Collin County News Online

30 Best Gifts For Singers Of All Ages For 2022 – Good Housekeeping https://collincountynewsonline.com/30-best-gifts-for-singers-of-all-ages-for-2022-good-housekeeping/ BONAOK/ Bose When it comes to shopping for gifts, it’s always nice finding an option that matches your giftee’s interests, talents and hobbies. While best-selling items on Amazon and popular Christmas picks make creative presents for your loved ones, don’t miss out on the chance to choose something more meaningful and unique to their personality. That includes your search for the best gifts for singers or any aspiring (or professional) musician in your life. We’ve rounded up an array of personalized, funny and cool gadgets your family and friends will love for the holidays (or for any occasion that calls for a unique present). Some items will help them hone their talent, including the portable USB microphone and noise canceling headphones. Others are options you can customize for their everyday wear and use (from the musical note name necklace to the leather notebook for their song lyrics and future hits). Not to mention a guitar-shaped cutting board to replicate their favorite instrument and a scented candle that plays songs straight from their Spotify playlist when scanned. So if you’re looking for memorable family gifts this season, shop this list for any parent, child, grandparent or coworker who can hold a tune. And for more specific gift ideas, check out these gifts for coffee lovers, Star Wars gifts and some of the best gifts for chefs (according to Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen pros). 1 Best Personalized Necklace VictoriaMinimalist Personalized Musical Note Name Necklace 2 A GIFT FOR SINGERS AND READERS DJCBoutique Music Piano Bookmark 4 FOR SINGERS OF ALL AGES BONAOK Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone 5 PrintYourHeartOutUK Personalized Song Plaque 6 Infinity Collection Music Bracelet 7 Best Tea for Singer’s Throat Tea Drops Loose Leaf Tea Gift Box 8 EcoFlip Scannable Scented Candle 9 A One-of-A-Kind Holiday Playlist Uncommon Goods Holiday Scratch Off Advent Calendar Playlist 10 IkersonLTD I Don’t Always Sing Shirt 11 Playing Cards With a Musical Twist Laurence King Publishing Genius Music Playing Cards 12 Bose Nose Cancelling Headphones 13 FOR THE GUITAR PLAYERS Uncommon Goods Birth Month Guitar Pick 14 Elecstars Star Projector with Bluetooth Speaker 15 R&M International Musical Cookie Cutters 16 Music-Loving Gag Gift Uncommon Goods Mistaken Lyrics Coasters 17 VIBES High-Fidelity Earplugs 18 InnoGear Microphone Arm 19 MODERN VINYL Record Holder 20 New bee Headphone Stand 21 THE ORIGINAL MASHTAPE Retro Cassette Tape USB Flash Drive 22 PromiDesign Personal Guitar Cutting Board 23 Spontuneous Spontuneous The Song Game 24 KUNGYO Vintage Guitar-Shaped Decorative Hooks 25 CLYOR Voice 37 All Natural Voice Remedy for Singers 26 Uncommon Goods Turntable Cheese Board 27 MiraGiftsWorld Personalized Leather Notebook 28 A1GraphicsLtd Personalized Song Keychain 29 AvitoProducts Personalized Music Tumbler 30 Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Mariah Thomas Assistant Editor Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content.

US State Issues Order Freezing Crypto At Exchanges In Pig Butchering Scam Crackdown – Regulation Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://collincountynewsonline.com/us-state-issues-order-freezing-crypto-at-exchanges-in-pig-butchering-scam-crackdown-regulation-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ The Delaware Department of Justice’s Investor Protection Unit has issued a cease and desist order against 23 entities and individuals involved in a popular cryptocurrency scam known as “pig butchering.” The order also freezes the accounts allegedly holding cryptocurrencies belonging to the victims. Delaware Cracks Down on Pig Butchering Crypto Scam The attorney general of the U.S. state of Delaware, Kathy Jennings, announced Wednesday that the Investor Protection Unit of the state’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has “issued a summary order to cease and desist against 23 entities and individuals involved in a cryptocurrency scam known as the ‘pig butchering scam.’” Pig butchering crypto scams have recently become alarmingly popular. Victims of this type of scam “are groomed over time to make investments using cryptocurrency, only to find that what they thought was a safe investment was a scam,” the Delaware DOJ detailed. “The moniker stems from the scammers’ practice of ‘fattening’ the victims before absconding with their assets (‘butchering’).” Attorney General Jennings stressed, “When victims lose money through cryptocurrency scams, including the pig butchering scam, it can be difficult to recover those funds,” adding: Today’s order takes a first step toward protecting Delaware investors from the pig butchering scam by freezing funds at risk from further transfer by the wrongdoers. The announcement details that the Investor Protection Unit received complaints from residents in the state. They explained that they were contacted online by unknown persons who urged them to invest in cryptocurrency. The scammers then encouraged them to invest more after showing large returns on initial investments. However, the Delaware DOJ warned: “Ultimately, they were never able to withdraw the funds and their cryptocurrency disappeared. It is estimated that this international scam involves thousands of victims across the country with losses into the billions of dollars.” Working with a data analytics company, the Investor Protection Unit traced cryptocurrency belonging to two Delaware complainants to a number of wallets on various crypto exchanges, the authority described. The cease and desist order prohibits anyone or any entities affiliated with the wallets from withdrawing or transferring assets owned by the complainants, the Delaware Justice Department noted, elaborating: This, in turn, prevents the exchanges holding the wallets from permitting parties to move the fraudulently obtained crypto, thus effectively freezing the accounts holding assets belonging to the Delaware victims. Have you come across the pig butchering crypto scam? Let us know in the comments section below. Kevin Helms A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

Cuba Makes Rare Request For U.S. Aid After Devastation From Hurricane Ian – WSJ – The Wall Street Journal https://collincountynewsonline.com/cuba-makes-rare-request-for-u-s-aid-after-devastation-from-hurricane-ian-wsj-the-wall-street-journal/ Hurricane Ian caused widespread damage in Cuba, including in Havana where a tree toppled onto a boat.Photo: Ramon Espinosa/Associated Press Updated Sept. 30, 2022 10:22 pm ET WASHINGTON—The Biden administration has received a rare request from Cuba’s government to provide emergency assistance following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian, according to communications reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. No exact amount was requested, and the U.S. was still trying to determine whether the government in Havana would supplement the request as it works to determine the extent of the damage, according to the email communications. The storm killed at least two people in Cuba and left the country without power.

TVA To Improve How It Tracks New Technology, Tighten Records Security – Knoxville News Sentinel https://collincountynewsonline.com/tva-to-improve-how-it-tracks-new-technology-tighten-records-security-knoxville-news-sentinel/ As the Tennessee Valley Authority pushes to meet its ambitious goals for decarbonization, the authority’s independent watchdog is asking the nation’s largest public power company to bring more discipline to its operations. Among its key conclusions, the TVA Office of the Inspector General found TVA needs to improve how it chooses and tracks new technologies, such as small modular nuclear reactors, to generate electricity for 10 million people across Tennessee and parts of six other states, as well as industrial and federal facilities. Additionally, the inspector general warned that TVA is not effectively tracking what research and development records it is creating, and that records are stored on home and shared drives that could be vulnerable to outsiders. The inspector general’s report, issued Thursday, focused on findings and recommendations, and includes TVA’s response to the report. What did the watchdog report recommend? “Over the past decade, TVA has generally adopted commercially available, mature resource technologies,” says the inspector general’s report. “However, as TVA seeks to integrate new resource technologies, such as small modular reactors, having consistent methods for evaluating new technologies may reduce negative consequences such as cost, increases, schedule delays, or delivering lower capability than expected.” The inspector general recommends TVA follows a framework promoted by the Office of Government Accountability for adopting new technologies and evaluating their risks and readiness. TVA said it already has a variety of methods in place for evaluation, but agreed to standardize the process to follow the Office of Government Accountability recommendations. As far as the weaknesses in records management, the report says that TVA management has been notified of these issues in the past but “limited steps were taken to address them.” Some of TVA’s research and development records “were being created or maintained by the agency, and records were being maintained on home drives and shared drives.” A 2019 National Archives and Records Administration report said TVA needs to inventory these records. However, the inspector general’s report said TVA’s research and development groups have not figured out which of its records should be considered official and therefore be maintained. The research and development teams have also failed to organize and store their records on TVA’s content management system. TVA response is included in the inspector general’s report, and the authority says it has already made progress on implementing standard programs and practices for its technology development and recordkeeping. The inspector general’s auditor has accepted TVA’s plan to improve. How will TVA significantly reduce carbon emissions? In an effort to reduce 70% of its carbon emissions by 2030, TVA is developing new or unproven technology, applying existing technology to different or new uses; or combining both new and existing technology to achieve its goal. Among the efforts to meet its decarbonization goal, TVA is: Reducing the use of coal plants and considering retiring its coal sector by 2035 Investing in its nuclear and hydro sectors Investing in its gas sector to be reliable year round and be able to support the intermittent use of renewable energy Increasing its solar capacity by 2035 to 10,000 megawatts Increasing its portfolio in battery storage by including lithium-ion batteries. This storage will aide the use of renewable energy sources such as solar as it will contain energy from solar even when the sun does not shine. Anila Yoganathan is a Knox News investigative reporter. You can contact her at anila.yoganathan@knoxnews.com, and follow her on Twitter @anilayoganathan. Enjoy exclusive content and premium perks while supporting strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

North Texas Couple Gets Married In South Carolina Just Before Hurricane Ian Hits – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth https://collincountynewsonline.com/north-texas-couple-gets-married-in-south-carolina-just-before-hurricane-ian-hits-nbc-5-dallas-fort-worth/ Hurricane Ian hit the Carolinas as a category 1 hurricane. Strong winds and heavy rains caused a lot of flooding and damage around the area. “It was very windy,” newlywed and Dallas resident Collin Pruett said. “There is some down trees and some power lines.  It’s really hitting the islands north of Charleston a little bit harder than it’s hitting here.” Collin Pruett is from North Richland Hills and lives in Dallas.  His new wife Kate is from Fort Worth. They are in Charleston and got married just before Ian hit. “We came in from Texas and the storm hit but luckily we were able to get through everything before it hit like an hour before,” Pruett said. “We didn’t expect it to be a cat 1. Just thought it was going to be a tropical storm.  So, when they upgraded to a category 1 we were a little bit concerned.” Fortunately, they are safe. However, more than 180,000 customers in the area are without power.  The Pruetts feel fortunate they were still able to tie the knot. “Everybody here was telling us rain is good luck so we figure this is a lot of good luck,” Pruett said. Local The latest news from around North Texas. Fortunately for them, they’ll be able to head back home to Texas. But they know it’s still going to be a tough time of recovery for those who live in the area. “It did hit Pawleys Island and a few places up the coast a little harder so we are definitely keeping our prayers up for them,” Pruett said.

Here Are The Standard Cancellation Policies For Each Major Cruise Line – Travel Market Report https://collincountynewsonline.com/here-are-the-standard-cancellation-policies-for-each-major-cruise-line-travel-market-report/ Cruise line cancellation policies are as varied as the cruise lines themselves. Some cruise lines let clients cancel up to three months before sailing with no penalty. Others charge an administrative fee for a cancellation from the minute a cruise has been booked. One universal truth does apply, though: the more expensive or longer the cruise, the less time people have to cancel their sailing with the least penalty. To help advisors quickly and easily identify the cancellation policy for ocean-going cruise lines, Travel Market Report has rounded up each line’s standard policy. This roundup does not include any special promotions that require either a non-refundable deposit or a non-refundable fare. Additionally, unless noted otherwise, cancellation charges are person. In this article: American Cruise Lines | Azamara | Atlas Ocean Voyages | Carnival Cruise Line | Celebrity Cruises | Celestyal Cruises | Cunard | Disney Cruise Line | Holland America Line | Lindblad Expeditions | MSC Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line | Oceania Cruises | Paul Gauguin Cruises & Ponant | Princess Cruises | Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Royal Caribbean | Scenic | Seabourn | Silversea Cruises | UnCruise Adventures | Viking | Virgin Voyages | Windstar Cruises American Cruise Lines Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge 91 days or more | $250 per person (unless cancelled within 24 hours of booking) 90-46 days | 50% + $250 per person 45 days or less | 100% + $250 per person Azamara Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge 121+ days | $75 per person 120-91 days | 25% of booked fare 90-61 days | 50% of booked fare 60-31 days | 75% of booked fare 30 days or less | 100% of booked fare Atlas Ocean Voyages Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge Deposit-91 days (Deposit – 121 days for Antarctica sailings) | $250 per person 90-76 days (120-76 days for Antarctica sailings) | 50% cancellation fee 75-46 days (same for Antarctica sailings) | 75% cancellation fee 45 days or less (same for Antarctica sailings) | 100% cancellation fee Carnival Cruise Line Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge Final payment – 56 days | Deposit amount 55-30 days | 50% of booked fare (or standard deposit, whichever is greater) 29-15 days | 75% of booked fare (or standard deposit, whichever is greater) 14 days or less | 100% of booked fare COVID-19 Exception: If you, your family members living with you in the same household or a travel companion assigned to the same stateroom cancels a cruise booking due to testing positive for COVID-19 within seven days of embarkation, you and those traveling companions assigned to the same stateroom are entitled to an FCC for the amount paid to Carnival. To qualify for the FCC, you are required to notify Carnival within 24 hours or receiving a positive COVID-19 test result. Results must be presented to Carnival in an “acceptable” format – ie, a laboratory test record, digital certificate or healthcare record that indicates your full legal name, date of birth, type of test, date and time sample was taken, test result stating “POSITIVE” and laboratory, testing site, and/or healthcare provider details. Handwritten test results and photographs of at-home test results are not acceptable. Celebrity Cruises Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge For 1 to 4 Night Cruises (including holiday sailings) 74-61 days | 50% of total price 60-31 days | 75% of total price 30 days or less | 100% of total price For cruises of 5 nights or longer (including holiday sailings & cruise/tours) 89-75 days | 25% of total price 74-61 days | 50% of total price 60-31 days | 75% of total price 30 days or less | 100% of total price COVID-19 Exception: For cruises departing through November 30, 2022, Celebrity will provide a 100% refund (or FCC) for any guest and their traveling party, if any test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to embarkation. To qualify for a refund or FCC, the person who has tested positive must present a verified positive test in a form acceptable to Celebrity. Celestyal Cruises Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge For 2022 Cruises 89-30 days | full deposit 29 days or less | 100% (minus port and service charges) For 2023 Cruises 90 days or more | $60 per stateroom 89-30 days | full deposit 29 days or less | 100% (minus port and service charges) Cunard Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge For voyages of 30 nights or less on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, departing through February 23, 2023 (including World Voyage segments 89-61 days | 40% of full fare 60-31 days | 50% of full fare 30-15 days | 75% of full fare 14 days or less | 100% of full fare For all other cruises or voyages of 30 nights or less on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, departing after February 23, 2023 129-90 days | 25% or deposit amount 89-61 days | 40% of full fare 60-31 days | 50% of full fare 30-15 days | 75% of full fare 14 days or less | 100% of full fare For voyages of 31 nights or longer on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, departing through February 2023 (including World Voyages & World Voyage segments) 89-64 days | 50% of full fare 63-43 days | 75% of full fare 42 days or less | 100% of full fare For all other cruises or voyages of 30 nights or less on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, departing after February 23, 2023 150-120 days | 20% or deposit amount 119-91 days | 40% of full fare 90-64 days | 50% of full fare 63-43 days | 75% of full fare 42 days or less | 100% of full fare Disney Cruise Line Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge For sailings that depart on or before March 31, 2023) Cruises of 1 to 5 nights (excluding suites and concierge staterooms) 59-45 days | full deposits 44-30 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest 29-15 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest 14 days or less | 100% of vacation fare Cruises of 6 nights or more (excluding suites and concierge staterooms) 59-56 days | full deposits 55-30 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest 29-15 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest 14 days or less | 100% of vacation fare Suites and Concierge Staterooms 60 days or more | full deposits 59-56 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest 55-30 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest 29 days or less | 100% of vacation fare For sailings that depart after March 31, 2023 Cruises of 1 to 5 nights (excluding suites and concierge staterooms) 89-45 days | full deposits 44-30 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest 29-15 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest 14 days or less | 100% of vacation fare Cruises of 6 nights or more (excluding suites and concierge staterooms) 119-56 days | full deposits 55-30 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest 29-15 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest 14 days or less | 100% of vacation fare Suites and Concierge Staterooms 90 days or more | full deposits 89-56 days | 50% of vacation fare per guest 55-30 days | 75% of vacation fare per guest 29 days or less | 100% of vacation fare Holland America Line Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge Voyages Up to 6 Nights 75-57 days | Full deposits 56-29 days | 50% of gross fare 28-16 days | 75% of gross fare 15 days or less | 100% of gross fare Grand World, Grand Voyages, Segments of Grand World or Grand Voyages, 28+ Day Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas, Tales of the South Pacific, Amazon Explorer, Incan Empires (including segments), 30+ Day Transatlantic Voyages (including segments) 120-91 days | Full deposits 90-76 days | 60% of gross fare 75 days or less | 100% of gross fare All Other Voyages of 7 Nights or Longer 90-76 days | Full deposits 75-61 days | 50% of gross fare 60-31 days | 75% of gross fare 30 days or less | 100% of gross fare COVID-19 Exceptions: All cruises booked through September 30, 2022 that depart through December 31, 2022 can be canceled up to 30 days before departure through Holland America’s “Worry Free Promise” policy and receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of any non-refundable cancellation fees, with the remainder of what was paid for the cruise refunded to the original form of payment. Additionally, on these cruises a guest may cancel up to sailing date if they test positive for COVID-19 and receive the same remuneration. Lindblad Expeditions Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Charge For Departures through December 31, 2023 (National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion, National Geographic Endeavour II, National Geographic Islander II, Delfin, The Jahan, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, and Sea Cloud) 120 days or more | $350 (will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, which may be applied towards final payment on any future booking, no expiration date) 119-90 days | Advance payment cost (will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, which may be applied towards final payment on any future booking, no expiration date) 89-60 days | 25% of trip cost 59-45 days | 50% of trip cost 44 days or less | 100% of trip cost For Departures Starting January 1, 2024 (National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion, National Geographic Endeavour II, National Geographic Islander II, Delfin, The Jahan, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, and Sea Cloud) 120 or more days | Advance payment cost (will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, which may be applied towards final payment on any future booking, no expiration date) 119-90 days | 50% of trip cost 89 days or less | 100% of trip cost For Departures through March 31, 2024 (National Geographic Explorer, N...

AP Top Business News At 4:59 P.m. EDT – WTMJ https://collincountynewsonline.com/ap-top-business-news-at-459-p-m-edt-wtmj/ AP Top Business News at 4:59 p.m. EDT  WTMJ

Healthy Living For ME Network Announces Free Workshops In October – Daily Bulldog – Daily Bulldog https://collincountynewsonline.com/healthy-living-for-me-network-announces-free-workshops-in-october-daily-bulldog-daily-bulldog/ MAINE –  The Healthy Living for ME network has announced the workshops that will be starting up across the state in October. Topics addressed by the workshops include managing chronic conditions and chronic pain, improving fitness and balance, and managing diabetes. Healthy Living for ME welcomes referrals from healthcare providers. The network’s evidence-based programming can help patients manage and prevent conditions before they become more serious or result in emergency situations. “Our October workshops include a few being offered by two new partners in the network, Catholic Charities of Maine and Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital. We’re so pleased to be able to continue to expand our network and provide more access to free and low-cost resources that help Mainers improve their health and wellness,” said Maija Dyke, Business Manager of Healthy Living for ME. The workshops starting in October are: A Matter of Balance – This workshop emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and exercise to increase strength and balance. A Matter of Balance is being offered in-person in Presque Isle by Healthy Living for ME network partner, Aroostook Agency on Aging. The workshop begins on October 3, 2022 and will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30am-11:30am through October 31, 2022. Living Well for Better Health – This workshop helps participants deal with ongoing conditions such as diabetes, COPD, arthritis, and high blood pressure. Topics covered include: handling frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals; nutrition; and evaluating new treatments. There are two in-person sessions of Living Well for Better Health launching in October; one in Caribou and one in Fairfield. A third session will also be offered online. Healthy Living for ME network partner, Cary Medical Center is offering Living Well for Better Health in person in Caribou. The workshop begins on October 3, 2022 and will be held on Mondays, 10:00am-12:30pm through November 14, 2022. Healthy Living for ME network partner, Catholic Charities of Maine is offering Living Well for Better Health in person in Fairfield. The workshop begins on October 6, 2022 and will be held on Thursdays, 9:00am-11:30am through November 10, 2022. Healthy Living for ME network partner, Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital is offering Living Well for Better Health online. The workshop begins on October 6, 2022 and will be held on Thursdays, 4:00pm-6:30pm through November 10, 2022. Bingocize – This workshop combines a bingo-like game with exercise and health education with the goal of increasing older adults’ functional fitness, health knowledge, and social engagement. Bingocize is being offered online by Healthy Living for ME network partner, Aroostook Agency on Aging. The workshop begins October 3, 2022, and will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:00pm-3:00pm through December 12, 2022. Better Health Now with Pain – This workshop is designed for those who experience long-term pain; their friends, family, and/or caregivers are also welcome to join. Participants in this workshop receive a toolkit in the mail and work with a leader either by themselves or in small groups. Topics covered include pacing and planning, medication management, and the Moving Easy Program. Better Health Now with Pain is being offered over the phone by Healthy Living for ME network partner, Spectrum Generations. The workshop begins October 6, 2022 and will be held on Thursdays, 1:00pm-2:00pm through November 10, 2022. Living Well with Chronic Pain – This workshop is designed for people who are dealing with persistent pain such as back pain, post-surgical pain, headaches, and other ongoing pain. Topics covered include: dealing with frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals; nutrition; pacing activity and rest; and evaluating new treatments. Living Well with Chronic Pain is being offered online by Healthy Living for ME network partner, Aroostook Agency on Aging. The workshop begins on October 11, 2022 and will be held on Tuesdays, 1:00pm-3:30pm through November 15, 2022. Better Health Now – This workshop is designed to help those living with chronic conditions, including heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, or other conditions. Participants in this workshop receive a toolkit in the mail and work with a leader either by themselves or in small groups. Topics covered during the workshop include: techniques to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain, and isolation; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance; appropriate use of medications, communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals; nutrition; and how to evaluate new treatments. Better Health Now is being offered by phone by Healthy Living for ME network partner, MaineGeneral’s Peter Alfond Prevention and Healthy Living Center. The workshop begins on October 12, 2022 and will be held on Wednesdays, 3:00pm-4:00pm through November 16, 2022. Living Well with Diabetes – This workshop is designed to help people with type 2 diabetes learn how to live well. Topics include: techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, depression, anger, fear and frustration; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance; healthy eating, appropriate use of medication; and working with healthcare providers. Living Well with Diabetes is being offered in-person in Augusta by Healthy Living for ME network partner, MaineGeneral’s Peter Alfond Prevention and Healthy Living Center. The workshop begins October 17, 2022 and will be held on Mondays, 12:30pm-3:30pm through November 21, 2022. Though the workshops are free for participants, registration is required. Family, friends, caregivers, and supports of participants are also welcome to register and participate. Please contact Healthy Living for ME at 1-800-620-6036 or info@healthylivingforme.org for more information and to register. You can also register online at www.healthylivingforme.org.

South Florida Vs. East Carolina: How To Watch Live Stream, TV Channel, NCAA Football Start Time – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/south-florida-vs-east-carolina-how-to-watch-live-stream-tv-channel-ncaa-football-start-time-cbs-sports/ How to watch South Florida vs. East Carolina football game By Scout Staff Sep 30, 2022 at 7:00 pm ET • 2 min read Who’s Playing East Carolina @ South Florida Current Records: East Carolina 2-2; South Florida 1-3 What to Know The East Carolina Pirates and the South Florida Bulls will face off in an American Athletic clash at 2:30 p.m. ET Oct. 1 at FAU Stadium. Given that these two teams suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this matchup. East Carolina fought the good fight in their overtime game against the Navy Midshipmen last week but wound up with a less-than-desirable result, falling 23-20. This was hardly the result the Pirates or its fans were betting on, as they were favored by 16.5 points over Navy heading into this contest. Despite the defeat, East Carolina got a solid performance out of WR Isaiah Winstead, who caught ten passes for one TD and 138 yards. Holton Ahlers’ 67-yard touchdown toss to Winstead in the fourth quarter made for one of the most memorable moments of the evening. Meanwhile, South Florida played a game they are hoping to forget as they lost a 41-3 blowout to the Louisville Cardinals last week. South Florida was in a tough position by the half, with the score already sitting at 28 to nothing. The Pirates are now 2-2 while the Bulls sit at 1-3. A couple defensive stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: East Carolina ranks 13th in the nation when it comes to rushing touchdowns allowed, with only two on the season. As for South Florida, they come into the game boasting the 15th fewest passing touchdowns allowed in the nation at three. How To Watch When: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET Where: FAU Stadium — Boca Raton, Florida TV: ESPN Plus Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Follow: CBS Sports App Odds The Pirates are a big 9-point favorite against the Bulls, according to the latest college football odds. Over/Under: -110 See college football picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get picks now. Series History South Florida have won five out of their last seven games against East Carolina. Oct 28, 2021 – East Carolina 29 vs. South Florida 14 Oct 10, 2020 – East Carolina 44 vs. South Florida 24 Oct 26, 2019 – South Florida 45 vs. East Carolina 20 Sep 22, 2018 – South Florida 20 vs. East Carolina 13 Sep 30, 2017 – South Florida 61 vs. East Carolina 31 Oct 08, 2016 – South Florida 38 vs. East Carolina 22 Nov 07, 2015 – South Florida 22 vs. East Carolina 17

The Mugglehead Technology Roundup: The Metaverse Is Real Edition – Mugglehead https://collincountynewsonline.com/the-mugglehead-technology-roundup-the-metaverse-is-real-edition-mugglehead/ Mark Zuckerberg’s introduction of the metaverse was the mainstream realization of a project that’s been in the works for years. As with all new projects there have been detractors and doubt, and some of those arguments have some merit. The history of virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality are fraught with failures and setbacks. Is it all just vaporware? Some companies beg to differ. Here’s a short list of companies taking advantage of NFTs and the metaverse. Powerbridge Technologies gets onboard with soccer collectable NFTs The NFT craze is beginning to slow down and took a serious hit during the advent of the crypto-winter, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t companies that see something valuable in these lines of code. It could also be that these companies are the long-tail late adopters long after the bubble has burst. It’s hard to tell. Regardless, Powerbridge Technologies (NASDAQ:PBTS) acquired an exclusive right to offer soccer collectable NFTs on Ali Auction through a partnership with World Football Collection. Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) is behind Ali Auction, and has made it into one of the biggest online auction marketplaces, sporting over two million active users everyday. The auction benefits from being attached to the largest e-commerce platform in China with over 100 million users. “I am thrilled that we have successfully launched our NFTs on Ali Auction. We will continue to strive and expand our new business in metaverse applications and NFTs, and we anticipate continuous growth from our new business,” said Stewart Lor, CEO of Powerbridge. Powerbridge’s has its finger in a lot of pies. Its business is in multi-industry tech solutions. These range from software apps and services for global trade industry to intelligent devices for smart cities, and much more.  Powerbridge is also up to its neck in the metaverse and smart offerings for travel and leisure, cryptomining and digital asset operations. In this case, it’s involved in soccer NFTs. These NFTs launched on Ali Auction on Sept 20, 2020, and have since pulled in over 240,000 views from potential participants. The first batch of NFTs sold out entirely within the first hour of the auction. Color Star new phone is your gateway to the metaverse Color Star Technology (NASDAQ:CSCW) is entering the mobile industry through the development and manufacturing of a metaverse phone called DONO. The DONO phone is an ESG-compliant, eco-friendly, with all of the sourcing for materials that go into making the phone completely mapped out over the lifespan of the device. Each phone will carry the Color Star logo along with the ColorWorld Metaverse software pre-installed. “The mobile industry is our new business segment, and we are very excited and confident about developing this segment in the years to come. We are a technology company, and combined with our continuous development and optimization of our metaverse platform, our DONO phone will be a significant entry in the industry. While the public has been studying the features of our metaverse, we have been looking into user safety and protecting their privacy. Moreover, we will combine our metaverse with other services and businesses in order to widen our market. We are not your typical tech company. Here, everything is possible,” said Farhan Qadir, CEO of Color Star. Color Star Technology is one of those mixed bag companies that gets as many fingers into as many different sectors as it can manage that are decently common on the fringes of the crypto-markets. In this case, it’s an entertainment and education company that provides online performances and online music education services. It runs through its subsidiaries, Color China Entertainment and CACM Group NY, and also it’s metaverse offering, Color World. Now it’s apparently into technology and phones. “Color Star is a technology company, so there are two things we value highly: one is software development, and the other is cyber security. Our upcoming DONO phone is aimed at the global market, and our priority is to ensure exceptional user safety and software stability. Our own Color World app will also introduce more people to the metaverse experience. We will provide more technology services and front-end projects in the future,” said Qadir. The phone will also be highly resistant to tampering and hacks because of its tech and security. The team behind it will be providing full support in the development process, and the Color World platform will be on display to generate publicity for the phone. DONO gives push-button connection to the metaverse, giving access to entertainment, collaboration, and educational content. The Color World app comes pre-installed, and users can visit new virtual locations, digital products, celebrity endorsement and other such things. The DONO will be unveiled in October at the 2022 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition in Dubai. FaZe Clan optimizes in The Sandbox FaZe Holdings (NASDAQ:FAZE) is a lifestyle and media platform that derives its value from gaming and youth culture. The Sandbox is a decentralized ‘metaverse’ or virtual gaming world, and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands. Faze Holdings is joining The Sandbox. The specifics of this include a 12 x 12 plot of LAND named “FaZe World.” The company will this LAND to promote its lifestyle, products and culture. The two companies will come together to produce digital experiences for the community in The Sandbox through shared digital infrastructure, virtual events, games, and digital product releases. Essentially, this gives FaZe the chance to produce a gamified digital space where users can engage the brand, its talent and ultimately create new revenue options for FaZe. “FaZe Clan has established itself through the power of the gaming and esports communities as a leading gaming, esports, entertainment, and culture brand. We’re thrilled to collaborate in bringing FaZe World to The Sandbox as we prepare to launch many exciting activations that put players and creators in control of the next phase of Internet culture comprising user-generated content, Web 3, metaverse, and gaming,” said Sebastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox. LANDS surrounding FaZe World will be available to the public for digital real estate purposes, giving fans of the brand a chance to be neighbours with the gaming and media organization. The Sandbox will sell LAND later this year and anticipates FaZe World going live in 2023. The Sandbox is a curious creation. It’s part virtual real estate and part amusement park. The Sandbox embraces the idea of the metaverse as a consensual shared digital space where creativity and commerce meet. FaZe Clan is one of the largest gaming and lifestyle organizations, joining content creators and esports teams in The Sandbox. Over 400 existing partnerships are there, including Warner Music, Ubisoft, Tony Hawk, The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg and more. “FaZe Clan’s leadership position at the apex of gaming and youth culture presents an ideal opportunity to build bridges and lead the gaming community at large into the metaverse,” says Lee Trink, CEO of FaZe Clan. “Through FaZe World and our partnership with The Sandbox, our already digitally native fans can experience FaZe Clan in a new immersive way.” Read more: The Mugglehead technology roundup: into the future edition Read more: Super League Gaming extends branding options to Roblox metaverse Orange Comet and AMC bring Anne Rice to NFTs and the metaverse Orange Comet and AMC Networks (NASDAQ:AMCX) have expanded their partnership to launch NFTs and virtual environments for The Immortal Universe of Anne Rice. This is a metaverse-space. It will begin when Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire goes live on Sunday, October 2, on AMC and AMC+. The two companies are expanding the scope for The Walking Dead NFT Collection to include the show’s expanding universe. This will include the upcoming The Walking Dead: Dead City spinoff starring Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. “AMC Networks has a proven track record of producing shows that break through the pop culture noise and attract highly passionate and committed fans. As The Walking Dead Universe enters its exciting second chapter, and we embark on the launch of our next epic franchise with Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, we’re excited to continue working with Orange Comet to deliver our viewers a world-class digital collectible experience that complements and enhances their favorite shows,” said Clayton Neuman, VP of games at AMC. AMC Networks is a global entertainment company with a strong content base. Its brands include streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, and more. Beyond streaming, its in-house studio, production and distribution arm is behind some of the biggest titles and brands known to a global audience, including The Walking Dead, the Anne Rice catalog and the Agatha Christie library. Orange Comet is a Web 3.0 entertainment company dealing in NFTs and metaverse experiences. The company’s claim to fame includes attracting some of the world’s largest award-winning media creators, producers and artists to partner with its biggest brands, IP and talent. Its founders include Hollywood producer, Dave Broome, NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and Grammy award-winning musicians Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Orange Comet runs its entire blockchain based operation on green severs to build a carbon-negative solution for the NFT space. The NFT marketplace, OpenSea, hosts the NFTs for The Walking Dead and The Immortal Universe of Anne Rice. Additionally, The Walking Dead and Anne Rice products will come to life in a cinematic Metaverse environment. “The first mint initiated a fan frenzy among dedicated supporters...

It’s Easy To Falsify Photo Geotags On Your IPhone To Keep Real Locations Secret – Gadget Hacks https://collincountynewsonline.com/its-easy-to-falsify-photo-geotags-on-your-iphone-to-keep-real-locations-secret-gadget-hacks/ Without realizing it, you may be giving away the GPS coordinates of your home, workplace, school, and other important or secret locations. Unless you’ve blocked the feature on your iPhone, location data is stored in almost every photo and video you take, and anyone you share the content with can find out where you are or were. But there are a few things you can do to safeguard the information. When you opened up the Camera app for the first time, it asked you if it was OK to use your location when using the app, and you likely approved the request. And that’s perfectly fine. Tagging your photos and videos with location data helps you organize and keep track of important moments in your life, and it helps the Photos app create Memory videos for you, to name just a few benefits. However, you may not remember that each image’s metadata stores the precise or approximate location where it was captured, or that anyone you share the image with can easily look up that information. You could even be sharing the GPS coordinates with hackers and the entire world if you upload content to services like DeviantArt, Flickr, Google Photos, and Unsplash. Don’t Miss: Apple Photos Has 20 New Features for iPhone That Make Your Life Easier Without Location Services disabled for camera apps, your iPhone doesn’t just use GPS networks to find your coordinates — it also uses Bluetooth connections, local Wi-Fi networks, and your cellular network. So even if you don’t have cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, location data could still be invisibly stamped on your images. Jump to a section: Disable Geotagging Altogether Delete Geotags When Sharing Delete Geotags Before Sharing Fake Geotags Before Sharing Option 1: Disable Geotagging Altogether If you never want your iPhone to tag photos and videos with geographical information, you can disable Location Services for Camera and any other camera apps you use. To do so, go to Settings – Privacy (iOS 15) or Privacy & Security (iOS 16) – Location Services, then choose “Camera” or another app from the list. From the app’s settings, you can: Disable “Precise Location” to generalize recorded location data. Change “While Using the App” to “Never” to disable the location access period. Change “While Using the App” to “Ask Next Time Or When I Share.” When you open a new session in your camera app, it will ask you for location access. You can turn off Precise Location and choose “Don’t Allow” (to never let it access your location) or “Allow Once” (to have it ask the same question with every new session). Option 2: Delete Geotags When Sharing Since iOS 13, you can quickly remove the location from any picture or video you share from the Photos app. Once you open the share sheet, tap “Options” at the top, and toggle off the “Location” switch before sharing the content with any person or service. This even works when sharing multiple photos or videos with embedded geotags. If you don’t see the “Location” toggle, the content doesn’t have any location data in its Exif metadata. Option 3: Delete Geotags Before Sharing Since iOS 15, you can delete the geotags in your photos and videos from the Photos app, which comes in handy if you don’t plan on sharing the content just yet but know you probably will. To delete the geotag of one photo or video: Open the content, then swipe it up or tap the info (i) button to reveal the content’s metadata. Tap “Adjust” below the map, then hit “No Location.” Open the content, tap the ellipsis (•••) icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the quick actions menu, then hit “No Location.” (This works on iOS 16 and later only.) Open the content on iOS 15, tap the share icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the share sheet, then hit “No Location.” (This works on iOS 15 only.) To delete the geotag of one or more photos or videos: Hit “Select” from the grid view, choose the content, tap the ellipsis (•••) icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the quick actions menu, then hit “No Location.” (This works on iOS 16 and later only.) Hit “Select” from the grid view, choose the content, tap the share icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the share sheet, then hit “No Location.” (This works on iOS 15 only.) To revert back to the original location: If you need the actual location back, use the same process above for single photos and videos. Open the content, then swipe it up or tap the info (i) button to reveal the content’s metadata. Tap “Add a location” below the map, then hit “Revert.” Open the content, tap the ellipsis (•••) icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the quick actions menu, then hit “Revert.” (This works on iOS 16 and later only.) Open the content on iOS 15, tap the share icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the share sheet, then hit “Revert.” (This works on iOS 15 only.) You cannot revert multiple photos or videos to the original location simultaneously, so you’ll have to do them individually if you have more than one that needs to be changed back. Option 4: Fake Geotags Before Sharing While removing the location data altogether when sharing photos and videos is quick and easy to do, you can also make it look like you were somewhere else. That way, if anyone looks up the content’s metadata, they’ll see a fake location instead of the real one. It could take them on a wild goose chase if they attempt to locate your whereabouts, favorite hangouts, or frequently visited locations. It’s pretty much the same process to change the address for a photo or video in the Photos app as it is to delete it, as seen in Option 3 above, only you choose a specific location instead of “No Location.” To falsify the geotag of one photo or video: Open the content, then swipe it up or tap the info (i) button to reveal the content’s metadata. Tap “Adjust” below the map, then search for and select any location you want. Open the content, tap the ellipsis (•••) icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the quick actions menu, then search for and select any location you want. (This works on iOS 16 and later only.) Open the content on iOS 15, tap the share icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the share sheet, then search for and select any location you want. (This works on iOS 15 only.) To Falsify the Geotag of One or More Photos or Videos: Hit “Select” from the grid view, choose the content, tap the ellipsis (•••) icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the quick actions menu, then search for and select any location you want. (This works on iOS 16 and later only.) Hit “Select” from the grid view, choose the content, tap the share icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the share sheet, then search for and select any location you want. (This works on iOS 15 only.) To revert back to the original location: If you need the actual location back, use the same process above for single photos and videos. Open the content, then swipe it up or tap the info (i) button to reveal the content’s metadata. Tap “Adjust” below the map, then hit “Revert.” Open the content, tap the ellipsis (•••) icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the quick actions menu, then hit “Revert.” (This works on iOS 16 and later only.) Open the content on iOS 15, tap the share icon, choose “Adjust Location” from the share sheet, then hit “Revert.” (This works on iOS 15 only.) You cannot revert multiple photos or videos to the original location simultaneously, so you’ll have to do them individually if you have more than one that needs to be changed back. 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 photo and screenshots by Justin Meyers/Gadget Hacks

Study: Hawaii Is Among Most Crypto-Obsessed States – KHON2 https://collincountynewsonline.com/study-hawaii-is-among-most-crypto-obsessed-states-khon2/ HONOLULU (KHON2) — Despite crypto interest being at an all-time low, Hawaii is among the Top 10 states that are still obsessed with digital currency, according to a new study. Finance website AtoZMarkets.com found that interest is over 80 times lower than the peak of early November 2021; analysis of Google Trends data also revealed that crypto interest in the last 12 months has reached an all-time low. The study looked at which states still have their crypto obsession intact, despite the drop in online interest. Get Hawaii’s latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Each state was given a total score determined by main crypto-oriented search terms over the last 12 months, including “bitcoin” and “cryptocurrency.” California was ranked as having the highest interest in crypto with a score of 675, followed by Nevada and New York. Hawaii was ranked as the seventh most crypto-obsessed state with a total score of 548, according to the study. Top 10 Most Crypto-Obsessed States State Crypto Bitcoin Ethereum Dogecoin Cryptocurrency NFT Coinbase Total Score 1. California 100 92 100 100 83 100 100 675 2. Nevada 91 100 84 87 87 89 79 617 3. New York 83 75 92 91 78 89 94 602 4. New Jersey 89 81 90 91 81 77 83 592 5. Florida 84 89 75 89 80 77 82 576 6. Washington 77 79 79 87 76 76 88 562 7. Hawaii 90 93 80 69 97 77 42 548 8. Utah 82 71 70 76 69 69 81 518 9. Massachusetts 74 76 81 67 65 77 75 515 10. Oregon 73 73 82 77 66 71 71 513 To see the full list, click here. Hawaii’s crypto market almost took its last breath after House Bill 2108 was indefinitely deferred in early May. The bill would have established a program for the licensure, regulation and oversight of digital currency companies in the state. Without its passing, the Digital Currency Innovation Lab was scheduled to close for transactions on June 30 for both businesses and consumers. Then on June 2, a two-year extension of the DCIL was announced. The news was a sigh of relief for the cryptocurrency companies participating in the pilot program. They can continue to do business in Hawaii without having to first obtain a state money transmitter license, at least until June 30, 2024. Check out more news from around Hawaii Those that choose to withdraw from the program will have to abide by the terms of the DCIL and wind down procedures starting on July 1 and concluding on Dec. 31.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Jackson, Embarking On First Term, Says Her Appointment Inspires Pride Among Americans – Reuters https://collincountynewsonline.com/u-s-supreme-court-justice-jackson-embarking-on-first-term-says-her-appointment-inspires-pride-among-americans-reuters/ U.S. Supreme Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson waves during a photo opportunity outside the U.S. Supreme Court following an investiture ceremony for Justice Jackson at the court in Washington, U.S., September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Major race cases loom for first Black woman U.S. justice Biden attends Jackson’s ceremonial swearing-in at court Only one of justices to have worked as a public defender Sept 30 (Reuters) – Liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said on Friday that her appointment as the first Black woman to serve on the court has inspired pride among Americans she has encountered She hears arguments for the first time as the Supreme Court opens its new term on Monday and the conservative-dominated judicial body has shown an increasing willingness to exert its power on a range of issues. Jackson did not discuss the court’s ideological split in remarks at the Library of Congress on Friday following her formal investiture, instead focusing on how historically marginalized communities benefit from seeing her elevation to the high court. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “People from all walks of life approach me with what I can only describe as a profound sense of pride. And what feels to me like renewed ownership. I can see it in their eyes,” Jackson said. “They stare at me as if to say, ‘Look at what we’ve done … this is what we can accomplish if we put our minds to it.”http://www.reuters.com/” Jackson and her eight new colleagues will consider a slate of important cases over the next nine months. These involve race-conscious admissions policies used by colleges and universities to foster student diversity, voting rights, environmental regulation, LGBT and religious rights, the power of federal agencies – and even a dispute over Andy Warhol paintings. “Given how the docket is shaping up, there’s no indication this is going to be a quiet term for Justice Jackson to join,” said law professor Allison Orr Larsen of the College of William & Mary in Virginia. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority, with Jackson joining a liberal bloc that has been relegated to issuing strongly worded dissents in the most important decisions. For example, the court’s conservative majority powered rulings on back-to-back days in June overturning its 1973 precedent that had legalized abortion nationwide and expanding gun rights by declaring that the U.S. Constitution protects an individual’s right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense. A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted after those rulings showed a majority of Americans holding an unfavorable view of the court. Jackson’s two fellow liberal justices, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, during public appearances this summer raised concerns that the court was gambling with its hard-earned legitimacy among the public by appearing political. “I do not think those sorts of concerns will be enough to persuade five of the right-wing justices in many of these cases to not simply leverage their raw power to obtain the ends that they are looking for,” Boston University School of Law professor Jonathan Feingold said. ‘WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR’ President Joe Biden, a Democrat, appointed Jackson to succeed now-retired liberal Justice Stephen Breyer. The Senate in April confirmed the federal appellate judge, despite broad opposition among Republicans. Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s top Republican, called Jackson the choice of the “radical left.” “I decide cases from a neutral posture. I evaluate the facts, and I interpret and apply the law to the facts of the case before me, without fear or favor, consistent with my judicial oath,” Jackson told the Senate Judiciary Committee during her March confirmation hearing. Jackson took an oath administered by Roberts on Friday in a ceremony attended by Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, the other justices and retired Justices Breyer and Anthony Kennedy. Her formal swearing-in took place in June. “Today for the first time Americans will see a Black woman serving on our nation’s highest court. This is a proud day for America, for our democracy, and in particular for women and Black women,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. The new term’s first month includes arguments in cases that present the conservative justices opportunities to limit the scope of a major environmental law, cripple an important civil rights law’s protections against racial discrimination in voting and end affirmative action admissions policies used by colleges and universities to increase their numbers of Black and Hispanic students. The affirmative action litigation involves challenges to policies used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Jackson, who earned undergraduate and law school degrees from Harvard and has served on its Board of Overseers, recused herself from the Harvard case but is set to participate in the North Carolina one. While the liberal justices may play merely the role of dissenters in some cases, Jackson could help shape some decisions, particularly when her expertise comes to the fore. Her perspective on criminal justice issues is informed by past service both as a trial judge and as a public defender – a job none of the other sitting justices ever performed. Jackson also served on a commission that addressed sentencing guidelines for the federal judiciary. “Those are all issues I suspect Justice Jackson would care about,” Larsen said. Jackson joins the court amid an investigation ordered by Roberts into the May leak of a draft version of the abortion ruling, a disclosure he called a betrayal. “That’s not a wound that’s going to heal quickly. The reality is that she’s stepping into a court that has endured a particularly difficult circumstance in the leak,” said Megan Wold, a former Alito law clerk now at the law firm Cooper & Kirk. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung in New York and Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone, Will Dunham and Cynthia Osterman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Nate Raymond Thomson Reuters Nate Raymond reports on the federal judiciary and litigation. He can be reached at nate.raymond@thomsonreuters.com.

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

Frisco Police Department Requests Texas Rangers’ Assistance Following Suspect Death – Star Local Media https://collincountynewsonline.com/frisco-police-department-requests-texas-rangers-assistance-following-suspect-death-star-local-media/ Allen American Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every morning so you don’t miss out on updates. Allen American e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Allen American Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Carrollton Leader Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Carrollton Leader e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Carrollton Leader Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Celina Record Daily Headlines Daily Headlines from Celina Record Celina Record e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Celina Record Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Coppell Gazette Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Coppell Gazette e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Coppell Gazette Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Flower Mound Leader Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Flower Mound Leader e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Flower Mound Leader Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Frisco Enterprise Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Frisco Enterprise e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Frisco Enterprise Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Lake Cities Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Lake Cities e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Lake Cities Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Lewisville Leader Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Lewisville Leader e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Lewisville Leader Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Little Elm Journal Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Little Elm Journal e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Little Elm Journal Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! McKinney Courier Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. McKinney Courier e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. McKinney Courier Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Mesquite News Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Mesquite News e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Mesquite News Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Plano Star Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Plano Star e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Plano Star Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Rowlett Lakeshore Times Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Rowlett Lakeshore Times e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Rowlett Lakeshore Times Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! The Colony-Courier Leader Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. The Colony-Courier Leader e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. The Colony-Courier Leader Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports!

ALLEGIANT GIVES $100,000 TO AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR HURRICANE RELIEF – PR Newswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/allegiant-gives-100000-to-american-red-cross-for-hurricane-relief-pr-newswire/ Travel company pledges support and activates platform for online donations , /PRNewswire/ — Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) today announced a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross as the nonprofit provides critical disaster relief to communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. In addition, the Las Vegas-based company activated an online giving platform to empower anyone wishing to make an immediate donation to the American Red Cross. To donate, please visit HERE. The nonprofit has more than 500 volunteers in the hardest-hit areas in Florida, providing lifesaving assistance including shelter, food, water and other relief supplies for more than 60,000 victims. Hundreds of evacuation centers are open, providing shelter to more than 10,000 people displaced by the hurricane. “Our hearts are with everyone grappling with the destruction carved out by Hurricane Ian,” said John Redmond, Allegiant’s CEO. “As we confront difficult days ahead, we cannot forget the incredible resiliency that has been demonstrated by the people of Florida. Time and time again, we have seen first responders, volunteers, Allegiant team members and entire communities step up to help. With this donation, we hope to make a difference to Florida residents impacted by this storm.” In addition to serving 10 airports throughout Florida, Allegiant is building Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor, near Punta Gorda Airport. The community was among those hardest hit by the storm. Other Allegiant communities impacted by the storm include St. Pete-Clearwater, Orlando–Sanford, Sarasota Bradenton, Key West and Jacksonville. “The Red Cross is thankful for Allegiant’s generous donation, which enables us to provide shelter, food and comfort to families and communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian,” said Elizabeth Penniman, vice president of communications at the American Red Cross. The greatest needs during these times are funds, blood donations and volunteers, according to the American Red Cross. However, monetary donations are the most efficient way to make a difference immediately. For that reason, Allegiant and the American Red Cross activated a “microsite,” an online platform for disaster relief donations. To donate, please visit HERE. Through this initiative, Allegiant has previously raised hundreds of thousands of dollars after hurricanes wreaked havoc on communities where Allegiant employees live and work.   The American Red Cross anticipates a great need for additional volunteers in the next 30 to 60 days. For more information, please visit this website. Additionally, people are asked to participate in community blood drives during this time of urgent need for donors. Click here to schedule an appointment to give blood. Anyone affected by Hurricane Ian needing a safe place to go can find information for open Red Cross shelters on redcross.org, the Red Cross emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). Allegiant – Together We Fly Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant’s fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com. Media information, including photos, is available at http://gofly.us/iiFa303wrtF Media Contact Phone: 702-800-2020 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Allegiant Travel Company

AP Top Business News At 4:20 P.m. EDT – WTMJ https://collincountynewsonline.com/ap-top-business-news-at-420-p-m-edt-wtmj/ AP Top Business News at 4:20 p.m. EDT  WTMJ

Thousands Of Refugees Seeking Permanent Visas Still Living In Uncertainty – 9News https://collincountynewsonline.com/thousands-of-refugees-seeking-permanent-visas-still-living-in-uncertainty-9news/ More than 30,000 refugees living in Australia are still on various temporary visas, limiting their ability to work, study, reunite with their loved ones and create stable lifestyles.  History repeated itself in Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, forcing thousands of Afghans, majority belonging to ethnic Hazaras, to dangerously flee their country in order to escape the looming genocide under the group’s regime. Sajeda Zaki, a Hazara woman and law student at Victoria University, told 9news.com.au she arrived in Australia after leaving Pakistan with her mother and five siblings in 2016, reluctant to abandon her previous life and Hazaragi culture. Sajeda Zaki (right), pictured here with her mother and father. (Supplied) Her father was smuggled into Australia on a ship in 2009, where “all he could see was black ocean onboard a giant ship with hundreds of other terrified people”, fleeing Afghanistan to establish a better life for a family he would not see for seven years. “Dad always tells me he came by boat for us, to have a better future for his children, even though he was told there was only a one-in-100 chance of surviving the trip to Australia,” Zaki said. After being “overwhelmed by unhappiness” seeing people on temporary protection visas (TPVs) suffering mentally, Zaki began working with the Victorian Afghan Youth Association (VAYA) to communicate for refugees and rally for action to be taken by the Australian Government.  “I have a lot of friends who are on temporary visas and they suffer emotionally and mentally from not being able to reconnect with their families or build a permanent life in Australia,” she said. Sajeda Zaki advocates for refugees in Australia, helping them navigate the visa and citizenship pathway. (Supplied) Once Zaki was reunited with her father in 2016, she realised the importance of reuniting displaced people with their families. She now assists individuals with filling out their paperwork to apply for permanent visas and citizenships.  “There are a lot of people who aren’t healthy, living in constant uncertainty and we are not seeing results from the government who are meant to be improving the rate of permanent visa processing,” she said.  “I want the people of Australia to know that refugees have the same emotions, dreams and plans as you do, the only differences are that we weren’t born here and that English isn’t our first language.” ‘Psychological damages’ from temporary visas Asylum seekers who arrive in Australia irregularly, either by boat or plane and without a valid visa, are not counted in the government’s permanent Humanitarian Program and are not granted a permanent visa.  Under changes made to the Migration Act 1958 by the Abbott Government in 2014, refugees are granted one of two temporary visas – a three-year temporary protection visa (TPV) or a five-year safe haven enterprise visa (SHEV).   Hazara refugees rallying for permanent visas which will allow them to reunite with families. (Supplied) In both cases, individuals holding temporary visas have to wait in uncertainty for at least three years before being allowed to re-lodge another application for protection at the end of their visa period. Former Policy Officer with the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) and lawyer Shukufa Tahiri advocates for the human rights of refugees. She told 9news.com.au the uncertainty of being on a temporary visa causes all sorts of “psychological damages” for already traumatised individuals.  “One of the key policy platforms from the Labor government during the last election was to grant permanent residency to current TPV holders, a commitment which they now need to honour,” Tahiri said.  “Thousands of individuals have held temporary visas for over 10 years and the uncertainty of remaining in limbo has meant extended trauma that should have been prevented many years ago.” Shukufa Tahiri gathers information on policies and issues affecting the protection of refugees. (Supplied) TPV and SHEV holders cannot travel outside of Australia to reunite with their families in developing countries, have limited access to state benefits such as Centrelink and Medicare, no access to emergency housing and limited ability to attend English classes or translation services.  Australia’s offshore resettlement component of the Humanitarian Program includes people who are proposed for resettlement by someone already living in Australia, usually a relative, which is one of the only pathways for separated families to reunite and settle in Australia.  Federal government urged to improve permanent visa processing The Albanese government has stated processing the backlog of visa applications is an “urgent priority”, with those who have been waiting for permanent visas for years pleading for certainty. Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles said in June the department was working through large numbers of older cases but noted reducing the backlog couldn’t happen overnight. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles says Labor government is prioritising permanent visas for refugees. (AAP) “The number of applications received in June 2022 is 6.5 per cent higher than May 2022 – over the same period, there was a 10.6 per cent increase in applications finalised,” Giles said. “The former government devalued immigration, with the visa application backlog increasing to nearly 1,000,000 on their watch. “The Albanese government is determined to reduce the backlog and restore the importance of the immigration function of our government.” Tahiri is asking for more empathy from the government to reunite families through extended Humanitarian Programs, but admits not everyone seeking asylum will gain permanent protection right away.  “Our community is not saying that Australia is in a position to save everyone, but for people who are here, who have worked and lived in this community for 10 years and who have proven to be very valuable members of society, we need to give them permanency,” she said. Poverty, oppression as Afghanistan marks one year of Taliban rule

The Weekend Planner With St. Joe Today | News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM – News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM https://collincountynewsonline.com/the-weekend-planner-with-st-joe-today-news-talk-sports-94-9-wsjm-news-talk-sports-94-9-wsjm/ Daniele joins Jonny to talk about all the great things happening this weekend in Michigan’s Great Southwest! Plus Jonathan and April join us in the WOW Factor to talk about their new business The Aesthetics Lounge and Spa opening in St. Joe! Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:36 — 21.2MB) | Embed Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | Email | | More

Hadean, Metaverse Company, Sees Funding Become Proxy For U.S.-China Tech Fight – Washington Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/hadean-metaverse-company-sees-funding-become-proxy-for-u-s-china-tech-fight-washington-times/ The escalating competition between the U.S. and China for advanced technology has spread to the alternate reality metaverse, where the two global powers are fixated on the U.K.-based company Hadean. Hadean has plans to create the infrastructure needed to build digital worlds, including things like a multidimensional land warfare simulator that it said in July it was making for the British army. The company’s work lured funding from the U.S. intelligence community, via its strategic investment fund In-Q-Tel, and it also attracted the China-based tech titan Tencent. The mutual interest raised concerns in the U.S. that taxpayers’ money could serve to build new tools for China. After learning of China’s big-tech play for the cutting-edge metaverse business, Sen. Marco Rubio said he has worked to prevent American dollars from creating new capabilities for China. “We will continue conducting oversight to ensure that any investments by the IC are not also advancing the national security capabilities of our adversaries,” the Florida Republican said in a statement. “For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has successfully poached, stolen, or taken advantage of research and development performed by industry, academia, and the government funded by U.S. taxpayers or our allies.” Hadean was initially set to collect a multimillion-dollar sum from a group of funders including In-Q-Tel and Tencent, according to reports. In-Q-Tel is a nonprofit contracted with the CIA that spends taxpayer dollars on private companies to help solve national security problems. Tencent is based in China, where the communist regime’s policies of military-civil fusion force cooperation between businesses and the government. The initial funding plan for Hadean also included financing from the British government, according to the Telegraph in August. The National Security Strategic Investment Fund, a U.K. corporate fund similar to In-Q-Tel in the U.S., was also reportedly advising Hadean. The Senate Intelligence Committee learned of the investment plan and privately pressed In-Q-Tel about its investment and about Hadean’s efforts to raise cash from other sources, according to a spokesperson for Mr. Rubio. In-Q-Tel was not looking to partner with the Chinese tech giant. The fund told The Washington Times it invested in March 2021, before Tencent.   When Hadean announced its funding plans in September, the total amount of cash was higher than anticipated in previous reports, a new investor had emerged, and Hadean acknowledged taking less from Tencent than the Chinese company offered. Hadean said it reached an agreement raising $30 million from a range of investors including In-Q-Tel and bolstered by an additional investor, Epic Games, the behemoth video game and software developer. Epic Games was already a Hadean investor and collaborator.   Hadean CEO Craig Beddis told TechCrunch his company ultimately took less from Tencent to become compliant with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which is a federal government entity that reviews commercial transactions for national security problems. Mr. Beddis did not answer The Washington Times about whether In-Q-Tel urged him to take less funding from Tencent, nor whether his company heard from the U.S. government directly. In-Q-Tel did not answer whether it encouraged Hadean to take less money from Tencent. Hadean’s business may face further scrutiny in the U.S. The Senate Intelligence Committee is in contact with elements of the intelligence community performing oversight related to the Hadean investment, according to a spokesperson for Mr. Rubio. Precisely what Hadean’s investors will receive remains to be seen, but Mr. Beddis said Hadean is working to enable its customers and partners to “build, run and monetise vast virtual worlds.” “The funding will accelerate the development of our groundbreaking cloud computing technology which can be used to increase the scale, complexity and security of 3D environments and deliver a unique experience to users with no latency,” Mr. Beddis said in a statement. “It will also allow us to continue to innovate and make advancements that will overcome key challenges for the metaverse such as its massive computational demands or limitations in concurrent users.” Tencent has big plans for virtual worlds. The company said on Wednesday it has explored building a “digital factory” with the help of an unnamed partner and the end result would rely upon cloud computing and digital twin, or virtual reality, technology. “There will soon be a new connection that integrates digital and physical forms, transcending time and space,” said Tencent CEO Pony Ma on the company’s website detailing his plan for “Immersive Convergence.” The CIA declined to comment for this story.

26 Best Gifts For Cousins In 2022 – Cheap Cousin Gift Ideas – Good Housekeeping https://collincountynewsonline.com/26-best-gifts-for-cousins-in-2022-cheap-cousin-gift-ideas-good-housekeeping/ Sure, you generally have a good idea of what to get your parents, your grandparents and even your brother and sister when it comes time to buy gifts for their birthdays and the holidays. But your cousins? That can be trickier, especially if you don’t see them as frequently as your other loved ones. On top of that, if you’re a part of a big family, trying to find the best gifts for an endless list of cousins with a wide range of interests and ages can easily get overwhelming. But gift shopping for your cousins doesn’t have to exhaust you — or break the bank. We’re here to help with this list of cool and affordable gift ideas. Here, you’ll find budget-friendly personalized options, best-selling Amazon gift picks with free shipping, funny gag gifts and gift ideas that will delight even the pickiest relatives, so you can dial back the stress during the upcoming holiday season. 1 Heartfelt and Sentimental Custom Typewritten Note Candle Read More 2 Small Gift on a Budget “Being Related to Me Is Really the Only Gift You Need” Card Maplelon Read More 3 Best Cousin Gift on Amazon Energize Aromatherapy Shower Steamers Body Restore Read More 4 For the Cousin Who Has Everything Redbubble Gift Card Read More 5 For the Cousin Who Is Practically Your Sister “Love Makes Us Family” Charm Bangle WEAR FOR LOVE Read More 6 Best Gift for Your Male Cousin Personalized Beer Pitcher & Pint Glasses Personalization Mall Read More 7 Functional and Affordable Linen Wireless Magnetic Phone Charger Read More 8 Best Personalized Gift for Cousins Custom Wall Print MariAngShop Read More 9 Funny Gift for Big Families Cousin Superlatives Shirts FlawlessArtShop Read More 10 Personalized Necklace WhiteCarnationDesign Read More Once you find the perfect gift for your cousin, don’t forget to check out more of our top gift guides for everyone on your list, including the best gifts for women, the best gifts for men and the best gifts for teens. 1 Heartfelt and Sentimental Custom Typewritten Note Candle 2 Small Gift on a Budget Maplelon “Being Related to Me Is Really the Only Gift You Need” Card 3 Best Cousin Gift on Amazon Body Restore Energize Aromatherapy Shower Steamers 4 For the Cousin Who Has Everything Redbubble Gift Card 5 For the Cousin Who Is Practically Your Sister WEAR FOR LOVE “Love Makes Us Family” Charm Bangle 6 Best Gift for Your Male Cousin Personalization Mall Personalized Beer Pitcher & Pint Glasses 7 Functional and Affordable Linen Wireless Magnetic Phone Charger 8 Best Personalized Gift for Cousins MariAngShop Custom Wall Print 9 Funny Gift for Big Families FlawlessArtShop Cousin Superlatives Shirts 10 WhiteCarnationDesign Personalized Necklace 11 Cozy Lavender Warming Booties 12 If Your Cousin Is Your BFF opossumdeals “I’ll Be There for You” Cousins Hoodie 13 For the Cousin Headed to College Collegiate Pouches 14 Great Last-Minute Gift Idea NEFF Daily Beanie 15 Great Couples’ Gift Carved With Love Personalized Coasters 16 Supports Small Business CanDidArtAccessories Scribble Earrings 17 For the Cousin Who Loves to Read UncommonGoods Banned Book Socks 18 iandgeco Socks and Soap Gift Box 19 For Your Littlest Cousin BlueGiraffeApparel “Cousin Crew (For Life)” Onesie 20 Best Birthday Gift for Cousins Crate Joy Marshmallow of the Month Club 21 Funny Gift Under $20 AviiGifts “I’d Walk Through Fire for You Cousin” Tumbler 22 Legendary Whitetails Standard Buck Camp Flannel Shirt 23 For the Hostess With the Mostess Little Flower Snack Bowls (Set of 6) 24 fenty beauty by rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer 25 BluePoppyGallery Sentimental Dictionary Art Wall Decor 26 Good Gift for Cousins of Any Age Amazon Echo Dot Smart Speaker Annie O’Sullivan Assistant Editor Annie O’Sullivan (she/her) covers holiday, gift guide, travel, and lifestyle content at Good Housekeeping.

Quarter’s Big Crypto Bankruptcies Revealed Nearly $10 Billion Owed To Creditors – The Wall Street Journal https://collincountynewsonline.com/quarters-big-crypto-bankruptcies-revealed-nearly-10-billion-owed-to-creditors-the-wall-street-journal/ About this page Stock Market Today, Sept. 30, 2022: Stocks Drop as Quarter Ends Last Updated: Sep 30, 2022 at 5:06 pm ET Follow The Wall Street Journal’s full markets coverage.

Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors Expect No Peace In U.S. Stocks Until Bond Gyrations Subside – Reuters https://collincountynewsonline.com/wall-street-week-ahead-investors-expect-no-peace-in-u-s-stocks-until-bond-gyrations-subside-reuters/ NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Investors believe the feedback loop between U.S. stocks and bonds will likely be a key factor in determining whether the gyrations that have rocked markets this year continue into the last months of 2022. With the third quarter over, both assets have seen painful sell-offs – the S&P 500 (.SPX) is down nearly 25% year-to-date and the ICE BofA Treasury Index has fallen by around 13%. The twin declines are the worst since 1938, according to BoFA Global Research. Yet many investors say bonds have led the dance, with soaring yields slamming stock valuations as market participants recalibrated their portfolios to account for stronger-than-expected monetary tightening from the Fed. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The S&P 500’s forward price-to-earnings ratio fell from 20 in April to its current level of 16.1, a move that came alongside a 140 basis point surge in the yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury , which moves inversely to prices. “Interest rates are at the core of every asset in the universe, and we won’t have a positive repricing in equities until the uncertainty of where the terminal rate will settle is clear,” said Charlie McElligott, managing director of cross-asset strategy at Nomura. Volatility in U.S. bonds has erupted in 2022, with this week’s Treasury yield gyrations taking the ICE BofAML U.S. Bond Market Option Volatility Estimate Index (.MOVE) to its highest level since March 2020. By contrast, the Cboe Volatility Index (.VIX) – the so-called Wall Street “fear gauge” – has failed to scale its peak from earlier this year. “We have emphasized … that interest rate volatility has been (and continues to be) the main driver of cross-asset volatility. Nevertheless, even we continue to watch the rates volatility complex with incredulity,” analysts at Soc Gen wrote. Bond volatility expectations have risen to multi-year highs while the VIX has remained relatively muted Many investors believe the wild moves will continue until there is evidence that the Fed is winning its battle against inflation, allowing policymakers to eventually end monetary tightening. For now, more hawkishness is on the menu. Investors on Friday afternoon were pricing in a 57% chance that the U.S. central bank hikes rates by 75 basis point rates at its Nov. 2 meeting, up from a 0% chance one month ago, according to CME’s FedWatch tool. Markets see rates hitting a peak of 4.5% in July 2023, up from 4% a month ago. Next week’s U.S. employment data will give investors a snapshot of whether the Fed’s rate hikes are starting to dent growth. Investors are also looking to earnings season, which starts in October, as they gauge to what degree a strong dollar and supply chain snafus will affect companies’ profits. For now, investor sentiment is largely negative, with cash levels among fund managers near historic highs as many increasingly choose to sit out the market swings. Retail investors sold a net $2.9 billion of equities in the past week, the second largest outflow since March 2020, data from JPMorgan showed on Wednesday. Still, some investors believe a turnaround in stocks and bonds may soon come into view. The deep declines in both asset classes make either an attractive investment given the likelihood of longer-term returns, said Adam Hetts, global head of portfolio construction and strategy at Janus Henderson Investors. “We’ve been in a world where nothing was working. Most of that agony is over, we think,” he said. JPMorgan’s analysts, meanwhile, said high cash allocations may provide a backstop for both equities and bonds, likely limiting future downside. At the same time, the fourth quarter is historically the best period for returns for major U.S. stock indexes, with the S&P 500 averaging a 4.2% gain since 1949, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. Of course, dip buying has fared poorly this year. The S&P 500 has mounted four rallies of 6% or more this year, with each rebound sputtering out to be followed by fresh bear market lows. Wei Li, Chief Investment Strategist at BlackRock Investment Institute, believes more jumbo rate hikes from the Fed may dent growth, while a slower pace of tightening could hurt bonds by making inflation more entrenched. She is underweight developed market equities and fixed income, believing that “difficult choices” faced by central banks will spur more market ructions. Equities may have further to fall than bonds given the high likelihood of a recession in 2023, said Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer and chief market strategist at Truist Advisory Services. “We think the upside for equities will be capped because there will be more earnings pain and more central bank tightening,” he said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by David Randall; Additional reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili, Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Putin, Russia And Ukraine War News: Live Updates – The New York Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/putin-russia-and-ukraine-war-news-live-updates-the-new-york-times/ Image President Vladimir V. Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Friday.Credit…Pool photo by Dmitry Astakhov President Vladimir V. Putin on Friday asserted that Russia would take control of four Ukrainian regions and decried the United States for “Satanism” in a speech that marked an escalation in Moscow’s war against Ukraine and positioned Russia, in starkly confrontational terms, as fighting an existential battle with Western elites he deemed “the enemy.” Speaking to hundreds of Russian lawmakers and governors in a grand Kremlin hall, Mr. Putin said that the residents of the four regions — which are still partially controlled by Ukrainian forces — would become Russia’s citizens “forever.” He then held a signing ceremony with the Russian-installed heads of those regions to start the official annexation process, before clasping hands with them and chanting “Russia! Russia!” Mr. Putin’s address came against a backdrop of Russian embarrassments on the battlefield, where Ukraine’s forces have scored stunning victories in recent weeks in the east. Even as the Russian leader spoke, officials said the Ukrainian army had moved closer to encircling the Russian-occupied town of Lyman, a strategically important hub in the Donetsk region that lies inside the territory Mr. Putin is claiming. Even by Mr. Putin’s increasingly antagonistic standards, the speech was extraordinary, a combination of bluster and menace that mixed conspiratorial riffs against the American-led “neocolonial system” with an appeal to the world to see Russia as the leader of an uprising against American power. He referred to “the ruling circles of the so-called West” as “the enemy,” a word he rarely uses in reference to the West — and struck a tone of spiteful anger and defiance. “Not only do Western elites deny national sovereignty and international law,” he said in the 37-minute address. “Their hegemony has a pronounced character of totalitarianism, despotism and apartheid.” Western leaders have condemned Russia’s annexations as illegal, and the “referendums’’ that preceded them — purporting to show local support for joining Russia — as fraudulent. The Biden administration announced new sanctions in response to the Kremlin’s move. President Biden was quick to denounce Mr. Putin’s actions to annex the four territories, saying they “have no legitimacy’’ and adding that “the United States will always honor Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.’’ Ukraine’s government has rebuffed Mr. Putin’s claims and vowed to retake territory captured by Russia in the east and south. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Mr. Putin’s speech on Friday by announcing that he was fast-tracking his country’s application to the NATO alliance. In a video, he accused the Kremlin of trying to “steal something that does not belong to it.” “Ukraine will not allow that,” he said. Mr. Putin insisted that Russia’s position on annexing the four territories was nonnegotiable, adding that the country would defend them “with all the forces and means at our disposal.” “I call on the Kyiv regime to immediately cease fire and all military action,” he said, and for the Ukrainian government “to return to the negotiating table.” “But we will not discuss the decision of the people of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson,” he went on, referring to the four Ukrainian regions being annexed. “It has been made. Russia will not betray it.” Mr. Putin cast the conflict with the West in even more severe terms than in previous speeches, reeling off centuries of Western military actions to denounce the American-led world order as fundamentally evil, corrupt and set on Russia’s destruction. “The repression of freedom is taking on the outlines of a ‘reverse religion,’ of real Satanism,” Mr. Putin said, asserting that liberal Western values on matters like gender identity amounted to a “denial of man.” But Mr. Putin offered few new details on the matter that is now perhaps of greatest concern in Western capitals — whether, and at what point, he may be prepared to use weapons of mass destruction to force Ukraine to capitulate. His spokesman said earlier in the day that after the annexation of the four regions — a move that virtually no other country is expected to recognize — an attack on those regions would be treated as an attack on Russia. Without saying so directly, Mr. Putin hinted that the role of nuclear weapons in war is on his mind. Describing the West as “deceitful and hypocritical through and through,” Mr. Putin noted that the United States was the only country to have used nuclear weapons in war. He then added: “By the way, they created a precedent.” Valerie Hopkins and Oleg Matsnev contributed reporting. Image President Biden said during a news conference at the White House on Friday that the world would not recognize Russia’s annexation efforts.Credit…Pete Marovich for The New York Times WASHINGTON — President Biden warned Russia on Friday that the United States and its allies would not be intimidated by its latest actions in Ukraine and said that the world would not recognize the sham referendum that President Vladimir V. Putin staged to justify seizing Ukrainian land. Speaking at a news conference at the White House, Mr. Biden said the United States and its allies would continue to support Ukraine with military equipment and aid. He warned that anyone who supported Russia’s fraudulent claims to Ukrainian territory would also be subject to economic sanctions. Earlier in the day, Mr. Putin announced in a bellicose speech that Russia would annex four Ukrainian provinces it had invaded. The Russian leader cast the war in Ukraine as an existential battle against the United States and its allies. He accused America of “Satanism” and of trying to impose its culture on the rest of the world. “He’s not going to scare us or intimidate us,” Mr. Biden said. “He can’t seize his neighbor’s land and get away with it.” The president also said that Mr. Putin should not dare to take his fight into NATO territory, underscoring the unity among the alliance. “America’s fully prepared with our NATO allies to defend every single inch of NATO territory, every single inch,” Mr. Biden said, adding: “Mr. Putin, don’t misunderstand what I’m saying.” The United States has been investigating leaks that emerged in the Nord Stream gas pipeline and while Mr. Biden said it is not clear exactly what had happened, he believed the damage was the result of Russia’s actions. The United States, he said, is now helping European countries to protect their critical infrastructure. “It was a deliberate act of sabotage, and now the Russians are pumping out disinformation and lies,” Mr. Biden said. Image The Russian Central Bank headquarters in Moscow. Credit…Maxim Shemetov/Reuters WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is enacting a round of new sanctions aimed at further crippling Russia’s defense and technology sectors and other industries, as well as cutting off more top officials and their families from global commerce, to punish Moscow for its efforts to annex parts of eastern Ukraine. The Treasury and Commerce Departments will impose sanctions and export controls on any companies, institutions or people who “provide political or economic support to Russia for its purported annexation,” White House officials said on Friday. “Make no mistake: these actions have no legitimacy,” President Biden said in a statement. “I urge all members of the international community to reject Russia’s illegal attempts at annexation and to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.” Antony J. Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, said in a separate statement that “the United States unequivocally rejects Russia’s fraudulent attempt to change Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders” “This is a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter,” he added. “In response, the United States and our allies and partners are imposing swift and severe costs.” The moves fulfill longtime vows by the Biden administration to punish any move by Russia to annex captured Ukrainian territory. But just as those threats failed to deter President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, it is unclear whether the new penalties — which compound a slew of crushing sanctions imposed in recent months — will blunt his determination. The Treasury Department said as part of the broad announcement that it is enacting sanctions against 14 international companies for supporting supply chains of the Russian military. The Treasury Department is putting nearly 300 members of the Parliament on a sanctions list, along with Elvira Sakhipzadovna Nabiullina, the governor of the Central Bank of Russia; Olga Nikolaevna Skorobogatova, the first deputy governor of the bank; Aleksandr Valentinovich Nova, a deputy prime minister; and relatives of members of the National Security Council. U.S. agencies had already put Russian security council members on lists. The State Department also is imposing visa restrictions on more than 900 Russian officials. The Commerce Department is adding 57 entities from Russia and the Crimea region of Ukraine, which the Russian military forcibly occupied in 2014, to what it calls the entity list, which limits commercial transactions. Officials also plan to try to ensure that companies outside the United States are restricted in the business they can do with those on the list. The Commerce Department now has 392 entities linked to Russia on the list. The Biden administration was not alone in announcing punitive measures in response to Russia’s illegal annexation. Britain’s Foreign Office on Friday announced a series of sweeping new sanctions on key services and placed a ban on 700 goods “that are crucial t...

Associated Press: Paxton’s Office ‘Has Come Unmoored By Disarray’ – D Magazine https://collincountynewsonline.com/associated-press-paxtons-office-has-come-unmoored-by-disarray-d-magazine/ The Associated Press just dropped a big story about the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who seven years ago posed for the above photograph taken in the Collin County Jail. I’ll return to that county in a bit, but first here are some highlights from the AP. Just the facts: Bad guys go free: “In the small town of Gatesville, the fallout [from disorganization in the AG’s office] was felt this month with the collapse of cases dubbed ‘Operation Fallen Angel.’ Six of the people indicted last year on allegations that they were involved in a scheme to force teenage girls to ‘exchange sexual contact for crystal methamphetamine’ are now free. ‘It’s absolutely broken. It’s just broken. You don’t do it this way,’ Republican District Attorney Dusty Boyd said of the attorney general’s office, which took over the cases from his five-lawyer team. “I made the mistake of trusting them that they would come in and do a good job.’” Staffing shortages: “One prosecutor said he quit in January after supervisors pressured him to withhold evidence in a murder case. Another attorney signed a resignation letter in March that warned of growing hostility toward LGBTQ employees. By August, records show the division over human trafficking cases—a major emphasis in Texas, where more than 50 migrants died in the back of a trailer in June—had a job vacancy rate of 40%.” Hanky-panky: “[I]n autumn 2020 … eight of Paxton’s top deputies accused the attorney general of using the office to help a political donor who employed a woman with whom Paxton acknowledged having had an extramarital affair. The deputies all quit or were fired after going to the FBI, which opened an investigation that remains ongoing.” Insanity: “Tom Kelly Gleason, a former ice cream company owner whose father gave $50,000 to the attorney general’s legal defense fund [and who was hired in a senior role], … was fired less than two months into his new job as a law enforcement adviser. Paxton’s office has not disclosed why, but three people with knowledge of the matter said Gleason included child pornography in a work presentation at the agency’s Austin headquarters. The people said Gleason displayed the video—which one of them described as showing a man raping a small child—in a misguided effort to underscore agency investigators difficult work.” I’ll stop there. You should read the entire AP story. It leads one to wonder about Abraham George, chairman of the Collin County Republican Party. Here is how George assesses Paxton’s first two terms: “He’s been one of the greatest attorneys general for the state of Texas and one of the most conservative ones in the entire country.” Election day is Tuesday, November 8. Get the D Brief Newsletter Dallas’ most important news stories of the week, delivered to your inbox each Sunday. Author Tim is the editor of D Magazine, where he has worked since 2001. He won a National Magazine Award in…

With Travel Prices And Currencies Up And Down This Year, What Are Your Points And Miles Worth? – Morningstar https://collincountynewsonline.com/with-travel-prices-and-currencies-up-and-down-this-year-what-are-your-points-and-miles-worth-morningstar/ By Meghan Coyle Here’s a breakdown of their value at several airlines and hotel brands This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet. This has been an unusual year for currencies, period. Rising inflation has sent all sorts of costs skyrocketing (including travel prices). Meanwhile, the euro and British pound are falling in value relative to the U.S. dollar, making a European vacation somewhat … affordable? With all of these fluctuating prices, how are the currencies of airline and hotel loyalty programs, better known as points and miles, being affected? To get to the bottom of that question, NerdWallet turned to the data. The results of our annual analysis of the value of airline miles and hotel points is finally here, and it has some interesting stories to tell. To get our estimates, we collect real-world data on thousands of flights and hotel stays and compare cash prices and award prices to determine the baseline value of each loyalty program’s points. Here’s how the value of miles and points compares to last year — and what changes you should make to your travel rewards strategy as a result. See: 1 in 3 people say they overspent on travel to earn a credit cards sign-up bonus Most airline miles are worth more The good news is that almost all points and miles are worth more now than they were last year, possibly due in part to inflation, which has driven up the cash prices of flights and hotel nights. Airline miles are now worth an additional 0.1 cent-0.3 cents in value across the board. For example, United Airlines (UAL) MileagePlus miles were worth about 1 cent each in our last analysis, so 50,000 miles should have been able to get you a free flight worth about $500. If you didn’t use those miles last year, those same 50,000 miles are now worth 1.2 cents each. That means you can likely redeem them for a flight worth about $600 today. Keep in mind though, inflation has driven travel prices much higher. According to the latest set of Consumer Price Index data, airfare prices are up 33% year-over-year in August. Meanwhile, the valuations of airline miles are up only 8.7% on average from last year. So even though your miles are valued higher, you might still have to shell out more miles for a flight than you would have last year because the flight itself is likely more expensive. Also read:Four travel card perks that might not be worth it anymore Hotel points-wise, one brand stands out Hotel points saw a similar increase to airlines exacerbated by inflation. But there is one huge jump that stands out: World of Hyatt (H). Hyatt has long been a favorite of travelers because of its high value redemptions, and it has consistently had higher valuations than other hotel loyalty programs. Its fixed award chart has further cemented its value in this high-inflation year. This year, Hyatt’s valuation jumped almost an entire cent, from 1.9 cents per point in 2021 to 2.8 cents per point now. That means its points are four times as valuable as competitors’ like Marriott Bonvoy (MAR)( 0.7 cent), Hilton (HLT) Honors (0.6 cent) and IHG (IHG.LN) One Rewards. (0.7 cent). This discrepancy is likely due to Hyatt being the only hotel loyalty program with the aforementioned fixed award chart. The award chart specifies a limit for the highest number of points a night can cost at a certain property, even if the cash rate may go much higher. That’s where you’ll find Hyatt sweet spots. Read: ‘Forget about chasing rewards and seek the lowest interest rate possible’: Credit-card rates near peak not seen since 1996 How you might change your points and miles strategy Based on our findings, there are a few key takeaways to remember as you book travel into 2023. Consider flying airlines besides Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Last year, JetBlue (JBLU) and Southwest (LUV) had the highest-value airline miles, around 1.5 and 1.4 cents respectively. Now, American Airlines (AAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), JetBlue and Southwest miles are all worth the same — around 1.5 cents. If loyalty with American or Delta is more convenient for you, start collecting their miles knowing that you’ll get about the same return. Target high-value transfer partners. If you have a travel credit card that earns transferable points, you might spend less points by transferring to a high-value partner like Hyatt instead of booking a Hyatt hotel through the credit card’s travel portal. Don’t miss: Three common travel disasters and what to do about them Calculate the value of your redemption before you book. NerdWallet’s valuations are a baseline value, meaning you should aim to get that value when you cash in your points for a free flight or hotel stay. But not all redemptions are created equal. Make sure you divide the equivalent cash price of the flight or hotel by the number of points they want to charge you. If that number is lower than NerdWallet’s valuations, you might want to save your points for a better redemption. You can use an airline miles calculator to simplify your calculations. More From NerdWallet Meghan Coyle writes for NerdWallet. Email: mcoyle@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @inkwaves. – (END) Dow Jones Newswires 09-30-22 1359ET Copyright (c) 2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

AP Top Business News At 11:52 A.m. EDT – WTMJ https://collincountynewsonline.com/ap-top-business-news-at-1152-a-m-edt-wtmj/ AP Top Business News at 11:52 a.m. EDT  WTMJ

Biden Unveils Pathway To Free School Meals For All – EdNC https://collincountynewsonline.com/biden-unveils-pathway-to-free-school-meals-for-all-ednc/ Share this story For the first time since the pandemic began, N.C. students don’t have universal access to free school meals. The White House unveiled a plan this week to change that. #nced The @WhiteHouse hosted the #WHConfHungerHealth, aimed at ending hunger & increasing healthy eating by 2030. The national strategy to get there included a plan to provide free school meals for all students. #nced On Sept. 28, the Biden-Harris Administration hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, aimed at ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030 for all Americans. The administration’s national strategy to address these issues, introduced at the conference, include the advancement of a pathway toward free healthy school meals for all students. “Over the next 10 years, my plan…would make at least 9 million more children eligible for free school meals, a major first step for free meals for every single student,” said President Joe Biden, who also said the plan would promote supporting schools so they can cook more meals from scratch and purchase more food from local farmers and ranchers. The Biden-Harris Administration also pledged to promote the expansion of summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) benefits to more children so they can continue to access nourishing meals when school is not in session, and to expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to more underserved populations. The national strategy also promotes the continuation of the expanded Child Tax Credit, which the administration implemented through the American Rescue Plan during the pandemic and, the administration says, helped to cut child poverty by nearly 50 percent. The effort to expand more free school meals to children across the country as well as fulfill the other pledges made in the national strategy plan would rely on bipartisan support and new legislative action in Congress – as well as assistance from other community partners – in order to come to fruition. Biden said he had roughly $8 billion in commitments from more than 100 different organizations in order to help the administration meet their goals to end hunger and improve Americans’ health. “I feel incredibly optimistic about healthy school meals for all being on [the administration’s] list of priorities,” said Andrew Harrell, program and communication manager for No Kid Hungry NC and the Carolina Hunger Initiative. “We certainly hope there will be bipartisan support for changing these policies in a way that will greatly reduce stigma and make meals easier to access for all children, because we know that healthy school meals are both a health intervention as well as an academic intervention.” School meals are a health and academic intervention It has been more than 50 years since President Richard Nixon convened the first and only other White House conference on hunger and nutrition. While the United States has made significant progress since then, U.S Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said on Wednesday that food and nutrition insecurity still remains unacceptably high. “I want to highlight the proposed pathway to the national strategy for healthy school meals for all,” said Vilsack during his opening remarks. “This is a core intervention to improve child hunger and health, and recent research demonstrates that school meals provide the healthiest food a child eats during the day. The proposal reorients this important program as a key health tool to provide the highest quality meals and to engage children around healthy choices.” For the first time since the start of the pandemic, students in North Carolina are walking into school buildings this year without universal access to free school meals. Instead, households must qualify for free school meals based on income requirements, except in high poverty schools and districts where the Community Eligibility Provision applies and every student in that district or school eats for free. There are also some schools and districts that have found alternative funding to keep breakfast free. [Want to know the nuts and bolts about how school meals are funded? Read our school meals primer!] “When families can’t afford healthy food options, it’s harder for children to succeed in school, and it can lead to mental and physical health challenges for the whole family,” Biden said in the preface to his national strategy plan for addressing hunger, nutrition and health.  “For so many families—including families of color, those living in rural communities and territories, and low-income families—structural inequality, such as disparities in educational and economic opportunities and lack of access to health care, safe housing, and transportation, make the impact of hunger and diet-related diseases even more severe,” Biden said. The five pillars of action to end hunger and improve health The administration’s national approach to tackling the broad issues of hunger, nutrition, and health includes five different pillars of action, and all of the details of those pillars can be found in this national strategy document. A brief summary of some of those details is below, laid out explicitly in the administration’s executive summary. Pillar One: Improving food access and affordability, including by advancing economic security; increasing access to free and nourishing school meals; providing Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) benefits to more children; and expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to more underserved populations; Pillar Two: Integrating nutrition and health, including by working with Congress to pilot coverage of medically tailored meals in Medicare; testing Medicaid coverage of nutrition education and other nutrition supports using Medicaid section 1115 demonstration projects; and expanding Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries’ access to nutrition and obesity counseling; Pillar Three: Empowering all consumers to make and have access to healthy choices, including by proposing to develop a front-of-package labeling scheme for food packages; proposing to update the nutrition criteria for the “healthy” claim on food packages; expanding incentives for fruits and vegetables in SNAP; facilitating sodium reduction in the food supply by issuing longer-term, voluntary sodium targets for industry; and assessing additional steps to reduce added sugar consumption, including potential voluntary targets; Pillar Four: Supporting physical activity for all, including by expanding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program to all states and territories; investing in efforts to connect people to parks and other outdoor spaces; and funding regular updates to and promotion of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans; and Pillar Five: Enhancing nutrition and food security research, including by bolstering funding to improve metrics, data collection, and research to inform nutrition and food security policy, particularly on issues of equity and access; and implementing a vision for advancing nutrition science. These five pillars are outlined as above in the Executive Summary of the Biden-⁠Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Notably, Pillar One also calls on state and local school districts to increase investments in programs such as supporting improved kitchen infrastructure and training school nutrition professionals, as well as encouraging philanthropic partners to fund “pilots that foster collaboration between food service programs at K-12 schools and colleges or universities in order to synergize efforts around workforce training and food procurement.” What does all of this mean for North Carolina’s students? The White House’s plan to end hunger presented many big goals, but there remain questions on how their impacts would be realized at the local level. In the months ahead as the administration works on getting legislation introduced, advocates and agency officials will be diving deeper into the details to get a better understanding of how North Carolina can benefit from this national strategy. Lynn Harvey, director of school nutrition services at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, said the creation of a pathway toward universal free school meals is a critical strategy that she welcomes. “Meals at school are an important part of the instructional day because they promote optimal student health, well-being, academic and future success, which is a key component of Superintendent Truitt’s Operation Polaris,” said Harvey. “When students’ bodies, minds, and souls are well-nourished, they perform better in the classroom, have fewer behavioral issues that distract from learning, and are able to engage in the growth opportunities available to them at school.” Carolina Hunger Initiative’s Harrell said his team will be looking at the Biden-Harris Administration’s national strategy in the next few weeks to determine how it will impact North Carolina’s students and how they can mobilize around the calls to action laid out in the plan. “We’ll be hosting a follow up discussion in the next few weeks that will be focused on the impact that this plan will have on child nutrition programs specifically in North Carolina,” said Harrell. Lindsay Wagner Lindsay Wagner is a contract reporter for EducationNC focused on child nutrition.

LSU Vs. Auburn: Prediction, Pick, Spread, Football Game Odds, Live Stream, Watch Online, TV Channel – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/lsu-vs-auburn-prediction-pick-spread-football-game-odds-live-stream-watch-online-tv-channel-cbs-sports/ Some wild and unpredictable games throughout the years have defined the LSU vs. Auburn rivalry, and this season’s edition is loaded with intrigue as well. LSU is coming off of an emphatic 38-0 home win over New Mexico, while Auburn narrowly escaped Missouri 17-14 in overtime in one of the sloppiest games of the season. There’s no doubt that this is a huge game on both sides. A road win over Auburn will keep the momentum for Brian Kelly’s LSU squad going after it recovered from the Week 1 heartbreaker vs. Florida State. Meanwhile, Auburn coach Bryan Harsin would love to move to 2-0 in conference play and show his detractors that there’s hope that he can turn things around.  Let’s break down the top storylines in the matchup and make picks straight up and against the spread. LSU vs. Auburn: Need to know Auburn’s OL woes: Auburn’s offensive line has been dreadful this year regardless of quarterback. T.J. Finley, Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner have all been under relentless pressure this year. That has to change for Auburn to be successful, but now it’s on its third-string center against one of the best defensive fronts in the country. Auburn has given up 7.25 tackles for loss per game and 2.75 sacks per game, which isn’t a recipe for success. It’s a big reason why the offense ranks No. 13 in the SEC in third-down conversions at 32%. If Auburn can’t block and can’t move the chains, it’s going to be a long night. Jayden Daniels‘ quiet success: The senior transfer from Arizona State has quietly put together one of the best seasons of any quarterback in the conference. He’s hasn’t thrown an interception, ranks third in the conference in completion percentage (73%) and is second in rushing among signal-callers at 65.5 yards per game (which includes sack yardage). It’ll be fascinating to see how Auburn’s front seven attacks him. Derick Hall is a stud off of the edge and there’s talent at linebacker on The Plains, but the front seven as a whole hasn’t performed anywhere close to expectation. LSU coach Brian Kelly has always been creative with how he uses his quarterback’s legs, so expect him to try to exploit Auburn’s front seven in a variety of ways. The Harsin factor: Harsin could have been fired as early as last Sunday if the Tigers had lost to Missouri, according to multiple reports, but the 17-14 overtime victory likely didn’t do much to fend off his detractors. The players won’t quit — they want to win more than anybody — but when programs have this much turmoil swirling, it can take a mental toll and send a season spiraling out of control. If Auburn comes out flat, that spiral is likely to continue. How to watch LSU vs. Auburn live Date: Saturday, Oct. 1 | Time: 7 p.m. ET Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, Alabama TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) LSU vs. Auburn prediction, picks Featured Game | Auburn Tigers vs. LSU Tigers I simply don’t trust Auburn’s offense at all, especially against the fast and physical LSU front seven. What’s more, I don’t trust Harsin to use running back Tank Bigsby for a full four quarters; he seemingly forgot that Bigsby existed after the first quarter of last week’s game. LSU will dominate in the trenches and wear down an Auburn team that simply won’t be able to keep up. Prediction: LSU (-9) Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 5, and which top-10 favorite will go down hard? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a proven computer model that has returned more than $3,100 in profit over the past six-plus seasons — and find out.

Healthcare’s Entrance Into The Metaverse Isn’t As Intimidating As You May Think – MedCity News https://collincountynewsonline.com/healthcares-entrance-into-the-metaverse-isnt-as-intimidating-as-you-may-think-medcity-news/ The term “metaverse” — which we’re hearing more and more these days — is still a bit esoteric to the general public. People often understand it only as a vague reference to a fantasy world beyond our reality.  But the metaverse doesn’t have to seem so sci-fi. It actually holds promising potential to transform healthcare delivery for the better, according to a keynote talk delivered by Mona Flores, Nvidia’s global head of medical AI, at MedCity’s Invest Digital Health conference in Dallas on Wednesday.  Flores defined the metaverse as an immersive network of connected virtual worlds, calling it the “3D evolution of the Internet.” At Nvidia, she helped build Omniverse, the company’s platform for building and operating metaverse applications. “[The metaverse] will extend the web pages of the Internet today to 3D spaces and worlds,” Flores said. “And just like the Internet, it is going to touch every industry out there, including healthcare.” The metaverse is poised to disrupt various aspects of healthcare — Flores identified workforce training, patient experience, healthcare facilities and medical manufacturing as the main areas to be excited about. Take workforce training for example. In the metaverse, medical students can practice office visits and surgeries hundreds of times before they ever perform these encounters with real-life patients. “No pilot ever flies a plane before practicing on simulators; no surgeon should either,” Flores, who is a former cardiac surgeon, said. In terms of patient experience, metaverse technologies can take hospital patients out of drab settings and transport them to pretty much any environment they choose. The metaverse also has the potential to increase patients’ access to caregivers, perhaps one day allowing them to interface with on-demand avatars of physicians, who answer questions and give medical advice based on a font of real-world knowledge and data. Entering the metaverse will can help healthcare workers and patients feel more comfortable, according to Flores. For instance, if a health system is building a new care wing, it can virtually welcome staff members to the site and let them orient themselves to what the space will look like long before construction is completed. Virtual reality can also allow patients and their families to walk around a hospital and get to know the environment before they arrive for their stay. This can have a huge impact on wayfinding, a big challenge when patients arrive at a hospital campus already nervous about a condition they have.  Metaverse technologies can similarly help healthcare manufacturers, Flores pointed out. She said pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers can digitally replicate their brick-and-mortar facilities in the virtual world. “It’s a virtual, complete digital copy of the factory or the lab — including all of its assembly lines, machines and tools,” she said. “We can now use simulation to plan the design of the rooms and optimize the route within this factory, from the width of the corridor to the size of the machines. You can also virtually train employees in this factory before you even open the doors for the operations.” Though the picture Flores paints is captivating, her presentation was met by a healthy skepticism. Two audience members expressed a key concern about the impact on workers given that more and more, technology is completing tasks better than humans.  In order to truly leverage the metaverse, they said it may seem like the U.S. healthcare workforce would need to learn to maneuver these technologies and gain a deep understanding of AI, data science and engineering. If that’s the case, it doesn’t look like the country as a whole is on track to educate its people in the way that is required in the future. This could lead to a massive group of unemployed, angry people. Flores disagreed. Though metaverse technologies may replace a small percentage of healthcare workers, she thinks these employees’ healthcare expertise can be leveraged to fit new roles and fill other healthcare positions, which could be a major positive given the ongoing healthcare employment dearth.  Flores also doesn’t believe that engaging in the metaverse will require all healthcare employees to have a firm grasp of complicated technology. She pointed to the example of Cincinnati Children’s, who trained its staff to work in its new neonatal intensive care unit months before they ever stepped into the facility. “The nurses were able to do this without any problem,” Flores said. “They didn’t know any AI. All they had to do was what they’ve always done — nothing new except putting a headset on.” Another concern people have regarding the metaverse is that it feels wrong to focus on this shiny new thing when the country is still so far away from mastering the basics of healthcare — keeping people healthy and ensuring widespread access to care. But Flores thinks it’s important to remember that the metaverse won’t integrate itself into healthcare overnight. It’s a long journey that will take decades. “We need to capture more data and bring it together so that we know the learnings from every doctor, researcher and engineer out there,” she said. “We will be able eventually to understand more about biology and be able to treat a patient specifically for their disease and their genetic makeup and their environmental exposures and what have you. We’re not there yet, but we will get there — maybe not in my lifetime.” Photo: metamorworks, Getty Images Hear the latest industry news first. 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