Classic Easy Tote for flights and overnight stays to fit a ton of items like my reusable water bottle, snacks, and travel makeup bag. If I want to be a bit more organized on the go, it’s easy to throw in the small tote insert when needed. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor Beautyblender If my goal is to smoothly melt makeup into my skin, the squishy pear-shaped application sponges from Beautyblender are second only to my actual hands. I’m not alone, either. To date, more than 6.5 million Beautyblenders have been sold. The product was created when Rea Ann Silva was working on set as a makeup artist for the TV series Girlfriends—she fashioned it to avoid the inconveniences of working with an airbrush. The brand Beautyblender now sells other products as well, including makeup, cleansers, and brushes, but this one’s still my favorite. It’s truly difficult to have too many of these. —Alex Erdekian, travel bookings editor Ceremonia Founded by Swedish Latina Babba C. Rivera, Ceremonia is a clean hair care brand inspired by the beauty rituals of the Latinx community. The first product I tried was the best-selling scalp oil, Aceite de Moska. The signature guava scent is deliciously addictive—not to mention, makes my hair feel healthier than it has in years—so I quickly switched over to the brand’s shampoo and conditioner as well. I, along with many of my friends at Traveler, swear by the Guava Rescue Spray, too. It’s a detangler with UV and heat protection, which has been a lifesaver both pre- and post-surf lessons this summer. —Mercedes Bleth, global associate director of social Capittana Peruvian brand Capittana, run by a brother and sister duo, creates the exact types of pieces you want to take on tropical vacations–bikinis, cover-ups, loungewear—most of which are hand-knit or crocheted by a team of women. All to say, they’re gorgeous, and few pieces are exactly the same. Capittana is stocked by a number of U.S. stores: Find the colorful and crocheted bikinis at Urban Outfitters, knit cover-up maxi skirts and pants at Bloomingdale’s, and a mix of resortwear at Intermix. Just be prepared to have people constantly asking about your outfit at the hotel pool. —M.S. Farm Rio For statement dresses that will make a splash on vacation, look no further than Farm Rio. The Rio de Janeiro–based brand makes fabulous dresses, jumpsuits, and two-piece sets in bright colors with effortlessly fun prints—think playful repeating hearts, fauna and animal patterns, and lots of florals. Back in 1997, the founders set out to make a clothing line that embodies the feminine spirit and vibrant colors of Rio, and in the more than two decades since they’ve built a cult-favorite brand that’s sold online, in its own boutiques across Brazil and in New York, L.A., Miami, and Paris, and at Nordstrom.  —M.F. Selva Negra Selva Negra, which is founded by Mexican and Filipino American Kristen Gonzalez, makes the type of clothes I always dream of wearing on my travels. Picture flowy jumpsuits, linen dresses, ribbed cotton tanks, gauzy drawstring shorts, etc., all made in sustainable fabrics and soothing colorways (many styles range from XS to 4XL as well). You can shop Selva Negra on its website, and some select pieces—like the dreamy hibiscus pink linen pants and jacket—are available at Madewell, too. —M.S. Wray I came across Wray like I do with most exciting new brands: by scrolling through my Instagram feed. Named after founder Wray Serna, Wray quickly gained clout for its size-inclusive (XXS – 6XL) and sustainable designs, ethical practices, and the range of bold prints and bright colors that remain on an ongoing rotation. I’ve snagged a few pieces over the past year, but my favorite purchase has been the long-sleeved Tillmans dress—it’s become a go-to option for both work and parties. —Lale Arikoglu, articles director Carla Fernández Carla Fernández’s eponymous label is one of Mexico’s coolest, creating everything from tunics to jumpsuits to leather purses, often with bold details like macro prints or bright tassels. Her North Star is “preserving and revitalizing the textile legacy of indigenous and mestizo communities of Mexico.” She sells her stuff online, but I suggest stopping by one of her shops in Mexico City or her outpost in Mérida. Seeing the detail of her designs IRL makes the price point completely understandable. (The shops themselves are also gorgeous.) —M.S. More great Latinx-owned brands to shop: Courtesy Collectiva Concepción Collectiva Concepción With the mission to preserve the ancestral skills and way of life of rural Mexican artisans, Concepción Orvañanos began Collectiva Concepción in 2019, a luxury womenswear brand rooted in slow fashion. Orvañanos and head designer Huguette Hubard collaborate with over 230 artisans from 40 rural communities like the Poconichim community in Chiapas, a southern Mexican state bordering Guatemala, and the Mazahua communities in Michoacán to make the brand’s line of hand-loomed, cotton pieces, some of which feature pre-Hispanic design techniques. The result is a line of collectible heirlooms like the cotton Luciana dress made by the Venustiano Carranza community, also in Chiapas. Courtesy Port Zienna/Sandra Arenas Port Zienna After working in luxury fashion for over 10 years and becoming dismayed by the industry’s pollution of the environment and exploitation of workers, Francesca Canepa launched Port Zienna in July 2017 with the desire to provide a healthy work environment, steady income, and flexibility to employees. Born in Lima, the designer uses Peruvian fibers like organic cotton and baby alpaca—both sustainable fabrics that minimize her line’s carbon footprint—to make her ready-to-wear brand from New York. Inspired by the haute couture draping tradition of the runway, one of the designer’s favorite pieces is the Maria shirt, a minimal, collared blouse comfortable enough for travel and made from cupro, a type of rayon, and organic cotton. Luiny Luiny Rivera, a Puerto Rican designer based in New York, left the Caribbean nearly 10 years ago to pursue her career as an artist. She first began experimenting with jewelry design while working in fashion retail, where she utilized waste by means of broken accessories, turning them into new, original designs. A mix of contemporary and eclectic styles inspired by ornamental art around the world, her eponymous line tells the story of Puerto Rico through its vibrant colors and undulating shapes evocative of the island’s land and sea. Like a sculptor, she hand carves most of her pieces from wax and utilizes a casting process to make pieces like her line of rings named after some of her favorite artists: Mondrian, Hilma, and Krasner. Courtesy Mola Sasa Mola Sasa Yasmin Sabet began Mola Sasa nearly five years ago in Bogotá to bridge the gap between tradition and progress in Colombia’s fashion industry. To make her line of handbags, Sabet works with more than 80 artisan women, many of whom specialize in hand-weaving natural fibers like native estera palm leaves to form colorful totes and caña flecha and maguey to make hoop earrings. Of the brand’s most sought-after pieces are the colorful Kuna clutches, each of which depicts the culture, beliefs, and traditions of the Kuna communities in the jungles of northern Colombia who transmit their culture’s history into molas: a textile formed from an appliqué technique of hand sewing cut-out layers of fabric. Courtesy Encrudo Encrudo When Ana Paula Isaac opened Encrudo in 2018, she both transformed and elevated Mexico’s ancestral pottery into ornamental display pieces. Her line of earth-toned, high-fired stoneware are made and sanded by hand and can be found in boutique hotels like the new Octavia Casa in the leafy Condesa district of Mexico City. Born from the need to accentuate spaces and valuing the individuality of objects with a decorative and utilitarian purpose, items like the botellon vase are handmade in partnership with Mexican craftsmen in Tonalá, a town set 45 minutes from Isaac’s hometown in Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. Courtesy Facón Facón With the desire to share Argentina’s artistry with the world, Martín Bustamante opened the interior design store Facón in 2016, now set in the Chacarita neighborhood of Buenos Aires. He leads production on the brand’s proprietary line of goods, partnering with artisans from all over the country to create items like lengua-wood benches made by the Mapuche communities of Patagonia and jaguar and owl masks made from yuchan wood by the Chane community in the country’s rugged northwest. Inspired by the country’s gaucho culture, one of Bustamante’s most prized collaborations is his line of sol carpets; he paints watercolor designs and passes them on to a weaver based in Salta who looms each piece by hand. Flavia Aranha Since she created her eponymous line of contemporary women’s kimonos, jumpers, and accessories over 10 years ago, designer Flavia Aranha has become both a chemist and a botanist. Utilizing discarded plants, nuts, and seeds indigenous to Brazil, she experimented with natural-dyeing processes to stain organic linen, cotton, and silk, forming the first-ever natural-dye brand in the country. She also collaborates with artisans to create jewelry items like these beaded necklaces. %

Beyond The Run-Way – Long Island Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/beyond-the-run-way-long-island-business-news/ New York’s Fashion Week was kicking into high gear, but you didn’t have to be in Manhattan to catch the energy. Kiton, for example, the Milan-based luxury brand, held its shows both at Americana Manhasset and its brand new shop on Madison Avenue. “Retail is very on the street – so see now, buy now,” Maria Giovanna Paone, the president of Kiton Global told LIBN. That kind of dynamic is “something that is leveling up in the stores. MARIA GIOVANNA PAONE: ‘We want people in the area to know about the family, the style, the tailoring and the quality we use.’Photo by Judy Walker “As we open the store in Manhasset, we want people in the area to know about the family, the style, the tailoring and the quality we use,” said Paone, whose father Ciro Paone launched the family-owned company in 1956. Moving into a post-COVID economy, retailers continue to create new ways to engage an audience. While the “experience economy” is nothing novel, retailers are compelled to build a new and returning customer base. Still, there are obstacles – among them, inflation, concerns over the supply chain and global tensions. Yet consumers continue to spend, and the retail industry has seen job and wage gains, according to the National Retail Foundation. One constant remains: Consumers like to see value where they spend their dollars. “As we gear up for the holiday season, consumers are seeking value to make their dollars stretch,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement on Sept. 15, when the most recent retail sales figures were released. “Retailers have been hard at work managing their supply chains and holiday inventories to provide consumers with great products, competitive prices and convenience at every opportunity.” And even amid rising costs, retail sales rose 9.1 percent year over year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent figures. Though how long the trend will last is anyone’s guess. During these times, a dose of retail therapy that delights the senses holds a certain appeal. “Consumers want joy, escape and inspiration,” Cara Kleinhaut, founder and CEO of AGENC Experiential & Digital Marketing, told BizBash earlier this year. “We have been isolated and cooped up more in the past two years than in recent history. When we do gather, we want a release from anxiety and stress. We see the use of bold color, art installations and the transformation of outdoor public spaces into areas of play, discovery and storytelling.” As social beings, humans thrive on that in-person experience, whether outdoors or inside. And the more dynamic experiences can resonate, especially for in-store happenings, which is why Simon Property Group malls like to host events. “Shopping in-store provides the chance to touch, feel, and try products before purchase, and benefit from the expertise of knowledgeable, at-hand sales associates – something that will continue to set us apart from online shopping transactions,” Nancy Gilbert, director of marketing at Roosevelt Field, told LIBN. “Events only amplify this experience by giving shoppers and brands the opportunity to interact with one another in a more meaningful way, and providing people with more than just a shopping experience,” she pointed out. Walking the runway for Kiton. Photo by Judy Walker And when it comes to fashion, it helps to have a narrative, something Paone was eager to share at Toku, the upscale Asian-fusion restaurant near Kiton at Americana Manhasset. The restaurant featured a runway and the wine and lunch were flowing. Here, the space was filled with influencers, both old-school (local business leaders and media) and modern-day (think: stylized Instagrammers). The outfits were at once casual and elegant, aspirational and accessible, a template of smooth-flowing browns and blues and grays mixed with the occasional beige striding down the runway. This fashion show “was the same as working in New York Fashion Week,” said Elena Beginina, a stylist who with her team has served the industry in New York, Italy and Moscow. Her work includes organizing makeup artists and bloggers, as well as unifying wardrobe changes for the models. Beginina offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the show, noting that the timing and teamwork were “very professional.” “I love this brand and working with this brand because everything is organized,” she said. “It’s beautiful. There is coffee and food for everyone working backstage, this is important. Everyone is helping each other. Details are important.” Walking the runway for Kiton. Photo by Judy Walker And the bloggers that she brought in “know this brand for their clients,” she said. The influencers in the crowd, all of them, wore Kiton – whether a clutch, a jacket or some other item. “This is very important – this is respectable for the brand,” she said. Meanwhile, the Simon properties aim to entice audiences beyond the everyday mall enthusiast. The properties are addressing health needs, including through PURE Mammography, which is already at Smith Haven Mall and coming to Roosevelt Field in October. The malls also promote hiring opportunities and appeal to people’s culinary tastes and sense of fun with an abundance of offerings. “We want each and every guest to come to the property and have a great and memorable experience – whether it’s enjoying live music at one of our chef-driven restaurants, personalizing a pair of jeans at Levi’s, finding a job at a local job fair, or expanding your community at events and programming across our properties – each moment helps foster stronger connections with visitors and locals alike,” Gilbert said. Roosevelt Field, Walt Whitman Shops and Smith Haven Mall are Simon Property Group malls that host dynamic experiences for Long Islanders. Courtesy of Simon Property Group This year alone, for example, the mall is introducing more than 20 new stores at Roosevelt Field, six at Walt Whitman Shops and six at Smith Haven Mall. As for dining, Gilbert said Simon malls are “opening restaurants such as Fogo de Chao, Nomiya, Bleecker Street Pizza, Carpaccio, Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ, Mito Asian Fusion, and elevated offerings such as community programs, live music and in-store discounts that help attract visitors to our properties.” At these properties, the experience economy remains dynamic. “Our Long Island properties have had a lot of success with events that bring a number of brands, retailers and local community partners together for a robust, more holistic shopper experience,” Gilbert said. “For Beauty Week 2022, we teamed up with the likes of Sephora, Kiehl’s, MAC and other major brands to curate a variety of in-store experiences, special guests and product discounts to help give the event more depth,” she said. AGENN@LIBN.COM

WCBI Senior Expo Healthy Living Spotlight: Preventing Falls – WCBI https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/wcbi-senior-expo-healthy-living-spotlight-preventing-falls-wcbi/ COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It is happening today. The WCBI Senior Expo is going on at the Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus until 1:00 p.m. Get tips for healthy living and talk with care providers including Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle. “Hello. My name is Madison Guyton, Director of the ambulance Service at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Golden Triangle. Don’t be afraid to promptly speak up to your loved one’s medical provider over falls, concerns of falling, or if he or she is unsteady or at risk. Keep walkways free from obstructions and clutter. Watch out for cords or wires in walkways. Use night lights to light the path from the bed to the bathroom. Keep a lamp next to your bed. Have non-slip flooring and mats in the bathroom. Have handrails for the toilet and tub. And ask for assistance if needed. Modesty is not worth a fall injury.” For 24/7 news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Minnesota Vikings At New Orleans Saints: Predictions, Picks And Odds For NFL Week 4 Matchup – Yahoo Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/minnesota-vikings-at-new-orleans-saints-predictions-picks-and-odds-for-nfl-week-4-matchup-yahoo-sports/ The NFL heads back across the pond when Justin Jefferson‘s Minnesota Vikings take on Jameis Winston and the New Orleans Saints in London. The Vikings are looking for their third win of the season after edging Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions in a Week 3 NFC North matchup, but Dennis Allen’s Saints will have something to say about that. Can the Saints get back to 2-2 on the season? The game kicks off Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Here’s a look at the betting details and USA TODAY’s NFL staff picks for the Vikings vs. Saints Week 4 game: Vikings at Saints odds, moneyline and over/under Spread: Vikings (-2.5) Moneyline: Vikings (-145); Saints (+122) Over/under: 43.5 More odds, injury info for Vikings vs. Saints OPENINGS AND BARRIERS: The NFL coaches project WEEK 4 POWER RANKINGS: Who takes over No. 1 spot after losses by Bills, Chiefs? 32 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM NFL WEEK 3: Super Bowl, MVP favorites emerging? NFL Week 4 odds, predictions and picks Dolphins vs. Bengals | Vikings vs. Saints | Browns vs. Falcons | Seahawks vs. Lions | Jaguars vs. Eagles | Commanders vs. Cowboys | Titans vs. Colts | Jets vs. Steelers | Bills vs. Ravens | Chargers vs. Texans | Bears vs. Giants | Cardinals vs. Panthers | Patriots vs. Packers Lorenzo Reyes: Saints 24, Vikings 21 This is a game, frankly, that I would stay away from, given the volatility both these teams show. New Orleans will go as far as Jameis Winston can take them. And with this one coming after he struggled, I’m expecting him and the rest of the offense to respond. New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) sets back to pass the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones) Safid Deen: Vikings 27, Saints 17 I like to think of this matchup as two teams who should make the playoffs but are off to rough starts. Both make you shake your head. The Vikings are 2-1 and lucky the Lions let them back in the game last week, while the Saints have looked terrible in their last two games. Vikings running back Dalvin Cook will be bothered by a shoulder injury if he plays, while Saints starter Jameis Winston (back), receivers Michael Thomas (toe) and Jarvis Landry (foot) are also dealing with injuries. Plus, Winston has five interceptions already this season. London will be in for a treat, give me the Vikings. Lance Pugmire: Saints 20, Vikings 17 In this Sunday morning London affair, New Orleans finds some defensive rhythm and wins by forcing Kirk Cousins into a late pivotal mistake. Jarrett Bell: Saints 26, Vikings 24 Nate Davis: Vikings 27, Saints 22 Tyler Dragon: Vikings 26, Saints 20 I SEE SWAG: Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel praises presence of Bengals QB Joe Burrow NFL VETERAN QBs ON NEW TEAMS: How seven have performed entering Week 4 WEEK 4 WHAT TO WATCH: Super Bowl 55 rematch Sunday; Rams clash with 49ers Monday night NFL salaries: These are the highest-paid NFL players All players Quarterback Running back Wide receiver Tight end Tackle Guard Center Kickers Edge rusher Safety Cornerback Linebacker Interior defensive linemen Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See applicable operator site for its terms and conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 21 or older to gamble. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints: Game odds, picks, predictions

Walmart Partners With Roblox To Boost Shopping Activity Via Metaverse – CoinGeek https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/walmart-partners-with-roblox-to-boost-shopping-activity-via-metaverse-coingeek/ Home » Business » Walmart partners with Roblox to boost shopping activity via metaverse Walmart is taking a bold leap into the metaverse after teasing customers since the start of the year. The shopping conglomerate has unveiled two different experiences for shoppers: Walmart Land and Walmart Universe of Play. Walmart’s offering leverages Roblox, a global virtual gaming platform, to make the service available to customers. The partnership has been designed as a “testing ground” for Walmart to fine-tune its metaverse strategy, particularly for younger Millennials and Gen Zs. The virtual experiences from Walmart’s Universe of Play will allow users to play games drawn from top-selling toys like Paw Patrol and Jurassic World characters during the holiday season. On the other hand, Walmart Land features an obstacle course made up of oversized products from makeup and skincare brands with a firm focus on female shoppers. “How are we driving relevance in cultural conversation? How are we developing community and engagement? How are we moving the needle from a brand favorability [standpoint] with younger audiences?” said William White, Walmart’s Chief Marketing Officer. Walmart’s push into the metaverse and distributed ledger technology (DLT) is predicated on the need to boost its revenues after earnings fell during the pandemic. Since then, shoppers’ habits have changed, and in line with the increasing digitization, Walmart is seeking greater interaction across social media and gaming websites. The shopping giant says it is not looking to make money off its metaverse foray, but this could all change in the future. In the coming years, Walmart might consider charging brands for an advertisement spot in its immersive world or convert the experiences to online purchases or real-world store visits. Presently, users of the virtual world have a chance to earn tokens on Roblox, which can be used to buy other virtual merchandise on Roblox. Laying the foundation Last year, Walmart dropped the first signs that it was considering a move into the metaverse by filing several trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patents revealed that the big-box retailer was mulling over releasing digital assets like non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the details contained in them indicated an elaborate plan from Walmart. “There is a lot of language in these, which shows that there’s a lot of planning going on behind the scenes about how they’re going to address cryptocurrency, how they’re going to address the metaverse and the virtual world that appears to be coming or that’s already here,” trademark lawyer Josh Gerben said. Roblox has carved a name for itself in the immersive experiences ecosystem with a deep pool of high-profile partners ranging from Nike, Ralph Lauren, NASCAR, and Forever 21. Watch: The BSV Global Blockchain Convention panel, Blockchain: Data Power-Ups and NFTs for eSports & Online Games New to Bitcoin? Check out CoinGeek’s Bitcoin for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about Bitcoin—as originally envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto—and blockchain.

The 10 Best Superhero Video Games – Gamepur https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-10-best-superhero-video-games-gamepur/ There are plenty of fantastic video games that feature iconic superheroes. From Marvel vs. Capcom during the time of arcades to the PlayStation 4’s Spider-Man, there are plenty of titles for superhero fans to enjoy. Here is a list of the ten best superhero video games. Related: Wolverine game announced for PlayStation 5, developed by Insomniac Superheroes in media have evolved significantly in the last decade. Thanks to the advent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the rise of nerd culture, superheroes are everywhere. While many feel that there may be an overexposure to superheroes, there’s no denying that a lot of great media centers around them. There are great superhero movies, comics, TV shows, and, of course, video games. There are plenty of fantastic video games that feature iconic superheroes. There are excellent games not only on DC superheroes and Marvel superheroes but on original heroes too. We feel as if it is time for us to give out our opinions of what are the best superhero video games. 10) Viewtiful Joe Screenshot via Marvel Entertainment Viewtiful Joe is an original superhero created by Capcom and starred in the video game of the same name for the Nintendo GameCube. The controls for the first Viewtiful Joe are a little clunky, and the platforming is not always the best. However, the title has a good style, featuring beautiful cel-shaded graphics that make the game pop. The game is silly and light, but it will put a smile on your face from the moment you start the game to when you defeat the final supervillain. 9) X-Men Origins: Wolverine X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a bad movie. Video games based on movies are usually bad. Somehow though, the X-Men Origins: Wolverine video game is pretty cool. X-Men Origins is a fun hack and slash, action-adventure game released in 2009. The game surprisingly plays well, and the graphics for the time were pretty good. Seeing Wolverine heal his wounds in real time is pretty impressive. The game also has the actor who portrays Wolverine in the movies, Hugh Jackman, voice the character in the video game, and that is pretty awesome. 8) inFAMOUS 2 Image via PlayStation The inFAMOUS franchise has the traditional trappings of a classic superhero story but laced with dark themes and questionable morality. The choices you make as Cole MacGrath in inFAMOUS 1 and 2 determine what morality Cole settles on, transforming him into either a hero or villain. The answers are not always the easiest, making the franchise a test of where players lie in the morality spectrum. inFAMOUS 2 is the better game of the original duology, presenting more robust gameplay and a darker storyline than the first. The series continued with inFAMOUS: First Son and Dying Light. 7) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and LEGO Batman Image via Warner Bros. Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment You can never go wrong with a LEGO-based video game, and the LEGO Batman and Marvel Superheroes are some of the best in the LEGO catalog. The LEGO Batman game features a more simple storyline where Batman goes on fighting against villains from his rogue’s gallery like the Joker and the Riddler. Meanwhile, the LEGO Marvel Superheroes features a more encompassing campaign that stars the best Marvel Heroes from all corners of the universe. Both games are short, simple, and fun. They are the perfect games to play with kids. 6) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Marvel: Ultimate Alliance has a simple premise – play as four of your favorite Marvel superheroes at the same time and go on missions to save the world. The franchise is an action role-playing game series where you punch and slash your way through your enemies. The first one, which was released on consoles back in 2006, is still the best in the franchise. The original Ultimate Alliance has an exciting story, plenty of side quests, and a massive character selection. The graphics are beautiful for what they were, and the combat is simple and fun. Even after all these years, the original Ultimate Alliance is still an incredibly enjoyable game, with plenty of content to keep you busy. Related: The 10 best Marvel comics games of all time, ranked 5) Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Image via Square Enix After the disastrous launch of the Square Enix published Avengers game, not many were expecting much with Square’s next Marvel game, especially one released so soon after Marvel’s Avengers. However, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy proved everyone wrong and is one of the best superhero games released. The game features an engaging campaign with tight controls that compliments the title’s game style. The story is a mixture of silly moments and genuine character development. Though Marvel’s Avengers ended up being a solid game after years of updates, Guardians of the Galaxy was amazing the moment it hit stores’ shelves. 4) Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes Image via Marvel and Capcom Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is unbalanced, with several characters being better than others. A lot of the character sprites are re-used from other Capcom games, and certain combos don’t work the way they are intended to. However, MVC 2 makes up for it by being a very enjoyable game to play. The game has 56 playable characters, one of the largest and best rosters in any fighting game. What other games can you say that let you play as Cyclops and face a psychotic little girl with a red hood? It may fall short of being a perfect game on a technical level; however, it certainly is one of the best superhero games on a fun level. 3) Injustice 2 Image via Warner Bros. Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting game that stars the heroes from the DC Universe and is developed by the same studio that made the Mortal Kombat series. It would later spawn a sequel, Injustice 2, in 2017. Injustice 2 improves almost everything else from the first game. The graphics in the game are gorgeous, and the gameplay is more polished and responsive than in the first game. The roster in the first Injustice is better, but it is cool to see less-popular characters like Swamp Thing and Doctor Fate in Injustice 2. Overall, Injustice 2 does everything that a sequel should do, and it is one of the most entertaining fighting games to play. 2) Spider-Man Image via Treyarch Insomniac’s Spider-Man game on the PlayStation 4 radically expanded what made the Spider-Man 2 video game tie-in fantastic, while improving on every aspect of it. While the combat in Insomniac’s Spider-Man comes across as being too similar to the Batman Arkham games, there is enough variety to make it feel different. The fighting is a joy to play, and the side missions are some of the best in any video game. Of course, a fantastic Spider-Man game wouldn’t be complete without web-slinging, and this game has the best web-slinging ever. You do believe you are Spider-Man swinging through New York. The web-swinging is simple to use in the game and incredibly satisfying to accomplish. No matter how many hours you put in the game, you will never get tired of web-slinging. 1) Batman: Arkham City Image via Rocksteady Games The combat in Arkham City was mostly the same as in the previous Arkham game, but City has a far larger world to explore. Whereas you were limited to just the asylum in the first game, you have an entire city to explore in Arkham City. The overworld is beautifully rendered in the game’s engine and filled with many Batman references. Arkham City also had more gadgets for players to use. The boss fights were also far more inventive than what they were in the first game. The Mr. Freeze boss fight remains one of the most fun and well-executed bosses ever. Related: The 10 best DC comics games of all time, ranked The story in the game is excellent, filled with dark symbolism and poignant moments. The voice cast gives the performances of a lifetime, and the ending perfectly encapsulates Batman’s relationship with his arch-nemesis the Joker.

Ambition Over Education: Why Being A Crypto Autodidact Might Lead To More Job Opportunities – CoinDesk https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ambition-over-education-why-being-a-crypto-autodidact-might-lead-to-more-job-opportunities-coindesk/ Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated. The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.

Fed Policymakers Press Ahead With Inflation Fight, Even With Markets In Turmoil – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/fed-policymakers-press-ahead-with-inflation-fight-even-with-markets-in-turmoil-reuters/ The exterior of the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 14, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger Sept 29 (Reuters) – Federal Reserve policymakers will press ahead with raising U.S. borrowing costs to fight the corroding effects of too-high inflation, taking in stride both turmoil in global financial markets and early signs their actions are weakening the job market. “I’m quite comfortable” with raising interest rates to 4%-4.5% this year and 4.5%-5% next year, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly told reporters after a speech at Boise State University on Thursday, adding she expects that rates will need to stay at that level for all of 2023. Those ranges encompass what the majority of Daly’s fellow policymakers wrote in their rate path projections published last week, when the Fed lifted interest rates to 3%-3.25% in what is proving to be the most aggressive round of rate hikes since the 1980s. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The Fed’s steeper-than-expected policy tightening, aimed at bringing down inflation that’s running at more than triple the Fed’s 2% target, is expected to slow economic growth and lift unemployment. Global stock markets have tumbled, and major currencies have lost ground against the dollar. Loretta Mester, president of the Cleveland Fed, speaking on CNBC on Thursday, offered an even more aggressive outlook on what is needed to tame inflation. Mester said she does not see a case for slowing rate hikes right now, and in fact said she expects the central bank will need to go even further than it signaled last week. “I probably am a little bit above that median path because I see more persistence in the inflation process,” Mester said. Daly addressed the turmoil in financial markets, noting that markets are “trying to get their footing,” with investors assessing a myriad of risks, including market dysfunction in the U.K. which prompted intervention by the Bank of England, the war in Ukraine, the damaged gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, continued COVID lockdowns in China, and policy tightening by many central banks globally. “What I ultimately want to know is how much have financial conditions tightened, what has this done to the global economy, how much of a headwind will that be blowing against U.S. growth, and then how does that factor in to where what we need to do in our policy,” Daly said. And while Daly sees some signs that U.S. labor markets are slowing – noting that firms she talks to say they are recruiting new hires with less intensity — consumer spending remains robust. Still, Daly said she does not believe the Fed will need to raise rates so high they will trigger a deep recession — for now. Unemployment, at 3.7%, is low, and the labor market is still strong, she said. But if households and businesses start expecting inflation to continue to get worse, or if supply chains don’t heal as expected and goods shortages continue to push upward on prices, Daly told reporters, “then I am prepared to do more.” Mester said she did not see distress in U.S. financial markets that would alter the central bank’s campaign to lower very high levels of inflation through interest rate hikes. While “no one knows for sure” if there is a big problem lurking in the financial sector right now, “so far, we haven’t seen the kind of market dysfunction, even through what’s happening in the global markets right now, we haven’t seen that in the U.S. markets,” Mester said. Earlier Thursday, St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said he doesn’t see U.K. market turmoil “really impinging on the U.S. inflation or real growth developments.” Tax cuts proposed by the government of new British Prime Minister Liz Truss touched off a drop in the value of the pound to an all-time low of $1.0327 on Monday. The drop reflects widespread fears the government’s plan will further stoke inflation and put Britain’s fiscal and monetary policy at odds with each other. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir, Michael S. Derby and Ann Saphir; Editing by Leslie Adler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Utah Tech Embracing Role As Only Technical University In Utah – Deseret News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/utah-tech-embracing-role-as-only-technical-university-in-utah-deseret-news/ For the first time in its six-year history, the Silicon Slopes tech summit on Thursday had representation from a polytechnic university in the Beehive State. Before this year, there wasn’t a true polytechnic university in Utah. Then the university formerly known as Dixie State made the transition in May to Utah Tech University. Utah Tech University President Richard Williams was joined Thursday by board of trustees member Dave Elkington and Silicon Slopes cofounder and CEO Clint Betts to discuss the new era of the university. “We looked at all of the universities that had this polytechnic focus. We mapped it out in the United States map and there was this huge hole in the western United States, and right in the middle of that hole was St. George, Utah,” Williams said. With that, the university saw an opportunity and eventually snagged it when it transitioned to Utah Tech. It makes sense for a state with as big of a tech hub as Utah has that there would be a technical university to supply a competent workforce to the many companies that call Utah home, a point that Betts raised to Elkington. “We all know there’s just not enough engineering talent (and) there’s not enough computer science talent,” Elkington said. Elkington said that the university’s transition aims to fix that shortage, noting that the school isn’t going through a name change only, but a “focus change.” He pointed to the $100 million science, engineering and technology building that was built on Utah Tech’s campus in 2020. “There’s a makerspace, there’s engineering labs, there’s machine shops,” Elkington said. “I don’t think most people realize what this thing’s turned into, and it will produce, I think, the next generation of entrepreneurs, the next generation of talent for the state of Utah and honestly the country.” Utah Tech is also home to the Atwood Innovation Plaza, which has filed over 195 patents since its conception. “If you look on the world scale, we’re ranked in the top 25 in the world for how many patents are approved at a university — not in Utah, in the world,” Williams said. Both Elkington and Williams said that the university will be welcoming collaboration and input from Utah’s tech sector. In March, the university struck a partnership with Pluralsight, a technology workforce development company, to help students enhance their education with technology-based skills. “We are in a transition and we are looking toward the day that we will become a truly polytechnic university,” said Chris Guymon, assistant provost for adult and professional education at Utah Tech. “It became very, very clear that our students, in particular — but also our faculty and staff and our alumni — needed to have greater experiences around technology.” Students, faculty and staff can now take any of the 7,000 courses offered by Pluralsight. The new connection will give all current university students, faculty and staff unlimited access to Pluralsight Skills, an online platform that teaches technology-based skills people need to succeed in today’s digital world. “We want experts in learning opportunities for our students. Come and share with us, let’s build some internships, externships, whatever we need,” Williams said. “We’d like the tech companies to come and partner with our faculty. Give us projects you want us to accomplish that we can embed in our curriculum.” Elkington also took the opportunity to emphasize that the university is “not the Dixie State that it was.” “It’s a different feel. Come be involved. This is your university, this is Silicon Slopes’ university,” Elkington said. “Technology is changing, as you know,” Williams said. “We need to be partners with (Silicon) Slopes to make sure that we are the tech university for the state of Utah.”

Statue Of Harry Truman Unveiled In U.S. Capitol Rotunda – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/statue-of-harry-truman-unveiled-in-u-s-capitol-rotunda-the-washington-post/ WASHINGTON D.C. — Former President Harry S. Truman was remembered by Democratic and Republican leaders as one of the most consequential presidents in history during a ceremony Thursday unveiling a statue of Truman in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Speakers at the ceremony unveiling the 7.5-foot bronze statue of the nation’s 33rd president remembered the numerous substantial decisions Truman made, despite being vice president for only 82 days before President Franklin Roosevelt died in April 1945. Truman, who was born and reared in Missouri, helped end World War II, created the United Nations and NATO, desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces and federal workforce, recognized Israel and helped lead the world’s response to the Soviet Union and Communism. The statue, sculpted by Tom Corbin of Kansas City, looks like Truman, wearing a double-breasted jacket, is walking down steps. It includes a phrase Truman is famous for — “The buck stops here.” U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, said “no president in such a short period of time made more consequential decisions then Harry Truman. “If you’ve ever been in a job where you made decisions, just imagine the decisions he had to make and how quickly he had to make them and how well he made them,” Blunt said. Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniels, said of all of his grandfather’s accomplishments, his most significant “was reminding us that a farmer, a citizen solider, a small businessman can rise to the highest office in this land and do a better job of it than almost anybody else.” U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, said Truman rose from being a farmer, a soldier, small businessman, county judge, and U.S. senator before becoming president. Cleaver, who is Black, praised Truman’s decision to integrate the armed forces and the government work force, saying it helped create a middle class for Black people. “From this day forward may Harry Truman’s statue serve as a reminder of his courage, and courage we need to have to take on projects that will help build this nation,” Cleaver said. “For my congressional colleagues and I, we too should accept the responsibility, as did Truman, and declare ‘The buck stops here.’” Truman’s statue will be the 10th presidential statue in the Capitol Rotunda, flanked by George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant. The Truman Library Institute led a campaign to raise more than $400,000 to fund the statue. Each state has two statues in the Rotunda to honor people notable in the state’s history. In 2019, the Missouri Legislature voted to install Truman’s statue to replace a 1899 statue of Thomas Hart Benton, a five-term U.S. senator from Missouri. Benton’s statue will be moved to the State Historical Society Art Gallery in Columbia, Missouri.

Allstate RV Insurance: Coverage And Discounts (2022) – MarketWatch https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/allstate-rv-insurance-coverage-and-discounts-2022-marketwatch/ If You’re Searching for Recreational Vehicle Insurance Options, Allstate Is Worth a Look Allstate RV insurance is just one of the company’s many products. While we at the Home Media reviews team have rated the provider’s auto insurance and boat insurance options, we wanted to see how Allstate’s camper coverage holds up. Our team took a close look at the offerings from Allstate that are targeted toward RV owners. We considered how much RVers can expect to pay for Allstate’s coverage and measured the company up to the best RV insurance providers on the market. Allstate RV Insurance Review We give Allstate RV insurance 8.9 out of 10.0 stars, enough to earn it a place among our top camper insurance providers. Allstate’s rating was determined through careful research of the company’s reputation, availability, coverage options, average costs and customer service. Overall Rating 8.9 Reputation 8.2 Availability 10 Coverage 9.2 Cost 8.8 Customer Experience 8.4 *Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below. What Makes Allstate RV Insurance Stand Out? Allstate RV insurance comes with a well-rounded set of coverage types and plenty of options to save. Our team especially appreciated the following aspects of the company: Coverage choices: Allstate has coverage options galore, including a few types that other providers don’t offer. Full-timer liability insurance: People who live in their campers full time need a different kind of coverage, which is offered by Allstate. Total loss replacement: Losing an RV to an accident can be financially devastating, especially after depreciation. Allstate gives owners a total loss replacement option if they want more coverage to protect their campers. Allstate RV Insurance Pros and Cons Allstate Insurance Overview Founded: 1931 Headquarters: Northbrook, Ill. AM Best rating: A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: A- Allstate was among the country’s largest insurance companies in 2021, claiming over 5% of the total market according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In addition to RVs, Allstate offers the following types of insurance: Auto insurance Homeowners insurance Renters insurance Life insurance Motorcycle insurance Boat insurance RV Types Covered by Allstate There aren’t any restrictions listed on the webpage for Allstate RV insurance. The provider instead mentions that its RV coverage types can take care of both towables and motorhomes. What Is a Towable RV? Towable RVs can’t move on their own and instead require a towing vehicle to move from one place to the next. Towable RV models include the following: Travel trailers Toy haulers Pop-up campers Fifth-wheel RVs Teardrop trailers What Is an RV Motorhome? RV motorhomes are sometimes referred to as “self-propelled RVs” and are typically built on top of a large vehicle chassis. This category of RVs includes: Class A RVs Class B RVs Class C RVs It’s possible that Allstate RV insurance could have exclusions for different states or localities. Make sure to ask your local Allstate insurance agency about your camper’s specifics if you’re unsure about its eligibility for coverage. Allstate RV Insurance Cost Allstate doesn’t make any mention of the company’s RV insurance rates on its website. This is partly because the cost of an Allstate RV insurance policy varies greatly for each model type. According to our research, an average RV insurance policy generally costs around $1,500 per year, though your camper premiums could be greater or less than that. What Factors Affect RV Insurance Costs? The premiums on towables and motorhomes vary greatly because insurers base their rates on several factors about you and your RV model. These elements include: Driving history: You’ll either be driving or towing your RV, so your driving record plays a big part in rates for camper insurance. A clean driving record will likely give you access to the lowest rates. RV value: The more expensive your RV is, the more it will likely cost to protect. Usage: Insurers charge different rates depending on how much time you’ll be spending in your RV. Full-timers can expect to pay significantly more than people who only use their campers to go on vacations. RV experience: It takes a different set of skills to pilot or tow an RV than to drive a standard car model. Insurers tend to adjust rates based on your experience with RVs, not just with driving a car. Location: Different states and even different locations within the same state have varying rates for RV insurance. Credit score: In most states, insurers can use your credit score as a risk factor when determining your premiums. Drivers with poor credit scores often pay far more for insurance than those with good scores. Coverage level: Your types of coverage and how much you select also factor into your premiums. Policies that only meet your state’s minimum requirements typically cost the least, though they’ll also provide little protection. Allstate RV Insurance Discounts Allstate’s website lists several ways that drivers can save on RV coverage. The RV insurer mentions these savings opportunities and their details: Homeowner discount: If you own a home or have a full-time RV insurance policy Married discount: Add your spouse to your policy Pay in full discount: Pay your full premium upfront rather than across multiple monthly payments RV safety course discount: Complete an approved RV safety course Paperless discount: Opt to receive only digital correspondence for your Allstate RV insurance plan Allstate RV Insurance Coverage If you have a motorized RV, you’ll at least need to carry state minimum required auto coverage. Those with towable RVs aren’t usually required by law to have separate insurance from their personal vehicles, though coverage for your camper will be limited. In either case, you’ll likely want more than the minimum amount of insurance that’s legally mandated. Like with auto policies, you can build a policy to suit your needs after you meet minimum coverage standards. Allstate offers policies that are nearly identical to car coverage as well as specialty coverage options meant just for RVs. Standard RV Insurance Coverage Types The standard RV coverage options you’ll find at Allstate are the same as those you’ll find from nearly any insurer. Here are some common options, and what they cover: Bodily injury liability: Medical expenses, lost wages and other injury-related costs for others in an accident that you’re found at fault for Property damage liability: Damage to other vehicles and property related to an accident for which you are found at fault Collision coverage: Issues with your RV and personal property regardless of who caused the accident Comprehensive insurance: Damages to your camper from causes other than accidents such as severe weather, vandalism and theft Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist: Both damages to your RV and your medical expenses if an at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance coverage Personal injury protection (PIP): Medical costs and lost wages for your party, regardless of who caused an accident Medical payments coverage (MedPay): Medical costs but not lost wages for your part resulting from an accident, regardless of who is at fault Allstate RV Coverage Add-Ons When it comes to coverage add-ons, Allstate RV insurance has a healthy selection to choose from. These are the company’s additional coverage options, and what they cover: Towing and labor: The cost of on-site labor and towing needs if your camper breaks down Personal effects coverage: Personal belongings in your RV when it’s destroyed due to a collision or comprehensive loss Vacation liability: Most damages and injuries that are caused by your RV while you’re on vacation Emergency expenses: Food, accommodation and travel expenses if your RV breaks down more than 50 miles away from home Full-timer’s liability: Similar to a home insurance policy, this covers injuries and damages to others caused by your camper if you live in it for more than six months out of the year Total loss replacement: After a total loss, your old RV will be replaced with one of the same year and value as your original one Allstate may offer more coverage options than these depending on your location and RV type. Check which exact add-ons are available to you by asking a local insurance agent. Allstate RV Insurance Standard Benefits While you can purchase some additional coverages, Allstate includes a few for free. Allstate RV insurance policies come standard with the perks below: Pet coverage: Takes care of your pet’s medical bills if it’s injured in an accident Tow bar coverage: Pays to replace your tow bar after a covered loss Allstate Customer Reviews There aren’t many customer reviews online specifically for Allstate RV insurance. However, the way a company handles its customers in one part of the business can give you insight into how it treats them in another part. Our team noticed a few patterns in our research of Allstate insurance reviews. In positive Allstate reviews, customers reported helpful and thorough support from agents. When people reported a negative experience with Allstate, they tended to mention communication frustrations during the company’s claims process. Do You Need RV Insurance? You absolutely need RV insurance for a motorhome. In most places, the minimum motorhome insurance requirements are identical to minimum car insurance standards. In most cases, however, you aren’t legally required to carry insurance for a towable camper. There are some situations when you may need RV insurance for any model. Certain campsites require vacation or full-timer liability ...

Business News From The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority – September 29 – TysonsToday – TysonsToday https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/business-news-from-the-fairfax-county-economic-development-authority-september-29-tysonstoday-tysonstoday/ Northern Virginia Leads ‘Fastest Growing’ Companies List Twenty Fairfax County-based companies and 14 companies based in additional Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance jurisdictions out of 50 companies placed on the Washington Business Journal’s 2022 list of Fastest Growing Companies in Greater Washington, D.C. “Congratulations to the 34 Northern Virginia-based companies that were recognized by the Washington Business Journal for their tremendous growth,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. “These companies exemplify the dynamic business environment here in Fairfax County and throughout the region for both start-ups and established companies.” The following Fairfax County-area based companies ranked on the list: 10Pearls (Tysons); Agiliko (Alexandria); Brillient (Reston); Brothers Mechanical (Lorton); Gridiron IT Solutions (Reston); Gunnison Consulting Group (Fairfax); ID.me (Tysons); MetaPhase Consulting (Reston); MicroHealth (Tysons); MindPoint Group (Tysons); Modus Create (Reston); Old Dominion National Bank (Tysons); Orr Partners (Reston); PBG Consulting (Tysons); ShiftMed (Tysons); Shirley Luu and Associates (Tysons); ShorePoint (Herndon); Stage 2 Security (S2) (Tysons); Steampunk (Tysons); and Turn2Partners (Herndon). More than 2,300 companies were nominated for the ranking this year, according to the WBJ. Veteran and Military Spouse Career Fair Draws 400+ Attendees More than 60 companies and organizations met with over 400 veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses seeking to advance their careers at a two-day Veteran and Military Spouse Career Fair on September 21 to 22, 2022. Led by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, an in-person hiring event was held at the National Museum of the United States Army at Ft. Belvoir the first day, followed by a virtual career fair. During the two-day career fair, candidates had the opportunity to network and interview with companies in Northern Virginia, from government agencies and small businesses to Fortune 500s. Regional employers – including Adobe, Amazon, CACI and the FBI – were actively hiring for more than 10,000 positions across a variety of sectors including government, IT, finance, renewable energy, and healthcare. Veteran career organizations in attendance provided valuable resume translation guidance and military spouse career education services. The September 2022 career fair was hosted in collaboration with Fairfax County Government; Fort Belvoir Transition Assistance Program; Fort Belvoir Army Community Service; Northern Virginia Regional Commission; Virginia Department of Veteran Services; Virginia Employment Commission Veterans Services; and HIRE VETS NOW. Home to nearly 80,000 veterans and their families, as well as a vibrant community of nearly 2,000 veteran-owned firms, Northern Virginia’s Fairfax County is a choice location for both active duty and retired military to successfully transition into the civilian workforce. Visit workinnorthernvirginia.com to find out about Northern Virginia’s numerous military friendly employers, current job opportunities, and future career fairs. Veteran Distinguished Service Awards The Tysons-based Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce recently honored companies, nonprofit groups and individuals for their service to veterans at the Distinguished Service Awards, Sun Gazette reported. This year’s recipients in Veteran-Owned Businesses of the Year categories included: Prescient Edge (Tysons); PingWind (Annandale); and Conforma (Washington, DC). There were two winners of the Veteran Employee of the Year Award: Tyler Sweatt of SecondFront (Tysons) and John Quackenbush of JHNA (City of Alexandria). The Veteran Service Organization of the Year Award went to Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund (Ashburn); and the Lifetime Achievement Award: W. Glenn Yarborough Jr., president and CEO of WGY & Associates (Tysons). “It’s an honor to be recognized as a Distinguished Service Veteran Owned small business and for the entire PingWind team to see we are accomplishing great things together. We are proud to be veteran-owned, foster veteran employment and support the veteran community, including providing services for the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are tremendously lucky with the great economic resources offered by Northern Virginia including a top-tier labor pool, access to supporting institutions and a diverse network of service providers, and we look forward to future growth together,” said Aaron Moak, CEO, PingWind. 5G threat assessment The U.S. Department of Defense partnered with Tysons-based non-profit corporation MITRE to develop a new adversarial threat assessment framework for 5G networks, applications and devices, ExecutiveBiz reported. FiGHT, also known as 5G Hierarchy of Threats, is a purpose-built model of adversary tactics and techniques put together to help the 5G community verify the security of the next-generation broadband technology, test it against advanced persistent threats and identify coverage gaps, according to MITRE. “FiGHT helps stakeholders assess where cyber investments should be made to achieve the highest impact as they build, configure, and deploy secure and resilient 5G systems,” said Charles Clancy, senior vice president and general manager at MITRE Labs. Tracking circadian rhythms Arcascope, a Chantilly-based healthcare technology company developing a mobile platform to aid shift employees who work overnight shifts, announced that it has closed on $2.85 million in seed funding. The round was led by Supermoon Capital, with participation from Inception Health, New Dominion Angels, AIoT Health, Inflect Health, the Accelerate Blue Fund, the Monroe Brown Seed Fund, HealthX Ventures, and others. The company’s platform aims to help shift workers deal with disruptions to their biological clocks and circadian rhythms. “Working nights causes profound disruption of the body’s internal circadian clock, which has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and cancer,” the company said. “Clinical research, spearheaded by the Arcascope team, has shown that tracking this disruption in real world contexts and making personalized behavioral interventions can improve health.” Potomac Tech Wire picked up the release. Radio heads Herndon-based HawkEye 360 and Tysons-based Spire Global were among the six companies awarded contracts from the The National Reconnaissance Office to provide insight into radio frequency (RF) remote sensing capabilities, GovConWire reported. The companies will conduct studies to help inform the agency’s future acquisition and integration of commercial space-based data into the agency’s overhead architecture, NRO said Wednesday. In a separate announcement, HawkEye 360 said it will model and simulate RF-sensing capabilities, perform accuracy and quality checks and demonstrate the overhead delivery of RF data into mobile, transportable and fixed ground stations worldwide. New name, new product launch Tysons-based mobile security firm Quokka—which recently rebranded from its previous name, Kryptowire—is launching a new smartphone protection product called Q-Scout, designed to offer deep insight into applications on Android and iOS devices without being intrusive to end users. Q-Scout has two primary functions. First, it checks through individual applications on an end-user’s device to detect apps with known security flaws. Second, it analyzes the interaction and permission sets granted to installed apps to detect any potentially dangerous interactions, CSO reported. New delivery floors Reston Hospital unveiled new labor, delivery floors for Northern Virginia families, ABC News 7 reported. The hospital wrapped up the post-partum floor this summer. Families are now greeted with a new lobby and moms get new beds, chairs and televisions to use. The staff is working with upgraded equipment and state-of-the-art nurses’ stations. The medium-sized hospital, which is about six miles east of Washington Dulles International Airport, delivers 2,000 babies a year. Urban farm introduction at Fall Festival Halley Rise — a major mixed use development at the door of the Reston Town Center Metro station — will debut its inaugural Halley Rise Fall Festival on Oct. 22, reported FFXnow. The event, which includes live music, food and activities, also kicks off the introduction of the Farm at Halley Rise, an urban farm by Up Top Acres that grows food and donates products to organizations that work to reduce food insecurity. Just under half an acre in size, the farm includes more than 30 vegetable, herb and fruit crops, along with beehives, a native flower garden, a rain garden and a meadow. The farm is intended to provide Reston-based Cornerstones food pantry and other local food security organizations with produce. Take a moment Fairfax County government officials delivered a message to the public, urging drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to pause and “take a moment” in an effort to improve road safety, WTOP reported. “This is a team effort,” said Jeffrey C. McKay, the Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on Tuesday. McKay said the goal of the message was “to get people in the community to simply take a moment while they’re out on our roads, trails and sidewalks to become aware of what’s around them.” He urged drivers and cyclists to even take a moment to make eye contact with each other. “These things are so important and literally they build a safer community,” McKay said. Click here to see a video of Fairfax County’s “Take a Moment – Pedestrian, Bike and Traffic Safety” campaign. About the Fairf...

Tip To Get Your Children Living A Healthy Lifestyle – KX NEWS https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tip-to-get-your-children-living-a-healthy-lifestyle-kx-news/ NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — The obesity epidemic in the country is at an all-time high and is the main contributing factor to all types of diabetes. North Dakota has one of the highest rates of Diabetes in children compared to the other 49 states. Kyara Brown spoke with medical professionals to ensure parents and caregivers are equipped with the tools for their children to live healthy lifestyles. While the obesity rate in the country has soared in the last 10 years, so has the diabetes rate in children in North Dakota. There are several things that can be done to prevent these health conditions, and one starts in your kitchen. Its been proven that having three to five homecooked family meals a week can reduce the possibility of obesity by 40%. “Family meals have been shown to make a difference, we talk about 5-2-1-0 all the time. Five stands for five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. If you eat more fruits and vegetables, they are higher fiber so we’d rather they had an apple than a candy bar,” said Dr. Diana Peterson, a Pediatrician at Trinity Health in Minot. Like she said, five stands for five servings of fruits and veggies. The two stands for two hours or less of screen time for school-aged kids. One stands for one hour of physical activity outside of school. And zero stands for zero sugar sweets in beverages, which are a leading cause of diabetes and other health conditions. Even taking your child to the dentist regularly can help. “Most people don’t know that the earliest signs of diabetes show up in the mouth. That’s another misconception, that it’s okay for gums to bleed. That’s a leaky barrier for bacteria from the mouth to enter the bloodstream,” said Dr. Susan Maples, a dentist, author, and health educator from Michigan. Another health tip for North Dakotans is to ensure everyone in your family gets the proper amount of Vitamin D. “We do push the vitamin D. We’re far enough north that it’s recommended that everybody, birth to death, not just kids, you’re supposed to take it, I’m supposed to take it. Take vitamin D because it’s made from sun exposure and none of us get enough sun exposure. the recommended level is 400 international units but the American Academy of Pediatrics generally recommends we double that,” said Dr. Peterson. Eight-10 hours of sleep plays an enormous role in health and children’s development. Dr. Peterson says it’s never too early or too late to get your children on track to living a healthy lifestyle. Doctors also recommend that children in grade school drink at least 60 ounces of water a day.

South Carolina Vs. South Carolina State Prediction, Odds: 2022 College Football Picks From Expert On 14-1 Roll – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/south-carolina-vs-south-carolina-state-prediction-odds-2022-college-football-picks-from-expert-on-14-1-roll-cbs-sports/ The South Carolina Gamecocks seek their second straight dominant victory when they host the South Carolina State Bulldogs on Thursday in a contest rescheduled from Saturday due to the threat of Hurricane Ian. South Carolina (2-2) cruised past Charlotte 56-20 at home last weekend after suffering back-to-back losses against a pair of ranked opponents in Arkansas and Georgia. The Gamecocks had little trouble in their first two meetings with the Bulldogs, winning both by a combined 76-17 score. South Carolina State (1-2) is coming off a 41-27 loss at North Carolina A&T last Saturday. Kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Gamecocks are 39.5-point favorites in the latest South Carolina vs. South Carolina State odds from Caesars, while the over/under for total points scored is 57. Before making any South Carolina State vs. South Carolina picks or college football predictions, you need to see what SportsLine college football expert Mike Tierney has to say. A veteran sportswriter whose work appears periodically in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Tierney has converted college football of all levels for decades. He has emerged as one of SportsLine’s leading analysts in all sports and is 13-10 on his last 23 against-the-spread college football picks. What’s more, he has a keen sense for the trajectory of the Gamecocks. He is 14-1 in his last 15 picks involving South Carolina, returning almost $1,300 to $100 bettors. Now, the Tierney has set his sights on South Carolina vs. South Carolina State and just locked in his picks and CFB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for South Carolina State vs. South Carolina: South Carolina vs. South Carolina State spread: Gamecocks -39.5 South Carolina vs. South Carolina State over/under: 57 points SC: The Gamecocks haven’t posted back-to-back wins since starting 2021 with a 2-0 record SCS: The Bulldogs have allowed 106 points in their first three games this season South Carolina vs. South Carolina State picks: See picks at SportsLine Why South Carolina can cover The Gamecocks’ offense could not be stopped last week as it produced points on each of its first eight possessions and nine of 11 overall. The team racked up 545 yards of total offense and was especially effective on the ground, rushing for 295 yards and six touchdowns — its most against a Division I opponent since recording six versus UAB on Sept. 20, 2003. South Carolina has 10 rushing TDs already in 2022 after registering the same amount in 13 games last season. MarShawn Lloyd was almost unstoppable against Charlotte, carrying 15 times for 169 yards and three scores — all career highs. The sophomore amassed only 75 yards on 27 attempts in the Gamecocks’ first three games this season. Senior Christian Beal-Smith also was a factor on the ground in his second game with South Carolina, rushing for 55 yards and a pair of TDs for his first multi-touchdown performance since scoring twice for Wake Forest against Old Dominion on Sept. 3, 2021. Why South Carolina State can cover  The Bulldogs are hoping Kendrell Flowers (undisclosed), who did not have a carry on Saturday, can ignite a ground attack that produced only 12 yards against the Aggies. The sophomore averaged 6.5 yards per carry over South Carolina State’s first three games of the season and gained 153 on 16 attempts versus Bethune-Cookman. Dating back to 2021, Flowers has rushed for more than 120 yards in four of the last six regular-season contests in which he’s had a carry. The lack of success running the ball last week forced Corey Fields to move it through the air, and the senior quarterback did a solid job. Field recorded 316 passing yards and threw touchdowns to four different receivers against North Carolina A&T, marking the second time in four outings he made four TD tosses dating back to last year’s Celebration Bowl. One of the scoring passes went to junior wideout Shaquan Davis, who finished with 127 receiving yards as he extended his streak to five straight games with a touchdown catch. How to make South Carolina State vs. South Carolina picks Tierney has analyzed this matchup, and while we can tell you he’s leaning Over on the point total, he also has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine. So who wins South Carolina vs. South Carolina State? And what crucial X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the South Carolina State vs. South Carolina spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the expert that has crushed his college football picks, and find out.

Metaverse Casinos: A Regulatory Wild West | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP – JDSupra – JD Supra https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/metaverse-casinos-a-regulatory-wild-west-nelson-mullins-riley-scarborough-llp-jdsupra-jd-supra/ A New World of Gaming The metaverse is an immersive online universe on the blockchain where users interact with a multitude of digital worlds and with each other. As in the real world, the metaverse offers a wide variety of activities and entertainment options. The metaverse has become a haven for gaming. Users can explore casino “districts,” offering slots, poker, roulette, blackjack and more, go to shows and nightclubs, and even purchase real estate, including an entire casino. Some platforms within the metaverse are more developed than others, with their own parcels of land, decentralized governmental structures and native tokens. As this space continues to expand into various aspects of daily life, participants in the metaverse ecosystem, and in particular, gaming operators, should proceed with caution as the line between fantasy and reality continues to blur. The metaverse provides an alternative virtual reality for those who visit, seemingly outside of the legal and regulatory structure of the real world. Now, due to the development of digital assets1 including cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”), visitors can add real-world economic value to some in-game activities. Players can buy, sell, or gamble items in the metaverse for digital assets that can convert to fiat currency, further blurring the lines between a virtual game experience and reality. What seems to some like a game will increasingly have real-world economic consequences for users, and the businesses with which they engage in the metaverse, resulting in more regulatory scrutiny and legal disputes.  Metaverse Gaming vs. Traditional Online Gaming It is helpful to distinguish metaverse gaming from traditional online gaming. Gaming in the metaverse and online gaming both allow users to play casino games with their friends and social network virtually without the burdens and restrictions of physical travel. Unlike traditional online casinos, the metaverse attempts to replicate the full casino experience, allowing users to explore a digital representation of a casino using a unique avatar and virtual reality technology. Through advancements in technology, users can control their avatar’s behavior in a similar manner to controlling their own conduct in the real world. Essentially, avatars are digital representation of users – they physically walk around and engage with other avatars, including making observations of other avatars’ tells and contributing to an authentic casino experience, all from the comfort of home. Metaverse casinos generally do not accept traditional fiat currency. A metaverse casino requires a participant to convert their fiat into one of the crypto currencies accepted in the metaverse and deposit funds using a crypto wallet. Users exchange the NFTs and cryptocurrency that they win in the metaverse for fiat currency in the real world, however. The use of crypto in metaverse gaming has some clear benefits. In addition to providing an immersive interaction compared to fiat-based online gambling platforms, metaverse casinos offer higher levels of security, transparency, and privacy for users. For example, the history of the entire transaction history is accessible on a blockchain. Although the transaction is visible on a blockchain, users may remain anonymous without having to disclose certain personal information, thereby protecting privacy. Deposits and withdrawals are processed virtually instantaneously because there is no third party verifying the transaction. Regulatory Considerations for Metaverse Gaming Casino and sports gaming is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the United States. The regulation is primarily at the state level. Some mistakenly believe the metaverse is insulated from real life legal restrictions. To the contrary, any gaming and wagering activity, which constitutes a game of chance involving the risk of something of value and a prize,2 that is being offered to U.S. citizens in the metaverse (on an unregulated basis) is likely to draw the attention of regulators. Despite the popularity of metaverse gaming, the top U.S. operators have largely stayed on the sidelines while offshore and smaller companies dominate the space. This is unsurprising for three reasons: The fact that metaverse gaming lacks a dedicated regulatory framework and online gaming is legal in only a handful of states; As we wrote previously, the reluctance of regulated gaming companies operating in the U.S. to pursue the legal use of cryptocurrency given its volatility, lack of acceptance, and regulatory and/or legislative hurdles; and General legal uncertainty. An operator that wishes to offer a gaming platform to U.S. citizens in the metaverse would need to do so with the express permission and under the oversight of each state’s gaming commission whose residents they serve. This may also require new legislation and regulatory schemes. For example, Wyoming, an early adopter of cryptocurrency, passed legislation in 2021 that allows sportsbooks to accept “digital, crypto and virtual currencies.”3 Generally, however, regulators and legislators are not known for their speed in adopting new and emerging technologies and the industry as a whole is still working toward more immediate and attainable goals, such as expanding legal online gaming. Currently, fewer than 10 states offer online casinos and/or poker. There is significant regulatory and legal uncertainty surrounding metaverse casinos. For example, which oversight bodies have authority to regulate metaverse casinos? Can users face consequences in the real world for the actions of their avatar in metaverse casinos? How are players protected from unlawful conduct in metaverse casinos? Can operators be held responsible for that misconduct? State gaming regulators would have jurisdiction over gaming activity being offered to their residents in the metaverse alongside other regulators including the SEC, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, given the use of cryptocurrency and NFTs.4 At this early stage, there are more questions than answers. The history of the real-world gaming industry suggests it is highly probable that metaverse casinos will be subject to direct regulation. New Legal Parameters Around Metaverse Gaming Are Expected The competitive nature of the U.S. gaming market, the vast lobbying power of licensed gaming operators, and the substantial fees for licensure indicate that it is not a matter of if, but when regulators will intervene in metaverse gaming. While the concept of metaverse casinos is exciting and creates the opportunity for significant growth in the gaming industry, like many innovations, it brings additional challenges and risks for operators. In fact, earlier this year securities regulators in Texas and Arizona demanded that a metaverse casino developer cease its funding for the development of its metaverse casino (and expansion of its metaverse casinos to all other relevant metaverses) through NFTs for failing to register the NFTs as securities and on the grounds that it was conducting an illegal fraudulent securities scheme.5 About a month later, securities regulators in Texas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Alabama filed an action against another metaverse casino due to its alleged ties to Russia and a fraudulent investment scheme it was running in violation of securities laws.6 The Texas State Securities Board stated its concerns about scammers being able to hide their identities (also referred to as “going dark”), as they alleged occurred here, in metaverse casinos. In addition, just a few months ago, 28 members of Congress urged the Department of Justice to work with the industry, and other stakeholders to prosecute offshore sports betting companies operating illegally in the U.S.7 Similarly, absent a known regulatory scheme, even “successful” operation of a metaverse casino at present does not foreclose adverse action or shutdowns in the future due to increasing regulatory scrutiny. While it is unclear how, if, and to what extent, existing regulations apply to metaverse gaming, the actions referenced above demonstrate that some state regulators are taking the position that the same rules that apply to investments in the real world also apply to investments in the metaverse. The risk is not limited to the virtual world, but also exposes investors to the potential loss of real money. The above matters also highlight the broad range of risks government authorities could be motivated to address, from international policy implications to financial fraud scams. Pioneering the Metaverse Although there are significant barriers to operating gaming platforms in the metaverse, forward-thinking gaming companies have wisely been preparing to enter this new world when it is safe to do so. If the metaverse becomes as integrated into daily life as it is expected to be, those pioneers will reap the rewards. We recommend gaming operators in the metaverse proceed with caution and retain highly qualified counsel to help them navigate the developing regulatory landscape. Regulators in the United States including the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) use the term “digital asset” to refer to “an asset that is issued and transferred using distributed ledger or blockchain technology.” Statement on Digital Asset Securities Issuance and Trading, Division of Corporation Finance, Division of Investment Management, and Division of Trading and Markets, SEC (Nov. 16, 2018), available here. As the SEC has noted, digital assets include, but are not limited to, virtual currencies, coins, and tokens. Id. A digital asset may in certain instances b...

14 Big IPhone Features And Improvements On IOS 16.1 « IOS & IPhone :: Gadget Hacks – Gadget Hacks https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/14-big-iphone-features-and-improvements-on-ios-16-1-ios-iphone-gadget-hacks-gadget-hacks/ It hasn’t been long since Apple released iOS 16.0 with over 350 new features, but iOS 16.1 is hot on its tail with even more cool updates for your iPhone. While some of the recent upgrades were expected, others are somewhat surprising — and there’s even one that you may not even think was possible. Apple’s iOS 16.1 update is still in beta testing, but you can install the beta on your iPhone right now if you want to start testing the below features out before everyone else. Some of these features also appear on iPadOS 16.1 for iPad, also still in beta. Don’t Miss: Apple Photos Has 21 New Features for iPhone That Make Your Life Easier 1. Larger Numbers for Battery Percentage On iOS 16.0, Apple finally added a switch in the Battery settings on Face ID devices to enable the battery percentage in the status bar, something Touch ID devices have long been able to do. The update put the percentage inside the battery icon, and iOS 16.1 makes the numbers larger and easier to see. Below, you can see the icons before and after in light and dark modes. 2. Battery Percentage for More iPhones While iOS 16.0 lets us add the battery percentage to the battery icon in the status bar on Face ID devices, it’s not available on all Face ID models. Specifically, the iPhone XR, 11, 12 mini, and 13 mini are left out, presumedly because of their smaller displays. The iOS 16.1 update adds support for those models, so now all iPhone models that can run iOS 16 can get the new battery icon. 3. Clean Energy Charging Go to Settings – Battery, then open up the “Battery Health & Charging” menu, previously just “Battery Health,” and you’ll see a new option called “Clean Energy Charging.” Apple says your iPhone “will try to reduce your carbon footprint by selectively charging when lower carbon emission electricity is available.” It goes on to say your iPhone “learns from your daily charging routine so it can reach full charge before you need to use it.” The setting should be automatically enabled by default, but the “Learn More” link goes to a non-existing webpage, which should go live when iOS 16.1 stable is released. 4. Live Activities Live Activities are finally here. They appear on the bottom of your iPhone’s lock screen, as well as in the Dynamic Island for the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max models, and display an app’s most current data, updated in real time. Live sports games in the Apple TV app is one example of what Live Activities can do. Pick a live game available in your region from the Live Sports section, then tap the “Follow” button. You’ll then see the play-by-play and real-time scores on your lock screen and in the Dynamic Island if you have an iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max. Right now, I can only get it to work with MLB games. According to Apple, a Live Activity can only be active for up to eight hours in the Dynamic Island, but it can go as long as 12 hours on the lock screen. So on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, a Live Activity would disappear from the Dynamic Island after eight hours but remain on your lock screen for up to four more hours. Needless to say, you can stop following a Live Activity at any time. There are also four different viewing modes for Live Activities in the Dynamic Island: a compact leading view, a compact trailing view, a minimal view, and an expanded view. 5. Live Activities API Live Activities aren’t just available for Apple’s apps — any third-party developer can incorporate them into their apps using the new ActivityKit framework. Examples of activities you could track include a ride pickup from Uber or Lyft, package delivery from UPS or FedEx, food delivery from GrubHub or DoorDash, pickup order for Starbucks or Target, workout using Nike or Health, and so on. While developers are now building Live Activities for their apps, you won’t be able to try any out until the iOS 16.1 stable release appears. That’s because developers can’t submit their updated apps with Live Activities to the App Store until the iOS 16.1 Release Candidate is available, the last beta build. You may be able to find beta apps on TestFlight that are experimenting with Live Activities. 6. Download In-App Content Before First Launching Apps There’s a new toggle in Settings – App Store for “In-App Content,” which will “automatically run apps in the background to download content before you first launch them” when enabled. You’ll notice the change mostly in games and navigation apps that need a lot of resources to run correctly. The App Store has file size limits, but developers can push the required resources after the initial app installation. It is unclear if the feature only applies during the app’s initial installation or if it can also install new in-app content in the background after manually or automatically installing an app update. After installing the iOS 16.1 update, this toggle should be enabled by default. Before (left) and after (right) the iOS 16.1 update. 7. New Shortcut Actions The iOS 16.0 update added almost 60 new actions in the Shortcuts app, and iOS 16.1 throws a few more in. One is “Get Current Focus” for the Settings app, which returns the currently active focus. The other is “Search in Shortcuts” for the Shortcuts app, which opens Shortcuts and performs a search for the specified text. 8. Delete Apple Wallet If you don’t use Apple Pay, Apple Cash, Apple Card, or store loyalty cards and tickets in Apple Wallet, you can finally delete the Apple Wallet app. Before, you could only remove it from the home screen, hiding it in the App Library, but now it can be gone for good. 9. Lock Screen Customization Changes Apple is making the lock screen and home screen customization less confusing on iOS 16.1. Now, whenever you hit the “Customize” button for a lock screen in the lock screen switcher, it will give you a choice between editing the lock screen or home screen wallpaper. Previously, it would jump right to the lock screen editor when you tapped “Customize.” Then, when you were done editing it, you would get an option to “Set as Wallpaper Pair” or “Customize Home Screen.” You’ll still see those two options when adding a new lock screen. Don’t Miss: Customize Your iPhone’s Lock Screen with These 27 Killer New Features on iOS 16 10. Switch Wallpaper Pairs from Settings Apple continues to tweak wallpaper management, and iOS 16.1 gives us better options via Settings – Wallpapers. Before, you could only customize your current wallpapers or add a new pair — you couldn’t switch between all your pairs. The new interface fixes that. The wallpaper settings will show your current pair of wallpapers, and you can swipe left or right to find the wallpaper set you want to switch to, and you can hit “Set as Current” to make the change. While there’s a redesigned “Add New Wallpaper” button below the previews, you can also swipe left to the very end of the previews and hit the plus (+) on the blank set to build and use a new pair. 11. Screenshot Editor Changes When you tap on the thumbnail after taking a screenshot to open the editor, everything should look the same until it’s time to exit the editor. Tap “Done,” and instead of a large action sheet that takes up the bottom half of the screen (left screenshot below), you’ll get a smaller contextual menu near the “Done” button itself (right screenshot below). 12. iCloud Shared Photo Library If you use Family Sharing to share content with your partner, kids, and other family members, iCloud Shared Photo Library is another feature you can now take advantage of. It can be shared with up to five users, and everyone can add, edit, favorite, caption, and delete content. You can include all your photos in the shared library or use the setup tools to include only specific content based on a start date or group of people. People can also add content manually or share media automatically via a switch in the Camera app, using a Bluetooth proximity trigger, or from sharing suggestions in For You. Content from your iCloud Shared Photo Library may appear in the Photos widget, under your Featured Photos in For You, or as memory videos. Images via Apple 13. Matter Support Matter, a new unifying open connectivity standard for the Home app, Siri, Control Center, and HomeKit-based apps, enables secure, IP-based communication among a wide range of compatible smart home devices and accessories. Designed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which includes hundreds of companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google, the royalty-free protocol makes devices and accessories from different companies work together seamlessly across platforms. According to Apple, it will “provide more choice and interoperability for customers.” Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings are just some of the smart home tech that will work with Matter. To use Matter accessories, you’ll need a home hub, such as an Apple TV or HomePod device. 14. Game Center Improvements The Contacts app will show your friends’ Game Center profiles, and you can tap through to see what games they’re playing and the achievements they’re accomplishing. There’s also a new toggle in Game Center for “Allow finding by friends” and a new splash screen for it called “Help Your Friends Find You.” Help your Game Center friends find you more easily based on the name they have for you in their Contacts app. To do this, Game Center will use the email address and phone number associated with your Apple ID. Multiplayer games that work with Game Center are also expected to work with SharePlay, so you can play games with your friends during FaceTime calls. Don’t Miss: Your iPhone’s Contacts App Just Got Its Biggest Update Ever What’s Missing? There are still a few things Apple said were coming ...

Citadel’s Ken Griffin Says The Exodus Away From Crypto And NFTs Is Good For The Economy – Kitco NEWS https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/citadels-ken-griffin-says-the-exodus-away-from-crypto-and-nfts-is-good-for-the-economy-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) – Ken Griffin, the founder of Miami-based trading firm Citadel Securities, pulled no punches in a recent conversion with CNBC when he suggested that people moving away from the “speculative bubble” that is crypto, nonfungible tokens (NFTs), and meme stocks is a positive sign for the U.S. economy.  The response emerged from a discussion surrounding the government handouts in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 lockdown, which resulted in investors pumping their newly found cash into these “speculative assets.”  All three of the aforementioned asset classes experienced blow-out performances at some point in 2021 as traders frantically attempted to acquire them amid rapidly appreciating prices, only to see their values plummet in 2022 amid a wider economic downturn.  Now that the bubbles have burst, Griffin sees it as a “healthy” sign for the U.S. economy, which can now start to regain some semblance of order.  “Now that we’re past that moment in time and people are starting to spend those savings down to travel, go out to eat, enjoy other items in life that they want to have, we’re seeing that speculative bubble really recede,” the billionaire said at CNBC’s Delivering Alpha Conference Wednesday.  “And this is healthy for the economy. Money misallocated in speculative assets doesn’t create jobs in the long run, doesn’t help to create the long-term prosperity that makes America the country that it is,” Griffin said.  The Citadel Securities founder also noted that younger people, including the ones that work at the firm, are more interested in crypto because they value privacy and have a more “libertarian view of the world.” Griffin also alluded to platforms like Celsius and Terra/Luna by saying that “billions of dollars going into companies that are effectively going to go broke, tens of billions” is not good for markets. Negative comments about the cryptocurrency sector are nothing new for Griffin, who once called the space a “jihadist call” against the U.S. dollar and said he is keeping his firm out of the digital asset space because he didn’t want to “help fund the North Koreans.”   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.