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Countdown To Kickoff: Eagles At Cardinals – Sports Illustrated https://collincountynewsonline.com/countdown-to-kickoff-eagles-at-cardinals-sports-illustrated/ 5…PLAYERS TO WATCH Cardinals TE Zach Ertz – After playing 123 games with the Eagles over nine seasons (2013-21), Ertz will face his former team for the first time.  One of the top pass catchers in Philadelphia franchise history, Ertz set the Eagles’ single-season record for receptions in 2018 (116) and ranks second all-time in career receptions (579) behind Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael. Ertz also scored the game-winning TD in the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win vs. New England. Cardinals QB Kyle Murray – There are currently three former Oklahoma QBs starting in the NFL: Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield (Carolina), and Jalen Hurts (the Eagles). Murray has a combined 4-0 record against Mayfield (3-0) and Hurts (1-0). Cardinals DL Zach Allen – When Allen last faced the Eagles in Week 15 of 2020 he had 11 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, a QB hit, and a pass defended. He joined Willie McGinest and Warren Sapp as the only NFL defensive lineman ever to have at least 11 tackles, a sack, and a pass defended in a game. Eagles Edge Rusher Hasson Reddick – The former No. 13 overall pick in 2017 returns to face the organization that chose him one spot ahead of where the Eagles selected Derek Barnett but promptly wasted him for three seasons by trying to make Reddick an off-ball linebacker. The Cards finally led him loose in 2020 and he’s had 27 sacks since behind only T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson, and Aaron Donald. Eagles CB James Bradberry – Bradberry leads the NFL, allowing a 27.4 passer rating when QBs target receivers the veteran is checking. Bradberry baited Trevor Lawrence into an interception last week and faces a Cards team that has struggled to move the football consistently without star receiver DeAndre Hopkins. 4…MATCHUPS TO WATCH Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray – Obviously, they aren’t playing each other but the connections between the two signal-callers are strong. Both played high school football in Texas where Murray led Dallas-area Allen High School to a perfect 43-0 record and earned National Player of the Year honors from Gatorade, Parade, and USA Today. Hurts was ESPN’s top-ranked dual-threat QB in the state at Houston-area Channelview High School. After starting their college careers elsewhere (Murray at Texas A&M and Hurts at Alabama), both had breakout seasons at Oklahoma under Lincoln Riley before entering the NFL draft in back-to-back seasons. In 2018, Murray won the Heisman Trophy before being selected No. 1 overall by the Cardinals. In 2019, Hurts finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy and was then taken in the second round by the Eagles. Murray and Hurts first faced each other as pros in Week 15 of the 2020 season when Murray led the Cardinals to a 33-26 victory in Hurts’ second NFL start. The game was a shootout in which the two combined for 836 total yards and eight TDs. Hurts vs. Cardinals’ Front Seven – The Arizona front is coming off a big game against Carolina, combining for 2.0 sacks, an INT, seven passes defended, three tackles for loss, three QB hits, and a fumble recovery. Allen (3) and J.J. Watt (2) had multiple batdowns and the latter is one of the best ever when it comes to an issue that has hindered Hurts in the past. Eagles’ Third Down Defense vs. Cardinals’ Third-Down Offense – One of the few trouble spots for Philadelphia’s defense through the first month has been stopping teams on third down. The Eagles are allowing conversions at a 42% rate, 21st in the leagues. Arizona, though, has been worse than that from an offensive perspective, converting at a 31% rate, a dismal 29th. Something has to give. Eagles’ Red-Zone Offense vs. Cardinals’ Red-Zone Defense – This is strength vs. weakness with Philadelphia being a top-10 unit at 64.7% (No. 9) and Arizona coming in at 25th, allowing opponents to score 71.4% of the time. The Eagles hope this matchup follows the trends. 3…THINGS TO KNOW -For younger fans who don’t know the Cardinals used to be a member of the NFC East and their series with the Eagles dates back even further than that to 1935. The Cardinals’ 58 regular season wins vs. Philadelphia are more than they have against any other NFL franchise. Scroll to Continue -The Cardinals have won six of the last eight vs. Philadelphia and enter Sunday’s contest having won five consecutive home games against the Eagles, who have never won at State Farm Stadium since it opened in 2006. -Under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals have never lost to a team from the NFC East. Arizona enters Sunday’s game with a 6-0 record vs. the NFC East dating back to 2019. 2…X-FACTORS For the Eagles: Kicker Cameron Dicker – The rookie kicker will be the emergency replacement for an injured Jake Elliott (right ankle) meaning Nick Sirianni will probably be even more aggressive on fourth downs than usual. If you need a kick late, however, Dicker spent four years making some big ones at the University of Texas. The Eagles hope that translates. For the Cardinals: Kicker Matt Ammendola – The Cards lost their veteran kicker, Matt Prater, to a hip injury last week and have brought in Ammendola, an already well-traveled option who failed with the New York Jets in 2021 and most recently missed a field goal and an extra point as an emergency replacement for Harrison Butker in Kansas City earlier this season. 1…PREDICTIONS John McMullen (4-0, 1-3 vs. the spread) – It’s logical to want to pick the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday’s game. In the parity-driven NFL, the contest shapes up as a trap game with NFC East-rival Dallas looming in Week 6 while the Cards’ recent struggles at home dating back to last season scream market correction, and the Eagles probably aren’t going 17-0. Even Hurts seems to sense a letdown. After a presser filled with Manningcast questions and film about Tom Brady, the Eagles’ MVP candidate felt the need to remind everyone about the Cardinals on Sunday. It might be uglier than expected but the Eagles should out-talent the Cards. EAGLES 28, CARDINALS 20 Ed Kracz (3-1, 2-2 vs. the spread) – The words of A.J. Brown are ringing in my head. When asked during Thursday’s locker room session about the Eagles inability to win at State Farm Stadium since it opened in 2006 0- going 0-4 there – he responded, in a matter-of-fact manner, that “Nobody cares. That’s in the past.” He’s right.  Yet, the Eagles are not going 17-0. They will lose somewhere along the way. Maybe it’s at home against Dallas on Oct. 16. Maybe it’s here, but I don’t think so. The Eagles’ roster is flat-out better. EAGLES 33, CARDINALS 22 -John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com’s Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show “Extending the Play” on AM1490 in South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

Appier Board Member Lee-Feng Chien On Metaverse: The Strong Get Stronger, The Weak Get Weaker – DIGITIMES https://collincountynewsonline.com/appier-board-member-lee-feng-chien-on-metaverse-the-strong-get-stronger-the-weak-get-weaker-digitimes/ The much-discussed “metaverse” has brought a disruption to the market but also declared a possibility for future innovation, stated Lee-Feng Chien, former managing director of Google Taiwan and current board member of Appier and iKala. With Web3 as a basis, developers, governments, and users are all looking forward to more new technological development. Chien rasies three perspectives worth noting regarding mertaverse: First, allows everyone to examine new technological opportunities. For instance, past blockchain technology was originally meant for confidentiality. Now, it’s able to create trust and decentralization. AR/VR is a technology, but they also provide content that’s a fusion of virtual and reality. The second is the indication of technology trends. We’ve already observed that investment is increasingly directed toward Web3, with trends in credibility, high-speed transfer, and 3D content. The third is that everyone needs to pay attention to the possible impacts of these technologies, such as information security, privacy, and equality. AI technology has already caused racial controversy and increased the economic gap. The metaverse will affect the development of technology and society, causing the strong to get stronger and the weak to get weaker. Chien mentioned that right now, the region that has been paying the most attention to the metaverse is East Asia. In addition, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have been the biggest beneficiary. The metaverse is an open and fair virtual world built using blockchain technology, thus everyone can play games, purchase items and socialize through NFT virtual property. The pandemic also worked to the metaverse’s advantage as it allowed more people to imagine digital life. Chien emphasized that “the metaverse is like an elephant.” It is so big that each person and each industry has only grasped a tiny portion of it so far. Everyone is still feeling it out and trying to describe their understanding of the metaverse. Even those who aren’t familiar with the internet and the digital world are forced to experienced digital life.

Your Pixel’s Best Gesture Gives You Quick Access To Your Favorite App From Any Screen – Gadget Hacks https://collincountynewsonline.com/your-pixels-best-gesture-gives-you-quick-access-to-your-favorite-app-from-any-screen-gadget-hacks/ Everyone has that one app they use more than any other. What if I told you there was a way to open these apps on newer Google Pixel devices with one quick gesture? I imagine you’d want to know how to do it. Similar to Back Tap for iOS, Quick Tap for Android 12 and newer triggers shortcuts for apps and actions by briskly tapping the back of your device twice. It’s only available for Pixel 4a (5G) and newer devices, and some shortcuts require you to unlock your Pixel before you can use them. If you have a newer Pixel model, keep reading to see how to set up this helpful shortcut. Don’t Miss: How to Open Snapchat Directly to Camera, Stories, Chat, and More from Anywhere on Your Pixel Step 1: Open Your Quick Tap Settings To start, open your Settings app and scroll to the “System” section. Tap it, then select the “Gestures” menu, followed by the “Quick Tap to start actions” option. Step 2: Set Quick Tap to Open App Ensure that the “Use Quick Tap” switch at the top of the Quick Tap settings is toggled on. Below the switch, you’ll find some of the stock shortcuts available for Quick Tap. You can choose any of the preset options, such as “Take a screenshot” or “Toggle flashlight,” but you’ll want to select “Open app” and tap the cog next to it to choose a specific app on your Pixel. Step 3: Select the App You Want After tapping the cog icon, you’ll find an alphabetical list of all the apps on your smartphone. Scroll down to find your app, then select it. Some apps are offset by a cog icon, which means they can launch particular actions within them, not just the app itself. For example: Snapchat lets you open the app directly to Stories, Map, Chat, or Spotlight. Amazon Shopping has options for Today’s Deals, Shopping Cart, Search on Amazon, and View Orders. Google Maps sports Work and Home options. YouTube Music gives quick access to Downloads and Search. There are many more apps that support in-app actions for Quick Tap, such as LinkedIn, Lyft, Meet, Messages, Messenger, Voice, Walmart, and Wear OS. Step 4: Get to Tapping Now, all you have to do is tap the back of your Pixel twice to launch your chosen app. If you find that the gesture is too sensitive, just return to Step 2 above, scroll to the bottom, and toggle on “Require stronger taps.” Keep Your Connection Secure Without a Monthly Bill. Get a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited for all your devices with a one-time purchase from the new Gadget Hacks Shop, and watch Hulu or Netflix without regional restrictions, increase security when browsing on public networks, and more. Buy Now (80% off) Other worthwhile deals to check out: 41% off a home Wi-Fi analyzer 98% off a learn to code bundle 98% off an accounting bootcamp 59% off the XSplit VCam video background editor Cover image and screenshots by Tommy Palladino/Gadget Hacks

Binance Smart Chain Halts After ‘Potential Exploit’ Drains Estimated $100M In Crypto – CoinDesk https://collincountynewsonline.com/binance-smart-chain-halts-after-potential-exploit-drains-estimated-100m-in-crypto-coindesk/ Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000. Sam is a reporter at CoinDesk focused on decentralized technology, DeFi and DAOs. He owns ETH, BTC and MATIC. Danny is CoinDesk’s deputy business editor. He owns BTC, ETH and SOL. Binance Smart Chain hit the brakes Thursday after the blockchain with ties to the world’s largest crypto exchange suffered what it called a “potential exploit” that on-chain evidence suggested could have targeted hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto. “Due to irregular activity we’re temporarily pausing BSC,” BNB Chain tweeted from its official account, later confirming that the activity was a “potential exploit,” that it characterized as contained. Initial token movements suggested that up to two million BSC tokens were targeted by an attacker late Thursday, but the true losses may be much lower. BNB Chain estimated $100 to $110 million in assets were moved off chain but said in a tweet that $7 million was already frozen. That such a small (comparatively speaking) sum of assets were stolen underscored the upside of BNB’s gamble to halt the chain rather than risk more assets escaping. Blockchains are purportedly decentralized beasts designed to operate beyond the whim of singular entities: you aren’t supposed to just flip an off switch. BSC confirmed that it coordinated a shutdown of the chain after spotting issues with the BSC Token Hub protocol, the clearinghouse for crypto transactions moving between the Binance-linked blockchain’s interlocking parts. It thanked validators for moving quickly. “We are humbled by the speed and collaboration from the community to freeze funds,” one tweet read. The specter of an attack rocked BSC’s native BNB token, which after a sleepy day of trading dipped to $280.40 from $293.10, according to CoinMarketCap, which Binance owns. On-chain data shows that this afternoon two massive withdrawals of 1 million BSC tokens from BSC token hub by an attacker that nabbed crypto assets with cross-chains swaps, bridges, and borrows. Regardless, BNB’s Twitter promised “all funds are safe” and said it will “help freeze any transfers.” Twitter sleuths point out that Tether – the largest stablecoin provider – has blacklisted the offending address, suggesting that the firm suspects the movement of tokens was the result of an attack rather than something more benign. This is a developing story and will be updated. Sign up for Market Wrap, our daily newsletter explaining what happened today in crypto markets – and why. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000. Sam is a reporter at CoinDesk focused on decentralized technology, DeFi and DAOs. He owns ETH, BTC and MATIC. Danny is CoinDesk’s deputy business editor. He owns BTC, ETH and SOL. Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000. Sam is a reporter at CoinDesk focused on decentralized technology, DeFi and DAOs. He owns ETH, BTC and MATIC. Danny is CoinDesk’s deputy business editor. He owns BTC, ETH and SOL.

Asia-Pacific Markets Fall Ahead Of U.S. Jobs Report – CNBC https://collincountynewsonline.com/asia-pacific-markets-fall-ahead-of-u-s-jobs-report-cnbc/ The logo of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), operated by Japan Exchange Group Inc. (JPX), is displayed at the bourse in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Akio Kon | Bloomberg via Getty Images Shares in the Asia-Pacific fell on Friday ahead of the monthly U.S. jobs report, which is likely to guide the Federal Reserve’s monetary decision in November. Payrolls are expected to increase 275,000 in September, and unemployment is predicted to be steady at 3.7%, according to economists surveyed by Dow Jones. The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell 1.35% and the Topix index slipped 1.29%. South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.8% and the Kosdaq dropped 0.93%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.64%. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.41%. Markets in mainland China remain closed for a holiday. Overnight in the U.S., major indexes fell — the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 346.93 points, or 1.15%, to 29,926.94. The S&P 500 declined 1.02% to 3,744.52, while the Nasdaq Composite was 0.68% lower at 11,073.31. “Equities struggled as markets await the much-anticipated U.S. payrolls data … and as comments from Fed officials maintained a ‘more is needed’ vibe,” ANZ Research analysts wrote in a Friday note. CNBC Pro: Tesla or Nvidia? One will dominate in A.I., analyst says, giving it 50% upside Tech’s next frontier — artificial intelligence — is still in its adolescence, but offers significant growth opportunities for suppliers and users alike, according to Truist Securities. Both Nvidia and Tesla offer ways to get exposure to AI, the analysts say, revealing their price targets on both stocks. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Weizhen Tan Samsung posts decline in operating profit for the first time since late 2019 South Korean chipmaker Samsung Electronics announced a 31.7% drop in operating profit in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the same period a year ago, according to a preliminary earnings release. Demand for semiconductors has slowed, the release showed. Operating profit fell to 10.8 trillion Korean won ($7.65 billion), compared with 15.8 trillion won in the third quarter of 2021. That’s the first decline in quarterly profits since the fourth quarter of 2019, data from Refinitiv Eikon showed. Sales rose to 77 trillion Korean won in the July-to-September quarter, from 73.98 trillion won in the same period last year. Shares of Samsung Electronics fell as much as 1.95% in Asia’s morning. — Abigail Ng

Virginia Tech Falls To Miami 3-1 – VT Hokiesports.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/virginia-tech-falls-to-miami-3-1-vt-hokiesports-com/ 1 Virginia Tech VPI (9-3-1, 3-2-0) 3 Miami (FL) MIA (4-5-2, 1-4-0) Virginia Tech VPI (9-3-1, 3-2-0) 1 3 Miami (FL) MIA (4-5-2, 1-4-0) Score By Periods Team 1 2 F Virginia Tech VPI 0 1 1 Miami (FL) MIA 1 2 3 CORAL GABLES, Fla. — No. 24 Virginia Tech fell 3-1 on the road against Miami on Thursday, Oct. 6, at Cobb Stadium in the Hokies first road loss of the season. Allie George made a late goal in the 82nd minute to prevent the Hurricanes from getting the shutout.  Virginia Tech drops to 9-3-1 overall and 3-2 in the ACC with the loss versus Miami (4-5-2, 1-4 ACC).  How it Happened Miami took the lead in the first half 1-0 when Adrianna Serna scored in the 39th minute. The Hurricanes grew to a 2-0 lead on a goal from Lauren Meeks hitting the ball of the post and into the net in the 59th minute. Miami scored their last goal of the night in the 64th minute with a goal by Katerina Molina making it 3-0.  The Hokies fought to make a comeback in the final third of the match with Allie George scoring her second goal of the season, preventing the shutout 3-1.  “Disappointed in our efforts tonight,” said head coach Chugger Adair. “Miami burst our bubble after the huge over North Carolina, and we now have to get back on track as we head towards Clemson on Sunday.”  Game Notes Tech held a 14-8 shot advantage over Miami  Virginia Tech totaled three shots on goal. Tech has scored 30 goals this season

Denton Law Firm Opens Wise County Office – EIN News https://collincountynewsonline.com/denton-law-firm-opens-wise-county-office-ein-news/ Marci Martinez, founder and managing partner of Martinez Legal. P.C., has announced the opening of a second office in Decatur, Texas. DECATUR, TX, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Marci Martinez, founder and managing partner of Martinez Legal. P.C., has announced the opening of a second office in Decatur, Texas. Martinez Legal’s practice areas are primarily focused on Family Law and Estate Planning. The new office is located at 203 W. Walnut Street, #103 in Decatur (just steps from the Wise County Courthouse). Marci Martinez opened her practice in Denton in 2017 in Denton. She has been recognized regionally, statewide and nationally for her professionalism in Family Law and Estate Planning. She takes great pride in the firm’s motto and practice of “Lawyering with Heart.” She has built her practice on the words of inspirational speaker Zig Ziglar, who has said “You don’t build a business, you build people, then people build the business.” Attorney Bonnie Sattawhite will join Marci Martinez in managing the office in Decatur. She has experience in Estate Planning, Family Law, and Oil and Gas and is a certified mediator and will offer the same high quality legal representation. Minerva Ozuna and Stephanie Elvington, two senior paralegals, will also staff both offices to serve the growing community. For more information, visit www.martinezlegalpc.com. Martinez Legal, P.C. serves a broad North Texas area, including Denton County, Wise County and Collin County with offices in Denton and Decatur. Tim Crouch The Crouch Group +1 9403831990 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook You just read: EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content. As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire, tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our Editorial Guidelines for more information. Submit your press release

Visa Approval Delays Slow International Tourism To L.A. – Los Angeles Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/visa-approval-delays-slow-international-tourism-to-l-a-los-angeles-times/ Los Angeles was one of the nation’s hottest tourist destinations before the pandemic struck, reporting a record 51 million domestic and international visitors, who spent $25 billion on hotel stays, meals, tour buses and souvenirs. With most pandemic travel restrictions gone, the nation’s tourism leaders say delays by the federal government in approving tourist visas are now robbing L.A. and other U.S. tourist destinations of millions of visitors and billions of dollars in tourism spending. “Outrageous wait times send a message to travelers that the United States is closed for business,” Geoff Freeman, chief executive of the U.S. Travel Assn., the nation’s travel trade group, said Thursday. The U.S. Travel Assn. released a study Thursday, estimating that in 2023, the U.S. is projected to lose $11.6 billion in tourism spending because 6.6 million international travelers will be unable to get visitor visas to travel to the U.S. in a timely manner. Wait times of 400 days and longer to get an interview for a visitor’s visa have deterred potential tourists primarily from Brazil, India and Mexico, according to the study. Instead of visiting the U.S., most of those travelers would probably choose another vacation destination if visa wait times exceeded a year, the survey of nearly 2,500 potential tourists from Brazil, India and Mexico determined. Adam Burke, chief executive of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, agreed that longer waits for visa interviews are keeping international tourists from visiting the region, but he commended federal officials for trying to address the problem. “We know there is tremendous pent up demand for travel to the U.S., which is being hindered by these delayed visa wait times,” Burke said in a statement. The tourism and convention board is forecasting 5.3 million international visitors for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2023, a 58% increase over the prior year. The U.S. Department of State, which oversees approval of visas for travelers from certain countries, has been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many embassies and consulates “continue to face staffing challenges that began during the pandemic,” a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement. The department has bolstered staffing levels, partly by hiring diplomats’ family members, to cut the wait times for visa interviews, the agency said. “Visa processing is rebounding faster than projected, after a near-complete shutdown and freezing of resources during the pandemic,” the statement said. International visitors spent $13.7 billion in the U.S. in August, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, up from $6.8 billion in 2021 but less than the $19.5 billion spent in 2019. In Los Angeles, international visitors have accounted for less than 10% of all tourists but generated more than their share of spending because they tend to stay longer and buy more meals, drinks and souvenirs than domestic visitors. Before the pandemic, the number of visitors from China was growing dramatically, prompting several shopping centers in Los Angeles to hire Mandarin-speaking translators to accommodate the tourists. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced plans in June to launch a five-year plan to attract 90 million international visitors, who would spend an estimated $279 billion annually by 2027. When asked during a news conference about the long waits to get visa interviews, Grant Harris, the assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis, put part of the blame for the delays on the pandemic and said his department was working to reduce the visa wait times. “This is going to be something that we want to continue to work on so that we are facilitating travel to and within the United States,” he said.

Will Your State Tax Your Canceled Student Debt? | Business News | Wfmz.com – 69News WFMZ-TV https://collincountynewsonline.com/will-your-state-tax-your-canceled-student-debt-business-news-wfmz-com-69news-wfmz-tv/ Several states are poised to collect income taxes on student loan forgiveness — a move that could leave some borrowers owing as much as $1,000 during tax season. Individuals in Indiana, Mississippi and North Carolina will almost certainly pay state income taxes on their forgiven federal student loans, according to representatives of those states’ revenue departments and analysis from the Tax Foundation, a tax policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, a handful of other states are tentatively planning to tax forgiven student loan debt unless their legislatures take measures to prevent it. President Joe Biden’s executive order on Aug. 24 could erase all remaining federal student loan debt for as many as 20 million borrowers, according to the White House, and reduce the debts of millions more. In general, borrowers are eligible for up to $20,000 in debt cancellation if they earn less than $125,000 and file taxes as an individual or are married, file jointly and earn less than $250,000. While the federal government explicitly stated in the March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act that it won’t collect taxes on student debt forgiven through Dec. 31, 2025, not all states are held to the same pledge. Here’s what we know about the rest. Arkansas Forgiven student debts are expected to be taxed as income in Arkansas. However, that’ll change if the state’s legislature takes action, said Scott Hardin, an Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration spokesperson, in an email. Hardin noted that the state’s legislature took action to exempt PPP loans from taxation and froze taxation on unemployment payments for two years. Arkansas has a graduated income tax rate that ranges from 2% to 4.9% depending on annual income, according to the state’s Economic Development Commission. Individuals making less than $5,000 are exempt from state income tax. California Forgiven student debts will be taxed as income in California, said Andrew LePage, a spokesperson for California’s Franchise Tax Board, in an email. That’s because student loan forgiveness isn’t occurring under Section 1098-E of the federal Education Code, LePage said, and therefore, it doesn’t meet an exclusion requirement in the state’s tax code. Section 1098-E, titled “Income-Based Repayment,” is in Chapter 28 of the federal Education Code, which pertains to higher education and student financial aid, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office. If the federal government states that the program is occurring under Section 1098-E, borrowers wouldn’t have to pay taxes on that debt in California, LePage said. Indiana Indiana residents will be taxed on forgiven student loan debts, said Natalie Rodriguez, assistant director of communications at Indiana’s Department of Revenue, in an email. The state’s income tax rate is 3.23%, so individuals could pay up to $323 in taxes for $10,000 in student loan forgiveness or $646 for up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness, Rodriguez said. Indiana residents will also have to pay additional county taxes on the forgiven debts, Rodriguez said. Minnesota In Minnesota, forgiven student debts are expected to be taxed as income, said Ryan Brown, a spokesperson for Minnesota’s Department of Revenue, in an email. However, that’ll only change if the state’s legislature takes a specific action, Brown said. Minnesota has a graduated income tax rate, depending on your annual income. The tax rate ranges from 5.35% for individuals earning no more than $28,080 to as much as 9.85% for individuals earning more than $171,220, according to the state’s Department of Revenue. Mississippi Mississippi is expected to tax forgiven student loan debt as income, according to the Tax Foundation. Mississippi’s Department of Revenue could not be reached for comment by NerdWallet. Mississippi charges a 5% income tax on all annual income over $10,000, according to the Tax Foundation. North Carolina Forgiven student loan debts are expected to be taxed as income in North Carolina, said Thomas Beam, public affairs manager at North Carolina’s Department of Revenue, in an email. But the rate at which individuals will be taxed remains unclear. The state’s individual income tax is currently 4.99%, but that figure changes to 4.75% in 2023 and gradually decreases until 2026, when the rate will stand at 3.99%, per the state’s Department of Revenue. Wisconsin As it stands, forgiven student loan debts will be taxed as income in Wisconsin. Changing that would require specific action from the state legislature, said Patty Mayers, communications director at Wisconsin’s Department of Revenue, in an email. That action hasn’t been taken yet, Mayers said, but it could still take place in January when the state legislature is back in session. “We have addressed this discrepancy with federal law in our department’s biennial budget request, in an effort to ensure Wisconsin taxpayers don’t face penalties and increased taxes for having their loans forgiven,” Mayers said. Wisconsin’s income tax rate ranges from 3.54% to 7.65%, depending on annual income and whether you’re married or single, according to the state’s Department of Revenue. How to prepare if you’re affected Whether those taxes are owed during the 2022 tax season (in early 2023) or the 2023 tax season will depend on a few factors, including when an individual completes the U.S. Department of Education’s debt cancellation application. The form is expected to become available in October and close in December 2023, per the Department of Education website. If you live in a state that might tax your forgiven student loans, consider using an online tax calculator to get an idea of how much you’ll need to save. In many cases, your state’s Department of Revenue website or its franchise tax board website will have such a calculator. You can also consider using a budget app to automatically siphon off what you’ll need to set aside from each paycheck. The article Will Your State Tax Your Canceled Student Debt? originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Expert Lists Importance Of Water As Natural Remedy – THISDAY Newspapers https://collincountynewsonline.com/expert-lists-importance-of-water-as-natural-remedy-thisday-newspapers/ Kuni Tyessi in Abuja An Indian citizen and proprietress of Spaholic, Mrs. Vandana Kaushal has reiterated the benefits of water in and outside the body, saying that it is unarguably one natural remedy for wellness, beauty and preservation. Kaushal who spoke in Abuja during the unveiling of a branch of Spaholic, a beauty parlour that takes care of the physical, social and mental well-being of both men and women, said spa which means health through water is not only a need but a necessity for healthy living which should be the concern of everyone. Emphasising that beauty is about women empowerment, he said women must take care of themselves first in order to be able to take care of their spouses and children. She said with the services available, women can gain more confidence with well cultured nails, beautiful exfoliated skin, brushed and proper groomed hair, as well as other body pamperings needed to boost both mental and psychological health. She also said as a foreigner, she lives Nigeria more than her home country and in the business of employing as many youths as the opportunity provides. “Health benefits are many in spa treatment, particularly when it relates to hygiene. Clients are taught how to take care of themselves and how to bathe professionally. There are many beauty treatments available and many don’t take care of their hair and skin and so we treat that and make them feel good. “You can take care of your family, but never forget to take care of yourself. If you live yourself, then you can take care of your family better. No one will want to see a woman who is not properly put together around the house.  “I want women to look beautiful and gorgeous and become more empowered. The future is female and women are going to work it and rule it as well. It cannot be done when you are not confident. What makes you confident is looking good and living yourself. Your beauty is what makes you more confident. So confidence needed to be generated and we take care of everyone. So women, look good for yourself, your husband and children. Take care of yourself, skin and hair,” she said.

NFL Week 5 Picks Against The Spread: Browns Hold Off Chargers’ Charge; Rams, Ravens Get Back On Track – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/nfl-week-5-picks-against-the-spread-browns-hold-off-chargers-charge-rams-ravens-get-back-on-track-cbs-sports/ Chaos Week didn’t come to full fruition in Week 4, and Week 5 probably isn’t the spot for it. (Or is it?) There are plenty of heavy underdogs who can cover. We’ve got a Thursday game with an injured superstar RB and a Sunday morning London game with a large spread.  The Steelers are the biggest underdogs they’ve been in the history of the franchise. The Jaguars are touchdown favorites. Bill Belichick is 1-3 and barely favored over the “Rebuilding Since 1955” (copyright Adam Schein) Detroit Lions.  Geno Smith and Andy Dalton are going head to head in 2022 and no one is flinching. If the Atlanta Falcons beat Tom Brady for the first time (he’s 10-0 against them), they’ll be alone in first place in the NFC South.  We may just no longer recognize chaos, it’s just a part of our lives. Go look at the current NFL standings by conference. A lot will change in the next few weeks, obviously. But this thing is wide open. It’s going to be fun to see where things shake out after Week 5.  All NFL odds are via Caesars Sportsbook NFL Week 5 Picks Colts at Broncos Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET TV: NBC | Stream: fuboTV (click here) Follow: CBS Sports App Featured Game | Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts This matchup had some serious preseason juice to it, with Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson squaring off in their respective new abodes. But neither one of these horse teams have jumped out to the expected start — the Colts are lucky not to be 0-4 and the Broncos are quite fortunate to have overcome some … issues to find their way into a .500 record. The Broncos feel like a fairly obvious pick here, especially with Jonathan Taylor (ankle) out for this game. However, Denver is also down its top running back, with Javonte Williams  (knee) out for the year. And the Broncos feel like the type of team willing to let Indy hang around and steal something.  The pick: Colts 17, Broncos 14 Props, Best Bets: Under Giants at Packers Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET TV: NFLN | Stream: fuboTV (click here) Follow: CBS Sports App Featured Game | Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants London games are always a little odd — Vegas projects this one to be a bit of a snoozer, with a low total (41) and the Packers an eight-point favorite. There’s some increasing optimism about Daniel Jones playing in this game, which would make the Giants a much more attractive option catching that many points. The resurgent Saquon Barkley — who is genuinely awesome to watch when he’s healthy — should be able to run the ball decently against Green Bay. But the Packers will be able to press Danny Dimes and I’m not sure New York can stop the Green Bay ground game. Playing from behind is a bad recipe for the GMen.  The pick: Packers 24, Giants 14 Props, Best Bets: Pass Excited for the biggest NFL schedule in history? Follow along on the CBS Sports app and get the latest insights from our team of NFL insiders, plus news from our team of experts, as well as data insights on every player. If you already have the CBS Sports app, make sure to favorite the your favorite team so you don’t miss a thing! Texans at Jaguars Sunday, 1 p.m. ET TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)   Featured Game | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans Pretty massive game for Jacksonville here — after jumping out to a 2-1 record and a 14-0 lead against the Eagles in Week 4, they got stomped on and coughed up turnover after turnover in bad hurricane-remnant weather. Now the young Jags must try to flex against a division opponent in Houston. Jacksonville’s pass rush should make life rough for Davis Mills. The question is how does Trevor Lawrence rebound? I think the Jags look sharp but it’s also a lot of points for a young team against a division opponent and a suspiciously low point total. Houston loves a good backdoor cover. The Pick: Jaguars 23, Texans 17 Bets: Pass Chargers at Browns Sunday, 1 p.m. ET TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)   Featured Game | Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers At first glance, this game just “looks” kind of bland from a scoring perspective. But these two teams topped 100 points (!) last year in the highest-scoring game of the season and we might see more fireworks this week, too. The Chargers remain extremely questionable against the run; the Browns are a top-five team running the ball. Nick Chubb could have a big day here. The Browns will probably get Myles Garrett back for this game (if their tweets are to be believed) and Rashawn Slater’s absence looms. But the Chargers sling it more than anyone in the NFL and they can attack Cleveland deep. Austin Ekeler could be set for a huge game.  The Pick: Browns 42, Chargers 39 Bets: Over 47.5, Browns +3.5, Austin Ekeler rush/rec over Falcons at Buccaneers Sunday, 1 p.m. ET TV: Fox | Stream: fuboTV (click here)   Featured Game | Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons Just a hunch, but I’m thinking we see Angry Tom Brady over the next few weeks. His receivers are rounding back into shape and he has the sort of off-field noise brewing that’s consistently resulted in him getting laser focused and playing some elite football. The Falcons are a really impressive story so far this season, but they need to run the ball with their scheme and the Bucs are not afraid to lock down a run game. Cordarelle Patterson being out is a huge loss; Arthur Smith deserves tons of credit for turning him into the player the Vikings thought they would have after the first round of the 2013 draft. Brady has never lost to the Falcons in his career, and I don’t see it happening here.   The Pick: Buccaneers 35, Falcons 15 Bets: Buccaneers -8.5 Dolphins at Jets Sunday, 1 p.m. ET TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)   Featured Game | New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins Very tough game to pick here. Zach Wilson’s fourth quarter has to be inspiring for the Jets’ front office and coaching staff (not to mention their fans). It shouldn’t eclipse the first three quarters. No Tua here but Teddy Bridgewater looked more than competent — maybe downright explosive — in backup duty against the Bengals. I think we could see more points than expected here. I want the Jets to win mainly so Brady Quinn will donate $1,000 to charity for every Jets win the rest of the season, and where he donates will be based entirely on Pick Six Podcast five-star review suggestions.  Tell your friends! I’m going to take the Dolphins here, mainly on the strength of their pass game against a Jets secondary that could be pretty good in a few years.  The Pick: Dolphins 27, Jets 24 Bets: Pass Bears at Vikings Sunday, 1 p.m. ET TV: Fox | Stream: fuboTV (click here)   Featured Game | Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears The NFC is WILD, man. The Vikings are the No. 2 seed, and in between them and the seventh-seeded Packers are three (!) NFC East teams. The Bears are one missed tackle on a Pitchy Pitchy Woo Woo play from being 3-1. The Bears are a bottom tier run defense having lost Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack this past offseason and Dalvin Cook/Alexander Mattison should eat here in a big way. Unless Chicago can slow down the Vikings run game, Justin Fields is a mortal lock to set a season high for pass attempts, the previous being 22.  The Pick: Vikings 27, Bears 14 Bets: Tease Vikings with Chiefs, Cook over rush yards Steelers at Bills Sunday, 1 p.m. ET TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)   Featured Game | Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers A rematch of the Week 1 stunner from last year features an entirely new Pittsburgh QB situation, which has evolved over the last 96 hours or so. Kenny Pickett is in and Mitchell Trubisky is out. Pickett threw three picks against the Jets in a loss, but Pro Football Focus didn’t give a turnover-worthy grade on any of those throws. Pickett became the first quarterback in NFL history to run for two touchdowns in his debut. The Bills are just too much — Pittsburgh has never won without T.J. Watt and slowing down Stefon Diggs will be problematic for a secondary that’s allowed top-tier wideouts to explode. Three great stats here in addition to the Watt thing: 1) Sean McDermott/Mike Tomlin are 3-0 to the under all time, I expect it to continue; 2) the Bills have allowed seven total second-half points this season; 3) the Bills have the most wins (12) by 14-plus points since the start of 2021 and the next-closest team has seven.  The Pick: Bills 28, Steelers 10 Bets: Under 47 Lions at Patriots Sunday, 1 p.m. ET TV: Fox | Stream: fuboTV (click here)   Featured Game | New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions Finally a test of the “bet the Lions over until it loses” theory. This total has dropped a point and a half from the open, likely based off the bad matchup for Detroit against the Patriots run defense. It sounds like Bailey Zappe will get the start again, unless Mac Jones can get ready in time for this game. There’s a Matt Patricia revenge factor here, I suppose, but maybe the Lions should be the ones looking for that angle. I tend to think the Pats play ball control and Jared Goff’s career-long struggles against Bill Belichick rear their ugly head again.  The Pick: Patriots 24, Lions 17 Bets: Patriots -3 Titans at Commanders Sunday, 1 p.m. ET TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)   Featured Game | Washington Commanders vs. Tennessee Titans Will someone please stop me from backing Danny Snyder’s Fabulous Football Team? Carson Wentz has had a few good moments this season but the WFT offensive line just won’t hold up. Jeffery Simmons could be a problem this week. This may just be a bad matchup for Tennessee — Washington is stout against the run and better passing the ball on offense, while the Titans lean on the run and a...

Metaverse Spectrum To Stage First Annual B2B Conference And Expo In October – TSNN Trade Show News https://collincountynewsonline.com/metaverse-spectrum-to-stage-first-annual-b2b-conference-and-expo-in-october-tsnn-trade-show-news/ October 6, 2022 The age of the metaverse is upon us, but how can event organizers, event marketers and businesses innovatively leverage this brave new world? The first annual Metaverse Spectrum Business Conference & Expo, set for Oct. 25, is designed to showcase the many ways for attendees to do so—all within the metaverse itself.     The first-of-its-kind event specifically aims to educate attendees about the metaverse and its various use cases for events and businesses by connecting them with top influencers and leading companies blazing new trails in the metaverse, according to Sabrina George, senior vice president of The Metaverse Spectrum. “We’re bringing together the best and brightest thinkers and technologies in this space,” George said. “What’s new and exciting about this event is that attendees, sponsors and speakers will be engaging and learning in the metaverse, so they can actually experience what the Web 3.0 environment can do now—and what’s coming.” The event, expected to attract more than 1,000 people, will feature educational sessions, networking opportunities and an expo hall, where more than 20 metaverse platforms, including metaverse event providers such as Get Real, Metastage, Rooom and Surreal Events, will be on hand to demonstrate their cutting-edge technologies and applications. “The metaverse is really the next frontier for events, and this conference and expo will give attendees a first-hand experience of this immersive environment through the entry platform and also provide a bridge to all of other metaverse platform experiences that are currently available, with specific case studies for events and corporate businesses,” George said. Highlights of the how-to sessions and panel discussions include: Metaverse and Live Events: Challenges and Opportunities for Event Tech and Event Organizers, presented by Marco Giberti, media, events and technology entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Vesuvio Ventures.   The Future of Live Events in the Metaverse, moderated by Michael Schaiman, CEO of Non-Fungible Heroes, and featuring panelists John Rush, co-founder and CEO of Surreal Events; Ben Chodor, advisory board member of Notified and founder of Stream57 and Happtique; and Doug Simon, CEO of DS Simon Media.   How to Build a Metaverse Community, moderated by Donna Davis, associate professor and director of the Oregon Reality Lab and the Strategic Communication Master’s Program at University of Oregon, and featuring panelists Ana Constantino, co-founder and managing partner of NOWHERE; RD Whitney, chief community officer at The Chief Executive Group and COO at The CFO Leadership Council; Robin Raskin, writer, publisher and founder of The Virtual Events Group; and Kenneth Landau, CEO and co-founder of Mytaverse. Attendees will have access to more than 1,000 minutes of content and at least 40 speakers, in addition to the expo hall. To register for the Metaverse Spectrum Business Conference & Expo, click here.   The Metaverse Spectrum is an online marketplace for metaverse solutions and Web 3.0 technologies. It was formed to bridge the gap between buyers and sellers in the metaverse industry, providing the B2B market with educational venues. In addition to the annual business conference and expo, the company produces other thought leadership events throughout the year. Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE, listen to our latest podcast HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn!

Google Pixel Event — Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel Watch And Pixel Tablet Launch – Tom’s Guide https://collincountynewsonline.com/google-pixel-event-pixel-7-pixel-7-pro-pixel-watch-and-pixel-tablet-launch-toms-guide/ The Google Pixel event has just unleashed a wave of new Google devices, and there’s a big theme around intelligence and being helpful to users. The highlights are the new Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel Watch (the first-ever Google smartwatch), but we also got to learn more about the Google Pixel Tablet.  For the Pixel phones, Google is focusing on sleeker designs and especially better camera quality and video features. I’m personally excited to see the faster new Night mode, Photo Unblur feature, as well as the macro mode and Super Res Zoom on the Pixel 7 Pro. Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch touts the best heart rate monitoring in a smartwatch along with Fitbit and Google features coming together on your wrist. The Pixel Tablet doubles as a smart display and speaker with the dock stand accessory, so it should be useful even if it’s across the room.  Here’s everything announced at the Google Pixel event.  Google event products Pixel 7 Pro: Google’s newest $899 flagship is sure to impress. The Pixel 7 Pro gets a Tensor chipset, 6.7-inch OLED display and lots of camera upgrades. These include a powerful 5x telephoto lens and new macro focus mode for closeups. The Pixel 7 Pro also gets its Cinematic Blur for video, which utilizes Tensor’s power to add an artistic blur effect and shallow depth of field to your videos. The Pixel 7 Pro can also lock on your subject while zoomed in with photos and videos. Tensor also powers the new Photo Unblur, which can unblur your photos much like Magic Eraser can remove things. Night Sight also got an upgrade and is now two times faster than before, meaning you should get more stable low-light shots. Finally, the Pixel 7 Pro has Face Unlock.. It works in tandem with the fingerprint sensor to provide authentication to unlock your phone using machine learning to recognize your face. Pixel 7: Don’t discount the $599 Pixel 7. While it lacks the Pixel 7 Pro’s larger and higher-res screen, the 5x telephoto camera, and 12GB of RAM, the Pixel 7 with its 6.3-inch 90Hz OLED display ought to still provide an excellent value. Thanks to the Tensor G2 chipset, you’ll get flagship-level performance with a swath of AI and machine learning smarts. You get all of the same software goodness that the Pixel 7 Pro gets. Google Pixel Watch: Google’s first smartwatch is finally official. The Pixel Watch is positioned as the ultimate accessory for Pixel phone users, bringing the best Google services to the Wear OS experience. Think: Gmail, Google Maps, Google Wallet, YouTube Music and more. But that’s only half the smartwatch’s story — fitness tracking is entirely backed by Fitbit. The circular Pixel Watch comes in three colors and one size, starting at $349 for the GPS-only version and $399 for the model with cellular support. Google Pixel Tablet: The new Google Pixel tablet features a soft-touch design that’s comfortable to hold and Android 12L, which is designed to give you a better tablet experience. This means more split-screen apps and more apps that take advantage of a larger display. And because this slate is powered by a Tensor chip, you’ll be able to leverage many of the same photo and video features offered by the Pixel 7. The coolest part is the charging dock, which transforms the Pixel Tablet into a smart display with more powerful speakers.  How to watch the Pixel event The Google October event will be livestreamed on October 6 at at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT / 3 p.m. BST, and 1 a.m. AEDT on October 7.  The best place to watch it will likely be on YouTube (opens in new tab) — we’ve embedded the holding video for the event below. But do keep track of this live blog as we’ll bring you all the latest news as it happens as well as our thoughts on Google’s latest devices and smart software.  Refresh 2022-10-06T22:50:56.309Z One of the more engaging demos during the Made by Google feature involved the company’s new Guided Frame feature. It’s an accessibility feature that lets people with poor vision take selfies by using voice and haptic feedback to help them position the camera. It’s ideal for people with vision issues who still want to snap a selfie. Guided Frame is part of the Pixel 7 update. Google has split out the demo video from its Google I/O keynote, and now you can watch it to see Guided Frame in action.  2022-10-06T21:59:09.129Z (Image credit: Tom’s Guide/Google) Budget phone shoppers have quite the conundrum now that the Pixel 7 is here, and just $599. That’s closer to a midrange phone price than a flagship one. In fact, it’s awfully close to the $449 Google charges for the Pixel 6a. The extra $150 buys you a new Tensor G2 chipset, as the Pixel 6a uses the original Tensor that arrived with the Pixel 6. The Pixel 7 also has a larger screen and more powerful main camera. But don’t just take this blog post’s word for it — a Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6a comparison can give you the full rundown. 2022-10-06T21:33:38.660Z (Image credit: Google) In case you missed it, the Pixel 7 has one big advantage over the Pixel 6, and that’s a brighter display. In fact, Google claims that the Pixel 7’s panel is 25% brighter when viewed outdoors. And that’s one of the few complaints we had about the Pixel 6; it could sometimes be hard to make out the display in direct sunlight.  With every phone we review we use a light meter to measure the nits of brightness on a given panel, so that’s one of the numbers I’ll be paying attention to most when we’re able to share our results. The Pixel 7 has a claimed max brightness of 1,000 nits of HDR content and 1,400 nits of peak brightness, so it looks promising at least.  2022-10-06T20:29:24.495Z (Image credit: Future) You should definitely check out our Google Pixel Watch hands-on review to see if Google’s first smartwatch has been worth the wait. Editor Kate Kozuch says this is the Wear OS watch she’s been waiting for, and it’s easy to see why.  You get a sleek and minimalist design as well as full-fledged Fitbit fitness tracking on board. This includes the most accurate heart rate monitoring in a watch yet (according to Google) and access to a Daily Readiness Score, sleep tracking analysis and more via Fitbit Premium.  As you’d expect, the Pixel Watch also works seamlessly with with Google services, and you can use Google Assistant on your wrist. We’re just not fans of the chunky bezel and the band switching process.  2022-10-06T19:57:45.951Z (Image credit: Future) One of the big questions you probably have about the Pixel 7 is “how is it different than the Pixel 6?” Our Google Pixel 7 vs Pixel 6 comparison breaks down all the upgrades so you can see if it’s worth the hype.  Here’s the short version. The Pixel 7 has a slightly smaller display but sports a sleeker design and powerful new G2 chip that enables all sorts of cool features. These include a faster Night Sight mode, Cinematic Blur for more compelling videos and Photo Unblur for crisper photos with less noise. You also get a brighter display. All for just $599.  See our comparison for all the details.  2022-10-06T19:23:39.821Z (Image credit: Tom’s Guide) Phones editor Jordan Palmer spent the morning at Google’s store in Brooklyn to go hands-on with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. His take? These are more significant updates than they might appear on the surface. 2022-10-06T18:06:11.637Z (Image credit: Google) We’re going to see a lot of Google Pixel 7 preorder deals in the coming days, but AT&T is out of the gate with a good one — especially since it lets you pick up the Pixel 7 for free. You’ll need to trade-in a device to take advantage of AT&T’s Pixel 7 offer, but assuming it fetches the maximum value, your trade-in rebate covers the cost of a Pixel 7. If you’re more interested in the Pixel 7 Pro, you can save up to $800 on that device. AT&T requires you to sign up for a select unlimited plan. We can tell you where AT&T’s offerings rank among the best unlimited data plans. 2022-10-06T17:17:15.073Z (Image credit: Google via YouTube) Having trouble telling the difference between the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro? Our Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7 Pro comparison has been updated with the info from today’s Google event so you can see the differences in displays, cameras and battery size. 2022-10-06T16:47:57.492Z (Image credit: Tom’s Guide) Unlike Apple, which keeps some older models around at reduced prices when it rolls out new phones, Google drops its old devices like the proverbial hot potato. Visit the Google Store for the aftermath of today’s event, and you won’t find the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro hanging around. It’s either Pixel 7 preorders or getting the Pixel 6a. The presence of the Pixel 6a probably explains why the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are goners. There’s only a $150 price difference between the $449 Pixel 6a and the $599 Pixel 7. Google can’t really drop the price on its older Pixel 6 without cannibalizing Pixel 6a sales. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are likely still available in retail channels and phone carriers, but unless you see a significant discount, you’re better off focusing on the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro. Google certainly is at this point. 2022-10-06T16:27:07.863Z (Image credit: Google via YouTube) Surprised by the Pixel Tablet’s appearance during Google’s presentation today? It shouldn’t have been a complete shock, as Google gave us a sneak peek at the Pixel Tablet back in May about the same time it was showing off the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.  If you’d like to familiarize yourself with this device before its 2023 arrival, our Pixel Tablet hub has been updated with information from today’s Google event. 2022-10-06T15:55:28.977Z (Image credit: Google via YouTube) We’ve just updated our Pixel 7 Pro hub with all the details you need to know about Googl...

More Than 30% Of Canadians Plan To Purchase Crypto By 2024, Says OSC Head – Cointelegraph https://collincountynewsonline.com/more-than-30-of-canadians-plan-to-purchase-crypto-by-2024-says-osc-head-cointelegraph/ More than 30% of Canadians plan to purchase crypto by 2024, says OSC head  Cointelegraph

Biden Overhauls U.S. Policy On Marijuana, Pardons Prior Federal Offenses – Reuters https://collincountynewsonline.com/biden-overhauls-u-s-policy-on-marijuana-pardons-prior-federal-offenses-reuters/ WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) – President Joe Biden took steps to overhaul U.S. policy on marijuana on Thursday by pardoning thousands of people with federal offenses for simple marijuana possession and initiating a review of how the drug is classified. Biden said thousands of people with prior federal convictions could be denied employment, housing or educational opportunities and his executive action would relieve such “collateral” consequences. Nearly 40 U.S. states have legalized marijuana use in some form, but it remains completely illegal in some states and at the federal level. Reclassification would be a first step toward wider legalization, a move backed by a majority of Americans, and usher in sweeping changes for companies and law enforcement and impact millions. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The president’s decision fulfills a campaign promise and is likely to please members in his left-leaning political base ahead of the November midterm elections in which the president’s fellow Democrats are defending control of the House of Representatives and Senate. “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs,” Biden said. He urged state governors to follow suit. “Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either,” Biden said. A senior administration official said more than 6500 people with prior federal convictions could be affected by the pardons. Shares of cannabis growers and sellers surged following Biden’s comments, with Tilray Brands (TLRY.O) and Canopy Growth (WEED.TO) both jumping more than 20%. Supporters welcomed the move and its impact on racial imbalances in the U.S. justice system. “The United States will never justly legalize marijuana until it reckons with the outdated policies that equated thousands of young Black men with hardened drug pushers,” said Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network civil rights group. “They were thrown behind bars for years on end for simple possession, a non-violent offense, for a substance that red states and blue states are now legalizing at a furious clip.” Some Republicans, who U.S. voters prefer over Democrats for addressing crime-related policies, criticized it. “In the midst of a crime wave and on the brink of a recession, Joe Biden is giving blanket pardons to drug offenders— many of whom pled down from more serious charges,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton said on Twitter. “This is a desperate attempt to distract from failed leadership.” U.S. President Joe Biden listens to a guest doctor speak during a meeting of the Reproductive Healthcare Access Task Force in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 4, 2022. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz BIG CHANGES AHEAD The results of a classification review could have wide ramifications. At present, the drug falls under the same classification as heroin and LSD and is in a higher classification than fentanyl and methamphetamine, the president said. If marijuana classification were to ease at the federal level, that could allow major stock exchanges to list businesses that are in the cannabis trade, and potentially allow foreign companies to begin selling their products in the United States. While many states have legalized the medical or recreational use of cannabis, its illegal status under U.S. federal law has forced most major banks to deny their services to cannabis-related businesses. The issue has forced U.S. marijuana companies to trade their shares over the counter or by listing in Canada, with the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange prohibited from listing them. The president’s action drew praise from some members of Congress and from the industry. “The Progressive Caucus applauds this action by President Biden today to advance criminal and racial justice,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal, who chairs a group of left-leaning lawmakers, in a statement. “This represents a major step in righting the wrongs of the past and amending policies that have negatively impacted so many,” said Khari Edwards, head of corporate social responsibility at Ayr Wellness Inc , one of the top U.S. cannabis retailers. Biden said he had directed Attorney General Merrick Garland to develop an “administrative process” to issue certificates of pardon to those who are eligible. “The Justice Department will expeditiously administer the President’s proclamation, which pardons individuals who engaged in simple possession of marijuana, restoring political, civil, and other rights to those convicted of that offense,” the department said in a statement. Biden said certain rules needed to stay in place even as regulations around the country loosened. “Finally, even as federal and state regulation of marijuana changes, important limitations on trafficking, marketing, and under-age sales should stay in place,” Biden said. The global cannabis industry is forecast to hit $55 billion in sales by 2026, with the U.S. market growing to $40 billion by then, up from $25 billion last year, according to cannabis focused research firm BDSA’s September projections. Industry experts believe U.S. federal reforms could push those figures much higher. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Jeff Mason and Doina Chiacu; additional reporting by Noel Randewich, Shariq Khan, Richard Cowan, Makini Brice and Steve Holland; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien, Heather Timmons, Bill Berkrot and Deepa Babington Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Sightline Launches “Project 250” To Upgrade 250000 Slots With Cashless Gaming Technology – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/sightline-launches-project-250-to-upgrade-250000-slots-with-cashless-gaming-technology-business-wire/ LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sightline Payments today announced an investment of up to $300 million to implement cashless gaming at slot machines across the United States, in collaboration with Acres Manufacturing Company (“Acres”). The objective of Project 250 is to facilitate digital payments technology at 250,000 slot machines across the country within 36 months. Project 250 will allow gaming operators to upgrade existing slot machines via Acres’ Foundation, offering cashless to their patrons in as little as 16 weeks. Sightline’s Mobile+ ecosystem provides for a seamless integration with the operator’s entire casino resort and loyalty program while Sightline’s Play+ digital payments solution rounds out the cashless experience, currently live with all four major casino management systems in the US. For any payments innovation to accelerate having an infrastructure base layer of technology is critical to gaining widespread consumer adoption. To date, casinos in only 10 of the 44 states that offer gaming have launched cashless for their customers. A significant hurdle towards more casinos adopting cashless is outdated technology that is costly to upgrade. This type of experience was seen around adoption of the EMV chip and contactless technology at point-of-sale devices in retail stores around the country. Once retailers invested in new technology, customers quickly saw the safety and speed benefits of these devices. By investing in infrastructure upgrades for its casino partners, Sightline will accelerate the shift toward cashless gaming, giving millions of gaming patrons the ability to utilize the safety and security of digital payments in casinos nationwide. “It’s the hardware and associated capital expenditures that’s often the impediment to the large-scale deployment of cashless payments for gaming operators,” said Omer Sattar, Sightline Co-CEO. “This investment by Sightline through the creation of Project 250 will immensely impact the gaming landscape for decades to come. Ubiquity of availability is often critical in broad scale consumer adoption, especially in payments and this investment will drive the whole industry towards the apex of the adoption inflection curve.” “We pride ourselves on our ability to provide operators with a scalable option to offer easy-to-implement cashless gaming,” said Noah Acres of Acres Manufacturing Company. “Cashless gaming is a great way for casino operators of all sizes to optimize customer relationships and drive enhanced profitability.” Sightline will be available to answer questions about Project 250 at the Sightline Payments Booth 4433 during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) from October 11-13 at the Venetian Expo Center in Las Vegas, NV. About Sightline Payments Sightline Payments is the U.S. sports betting and casino gaming market’s leading digital payments provider and mobile app developer. Sightline leverages cutting-edge technology to apply modern solutions to a traditionally cash-based industry projected to grow to more than $150 billion in the next few years. Sightline’s suite of mobile solutions gives consumers a safe, secure, and responsible way to fund their online and in-person gaming activities and enables casinos to offer cashless wagering and personalized loyalty options across the entire property. With more than 1.5 million Play+ accounts, 3 million mobile loyalty platform downloads, and 80+ partners across the sports betting, lottery, racing, and online and brick-and-mortar casino markets, Sightline is uniquely positioned to transform the traditional gaming landscape. Learn more at SightlinePayments.com. About Acres Acres is a leading casino loyalty and technology expert and the creator of Foundation, the first-of-its-kind casino management system. Foundation provides casinos with real-time data from slot machines and a direct interface to the credit meter on any slot machine. Acres was founded by John Acres, the inventor of casino systems technology. For more information on Acres and Foundation, visit acresmanufacturing.com.

Sasse Likely To Resign From Senate, Putting All Eyes On Ricketts – POLITICO https://collincountynewsonline.com/sasse-likely-to-resign-from-senate-putting-all-eyes-on-ricketts-politico/ Sasse said he and his wife have been “pursued by wonderful institutions the past two years, but we’ve resisted being a finalist. This time is different because the University of Florida is different: I think Florida is the most interesting university in America right now.” The second-term Sasse made a name for himself as a consistent Donald Trump critic in Congress as well as a reliable conservative vote. Despite his interest in academia, his resignation will be a bit of a surprise after he ran for re-election in 2020 and the potential that he could one day pursue higher office. Sasse was one of seven GOP senators to vote to convict the former president during Trump’s second impeachment trial, after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. His resignation will create a safe GOP seat in a red state; in addition to Ricketts, Nebraska GOP Reps. Don Bacon and Mike Flood may also be in the mix for the appointment. Ricketts said that Sasse “has one of the most conservative voting records in the Senate, and we need more conservative voices in our universities. Senator Sasse is also incredibly smart and has the experience and a clear passion for higher education.” As far as a potential self-appointment, Ricketts spokesperson Alex Reuss said that “we aren’t going to speculate at this point. Right now, Senator Sasse is a sitting U.S. senator, and there’s no appointment to be made.” Sasse has been interested in an academic job for quite some time, according to Republicans familiar with his future plans. Ahead of his 2020 run, there was speculation he would seek an open position to lead the University of Nebraska; prior to running for Senate, he was president of Midland University. In an interview in February 2021 as his state party prepared to censure him over his impeachment vote (ultimately he got reprimanded), Sasse spoke at length about his views on education — and how he thought the Democrats’ coronavirus aid package missed the mark. “I can’t use the word progressive, I guess, but I care deeply about poverty and about the fact that lower-middle class people are not being well-served by the education establishment, either at K-12 or at the higher-ed level,” Sasse said. “And so you look at this package. Is this really to help poor kids? Hell No.” In recent years he’s maintained a relatively low profile in the Senate, while expressing frustration with the chamber and politics more broadly. Sasse has tried at times to engage his colleagues in debate on the Senate floor, and says that serving on the Senate Intelligence Committee is the best part of his job. He and his family agonized over whether he should even run for re-election in 2020 after his first full term in the Senate “and everybody was between 51 percent and 75 percent that we thought this was our calling. So nobody was below 50-50. And yet nobody was like 95 percent.” “This institution should be a lot more effective than it is. And the only part of every day that’s really effective is the Intel work,” he said in the 2021 interview. In one of Sasse’s more high-profile moments this year, he sparred with Sen. Chris Murphy on the floor in March over the Connecticut Democrat’s tweet attacking Republicans for criticizing President Joe Biden’s handling of the Ukraine war, while voting against a government spending bill that included aid to Kyiv. In addition to his work on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sasse this year worked with a bipartisan group of senators to reform the 1887 Electoral Count Act, a response to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He is one of the original GOP co-sponsors of the bill. “Ben is a good and smart and principled person,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii.) “I can hardly think of an issue on which we agreed but he is someone whom I respect for always standing by the courage of his conviction for always being thoughtful and for standing up for the rule of law.” A member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sasse recently attended Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s investiture ceremony, despite voting against her nomination. In a statement shortly after, Sasse said he wouldn’t attack the credibility of the court and wished “more of my colleagues would take a similar approach.” “America doesn’t work when partisans try to burn down our institutions,” he said. Some details of Sasse’s future were first reported by a former aide, Ian Swanson, who has his own show on 1110 KFAB.

The 10 Most Affordable Texas Metros For First-Time Homebuyers – El Paso Inc. https://collincountynewsonline.com/the-10-most-affordable-texas-metros-for-first-time-homebuyers-el-paso-inc/ The 10 most affordable Texas metros for first-time homebuyers Updated 14 min ago The Texas real estate market is showing signs of cooling off, after two years of low rates and record activity that sent Austinites and other Texans’ home values skyrocketing. Today, higher interest rates are causing a drop in home sales, which means there are more options on the market for first-time home buyers than at any time since late 2020. Texas Real Estate Source used data from the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University to find the 10 most affordable metros for first-time homebuyers in the state. In its calculations, Texas A&M based its first-time home price on 70% of the area median. It also applied a half-percentage-point higher interest rate to account for private mortgage insurance and a higher loan-to-value ratio for first-time buyers. Data is from the second quarter of 2022, and is based on making a down payment of 20%, and monthly payments at or below 25% of income. Texas A&M’s first-time homebuyer affordability index for Texas was 1.13 at the start of July 2022, the most recent period for which data is available. That means the median family income is 13% more than what’s necessary to afford a typical starter home statewide. The university’s real estate research center has tracked a considerable decline in overall affordability in the Lone Star State for first time homebuyers since 2020. Just two years ago, the median household income in the state was 65% more than was necessary to purchase a first home assuming a down payment equal to 20% of the house’s value. Factors driving unaffordability include a push by the Federal Reserve bank to curb inflation by raising interest rates, and the fact that home prices remain at stubbornly high levels. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage surpassed 6% in September – the highest seen since the 2008 housing crash. Higher loan interest rates may also be discouraging homeowners from selling, seeing as the vast majority of homeowners in Texas have locked in rates well below what they are today. Those that are selling, have reportedly shown a willingness to cut listing prices in order to make a deal. Affordability in Texas’ most populous counties dipped below 1.0 for the first time in the second quarter of this year. The least affordable homes are found in Travis County, home of the capital city of Austin and numerous transplant-attracting tech companies. The monthly mortgage payment on the typical home sold in Travis County today is $2,356, up from $1,529 one year ago, according to National Association of Realtors data. North Texas’ Collin County, where the typical home sold today commands a $1,985 monthly mortgage payment, follows closely behind. The most affordable cities for first time homebuyers in Texas aren’t in any of the most populous areas, but are found along the refinery-dotted Gulf Coast and West Texas. Canva #10. Victoria Updated 14 min ago Victoria’s median family income is 50% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.5). About 65,000 residents live in the inland city of Victoria, which sits north of the port town of Corpus Christi. Borne of a colony founded by a Mexican aristocrat, modern day Victoria is equidistant from the major metro areas of San Antonio, Houston and Corpus Christi. The typical monthly mortgage payment in Victoria County is $780, according to the NAR. In neighboring Harris County, the typical mortgage payment hovered around $780 last year, but has since risen to more than $1,100 per month. Philip Arno Photography // Shutterstock #9. Amarillo Updated 14 min ago Amarillo’s median family income is 55% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.55). The panhandle city of Amarillo remains on the better end of affordability for first time home buyers. Located just minutes from Palo Duro Canyon State Park’s towering red rocks and the famous Cadillac Ranch public art installation, Amarillo is not far from the Texas-New Mexico state line, as well as some of the largest cattle ranches in the state. The city spans the counties of Randall and Potter. In Potter County, monthly mortgage payments on a typical home purchased today are $573, up from $407 a year prior, according to NAR data. Canva #7. Abilene (tie) Updated 14 min ago Abilene’s median family income is 59% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.59). Located to the south of Amarillo in Texas Central Great Plains, Abilene is a major business and economic hub for the 19 farming and ranching counties surrounding the small city. The median household income in Abilene is around $52,000 annually, which is lower than the national average. Still, the typical home in Abilene is far more affordable than the national median home price, giving first time homebuyers in this city more options. The average monthly mortgage payment for a home purchased in Abilene today is $757, according to the NAR. Canva #7. Texarkana (tie) Updated 14 min ago Texarkana’s median family income is 59% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.59). Tying with Abilene in this ranking is Texarkana – one of a handful of U.S. cities that span multiple states. The Arkansas state legislature makes a special exception for Texarkana in their tax code, exempting residents from having to pay income tax, in hopes of keeping Texarkanans from moving to the state income-tax free Texan west side. Texarkana lies within Bowie County, where the typical mortgage payment on a home runs $607 per month, according to the NAR. Canva #6. Lubbock Updated 14 min ago Lubbock’s median family income is 66% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.66). Lubbock is home to a quarter of a million people as well as Texas Tech, one of the largest universities in the state. Lubbock serves as a gateway to the Permian Basin to the south, where the oil and gas industry dominates. The median household income is $53,425 per year, and a typical monthly mortgage payment in Lubbock for a home purchased today is $914, according to the NAR. The Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center’s affordability score for first time home buyers in Lubbock has fallen from 2.02 in 2020. Canva #5. San Angelo Updated 14 min ago San Angelo’s median family income is 71% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.71). San Angelo is located southwest of Abilene, and is an economic center for many employers in the West Texas oil and gas industry. San Angelo’s Shannon Medical Center also serves as a health care hub for the surrounding central West Texas region. The city boasts a median household income of $55,682 and the median monthly mortgage payment for a home is $819 per month, according to NAR data. Canva #3. Beaumont-Port Arthur (tie) Updated 14 min ago Beaumont-Port Arthur’s median family income is 74% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.74). Beaumont-Port Arthur is Texas leading oil, gas and chemical refinery hub on the Gulf of Mexico. The metro area consists of the cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur which are located about a 25 minute drive from each other. Its close proximity to Louisiana means the region’s culture and cuisine represents a melting pot of both Texana and Cajun cultural influences. The city has a median household income of $37,794, far lower than the national median household income. But housing in the Beaumont-Port Arthur region is relatively cheap compared to major metro areas including its neighbor to the southwest, Houston. Canva #3. Midland (tie) Updated 14 min ago Midland’s median family income is 74% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.74). Tying with Beaumont and Port Arthur is Midland, a West Texas city synonymous with dusty plains and oil derricks. The oil boomtown’s surrounding region boasts a much higher median income than West Texas cities like Abilene. The median household income in Midland County is $83,616 and the typical monthly mortgage payment on a home purchased today is $1,212 per month, according to the NAR. Midland is often associated with its neighboring city, Odessa, which ranks even more affordable for first time home buyers. Canva #2. Odessa Updated 14 min ago Odessa’s median family income is 91% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.91). Odessa is located 30 minutes southwest of Midland in the plains of West Texas, and its economy is similarly driven by the country’s largest oil and gas drillers. After its oil, Odessa is perhaps best known for its high school football teams, and as the home of presidents George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, as well as First Lady Barbara Bush. Between 2010-2020 the city’s population grew at the fastest rate recorded since the 1950s, and now boasts a population of more than 114,000 residents. The median household income in Odessa is lower than Midland at $63,829 annually. The typical monthly mortgage payment on a home in Odessa, however, is much lower than Midland, at $785, according to the NAR. Canva #1. Wichita Falls Updated 14 min ago Wichita Falls’s median family income is 95% more than required to purchase a starter home in the metro (First-time homebuyer affordability index: 1.95). Wichita Falls is the most affordable city in Texas for first time home buyers. The city i...

NBC 10 I-Team: Warwick Couple’s Vacation Marred By Mishandled Luggage – Turn To 10 https://collincountynewsonline.com/nbc-10-i-team-warwick-couples-vacation-marred-by-mishandled-luggage-turn-to-10/ NBC 10 I-Team: Warwick couple’s vacation marred by mishandled luggage  Turn to 10

ICYMI: Biz News From Around The Upstate – UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL – Upstate Business Journal https://collincountynewsonline.com/icymi-biz-news-from-around-the-upstate-upstate-business-journal-upstate-business-journal/ Evan Peter Smith October 6, 2022 Photo provided Downtown Clemson’s new luxury hotel… Volvo expected to invest big in Greenville County… and New Realm Brewing officially planned for Old Cigar Warehouse. These are just a few headlines in the past month you might have missed from Upstate Business Journal. Downtown Clemson’s new luxury hotel opens The Shepherd Hotel opened in early September, becoming the first hotel in downtown Clemson. Founders Rich Davies and Rich Hayduk believe the Shepherd Hotel will fill a need for the community, providing a place to stay for people visiting Clemson, students’ parents, sports fans or those interested in attending the school, as it is a 9-minute walk to the admissions office for campus tours. Five minutes is all it takes to walk to other parts of campus, like Bowman Field and Sikes Hall. Pavilion Development Company, the developer behind the project, was established by Davies in 1997 and has developed several commercial properties across the country. “We are so grateful to our partners whose passion aligns with ours,” Davies said. Volvo is expected to invest $42.6 million in Greenville County Stock photo Volvo Cars USA is one step closer to making a major investment in Greenville County. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, Greenville County Council unanimously approved without discussion second reading of an ordinance authorizing a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement for Volvo Cars USA in consideration of an expected $42.6 million investment. If given final approval, the agreement, which was previously listed as “Project Iron,” stipulates the Swedish car manufacturer must make a minimum investment of $35 million for tooling facilities in the county within five years. The investment, it should be noted, does not include the building of a new headquarters or production facility, but rather uses existing infrastructure at one or both of the two properties. Los Angeles-based investor group acquires Millennium Apartments for $64.4 million Photo provided by IMG Investors Management Group (IMG) acquired the 305-unit Millennium Apartments in Greenville for $64.4 million, making it $211,000 per unit on average. Millennium Apartments, an apartment complex located at 221 Fairforest Way in Greenville, provides a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Currently, IMG intends to invest more than $2.5 million in capital improvements at the property due to the increasing demand for luxury amenities. In the past year, IMG has sponsored the acquisition of more than 1,600 units. Millennium Apartments represents IMG’s third multifamily project in South Carolina after it acquired the Whitley Apartments in Central in June 2022. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette presents Greenville Downtown Airport Director Joe Frasher with the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest honor, for his 39 years of service to the state. Greenville Downtown Airport director Joe Frasher awarded Order of the Palmetto Greenville Downtown Airport Director Joe Frasher was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s largest honor, at a ceremony Sept. 15 at the Greenville Convention Center. The award was presented on behalf of Gov. Henry McMaster by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in recognition of Frasher’s 39 years of service to the state as the airport’s director. “We brag about the people of South Carolina and it is really the people of South Carolina that keep attracting business from all over the globe.” Evette said. “Here in South Carolina, we are a close-knit family, and in South Carolina we have an award we give. It is an award that can’t be bought. An award that you can’t schmooze your way into. You have to earn it.” Design Review Board approves new brewery at the Old Cigar Warehouse Photo by John Olson The DRB approved plans to renovate the Old Cigar Warehouse to include a new brewery. This includes an outdoor dining pavilion and a covered event area for acoustic concerts. New Realm Brewing, based in Atlanta, announced plans to move into the historic space last year. The renovations will happen mainly indoors, with the intention of maintaining the original character of the building, and minor renovations are expected on the exterior. The approval came with conditions for the architect in charge of the project for minor adjustments like the location of a fireplace and types of materials that will be used. Related Topics home1 Previous Article Subscribe Subscribe now to our newsletter By checking this box, you confirm that you have read and are agreeing to our terms of use regarding the storage of the data submitted through this form. 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What Is The Longevity Diet? – Everyday Health https://collincountynewsonline.com/what-is-the-longevity-diet-everyday-health/ While there’s a lack of research focusing on this specific diet plan, there is an abundance of research on plant-based eating. “There is abundant research — overwhelming, in fact — on the general health benefits of diverse dietary patterns that emphasize whole plant foods,” Dr. Katz adds. The other fasting-related aspects of the longevity diet — fasting-mimicking and intermittent fasting — are less studied. “It channels the science of calorie restriction and fasting, but whether this practice, twice a year, really does translate into altered longevity for humans, independently of other factors, is, of course, unknown,” says Katz. But animal research suggests this style of eating may hold promise. In the April 2022 issue of Cell, Longo notes that fasting-mimicking diets have been linked with metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice. These results could reduce risk factors for certain diseases, he writes. A review published in October 2021 in the Annual Review of Nutrition states that intermittent fasting patterns such as time-restricted eating (which is a part of the longevity diet) is a safe way to improve metabolic health for people who are obese. Yet the jury is out regarding other benefits. For example, one study, published in April 2022 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a time-restricted diet was not more beneficial for weight loss in people with obesity compared to a calorie restricted diet. Here’s a snapshot of some of the possible health effects of this eating plan. A Longer Life Given the name of the diet, this potential perk likely comes as no surprise. The element of the longevity diet that researchers have studied most widely is plant-based eating. “Research suggests one can boost life expectancy by 3 to 13 years by replacing the Western diet of red meat and processed foods with a diet that contains more nutrient-rich foods that include vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and nuts,” explains Palumbo. The research Palumbo points to, published in February 2022 in the journal PLOS Medicine, notes that when people start the diet earlier, the gains may be even greater. Katz, though, adds a caveat. “The only evidence in direct support of longevity, per se, is observation of the links between dietary intake patterns and longevity in populations such as the blue zones,” he says. “There are, for obvious reasons, no intervention studies or randomized trials assessing actual longevity in humans, as such trials would span the lifetimes or more of the researchers who initiated them, and few would be willing to participate as subjects,” Katz adds. A Healthier Heart Plant-based eating, which features plenty of produce, is a smart choice for heart health. As the World Health Organization points out, heart diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide. A review published in February 2017 in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that five servings of vegetables and fruits a day was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. And even more servings per day (around 10) was associated with even lower risk. Another review of research found that the more vegetables and fruits people consumed, the lower their odds of developing cardiovascular disease, compared with people who ate only 1.5 servings of vegetables per day. Research published in June 2022 in the European Heart Journal found that a diet rich in potassium (from longevity diet–approved foods like avocados and salmon) was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events, and especially helped women who had high levels of sodium in their diet. While fish isn’t necessarily a staple in a plant-based diet, it is a feature of the longevity diet, and fish is good for the heart, research suggests. For example, a study published in June 2022 in JAHA found that 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily was associated with lower blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a risk factor for heart disease, as the CDC notes. A Reduced Risk for Cancer Plant-based eating may help protect against cancer. In the aforementioned review in the International Journal of Epidemiology, not only did researchers find that a diet rich in fruits and veggies was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, but they also found it lowered people’s odds of cancer. In addition, research published in February 2022 in the journal BMC Medicine found that those who ate a low-meat or meat-free diet (in this study, that was defined as meat five times or less per week) had a lower overall cancer risk than those who consumed more. A Lower Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Eating ample plant-based foods, like vegetables, legumes, and nuts is a key pillar in the longevity diet. And research published in April 2022 in the journal Diabetologia suggests that a higher total fruit and vegetable intake may be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in men specifically (there wasn’t an association with women in this particular study). Meanwhile, a diet high in red meat and poultry may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, research published in May 2017 in the American Journal of Epidemiology shows.  Stronger Vision A healthy, plant-based diet may help prevent eye diseases that can come along with old age, like cataracts and macular degeneration, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. For example, research suggests that high amounts of vegetables and fruits are associated with a lower risk of cataracts (yet there was no reduced risk for cataract extraction even among people who ate the highest amounts of fruits and vegetables). In the study, the “high” group of fruit and veggie eaters consumed around 10 servings a day, while the lowest group consumed about three servings each day.

Breaking News – FOX Sports Films Announces New Immersive Hip Hop Documentary “Jackie Robinson: Get To The Bag” Spotlighting The Remarkable Career Of Jackie Robinson Beyond Baseball Premiering Wednesday, October 12 On FS1 | TheFut – The Futon Critic https://collincountynewsonline.com/breaking-news-fox-sports-films-announces-new-immersive-hip-hop-documentary-jackie-robinson-get-to-the-bag-spotlighting-the-remarkable-career-of-jackie-robinson-beyond-baseball-premiering-wednesda/ FOX SPORTS FILMS ANNOUNCES NEW IMMERSIVE HIP HOP DOCUMENTARY “JACKIE ROBINSON: GET TO THE BAG” SPOTLIGHTING THE REMARKABLE CAREER OF JACKIE ROBINSON BEYOND BASEBALL PREMIERING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12 ON FS1 Executive Produced by Two-Time World Series Champion and Six-Time All-Star Mookie Betts, Co-Produced by Propagate and MLB, and Directed by Victorious De Costa Film, Narrated Through the Lyrical Storytelling of Brooklyn-Based Rapper Skyzoo First-look Tease Unveiled Today LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports Films announced today the new immersive hip-hop documentary JACKIE ROBINSON: GET TO THE BAG, spotlighting the remarkable career of Jackie Robinson beyond baseball. The film blends the lyrical narrative of Brooklyn-based rapper Skyzoo and the voices of multiple generations to celebrate Robinson’s extraordinary life and legacy, shedding new light on the Hall of Famer’s journey from the baseball diamond to prominence in corporate America. Set to premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 12 on FS1, following the network’s live Major League Baseball (MLB) Postseason coverage, the film is executive produced by two-time World Series champion and six-time All-Star Mookie Betts, co-produced by Propagate, MLB, and directed by Victorious De Costa (“Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn”). “FOX Sports is honored to partner with Mookie, Victorious, and the producing team at Propagate to present Jackie Robinson’s inspiring story like we’ve never seen before through a creative hip-hop lens,” said Barry Nugent, Vice President, Development and Original Programming, FOX Sports. “The film is a musical celebration of Jackie’s life and legacy on and off the field and the powerful impact his story has on a new generation of fans.” “Oftentimes we focus on the accolades of what players do on the field or courts, when the true essence of who we are, is our contribution to building and enriching our communities and those within it,” said Betts. “We’ve heard the stories of Mr. Jackie Robinson’s activism and contribution to baseball, but now I am honored to help tell the story of Jackie Robinson, the entrepreneur through this film.” JACKIE ROBINSON: GET TO THE BAG features memorable, archival footage interwoven through a hip-hop narrative, along with conversational interviews with the newest generation of fans and future MLB luminaries, to capture the story of Robinson through the eyes of America’s youth. The film also features interviews with Betts, Candice Wiggins, Alex Rodriguez, Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz as well as award-winning journalist Angelika Beener and acclaimed historian Peter Dreier, along with commentary from current MLB superstars. Through original lyrics and beats, Skyzoo brings the Jackie Robinson story to life in a unique presentation that aims to educate and inspire the next generation through Robinson’s legacy. Drawing on his own inspiration from Robinson, Skyzoo also introduces viewers to his childhood home in the Ebbets Field Apartments Complex, the former site of the iconic Brooklyn Dodgers’ Ebbets Field. The same grounds where Skyzoo began his foray into writing music is where Robinson first stepped up to the plate as the first African American player in the modern-era of MLB. The film is not only a celebration of baseball, but an ode to Robinson’s impactful career and racial activism that transcended beyond the sport. Robinson was a pioneer in sports and also a trailblazer for black athletes to become business moguls with power and influence. A tale of courage and determination, the film tells the story of Robinson most people don’t know: his story beyond baseball. JACKIE ROBINSON: GET TO THE BAG will peel back the layers on Robinson’s own self-identity and personal growth through the many stages of his professional career, including his unexpected retirement from baseball and parting with the sport, to his entrance into the workforce where he established success as both an entrepreneur and an advocate for the civil rights movement. 75 years after Robinson first stepped out onto Ebbets Field, JACKIE ROBINSON: GET TO THE BAG will remind viewers that the Jackie Robinson story is also America’s story. Betts himself is a vocal activist for the inclusion of Black Americans in baseball on and off the field. For example, during batting practice at the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, he donned a t-shirt emblazoned with the message, “We need more Black people at the stadium.” Betts later led a tribute to Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, in honor of her 100th birthday during the pregame ceremony of the Midsummer Classic. “While JACKIE ROBINSON: GET TO THE BAG taps into the profound mark his athleticism left on baseball, I wanted to draw attention to Jackie’s financial success as a businessman following his sports career,” said De Costa. “The film’s title serves as a double entendre, signifying how Robinson not only got to the bag on the field, but also the money bag, celebrating his entrepreneurship and socioeconomic influence.” JACKIE ROBINSON: GET TO THE BAG is produced by Betts’ media company, One Media/Marketing Group (OMG), along with Propagate (“Untold”, “Hillary”, “LFG”). The film’s executive producers are Betts, Cam Lewis, Jeff Mason and Omar Bradford of OMG and Ben Silverman, Howard Owens and Drew Buckley of Propagate. Jack Katkavich serves as co-executive producer. The documentary is an extension of the collaboration between Betts’ OMG and Propagate following their production deal announced earlier this year and is the first project to greenlight. FOX Sports Films is dedicated to presenting captivating global sports documentaries through an unconventional and entertaining lens. Working with FOX Sports’ league and conference partners, the brand produces original programming, connecting live sports events to sports culture. For more information, visit FOX Sports Press Pass and follow @FOXSportsPR on Twitter. –FOX SPORTS– About FOX Sports FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture business Big Ten Network, a licensing and commercial relationship with The Stars Group that created the FOX Bet sports betting platform and the FOX Bet Super 6 free-to-play game, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network. About One Media/ Marketing Group OMG is a media company based out of Nashville/Los Angeles, co-founded in 2020 by Markus (“Mookie”) Betts, Jeff Mason, and Cam Lewis. OMG’s mission is to inspire people to see the truth within themselves through the lens of entertainment including film, television and sports. OMG seeks to create authentic, thought provoking content, creating a spark in the journey of the person our audiences wish to become. The vision is to empower everyone to see the possibilities around them. In doing this, we will become a force that ignites change. About Propagate Founded in 2015 by Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens, who pioneered the global format business in the late 1990s, Propagate has offices in Los Angeles, New York and Paris. Propagate’s documentary credits include the Emmy-nominated Hillary for Hulu; LFG for HBO Max in partnership with CNN Films; the Untold franchise, November 13: Attack on Paris, Haunted, and the recently announced Anna Nicole Smith documentary for Netflix; Burning and Lore for Amazon Prime Video; recurring true crime series City Confidential for A&E Network; and Notre Dame: Our Lady of Paris for ABC. Unscripted series include American Song Contest for NBC, an adaptation of the iconic Eurovision Song Contest; Go-Big Show for TBS; In Search Of and Kings of Pain for History Channel; Million Dollar Wheels for Discovery+; Baking Impossible, Prank Encounters, and the upcoming Latin music competition series La Firma for Netflix. Scripted credits include Rebelde Way for Netflix; Charmed for The CW, Blood and Treasure and Broke for CBS; along with Let’s Be Real and Our Kind of People for FOX, starring Yaya DaCosta and Morris Chestnut. Propagate also created and produced the original podcasts “An Oral History of The Office” with Spotify; and “The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner” and “XOXO with Jessica Szohr” with iHeartMedia. Propagate’s expanding portfolio of companies includes Electus (You vs. Wild, Running Wild With Bear Grylls, Jane the Virgin, Fashion Star), Big Breakfast (Adam Ruins Everything, Hot Date), Notional (Chopped franchise), and talent management firms Artists First, Authentic Talent & Literary Management and Select Management.

New Study Shows Sports Fans See Value In The Metaverse – SportTechie https://collincountynewsonline.com/new-study-shows-sports-fans-see-value-in-the-metaverse-sporttechie/ A new study from marketing agency Momentum Worldwide has found that 81% of surveyed sports fans would pay to watch a real-world sporting event in the metaverse. The study similarly found that 85% of sports fans would pay to access exclusive live experiences sponsored by brands in the metaverse that feature their favorite athletes and artists. The findings can serve as a guidance for how teams, leagues and athletes build their approach to the metaverse. Momentum Worldwide’s research is based on answers from 4,500 consumers across 12 countries. The sports fans surveyed in the study were an average of 34 years old and skewed 59% male, with video games Roblox and Fortnite being the “metaverse” platforms they’re most likely to have used over the past month. The NFL, Wimbledon tennis, Nike, and Dick’s Sporting Goods have all launched virtual worlds on Roblox over the past year where users can access digital merchandise for their avatars.  Nearly three-fourths of sports fans surveyed in this study believe metaverse is the future. The study found 81% of sports fans to be familiar with the metaverse, compared to 58% of non-sports fans being familiar with the term. While most fans supposedly know the metaverse — they mostly don’t know what it consists of. When it comes to the different components of the metaverse, the study’s findings give an idea of fans’ current understanding: 52% of sports fans are familiar with virtual reality 39% are familiar with augmented reality 38% are familiar with an open world environment 25% with brain computer interface 28% with blockchain Meta, the social media company formerly known as Facebook whose rebrand ignited the metaverse, launched VR content with the NBA and NASCAR for its Quest headset. The NFL recently debuted its first VR football game on Quest and released Super Bowl-branded digital shirts and helmets with Meta. Along with gaming in the metaverse, digital collectibles and team merchandise is a growing trend. Momentum Worldwide says 89% of surveyed sports fans would support a store within the metaverse where they could buy items to be delivered to them in real time. The Foo Fighters notably held a virtual reality concert on Quest after Super Bowl LVI. The metaverse is also a social haven for some sports fans, with 1 in 3 respondents saying they identify with their online personas more than their own real-world sense of self, according to the study.  “The opportunity to make money has the sports fan intrigued and they’re not shy when it comes to dropping dollars as well,” writes Momentum Worldwide. “While non-sports fans are more likely to have made metaverse purchases like avatar skins, sports fans are more likely to have bought items like real estate and art — displaying their belief that the metaverse isn’t just a game, it’s a new way of life.”

The 40 Best Gifts For Wine Lovers – Top Wine Gifts – Men’s Health https://collincountynewsonline.com/the-40-best-gifts-for-wine-lovers-top-wine-gifts-mens-health/ Courtesy of Retailer ON THE surface, finding the ideal gift for your wine loving friend or relative seems like a tough task. After all, wine can be intimidating stuff, with its protocol for sipping, varietal-specific glassware, and complicated tasting notes. Well, it shouldn’t be that way. Wine is merely food―fermented liquid food meant for enjoyment in the company of your favorite people. It also combines so much more, like art, agriculture, history, style, gastronomy, and elegance. Something so dynamic has a lot of great related gifts, just waiting to wow those you know and love who deeply admire wine. Great Stocking Stuffer Foil Cutter – 2 Pack YWQ Read More Great Gift Under $50 Glass Decanter with Wood Stopper West Elm Read More Great Gift for Book Lovers The Wine Bible Workman Publishing Company Read More Best Luxury Gift Austrian Crystal Wine Glasses (6) Gabriel-Glas Read More Kingham Mirror Soft Cheese Knife Robert Welch Read More Antique Brass Mirrored 25-Bottle Wine Rack Cole Read More Italian Classic Cheese Collection Williams Sonoma Read More Read more: Best Gifts for Men By all means, procure a great bottle and wrap it up nicely. Just forego the “Merlot Man” tee-shirts and cheesy magnets about how it’s okay to “wine a little” when things aren’t going your way. Class it up and stick to the list below, fit with everything from special wine pouring gadgets and prints to decanters and entertaining books. Wine is a way of life and should be celebrated as much, with all the appropriate accoutrements that help elevate it even further. Because when you gain a deeper understanding of the stuff and treat it with some respect, it’ll do the same for you. That’s the magic of wine. Well we’re on the theme, here are 40 of the best related gifts. Read more: Best Gifts Under $100 Great Stocking Stuffer YWQ Foil Cutter – 2 Pack Great Gift Under $50 West Elm Glass Decanter with Wood Stopper Great Gift for Book Lovers Workman Publishing Company The Wine Bible Best Luxury Gift Gabriel-Glas Austrian Crystal Wine Glasses (6) St. Martin’s Griffin Sideways Glogex Wine Glass Markers Robert Welch Kingham Mirror Soft Cheese Knife Cole Antique Brass Mirrored 25-Bottle Wine Rack Williams Sonoma Italian Classic Cheese Collection De Long Wine Grape Varietal Table Harry N. Abrams Sparkling Wine Anytime Flow Line Morning Wine Framed Art Print Amazon Basics Shagreen Journal, 2-Pack DELUXEWITCH 14. TEMPERANCE Art Print Waterman Waterman Carène Marine Amber Ballpoint Pen, High-Gloss Black with 23k Gold Clip, Medium Point with Blue Ink Cartridge, Gift Box Artem Pozdnyakov Liberty of drinking All Over Graphic Tee Williams Sonoma Marble Wine Stoppers, Set of 3 Päivi Vikström Wine Bottles Wall Clock Coravin Wine Preservation System Legacy Insulated Wine & Cheese Cooler Bag Stanley Stanley Classic Thermos Departo Stackable Wine Glass Sub_Urban Riot Partners in Wine Graphic Tee Nambé Nambé Curvo Wine Rack Jeangel97 future sommelier wine tasting Retro Vintage Pin L’Atelier du Vin Wine Opener geoVINUM Corsica Wine Map Sasquatch Books Fire + Wine: 75 Smoke-Infused Recipes t & s brass Tasting Spittoon West Elm Party Pack Picnic Basket (22 Piece Set) WineBoxesEtc Spanish Wine Box YeOldShoppeAntiques Vintage Wine Press BourbonStreetBarrels Barrel Stave Candle Holder WanderinWineGlass Wine Jelly Set ghia Non-Alcoholic Spirit (Set of 2) Cat Coquillette Champagne Sticker Mark Stock Mark Stock is a food, drink, and outdoors writer from Portland, Oregon.

Bitwise Announces Results Of September 2022 Month-End Crypto Index Reconstitution – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/bitwise-announces-results-of-september-2022-month-end-crypto-index-reconstitution-business-wire/ SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bitwise Index Services, the indexing subsidiary of Bitwise Asset Management, today announced the results of the monthly reconstitution of the Bitwise Crypto Indexes, which took place on September 30, 2022, at 4 p.m. ET. There was one change to the constituents of the Bitwise 10 Large Cap Crypto Index as a result of the September 30, 2022 reconstitution: Uniswap re-entered the index, replacing Litecoin. As of September 30, 2022, at 4 p.m. ET, the Bitwise 10 Large Cap Crypto Index held the following constituents: 62.99% Bitcoin (BTC), 27.25% Ethereum (ETH), 2.46% Cardano (ADA), 2.02% Solana (SOL), 1.22% Polkadot (DOT), 1.14% Polygon (MATIC), 0.86% Avalanche (AVAX), 0.81% Uniswap (UNI), 0.64% Cosmos (ATOM), and 0.62% Chainlink (LINK). There were no changes to the constituents of the Bitwise Decentralized Finance Crypto Index as a result of the September 30, 2022 reconstitution. As of September 30, 2022, at 4 p.m. ET, the Bitwise Decentralized Finance Crypto Index held the following constituents: 52.25% Uniswap (UNI), 11.43% Aave (AAVE), 7.36% Maker (MKR), 5.37% Curve DAO Token (CRV), 5.35% Lido DAO (LDO), 4.83% Compound (COMP), 4.02% Loopring (LRC), 3.69% Convex Finance (CVX), 3.23% Yearn Finance (YFI), and 2.47% 0x (ZRX). There was one change to the constituents of the Bitwise 10 ex Bitcoin Large Cap Crypto Index as a result of the September 30, 2022 reconstitution: Uniswap re-entered the index, replacing Litecoin. As of September 30, 2022, at 4 p.m. ET, the Bitwise 10 ex Bitcoin Large Cap Crypto Index held the following constituents: 73.61% Ethereum (ETH), 6.64% Cardano (ADA), 5.45% Solana (SOL), 3.29% Polkadot (DOT), 3.09% Polygon (MATIC), 2.32% Avalanche (AVAX), 2.19% Uniswap (UNI), 1.72% Cosmos (ATOM), and 1.69% Chainlink (LINK). The Bitwise Crypto Indexes are reconstituted on a monthly basis according to the rules of the Bitwise Crypto Index Methodology as applied by the Bitwise Crypto Index Committee. Minutes of the September 2022 Bitwise Crypto Index Committee meeting are publicly available here. The Ball Multicoin Bitwise Metaverse Index reconstitutes quarterly in February, May, August, and November, and as a result had no changes as of September 30, 2022. As of September 30, 2022, at 4 p.m. ET, the Ball Multicoin Bitwise Metaverse Index had 27 constituents. The following were the 10 largest constituents of the Ball Multicoin Bitwise Metaverse Index: 9.13% ChainLink (LINK), 8.71% Ethereum (ETH), 8.30% Solana (SOL), 8.07% Polygon (MATIC), 8.07% Filecoin (FIL), 6.05% Binance Coin (BNB), 5.70% Uniswap (UNI), 4.94% Arweave (AR), 4.93% Graph Protocol (GRT), and 4.13% Ethereum Name Service (ENS). The index methodology for the Ball Multicoin Bitwise Metaverse Index is available here. The Bitwise Crypto Innovators 30 Index of equities reconstitutes quarterly and had one change as a result of the September 30, 2022 reconstitution: Visa (V) entered the index, replacing Tesla (TSLA). As of September 30, 2022 at 4 p.m. ET, the following were the 10 largest constituents of the Bitwise Crypto Innovators 30 Index: 11.09% Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN), 10.93% MicroStrategy (MSTR), 9.87% Silvergate Capital (SI), 5.34% Riot Blockchain (RIOT), 4.98% Hut 8 Mining (HUT CN), 4.87% Canaan Inc. (CAN), 4.75% Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA), 4.50% Bakkt Holdings Inc. (BKKT), 4.25% Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY CN), and 3.99% Hive Blockchain (HIVE CN). The index methodology for the Bitwise Crypto Innovators 30 Index of equities is available here. The Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Collections Index reconstitutes quarterly and had no changes as a result of the September 30, 2022 reconstitution. As of September 30, 2022, at 4 p.m. ET, the Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Collections Index held the following constituents: 33.43% Bored Ape Yacht Club, 26.98% CryptoPunks, 13.13% Mutant Ape Yacht Club, 5.19% CloneX, 4.44% Moonbirds, 4.37% Chromie Squiggle, 4.09% Azuki, 3.21% Doodles, 2.62% VeeFriends, and 2.53% Meebits. The index methodology for the Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Collections Index is available here. About Bitwise Asset Management Based in San Francisco, Bitwise is one of the largest and fastest-growing crypto asset managers. As of year-end 2021, Bitwise managed over $1.3 billion across an expanding suite of investment solutions. The firm is known for managing the world’s largest crypto index fund (OTCQX: BITW) and pioneering products spanning Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi and crypto-focused equity indexes. Bitwise focuses on partnering with financial advisors and investment professionals to provide quality education and research. The team at Bitwise combines expertise in technology with decades of experience in traditional asset management and indexing, coming from firms including BlackRock, Blackstone, Facebook and Google, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Bitwise is backed by leading institutional investors and asset management executives, and has been profiled in Institutional Investor, CNBC, Barron’s, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. RISKS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION Carefully consider the investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses of any Bitwise investment product before investing. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee or assurance that the methodology used by Bitwise or any of the Bitwise investment products will result in any Bitwise investment product achieving positive investment returns or outperforming other investment products. There is no guarantee or assurance that an investor’s investment objectives will be met through an investment into any Bitwise investment product, and an investor may lose money. Investors into any Bitwise investment product should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of such investment product and the possibility of significant losses. Bitwise investment products involve a substantial degree of risk. Certain Bitwise investment products may be available only to institutional and individual accredited investors. Certain of the Bitwise investment products may be subject to the risks associated with investing in crypto assets, including cryptocurrencies and crypto tokens. Because crypto assets are a new technological innovation with a limited history, they are a highly speculative asset. Future regulatory actions or policies may limit the ability to sell, exchange or use a crypto asset. The price of a crypto asset may be impacted by the transactions of a small number of holders of such crypto asset. Crypto assets may decline in popularity, acceptance or use, which may impact their price. The technology relating to crypto assets and blockchain is new and developing. Currently, there are a limited number of publicly listed or quoted companies for which crypto assets and blockchain technology represent an attributable and significant revenue stream. NFTs are an extremely new artistic and cultural phenomenon, and interest in such artwork could wane. If the demand for NFT artwork diminishes, the prices of NFT items could be negatively affected. The market for NFTs can be subject to shallow trade volume, extreme hoarding, low liquidity and high bankruptcy risk. NFTs are also subject to risks and challenges associated with intellectual property rights and fraud. In general, Metaverse protocols do not operate on a native blockchain, but rather are built and operated on other public blockchain networks. As a result, a Metaverse protocol does not control the blockchain network on which it operates. Any adverse impacts or changes on the underlying blockchain network could have a negative effect on the operation of the Metaverse protocol and, as a result, could impact the price of the Metaverse protocol’s digital asset. Such adverse impacts can include, but are not limited to, technical bugs, hacks, 51% attacks or network congestion due to, among other issues, high fees. The opinions expressed herein are intended to provide insight or education and are not intended as individual investment advice. Bitwise does not represent that this information is accurate and complete and it should not be relied upon as such. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding the funds or any security in particular. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Diversification may not protect against market risk. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. Bitwise may attempt to have shares of its investment products quoted on a secondary market. However, there is no guarantee this will be successful. Although the shares of certain Bitwise investment products have been approved for trading on a secondary market, investors in any other Bitwise investment product should not assume that the shares will ever obtain such an approval due to a variety of factors, including questions that regulators such as the SEC, FINRA or other regulatory bodies may have regarding the investment product. Shareholders of such investment products should be prepared to bear the risk of investment in the shares indefinitely. This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be illegal, nor shall there be any sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. The offer and sale of these i...

U.S. To Redirect Flights From Uganda To Five Airports For Ebola Screening – The Washington Post https://collincountynewsonline.com/u-s-to-redirect-flights-from-uganda-to-five-airports-for-ebola-screening-the-washington-post/ The United States will immediately begin redirecting travelers from Uganda to five U.S. airports to screen them for the Ebola virus and will follow up with them while they are in the country, a senior administration official said Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct temperature checks and risk assessment on anyone who has been in Uganda over the previous 21 days, the incubation time for the deadly Ebola virus, the official said. State and local public health officials will follow up with them for 21 days after their arrival, the official said. The airports are: JFK International Airport in New York, Washington-Dulles International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Chicago-O’Hare International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Most of the 145 people who arrive from Uganda each day already land at those airports. There are no direct flights from Uganda to the United States. Ebola Virus Disease is a rare and often deadly hemorrhagic illness that causes fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and gastrointestinal symptoms as well as unexplained bleeding. Unlike covid-19, the virus is not transmitted through airborne droplets, but is highly contagious. It is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids, including blood, urine, feces, saliva or other secretions of a person who has symptoms or has died of the disease; infected animals or contaminated objects such as needles, according to the CDC. There are no known cases in the United States, and the government believes the risk to the public here is low, according to the official. Uganda is conducting exit screening for the virus, and other African countries in the region are also checking arrivals for symptoms of the virus. No cases of the new Sudan strain of the Ebola virus have been reported outside Uganda, where 44 confirmed cases, 10 confirmed deaths, and 20 probable deaths from the virus have been identified since the outbreak began in September, according to the CDC. This is the fifth outbreak of the Sudan strain of the virus in Uganda since 2000, the health agency said. There is a vaccine for the Zaire strain of the virus, which caused two large outbreaks in Africa — in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2018 to 2020 — that sickened tens of thousands of people. But a vaccine for the Sudan strain that is being developed has not yet been tested, and there are no treatments for the disease. During the 2014 to 2016 epidemic that swept Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, 11 people were treated for Ebola in the United States, two of whom died. Nine of those cases were brought into the country and two others were health care workers infected while caring for a man who arrived with the disease. Both workers recovered.

Battery Management: Vitesco Technologies Advances Key Function Of Electric Driving – Batteries News https://collincountynewsonline.com/battery-management-vitesco-technologies-advances-key-function-of-electric-driving-batteries-news/ October 6, 2022 4 min read Battery management: Vitesco technologies advances key function of electric driving. Vitesco Technologies has recently won several orders worth more than 2 billion euros for its innovative Battery Management Systems (BMS). One of Vitesco Technologies’ significant contracts will deliver already a wireless communication version of the battery control units for 400V and 800V BEV architecture. This particular innovative solution reduces the amount of cabling inside the battery saving space and improving range capacity through the use of either a larger battery or by reducing the size and weight of the battery that would otherwise be used. Battery management is a key function of electric driving: Intelligent BMS solutions consisting of control units, sensors, and application software protect the battery against overheating and ensure a balanced charging state of all cells. This is essential for the safe operation and long battery life. In other words, with its many individual functions the BMS protects the biggest and most valuable single system in an electric vehicle. Thomas Stierle, Member of the Executive Board and head of the Electrification Technology and the Electronic Controls business units of Vitesco Technologies, said: With our modular software and hardware for battery management we can offer our customers tailor made solutions. “In addition, innovations such as wireless communication with the battery modules enable advanced battery design, leading to reduced system costs for our customers.” Battery management: a “hidden champion” in the electric car The core functions of BMS are divided between two types of control units in the Vitesco Technologies portfolio. The first is the battery management controller permanently monitoring the state of cells and modules. It can trigger a corrective action within the battery when an undesirable operating condition is detected in order to deliver the maximum range and achieve its maximum service life. This is accomplished through the use of a high voltage sensor to monitor and control the high current flows toward the battery. In the case of a crash, the BMS also triggers the electrical isolation of the battery from the rest of the car. Cell supervising circuits are a second type of controller monitoring and balancing the charging levels of individual battery cells (something which can always occur in Li-Ion cells due to manufacturing tolerances). Rodrigo Peres, Head of Product Line Battery at Vitesco Technologies, said: For this purpose, Vitesco Technologies is currently developing a new procedure for actively balancing cells (hence: active cell balancing), which can bring another efficiency gain in the order of several percent. Thomas Stierle, Member of the Executive Board and head of the Electrification Technology and the Electronic Controls business units of Vitesco Technologies said “The number of BMS orders that we received over the past weeks and months reflects the relevance of our solutions. We have signed contracts with global high-volume manufacturers, with premium car makers and with start-up companies – in all relevant markets.” As a generic development, Vitesco Technologies’ modular BMS portfolio is already prepared to facilitate an integration of its functional parts into other control units. Through this, Vitesco Technologies anticipates a trend in the electric and electronic vehicle architecture: reducing the number of devices by using fewer control units with much higher computing power and with complex software systems. Highlights: Basis for further profitable growth in the e-mobility business: battery management orders worth more than 2 billion euros Contracts with global high-volume manufacturers, with premium car makers and with start-up companies in all relevant markets Battery management systems increase the range of electric cars, ensure safer car operation, and contribute to longer battery life Innovation: wireless communication simplifies the battery design, saves space and opens up new possibilities in the development of e-vehicles READ the latest Batteries News shaping the battery market BATTERY MANAGEMENT: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES ADVANCES KEY FUNCTION OF ELECTRIC DRIVING, Regensburg, October 5, 2022

Toyota And Boys & Girls Clubs In North Texas – WFAA.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/toyota-and-boys-girls-clubs-in-north-texas-wfaa-com/ This segment is sponsored by Toyota. Toyota and Boys & Girls Clubs say they’re committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure all kids have equal access to resources and pathways to enable them to have a great future. Recently, Hannah met with representatives from Toyota and Boys and Girls clubs of Collin County to discuss the resources and support they are providing to youth and families throughout the community. Go to Toyota.com, BGCA.org or BGCCC.org for more information on how Toyota and Boys & Girls clubs are supporting youth across North Texas.

Killed On Vacation: NAACP Leader Shot In Turks And Caicos – Travel Noire https://collincountynewsonline.com/killed-on-vacation-naacp-leader-shot-in-turks-and-caicos-travel-noire/ Kent Carter, of the Arlington County NAACP was killed on vacation while riding in a shuttle van back to his hotel. Police say a gang of men started shooting at the vehicle, which murdered Carter and injured another passenger in the van.  What happened: “Just a really great, standup guy, you know? One of the best neighbors you could have,” stated Robert York to FOX 5. York was a neighbor to Carter and couldn’t believe the news of what happened. “He and his family, just really great neighbors. So this is just incredibly sad news,” York said. “These criminals began to indiscriminately shoot into the vehicle,” said Trevor Botting, police commissioner in Turks and Caicos. Botting states the van Carter was riding in was ambushed by gunmen. Murdering Carter and injuring a staff member. The aftermath: After the incident, police found the vehicle the gunmen were in and engaged in a shootout. The gunmen had automatic weapons and police ended up killing one of the shooters. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family of those who were murdered,” Botting said. Carter spent time in executive leadership at the NAACP of Arlington County and was on the county’s police practices working group. A great loss to the community: Carter was in executive leadership at the NAACP and was also apart of Arlington County’s police practices working group. He was also a realtor in the community. “I know that he has a young daughter, and I have a kiddo that lives with me as well, and we definitely bonded around. We got to work around school pickup, we got to work around homework time, things like that, as I was buying the house, and he was just so great about that,” said Rachel Saathoff, who was a client of Carter. The investigation: The authorities in Turks and Caicos are still searching for answers and looking for the rest of the gunmen involved. Botting says the shooting was tied to the drug trade in Turks and Caicos, inspired by turf wars and revenge. Julius Spain, Senior President of the NAACP Arlington told FOX 5, “Mr. Carter was not only a friend but a true champion of civil rights and social justice.” Spain says he knew Carter for more than ten years and said he was “a gentleman with a gentle heart.” Carter’s girlfriend who was also in the vehicle spoke with Spain. She said they were headed back to the hotel after the beach. Carter, who is a veteran and former special agent, used his body to shield her from the gunfire.

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