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Business News | Insidenova.com – Inside NoVA https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/business-news-insidenova-com-inside-nova/ The Business Voice is produced in partnership with the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce In its fifth decade, Great American Restaurants isn’t slowing down. Instead, it’s launching two new concepts and expanding on a third in a large complex on Leesburg Pike in Tysons. The successful restaurant group knows what works, but it continues to push itself in new directions in its ques… Virginia’s new Economic Resilience and Recovery Program aimed at addressing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will give Northern Virginians a new tool in helping get back to work. As businesses shut down, unemployment rose and people stayed home due to COVID-19, nonprofit organizations found themselves in a tenuous position. They faced an increased need for their services while sources for funding became uncertain. Four area nonprofits shared with The Business Voice h… In February, only about 5% of the nation’s workforce performed their jobs remotely, according to statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau. By mid-June, that number had jumped to 62%. With all that’s changed, two things remain the same: the people committed to doing good in and for our community, and your Chamber’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating them. The efforts of these individuals, businesses, and nonprofits mean a lot to all of us, so we asked a few of the … Whether it’s for a technical certification, a doctorate in a given field or a degree somewhere in between, Northern Virginia boasts a wealth of opportunities for residents to become educated about the digital world. ZeroMils is a new company, having just incorporated in March and launched its brand in June. But its leaders are certainly not new to their work. In fact, it’s as if they’ve been preparing for their roles for most of their lives. Just as technology changes over time, so has Britepaths’ work. Talent attraction is the hottest and toughest game in town. How do you up your game to secure the most talented team members? Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation Chairman Kathryn Falk shares these great tips. As its name suggests, the primary objective of the Northern Virginia Chamber’s Membership Committee is to recruit and retain regional business and their leaders as active members of the Chamber. Collectively, our members have created a meaningful, powerful association that enriches our commu… Maria Tildon, vice president of state and local affairs at Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine, chairs the Chamber’s Policy Committee. The Business Voice spoke with her about her goals for the committee, the importance of the Chamber and a surprising job early in her career. Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. Most Popular Articles on InsideNoVa

Six Steps To Create An Effective Community Health Program – UrbanMatter https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/six-steps-to-create-an-effective-community-health-program-urbanmatter/ In recent years, the number of people suffering from chronic diseases has increased alarmingly. This has led to a growing need for community health programs promoting healthy living and preventing chronic diseases. The global burden of chronic disease is now estimated at 38% of all deaths. More than three-quarters of these occur in low- and middle-income countries. A community health program is an organized effort by a government, non-governmental organization, or group of citizens to improve the health of a defined group of people. An effective community health program strives to address the health needs of its target population through a comprehensive and coordinated approach. It should be based on thorough needs assessment and be informed by the latest evidence on effective interventions. Here are six steps to creating an effective community health program: Conduct a needs assessment The first step in creating an effective community health program is to conduct a needs assessment to identify the health needs of the target population. It can happen through various methods, including surveys, focus groups, and interviews with key informants. The needs assessment should consider health’s social, economic, and environmental determinants. Also, consider the availability of resources, including human and financial resources. In addition, be sure to consult with relevant stakeholders, such as community leaders, healthcare providers, and local officials. Professionals with experience in conducting needs assessments can provide valuable guidance.  Aspiring candidates can enroll in online public health degree programs to learn more about conducting needs assessments. For instance, the DrPH online provides students with the skills and knowledge to assess population health needs effectively.  Set realistic goals and objectives Based on the needs assessment, the next step is to set realistic goals and objectives for the program. The goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. They should also be aligned with the resources available and the capacities of the implementing organization. As you may know, setting unrealistic goals can lead to disappointment and can undermine the program’s credibility. Indeed, it is important to set ambitious yet achievable goals to rally people around the program and generate support for it. However, if the goals are too ambitious, they may not be realistic and could jeopardize the program’s success. Moreover, the goals and objectives should be reviewed and updated regularly to remain relevant. Develop an evidence-based intervention The third step is to develop an evidence-based intervention. To do this, you will need to identify the risk factors for the health problems you are trying to address. Then, select the interventions that are effective in addressing these risk factors. Be sure to consider the target population‘s local context and preferences. In addition, make sure that the interventions are feasible and affordable. And finally, ensure that there is adequate capacity to implement the interventions. However, it is essential to note that evidence-based interventions alone are insufficient. The intervention must also be tailored to the needs of the target population. Another reason an evidence-based approach is necessary is that it helps secure funding for the program. Indeed, donors are more likely to support a program with a sound evidence base. Create a program plan The fourth step is to create a program plan that outlines how the program will be implemented. The program plan should include a detailed description of the activities, timelines, resources, and personnel involved. It should also specify the roles and responsibilities of each individual and organization involved in the program. The program plan should be flexible to allow for adjustments based on the evolving needs of the target population. In addition, the program plan should be reviewed and updated regularly. Also, consult with relevant stakeholders when developing the program plan. However, remember that the program plan is not set in stone and should be adapted as needed. Therefore, be sure to build in flexibility and allow for adjustments. Indeed, the program plan should be viewed as a living document updated as the program evolves. Most importantly, the program plan should be designed to meet the specific needs of the target population. Hence, it is crucial to involve the target population in the planning process. Implement the program The fifth step is to implement the program. You will need to mobilize the necessary resources and personnel to do this. Make sure that everyone involved understands their roles and responsibilities. Also, monitor the program’s progress and assess its impact. Be sure to document the lessons learned during implementation. These lessons can be used to improve the program in the future. In addition, consult with relevant stakeholders during implementation to get their feedback. And finally, make sure to adjust the program as needed. The most important thing is to be flexible and adapt the program based on the needs of the target population. Evaluate the program The final step is to evaluate the program. Evaluation is vital to determine the program’s effectiveness and to improve its future design. There are different types of evaluation, such as impact evaluation, process evaluation, and output evaluation. Be sure to consult with relevant stakeholders and consider the resources and time available when planning the evaluation. And finally, use the results to improve the program. Once you have completed these six steps, you will have created an effective community health program. However, it is essential to note that this is an iterative process. Indeed, you will need to review and update the program regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and practical.  Final Words Creating an effective community health program requires careful planning and execution. By following the steps outlined in this article, you will be on your way to developing a successful program. However, it is vital to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to community health. So, be sure to tailor the program to the needs of the target population. Also, consult with relevant stakeholders throughout the planning and implementation process. And finally, use the results of the evaluation to improve the program. By doing so, you will be well on your way to creating an effective community health program.

Yankees Vs. Guardians Weather Forecast: ALDS Game 5 Delayed During Rainy Night In New York – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/yankees-vs-guardians-weather-forecast-alds-game-5-delayed-during-rainy-night-in-new-york-cbs-sports/ Getty Images NEW YORK — Monday night, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians are supposed to finish up their ALDS matchup with Game 5 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won Game 4 on Sunday night to force the winner-take-all Game 5. The winner will take on the Houston Astros in the ALCS. The loser goes home. Here’s how you can watch Game 5. Due to rain in New York, however, the start of Game 5 has been delayed. A rescheduled time for first pitch has not yet been announced, and it’s possible the game is postponed until Tuesday. MLB makes all weather-related decisions in the postseason and the league has been meeting every hour or so since 6 p.m. ET. First pitch was originally scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.  “I think everybody was on the same page when we spoke,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said about MLB’s afternoon calls with the two teams. “As long as we can play the game and not have it look like it’s going to get interrupted and have that force a little bit of an outcome, (we’d) like to play.” Game 2 of the ALDS was postponed due to rain, forcing the Yankees and Guardians to play Games 2-5 on four consecutive days. From CBS News New York: There is rain in the forecast for ALDS Game 5. CBS News New York In the event Game 5 is postponed, it would be played Tuesday, during what is currently a scheduled off-day between the ALDS and ALCS. That could very well be an afternoon game since the winner has to travel to Houston for Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday. The Yankees will start righty Jameson Taillon (14-5, 3.91 ERA) in Game 5. The Guardians will counter with righty Aaron Civale (5-6, 4.92 ERA). Both starters are expected to be on a short leash. Here’s how each team’s bullpen is set up for Game 5.

K-Pop Group, Cherry Bullet Is Launching Their First NFT And Metaverse Experience In Gemie – Yahoo Finance https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/k-pop-group-cherry-bullet-is-launching-their-first-nft-and-metaverse-experience-in-gemie-yahoo-finance/ Cherry Bullet, nominated for “Rookie of the Year” in 2020 Seoul Music Awards, joins Gemie as “Gemstars” to connect with their K-pop fans Gemie, an Asian entertainment-focused metaverse platform and NFT marketplace, aims to create immersive digital experiences and digital assets which provide online and offline holder benefits The project recently announced that P1Harmony and Hanjin Tan have also joined their talent roster – the team is currently in talks to bring on other A-list celebrities , /PRNewswire/ — Gemie is delighted to announce that Cherry Bullet will join the platform to connect with their fan community, Lullet, in the virtual world. The K-pop group will leverage Gemie’s team and platform to build a closer connection with fans through interactive metaverse experiences and digital assets. K-Pop group- Cherry Bullet is launching their first NFT and Metaverse experience in Gemie The vivacious girl group Cherry Bullet has been bringing bubbly tones, addictive rhythms, and dreamy dance moves to K-pop fans since their debut in 2019. With their recent albums “Cherry Rush” and “Cherry Wish“, Cherry Bullet has been gaining global popularity and are breaking their previous sales records. The group is always finding new ways to engage with their rapidly growing fan base, and joining Gemie is yet another bold move that will help them interact with fans using Web3 technologies. Gemie’s team is in a great spot to integrate traditional entertainment players with Web3 thanks to the support of some of the leading investors in the industries and a team with years of entertainment and gaming experience. Gemie will be a one-stop platform that provides celebrities and artists with the possibilities, tools, and resources they need to accomplish their virtual goals. Gemie will work with celebrity partners to co-create NFTs and host virtual events in the metaverse to provide fans with unique benefits and experiences. Cherry Bullet has said “We’ve been looking for new ways to connect with our community and tell them how much their support means to us. We are excited to work with Gemie as their team has the capabilities to build the digital items and spaces we’re imagining. We think Web3 provides new ways for us to interact with our fans even though we’re not in the same place, but we’re not sure where to start so Gemie is the perfect partner! This is all very new to us but we are excited to venture into the metaverse and want to invite all our fans to join us on this new journey!” Gemie’s co-founder John has stated, “We hope that Gemie will serve as a platform for highlighting Asian talent in our home nations and as a link to share Asian entertainment with the world. To enhance the interactions between creators and their audiences, the Gemie metaverse strives to build worlds imagined by top Asian talent themselves. We are absolutely thrilled to have Cherry Bullet on board and can’t wait to share what we’ve created together with the world!” Since the close of their $3.8 million fundraising round, Gemie has been establishing partnerships with influential figures in the Asian entertainment industry and building out their platform. The co-founders have mentioned that they are in discussions to bring on more entertainment figures including K-pop and J-pop idols. Recently they have launched their Alpha for early users to create their own custom avatars, decorate their own Gemie Rooms, and explore the Gemie Town Square to complete missions and earn rewards. Click here to check out more about Gemie Alpha. About Gemie Gemie is an Asia-based celebrity metaverse platform and premium NFT marketplace. Founded in 2021, Gemie aims to reinvent the entertainment industry by directly connecting celebrities and fans through customized virtual planets and digital collectibles. Official Links Website | Twitter | Discord | Medium | Telegram (Cherry Bullet bio) The seven-member girl group Cherry Bullet, composed of HAE YOON, YU JU, BO RA, JI WON, RE MI, CHAE RIN, and MAY, successfully entered the mainstream music market with their 1st SINGLE ‘Let’s Play Cherry Bullet’ and its title track ‘Q&A’ on January 2019. By being nominated as ‘The Female New Artist’ by 2019 MGMA AWARDS, ‘The New Artist of the Year (Female)’ by 2019 MMA, and ‘Best New Female Artist’ by 2019 MAMA, Cherry Bullet proved their popularity. In addition, Cherry Bullet released their 2nd SINGLE ALBUM ‘LOVE ADVENTURE,’ following with their 1st Digital Single ‘Hands Up’, Digital Single ‘Aloha Oe’, 1st Mini Album ‘Cherry Rush,’ and 2nd Mini Album ‘Cherry Wish’. The most recent album ‘Cherry Wish’ reached about three times higher album sales record than the previous album ‘Cherry Rush’. Cherry Bullet’s lovely, dreamy and energetic performances and addictive sounds will continue to raise K-Pop listeners’ attention. SOURCE GEMIE

Crypto Won’t See Bull-Run Anytime Soon, This Expert Explains Why – NewsBTC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/crypto-wont-see-bull-run-anytime-soon-this-expert-explains-why-newsbtc/ The crypto market is stuck in a tight range as larger cryptocurrencies are unable to break above key levels of resistance. The sector has been mostly inclined to the downside since September when Ethereum completed “The Merge”. At the time of writing, Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $19,500 with a 2% profit in the last 24 hours while Ethereum records a 3% profit over the same period. Other cryptocurrencies follow a similar trajectory during today’s trading session with XRP and Cardano amongst the worst-performing assets in the sector. BTC’s price moving sideways on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSDT Tradingview Crypto And Global Markets Close To A Bottom, But Far From A Bull The successful completion of “The Merge” left the crypto market without a narrative of its own. Thus, the nascent asset class has been moving in tandem with traditional equities and major indexes. Macroeconomic forces have been dominating the price action in risk-on assets, most of crypto and equities, as the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) rushes to slow down inflation. The financial institution has been hiking interest rates unleashing a bear market that has rippled across the financial world. In this situation, every market participant wants to know when crypto will finally bottom out. In order for this to happen, equities must find a bottom first, and according to Jurrien Timmer, Director of Macro for Fidelity, this might be close to happening. Via his official Twitter handle, Timmer compared the current situation with the 1940 to 1947 inflationary periods in the United States. The North American country was going through a period of high inflation after World War II. Timmer referred to this situation as a fiscal/monetary cocktail, the country was recovering from a major conflict with most of the world in ruins, still hurting from the massive expending and low resources. At that time, the S&P 500 saw a 30% decline. Right now, this index is approaching those lows as it follows a similar trajectory. As seen in the chart below, the S&P 500 proceeded to move sideways for multiple years as inflation peaked at 19.6%. In comparison, today’s inflation stood at 8.9% at its highest month-to-month metric. Timmer said: The 1946-49 bear market had a nominal decline of 30% and a real decline of 46% (amid 20% inflation). It was entirely a driven by valuations. The analog suggests we are near the bottom, but a long way from the next bull. Source: Jurrien Timmer via Twitter Other experts expect a similar scenario for Bitcoin and the crypto market. This might be positive news for long-term holders looking to accumulate at current levels, but not for those betting on a new bull run in 2022 or even 2023.

U.S. FAA Says Some Boeing 737 MAX 7 Submissions Incomplete, Need Review – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-faa-says-some-boeing-737-max-7-submissions-incomplete-need-review-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Boeing Co (BA.N) that some key documents submitted as part of the agency’s ongoing certification review of the 737 MAX 7 are incomplete and others need a reassessment by the U.S. planemaker. In an Oct. 12 letter to Boeing from FAA official Ian Won seen by Reuters, the agency asked Boeing to reassess some assertions that hazards classified as catastrophic “do not contain human factors assumptions.” The FAA also said it was unable to complete some reviews of Boeing submissions “due to missing and incomplete information regarding human factors assumptions in catastrophic hazard conditions.” The new letter intensifies concerns about the company’s timeline for beginning deliveries of the smaller variant of the best-selling MAX. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Boeing faces a late December deadline for the FAA to certify the MAX 7 and MAX 10 or it must meet new modern cockpit alerting standards that could significantly delay the airplanes unless the company receives a waiver from Congress. The requirements were approved by Congress in late 2020 as part of FAA certification reforms after two fatal 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people and led to the bestselling plane’s 20-month grounding. Reuters first reported on Oct. 3 Boeing does not anticipate winning approval for the MAX 10 before next summer, citing an FAA sent to Congress. Boeing said in a statement Monday it “is focused on meeting all regulatory requirements to certify the 737-7 and safety remains the driving factor in this effort.” Certifications of planes require extensive paperwork submissions and detailed review of safety assessments by the FAA. In a Sept. 19 letter to Boeing, the FAA expressed concerns that the planemaker would not be able to win certification for the MAX 7 this year. Boeing must get approval for the MAX 7 first as the MAX 10 approval is contingent on some MAX 7 documentation, Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun said last month. The planemaker added it will “continue to prioritize being thorough and transparent in our documentation and interactions with the FAA.” Human factors analyses refer to how pilots respond to cockpit emergencies. The FAA letter said Boeing must as part of its review assure the agency “that those safety assessments do not contain human factors assumptions” and if there are others it must identify them and submit them for review. A December 2020 Senate report into the MAX concluded the FAA and Boeing “had established a pre-determined outcome to reaffirm a long-held human factor assumption related to pilot reaction time … It appears, in this instance, FAA and Boeing were attempting to cover up important information that may have contributed to the 737 MAX tragedies.” The Wall Street Journal reported the letter earlier. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Kim Coghill and Stephen Coates Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Sedin Technologies Selects Melbourne Headquarters For Australian Expansion – Tech Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sedin-technologies-selects-melbourne-headquarters-for-australian-expansion-tech-business-news/ Melbourne, has been chosen as the headquarters for Sedin Technologies, a successful Indian IT solutions provider with an impressive global client list, for Australia and New Zealand with Steve de Mamiel appointed as Managing Director for the region. Victoria’s position as a leader in the tech sector has been further solidified by the company’s decision to move its headquarters to Melbourne. The company’s expansion into the Asia Pacific region was one of the key reasons for the decision. Sedin’s Oceania operations will be headquartered in Melbourne, and will provide integrated IT solutions to companies across the region. Amouing other locations Sedin also has offices in: India Canada United States Dinesh Kumar, Founder and CEO of Sedin says our new office will serve as an important link between our customers on both sides of the Indian Ocean by providing them with faster access to resources that drive business growth and innovation. “The addition of Steve de Mamiel as Managing Director will ensure that locally we will deliver the same high-quality service that our international clients have come to expect”. says Kumar. In addition to his executive IT roles at Anchor and Panduit, Steve de Mamiel has served as Chairman of Hostopia Australia and will oversee Sedin’s regional operations, including sales, leadership, and delivery management. de Mamiel says with Sedin’s expansion into Australia, we expect to gain significant market share across various sectors. “We’re already experiencing high demand for our services, from customers across the country and we look forward to strengthening our operations in this region, as we actively hire engineers, developers and project managers to help us serve our clients,” said Memiel. Sridevi, Global HR Head at Sedin says the company is currently looking for people across multiple domains including sales and marketing, technology and operations. “With Sedin’s growing reputation as a market leader and innovator, we’re confident we’ll attract the right people to help take the company forward.” said Sridevi Enabling startups and enterprises across the globe with scalable digital transformation, Sedin Technologies is a global IT services and solutions collective Sedin’s brands include: ●      RailsFactory, a pioneering Ruby On Rails and full-stack solutions provider ●      EAM360, an enterprise asset management product ●      Engineering division that provides mechanical, piping design, analysis, and PLM solutions ●      Tarka Labs, a software consulting firm ●      ECM (Enterprise Content Management) an information management consultancy ●      CodeRapper, an eCommerce agency ●      DataKulture, a data science and AI consultancy ●      Salesforce advisory, consulting & technology service provider Invest Victoria, the Government of Victoria’s investment attraction agency, assisted Sedin in its investment journey by providing insights into the state’s business environment to help the company understand the market potential and opportunities that exists in Victoria. Danni Jarrett, CEO of Invest Victoria says Melbourne’s tech ecosystem continues to create favourable conditions that allow businesses to thrive and grow, especially for companies like Sedin. “We are here to help with their international expansion in Victoria.” says Jarrett. Editorial Team The TBN team is a well establish group of technology industry professionals with backgrounds in IT Systems, Business Communications and Journalism.

Casino Gaming In Nebraska Racks Up More Than $285,000 In Revenue In Less Than A Month – KETV Omaha https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/casino-gaming-in-nebraska-racks-up-more-than-285000-in-revenue-in-less-than-a-month-ketv-omaha/ Casino gaming in Nebraska racks up more than $285,000 in revenue in less than a month All the revenue reported by the state Monday night comes from Nebraska’s first casino in Lincoln. WarHorse Lincoln earned $285,963.03 in revenue in a matter of weeks, according to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission.The commission released the numbers Monday evening in its first monthly report.The report also broke down the revenue distribution, which included:70% to the Nebraska Property Tax Relief Fund: $200,174.122.5% to the Nebraska General Fund: $7,149.072.5% to the Compulsive Gaming Assistance Fund: $7,149.0712.5% to the City of Lincoln: $35,745.3812.5% to Lancaster County: $35,745.3The commission’s executive director, Tom Sage, says they recognize the importance of routine reports, which will be available by the 20th of each month.“Having mechanisms to routinely share the total tax revenue and distribution fosters public trust and is key to transparent regulatory oversight of our gaming industry,” Sage said.You can see the monthly report at: racingcommission.nebraska.govWarHorse Lincoln opened Sept. 24. LINCOLN, Neb. — WarHorse Lincoln earned $285,963.03 in revenue in a matter of weeks, according to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission. The commission released the numbers Monday evening in its first monthly report. The report also broke down the revenue distribution, which included: 70% to the Nebraska Property Tax Relief Fund: $200,174.12 2.5% to the Nebraska General Fund: $7,149.07 2.5% to the Compulsive Gaming Assistance Fund: $7,149.07 12.5% to the City of Lincoln: $35,745.38 12.5% to Lancaster County: $35,745.3 The commission’s executive director, Tom Sage, says they recognize the importance of routine reports, which will be available by the 20th of each month. “Having mechanisms to routinely share the total tax revenue and distribution fosters public trust and is key to transparent regulatory oversight of our gaming industry,” Sage said. You can see the monthly report at: racingcommission.nebraska.gov WarHorse Lincoln opened Sept. 24.

Hacking Gadgets: Our Favorite Hardware To Decrypt, Bypass, And Break Things – The Verge https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hacking-gadgets-our-favorite-hardware-to-decrypt-bypass-and-break-things-the-verge/ Skip to main content A new series looking at hardware built for hacking Not all gadgets are meant to make life easier. Some gadgets break things, exploiting cracks in our digital systems, prying them open, and crawling inside. Most often used by penetration testers — a kind of white-hat hacker hired to test a company’s security by breaking in themselves — these gadgets serve as a kind of road map to the most common vulnerabilities in our digital world. For the most part, they’re commercialized versions of tech that already existed in a scrappier form, leaning on open-source software projects and decades of work developing attacks. But most importantly, they’re available, so if you decide you want to try out one of these attacks, the equipment is only a click away. Please use them only for good.

Breaking Down The South Dakota Prep Volleyball Poll For Oct. 17: Miller Moves Into Class A Rankings – Mitchell Republic https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/breaking-down-the-south-dakota-prep-volleyball-poll-for-oct-17-miller-moves-into-class-a-rankings-mitchell-republic/ MITCHELL — Below is the latest South Dakota Prep Media volleyball poll, issued for the week of Oct. 17, 2022. Teams are listed with first-place votes in parentheses, record and points. 1. Sioux Falls O’Gorman, (13), 20-3, 65; 2. Sioux Falls Washington, 20-3, 52; 3. Harrisburg, 14-3, 39; 4. Sioux Falls Jefferson, 18-5, 24; 5. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 17-8, 13. O’Gorman adds to lead: After jumping back into the No. 1 spot in the polls last week, Sioux Falls O’Gorman bolstered its lead in the top ranking. Last week, the Knights received eight of the 12 possible first-place votes with Sioux Falls Washington getting the other four. After a 2-0 week, combined with a 5-1 week from Washington, O’Gorman captured all 13 first-place votes this week. The rest of the rankings remained the same in Class AA, with none of the other four teams moving places. The only notable difference from last week comes with Pierre receiving two votes after receiving none last week and Huron receiving zero after garnering three last week. Others receiving votes: Pierre, 12-4, 2. 1. Sioux Falls Christian (13), 27-4, 65; 2. Dakota Valley, 21-7, 52; 3. Wagner, 23-2, 35; 4. Canton, 20-5, 19; 5. Miller, 26-2, 13. Miller in, Platte-Geddes out: The top four in Class A remain identical from last week, but there was action in the bottom half of the poll. Platte-Geddes and Miller flipped places after the Rustlers took down the Black Panthers in three sets on Tuesday. The win propelled Miller over Elkton-Lake Benton and dropped Platte-Geddes behind the Elks, who stayed as the de facto No. 6 team. Sioux Falls Christian defeated Dakota Valley in two sets at the Dakota XII Tournament to help retain its top spot. Others receiving votes: Elkton-Lake Benton, 24-3, 5; Platte-Geddes, 18-5, 3; Rapid City Christian, 26-6, 2. 1. Warner (13), 28-2, 65; 2. Chester Area, 21-5, 47; 3. Burke, 22-3, 40; 4. Northwestern, 22-8, 27; 5. Wolsey-Wessington, 22-3, 14. Three weeks in a row: For the third consecutive week, there is no change in the Class B poll after all five teams went 2-0 on the week. Jones County, which was the only team not ranked to receive a vote last week, went 7-1, suffering its first loss of the season but still received two votes this week. Wolsey-Wessington, which has the lowest opponent winning percentage of the top five teams at .517, will take on Class A No. 5 Miller on Monday, Oct. 17. Others receiving votes: Jones County, 27-1, 2. Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “Mitchell Republic.” Often, the “Mitchell Republic” 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.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Launches At Last – TravelPulse https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-ritz-carlton-yacht-collection-launches-at-last-travelpulse/ Iconic hotel brand The Ritz-Carlton announced the successful debut of its long-awaited Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, marking the hospitality company’s expansion into the luxury yachting space. Designed to combine the luxury lifestyle of The Ritz-Carlton resorts with the elegant relaxation of a yachting vacation, Evrima, the first of three custom-built yachts, headed out to sea on October 15, 2022. Her debut occurred almost one year later than originally planned. Trending Now Her maiden voyage consists of a seven-day, one-way Mediterranean sailing, which began in Barcelona, Spain, and will conclude in Nice, France. Discerning guests sailing aboard the new vessel will enjoy a highly tailored luxury escape at sea, one in which they can wholly immerse themselves in the culture of their destination and ports of call; which, in this case, will include Majorca Island, Saint-Tropez and Antibes on the French Riviera. “We are thrilled to introduce The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and usher in an exciting new chapter for this beloved brand,” said Chris Gabaldon, Senior Vice President for Luxury Brands at The Ritz-Carlton’s parent company, Marriott International. “The Ritz-Carlton has long been rooted in innovation and service excellence, guided by a commitment to be at the forefront of delivering transformative travel experiences. As we continue to evolve our legendary brand, we could not be more excited to give our guests the opportunity to experience The Ritz-Carlton in a new way.” Depending upon the season, Evrima is set to ply the waters of the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Central America or South America; offering unique and immersive itineraries, most of which will last between seven and 10 nights. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection plans to carve out an exclusive niche within the industry by offering bespoke itineraries, with no two journeys being the same, so that guests can even combine itineraries without redundancy. In each destination, guests are able to select from several unique excursions within The Shore Collection or consult the Concierge Ashore to custom-tailor their own private tours. “The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is revolutionizing the luxury cruising industry, creating an entirely unique category designed for those in search of unmatched getaways, highly curated itineraries, insider access, and a level of personalization previously unseen in the space,” commented Douglas Prothero, Chief Executive Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “Every element of the luxury yachting experience was considered when designing and creating Evrima, and we are excited to deliver unforgettable journeys for both longtime cruisers and those who are new to the industry.” Measuring 190 meters (623 feet) in length, Evrima can accommodate up to 298 passengers with149 suites and boasts one of the highest staff and space ratios at sea. All guest cabins include a private terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows. Select suites can even be combined into an even larger space, and the ship was also built with multiple two-story loft suites, offering unique duplex-style accommodations. Flexibility and freedom define the onboard experience, along with the supreme comfort and service for which The Ritz-Carlton brand is known. Passengers have access to a range of elevated programming amenities, including gourmet dining options, live entertainment, spa treatments, a sauna and steam room, an infinity pool, a fitness studio, watersports off the yacht’s marina when at anchor and more. For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. %

Credit Suisse Places U.S. Asset Management Arm For Sale – Source – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/credit-suisse-places-u-s-asset-management-arm-for-sale-source-reuters/ Oct 17 (Reuters) – Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) recently launched a process that could see its U.S. asset management arm sold, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday, as the troubled Swiss bank seeks to reshape its business after multiple scandals. Initial expressions of interest from potential buyers are due in at the end of this week, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private information. The source added there was no guarantee of a sale and Credit Suisse could ultimately retain the business. Bloomberg News reported earlier on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter, the launch of an auction for the unit, which includes a platform for investing in collateralized loan obligations. The report added that private equity firms will be likely bidders. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Credit Suisse declined to comment. Credit Suisse, one of the largest banks in Europe, is trying to recover from a string of scandals, including losing more than $5 billion from the collapse of investment firm Archegos last year, when it also had to suspend client funds linked to failed financier Greensill. Earlier in the day, Reuters reported citing a source that Credit Suisse has approached at least one Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund for a capital injection, while some funds are looking at the scandal-hit Swiss bank’s businesses as potential investment opportunities. read more Globally, Credit Suisse’s asset management business managed around $447 billion and had almost 1,200 employees, as of June 30, according to the bank’s website. It offers both traditional products, such as mutual funds, as well as alternative investments including real estate and private equity. The website did not break out assets under management for the U.S. business. A number of banks have divested U.S. asset management units in recent years, due to intense competition from large managers and a squeeze on fees from the shift to passive investing. Both Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N) and Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) exited such businesses in 2021. ($1 = 0.9959 Swiss francs) Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by David French in New York and Niket Nishant, Mehnaz Yasmin and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Stephen Coates Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

JSU Receives Grant For Kidney Disease Project – WJTV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/jsu-receives-grant-for-kidney-disease-project-wjtv/ JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Jackson State University College of Education and Human Development’s Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation has been awarded a $162,230 grant. The grant is for a 20-month partnership with the Mississippi Kidney Foundation, the Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH) and the Office of Preventive Health and Health Equity, and the Health Equity Coalition of Mississippi. According to JSU officials, the collaboration will launch the statewide project “Advancing Health Equity in Chronic Kidney Disease: Changing the Narrative to Serve Mississippi’s Most Equitable Populations.” “We want to drive two things, student success and health equity across the state of Mississippi, and that’s what we’ve done here as we partner with the MS Kidney Foundation,” explained James Robinson Ph.D., chair of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.  Funds will finance travel to nine communities across the state for meetings with schools, health departments, and high school athletic events to promote healthy eating and education for kidney disease prevention. Robinson said this partnership was formed in alignment with the university’s strategic plan JSU Elevate, which includes a goal for JSU to become an R1 institution over the next five years. For the next 20 months, the collaborative efforts will increase awareness about health equity and kidney disease, conduct research and develop long-lasting partnerships with various communities statewide. The MS Kidney Foundation anticipates that the research conducted will accurately depict the number of kidney patients in the state. “That’s one of the things we struggled with finding when we began the research for this project,” said T.J. Mayfield, executive director of the Mississippi Kidney Foundation. “We’re trying to find out how many people who’ve had kidney failure and those on or at risk of dialysis. We haven’t had those numbers in Mississippi for a number of years.”  In addition to research, the project’s goal is also to promote a healthy lifestyle change throughout the state. The grassroots effort will focus on educating Mississippians about the importance of nutritional, physical and mental wellness. According to the Mississippi Kidney Foundation, Mississippi ranks among the top in the nation in incidences of kidney disease.

East Liverpool, Wellsville Top OVAC | News, Sports, Jobs – The Review – The Review https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/east-liverpool-wellsville-top-ovac-news-sports-jobs-the-review-the-review/ BELMONT — East Liverpool captured its 14th OVAC title volleyball title by sweeping Beaver Local, 25-11, 25-22, 25-10, in the Class 4A final Saturday at Union Local High School. The Potters improve to 19-3. Leaders for the Potters were Kyia White with eight kills and two aces, Kenzie Headley four kills and seven blocks, Ava Green five blocks, Erica Ward four aces, Dalani Ice 11 assists and Kamryn Yanni six assists. East Liverpool’s other OVAC championships came in 1979, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Beavers wrap up the regular season at 15-7. “Although today was not the outcome we were working towards, I have to say I’m still proud of our team and the progressions they have made throughout the season,” Beave Local coach Sarah Lowe said. “With some of our matches early on we battled some tough teams and grew with each match. The team worked hard to finish second in the OVAC regular season and tournament. Today our unforced errors and mindset got the best of us. With rebuilding most of our starting lineup this season, for many of our girls this was their first tournament matchup. For the Beavers, Jocelyn Pomeroy had eight kills; Peyton Roberts six kills; Aleia Evanko five kills, 11 assists and eight digs; Briar Wolski five kills,two aces and 12 digs; Shay Mackall four kills; Emma Joseph 13 assists; Chloe Reed 24 digs; and Jacquelyn Campbell and Danica Germanovich each had 10 digs. “It will be good to have had the experience from today as we head into sectionals on Wednesday vs the winner of St. Clairsville and Indian Creek. We do have to give credit to East Liverpool today for putting together a solid match and strong blocking front row.” Second-seeded East Liverpool will host the Maysville-Philo winner at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. New Concord John Glenn and Carrollton will play in the opener at 6 p.m. Wellsville 3, Toronto 0 BELMONT — Wellsville won its 11th OVAC volleyball championship in school history by breezing past top-seed Toronto 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 in the Class 2A final Saturday at Union Local High School. Presley Stokes had 21 kills, four aces, 12 assists and two digs for the Tigers, who are 22-1. Bella Poppelriter added 17 assists, 17 digs, two aces, three kills and three blocks. Aubri Ramsey had 15 digs, two aces and two assistgs. Alana Amato had 13 kills, five blocks and seven digs. Kaylee Rawson had four digs, Stakya Sallis had three kills and three digs and Brooke Hackney had five kills, two aces and two blocks. Myleigh Jackson had two blocks and key ace late in the the third game Hannah Dobbs had 16 kills and 14 digs for Toronto. Andrea Reeves added 22 assists. Riley Fisher had 18 digs as did Michelle Anderson. Wellsville’s other OVAC volleyball championships came in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1990, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2021. Wellsville, winners of 22 straight, will host Valley Christian on Tuesday as part of a sectional doubleheader. St. Thomas and Warren JFK will begin the night at 6 p.m. with the Tigers and Valley to follow. Toronto falls to 18-4 and it opens tournament play with Frontier on Thursday at Toronto. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Meta’s Horizon Worlds Metaverse Isn’t Attracting Permanent Residents – NFTgators https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/metas-horizon-worlds-metaverse-isnt-attracting-permanent-residents-nftgators/ Quick take: Meta’s Horizon Worlds users can barely stick around for a month after joining the platform. Internal Meta documents obtained by Wall Street Journal also show that the platform is yet to reach 200,000 active users. The company was targeting to reach 500,000 users by the end of the year before lowering the projection to 280,000. Meta’s dream of onboarding its massive user base into the metaverse is getting off to a rough start. The company’s main metaverse product Horizon Worlds cannot even keep visitors for more than a month according to internal Meta documents obtained by Wall Street Journal. According to the report published by the giant media conglomerate, Horizon Worlds users are leaving the platform a month after joining. The document also showed that Meta scaled its prospects for the platform from a projected active user base of 500,000 to 280,000 as the numbers continued to track lower through 2022. Even so, Horizon Worlds is still yet to crack the 200,000 active users threshold, suggesting the company may fail to hit the 280,000 revised target for 2022. Meta has already spent $5 billion on its metaverse business this year to add to last year’s figure of $10 billion. Yet, there is nothing concrete to show for the $15 billion investment so far. Zuckerberg warned earlier this year that the company will continue to burn cash as it builds its metaverse business. The metaverse is generally described as a 3D virtual space where people interact immersively through gaming, virtual concerts and other experiential events. The burgeoning industry has become a trendy buzz over the last 12 months since Facebook rebranded to Meta Platform to signal the new direction the social media giant was taking. Researchers from McKinsey and Co earlier this year wrote a report estimating the industry to reach $5 trillion in valuation by 2030. Several mainstream companies have pounced on the opportunity, including technology giants, retail companies and fashion designers. Although Meta is widely marketed as the lead metaverse player, data shows that web3 companies focusing on metaverse gaming and digital lands like The Sandbox, Axie Infinity and Decentraland have made more inroads than the leading social networking company. Last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained that Horizon Worlds is a creator-driven economy, meaning that the metaverse platform relies on the content created by third-party users to grow its user base.  Wall Street Journal reports that the documents obtained showed most of the user-created metaverse experiences even struggle to reach 50 users, pretty much making them ghost worlds. Zuckerberg revealed that legs will be coming to Horizon Worlds via a promo video. Whether giving users legs gets them to become permanent residents of Horizon Worlds metaverse remains to be seen. Stay up to date: Google News Twitter Telegram LinkedIn Facebook TikTok

Kanye West To Buy Crypto-Friendly Social Media Platform Parler – Decrypt https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/kanye-west-to-buy-crypto-friendly-social-media-platform-parler-decrypt/ Move over, Elon. Ye is getting his own social media platform. Kanye West, the controversial entertainer and supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has agreed in principle to purchase the right-leaning social media platform Parler, according to Parler. Parlement Technologies is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement in principle for Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to acquire the Parler platform. The acquisition ensures Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome. pic.twitter.com/KXdhV71prl — Parler (@parler_app) October 17, 2022 No stranger to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, Ye sang the praises of the technology during an October 2020 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. “The bitcoin guys have a perspective on what the true liberation of America and humanity will be,” he said. More recently, a photo of Ye wearing a “Satoshi Nakamoto” hat made the rounds on social media. The move to purchase Parler comes in the wake of West’s Twitter and Instagram accounts being suspended for what the platforms called “antisemitic comments” earlier this month—something he won’t have to worry about with his own platform.  According to Parler, the agreement is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2022. It will include ongoing technical support from Parler’s parent company, Parlement Technologies. Launched in September 2018, Parler has long touted itself as a free-speech Twitter alternative. Following the January 6 capital riot, Parler was removed from the Google Play and Apple App stores. Parler was also removed from Amazon Web Services (AWS) for what the tech giant called its lack of policing of questionable and violent content. Parler resumed service on February 15, 2021, with added content filters. The app returned to the Apple App Store on May 17, 2021, and Google Play on September 2, 2022. That same month, Parler announced the raise of $16 million in Series B funding. Parler had 1.3 million visitors to its website in August, according to analytics website SimilarWeb. In contrast, there were 9 million monthly visitors on Trump’s Truth Social, 6.8 billion on Twitter, and 18.2 billion to Facebook. In March, Parler launched its NFT marketplace DeepRedSky. The first launch featured a line of digital art, “CryptoTRUMP Club,” featuring Trump’s image. Later collections include the Babylon Bee, Brandon Tatum, and the POTUS TRUMP NFT collection headed by former first lady Melania Trump, Melania Trump made waves of her own after launching a separate series of NFT collections on the Solana blockchain. The Solana foundation quickly distanced itself from the project. “I wanted to inform you, to avoid any confusion, that her choice to use the Solana blockchain was completely organic, and this project is not part of any Solana-led initiative,” a representative told Decrypt. Non-fungible tokens, better known as NFTs, are cryptographically unique tokens linked to digital and physical content or memberships that provide proof of ownership. Parlement Technologies is optimistic about the prospect of West’s ownership. “This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech,” Parlement Technologies CEO George Farmer said in a blog post. “Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again. “Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative,” Farmer continued. “Parlement will be honored to help him achieve his goals.” Representatives for West and Parler have not yet responded to requests for comment from Decrypt. Stay on top of crypto news, get daily updates in your inbox.

More U.S. Companies Charging Employees For Job Training If They Quit – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/more-u-s-companies-charging-employees-for-job-training-if-they-quit-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) – When a Washington state beauty salon charged Simran Bal $1,900 for training after she quit, she was shocked. Not only was Bal a licensed esthetician with no need for instruction, she argued that the trainings were specific to the shop and low quality. Bal’s story mirrors that of dozens of people and advocates in healthcare, trucking, retail and other industries who complained recently to U.S. regulators that some companies charge employees who quit large sums of money for training. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Nearly 10% of American workers surveyed in 2020 were covered by a training repayment agreement, said the Cornell Survey Research Institute. The practice, which critics call Training Repayment Agreement Provisions, or TRAPs, is drawing scrutiny from U.S. regulators and lawmakers. On Capitol Hill, Senator Sherrod Brown is studying legislative options with an eye toward introducing a bill next year to rein in the practice, a Senate Democratic aide said. At the state level, attorneys general like Minnesota’s Keith Ellison are assessing how prevalent the practice is and could update guidance. Ellison told Reuters he would be inclined to oppose reimbursement demands for job-specific instruction while it “could be different” if an employer wanted reimbursement for training for a certification like a commercial driving license that is widely recognized as valuable. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has begun reviewing the practice, while the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission have received complaints about it. The use of training agreements is growing even though unemployment is low, which presumably gives workers more power, said Jonathan Harris who teaches at the Loyola Law School Los Angeles. “Employers are looking for ways to keep their workers from quitting without raising wages or improving working conditions,” said Harris. The CFPB, which announced in June it was looking into the agreements, has begun to focus on how they may prevent even skilled employees with years of schooling, like nurses, from finding new, better jobs, according to a CFPB official who was not authorized to speak on the record. “We have heard from workers and worker organizations that the products may be restricting worker mobility,” the official said. TRAPs have been around in a small way since the late 1980s primarily in high-wage positions where workers received valuable training. But in recent years the agreements have become more widespread, said Loyola’s Harris. Licensed esthetician Simran Bal, who was taken to court by her former employer to repay $1900 in trainings they required her to attend, poses for a portrait outside the King County District Court in Shoreline, Washington, U.S., October 13, 2022. Bal, whose case was dismissed, says she was already licensed for services the trainings covered. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson One critic of the CFPB effort was the National Federation of Independent Business, or NFIB, which said the issue was outside the agency’s authority because it was unrelated to consumer financial products and services. “(Some state governments) have authority to regulate employer-driven debt. CFPB should defer to those governments, which are closer to the people of the states than the CFPB,” it added. NURSING AND TRUCKING Bal said she was happy when she was hired by the Oh Sweet salon near Seattle in August 2021. But she soon found that before she could provide services for clients, and earn more, she was required to attend trainings on such things as sugaring to remove unwanted hair and lash and brow maintenance. But, she said, the salon owner was slow to schedule the trainings, which would sometimes be postponed or cancelled. They were also not informative; Bal described them as “introductory level.” While waiting to complete the training, Bal worked at the front desk, which paid less. When she quit in October 2021, Bal received a bill for $1,900 for the instruction she did receive. “She was charging me for training for services that I was already licensed in,” said Bal. Karina Villalta, who runs Oh Sweet LLC, filed a lawsuit in small claims court to recover the money. Court records provided by Bal show the case was dismissed in September by a judge who ruled that Bal did not complete the promised training and owed nothing. Villalta declined requests for comment. In comments to the CFPB, National Nurses United said they did a survey that found that the agreements are “increasingly ubiquitous in the health care sector,” with new nurses often affected. The survey found that 589 of the 1,698 nurses surveyed were required to take training programs and 326 of them were required to pay employers if they left before a certain time. Many nurses said they were not told about the training repayment requirement before beginning work, and that classroom instruction often repeated what they learned in school. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters said in comments that training repayment demands were “particularly egregious” in commercial trucking. They said firms like CRST and C.R. England train people for a commercial drivers license but charge more than $6,000 if they leave the company before a certain time. Neither company responded to a request for comment. The American Trucking Associations argues that the license is portable from one employer to another and required by the government. It urged the CFPB to not characterize it as employer-driven debt. Steve Viscelli, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania who spent six months training and then driving truck, said the issue deserved scrutiny. “Anytime we have training contracts for low-skilled workers, we should be asking why,” he said. “If you have a good job, you don’t need a training contract. People are going to want to stay.” Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Chris Sanders and Lisa Shumaker Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Diane Bartz Thomson Reuters Focused on U.S. antitrust as well as corporate regulation and legislation, with experience involving covering war in Bosnia, elections in Mexico and Nicaragua, as well as stories from Brazil, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Nigeria and Peru.

WA Scientists Testing New Technology To Track Space Junk – ABC News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/wa-scientists-testing-new-technology-to-track-space-junk-abc-news/ News Ticker Flood warning For the latest flood and weather warnings, search on ABC Emergency Posted 12m ago12 minutes agoMon 17 Oct 2022 at 11:20pm Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. The breakthrough has the potential to keep track of space activities and orbital debris, and prevent collisions. The breakthrough has the potential to keep track of space activities and orbital debris, and prevent collisions. Stories from ABC News Carousel Duration: 1 minute 31 seconds1m 31s Duration: 2 minutes 29 seconds2m 29s Duration: 1 minute 24 seconds1m 24s Duration: 1 minute 48 seconds1m 48s Duration: 1 minute 55 seconds1m 55s Duration: 1 minute 51 seconds1m 51s Duration: 5 minutes 42 seconds5m Duration: 2 minutes 3 seconds2m 3s Duration: 5 minutes 2 seconds5m

MGM Springfield Generated More Than $20M In Gaming Revenue In September – WWLP.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/mgm-springfield-generated-more-than-20m-in-gaming-revenue-in-september%ef%bf%bc-wwlp-com/ SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – MGM Springfield generated more than $20 million in gross gaming revenue for the month of September. According to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, $16,358,042.03 was generated through slots and $4,213,605.83 was generated through table games. As a category 1 resort-casino, MGM Springfield is taxed on 25 percent of gross gaming revenue. That money is shared with several specific state funds. The largest portion of the money goes to local aid to cities and towns, followed by transportation and infrastructure, and then education. September’s taxes amounted to $5,142,911.97. (Massachusetts Gaming Commission) Altogether, Massachusetts’ three casinos MGM Springfield, Plainridge Park Casino, and Encore Boston generated approximately $26,516,703 tax revenue in August. Approximately $1.208 billion in total taxes and assessments from the casinos in Massachusetts have been collected since the opening of each gaming facility.

Four Leaf Introduces Innovative Slim Can Cooler Which Is The Perfect Blend Of Durability, Functionality, And Aesthetics To Keep Beverages Cold – Digital Journal https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/four-leaf-introduces-innovative-slim-can-cooler-which-is-the-perfect-blend-of-durability-functionality-and-aesthetics-to-keep-beverages-cold-digital-journal/ The Four Leaf Can Cooler is an innovative addition to the world of home essentials products as it combines durability, functionality, and comfort in a single product In recent years, the demand for drinkware products has risen, especially among women. Due to the rising popularity of hard seltzers and sparkling water, more and more female customers are choosing those drinks over other carbonated beverages. As a result, there has been an increase in the consumption of those beverages. In addition to that, new brands are constantly appearing on the market which makes it difficult for shoppers to choose what brand is reliable and trustworthy. Women want to drink in style but they also want products that are durable and reliable. Among the many home essentials brands in the United States, Four Leaf is one company that is exceptional in its approach towards the manufacturing of drinkware as they make sure their products meet the needs and desires of their customers in every way. Today, the company is excited to announce the launch of its Slim Can Cooler For 12 Oz Slim Cans. Speaking about the new drinkware, a spokesperson for Four Leaf had this to say, “At Four Leaf, we believe that durability, functionality, and comfort should go hand in hand with beautiful design. The result is our instantly recognizable products in bold designs catering to any taste. We are confident our customers will love it, especially the ladies. Our products are designed to be aesthetic and functional. They are an instant conversation starter for any occasion.” The Four Leaf Slim Can Cooler is a standout among can coolers in terms of flexibility. Its holder provides a snug fit for most 12oz cans, making it great for beverages like beer, hard seltzer, or energy drinks. Koozies are loved for their portability and Four Leaf’s Slim Can is not an exception. With Grip-Lock technology, users can easily push their cans in one smooth motion, which also makes it easy to remove. The silicone gasket creates a tight seal that keeps beverages cold for hours. Another noteworthy feature of the Slim Can Cooler is its aesthetic and ergonomic design. Most koozies on the market have the normal vertical, straight design. Unlike them, this product focuses on having an ergonomic shape with a curve design for a much more comfortable experience while holding. This to avoid repetitive strain injuries caused by holding an unnatural position for too long, or by repeating the same motion repeatedly. Four Leaf Slim Can Coolers come in fun designs to express a lady’s unique personality. Whether she’s alone or hanging out with friends, she loves to enjoy moments with her favorite beverage and a product that allows her to keep her drinks chilled from the first sip to the last is a delight. Additionally, with their affinity for drinking in style, these can coolers help ladies to hide the boring drinks logo and instead let them show off their styles through various designs. The product is available in many vibrant designs, and additional options are expected to be added soon. “This slim can cooler surprisingly keeps my hard seltzers colder longer in the crazy heat,” explained Anna Brooks, a user in the United States. “Fits nicely, awesome color, easy to hold and use. I first bought one to begin with and ended up buying some more for my besties. They also love it!” The Four Leaf Slim Can Cooler is an essential piece for any occasion whether it is an outdoor or indoor event. About Four Leaf Four Leaf is a US-based home essentials products manufacturer. The company thrives on the belief that durability, functionality and comfort should go hand in hand with beautiful design. This is why they offer quality home products at affordable prices that are durable, cool, and functional. The company started from the idea that style and flair can be added to everyday products. If catching designs are used in creating tech gadgets, fashion wears, and other luxury items, Four Leaf believes the same system should be upheld in the production of home essentials products. There is a rich lineup of quality, stylish, and durable home essentials products at Four Leaf. Please visit www.fourleaf.so for more information. Media Contact Company Name: Four Leaf LLC Contact Person: Anna Myers Email: Send Email Country: United States Website: https://fourleaf.so/

Tumbleweed Tourist Passes Available At Richland Library | News | Nbcrightnow.com – NBC Right Now https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/tumbleweed-tourist-passes-available-at-richland-library-news-nbcrightnow-com-nbc-right-now/ RICHLAND, Wash.- Richland Library cardholders can now check out an attraction pass online. Just go online and choose an attraction and the date you would like to use it or visit the site. Once reserved, a pass is emailed to you confirming your use. The pass should be displayed at the attraction on the date you choose to be there. Tumbleweed tourist passes are available for the following attractions: The REACH Museum, Richland. The East Benton County Historical Museum, Kennewick. The USS Triton Tour, Richland. The Franklin County Historical Museum, Pasco. Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton. The Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale. Library cardholders may also check out Washington state discover passes for up to 7 days. The discover passes must be picked up and returned in person and come with an Explorer Backpack, which contains binoculars, compass, state park book, and a wildlife guide. Find more information, or reserve a Tumbleweed tourist pass here.

10 Of The Most Underrated Vacation Destinations In Africa – The Points Guy https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/10-of-the-most-underrated-vacation-destinations-in-africa-the-points-guy/ Africa has a wealth of underrated destinations spread across its 54 countries, and the continent offers so much more beyond your typical Nile River cruise in Egypt or a safari in South Africa. If you’re in the market for adventure, there’s plenty to do and see, no matter if you want to soak up the sun on the beach, trek through the desert or embark on a safari. Here are some of the most underrated destinations on the continent for your next African vacation. Sign up for our daily newsletter Elephant herd along Shire River in Malawi’s Liwonde National Park. CHRISTOPHE CERISIER/GETTY IMAGES Lake Malawi, Malawi Lake Malawai in Malawi. ROMINA FACCHI/GETTY IMAGES Although Malawi is landlocked, you can still sunbathe on the golden sands of Lake Malawi. The landmark waterhole borders Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique, and it’s home to a unique collection of endemic flora and fauna (especially birds) that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Visitors can snorkel in the clear lake waters to see diverse fish species, lock eyes on the Big Five (lions, leopards, black rhinos, elephants and African buffalo) at nearby spots like Majete Wildlife Reserve or hop on a boat safari along the Shire River through Liwonde National Park. Okavango Delta, Botswana Okavango Delta marshes. KELLY CHENG TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES Hoping to see endangered species like the black rhinoceros, African lion, white rhinoceros and cheetah? Head to the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The UNESCO World Heritage site is an expansive ecosystem of lagoons that visitors can explore on foot, by boat or mokoro (a traditional canoe), in a vehicle or even via balloon or helicopter. Travelers can also enjoy safaris in the Moremi Game Reserve, which sits on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta. Just note that this game reserve (along with most others in Botswana) isn’t fenced in and wildlife roams free, so you can’t go wandering around your safari lodge alone at night. Related: Under-the-radar African safari: Botswana Saly, Senegal Landscape with palm trees on Saly beach on the Senegal coast. SALVADOR-AZNAR/GETTY IMAGES Travelers in search of African winter sun should head to the sands of Saly — just more than an hour’s drive from the bustling music and market scene of Dakar. This area is ideal for those who want to relax, play golf, dine and just enjoy a low-key holiday at an affordable hotel or home rental. If you’re itching for more action, take a daytrip to the nearby Lake Retba, which emits a pinkish hue thanks to special salina algae in its waters. Or, head to the Somone Lagoon, a mangrove and beach area known for its water bird species and blissed-out reggae beach haunts. Nyerere National Park, Tanzania A group of hippos during sunset over Lake Manze in Tanzania’s Nyerere National Park. GUENTERGUNI/GETTY IMAGES Tanzania’s most popular spots, like the famed Serengeti or the exotic sands of Zanzibar, are what usually call international travelers to the country. However, those looking to connect with nature should visit Nyerere National Park, one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in East Africa, which features close to 12,000 square miles of protected space. Besides the 440 bird species in the park, visitors can usually spot elephants, rhinos, lions, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes and hippos during a three-day safari. Related: Dreaming of an African safari: How I’ll book my bucket list trip to Tanzania on miles and points Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique The white sands and inviting waters in the Bazaruto Archipelago. HOLGS/GETTY IMAGES For an exotic ocean adventure, head to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a group of pristine islands located off the coast of Mozambique. You’ll feel as if you’re in the Caribbean, lounging on white sands and swimming in sparkling turquoise waters. There’s plenty to see, too, especially underwater — including one of the largest populations of dugongs (a cousin of the manatee) left in the Indian Ocean. Bazaruto Archipelago National Park consists of five islands (three inhabited) amid crystal-clear waters, home to species like sharks, whales, dolphins, manta rays, turtles and hundreds of coral and fish species. It’s a true paradise for divers, and snorkelers can access many of these marine delights at low tide. Namib Desert, Namibia An oryx in the Namib Desert in Namibia. DRFERRY/GETTY IMAGES The vast ochre sands of the Namib Desert have a surprising number of endemic plants and other species despite the arid climate. The rolling stretches of sand are best viewed from above via a hot air balloon. Two of the most iconic sites to see are Sossusvlei and Deadvlei — salt and clay pans flanked by sandy, reddish dunes which form part of Namib-Naukluft National Park. If you want to climb the dunes, Big Mama Dune, Big Daddy Dune and Dune 45 are some of the tallest. Note: The slippery, hot sand is tough to manage. Visiting early in the morning means the sand is less scalding and will be easier to climb. Related: The coolest expedition lodges on every continent Felicite Island, Seychelles Felicite Island, Seychelles. ONLY FABRIZIO/GETTY IMAGES With more than 100 islands in the magical paradise of Seychelles, it can be tough to decide exactly which to visit. The three main islands, Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, are each special in their own right. However, Felicite Island, just a few miles east of La Digue, is truly a wonder. Large boulders peek out of dense tropical foliage fringed by white sands and azure waters. The catch? This paradise comes with a price — the only accommodation option is the Six Senses Zil Pasyon, where the opulent, seafront villas can cost more than $2,000 per night. Budget travelers, don’t worry: There are plenty of affordable ($100-$200) spots on the nearby island of La Digue, from which you can boat over to Felicite and spend the day. Related: Miles away: A trip to the Seychelles, Africa’s tropical paradise Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda Gorillas in the wild in Rwanda. VICKI JAURON/GETTY IMAGES There are only a few places in the world to see mountain gorillas in the wild, and the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda are home to one of the largest populations left. Because the gorilla population is nearly extinct, it’s not easy to see these gentle giants — only 80 permits are issued per day in Volcanoes National Park, and permits cost almost $1,500 per person. (Budget travelers take note: Permits cost just more than $680 per person in the neighboring country of Uganda). Volcanoes National Park offers other outdoor activities besides gorilla trekking. Hike a volcano such as the towering Karisimbi, trek to Bisoke’s crater lake or visit the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera. Related: 11 architecturally spectacular wildlife lodges around the world Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia A lioness perches along the Zambezi River. RICK COLLINS/GETTY IMAGES Safaris in Zambia are often overlooked in favor of visits to neighboring countries such as Tanzania or Botswana. However, Zambia safaris are just as magical (and often more affordable) than those in other African destinations. Our top pick is Lower Zambezi National Park, which sits on the fringes of Mana Pools National Park. This particular park is best experienced by canoe or boat, paddling along the Zambezi River, where large elephant herds (more than 100!) hang out along the river’s edge. Once you’re in Zambia, you should also add a stop at the famous Victoria Falls, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. Related: 9 incredible luxury family safari lodges for the ultimate African adventure Santo Antao, Cape Verde Santo Antao, Cape Verde. ULRICH HOLLMANN/GETTY IMAGES Although Sal and Boa Vista are the most popular Cape Verde islands, those looking for an adventurous hiking vacation should consider Santo Antao — a lush island of undulating fertile peaks and valleys. With charming villages perched on cliffs and vertigo-inducing trails, hikers should head to the northeast of the island for the best treks. The island has no airport, which means you’ll have to arrive by ferry from the island of Sao Vicente. Because the island is so remote (it’s the most westerly of the Cape Verde archipelago), it’s relatively untouched by mass tourism, so it’s the ideal spot for interacting with locals and getting off the beaten path. Bottom line A hippo yawns in the Okavango Delta. BUENA VISTA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES Africa is a gigantic continent with much to do and see in more than 50 different countries. With destinations to suit every taste and budget, it can be overwhelming to decide where to go. If you’re in the market for an adventure and hoping to experience something a bit different, lesser-known or more out of the way than the most typical or iconic spots, head to one of these locations for a dose of more remote, underrated travel fun. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. %

FOX News Digital Finishes Third Quarter As Number One With Multiplatform Minutes And Views – Business Wire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/fox-news-digital-finishes-third-quarter-as-number-one-with-multiplatform-minutes-and-views-business-wire/ NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–FOX News Digital finished the third quarter of 2022 as the top-performing news organization in the competitive set in multiplatform minutes and views according to Comscore.* FOX News Digital closed out the quarter delivering over 8.5 billion total multiplatform minutes, over 4.3 billion total multiplatform views, and averaged 80 million monthly multiplatform unique visitors. For the month of September, FOX News Digital was number one in the competitive set with over 2.7 billion multiplatform minutes.** Additionally, FOX News Digital saw over 1.4 billion multiplatform views and nearly 82 million multiplatform unique visitors in September. FOX News Digital remained the most engaged brand on social media in the competitive set for the quarter, with 104 million total social interactions, notching the 32nd straight quarter (97th consecutive month) FOX News Digital has placed on top, according to Emplifi. Specifically, FOX News Digital drove 46 million interactions on Facebook, 46.3 million interactions on Instagram and 11.9 million interactions on Twitter. Notably this was the 26th quarter in a row (77th consecutive month) FOX News placed first in Instagram interactions and 33rd quarter leading Facebook interactions (97th consecutive month). FOX News also placed first with YouTube video views among news brands for the 5th straight quarter (20th consecutive month), garnering over 848 million video views, according to Shareablee. For the quarter, FOXBusiness.com drove 425 million multiplatform views, an 18% increase year over year, besting CNN Business for the second consecutive quarter.*** Additionally, the business network delivered 754 million multiplatform minutes (+25% versus the prior year) and averaged 19.8 million monthly multiplatform unique visitors for the quarter. FOX Business was number one in the business news competitive set with YouTube video views with 164 million video views for the quarter, up 77% over last year, according to Shareablee. THIRD QUARTER 2022 FOX NEWS DIGITAL VS. CNN.COM AND NYTIMES.COM Multi-Platform Total Views FOX News Digital – 4,365,000,000 (down 16 percent vs. 3Q 2021) CNN.com – 4,024,000,000 (down 9 percent vs. 3Q 2021) NYTimes.com – 3,850,000,000 (up 18 percent vs. 3Q 2021) Multi-Platform Total Minutes FOX News Digital – 8,506,000,000 (down 20 percent vs. 3Q 2021) CNN.com – 6,935,000,000 (down 5 percent vs. 3Q 2021) NYTimes.com – 3,834,000,000 (up 42 percent vs. 3Q 2021) Average Multi-Platform Monthly Unique Visitors FOX News Digital – 80,016,000 (down 16 percent vs. 3Q 2021) CNN.com – 117,271,000 (down 12 percent vs. 3Q 2021) NYTimes.com – 81,889,000 (up 5 percent vs. 3Q 2021) SEPTEMBER 2022 FOX NEWS DIGITAL VS. CNN.COM AND NYTIMES.COM Multi-Platform Total Views FOX News Digital – 1,405,000,000 (down 8 percent vs. August 2022) CNN.com – 1,407,000,000 (up 3 percent vs. August 2022) NYTimes.com – 1,283,000,000 (down 3 percent vs. August 2022) Multi-Platform Total Minutes FOX News Digital – 2,743,000,000 (down 6 percent vs. August 2022) CNN.com – 2,394,000,000 (up 2 percent vs. August 2022) NYTimes.com – 1,260,000,000 (down 6 percent vs. August 2022) Multi-Platform Unique Visitors FOX News Digital – 81,658,000 (up 5 percent vs. August 2022) CNN.com – 122,491,000 (up 5 percent vs. August 2022) NYTimes.com – 85,409,000 (up 2 percent vs. August 2022) FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, the direct-to-consumer streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International and the free ad-supported television service FOX Weather. Currently the number one network in all of cable, FNC has also been the most watched television news channel for more than 20 consecutive years, while FBN is the top business channel on cable. Owned by Fox Corporation, FOX News Media reaches nearly 200 million people each month. *Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, Total Digital Audience, Custom-Defined List including CNN.com, NBCNews.com, ABCNews.com, CBSNews.com, Fox News Digital, WashingtonPost.com, NYTimes.com, NYPost Network, Wall Street Journal Online, Insider Inc., and USAToday.com, September 2022, U.S. **Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, Total Digital Audience, Custom-Defined List including CNN.com, NBCNews.com, ABCNews.com, CBSNews.com, Fox News Digital, WashingtonPost.com, NYTimes.com, NYPost Network, Wall Street Journal Online, Insider Inc., and USAToday.com, September 2022, U.S. & Comscore Mobile Metrix®, Mobile App Only, [FOX News Mobile App and CNN Mobile App], September 2022, U.S. ***Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, Total Digital Audience, Custom-Defined List including FoxBusiness.com, Bloomberg.com, CNBC.com, CNN Business, Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, HuffPost Business, MarketWatch, Motley Fool, MSN Money, TheStreet.com, USA TODAY Money, WSJ Online, Yahoo! Finance, September 2022, U.S.

Novant Health Addresses Commissioners’ Concerns Surrounding NHRMC – WECT https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/novant-health-addresses-commissioners-concerns-surrounding-nhrmc-wect/ WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Leaders representing Novant Health spoke before New Hanover County commissioners Monday morning to put concerns surrounding the quality of care at NHRMC to rest. One commissioner, in particular, wanted to hear from them after incidents over the summer that led to investigations into the emergency room and staffing. After WECT’s coverage of a state health report that found several areas of concern in the hospital, Commissioner Rob Zapple wanted to hear from hospital leaders on how the hospital was in the process of addressing those issues. “All of our commissioners started hearing some really negative stories coming out of Novant, so I thought it’d be appropriate to bring in their leadership to address that,” said Zapple. Novant told commissioners that issues they’ve run into aren’t specific to the hospital. Instead, they are nationwide healthcare system problems like the ongoing nursing shortage. It also says reports of nurses being let go and those left behind being overworked aren’t true. Instead, Novant says the shortage came after several travel nurses left at the same time. That shortage, Novant says, has since been addressed with the hiring of hundreds of nurses. Chairperson Julia Olson-Boseman asked leaders to do more to address the ongoing staffing shortage, suggesting they get more involved with New Hanover County Schools. “I wholeheartedly support the work of Novant in our community and their commitment to expand access to healthcare,” said Olson-Boseman in a statement. “I believe a big part of that also involves getting education into our schools early and often so that our kids have the opportunity to learn about a career path in healthcare.” Olson-Boseman suggested a partnership between the hospital and Port City United, an organization already heavily involved in area schools, in an effort to reach kids to encourage interest in the healthcare field. “We want to go meet those students in middle schools, elementary to get them interested,” said Shelbourn Stevens, president of Novant Health Coastal region. “We actually had an impromptu meeting with Port City United right after the commissioners’ meeting to get engaged and meet those folks and we’ll be bringing them into those conversations as well.” “I look forward to seeing how Novant partners even more with our schools and with Port City United,” said Olson-Boseman. “We can do so much to encourage, serve and support our kids, and showing this career path and what is possible will be another great thing to add to our growing list of help and opportunities we’re providing as a county and together as a community. Zapple pointed to another effort to establish a pipeline from schools to hospitals with the commissioners’ recent approval to purchase the Bank of America Building to help expand CFCC’s nursing program. “Currently, Cape Fear Community College graduates 50 to 75 nurses per year,” said Zapple. “Jim Morton, the president, said with a larger facility, expansion of that and more staff brought on, that they could ramp up over several years a program that would see as many as 200 nurses that would be graduating from Cape Fear Community College.” Representatives also told commissioners about successful efforts to expand healthcare access and the recent groundbreaking as things move forward with the Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic. It also boasted recent pay increases, bringing many staff members to “a healthy living wage” at $15/hour. “I hope that they saw that we’re committed to taking care of not only the citizens of New Hanover County but southeast North Carolina,” said Stevens. “We’re committed to providing that high-level, high-quality care that this region has had and will continue to have going forth. Healthcare has been damaged all across the United States due to the pandemic and it’s going to take us years to overcome that.” Leaders told commissioners the hospital is doing well and would be in worse shape had commissioners not approved the sale of NHRMC to Novant Health. Commissioner Zapple was the only one to vote against the sale of the hospital. Now, he’d rather focus on supporting the hospital now so it can be the hospital that New Hanover County needs. “We need Novant to be the best darn hospital in southeast North Carolina,” said Zapple. “The past is the past. Whatever I can do to support them or to bring resources or whatever needs to be, I will be there leading the charge and holding the banner.” After hearing the presentation, Commissioner Zapple says he’s confident in Novant’s ability to provide quality healthcare to New Hanover County and wants to help them do so in any way possible. “It does nobody any good to dwell on the past,” said Zapple. “When there are mistakes or there are glitches in the road, it’s how you react to them and how you bring additional resources to it in this case, and you start planning for the future. That’s the message I heard today, and I thought it was good.” Copyright 2022 WECT. All rights reserved.

Sports World Reacts To Alex Morgan’s Pregame Outfit News – The Spun https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sports-world-reacts-to-alex-morgans-pregame-outfit-news-the-spun/ WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 06: United States forward Alex Morgan (13) rests during the Nigeria versus United States Womens National Team (USWNT USA) game on September 06, 2022, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire/Getty Images Alex Morgan has made her thoughts on the Brittney Griner situation very clear. The legendary United States women’s national team star, who’s been sensational for San Diego’s NSWL team, as well, went viral for her pregame outfit. It was Brittney Griner-themed. “A statement piece,” Morgan tweeted. Griner, one of the WNBA’s top players, has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison. She was arrested at the airport on drug charges.  Fans are loving Morgan’s support. “Sick tee. Anywhere we can buy or is this a personal piece?” one fan wrote. “I want to be Alex level of cool when I grow up. ,” one fan added. “Love,” one fan added. Griner, meanwhile, is celebrating her 32nd birthday on Tuesday. She will be celebrating it in a Russian prison. “Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia eight months ago today. Tomorrow is her 32nd birthday. By all signs, there’s been no significant progress as U.S. officials wait for what they feel is a genuine response to their offer to trade prisoners for Griner and Paul Whelan,” TJ Quinn reports. Hopefully Griner will be brought home soon.

Top Brands In Web3, NFTs And The Metaverse – CoinDesk https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/top-brands-in-web3-nfts-and-the-metaverse-coindesk/ Ekin Genç has written for Bloomberg Businessweek, EUobserver, Motherboard, and Decrypt. Despite being in the midst of a “crypto winter,” major companies are still investing and announcing plans for Web3 growth, from Warner Music and Disney staffing up for Web3 expansions to Starbucks announcing its non-fungible token loyalty program, Odyssey. Many brands have already been launching NFT collections and pursuing Web3 strategies and investments such as buying digital land in the metaverse. The companies betting on Web3 are from various industries, with apparel, drinks or luxury sectors the most represented. We took a look at the top revenue from NFTs on Ethereum and also included brands that’ve chosen to utilize other blockchains to drive their Web3 growth. Here’s some of the brands already making big waves – and big money in Web3. Using data from a dashboard on Dune Analytics that tracks big brands’ NFT revenue, CoinDesk looked at what was driving these brands’ success. We combined Budweiser and Bud Light, below, into one that encapsulated most of what AB InBev, the parent company, is doing in Web3. “NFT Brands Revenue Tracker” by kingjames23 (Dune Analytics) Before the more mainstream Web3 push began, Nike was making moves, receiving a patent for “CryptoKicks,” a blockchain-linked sneaker. Nike also ran a blockchain trial with Macy’s and Auburn University’s RFID Lab in March, 2020, to better share product data across the retail supply chain. But it was in December 2021, when Nike acquired NFT sneaker studio RTFKT Studios, that marked Nike’s major move in Web3. RTFKT is behind the 20,000-piece CloneX NFT collection, with a trading volume of 436 ETH ($584,240) as of this writing. In February 2022, RTFKT gave commercial rights to CloneX NFT holders, allowing them to create derivative projects, mint fan art and make and sell merchandise featuring their avatars. Continuing its Web3 push well into the bear market, in April 2022, Nike launched a metaverse sneaker line called RTFKT x Nike Dunk Genesis CryptoKicks. Fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana’s September 2021 NFT collection titled “Collezione Genesi” includes nine NFTs including “The Impossible Tiara,” a rare tiara adorned with diamonds and red emeralds. It launched on UNXD, a luxury marketplace on the Polygon network, where the two-day bidding for the collection fetched approximately $5.65 million. “The Doge Crown” NFT sold for the highest amount – 423.5 ETH, or around $1.3 million at the time. Since the successful launch, D&G and UNXD have teamed up to create the DGFamily, an NFT community “for digital luxury and culture.” Considered one of the most classic luxury brands, Tiffany entered the Web3 world with what, relatively speaking, is one of the most classic NFT projects, CryptoPunks. In August 2022, Tiffany unveiled 250 digital necklaces for 30 ETH each (about $50,000 at that time) – available exclusively to the holders of CryptoPunk NFTs. These diamond-encrusted pendant NFTs allowed holders to redeem them for physical necklaces. One user flipped a Tiffany CryptoPunk necklace for almost double the price, 55 ETH, which remains the highest sale so far. Italian luxury fashion brand Gucci has a multi-faceted Web3 strategy, from NFTs to metaverse land to investing in a DAO and allowing cryptocurrency payments. In the realm of NFTs, Gucci turned its Aria fashion collection into an NFT video In May 2021, which sold for $25,000 at auction house Christie’s Proof of Sovereignty sale. It followed with the launch of 1,000 NFTs in collaboration with the toy brand Superplastic in February, 2022. Each NFT, which sold for 1.5 ETH, or approximately $2,623 at the time, can be redeemed for a ceramic sculpture handmade in Italy and co-designed by Gucci. The company also bet on the future of the metaverse around the same time as the Superplastic collaboration, buying an undisclosed amount of virtual land on The Sandbox to create themed experiences in its digital space dubbed Gucci Vault. Gucci also bought $25,000 worth of RARE tokens in June 2022 to join the SuperRareDAO and launch a digital “Vault Art Space.” Finally, some Gucci stores in the U.S. started accepting several cryptocurrencies including bitcoin and dogecoin as of May 2022. Ass of August 2022, that also includes apeCoin. Adidas started putting some stakes in Web3 in November 2021. The brand acquired land in The Sandbox, though how it got the land remains unclear: The company either paid for it off-chain or was simply gifted them. In the same month, it also partnered with Coinbase, though it gave no details as to why and as of writing, no further information has been provided. Then came a big splash. In December 2021, Adidas made a whopping $23.4 million in one afternoon with the debut of its “Into the Metaverse” NFT drop in collaboration with the Bored Ape Yacht Club, PUNKS Comic NFT creator Pixel Vault and private NFT collector gmoney. In January 2022, Adidas and Prada launched an NFT project called the “adidas for Prada re-source” on the Polygon network, which allows fans to contribute with their own designs. As of writing, it has made 474 ETH (or about $616,000) in trading volume. Time Inc., the publisher of more than 90 magazines, has had its feet dipped in the cryptocurrency world for quite a while now. It started accepting bitcoin for select properties in December 2014. In the latest bull market, Time released 3 NFTs of its red-bordered magazine covers, selling for $446,000 ETH. The company also partnered with artist collective FOTO and took in 12-year-old NFT creator Nyla Hayes as its first artist in residence, to help propel their careers and develop a collection for Time’s Build a Better Future drop. AB InBev: Budweiser and Bud Light The world’s largest brewing company, AB InBev has gone big with two of its American-born brands, Budweiser and Bud Light. Budweiser has flirted with crypto for years. In May 2014, Budweiser teamed up with Coinbase on a bitcoin payments initiative for concert goers. In June 2019, Budweiser invested an undisclosed amount in blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) startup BanQ to assist unbanked workers. The company’s strategy took a Web3 turn in August 2021, when Budweiser bought the beer.eth domain for 30 ETH ($95,000 at the time) and a rocket NFT for 8 ETH ($25,00 at the time). In November 2021, Budweiser released its first set of NFTs, Budverse Cans: Heritage Edition, which consists of 1,936 NFTs, a reference to the year the company released beer in cans. In January 2022, Budweiser partnered with 22 emerging artists and dropped a collection of 11,00 NFTs, with a mint price of $499 per NFT. In February 2022, Bud Light took things to IRL: It aired a Super Bowl commercial featuring Nouns NFT. Later in that month, it released 2,000 NFTs in connection with its new beer brand, N3XT. Each NFT sold for $399, and each NFT holder could claim a pair of Nouns-inspired glasses. In June 2022, Stella, and later Budweiser, partnered with Ethereum-based NFT horse racing game Zed Run to release in-game horse skins based on its Clydesdale mascots, among other things. In April 2022, tennis tournament the Australian Open (AO) released a collection of 6,776 AO Art Ball NFTs in partnership with Sweet.io. AO also teamed up with metaverse design firm Run It Wild to create the metaverse version of its Rod Laver Arena. Interestingly, the NFTs are not just a static art. Each ball tracks match metadata and was linked to a 19 cm x 19 cm section on a tennis court. A winning shot that lands on any section of the court is linked to an owner’s NFT. If one of the 11 championship points landed on the plot, the owner of the connected NFT was rewarded with a physical ball used in the game, encased in a custom handcrafted case. Each ball sold for around 0.07 ETH (about $90 at the time). Finally, French fashion brand Lacoste ventured into Web3 with the launch of its NFT collection in June 2022. The 11,212-piece NFT collection is a reference to its polo shirt called L1212. Before its foray into a true Web3 venture, Lacoste also worked with Minecraft to feature its clothing line in the popular world-building game, which is often talked about as part of the metaverse with similar open-world games like RoBlox. Top brands on other blockchains The National Basketball Association’s partnership with Dapper Labs to launch NBA Top Shot in 2020 is a success story in the NFT collectibles space. Dapper Labs shared with CoinDesk that since the launch, the secondary sales have netted over $1 billion in sales through over 22 million transactions. Of course, not all of that money goes to the NBA, but the 5% fee users pay is split between Dapper and the NBA so that’s a cool $50 million between them. In September 2022, the NBA announced an additional partnership with Sorare as its official fantasy partner, and has also filed for NFT trademarks as well as registering two .eth domains – it’s clear the NBA’s game plans for Web3 are growing. The National Football League is also worth noting for working with Dapper Labs to launch NFL All Day, another NFT collectibles marketplace. While the figures shared with CoinDesk are not as exceptional as for NBA Top Shot, $65 million in secondary sales is still a significant number. The NFL has also partnered with Polygon to send “Virtual Commemorative Tickets” as NFTs to Ticketmaster wallets, and gave out unique NFTs to every fan at Super Bowl LVI. In May 2022, the NFL announced a partnership with Mythical Games to launch a play-to-earn game in 2023, which will make the NFL the first American league to kick off a play-to-earn venture. This article was originally published on Oct 17, 2022 at 9:19 p.m. UTC Sign up for The Node, our daily newsletter bringing you the biggest crypto news and ideas. By signing up, you will receive email...

Top 7 Best Crypto Futures Trading Platforms In 2022 – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/top-7-best-crypto-futures-trading-platforms-in-2022-cryptonews/ Crypto futures offer traders and investors an excellent way to trade digital assets. To increase your chances of generating a profit in the crypto futures market, choosing a secure and liquid crypto futures trading platform is essential.  Read on to discover a list of the best crypto futures trading platforms. What Are Crypto Futures?  Crypto futures are derivatives contracts with which traders can speculate on the future price of an underlying cryptocurrency. This way, investors can gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without having to actually hold them.  In simple terms, when investors trade bitcoin futures contracts, they are speculating on bitcoin’s future price. Essentially, there are two parties that make a wager. One party believes the price of bitcoin will rise in the future, while the other party bets on the price of bitcoin to decline. The party that loses the wager pays the winner the difference. This is part of the futures contract both parties have signed when entering it.  Crypto futures contracts have a specific number of units, pricing criteria, marginal requirements, and modes of settlement that investors have to take into account. Depending on prevailing crypto market conditions, an investor can choose to hold a futures contract, roll it over, or sell it to another party.  Top Crypto Futures Trading Platform To start trading in crypto futures, you will have to set up an account on a crypto derivatives trading platform. Let’s take a look at the most popular ones based on trading volumes. Binance Binance is the world’s largest crypto exchange, with an average daily trading volume of $76 billion and over 120 million registered users. The crypto exchange was co-founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and Yi He. The trading platform supports over 350 digital assets and lets users buy and sell across thousands of trading pairs. Binance Futures is the crypto derivatives branch of the Binance exchange. Since its introduction in late 2019, it has become the go-to platform for retail users due to its range of innovative products, simple user interface, and seamless trading experience for users.  Binance offers one of the best choices for investors looking to trade crypto futures, as it supports a multitude of crypto assets combined with deep liquidity. In its entirety, Binance Futures provides access to four product categories: USD-Margined Futures Contracts, Coin Managed Futures Contracts, Binance Leveraged Tokens, and Binance Options. Additionally, Binance Futures offers traders a 10% discount on standard trading fees if they use BNB to pay for trading fees on the derivatives exchange. To enjoy this discount, you will have to transfer BNB from your spot wallet to your futures wallet.   FTX FTX is a Bahamas-based crypto derivatives trading platform. Co-founded in 2019 by Bankman-Fried and Gary Wang, the platform aims to be a leading avenue for crypto traders. FTX supports 300+ crypto assets at the time of writing, while the platform has a total trading volume of over $12 billion. In addition, FTX offers 250+ perpetual and quarterly futures markets. FTX quarterly futures are suitable for traders who want to hold a position for a longer time. On the other hand, perpetual futures are great for trades a trader expects to close soon. Due to funding payments, their pricing mirror BTC prices closely, almost resembling trading spot.  KuCoin KuCoin is a crypto exchange that claims to offer technology-driven products and is built around the KuCoin token (KCS). The crypto exchange was founded in 2017 by Michael Gan, a software engineer who wanted to build a platform that was simple for users to navigate and offers innovative products, offering over 700 tradable assets.  KuCoin Futures offers several of trading products, like futures contracts with a cash settlement. The contracts are divided into perpetual contracts and delivery contracts.  Perpetual contracts are settled after every 8-hour window, while delivery contracts are settled on a specific date. The futures contracts are grouped based on the settlement coins used into USDT-margined and COIN-margined contracts.  OKX OKX is a Seychelles-based crypto exchange and wallet provider. The platform offers crypto derivatives like margin trading, perpetual swaps, options, and of course, futures. Formerly known as OKEX, the crypto exchange was founded in 2013 by Mingxing “Star” Xu, a Chinese entrepreneur.  OKX operates in over 100 countries and lists 350+ digital assets and almost double the number in trading pairs. OKX supports the trading of futures contracts for 13 crypto assets.  The exchange offers two groups of futures contracts, namely, crypto-margined futures and USDT-margined futures. Crypto-margined futures are settled in the underlying cryptocurrency, while USDT-margined futures are settled in USDT.  Each futures contract offered by OKX is named according to the assets that are being traded, the settlement date, and the period it is traded for. The options available for investors include weekly, fortnight, quarterly and bi-quarterly. Futures contracts are settled every Friday at 8 AM UTC.  Huobi Global Huobi Global is a crypto exchange and derivative trading platform. Huobi Global supports 500+ digital assets on its platform and is available in over 100 countries. Huobi Global was founded in 2013 by Leon Li in Beijing, a former computer engineer at Oracle. Huobi Futures offers investors and traders three types of product categories: USDT-margined contracts, coin-margined contracts, and options.  USDT-margined contracts are quoted and settled in USDT, while coin-margined contracts derive their value from the underlying cryptocurrency.  Gate.io Gate.io is a leading crypto exchange that supports over 1,400 digital assets and has over $12 billion in daily trading volumes. The crypto exchange was founded in 2013 by its current CEO, Lin Han, a software engineer, who aimed to create a secure trading platform for bitcoin enthusiasts.  Gate.io offers three types of futures contracts: perpetual contracts, delivery contracts, and quantitative strategy contracts.  Bybit Bybit is a crypto derivatives platform that offers a professional platform with advanced matching capabilities, multilingual support, and quality customer service. The platform was founded in 2018 by Ben Zhou and is based in Singapore. Bybit serves more than 10 million users worldwide who can access over 100 assets and contracts across crypto derivatives like futures.  Bybit offers several futures contracts, including USDT Perpetuals – Perpetual contracts that use USDT as collateral, Inverse Perpetual and Futures – Perpetual and futures contracts that use the underlying cryptocurrency as collateral, and USDC Perpetuals – Perpetual contracts that use USDC as collateral. The Takeaway Today’s leading crypto futures exchanges enable anyone with sufficient trading experience and capital to access the global crypto derivatives market in a secure and user-friendly manner.  If you are new to crypto trading, however, remember that futures trading involves leverage (resulting in higher risk than spot trading), and there are nuances to each futures contract. So make sure you know exactly what you are trading before you place your first crypto futures trade. And, of course, never risk more money than you can afford to lose!

U.S. Export Controls On China Semiconductors Force Suppliers To Cut Ties – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-export-controls-on-china-semiconductors-force-suppliers-to-cut-ties-the-washington-post/ Western suppliers have started cutting ties to some Chinese chipmakers in response to new U.S. export controls, in another sign of the partial technology divorce the Biden administration is mandating to stymie China’s military development. One large supplier of chip-making equipment, ASML, told U.S. employees to stop installing or servicing equipment at any Chinese chip factory while it sorts through the new rules. Another equipment provider, Applied Materials, said the export restrictions will prevent it from making sales of roughly $400 million in the fourth quarter. It is common for Western companies to broadly suspend exports in the immediate wake of new U.S. restrictions, and then resume some later, once they decipher the rules, lawyers say. But national-security experts say the new restrictions, which aim to stop China from producing advanced chips, are among the toughest the United States has enacted. “I see these export controls as being hugely consequential. It goes straight to the heart of Beijing’s efforts to create a domestic world class semiconductor industry,” said Martijn Rasser, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. In particular, a new rule preventing “U.S. persons” from supporting certain Chinese chipmakers “won’t just freeze China’s abilities in place, it will actually lead to a degradation over time,” Rasser said. The trade curbs could also have unintended consequences for the United States, cautioned Willy Shih, a Harvard Business School professor who specializes in technology and manufacturing. Depriving China of the ability to make the highest-tech chips could cause it to pump out even more low-end chips, driving down prices and making it hard for U.S. and Western factories to compete in that segment, he said. That in turn could leave Western buyers of such chips dependent on Chinese suppliers. “It’s a little bit of a blunt instrument,” he said of export controls. “The thing you have to worry about is collateral damage.” The export controls, announced Oct. 7, aim to slow China’s ability to produce high-end semiconductors that have dual uses in commercial and military technology. For now, China still lags behind Taiwan, South Korea and the United States in manufacturing the most high-tech chips. The controls essentially bar exports to China of American-made manufacturing equipment needed to produce advanced chips. They also bar export of any U.S. tools or components to Chinese factories capable of making high-end semiconductors. In a novel step that appears to have prompted some companies to broadly suspend trade with China, the rules also bar “U.S. persons” — including American factories, and Americans and U.S. green-card holders who work in foreign factories overseas — from providing support without a U.S. government license to the development or production of such chips for China. ASML, a Dutch manufacturer of high-end semiconductor manufacturing tools that has U.S. offices and many U.S. employees, immediately instructed its U.S. staff to freeze their interaction with Chinese customers. “ASML U.S. employees must refrain — either directly or indirectly — from servicing, shipping or providing support to any customers in China until further notice, while ASML is actively assessing which particular fabs are affected by this restriction,” the company told employees in an internal letter last week, an ASML spokesman confirmed. The company said the freeze applies to U.S. citizens, green-card holders and foreign nationals who live in the United States.

CAE’s Ground-Breaking Technology Highlighted In New Canada Post Stamp – PR Newswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/caes-ground-breaking-technology-highlighted-in-new-canada-post-stamp-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ – (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) CAE’s innovative flight simulation technology has been featured on a new stamp recently launched by Canada Post as part of its “Canadians in Flight” series. The new stamp can be viewed on CAE’s multimedia centre. Featuring both an early CAE full-flight simulator and its leading-edge design today, the new stamp coincides with the 75th anniversary of CAE’s founding by Ken Patrick, an ex-Royal Canadian Air Force officer, in 1947. His goal was to “create something Canadian and take advantage of a war-trained team that was extremely innovative and very technology-intensive.” True to this vision, today CAE is a Canadian high-tech success, producing cutting-edge, digitally immersive training and critical operations solutions that make the world a safer place. “No matter where you fly, chances are that the pilot and co-pilot have been trained in one of our training centers around the world by a flight simulator designed and built by CAE right here in Montreal. We help our clients perform at their best in the moments that matter,” said Marc Parent, President and Chief Executive Officer of CAE. “As CAE proudly celebrates 75 years of industry-firsts, we are thrilled to have CAE’s contribution to Canadian history recognized by Canada Post.” A cornerstone of Canadian aerospace, CAE is committed to support the fight against climate change. In 2020, CAE became the first Canadian aerospace company to reach carbon neutrality across its global operations. Training in a flight simulator greatly reduces the need to consume fuel. In 2021, more than 5 million tons of CO2 emissions were avoided through the substitution of live flight training in an aircraft with full-flight simulators at CAE training centres. CAE has also recently announced that it is converting two-thirds of its Piper Archer® aircraft training fleet into electric aircraft. Future pilots will train on electric aircraft which will reduce carbon emissions and noise levels at CAE flight schools around the world. The CAE stamp is part of Canada Post’s second instalment of the Canadians in Flight series celebrating the people, planes and technology that have allowed Canada’s reputation for innovation to soar. About CAE At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, airlines, defence and security forces, and healthcare practitioners to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with more than 13,000 employees in more than 200 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators, surgical manikins, and personalized training programs powered by artificial intelligence. We’re investing our time and resources into building the next generation of cutting-edge, digitally immersive training and critical operations solutions while keeping positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact at the core of our mission. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter. Read our FY22 Annual Activity and Corporate Social Responsibility Report CAE Contacts General Media Samantha Golinski, Vice President, Public Affairs & Global Communications +1-514-341-2000, ext. 7939, [email protected] Investor Relations Andrew Arnovitz, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Enterprise Risk Management +1-514-734-5760, [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @CAE_Inc Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cae Hashtags: #CAE; #CAEpilot SOURCE CAE INC.

HP Flash Sale: Up To 65% Off Doorbuster Laptops, Desktops, Gaming, More – PCMag https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/hp-flash-sale-up-to-65-off-doorbuster-laptops-desktops-gaming-more-pcmag/ HP is hosting two days of deals(Opens in a new window) in advance of the holidays—are you getting déjà vu? Joking aside, this flash sale features Black Friday pricing, so there’s no need to wait another month or so before upgrading your desktop, laptop, or monitor. You can save up to a whopping 65% on doorbuster Black Friday deals, 20% off all HP Care Packs, and also get free shipping storewide, no minimum.  Plus, you can save even more if you use the following codes on applicable configurations: Extra 5% off select products $599+ with code 5HPDAYS Extra 10% off select products $1,099+ with code 10HPDAYS Some of our top picks include the 15” HP Pavilion 15t-eg200 Laptop(Opens in a new window) ($589.49 with code 5HPDAYS), which has a 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD and will make a great daily-use laptop. Stylish and sleek, this 16.1-inch Omen by HP 16t-b100(Opens in a new window)  Laptop(Opens in a new window) ($1,259.99 with code 10HPDAYS) utilizes an RTX 3060 graphics card, plus 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. That’s plenty of power and space for gaming on the go, and the 144Hz refresh rate will keep everything on screen displaying without lag or screen tear. If you’re looking for a desktop rather than a laptop, there’s this HP Pavilion(Opens in a new window) ($949.99 with code 5HPDAYS), which also has an RTX 3060 GPU and 16GB RAM, but features dual storage with a 256GB SSD and a 2TB HDD. Each of these configurations have a powerful 12th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and comes with HP’s 1-year standard warranty. Daily Deals newsletter for the best bargains youu2019ll find anywhere.”,”first_published_at”:”2021-09-30T21:25:58.000000Z”,”published_at”:”2022-09-29T17:51:43.000000Z”,”last_published_at”:”2022-09-29T17:51:35.000000Z”,”created_at”:null,”updated_at”:”2022-09-29T17:51:43.000000Z”})” x-show=”showEmailSignUp()” Looking for a Deal? Sign up for our expertly curated Daily Deals newsletter for the best bargains you’ll find anywhere. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.