Clark County News Now

Universal Studios Is Bringing Back Its Harry Potter & Grinch Holiday Celebrations – Thrillist https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/universal-studios-is-bringing-back-its-harry-potter-grinch-holiday-celebrations-thrillist/ Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that this year’s “Awesomest Celebration of the Season” holiday events will include the return of “Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Grinchmas.” The events will start on Black Friday, November 25, and run through New Year’s Day. Unlike how things run for Halloween Horror Nights, all of the holiday activities at Universal Studios Hollywood will be included in the general theme park admission. During “Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” Hogsmeade will be transformed into a wizardly holiday celebration. Charm your inner Andy Bernard with an a cappella performance from the Hogwarts Frog Choir and holiday meals at the Three Broomsticks. There is, of course, lots of holiday-themed merch for sale as well. Additionally, at night, Hogwarts Castle will come alive with lights during a light projection show called “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.” At Universal Plaza, you’ll see the “Grinchmas” celebration, including a 65-foot-tall “Grinchmas” tree with hundreds of ornaments and LED lights. There’s a tree-lighting ceremony nightly, hosted by the Grinch with songs and snowballs. For younger kids, there is also a storytime led by Cindy-Lou Who. She will, naturally, tell the story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” In addition to those events, there will be a general aura of merriment around the park with the Universal CityWalk decorated for the season with a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree featuring more than 200,000 LED lights. There will also be seasonal food around the park, including a special lineup of treats at Voodoo Doughnut. There might not be much snow in California in November, but the park can get you into the spirit of the snowy season starting next month. Want more Thrillist? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat. Thrillist TV Wine and Cheeseburger Wine and Cheeseburger: Harley and Lara Pair Falafel with Wine

BREAKING: Google Allows Trump’s ‘Truth Social’ App On Play Store, Reports AFP – Hindustan Times https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/breaking-google-allows-trumps-truth-social-app-on-play-store-reports-afp-hindustan-times/ Live Updated on Oct 13, 2022 07:23 AM IST Breaking news October 13, 2022, live updates: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Welcome to hindustantimes.com updates platform where you can find breaking news from India and across the world. Find fast updates about the latest news as it breaks. Follow all the updates here: Oct 13, 2022 07:20 AM IST Google allows Trump’s ‘Truth Social’ app on Play Store Google said on Wednesday that it has permitted former US President Donald Trump’s Truth Social app on its Play Store for Android devices, after receiving assurances that it would meet the platform’s standards for moderating harmful content, AFP reported. Launched by Trump after he was barred from Twitter over the 2021 Capitol riot, the Truth Social app has been kept out of the Play Store owing to its lack of moderation tools, including violent threats Oct 13, 2022 05:32 AM IST Biden says UNGA vote on Ukraine sends ‘clear message’ to Russia After the UN general assembly voted to adopt a resolution condemning the annexation of four Ukrainian regions by Russia, US President Joe Biden said the decision sends a “clear message” to Russia, AFP reported citing The White House. He also slammed Russia saying that by attacking the “core tenets of the UN charter”, the nation is tearing at the “very foundations of international peace and security”, Reuters reported. Subscribe to our best newsletters ‘A logistical marvel’: IMF hails India’s direct cash transfer scheme Updated on Oct 13, 2022 07:20 AM IST The IMF official pointed to the success of technological innovations in India and the use of the unique identification system, the Aadhaar, in making the cash transfer scheme a success. Vitor Gaspar, second from left, director of the Fiscal Affairs Department at the IMF, Paolo Mauro, second from right, deputy director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department.(AP) India abstains on UNGA resolution on Russia, says decision ‘consistent’ Updated on Oct 13, 2022 06:20 AM IST India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said, “My prime minister has said unequivocally that this cannot be an era of war. With this firm resolve to strive for a peaceful solution through dialogue and diplomacy, India has decided to abstain”. BREAKING: Google allows Trump’s ‘Truth Social’ app on Play Store, reports AFP Updated on Oct 13, 2022 07:23 AM IST Breaking news October 13, 2022, live updates: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour. Next two days crucial for dog ‘Zoom’, says army Updated on Oct 13, 2022 04:39 AM IST Army assault dog Zoom, who was injured during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday, is in a stable condition but the next 24-48 hours are crucial to decide the further line of treatment, senior army officers said on Wednesday. Parliament panel report not imposing Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states: MPs Updated on Oct 13, 2022 04:40 AM IST The report of the parliamentary committee on official languages that has created a political controversy over fears of Hindi imposition, does not actually impose the language on non-Hindi speaking regions, and is in keeping with the tenets laid down by the New Education Policy, according to two lawmakers in the committee. Finance minister Sitharaman flags global risks, commits to more reforms Updated on Oct 13, 2022 04:59 AM IST Sitharaman added that the momentum that the Indian economy has got emerging from the pandemic, and the momentum that it will have over the next year that has been acknowledged even by multilateral institutions, cannot be “weakened”. Drop 66A mention from all FIRs at once: Supreme Court Updated on Oct 13, 2022 05:00 AM IST A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Uday Umesh Lalit, ordered that no citizen can be prosecuted under Section 66A, which authorised the police to arrest people for social media posts construed “offensive” or “menacing” until it was quashed by the top court in 2015 for being “unconstitutionally vague” and arbitrary. Double-engine factor has given us advantage in Himachal and Gujarat, says Nadda Updated on Oct 13, 2022 04:38 AM IST In an interview with Hindustan Times, Nadda while talking about the BJP exuded confidence on the party’s poll prospects in Himachal and Gujarat. Story Saved New Delhi 0C Thursday, October 13, 2022

Modifying Screen And Sleep Time For Optimal Living – Businessday https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/modifying-screen-and-sleep-time-for-optimal-living-businessday/ After a long day at work, you felt that you needed that good 8-hour sleep. Plopping down on your bed, you hurriedly say your night prayers and close your eyes. Then, you hear that familiar notification sound. You picked up your phone, replied to about four to five messages, and before you knew it, you had already spent more than 2 hours on your screen. Now, you need to wake up by 6am the next morning or you would be late for work. You are left with the option of sleeping for a few hours, and you eventually wake up feeling groggy, tired, and irritated. Sounds familiar, right? It is an indisputable fact that sleep is important for a healthy lifestyle. Despite that, many people still struggle to get the recommended 8-hour sleep at night. This can be attributed to a wide range of factors, and excessive screen time is not excluded from the list. This article discusses how an excess of screen time can disrupt a person’s sleep, the implications, and how screen and sleep time can be modified for optimal living. We live in a world that is increasingly dependent on technology. Hence, smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices play a huge role in how we work, play, and communicate. However, these devices emit blue light or High Energy Visible (HEV) light, a colour in the natural electromagnetic energy spectrum that can be seen by the human eye. This blue light from screens suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that controls the sleep-wake cycle. The production of melatonin is often triggered by darkness, so the light from your screens tricks your brain into thinking it is time to wake up when you are supposed to sleep, increasing your general alertness. Blue light emission from screens does not only suppress the production of melatonin and increase your alertness at the wrong time, but it also affects your natural body circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle that helps your body naturally operate on a healthy sleep-wake schedule. This means that during the day, your body produces cortisol, the hormone that helps you stay awake and alert, and at night, your body produces melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. Exposure to blue light at night can affect the body’s circadian rhythm, as well as delay good sleep. Now, the sad truth is that having one’s sleep disrupted due to an excess of screen time does more than make one feel irritated, groggy, and grumpy all day. The prolonged effects of sleep deprivation are real and alarming. To begin with, sleep deprivation drains a person’s mental ability. It worsens symptoms of mental conditions like anxiety and depression. Not only that, it slows the learning process. During sleep, the brain forms new cells that help the processing and retention of new information, and little or no sleep hinders the formation of these cells. There is also trouble with concentration because of the inability to focus well. This can make it quite difficult to pick up information and can also be detrimental to a person’s creative and problem-solving skills. Read also: Sleeping well to live well Additionally, having little or no sleep time can endanger a person’s physical health. Because the body needs sleep to produce certain antibodies to fight infectious diseases, lack of sleep weakens the immune system and makes the body prone to all sorts of diseases. Also, sleep deprivation may lead to increased blood pressure and higher levels of chemicals linked to inflammation, both of which can cause heart disease. Moreso, having little or no sleep delays the body’s release of insulin, the hormone responsible for blood sugar regulation. This makes people who are sleep-deprived susceptible to higher blood sugar levels, making them prone to diabetes. It is also important to note that sleep distortion can as well affect a person’s balance and coordination, increasing the risks of falls, physical accidents, and in severe cases, car accidents. From the aforementioned, it is apparent that an uncoordinated use of devices can disrupt one’s sleep, and the implications of sleep deprivation are dire. Now that you know how dangerous it is to use electronic gadgets before bed, it is advisable to avoid them for at least 30 minutes before sleep. In rare cases, where you need to use your phones, laptops, or computers at night, you can make use of blue blocker glasses, which are specially designed to protect your eyes from blue light emissions. Also, most electrical gadgets are now equipped with a “night-time mode” or a “warm-light” feature that reduces blue light emission. It is advisable to adjust your phone display settings to this feature if you need to use your device at night. Thus, there is no gainsaying that screen time before bed could disrupt sleep which could be detrimental to one’s health and work-life productivity. It also delays the natural body circadian rhythm; suppresses the production of melatonin and hinders getting to bed on time. Therefore, for you to get a full 8 hours of sleep and maintain a healthy sleep habit, limit your exposure to blue light at night, invest in blue blocker glasses, or better still, turn off your screens right before you sleep. Bolanle is a communications intern at the Institute for Work and Family Integration, Lagos

Sports Planner For Thursday – The Republic https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/sports-planner-for-thursday-the-republic-2/ COMING UP Indianapolis Colts Sunday vs. Jaguars, 1 p.m. (CBS) Oct. 23 at Titans, 1 p.m. (CBS) Oct. 30 vs. Commanders, 4:25 p.m. (FOX) Indiana University football Saturday vs. Maryland, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Oct. 22 at Rutgers, Noon (BTN) Nov. 5 vs. Penn State, Noon (TBA) Purdue football Saturday vs. Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. (BTN) Oct. 22 at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. (TBA) Nov. 5 vs Iowa, Noon (TBA) Notre Dame football Saturday vs. Stanford, 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Oct. 22 vs. UNLV, 2:30 p.m. (Peacock) Oct. 29 at Syracuse, Noon (TBA) Indiana Pacers Friday vs. Rockets (preseason), 7 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Wednesday vs. Wizards, 7 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Oct. 21 vs. Spurs, 7 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Indy Eleven Saturday at Birmingham Legion FC, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) NASCAR Sunday at Las Vegas, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 23 at Homestead-Miami, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 30 at Martinsville, Va., 2 p.m. (NBC) HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TODAY Volleyball Hauser vs. North Decatur in Hauser Sectional, 6 p.m. Trinity Lutheran vs. West Washington in Trinity Sectional, 6 p.m. Columbus East vs. Whiteland in East Sectional, 7:30 p.m. Jennings County vs. Floyd Central in Jeffersonville Sectional, 7:30 p.m. South Decatur vs. Southwestern (Shelby) in Edinburgh Sectional, 7:30 p.m. SPORTS ON TV TODAY College football Temple at UCF, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Baylor at West Virginia, 7 p.m. (FS1) Morgan State at NC Central, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Women’s college soccer Duke at Florida State, 6 p.m. (ACC) Wisconsin at Penn State, 6 p.m. (BTN) Mississippi State at Mississippi, 7 p.m. (SEC) Virginia at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m. (ACC) Purdue at Iowa, 8 p.m. (BTN) Golf DP World Tour: The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters, 8 a.m. (Golf Channel) PGA Tour: The ZOZO Championship, 11 p.m. (Golf Channel) Horse racing NYRA: America’s Day at the Races, 12:30 p.m. (FS2) MLB A.L. Divisional Series: Mariners at Astros, Game 2, 3:30 p.m. (TBS) A.L. Divisional Series: Guardians at Yankees, Game 2, 7:30 p.m. (TBS) NBA Preseason: Memphis at Detroit, 7 p.m. (NBA) NFL Commanders at Bears, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video) Men’s soccer UEFA Champions League: Teams TBA (taped), 10 a.m. (CBSSN) Tennis San Diego-WTA, Florence-ATP, Gijon-ATP, Cluj-Napoca-WTA Early Rounds, 5 and 6 a.m. today and 6 a.m. Friday (Tennis) San Diego-WTA Early Rounds, 8 p.m. (Tennis)

First Mover Asia: How Many Metaverse Users Are There? The Figures Are Debatable And Discouraging – CoinDesk https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/first-mover-asia-how-many-metaverse-users-are-there-the-figures-are-debatable-and-discouraging-coindesk/ Good morning. Here’s what’s happening: Prices: Bitcoin rose slightly amid tepid trading as investors await the next Consumer Price Index – not that it will likely present any surprises. Insights: Metaverse companies would like you to think that they’ve built significant followings, but data suggests that’s far from the case. Catch the latest episodes of CoinDesk TV for insightful interviews with crypto industry leaders and analysis. And sign up for First Mover, our daily newsletter putting the latest moves in crypto markets in context. ● CoinDesk Market Index (CMI): 939.17 +0.1% ● Bitcoin (BTC): $19,117 +0.4% ● Ether (ETH): $1,294 +1.0% ● S&P 500 daily close: 3,577.03 −0.3% ● Gold: $1,679 per troy ounce +0.0% ● Ten-year Treasury yield daily close: 3.90% −0.04 Bitcoin, ether and gold prices are taken at approximately 4pm New York time. Bitcoin is the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX); Ether is the CoinDesk Ether Price Index (ETX); Gold is the COMEX spot price. Information about CoinDesk Indices can be found at coindesk.com/indices. Bitcoin’s Ongoing Sounds of Silence Bitcoin’s quiet life continued. The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization was recently trading just over $19,100, about flat for the past 24 hours as investors waited for Thursday’s release of the next U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI). Barring the unexpected, the CPI is expected to show a slight drop, but hardly sufficient to sway the U.S. central bank from its current monetary aggressiveness. BTC has remained rangebound for weeks, largely between $19,000 and $21,000, although it dipped briefly below the lower support on Wednesday. Trading volume has remained tepid, falling regularly below 20-day averages. “Nothing happening today, Bodhi Pinkner, a research analyst at crypto-focused financial services firm Arca, told CoinDesk. “Markets were up marginally.” Pinkner added: “Very, very low trading volumes across the space. We’ve been stuck in a range.” Ether, the second largest crypto in market value, was recently changing hands below $1,300, about where it stood much of Wednesday but up roughly 1% from Tuesday, same time. Other major cryptos were mostly flat, although SUSHI recently fell more than 5%, while TRON was up more than 1%. The CoinDesk Market Index (CMI), a broad-based market index that measures the performance of a basket of cryptocurrencies, was flat. Stocks cast their promising first two days of October further in the rearview mirror as the tech-heavy Nasdaq, the S&P 500, which has a strong technology component, and Dow Jones Industrial Average extended their current losing streaks to six days. Markets chewed nervously over a 0.4% increase in September’s producer-price index, a discouraging sign following the previous month’s slight decrease. CPI observers anticipate the latest reading remaining above 8% with core inflation, which eliminates the impact of volatile food and energy prices, rising to 6.5%, a four-decade high. The increase would bolster an already determined Federal Reserve’s argument for continuing its recent diet of sharp interest rate hikes, discouraging already skittish investors from riskier assets. In an on-stage discussion Wednesday at the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting, the organization’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, said that central banks should refrain from currency interventions, instead suggesting that they use interest-rate raises as the preferred tool for combating foreign-exchange weakness versus the dollar. “Do not waste your reserves to protect your currency,” Georgieva said Arca’s Pinkner noted a downward trend in the correlation between cryptocurrencies and other risk assets “over the last couple of months. “However, in order for any decoupling, you likely need a catalyst, and it’s possible that catalyst would be widespread currency debasement across various economies and mostly to bitcoin as a non-sovereign, safe haven asset, and it’s possible that catalyst is unforeseen or that there’s just no catalyst, and we remain correlated to risk assets.” Biggest Gainers Biggest Losers The Metaverse Struggles to Catch On The Metaverse is in need of a census. A few have tried, but so far nobody can agree about the findings of the enumerators. Horizon Worlds, like Decentraland and the metaverse at large, isn’t as popular as what Mark Zuckerberg or Metaverse token holders want you to think. The problem is in the numbers. Earlier this month, The Verge reported Meta’s VR social network Horizon Worlds is so bug-ridden that even its developers aren’t using it much. “But currently feedback from our creators, users, playtesters, and many of us on the team is that the aggregate weight of papercuts, stability issues, and bugs is making it too hard for our community to experience the magic of Horizon,” Meta’s VP of Metaverse, Vishal Shah, wrote in a memo obtained by The Verge. “Simply put, for an experience to become delightful and retentive, it must first be usable and well crafted.” Meta claims that Horizon Worlds has 300,000 signups, but there’s no indication of how many are active users. One proxy could involve looking at the population of related Facebook groups: the official Horizon Worlds page has 31,644 followers while an official Horizon Worlds Facebook community group has 28,200 members. Let’s assume there’s plenty of overlap meaning the higher number is the total addressable market. If we want to figure out the serviceable available market we must look at the install base of virtual reality headsets. (Steam Hardware Survey/Steampowered.com) Digital gaming store Steam – a must-have for any PC gamer – says that 2% of its 132 million monthly active users have a VR headset. Of this two million, 64% are using Meta’s Oculus headsets, putting the install base at 1.28 million. So with that in mind, even if Meta’s figure of 300,000 is correct it only means that 23% of its VR install base is using what Meta believes to be the future of the company. But that’s the best-case scenario, the more realistic number is closer to 31,644 which would mean that around 2% of the VR install base is using Horizon Worlds as Meta intended. Decentraland’s fuzzy math But what about Decentraland? There was some MANA mania earlier this week when CoinDesk, citing DappRadar numbers, reported that it was a lonely world with 38 people in the $1.3 billion ecosystem. DappRadar’s number relies on analyzing smart contracts from Decentraland that are being interacted with. Decentraland HQ says it’s not looking at the whole picture and only a handful of the hundreds of available smart contracts. Decentraland, instead, offers its own sets of numbers via its portal DCL-Metrics which says that there have been around 7000 unique users in the last 24 hours visiting 6900-odd virtual parcels. The validity of these numbers begins to dissolve once you take a closer look at them. Their data shows that there are also dozens of ‘marathon users’ that have spent the majority of the day in Decentraland. Marathon users (https://dcl-metrics.com/) There’s also another list of users – that don’t seem to overlap – that have visited hundreds of parcels during the course of the day. Clearly, there are bots among us. Perhaps the most realistic number from DCL-Metrics could be found in the daily active users at the ICE Poker house, which it says is just under 3000. This might actually be where Decentraland’s real population lies as ICE Poker has an actual, documented player base. There are two more stars in the sky of data that can help us triangulate a position. On Github, Decentraland runs something called a Catalyst Monitor, a tool for tracking the load on each of its servers which it calls catalysts. (https://decentraland.github.io/catalyst-monitor/) The count from the servers shows that there are 518 total users on the platform as of late Wednesday afternoon Asia time. This number comes close to the headcount of 457 that Nansen estimates on its Entity Billboard tool. Nansen would like to stress that this tool is very much in Beta, and only tracks 72 of the smart contracts Decentraland uses. At the same time, there are 269,698 unique holders of MANA tokens. Even if we use some best-case numbers from ICE’s poker house count of 3000 as a proxy for Decentraland’s total active population (this would be a best case scenario, realistically the number is closer to what Catalyst and Nansen provide) that means only 1% of MANA token holders are users of the platform. Not exactly a bullish case for Decentraland and the Metaverse at large. But we had all of this a decade ago with Second Life. Which had better graphics, smoother gameplay, and an actual community – not token holders pumping their bags trying to make you believe that this is the future of the internet. In case you missed it, here is the most recent episode of “First Mover” on CoinDesk TV: There’s been another massive exploit in crypto, this time tied to market manipulation on Mango, a Solana-based decentralized exchange. “First Mover” discussed the state of the crypto industry and markets with Tribe Capital co-founder and CEO Arjun Sethi. CoinDesk’s Cheyenne Ligon provided an update in Grayscale’s lawsuit against the SEC over the agency’s rejection of Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF application. Plus, DIMO aims to help drivers gain and monetize their car data, and DIMO co-founder Andy Chatham joined the conversation. Ethereum’s Second- Layer Projects Duke It Out for Dominance: Ethereum’s layer 2 scaling platforms are taking center stage in the network’s newest chapter, and it is unclear whether first movers hold the greatest advantage. Canadian Self-Regulatory Agency Approves First Crypto-Native Inv...

Dubai: Gloves To ‘feel’ Things In The Digital World, Space Boots; Cool Wearable Tech At Gitex – Khaleej Times https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/dubai-gloves-to-feel-things-in-the-digital-world-space-boots-cool-wearable-tech-at-gitex-khaleej-times/ With flying cars, futuristic vehicles and interactive robots, this year’s edition has been a treat for all technology lovers Published: Thu 13 Oct 2022, 6:51 AM A slew of cool wearable tech is making a splash at Gitex Global this year. One of the largest technological exhibitions in the world, Gitex is spread over an area of 2 million sqm and has attracted over 5,000 companies from 90 countries. Located at the futuristic e& stall in Zabeel Hall 6, one innovation consists of a set of VR glasses and a pair of robotic gloves. Upon wearing it, the user can begin seeing and feeling everything that is in the virtual reality. Once they have work the gloves, the user is instructed to close and open their hands until they can begin sensing the virtual reality. Once that happens, they are ready to experience the wearable tech. From grabbing a coffee cup to picking up a ball to clicking a button, a lot is possible in the virtual world. Here is a demonstration on how it works: Described as the future of technology, wearable gadgets have become increasingly popular among tech aficionados. Unlike the 2D images on a television or phone, tech like VR headsets have several sensors, with some devices even having a system for head tracking. Another cool wearable tech on display at Gitex is the space simulating boots. Made with lightweight carbon fibre, the boots are fitted with various sensors and motors to allow its user to feel what it’s like to walk on space. With a green LED light running all around it, the boots will only work on the specially designed floor. The clunky boots were initially designed as VR movement solutions that allow users to walk through metaverse and gaming platforms. Here is a video of a Gitex visitor testing out the boots: With flying cars, futuristic vehicles and interactive robots, this year’s Gitex has been a treat for all technology lovers. The day before it began, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had tweeted that since it began in 1981 the event “has put Dubai on the global technology map and put technology at the top of Dubai’s priorities.” ALSO READ: Sheikh Mohammed tours Gitex, says humanity is in ‘historical transit’ toward tech-driven future Dubai: Will residents, tourists travel in flying cars by 2025? Gitex in Dubai: Meet 6 robots that can deliver food, give directions at malls

Friendly Reminder: Celebrity Crypto Endorsements Don’t Mean Much – The Alexander City Outlook https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/friendly-reminder-celebrity-crypto-endorsements-dont-mean-much-the-alexander-city-outlook/ Andy Rosen Oct 12, 2022 3 hrs ago A red carpet is traditionally used to mark the route taken by heads of state on ceremonial and formal occasions Getty Images The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. Get Exclusive Members Only Newsletters Sign up for our Free Newsletters Originally published on nerdwallet.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Right Now 63° Partly Cloudy Humidity: 99% Feels Like: 63° Heat Index: 63° Wind: 0 mph Wind Chill: 63° UV Index: 0 Low Sunrise: 06:46:02 AM Sunset: 06:14:16 PM Dew Point: 63° Visibility: 7 mi Today Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Tomorrow Cloudy early, becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. High 77F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Upcoming Radar 7 Day Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free. Please support our tireless efforts to gather and report your local news by subscribing or making a contribution. Stay informed with our Free Newsletters

US And Mexico Make Deal To Ease Venezuela Migration – BBC https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/us-and-mexico-make-deal-to-ease-venezuela-migration-bbc/ Image source, Reuters By Will Grant in Mexico & Tiffany Wertheimer in Singapore BBC News The US and Mexico have agreed to a plan that allows some Venezuelan migrants to enter the US – but those who arrive illegally will be sent back to Mexico. It is hoped the deal will ease pressure at the US-Mexico border, where a steady flow of Venezuelans continue to arrive as they flee the crisis-hit nation. Starting immediately, flights will be arranged for 24,000 migrants to arrive in the United States. Some six million people have left Venezuela in the past five years. The exodus is one of the largest migrations in the world, fuelled by violence, food, fuel and medicine shortages, and repression by the government of President Nicolás Maduro. It has seen people desperate to improve their lives walking thousands of miles along dangerous routes to try to reach the US-Mexico border, where they then try to enter illegally or claim asylum. Under the new deal, which is effective immediately, the 24,000 eligible Venezuelan migrants – a tiny fraction of those who have fled – will be allowed to access the US by air, and stay for up to two years. They must still be in Venezuela, and not have made the trek to the US-Mexico border, the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. They will also need to have a person or organisation based in the US to provide financial support and back up their claim to be part of the programme. Media caption, Life after deportation: ‘I am living the Mexican dream’ It will come as a huge relief to those who are set to benefit from it. In theory, they will be spared the exhausting and dangerous journey to the US border and instead will be able to fly into the country, where support measures are in place. However, one major policy shift is that any undocumented Venezuelans who cross the southern border now face expulsion to Mexico – where previously, authorities usually did not accept expulsions of Venezuelans. This is a part of a controversial Trump-era policy called Title 42, that allows the US to swiftly expel undocumented migrants, thus taking away their chance to claim asylum. It was brought in during the pandemic to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 in holding facilities, officials said. Until now most Venezuelans who crossed into the US were not turned back – instead they were temporarily allowed in and had the chance to apply for asylum. Now, Venezuelans found to have entered the US illegally – of which there are many thousands – could be sent to Mexico. The US and Mexican governments have said the policy is designed to discourage people from making the perilous trek across South America and Mexico – which they have been doing in record numbers over the past year as Venezuela’s economic and political situation worsens. The programme is based on a similar US model called Uniting for Ukraine, which offered safe haven to more than 100,000 Ukrainians who fled their country after Russia invaded earlier this year. The so-called “humanitarian parole programme” has been launched with the US midterm elections looming in November. The Biden administration is undoubtedly hoping the idea of helping Venezuelans who are fleeing poverty, political turmoil and violence will play well politically, especially if it is combined with also expelling thousands who crossed the southern border illegally. However, with the vote so close, it may have a limited impact, and in the meantime, many thousands of desperate and tired Venezuelan migrants are caught in the middle.

UrVenue Enables Hotel Guests To Book Experiences In A Unified Cart With Launch Of Property Experience Management System | – Hotel Technology News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/urvenue-enables-hotel-guests-to-book-experiences-in-a-unified-cart-with-launch-of-property-experience-management-system-hotel-technology-news/ UV Enterprise, the hospitality industry’s first official Property Experience Management System (PXMS), is a full-stack technology platform that provides hospitality leaders the ability to sell, yield, and operate on-property experiences. 10.12.2022 UrVenue is pleased to announce the launch of UV Enterprise, the next generation of its platform to monetize and manage experience-based inventory across an entire property. Just like a property-management system (PMS) which manages an entire property’s room inventory, UV Enterprise, the hospitality industry’s first official Property Experience Management System (PXMS), is a full-stack technology platform that provides hospitality leaders the ability to sell, yield, and operate on-property experiences. In a 2021 study with YouGov, 85% of luxury leisure travelers said they would book additional experiences in advance with a single shopping cart experience. UrVenue solves this growing need by enabling guests to book all available experiences throughout the resort and throughout their stay in a single, unified booking cart and empowering hospitality operators to manage all outlet inventory and service all guests in a single platform. “After more than two years of evolving our industry-leading venue management system, we are very proud to be the pioneers of hospitality’s first PXMS,” said Deron Pearson, CEO of UrVenue. “We believe UV Enterprise is a game changer, fully capable of standing alone as its own hotel technology classification. Managing each experience on a different, siloed system is a real pain point for resort operations and their customers. UV Enterprise manages them all in one place, making the PXMS an integral part of resort operations, just like the PMS.” UV Enterprise has four core capabilities: Commerce: Monetize experience-based inventory with a robust booking and ticketing solution that upsells, cross-sells, and packages live inventory Operations: Streamline property-wide operations, boost team productivity, centralize guest data, and elevate the guest experience. Insights: Leverage an analytics layer across the entire enterprise to provide commerce and operations insights for every team. Knowledge Management: Ensure every system, team, guest touchpoint and third party can securely access vital enterprise data in real-time with unparalleled accuracy. UV Enterprise also includes multiple new and advanced features: Itinerary Builder:  Delight guests with the ability to book every experience under one roof in a unified booking cart and empower employees to book the same experiences on behalf of guests in the guest services dashboard Interactive 3D Seating Maps:  Inspire guests with detailed renderings of venues and empower them to choose the exact location of their VIP table or cabana Distribution Channels: Target guest segments with customized pricing and inventory and manage distribution channels, including 3rd party resellers, with ease Revenue Management: Yield prices, daypart inventory, and segment customers with robust, automated tools Comprehensive Payment Methods: Employ a variety of payment options tailored to your experience – reservations, secured reservations, deposits, food and beverage minimums, or full pre-payments Partner Integrations: Connect the dots between all key guest touchpoints with 30+ integrations with POS, PMS, payment, and other best-in-class partners Founded in 2011, UrVenue is a dominant presence on the Las Vegas Strip and has expanded to service more than 250 clients in 15 countries. It is specifically built for experience-based inventory found within a resort or mixed-use environments – nightclubs, dayclubs, pools, restaurants, sportsbooks, lounges, shows, recreation, activities, and more. Prior to its official launch, UV Enterprise has been piloted by Las Vegas’ and the world’s largest integrated resorts. Does your company have news it would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration.

Dayton Region Walk Of Fame Induction Honors Diverse Achievements – Dayton.com https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/dayton-region-walk-of-fame-induction-honors-diverse-achievements-dayton-com/ “This is an opportunity for us to recognize the achievements and the contributions that individuals, groups and organizations make to the Greater Dayton region and beyond,” said Dan Sadlier, chairman of the Walk of Fame Committee. Founded in 1996, the Walk of Fame recognizes individuals with outstanding achievements in the arts, education, invention, community service, military, philanthropy and more. The members of the 2022 class are: Phyllis G. Bolds, Neal Gittleman, Roger Glass, A.B. Graham, Sharon Rab and Guided By Voices. Family, friends and the community gathered to recognize the contributions the inductees have made to the community. Some awards were accepted by family members and friends in their honor. ExploreRead more about the Walk of Fame inductees Bolds, who died in 2018, was an African American internationally known in the field of aircraft dynamics. “It’s just an honor knowing all the wonderful things that she has done, and like my brother said receiving the award, she was mom,” said Karen Beason, Bolds’ daughter. “We saw some of the things that she did, but really this didn’t come to fruition until after she was 30 years retired. We thank those who were instrumental in getting the word out in all the wonderful things that she had done.” Bolds began her career as a physicist with the United States Air Force in November 1955. While working at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, her achievements were numerous and astounding and included the publication of 30 technical documents and working with over 40,000 scientists, scholars, and expert on the design, development and deployment of the B-2 Stealth Bomber. Bolds’ son, Kevin, added his mother’s legacy is continuing to live on through her grandchildren. He said they are studying in various fields including chemistry, engineering and education. Gittleman, artistic director and conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, said he was “deeply humbled” to be alongside the likes of notable Daytonians. “Orchestra conductors are nothing without the musicians that we work with,” Gittleman said. “What’s the conductor without an orchestra? Just a weirdo silently waving their arms in the air until someone comes to haul them away. That’s why I want to share this award with my wonderful colleagues at the Dayton Philharmonic.” Gittleman has given the Dayton region a world-class orchestra and educational programming for almost three decades. One of his initiatives was the development of the Stained Glass Concert Series which brings the orchestra to Dayton’s African American community through concerts at neighborhood churches and in conjunction with the church’s choir. Another initiative of Gittleman’s is the SPARK program (School Partners with Artists Reaching Kids), which integrates the orchestra’s musicians with eight area schools’ musical curriculum. He was also a supporter and leader in the merger of the Dayton Philharmonic, Dayton Ballet, and Dayton Opera into the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. A pillar of the Dayton business and philanthropic community, Glass focused on quality and consistency in making Marion’s Piazza recognized locally and nationally. “So many people loved Roger, but Roger loved so many people,” said Carol Glass Pollock, Glass’ sister. “He was my best friend, my big brother, best business partner you could ever have and I miss him terribly, but I am so lucky to have had him in my life.” Glass died at the age of 79 on Aug. 24. ExplorePHOTOS: 2022 Dayton Region Walk of Fame inductee luncheon “He worked at making family, friends, coworkers, strangers, anyone feel comfortable. He made them feel seen, heard, valued and loved,” said Larry Mullins, Glass’ partner. “Over the past seven weeks, I’ve heard hundreds of stories in-person, by phone, email and text on how Roger impacted their lives positively. Now that’s a legacy.” Glass was a founding board member of Aids Resource Center Ohio, now Equitas Health, and championed the rights and dignity of those affected by HIV/AIDS from the early 1980s on. He was also an avid supporter of Chaminade Julienne High School and the University of Dayton. Graham, a native of Champaign County considered the founding father of 4-H programs, died in 1960. He held the first meeting of what would become 4-H in a building in Springfield. That building is named in his honor and is home to several Clark County government offices. His granddaughter, Barbara Sydnor, accepted the award in his honor. “He was just such a kind, open-hearted, open-minded man that would be willing to hear your ideas and try to listen carefully and make them part of what he did,” said Sydnor. She explained Graham built 4-H clubs because he noticed that there was nothing for children to do after school. He wanted them to be able to learn from each other and create friendships. “It went from that little place in Champaign County all the way across the United States,” Sydnor said. In 1905, Graham became the first superintendent of Agricultural Extension at The Ohio State University. He later served in the Extension office in Farmingdale, New York, and nationally in Washington D.C. as the Federal Extension Director. A leader in the areas of arts, literature and education, Rab is the founder of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. “We understand that a book is not going to stop the war in Ukraine,” said Rab. “But years ago, words stopped the war in Bosnia. We do believe that empathy, understanding the other, is the key to peace. And that empathy can be taught through books.” Rab taught English at both Kettering Fairmont High School and Miami University, Oxford. She has served on numerous local, state, and national boards in the areas of arts, literature and education, including the Dayton Council on World Affairs and the Dayton Peace Process Committee. Rab has also been the executive director of the Muse Machine’s Creative Education Institute. Lastly, Guided By Voices, described as “forefathers of lo-fi rock,” was founded by lead singer Robert Pollard, a Dayton native and Wright State University graduate. For over 30 years, this independent band has released 35 albums and has sold thousands of records on private labels. “One of the most impressive things I’ve seen in this time, is (Guided By Voices) is one of the rare bands (whose) song has actually been played on Mars,” said Matt Davis of Rockathon Records. The band continues to play and release albums with its latest album, “Crystal Nuns Cathedral,” released March 4. “There’s nothing like being honored by your hometown,” Davis said. “Bob has lived here his entire life, loves it here. So, on behalf of Robert Pollard and the 26 past and current members of Guided By Voices, thank you for this honor.” The Walk of Fame is located in the Wright Dunbar District and managed by Wright Dunbar, Inc.

Interest Spikes In Holland America Line’s Alaska 2023 Cruises As The Company’s 75th Anniversary Concludes – Porthole Cruise And Travel https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/interest-spikes-in-holland-america-lines-alaska-2023-cruises-as-the-companys-75th-anniversary-concludes-porthole-cruise-and-travel/ After a busy season of over 100 cruises across 6 vessels, Holland America Line has set sail from Alaska for the last time this year as the Eurodam & Koningsdam completed their final port visits at Ketchikan last Thursday. RELATED: HOLLAND AMERICA LINE CALLS LIFTED CANADA PROTOCOLS A “WIN” “As this successful season winds down, we’re pleased to see growing interest in Alaska 2023,” said Gus Antorcha, president, of Holland America Line. “Alaska is a bucket-list destination and people are excited to travel more. We’re seeing bookings well above levels from similar periods in the seasons prior to the industry pause.” Over this last 2022 Alaska Season, Holland America Line celebrated their landmark 75th Anniversary while exploring the Great Land. The cruise line celebrated with new “Alaska Up Close” shipboard programming, a “We Love Alaska” marketing campaign, a “Love Letters to Alaska” contest, and two brand new partnerships highlighting the company’s commitment to serving sustainable and local Alaskan seafood. “Holland America Line’s 75th Anniversary in Alaska got off to an incredible start with Koningsdam as the first ship back in Canada in more than two years, and we kept building momentum with new immersive programming, partnerships that focused sustainability and more,” added Antorcha. “No other cruise line can deliver Alaska like Holland America Line, and this season we focused all of our expertise and passion on giving guests a memorable Alaska experience that touched all elements of their vacation, from enrichment to culinary to shoreside tours.” Koningsdam is the First Ship to Resume Sailing in Canada On April 8, 2022, Koningsdam was the first cruise ship to return to Canada in over two years with calls at Victoria, Canada, and British Columbia. The ship’s call signified a whopping 905 days since a cruise ship visited the port. The following day, Koningsdam arrived in Vancouver to kick off the start of its Alaska season. “Alaska Up Close” Engages Guests in Local Customs Holland America Line has initiated its “Alaska Up Close” program that immerses guests on Alaska cruises in the culture of the locals through authentic onboard programming, detailed cruise activities, and alluring shore excursions. EXC Talks, Holland America Line’s exclusive destination programming designed to engage guests with the culture of their destinations, provides guests will workshops and lectures from those who know Alaska best. The program will explore the stories of locals, and show guests the hidden gems of the area, including historic traditions and cuisine. Partnership with Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Holland America Line has partnered with Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) to highlight the company’s commitment to serving sustainable local seafood. This is the first formal partnership between ASMI and a prominent cruise line. Holland America Line promises guests seafood exclusively sourced from Alaska on all six ships cruising through the Great Land. To celebrate the partnership, Holland America Line has introduced three brand new seafood dishes designed by Culinary Council Member, Ethan Stowell. In addition to the many Alaskan seafood dishes already on the menu, the new dishes feature an Alaskan salmon chop, a fried Alaska cod sandwich, and roasted fennel-crusted Alaskan halibut. On any Alaska cruise, the line typically serves more than 2,000 pounds of Alaska Salmon, 1,000 pounds of Alaska cod, 800 pounds of Alaska halibut, and 500 pounds of Alaska rockfish. Authenticated by Responsible Fisheries Management Holland America Line has also become the first-ever cruise line to be awarded a certification from Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM). RFM certified all six of the cruise line’s ships that sail to Alaska after an independent audit, confirming that the vessels serve only fresh, sustainable, and visibly traceable Alaskan seafood. Aligned with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, RFM is a third-party certification program for wild-capture fisheries. “Love Letters to Alaska” Contest Receives Praise This past Valentine’s Day, the company launched a “Love Letters to Alaska” contest to celebrate its 75th Anniversary. Over 40,000 people sent in letters detailing reasons why they love Alaska and why they’d like to visit. A panel of judges with ties to Alaska named Deborah Thelwell of Phoenix, Arizona, the grand prize winner of a 7-day Holland America Line Alaskan Cruise for 2. “We Love Alaska” Campaign After 75 years of exploring Alaska, Holland America Line longed to show the Alaskan locals its loyalty to the region by having its six Alaskan vessels display new “We Love Alaska” logos below the Bridge. The company motivated guests to snap photos of the brand-new logos to post to social media, signifying their excitement while cruising through the Great Land. Holland America Line’s 2023 Alaska Season runs from April through September. Guests can choose from over 100 offered cruises and get the chance to see Alaska through the eyes of the locals. In addition to the already popular 7-day itineraries, the company is revving its beloved 14-day “Great Alaska Explorer” cruise. For cruisers looking to travel deep into Alaska, the company is offering 16 different Cruise-tours, spanning from 3, 4, and 7-day trips. Holland America Line is the only cruise line that gives its guests the opportunity to tour the preserved land of Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Common Window For Inter-Regulatory Products, Services | Business News – The Indian Express https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/common-window-for-inter-regulatory-products-services-business-news-the-indian-express/ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday said the Inter-Regulatory Technical Group on FinTech (IRTG on FinTech) has put in place a common window under the system of Inter-operable Regulatory Sandbox (IoRS) to engage with different regulators regarding their hybrid products. According to the RBI, financial products and service providers whose business models, activities and features fall within the remit of more than one financial sector regulator, will be considered for the testing under IoRS. The FinTech Department of RBI will act as nodal point for receiving applications under IoRS and will be designated as ‘Coordination Group (CG)’ for IoRS. IRTG has been constituted under the aegis of the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC-SC) for inter-regulatory co-ordination among the financial sector regulators on FinTech-related issues including IoRS. “The application for IoRS will be on ‘on tap basis’. The framework of the regulator under whose remit the ‘dominant feature’ of the product falls, will govern it as ‘Principal Regulator (PR)’. The regulator under whose remit the other features apart from the dominant feature of the product fall will be the ‘Associate Regulator (AR)’ The RBI said two sets of factors would be considered or deciding the dominant feature. Firstly, the type of enhancement to the existing products like loans, deposits, capital market instruments, insurance, G-sec instruments and pension products, and secondly, the number of relaxations sought by the entity for undertaking the test under the IoRS. “The dominant feature will be decided with greater weightage to the number of relaxations sought,” it said. The relaxation, if warranted, will be considered by the PR or the AR on a case-to-case basis and a decision to that effect will be binding and final,” the RBI said. Based on the dominant features of the product, the eligibility criteria and networth criteria as applicable for the RS of the concerned regulator (PR) will be applicable to the applicant entity for participation in the IoRS, it said. “Based on the minimum eligibility criteria of the regulator under whose remit the dominant feature of the product falls, the Coordination Group (CG) (FinTech, RBI) will conduct preliminary scrutiny of the application and forward the same to the concerned PR and AR(s) under whose purview the innovation falls,” the RBI said. In order to keep the IoRS process simple and non-disruptive, detailed scrutiny of the application will be done by the PR based on its own framework. The PR will co-ordinate with AR(s), regarding the features of the product, which falls under their remit, it said. In case SEBI is the AR, since the provisions of the SEBI Act allows only SEBI registered entities to participate in their RS, the unregistered applicant may get into a MoU or any other arrangement with a SEBI registered entity to participate in IoRS. “The applications from Indian FinTechs having global ambition and foreign FinTechs seeking entry to India, will be referred to IFSCA, for taking forward the proposals, as IFSCA will be the PR for all such applications,” the RBI said. The PR will reserve the right of admissibility of the hybrid product, solution and innovation as per its RS framework and accordingly communicate to the applicant. The decision to that effect shall also be communicated to CG and IRTG on FinTech, for information, the RBI said. “AR will provide specific inputs, stipulate conditions regarding aspects falling under its remit for parameters to be tested, boundary conditions, risks to be monitored, etc. The AR will provide inputs at the earliest but not later than 30 days from receipt of reference from the PR,” it said. The test design will be finalised by the PR in consultation with the AR. Any co-ordination issue between PR and AR to reach common views on the regulatory treatment of innovative products, services and business models will be discussed and sorted out in the IRTG on FinTech before initiation of the live testing under IoRS. The IRTG on FinTech in its subsequent meetings will monitor the progress of the products being tested under IoRS, the RBI said. After successful exit from the IoRS, the entity will approach the PR and the AR for authorisation and for seeking regulatory dispensation before launching the product in the market. The decision of the respective regulator will be binding on the entity.

Ashton Kutcher And Mila Kunis Live By These Healthy Habits – Eat This, Not That https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/ashton-kutcher-and-mila-kunis-live-by-these-healthy-habits-eat-this-not-that/ Real talk: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are couple goals in more ways than one. Kutcher is gearing up for the 2022 New York City Marathon and lost around 12 pounds while doing it, with a solid support system right by his side. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he reveals, “The biggest change physically has been the transfer of muscle mass from upper body to lower body. I’ve lost about 12 lbs. … my wife [Mila Kunis] has been super supportive” (via PEOPLE). Overall, the couple’s lifestyle game is totally on point. If you didn’t already know, their gorgeous Beverly Hills modern farmhouse is complete with a sleek barbecue pavilion, a stunning pool, and a solar-powered farm that’s absolutely bursting with fresh vegetables, according to PEOPLE. After learning all about it, you’ll want to move in and put your green thumb to good use! Growing your own vegetable garden is a total game-changer when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle, and Kutcher and Kunis clearly understand that. With fresh veggies conveniently located in your own backyard, you know exactly where the meals you consume came from. So if you’re curious about this celeb powerhouse couple’s “fully sustainable” farm and the healthy habits they live by, keep reading to learn more. Matt Winkelmeyer / Staff / Getty Images It all started with the couple’s strong, wholesome values and a dream. “Ashton and Mila are concerned about the quality of the soil, the purity of the food they eat and the water they drink. The ideals of sustainability and regenerative farming aren’t just abstract concepts to them,” says the couple’s architect, Howard Backen (via Architectural Digest). Kunis shares in a cover story with C Magazine the couple’s excitement, saying, “We had this grand idea, and then we moved in four months before COVID hit,” adding, “We didn’t realize how incredible it was to have a fully sustainable house until the world shut down” (via PEOPLE). Talk about perfect timing! Related: Mark Wahlberg, 51, Lives by These Fitness Habits Kutcher (44) and Kunis (39) are understandably proud of living healthy and waited five years for construction on their farm to finish. The stunning property is complete with apple trees and a bountiful veggie garden filled with lettuce, tomatoes, squash, and other sheer goodness (via PEOPLE). And that’s not the only very cool thing about the couple’s digs. Wanting “a home, not an estate,” as Kunis puts it, their farm is totally solar-powered, and the wood used is apparently recycled from an old Wonder Bread factory! Kutcher reveals to Architectural Digest, “We wanted the house to look like an old barn, something that had been here for decades, that was then converted into a house. But it also had to feel modern and relevant.” He also says of their abode, “To feel tranquility in a space, everything needs to be in order. If the world around you isn’t in order, it’s hard to get your brain in order. When we’re in our home, the world just makes sense.” Related: Elon Musk, 51, Has Healthy, Fit Habits You’ll Want To Copy Being in charge of what you put into your body comes with a lot of responsibility. By tending to your own backyard garden—complete with fresh herbs, veggies, and fruits—you’re opening yourself up to a wealth of positive opportunities, specifically being the decision maker on what pesticides and fertilizers come into contact with the food you grow (via Harvard Health Publishing). Having fresh tomatoes, eggplant, lettuce, peppers, basil, and more readily available also makes it seamless to add healthy foods to your daily meals. According to Dr. Helen Delichatsios, an internist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, we should all learn some planting skills. “Backyard gardening can inspire you to take an interest in the origins of your food and make better choices about what you put on your plate,” Dr. Delichatsios says, adding, “When you grow your own food, you savor it more because of the effort it took to get to the table.” This celeb couple’s solar-powered home benefits their overall health and also the environment. Using natural energy protects our ecosystems and all living things! Dubbing themselves “the Kukus,” the pair makes gardening fun family time, recruiting help from their daughter and son, Wyatt, 7; and Dmitri, 5. Kunis admits, “My husband’s from the Midwest, and a lot of this has to do with his upbringing. He’s like, we’re building a farm and we’re all going to work on the farm.” She adds, “I’m from L.A., and I was like, we are? This has been a big learning curve for all of us.” Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis teach their children to “understand the value of a tomato and how much work goes into growing it,” Kunis explains, adding, “Whether it’s learning something new, doing something a little bit scary—all of that makes you stronger” (via PEOPLE). Alexa Mellardo Alexa is the Mind + Body Deputy Editor of Eat This, Not That!, overseeing the M+B channel and delivering compelling fitness, wellness, and self-care topics to readers. Read more about Alexa

Miami Dolphins Captains Vote To Remove Ping-Pong Table From Locker Room Amid Losing Streak – CBS Sports https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/miami-dolphins-captains-vote-to-remove-ping-pong-table-from-locker-room-amid-losing-streak-cbs-sports/ USATSI A ping-pong table has been removed from the Miami Dolphins locker room as part of an effort by team captains to have the team be better prepared amid a two-game losing streak. The ping-pong table had been introduced to the locker room this year, but its removal was confirmed Wednesday afternoon by head coach Mike McDaniel. According to McDaniel, the ping-pong table’s removal came at the request of Dolphins team captains, most notably wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who believed that the locker room game had become a distraction. “Tyreek and the captains decided that they wanted to take a step forward with all their opponent prep with regard to the team and their preparation with our game plans in general,” McDaniel said when discussing the removal of the ping-pong table. “… That, to me, is leadership. To me, leadership is acting, not talking. There’s a bunch of different examples from those guys, and that’s why they’re captains and that’s why I rely on them, because it’s about solving problems, not complaining about them. “They, collectively, as a group of players, wanted more time investment during the week on their jobs for Sunday. So instead of just saying it, they did something about it. And that’s the whole reason that I really have a lot of love for those guys.” Just a few weeks ago, the ping-pong table was seen as a positive in the Dolphins’ locker room after the team sprung out to a 3-0 start. But the situation has changed, and all is now not well: The Dolphins lost 27-15 to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4, a game that saw quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffer a serious head injury that sparked a far-reaching controversy on the handling of players who have suffered a concussion. Then, the Dolphins were blown out 40-17 by the New York Jets in a game that saw them go to third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson after Teddy Bridgewater was also knocked out with a concussion. Given Miami’s current circumstances, it’ll be all hands on deck for them in Week 6 as they face the Minnesota Vikings with Thompson expected to start.

Embily™ Announces Metaverse-Integrated Financial Ecosystem – GlobeNewswire https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/embily-announces-metaverse-integrated-financial-ecosystem-globenewswire/ Tallinn, Estonia, Oct. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Embily is confirmed to present its new native metaverse-integrated financial ecosystem this November at this year’s Financial Summit, in Bali. The company will be represented by founder Alex Bychkov, who will expand on the project’s transformation into a global financial crypto ecosystem. In addition to this, Bychkov will unveil new on-platform functionalities. Embily is currently developing a single entry point ecosystem for crypto users of any level looking for a simple, safe, and convenient way to integrate capital into the digital economy. In a metaverse setting, the project will advance towards a straightforward and gamified approach to user onboarding, which will facilitate connections with decentralised applications and services. Embily’s default infrastructure is set to include a host of services necessary for attracting and circulating liquidity. The following metaverse-based serviced and functionalities will be available to users: Buying and Selling Сryptocurrencies via bank cards and IBAN. Crypto Bank Card products will expand from Europe to the US and Singapore. A working partnership with VISA will also expand the company’s reach to new audiences while ensuring a seamless integration of banking services. Bitcoin Custodial Storage services featuring fast and interest-free replenishment to Embily cards will be included at the initial deployment stage in order to enhance security and adhere to the principles of international financial regulations on KYC and AML practices. Investments In the Real Sector will be supported through connections to the economy via infrastructure partnerships and direct gateways. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Service for businesses seeking to bulk purchases of cryptocurrencies- accelerating their adoption by both retail investors and product and service companies. “Our decision to develop Embily’s infrastructure is stimulated by the fact that we are always striving to make a convenient and multifunctional product aimed at catering to the needs of our users,” states Bychkov. “The metaverse is a promising area in the digital space that has to be leveraged for the purpose of making digital currencies mainstream among a larger number of businesses. Such inclusion will benefit the global economy in this most difficult time, which is also a time of great opportunity that cannot be missed. We believe in the prospects of digital finance, just as our users appreciate the convenience it provides.” The company’s Project Development Team is confident that the presentation of the new product will attract considerable international attention from both financial professionals and new users who share a vision for an open financial ecosystem that expands access to digital financial instruments while preserving integration into traditional fiat gateways. The Financial Summit will be held at a luxurious resort in Bali from the 1st to the 6th of November. It is an exclusive 5-day networking event with only 50-75 active participants invited – Investment Professionals, Financial Engineers, Traders, Family Office & Hedge Fund Money Managers, and Financial Entrepreneurs. Media Contact: Company Name: Embily City: Tallinn Country: Estonia Email: elena@embily.com Website: https://embily.com There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this PR should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation. Newsroom: abrelease.submitmypressrelease.com Embily Embily The smoothest way to manage crypto.

Editor’s Picks: Best Of Fall Baking Steals & Hacks – 22 Words https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/editors-picks-best-of-fall-baking-steals-hacks-22-words/ The fall equinox kicks off a busy holiday baking season for me. I’m always on the lookout for baking deals, new holiday foods, and the latest kitchen gadgets. As my husband knows all too well, it takes a lot of supplies to tackle the holiday recipes I’ve eyeballed for months. I spend months leading up to fall searching for the best fall baking hacks and deals.   Yes, I may have a problem with fall baking finds. It’s not really my fault—I just can’t help but love all the food possibilities that holidays bring. For me, homemade food on the holidays means joy. I just want to spread some seasonal cheer! The good news is, I’m not keeping the cheer to myself. I’m letting you in on some of my favorite fall baking mixes and tools. These are the Halloween and Thanksgiving must-haves I always keep in my kitchen. Whip Up Perfect Fall Cakelets Did you know that the more beautiful food looks, the more likely you are to enjoy it? I bought this adorable baking pan that turns out acorns, pumpkins, and leaves because I wanted to bring new life to one of my favorite fall baking recipes. Pro tip: always coat baking molds with non-stick spray before using. Pretty Up Cupcakes with Glittering Pumpkin Toppers I wasn’t joking about how much appearance matters when I’m doing holiday baking. I’m a little bit picky, and I want all of the holiday food that leaves my kitchen to look amazing. When I’m short on time, I turn to easy décor like these pumpkin cupcake toppers. They’re pretty and easy to use. Taste the Colors of Fall Leaves Everyone loves the glorious red-and-orange palette of fall leaves, but it’s one of the hardest color schemes to pull off on a cake. Trust me, I’ve tried many times and failed. My “fall colors theme” always ends up looking more like a big fat mud puddle. This year I’ll be opting for edible fall leaf cake decorations instead. They are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. Make a Chicken Separate Your Eggs Some of my favorite fall recipes call for egg yolks or whites that have been separated. I always painstakingly separated the yolk from the white using two dishes. That was a waste of time. I recently found this amazing chicken that separates eggs with no mess. It’s a must-have for anyone who loves baking. Beat It with a Ball Whisk Years ago, I tried making whipped cream by hand with a whisk. It was so hard that I wondered how fancy French pastry chefs in the 18th century made it at all. I found this ball whisk when I was looking for baking deals, and now I know. It has changed my life. It works perfectly and takes up so much less space than a traditional whisk. Mold Some Festive Pocket Pies One of my favorite holiday baking hacks is to make pocket pies, aka hand pies, instead of full-size pies. They’re easier to serve at a party or bring along on a trip to the apple orchard. I love these fall pocket pie molds because they make even the most basic pumpkin hand pies look festive and fun. Pop It Out with a Pumpkin Mold I love watching fall baking shows and stealing cool techniques from the pros. That’s how I learned that I could shape festive mousses, cheesecakes, and more with silicone molds. This mold makes perfectly shaped pumpkin confections. Hot chocolate bombs are one of my favorite fall foods to make in these molds. Create a Cookie Cutter Holiday For me, it just isn’t a holiday if I haven’t decorated a ton of sugar cookies. I recently upgraded to these stainless steel fall cookie cutters for more fun options. Fun tip: Instead of topping your apple pie with a traditional lattice crust, use crust cutouts made with these cookie cutters to create a fun design.   Make Delicious Gingerbread People, Fast I’m a big fan of homemade. After all, almost everything tastes better when you make it from scratch. Gingerbread is one of my big exceptions to this rule. I started using this gingerbread mix because it’s a quick option on a busy day. Now I use it anytime I want to make gingerbread. It’s fast, more affordable than from-scratch, and every bit as good as a homemade batch of ginger people.   Pick Up a Pumpkin Mix If it feels like fall outside, it feels like pumpkin bread time to me. Nothing goes together better than a fall celebration and baked goods flavored with pumpkin. I keep a few boxes of this pumpkin bread and muffin mix on hand. This is a go-to for me whenever I have a pumpkin craving or invite friends over in the fall. Plate Up Some Pumpkin Spice Pancakes Pumpkin spice is a fall force to be reckoned with. Half of the new fall products I see in the food and home aisles boast this signature autumn spice. No matter how many new candies or baking recipes I see with pumpkin spice, classic pumpkin spice pancakes will always be my favorite. I love serving a platter of these pancakes with whipped cream and maple syrup for topping. Pour On Genuine Maple Syrup Maple is a classic holiday flavor that features in everything from baked goods to roast meats. The trick to getting the best maple flavor in your fall baking is to use real maple syrup. Tip: Maple syrup is a perishable food product and will mold over time. It should be stored in your fridge after opening.   Get a Unique Taste with Pecan Butter When I see unique nut butters in grocery ads, I can’t help but try them. This pecan butter is one of my favorite baking ideas so far. A little bit of pecan butter goes a long way and adds a ton of flavor to baking recipes that call for peanut or almond butter. Accent Your Kitchen with Fall Towels My kitchen sees a lot of traffic. I want it to look festive for Halloween and Thanksgiving, but it’s not the easiest room to decorate. Instead of trying to shove more décor onto my countertops, I opt for fall kitchen towels that bring a festive burst of autumn color to my space. Break Out the Holiday Bundt Pan Have you ever noticed how many holiday recipes are for bundt cakes? They’re generally easy to make, tasty, and perfect for serving a crowd. Honestly, though, bundts can be pretty boring too. This holiday, mix up your dessert table with a cake made in this harvest leaves bundt pan instead. Get Decked Out in a Holiday Apron More than a few of my nice cold-weather shirts have gotten stained in the kitchen. This holiday season, I’m protecting my shirts with a pretty fall apron. I’ve purchased this apron in a few different prints so I always have one on hand. Drench Your World in Caramel Look, this block of caramel is no joke. Weighing in at 5 pounds, it’s a holiday heavyweight and a real baking deal. Try one of my fall favorites by dipping marshmallows in caramel and rolling them in sprinkles. Pro tip: Use a mini slow cooker or fondue pot to melt caramel for dipping. Give Joy with a Candy Apple Packaging Set My dentist might not approve, but I still love indulging in caramel and candy apples. The only thing better than eating this delicious holiday food is giving one to a friend. This candy apple gift set makes it easier to give my candy apple creations to others without making a sticky mess. Cut Clean-Up Time with Food-Safe Silicone Mats If you like cleaning up after a long day of holiday baking, you’re not from this planet. I hate scrubbing cookies off baking pans most of all. It takes too much time and patience, but parchment paper for every batch of cookies gets expensive too. The answer? Food-safe silicone mats. I’m never going back to scrubbing. Protect Yourself with Mini Oven Mitts Until I found these mini oven mitts, I’d never met an oven mitt I liked. Most are way too big for my small hands and end up gathering dust. These miniature mitts protect my hands without getting in the way of my holiday baking. Whip Up a Pie Crust in Double Time   Who else dreams of flaky pie crusts bursting with fall fruits? I know I’m not the only one! I love making my pie dreams come true with the help of this pie crust mix. It’s a great timesaver when I feel like I’m falling behind on my fall baking. Make That Pecan Pie Without a Fuss Pecans are right up there with chestnuts when it comes to classic holiday nuts. My Thanksgiving spread always includes a delectable pecan pie. This pecan pie in a jar is one of my favorite holiday deals because the only other ingredients I need to make a pie are a crust and some eggs.

Crypto Trader DonAlt Posts Bitcoin Price Prediction – ‘I’m Buying Now’ – Cryptonews https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/crypto-trader-donalt-posts-bitcoin-price-prediction-im-buying-now-cryptonews/ DonAlt shared a new Bitcoin price prediction today to Twitter and YouTube, where he has a combined 469,000 followers including subscribers to the TechnicalRoundup YouTube channel. DonAlt (@CryptoDonAlt) stated he’s ‘buying now’ at around the $19,000 level, and is ‘always comfortable buying below $20,000’ – timestamp 14:10 in the below video.  He isn’t ruling out Bitcoin trading lower in the short term, in which case he’ll ‘buy more’ and add to his spot position – cautioning against using leverage with CPI data coming on Thursday. DonAlt streams live on the TechnicalRoundup channel each week alongside another popular trader @CryptoCred, who has 501,000 followers on Twitter. DonAlt Bitcoin Price Prediction – Crypto Twitter DonAlt’s rationale – shared by various other notable crypto Twitter accounts such as TraderSZ and CryptoISO – is that the markets have been so battered and beaten down, that a move to the upside is more likely at the current time. Even if only as a bear market rally to squeeze offside shorts, within the long term macro downtrend. His advice is to buy the dip on Bitcoin now when the market is ‘depressing’, as a better play than FOMO’ing into green candles and $100,000+ price targets shared by the most vocal Bitcoin bulls like Michael Saylor. DonAlt also tweeted that his ‘gut feeling for the trad markets’ (e.g. the S&P 500) is down, but that crypto would begin to decouple finally and move up. In the past few days Bitcoin has shown signs of resilience versus the SPX – while so far in 2022 that’s simply been a sign of cryptocurrency lagging behind, DonAlt is optimistic that the correlation between Bitcoin and stocks will come to an end. DonAlt’s new Bitcoin price prediction is notable with his wide following and since he accurately warned traders of the incoming bear market back around the November 2021 top. When Bitcoin printed an SFP (swing failure pattern) at the former $65,000 high, DonAlt tweeted along the lines of ‘see you guys in a year‘.  Then as the Bitcoin price began its now almost twelve month correction, DonAlt cautioned against opening a position, mostly remaining in cash – until now. Weekly timeframe Bitcoin price chart, source – TechnicalRoundup Later in his Bitcoin analysis video DonAlt marked out the price levels above. He mentioned that while he doesn’t think Bitcoin will reach $33k in the short term, by the first quarter of 2023, he doesn’t predict it will hit the $12 – $14k area either – a common price target of Bitcoin bears, and monthly support. His current Bitcoin price target is the $29,000 area where he will sell Bitcoin to derisk. Crypto Price Movements The Bitcoin price is currently testing the $19,200 level and up almost 1% in the past 24 hours, quickly recovering from two minor dips earlier today when PPI data and FOMC minutes were released. Given Bitcoin’s strength today, CryptoISO – who has 115,000 followers – expects it to rally tomorrow if the CPI has a ‘hint of anything positive’. Several altcoins we have been watching closely are back in the headlines – Tamadoge (TAMA) is up 29% in the past day on OKX exchange. Terra Classic is trending on new news that Binance has burned almost 3 billion LUNC from the circulating supply. The IMPT token presale is also nearing the $4 million raised mark. Related Best Crypto Telegram Groups Bitcoin Price Up Since Bitboy Crypto’s Bearish Prediction

DHS Announces New Migration Enforcement Process For Venezuelans – US Embassy & Consulates In Mexico https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/dhs-announces-new-migration-enforcement-process-for-venezuelans-us-embassy-consulates-in-mexico/ Venezuelans who seek to enter the U.S. illegally will be returned to Mexico; New lawful pathway created for some Venezuelans WASHINGTON – Today, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing work to build a fair, orderly, and secure immigration system, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing joint actions with Mexico to reduce the number of people arriving at our Southwest border and create a more orderly and safe process for people fleeing the humanitarian and economic crisis in Venezuela. Almost four times as many Venezuelans as last year attempted to cross our southern border, placing their lives in the hands of ruthless smuggling organizations. Meanwhile, irregular migration from northern Central America is down by a quarter from the level encountered last year. The actions the United States and Mexico are announcing today are intended to address the most acute irregular migration and help ease pressure on the cities and states receiving these individuals. Effective immediately, Venezuelans who enter the United States between ports of entry, without authorization, will be returned to Mexico. At the same time, the United States and Mexico are reinforcing their coordinated enforcement operations to target human smuggling organizations and bring them to justice. That campaign will include new migration checkpoints, additional resources and personnel, joint targeting of human smuggling organizations, and expanded information sharing related to transit nodes, hotels, stash houses, and staging locations. The United States is also planning to offer additional security assistance to support regional partners to address the migration challenges in the Darién Gap. Our comprehensive effort to reduce the irregular migration of Venezuelans also includes a new process to lawfully and safely bring up to 24,000 qualifying Venezuelans into the United States.  The United States will not implement this process without Mexico keeping in place its independent but parallel effort to accept the return of Venezuelan nationals who bypass this process and attempt to enter irregularly. “These actions make clear that there is a lawful and orderly way for Venezuelans to enter the United States, and lawful entry is the only way,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Those who attempt to cross the southern border of the United States illegally will be returned to Mexico and will be ineligible for this process in the future. Those who follow the lawful process will have the opportunity to travel safely to the United States and become eligible to work here.” This effort is intended to enhance border security by reducing the number of Venezuelans seeking to irregularly enter the United States. It is derived from the success of the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, which decreased flows at the border by creating an orderly process for the entry of Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. DHS will closely monitor the implementation of this process, and Mexico’s independent and parallel efforts, and may consider expanding it in the future. To be eligible, Venezuelans must: have a supporter in the United States who will provide financial and other support; pass rigorous biometric and biographic national security and public safety screening and vetting; and complete vaccinations and other public health requirements. Venezuelans are ineligible if they: have been ordered removed from the United States in the previous five years; have crossed without authorization between ports of entry after the date of announcement; have irregularly entered Mexico or Panama after the date of announcement, or are a permanent resident or dual national of any country other than Venezuela, or currently hold refugee status in any country; or have not completed vaccinations and other public health requirements.  Venezuelans should not travel to Mexico to pursue entry into the United States. Venezuelans approved via this process will be authorized on a case-by-case basis to travel to the United States by air directly to an interior port of entry, thus relieving pressure at the border. Once in the United States, they will be eligible to apply for work authorization. DHS will administer the process, working with communities and other partners. Any U.S.-based individual with lawful status, including representatives of businesses or other organizations or entities, can support a potential beneficiary from Venezuela. A supporter must prove that they have the means to provide financial and other support for the beneficiary. In the coming days, potential supporters can apply to DHS to support individual eligible Venezuelans via www.uscis.gov/Venezuela. Individuals and representatives of organizations seeking to apply as a supporter must declare the organization’s financial support and they must pass security background checks to protect against exploitation and abuse. The State Department will also engage in a robust in-region messaging campaign to communicate about this new process and the consequences of attempting irregular entry. More information will be available at www.uscis.gov/Venezuela in the coming days. Today’s actions are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce irregular migration throughout the Western Hemisphere, including through the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration and the multinational Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. The process announced today is one more element of the United States’ multilateral approach to addressing irregular migration that is impacting countries throughout Latin America, and it is premised on pairing increased enforcement in response to irregular immigration with the development of lawful and safe pathways for qualifying individuals. Venezuelans have been migrating throughout the hemisphere since approximately 2014, yet the level of irregular migration of Venezuelans has increased dramatically throughout the hemisphere in the past several years. There are currently 2.4 million Venezuelans residing in Colombia. More than 25% of Venezuela’s population has left the country.  The United States is seeing a rising rate of Venezuelans encountered at our border over the past two years, which has surged in the last few months. Average monthly unique encounters of Venezuelan nationals at the land border totaled 15,494 in FY 2022, rising further to over 25,000 in August and 33,000 in September, compared to a monthly average of 127 unique encounters from FY 2014–2019.   Of note, unique encounters of Venezuelan nationals rose 293 percent between FY 2021 and FY 2022, while unique encounters of all other nationalities combined increased 45 percent. Panama is currently seeing more than 3,000 people, mostly Venezuelan nationals, crossing into its territory from Colombia via the Darién jungle each day. The United States, in partnership with Mexico, also is committing to further expanding lawful labor pathways for Mexican and Northern Central American nationals. This last year, the United States doubled the number of H-2 visas issued to nationals of the Northern Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Today, we are announcing the largest H-2B supplemental in history for Fiscal Year 2023: nearly 65,000 new H-2B visas, including a set-aside of 20,000 to nationals of Northern Central American countries and Haiti.  Historically, approximately 90% of these visas have been used by Mexican nationals.  This increase is coupled with strong measures to protect both U.S. and H-2B workers. Concurrent with this announcement, the Biden-Harris Administration is launching a White House-led Worker Protection Task Force to ensure ethical recruitment and dignified labor standards for foreign workers alongside protections for U.S. workers. The United States also is renewing its commitment to tackle the root causes of migration and support countries in the region that are most impacted by these flows. For that reason, the United States has announced nearly $817 million in new assistance since September 2022 under the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. This includes more than $240 million in new regional humanitarian and security assistance, $376 million in additional humanitarian assistance for people affected by the Venezuela regional crisis, and more than $199 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Mexico and Central America.

Rite Aid Lands Major Technology Pact With Google Cloud – Supermarket News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/rite-aid-lands-major-technology-pact-with-google-cloud-supermarket-news/ Rite Aid has entered a sweeping technology partnership with Google Cloud designed to give the drugstore, pharmacy care and health services company a more flexible, data-driven and efficient platform for growth and operations. Plans call for Google Cloud technologies to arm Philadelphia-based Rite Aid with sharper insights, more agility and enhances customer experiences, the companies said yesterday. Modernized applications for personalized digital experiences, too, will position Rite Aid’s over 6,400 pharmacists to spend more time interacting directly with patients. Under the multiyear agreement, Rite Aid is slated to migrate key applications to Google Cloud’s Anthos managed platform for application deployment. Those applications will include Rite Aid’s vaccine scheduling tool, customer messaging infrastructure and digital engagement platform. Google Cloud noted that Anthos with give Rite Aid pharmacies cloud computing capabilities on-site, enabling more resilient operations. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based tech giant said strategic business continuity will Rite Aid to continue to provide elevated care during natural disasters through robust patient information, advanced prescription management and the ability to offer recommendations without needing to be connected to centralized, legacy mainframe technology. More specifically, Rite Aid said, the Google Cloud partnership will help the company “realize its vision of a modern pharmacy.” “The power of pharmacies, and the important role pharmacists play in the health of their communities, greatly expanded during COVID. Realizing that potential means making strategic investments in technology that can truly help our customers and maximize the capabilities of our pharmacists,” according to Justin Mennen, executive vice president and chief digital and technology officer at Rite Aid. “Google Cloud’s solutions are uniquely positioned to run at each pharmacy location to allow our store teams to help our customers to achieve whole health for life.” Rite Aid In late 2020, Rite Aid unveiled its ‘pharmacy of the future’ concept that included an elevated role for pharmacists and stores offering a wider range of products and services to promote wellness. What’s more, Rite Aid has enlisted Google Cloud to drive digital transformations across other parts of its business. Those efforts include the following: • Enterprise data migration: Rite Aid will shift its enterprise data to Google Cloud using BigQuery. With the move, its pharmacies stand to have better insights into its finances, supply chain inventory and customer information, enabling data-driven decisions for business operations. • Enhanced search: Google Cloud’s Retail Search solution will give Rite Aid customers more precise search results when shopping on Rite Aid’s e-commerce site and mobile app. The improved search experience leverages Google-quality search models to understand customer intent and taps Rite Aid’s first-party data — such as promotions, available inventory and price — for product ranking results. • Updated PBM application suite: Elixir, Rite Aid’s pharmacy benefit management and services unit, will update its current PBM application suite to a cloud-first experience, with artificial intelligence and machine learning-infused business logic capabilities. New Google Cloud data analytics and processing capabilities will help the PBM better manage prescription benefits for health insurers, the companies said. “As a health care company with a retail footprint, Rite Aid is at the intersection of two quickly evolving industries and making strategic technology investments to meet rising customer expectations,” Carrie Tharp, vice president of retail and consumer solutions for Google Cloud, said in a statement. “Through these innovations, Rite Aid is defining the modern pharmacy.” The nation’s third-largest drugstore chain, Rite Aid totaled fiscal 2022 revenue of $24.57 billion. That included about $17.37 billion in its Retail Pharmacy business unit (front-end sales of $5.22 billion and pharmacy sales of $12.15 billion) plus roughly $7.2 billion in sales from its Pharmacy Services unit. Rite Aid follows a range of companies in the food, drug and mass channel partnering with cloud and IT services giants in recent years. Companies teaming up with Google include C&S Wholesale Grocers, Albertsons Cos., Hy-Vee and The Kroger Co., among other. Food, drug and mass retailers partnering with cloud and tech services rival Microsoft include Loblaw Cos., Kroger, Albertsons, Walmart, Costco Wholesale, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Giant Eagle. Amazon Inc.’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) subsidiary also has brought food and grocery players into a cloud-based computing architecture, including Instacart, Ocado, Sainsbury, HelloFresh and, of course, Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh.

Ruggs Crash 1-Year Mark To Pass Before Preliminary Hearing – The Washington Post https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/ruggs-crash-1-year-mark-to-pass-before-preliminary-hearing-the-washington-post/ LAS VEGAS — More than a year will have passed before a judge hears evidence alleging former Las Vegas Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III caused a fatal crash while driving drunk at 156 mph in November 2021. Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman on Wednesday scheduled a preliminary hearing for Feb. 1, after Ruggs defense attorney David Chesnoff asked for time to investigate and possibly challenge elements of a police report that he said he received since last month. Chesnoff termed the report “quite extensive and exhaustive.” He declined outside court to say what parts he and attorney Richard Schonfeld might fight. Prosecutor Eric Bauman told The Associated Press it is unusual for 15 months to pass between an arrest and a preliminary hearing, at which a judge determines if a case will go to trial in state court. “But this is an unusual case,” Bauman said. “The defendant has excellent attorneys who are going to make the state earn every inch.” Ruggs’ lawyers have lost several legal challenge since the crash last Nov. 2 and the arrest of the 23-year-old former first-round draft pick. Ruggs and his girlfriend, Je’nai Kilgo-Washington, were in his vehicle and both were hospitalized following the predawn wreck on a city street that sparked a fire that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor in her vehicle. Ruggs is accused of having a blood-alcohol level twice the Nevada legal limit and faces multiple felony driving under the influence and reckless driving counts. He also faces a misdemeanor gun possession charge after police reported finding a loaded handgun in his demolished Chevrolet Corvette. Charges against him carry a mandatory two years in prison if he’s convicted, and possibly more than 50 years. Chesnoff and Schonfeld have argued that police didn’t have probable cause to ask a judge for a warrant to obtain Ruggs’ blood. They also tried to block doctors from being able to tell what Ruggs told them about the crash or his injuries. Prosecutors have said Ruggs suffered a leg injury and Kilgo-Washington suffered a serious arm injury. The Clark County coroner determined the fire killed Tintor. Ruggs’ lawyers also said they have witness accounts suggesting that firefighters were slow to extinguish the fire. Ruggs did not attend Wednesday’s hearing. He has been on house arrest for more than 11 months on $150,000 bail and strict conditions including alcohol checks. A lawyer for Tintor’s family did not immediately respond Wednesday to messages about the new court date. Ruggs was drafted out of Alabama in 2020 and signed a four-year contract with the Raiders that was reported to be worth more than $16 million. The team released Ruggs several hours after the crash.

How You Can Get Paid To Visit A Part Of Italy By Train – Vancouver Is Awesome https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/how-you-can-get-paid-to-visit-a-part-of-italy-by-train-vancouver-is-awesome/ One area is also known as the ‘little Venice’ of Italy. Italy is a bucket list destination for many Canadian travellers — but they typically don’t enjoy fighting crowds or forking out big bucks to stay in accommodations in its most popular cities.  While tourist meccas like Rome, Florence, and Venice are typically more expensive, thrifty tourists can save even more money by visiting a less frequented region of the country.  Located in northeastern Italy, the picturesque Friuli Venezia Giulia borders Austria, Slovenia, and the Adriatic Sea. A part of the region is known as the “little Venice” of Italy because of its canals, while other areas are coveted for their breathtaking alpine vistas.  The local Italian tourism board, PromoTurismoFVG, will reimburse travellers for the cost of transportation from anywhere in the country to the region until May 31, 2023, as part of an initiative to drive sustainable travel.  Visitors must book a package holiday that includes the train ticket as well as an overnight stay in any of the following cities and towns: Grado, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Udine or Trieste. How to book the Italy experience Travellers may only book their vacation through a travel agency called Travel One Tour Operator to take advantage of the promotion. Tickets must arrive and/or depart from the following railway stations: Latisana-Lignano-Bibione, Cervignano-Aquileia-Grado, Trieste Airport, or Trieste Centrale, Udine station. The promotional package also includes the FVGcard: a card that offers discounts and free admission to many attractions, including guided tours and free access to museums, castles, and churches.  The FVGcard is also the Passport of the Strada del Vino e dei Sapori (The Route of Wine and Flavours), which includes three free tastings with two glasses of wine. There are several round-trip tickets available from Vancouver to Venice for just over $900 CAD including all taxes and fees. However, you may want to start your European adventure elsewhere. Keep in mind that plane tickets within Europe are inexpensive, so if you fly into another city, such as Amsterdam, you can also take a cheap flight or a train ride to Italy.

College Of Business Announces 2022 Early Career Achievement Award Recipients – Illinois State University News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/college-of-business-announces-2022-early-career-achievement-award-recipients-illinois-state-university-news/ 2022 Early Career Achievement Award (ECAA).

Community Health Assessment Identifies Behavioral Health As Number One Need – WITF https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/community-health-assessment-identifies-behavioral-health-as-number-one-need-witf/ October 12, 2022 | 3:02 PM Wilfredo Lee / AP Phto Healthcare workers walk to a tent, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, at a COVID-19 testing site outside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. State officials say Florida has surpassed 500,000 coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, testing is ramping up following a temporary shutdown of some sites because of Tropical Storm Isaias. Airdate: October 12, 2022 What are the health needs of Central Pennsylvanians and other nearby residents? UPMC recently published its 2022 Community Health Needs Assessments and Implementation Plans. The assessment identified the four most pressing health needs in all the communities served by UPMC. It may not be a surprise – especially after the past two-and-half years of the COVID-19 pandemic – but behavioral health was identified as the number priority or health need. Also on the list of priorities or needs were chronic disease management, access to care and navigating resources and prevention and community wide healthy living. On Wednesday’s Smart Talk, Tina Nixon, vice president, Mission Effectiveness and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, UPMC in Central Pennsylvania addressed behavioral health as a priority,”Behavioral health means access to mental health providers as well as opioid substance abuse. And so, as we all know, we are in the epidemic when it comes to that substance abuse. It’s something that we didn’t talk about during the pandemic, but it’s still there. And having access and resources for treatment is very important. And so that is something that we we continue to be working on. We continue to work on that through our Center for Addiction Recovery Mobile Unit, where when you talk about access, we have to think of all our neighborhoods that encompass our region. We take that mobile unit to our rural areas up north and south because we have some southern place spots that we go. Also, access to mental health providers is very important and not having to wait six, eight months to get in. So looking at how we can embed behavioral health specialists into our primary care offices, that was something that we were working on before the pandemic. So, we can provide a one stop shop for individuals that are coming in. You get your primary care visit in it. If there’s a need to to speak with a behavioral health specialist, they’re right there for you. So I’m doing some of those things, too, to help address the important need of behavioral health in our community. We also know that during the pandemic, the numbers have increased for individuals that need that and specially our young folks.” Nixon described how the assessment is being used,”The community health needs assessment we’re really trying to capture from our patients, our board members, our social and human service organizations, community partners, elected officials, information around access to health. Looking at primary and secondary data to help drive some of this work that we’re doing to kind of get all this information in and figure out what we can do as a health care system to really work on the priorities that come out of the community health needs assessment.”

Missouri Will Try Again For Sports Betting In 2023 – But Isn’t Worried About Kansas – Gaming Today https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/missouri-will-try-again-for-sports-betting-in-2023-but-isnt-worried-about-kansas-gaming-today/ Missouri state lawmaker Dan Houx doesn’t see the Kansas City Chiefs leaving Missouri. He’s even more confident they won’t leave Missouri for Kansas.  Kansas launched retail and online sports betting through state-operated casinos on Sept. 1 under legislation passed last May. That law puts a 10 percent tax on operator revenue, with the majority of state revenue going into an “Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund” – with the Chiefs considered a clear target.  In neighboring Missouri, sports betting has yet to be legalized. But Houx doesn’t see Kansas as much of a threat to become a real relocation destination for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.  “I don’t see that happening,” Houx told Gaming Today on Tuesday. “What they did in their (legislation) is the revenue goes to entice a team to come to Kansas (but) their revenues are extremely low. Say their sportsbook’s bringing in $10 million a year – it’s going to take a long time to get to $1 billion for a new stadium.” According to Houx, Missouri is Chiefs’ territory. He estimates at least 75 percent of Missourians are Chiefs fans. When asked about whispers of a move to Kansas, Houx didn’t mince words. “If you want to see a real border war, if the Chiefs packed up and went to Kansas, it would be something else. I think you would see memorabilia burnt in the streets, so to speak,” he told Gaming Today. “We’re a great state and we love our football,” said the Warrensburg Republican. “It’s the whole Midwest you’ve got to think about – from Iowa to Nebraska, to Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas – the Chiefs are central to it all.”  KC Chiefs, Other Teams Want Legal Missouri Sports Betting A new, or even renovated stadium is definitely on the Chiefs’ wish list. But that’s only part of what the franchise wants.  The Chiefs also want legal sports betting in Missouri.  Last spring, the team and other pro sports franchises in the state – including the Royals – worked with Houx and other lawmakers to bring legal options to the state. If the bill had passed, legal sports betting (via licensed online apps tied to the stadiums and casinos) would have launched earlier this year. Casinos would also have been allowed in-person sportsbooks.  “If you want to see a real border war, if the Chiefs packed up and went to Kansas, it would be something else.” — Lawmaker Dan Houx  It didn’t happen. The bill was instead derailed in May after lawmakers disagreed on an amendment that would have legalized up to 5,000 video lottery terminals, or VLTs, in the state.  In another attempt, Houx tried again to pass the bill last month during a special tax session in Jefferson City. That proposal would have bumped the tax rate up to 10 percent from 8 percent in the bill last spring, but otherwise would have been the same. Unfortunately, the bill didn’t advance.  What’s Next for Missouri Sports Betting? Houx expects much better results when he files a similar bill during the Missouri 2023 regular session starting Jan. 4. The tax rate is likely to be much higher in the next bill, he said (between 15 and 17 percent), but would still give pro teams and casinos online sportsbooks and casinos a retail option. At 17 percent, Missouri state revenues would be nearly double the $13-$15 million annual tax revenue that would have been generated by the proposal last spring. “We had a hearing on the bill during the special session and (one legislator) said the number one thing she’s hearing from door-knocking is ‘why don’t we have sports betting?’” said Houx.  “People want it. The legislature wants it. It’s going to be a top priority – I’d say in the top 5 – in January.” Expansion Could Be in the Cards for Chiefs The Chiefs haven’t said for sure that they even want to leave Missouri. And Houx’s prediction of a long slog to get Kansas to $1 billion might be accurate. Revenue reported by KSNT-TV on Monday shows Kansas sports betting revenue totaled $1.3 million in its first month of operation.  The state’s share of that is about $130,000.  Additionally, the Chiefs have good options for growth in Missouri, said Houx. One includes a possible expansion at the Truman Sports Complex, should the KC Royals follow through with plans to eventually move to downtown Kansas City.  The Chiefs are tied to a lease at Arrowhead Field through 2031, giving the franchise and the state time to formulate an expansion plan. Chiefs CEO and Chairman Clark Hunt said a renovation of Arrowhead is a possibility in a press conference last November:  “We think that GEHA Field at Arrowhead is still one of the finest stadiums in the National Football League,” said Hunt. “Obviously, things change, and the way fans want to consume the game, and the kind of spaces that you need … those things change over time and we’re paying attention to that. “There will be things, when we get to the end of our lease here in nine or so years, I’m sure, that we’ll want to incorporate into the stadium. One possibility will be another renovation of Arrowhead.”

Will The Metaverse Actually Become A Real Thing? – Social Media Today https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/will-the-metaverse-actually-become-a-real-thing-social-media-today/ Will the metaverse ever pan out as Meta hopes? That’s become a key question in recent times, with the company investing billions into a long-term project that, thus far, still looks largely experimental, and seems unlikely to become a replacement for online interactions as we know them. This image, shared by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, quickly came to represent the company’s failure, or at least, challenge in the space. Because while Meta’s VR development has actually been amazing – affordable, standalone VR headsets are a revolution that many seem to overlook – the practical value of the space just isn’t there. And as time goes on, it seems like maybe Zuck could have got it wrong in this instance, or at the least, that he could have gone too early with his metaverse push. But then again, when you’re investing $10 billion in a year into a project, investors are going to want to see results. Which leaves Meta in a tough spot – going too early leads to disappointment and criticism, while creating in private could limit future business opportunities. Which leads to the question – how far off are we from an actual, viable, realistic metaverse shift? According to Meta, we’re definitely still years away. At the company’s Connect conference this week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted that: “It’s not like this stuff is going to be fully mature in a year or even two or three years. It’s going to take a long time to build out the next computing platform.” Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth echoed the same: “It’s still far away, but it’s continuing to appear every year that we are one year closer.” Last October, as part of the announcement of Facebook’s re-brand to the Meta name, Zuckerberg also explained that his metaverse vision will take five to ten years to become a mainstream consideration. That would theoretically mean that we’re not likely to be interacting in a fully-functional, fully-integrated metaverse space till 2031 – and on that timeline, it really doesn’t matter what Zuckerberg’s avatar looks like right now, because so much will happen as technological advancements continue to accelerate in the space. TikTok, for example, had just 55 million users in 2018, and has now become a dominant player in the space, with well over a billion actives. A lot can change, very quickly, in the space, and with that in mind, it’s not unfeasible to imagine that the metaverse could still become the thing. It’s just not there as yet. In some ways, many had hoped that Meta would unveil a clearer vision for how this might come about as part of its Connect conference this week, but the announcements and updates, largely focused on VR for professional use, didn’t really blow anyone away. That will no doubt lead to more skepticism about Zuckerberg’s vision – but again, perspective is important, particularly in regards to the acceleration of VR development, which has already seen Meta’s Quest app store bring in over $1.5 billion in revenue. As reported by TechCrunch: “The company notes that more than one-third of the company’s 400 Quest titles have grossed more than $1 million in sales, with 33 titles having surpassed $10 million in gross revenue. A couple bright spots that Meta noted among individual titles include The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners surpassing $50 million in revenue on Quest, and Resident Evil making $2 million in its first 24 hours in the store.” Again, this is an amazing achievement, and the experiences facilitated by Meta’s Quest headsets are indeed mind-blowing at times. Align that with the next-level vision of a more integrated metaverse experience, and there are clearly strong signals there – especially when you also consider how younger audiences are essentially already engaging in metaverse experiences within game worlds like Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox. This is already an established, habitual process for these audiences, and as such, it stands to reason that they’ll be increasingly open to the same in a broader range of settings as they get older. AR and VR advances, aligned with these trends, do indeed point to a metaverse future – though the actual process of facilitating such will still require many steps. Which Meta is also working on. Another important announcement at Connect this week was Meta’s new agreement with Microsoft, which will see the two tech giants working together on a range of VR integrations for Microsoft apps and tools. That, in itself, serves immediate, practical purpose for professional VR use. But it also opens up negotiations between the two companies on other elements, like facilitating cross-platform integration between Microsoft’s various platforms – including Windows, Xbox, LinkedIn – within Meta’s metaverse experience. The true fulfillment of Zuckerberg’s metaverse vision will require agreement on universal schemas to build within the metaverse space, enabling all kinds of partner developers to plug their tools into the space, enabling users to, say, take their character avatar from Fortnite to Horizon Worlds to a Microsoft Teams meeting, etc. That’s a complex proposal. It’s taken years of negotiation and back-end work for video game platforms to facilitate cross-app play, and that, in some ways, is a precursor to what we’ll have to see in the lead-up to the next phase of metaverse development. With this in mind, the fact that Meta’s already working with Microsoft, and other big-name players in the space, is a positive sign for future potential, which could see more partnerships established to make such a reality. But again, it’ll all take time. In Zuckerberg’s own words: “It’s not going to be until later this decade that this stuff really starts to get fully mature.” There are steps required, and patience, but eventually, there are clear signs that it is all going to take shape, just as Zuck envisions. So long as Meta doesn’t keep losing money, so long as its past reputation doesn’t impede it, so long as the perception of the metaverse doesn’t get so damaged by early screenshots and examples that it becomes a joke, which then sees people avoid it as a result. That could still happen. Google Glass bombed on the back of public criticism (though there were functional problems as well), and that early sentiment can play a part in impeding take-up. Facebook may have changed its name to avoid association with its past missteps, but skepticism is already fairly strong around its metaverse development, and if Zuck and Co. keep posting images that look like screenshots from The Sims, that won’t do much to ingratiate people to this new experience. Add to this reports of internal doubt over the project, that Meta developers won’t even use Horizon Worlds because it’s too buggy, that VR headsets hurt after a couple of hours of use. There’s no shortage of reasons to doubt the broader vision, but on balance, when you take into account Meta’s statements on such, and look at how far things have evolved, in line with broader trends, it still does seem like this could become a real thing. But it’ll take time – which is why you probably don’t need to be investing in a metaverse strategy right now, and why being an early mover may actually cost you a lot more than it’s worth in this instance. There are elements worth considering, like 3D modeling and the integration of your products into AR experiences. There are ways that you can prepare for the next stage, but until those schemas and processes are agreed to, nobody knows what’s going to work in the metaverse and what isn’t. Because the metaverse, as of right now, does not exist. We’re years away from this being an actual thing, as per Meta’s own statements. So before you take that pitch from that consulting firm on how to kick off your metaverse approach, or you consider appointing a chief metaverse officer, consider first where things are actually placed right now, and what that actually means for your business process. There may well be advantages to being prepared, and considering where things are heading. But the metaverse hype has gotten ahead of development, and there are still key building blocks that need to fall into place before the next steps can realistically be taken.

Don’t Miss These Must-Have Amazon Home Buys Under $50 – Part Of Amazon Prime Day – Homes & Gardens https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/dont-miss-these-must-have-amazon-home-buys-under-50-part-of-amazon-prime-day-homes-gardens/ While it’s easy to think about the big-ticket items during the Amazon Early Access Sale (opens in new tab), aka October Amazon Prime Day, we’ve also considered the little indulgences that don’t necessarily require planning ahead or may have been on your mind already and just waiting for the price to drop.  We’ve rounded up a number of the best Amazon home buys under $50  that’ll upgrade your day-to-day, refresh your bedding, and even elevate your space, as well as make easy gifts.  In case you’ve yet to browse our Prime Day home deals hub with all the latest spotlights on trending home finds and best buys or our round-up of the best Prime Day kitchen deals, for the most sought-after kitchen appliances, nothing’s out of budget here.  Amazon home buys under $50

Dogecoin Price Prediction As Elon Musk Launches Fragrance Accepting DOGE Payments – Cryptonews https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/dogecoin-price-prediction-as-elon-musk-launches-fragrance-accepting-doge-payments-cryptonews/ Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com. Elon Musk, the billionaire industrialist and Dogecoin enthusiast, has launched a new fragrance that can be purchased using Dogecoin.  Can this be the catalyst for DOGE’s jump, especially with the market’s bear run?  DOGE Price Movement DOGE, one of the best meme coins, has been bearish for the past few days. The digital asset currently trades at $0.06045. Although DOGE has pumped by 0.38% in the past 24 hours, its weekly price peg indicates a downtrend of 7%. DOGE’s technicals show that the crypto asset currently trades above all of its short-term moving average (MA) indicators; however, its 100-day and 200-day MAs ($0.06070 and $0.0609) are above its current price.  With a positive moving average convergence divergence (MACD), DOGE indicates a buy signal. In addition, the crypto asset’s relative strength index (RSI) of 58.11 reveals that it’s not massively overbought.  Buy DOGE on eToro Now Elon Musk’s New Fragrance Accepts DOGE The biggest news for DOGE seems to be the recent launch of Burnt Hair, a fresh fragrance launched by Elon Musk.  Musk shared the fragrance’s first look in the early hours of Wednesday. The billionaire included a purchase link hosted by The Boring Company, his tunnel construction project. Each bottle of Burnt Hair costs $100, and Musk confirmed that DOGE payments are accepted for the cologne. Just a few hours after announcing it, Musk confirmed that 10,000 bottles of Burnt Hair had been sold. However, the billionaire has yet to confirm how many bottles were bought using DOGE.  Burnt Hair is the second recent notable DOGE-related development coming from Musk.  DOGE’s Twitter Takeover Last week, Musk’s lawyers filed to complete his $44 billion takeover of Twitter, possibly bringing an end to a back-and-forth that has gone on for months between both parties.  According to phone transcripts, the billionaire proposed that users pay a small fee in DOGE whenever they want to tweet or retweet something. It is still unclear whether this will be possible, but there is growing confidence that Musk will include a role for DOGE to play as he takes over Twitter and reshapes the social networking giant.  Google Cloud Integrates DOGE Another bullish news for DOGE is Google’s partnership with notable crypto exchange Coinbase. According to reports, the internet conglomerate has partnered with Coinbase to accept crypto payments for its Google Cloud service.   At its Cloud Next conference, Google Cloud Vice President and General Manager Amit Zavery explained that Google would start accepting crypto payments from a “handful” of customers through its integration with Coinbase Commerce, a payment tool for businesses. Coinbase Commerce currently accepts payments in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), DOGE, and Tether (USDT).   Although the terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed, Jim Migdal, Vice President of business development at Coinbase, reportedly announced that the deal would follow other arrangements with Coinbase Commerce. The exchange will likely receive a cut of every transaction that goes through the system.  Conclusion  Dogecoin is an interesting asset for prospective investors in the crypto space. However, investors looking to make a meaningful change can consider IMPT, the native token for Impact Protocol.  Impact Protocol intends to use blockchain to fight climate change by allowing users to purchase carbon credits. Its IMPT token presale is currently one of the best crypto presales, already raising $3 million. Investors can buy IMPT tokens on the website.  Visit IMPT Now

Minority Farmers Sue U.S. Government Over Repealed Debt Relief Program – Reuters.com https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/minority-farmers-sue-u-s-government-over-repealed-debt-relief-program-reuters-com/ WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) – Black and other farmers of color filed a class action lawsuit against the U.S. government on Wednesday, claiming the recent repeal of a debt relief program that targeted them amounts to a breach of contract by the government. The suit comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to roll out an amended debt relief program, passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August, that allocates relief based on economic need rather than race. USDA offers operating and ownership loans to farmers through its Farm Service Agency (FSA). The agency had previously said it would forgive loan debt held by farmers it describes as socially disadvantaged, in an attempt to compensate for decades of discriminatory lending practices that contributed to them losing land. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The definition includes Black, Native American, Hispanic and Asian farmers. White farmers alleged discrimination and stalled the program with lawsuits. It was then repealed by the IRA, which instead included a debt relief provision based solely on economic need, angering some Black farmer groups. Four Virginia farmers of color argue in the suit, filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, that the repeal amounted to breaching a contract with farmers, some of whom made financial plans or bought new equipment or land based on the expectation of relief. The farmers are represented by Ben Crump, a prominent U.S. civil rights attorney known for his work representing the families of Black Americans killed by police. The Department of Justice declined to comment on the suit. About 14,000 farmers of color received letters from USDA between May and September of 2021 promising a cumulative $2.4 billion in debt relief, according to earlier Reuters reporting. Princess Williams, one of the four plaintiffs, said at a news conference in Washington that she had signed and returned one of those letters and took out new loans with the expectation of having her FSA debt forgiven. “We did not receive that money and now, it’s putting us in a total financial bind,” she said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Leah Douglas, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Leah Douglas Thomson Reuters Washington-based award-winning journalist covering agriculture and energy including competition, regulation, federal agencies, corporate consolidation, environment and climate, racial discrimination and labour, previously at the Food and Environment Reporting Network.

Ottumwa Schools Leading Country In New Language Technology – Ottumwacourier https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/ottumwa-schools-leading-country-in-new-language-technology-ottumwacourier/ OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa School Community District is one of the only school districts in the country implementing new English language translation technology. The district is currently using translation earbuds created and manufactured by Timekettle Technologies to help English language learner students translate what teachers are speaking in English into their primary language in real-time. The earbuds temporarily help ELL students while their classroom teachers help them learn the English language. The earbuds support 40 languages and 93 accents. The Ottumwa School Board heard from Mike Stiemsma, special education director, and Alex Qin, co-founder of Timekettle, at their meeting Monday. Qin traveled from his home country of Shenzhen, China, to speak with the board. “Communication is connection,” Qin says. “It’s not about the translation itself but about connection, where you make people communicate and connect.” According to Stiemsma, there are currently 1,090 English language learner students enrolled in the district, and these students speak 43 languages other than English. Of the 43 languages spoken by ELL students in the district, 11 of them are supported by the earbuds. That accounts for about 66% of the district’s ELL students, Stiemsma says. Currently, the district uses 70 earbud sets in middle school and high school classrooms, with 70 more on the way. The Timekettle earbuds were demonstrated to the board by high school ELL student (name) and his English as a second language teacher, Leah Hallgren. (Name) is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and speaks multiple languages. He is currently in the process of learning English. According to Hallgren, it takes about one to two years for ELL students to develop a spoken English language. “I cannot tell you how cool and exciting this is … When you have students who are trying to learn academic language … like exponent, words like those, the research says it takes up to five to seven years,” she says. “I know that personally, because I went through that journey myself.” The earbuds are not only used to teach students the English language but help them better understand the district’s curriculum and academic content. “This is specifically to help with the content, and when I say content, I mean your math, your history. These kids can go up to upper-level science classes now because it’s not necessarily that they can’t do skill, they may just not have the word,” Hallgren says. According to Landon Allen, director of technology at Ottumwa Schools, the earbuds were initially created for the tourism industry — not schools. However, Allen reached out to Timekettle to explore utilizing the earbuds in the district. “We have had a really great relationship with Timekettle getting started, and what you’ll hear is that this has evolved. The product has continued to evolve based on the feedback that Ottumwa Schools is giving,” Allen says. “Their new line of product hasn’t been around too long, but we have the most amount of devices of any school district in the United States with this particular model … We’re really deploying this at a mass level.” “We are so excited that Ottumwa is the first and only massive deployment of these devices to empower the teaching experiences between teacher and the students,” Qin adds. In other news: — The board received a key financial indicators report from John Berg, chief financial officer of Ottumwa Schools. According to Berg, Ottumwa was ranked in the top three for rate of student growth last year. Due to an increase in enrollment this year, the district is projecting a similar, if not higher ranking next year. Additionally, Berg says Ottumwa has never experienced an annual 200+ student growth or had certified enrollment above 5,000 students. Based on projected enrollment and state supplement aid for 2023, Ottumwa is slated to receive $1.5 million of new funds. The board received an update on the district’s Student Apprenticeship Program. Brad McCloskey, assistant superintendent, Allen and two students participating in technology apprenticeships shared their success with the program. — The board received an update from the district’s Reconsideration Committee. McCloskey presented the committee’s recent review process and decision to keep the book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” when it was brought to the district’s attention earlier this spring. — The board approved the new total purchase price for furniture at Gateway Learning Center in the amount of $244,099.77. The board originally approved a total purchase price of $223,351.56 in May. The new price includes the final group of furniture for the space, other items to use in the outdoor commons area and additional offices not included with the original quote. — The board approved the purchase of a 2019 Ford Transit T-350 from Cassill Motors for $52,127. The vehicle will be used for student transportation for activities and athletics. Emily Hawk is the associate editor of the Ottumwa Courier and the Oskaloosa Herald. She can be reached at ehawk@ottumwacourier.com.

Clark Whistleblower Might Sue, Months After Racist Tapes Emerge – New Jersey 101.5 FM https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/clark-whistleblower-might-sue-months-after-racist-tapes-emerge-new-jersey-101-5-fm/ CLARK — A former police officer has accused the township of making life more difficult, as “payback” for going public this year with his six-figure payoff for covering up the use of racial slurs used by the mayor and police chief. Ex-police Lt. Antonio Manata filed an intent-to-sue in September against Clark, as first reported by NJ Advance Media. This is six months after recordings were released of Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, Clark Police Chief Pedro Matos, and internal affairs supervisor Sgt. Joseph Teston all using disturbing language, including the N-word and other offensive slurs. Bonaccorso is heard in the audio posted to Youtube at the end of March by NJ.com, repeatedly referring to Black people as “spooks.” Another segment of the audio clips — recorded between 2018 and 2019 — refers to lockers for police officers. Bonaccorso says “As far as female cops well, I hope there is never any… but I can only take care while I’m here. They’re all f***ing disasters that I’ve seen.” Despite calls for Bonaccorso to resign, he did not. Matos and Teston have been on paid suspension since June 2020, when the Union County Prosecutor’s Office took over the town police force, to launch “a full inquiry into credible allegations of misconduct.” Once the audio was released, Bonaccorso did apologize for using words that were “hurtful and insensitive,” continuing he was “embarrassed and ashamed to have spoken that way about a race of people. I have learned, and I have changed and it will not happen again.” After going public with the $400,000 that he was paid by the township in attempts to keep the recordings from surfacing, Manata now has claimed that he has been dealt repeated blowback from Clark officials. He said a firearms permit, needed to work as a former law enforcement officer, was intentionally not processed. Manata also said that the township also stopped picking up his recycling. The township rejects those claims, according to NJ Advance Media, saying that a number of Clark residents were impacted by issues with a third-party recycling vendor. Nearly a year ago, the Clark Police Department swore in five new police officers on Dec. 1, including two African American/Black officers from Irvington. The milestone was applauded as “essentially what is the equivalent of breaking the color barrier of policing in Clark, NJ,” by Rahway NAACP President Quanae Palmer Chambliss on Facebook. She added “To our knowledge this is a historic first.” Earlier that year, Clark also welcomed two new female officers to the police force, according to a September 2021 Facebook post. While Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and some neighboring municipal officials had joined the call for Bonaccorso to step down, an online public petition urging his resignation has collected less than 700 signatures in six months. Erin Vogt is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at erin.vogt@townsquaremedia.com Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. 10 years later — Sandy makes landfall in New Jersey New Jersey’s Most Terrifying Serial Killers New Jersey Nightmares – Notorious Serial Killers Say you’re from Jersey without saying you’re from Jersey These are everyday expressions that only someone from New Jersey would get. What else should be on this list? States with the most registered hunters Stacker analyzed data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which states have the most registered hunters. Read on to see how your state ranks on Stacker’s list. RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds Does your loyal pup’s breed make the list? Read on to see if you’ll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog’s intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don’t worry: Even if your dog’s breed doesn’t land on the list, that doesn’t mean he’s not a good boy–some traits simply can’t be measured. LOOK: Baby names that are illegal around the world Stacker scoured hundreds of baby name databases and news releases to curate a list of baby names that are illegal somewhere in the world, along with explanations for why they’re banned.