Collin County News Online

Judge Rejects Justice Dept.’s Bid To Stop Sugar Merger – 69News WFMZ-TV https://collincountynewsonline.com/judge-rejects-justice-dept-s-bid-to-stop-sugar-merger-69news-wfmz-tv/ If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS – All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue is on its way, with 88 K-Pot opening perhaps in December near the Wine & Spirits store in the Bethlehem Square shopping center.  – Air Products’ joint venture in Saudi Arabia has acquired an industrial-gas business for an undisclosed price. The Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases & Equipment venture acquired Khafrah Industrial Gases from Paris-based Air Liquide S.A. – Anatolian Kitchen is still closed for renovations, according to a sign at the Taylor Court, Bethlehem, business.  – After 36 years, the owners of Cavaluzzo’s Pasta, Steaks & Subs in Emmaus are retiring, and the restaurant will close. – The high-tech conglomerate formerly known as II-VI (pronounced “two-six”) has taken on the name of a company it acquired, Coherent Corp.  – Palmer Township’s board of supervisors approved a conditional-use application for four industrial buildings know as “First Park 33” on Tatamy Road, between Newlins Mill and Corriere roads. – The Florida-based chain Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers plans to open three physical-therapy clinics within two years in the Lehigh Valley. – Radish Republic, a specialty grocery store on North Seventh Street in Allentown, is closing after three years. – The Palmer Township Zoning Hearing Board made the decision to keep a cease-and-desist order against The Reserve at Palmer Pointe apartments, which township officials say were built contrary to designs submitted six years ago. – The Allentown-Based payment-processing company Shift4Payments Inc. introduced SkyTab POS, a point-of-sale system for restaurants.  – The Bethlehem Planning Commission approved three separate “mixed-use” buildings for South Bethlehem, on East Fourth Street, South New Street and West Fourth Street. – Transform Rehabilitation’s physical-therapy clinics in Allentown, New Tripoli and Whitehall are now part of Upstream, which owns or manages more than 1,200 locations in the U.S. – The Lehigh Valley’s newest Wawa opened on the east side of Nazareth Pike/Route 191, just south of the Borough of Nazareth.  – DoubleTree Hotel has expanded its catering to private jets that take off from Reading Regional Airport. – The not-for-profit Kutztown Community Partnership has discussed buying the shuttered Strand Theatre to continue its tradition, but KCP would need grants and donations to keep it going. – A man police say was drunk drove into Budd Lake Bagel & Deli II in Hackettstown, New Jersey, on Sunday night, causing the shop to close indefinitely.

Balanced Meal Timing May Benefit Cognitive Health, Study Shows – Medical News Today https://collincountynewsonline.com/balanced-meal-timing-may-benefit-cognitive-health-study-shows-medical-news-today/ A new study suggests that eating three relatively similar meals throughout the day may help prevent cognitive decline. AzmanL/Getty Images A new study finds that meeting our daily energy needs through three relatively similar meals may be the best way to avoid cognitive decline. Skipping breakfast, according to the study, is associated with a decline in cognitive health. The study also finds that tilting your energy intake toward one meal or another is not associated with a rapid cognitive decline, but it does not benefit your cognition as well as a balanced three meals. Food is fuel. It provides us the energy our bodies need to function and also to remain healthy. Previous research has focused on how the quality of the energy — the food — we consume can affect our health, and experts have investigated and health outcomes associated with when we eat. However, there has been little research exploring the ways in which the distribution of our daily energy intake may influence long-term cognitive health, and whether it has any impact on the risk of developing dementia. According to the , around 55 million people worldwide have dementia, with 10 million new cases being diagnosed each year. As the world’s population is aging — the proportion of older people is rising steadily — the WHO estimates 78 million people will have dementia by 2030, and 139 million by 2050. To better understand the effects that energy intake and meal timing have on cognition, a new study takes a look at the potential effect on cognitive decline of different meal schedules, or temporal patterns of energy intake (TPEI). The results show that consuming three balanced meals each is associated with better cognitive function, compared to other, less evenly distributed ways of consuming one’s total energy intake, or TEI. “To our knowledge, this study is one of the few population-based studies that explore the association of TPEI and cognitive decline, although accumulating studies have linked TPEI to health outcomes, including , , and ,” the authors wrote. The study also demonstrates that skipping breakfast is associated with worse cognitive function and faster cognitive decline. The study was recently published in Life Metabolism. The researchers drew their conclusions from an analysis of data from the 1997–2006 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Included in that data were the meal habits of 3,342 people in China for whom the survey had collected up to four repeat entries over 10 years. Individuals were at least 55 years of age, with the average age being 62.2. The authors note that 61.2% lived in rural areas, and 13.6% had high school or higher degrees. People with severe cognitive decline were excluded from the study. At the start of the study period, each participant received both a dietary assessment and a phone-based cognitive test in which they were rated for their immediate and delayed word recall, backward counting, and their agility at subtracting 7 from supplied figures. Cognitive scores ran from 0 points to 27 points, with 27 points representing the highest level of cognitive health. The researchers categorized individuals’ meal timing into six eating patterns: Evenly distributed: People balanced their energy intake across three roughly equivalent meals per day. They consumed 28.5% of their daily energy at breakfast, 36.3% at lunch, and 33.8% at dinner. Breakfast-dominant: People ate three meals, but consumed the greatest share of energy, 49.5% at breakfast. Lunch-dominant: People ate three meals, but consumed the greatest share of energy, 64.3% at lunch. Dinner-dominant: People ate three meals, but consumed the greatest share of energy, 64.5% at dinner. Snack-rich: People consumed 36.8% of their TEI from snacks. Breakfast-skipping: People ate little or no breakfast, consuming just 5.9% of their TEI. The breakfast-skipping pattern was linked to a cognitive decline of 0.14 cognitive-test points a year, compared to the evenly distributed pattern. No other similar declines were seen for other patterns. Dr. Clifford Segil, a neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, not involved in the study, described this finding to Medical News Today as “fascinating.” “I think the take-home would be that skipping a meal is worse if you choose to skip the meal at breakfast,” he said. However, when the researchers modified the possible TPEIs into just four patterns — evenly distributed, breakfast-dominant, lunch-dominant, and dinner-dominant — all of them except for the first were linked to lower cognitive function. None of them were associated, however, with an accelerated loss of function. According to Dr. Segil, the study might “unintentionally support that we have excess calories, and assuming we have excess calories, we have obesity. And I think that’s where most of this kind of research has been done, on excess calories in general health.” Still, he noted, the study generally aligns with other research indicating that “dividing your energy and taking it in even meals improves short-term cognitive function.” “That’s supportive of what we’ve heard for other medical conditions.” has indicated that meal timing . In mammals, the circadian clock resides in two clusters of nerve cells called the , which are located in a region at the base of the brain called the anterior hypothalamus. Dr. Hoon-Ki Sung, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, explained to MNT: “We have two different kinds of internal clock (circadian rhythm). One is located in the brain (central clock or central circadian clock), and the other clock in some peripheral tissues, including fat, liver, intestine, and retina (peripheral circadian clock). While the central clock is mainly regulated by light, the peripheral clock can be regulated by multiple factors, including central clock and feeding.” Dr. Sung suggests circadian nutrition may refer “to a circadian rhythm diet or circadian diet.” He said this means “you are keeping the feeding rhythms synchronized with your internal clock.” He noted that eating this way can include three meals, “as well as meal [or] energy intake between meal times.” have linked meal timing to short-term cognitive function improvement. The Western three-meals-a-day schedule grew out of the needs of employers and workers during the Industrial Revolution. Before that, two large meals a day, based on household and farming tasks, were more common. “I think common sense says you should eat a meal before the time of the day that you’re going to be the busiest,” added Dr. Segil. “Some people are busy in the morning, and that’s why a big breakfast [is often] advised, especially for school-age kids.” Be that as it may, more research on the long-term benefits of meal timing on cognitive health is still needed. “Cognitive issues are multifactorial, and there’s still a very limited understanding,” Dr. Segil concluded.

Drugs, Weapons Found Again At Westfield Home | News, Sports, Jobs – Evening Observer https://collincountynewsonline.com/drugs-weapons-found-again-at-westfield-home-news-sports-jobs-evening-observer/ Items located at 7617 Felton Road in a search warrant. Another search warrant at a home in the town of Westfield has led to drug charges against nine individuals. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators along with the assistance of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office SWAT, city of Dunkirk Police Department and city of Jamestown Police Department and K-9, executed the warrant at 6:50 a.m. Friday at 7617 Felton Road. Alexis Campbell, Mark Baker, Daniel Hornburg, Neale Brown, Mark Jackson, Kristen McTaggart and John Houser were all detained while attempting to flee the residence. As a result of the search, investigators found 42.52 grams of fentanyl, 20.48 grams of methamphetamine, $2,062 U.S. currency, a sawed off shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle and a .22 caliber pistol. Campbell, 28, of Westfield was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Baker, 34, of Westfield, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Hornburg, 42, of Stockton; Brown, Jackson, 34, of Westfield; McTaggart, 30, of Stockton; and Houser, no age or address listed, were all charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and second-degree criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Hornburg also had an active arrest warrant out of the city of Dunkirk. During the investigation Rachel Blanchard and Edward Wood were found hiding in a wooded area near the residence. Both Blanchard and Wood had active arrest warrants. Blanchard was also found to have a quantity of meth on her and was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Two of the subjects who were charged Friday had been arrested as a result of the first search warrant. They were both arraigned and released on their own recognizance from the charges that came from that search warrant. All subjects were transported to the Centralized Arraignment Program at the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Jail. Authorities continue to ask members of the community to call and report suspicious or narcotics related activity within their neighborhoods. For the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators Tip line call either 800-344-8702 or 716-664-2420, for the Dunkirk Police Department Tip line call 716-363-0313, for the Jamestown Police Department Tip line call 716-483-8477. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Experts Highlight Trust And Safety Practices For The Metaverse – TechTarget https://collincountynewsonline.com/experts-highlight-trust-and-safety-practices-for-the-metaverse-techtarget/ Creating a safe metaverse experience means bringing all stakeholders to the table, according to experts. By Makenzie Holland, News Writer Published: 23 Sep 2022 Businesses are likely to spend billions of dollars on the metaverse, which is why experts say that building trust and safety practices into the metaverse experience from the beginning is critical. The metaverse — a virtual world allowing consumers to shop, work, play, own land and conduct business — is already prompting use cases for trust and safety policies, as situations like verbal abuse between avatars arise, said Manu Aggarwal, partner at global research firm Everest Group, during an online webinar. Trust and safety policies are business practices used to reduce risk to users of online platforms. The metaverse will make trust and safety issues riskier and potentially costly because of the types of investments these platforms will attract, said Chris McClean, global lead for digital ethics at consulting firm Avanade. “There are ways to spend money in social media or gaming environments, but it’s nothing like spending $100,000 on an NFT [non-fungible token] or $1 million on a piece of virtual land,” he said. Challenges in the metaverse McClean said privacy will be a significant challenge for consumers and businesses in the metaverse, as the types and amounts of data companies can collect increase. Critics have said, for instance, that VR headsets could enable biometric data collection. “Metaverse has all kinds of new interfaces, so navigating that new reality is going to be tough,” McClean said. Abuse is cited as another problem. The metaverse is an immersive emotional experience, meaning that any kind of verbal attack will likely have more significant effects on the individual being attacked than in a traditional online setting. “That’s another big ethical consideration: mental and psychological safety,” he said. “Are people comfortable being themselves in the metaverse and not being attacked?” Creating a safe experience If businesses want to cultivate a trusted brand in the metaverse, they need to focus on digital ethics issues ahead of time, McClean said. While some of the considerations are extensions of current business practices around ethics, compliance and risk management, he noted that some policies specifically for the metaverse will be different, including around data privacy and security. “You might have a big phishing attack when trying to buy land in a metaverse environment,” McClean said. “You still have to block phishing attacks, but the interface and the subject matter will be different.” Even something as basic as how avatars can present themselves in the metaverse as employees might need an adjusted policy, he said. Depending on how an industry sets up in the metaverse, whether it’s for employee training or enabling financial transactions, different teams will be responsible for different functions, according to McClean. Abhijnan DasguptaPractice director, Everest Group While the HR team might be responsible for employee training, the financial management and security teams will oversee financial transactions. McClean said it’s crucial for businesses to designate an individual or team to manage all metaverse activities. “Having one person overseeing all of your metaverse projects or initiatives is a really good idea,” he said. Such a person will be responsible for ensuring “all of your ethics and risk assessment bases are covered.” Everest Group’s Aggarwal said that creating a trust and safety framework means bringing all parties involved with the metaverse project to the table to “ensure a good experience for users.” Moderating the metaverse experience is another important factor for businesses to consider, said Abhijnan Dasgupta, practice director at Everest Group, in the webinar. He said human intervention in forms of content moderation and behavior control will be vital in the metaverse. “It’s essential we set up some rules and regulations in terms of how we should be behaving for a safe platform, but at the same time, monitor the behavior,” he said. Makenzie Holland is a news writer covering big tech and federal regulation. Prior to joining TechTarget, she was a general reporter for the Wilmington StarNews and a crime and education reporter at the Wabash Plain Dealer. Dig Deeper on CIO strategy Companies need data privacy plan before joining metaverse By: Makenzie Holland Understanding the metaverse By: Martin Schwirn Facebook net income drops 36% as economic outlook worsens By: Cliff Saran Legislation and certification of XR applications: challenges to adoption and diffusion By: Martin Schwirn

Shapiro, Fetterman Hold Leads In Pa. Gov., U.S. Senate Races, New Poll Shows – NBC 10 Philadelphia https://collincountynewsonline.com/shapiro-fetterman-hold-leads-in-pa-gov-u-s-senate-races-new-poll-shows-nbc-10-philadelphia/ Democrats Josh Shapiro and John Fetterman lead Republicans Doug Mastriano and Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania’s highly watched open races for governor and U.S. Senate, according to a new Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll. While Shapiro – the state’s attorney general – holds a “substantial” lead over state Sen. Doug Mastriano in the governor’s race, Lt. Gov. Fetterman’s lead over medical doctor and television personality Oz is a narrow one, the poll found. The poll was released Thursday and surveyed 420 likely voters across Pennsylvania between Sept. 13-16. Including voters who lean toward a candidate, the poll found that if the election were held “today,” Shapiro leads Mastriano 52% to 42%. Meanwhile, Fetterman leads Oz 49% to 44% – within the 6% margin of sampling error. The Democratic candidates also received much more favorable ratings from poll respondents than their Republican opponents. Poll takers reported having a 49% favorable and 31% unfavorable view of Shapiro, a 31% favorable and 48% unfavorable view of Mastriano, a 44% favorable and 41% unfavorable view of Fetterman, and a 29% favorable and 53% unfavorable view of Oz. Christopher Borick, the director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, noted the political inclination of voters in a purple state as a possible reason for the contrasting fortunes of candidates who are running for the same party in separate races. While Oz’s high unfavourability ratings have “dogged him throughout the campaign,” he may be faring better than Mastriano, his counterpart in the gubernatorial race, because he has fashioned himself as a more moderate candidate, Borick said. He noted Oz has attacked Fetterman as too far to the left on a number of topics, but “walks a really tight line” – at once embracing former President Donald Trump’s endorsement but also disagreeing on some issues, notably saying he would have voted to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. This strategy may be especially paying off in the Philadelphia suburbs, Borick said. At the same time, Borick said Shapiro may be faring better than Mastriano in that region because the attorney general is seen as more moderate while his opponent in the governor’s race is “completely tied to the MAGA movement” and to Trump. For his part, Borick said Mastriano has the support of Republican base voters, but he has to court more moderate Republicans – some of whom endorsed Shapiro – as well as some independents and Democrats. “I don’t see a lot of evidence that that’s happening,” Borick said. The Pennsylvania races are both considered pivotal this year. Decision 2022 Vice President Kamala Harris currently holds the tiebreaking vote in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats hold 48 seats and rely on two Independents who normally caucus with them. With Republican Sen. Pat Toomey retiring, the Senate race between Fetterman and Oz is considered one of Democrats’ big opportunities to flip a Republican-held seat. Meanwhile, the veto pen of term-limited Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has kept the Republican-controlled state legislature from passing laws that forward conservative priorities like looser gun laws and stricter abortion restrictions. Abortion itself figures to be a key issue in both races. “You can see by our poll results that a majority of Pennsylvanians have a view that is supportive of maintaining those rights in general and of course in the state. A clear majority say abortion should be legal in most or all cases,” Borick said. The Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll found that abortion/reproductive rights was the second among voters’ top three issues. Twenty percent said abortion/reproductive rights was the most important issue in terms of deciding their vote, while 22% said the most important issue was the economy and 12% said it was inflation. The poll found that 29% of respondents believed abortion should be legal in all cases and 32% believed it should be legal in most cases. Meanwhile, only 9% believed the practice should be illegal in all cases, while 21% said it should be illegal in most cases. In the governor’s race, Shapiro has fashioned himself as an ardent supporter of women’s reproductive freedom who will uphold abortion protections. For his part, Mastriano has said he believes abortion should be illegal in all cases, including in instances of rape or incest or if the pregnancy risks the health of the parent. Fetterman has vowed to vote to codify abortion rights into federal law if elected to the Senate. Oz, meanwhile, has said abortion is “murder” at any stage of a pregnancy and this week did not give a firm answer to Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Julia Terruso’s question about whether he would support South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham’s proposal to ban abortions nationwide beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy. Graham’s proposal risks putting abortion “front and center” in the midterm races, Borick said. “I don’t think Republicans, by and large, want it to be front and center,” he said. “They want inflation to be a lead. They want this to be a referendum on Biden.” For all the candidates, issues and important dates that voters should know about in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, go to NBC10’s Decision 2022 page. You’ll find tools to help you navigate the midterm elections, including when to vote and who will be on your ballots in the primaries and November general elections.

Tetra Tech To Acquire RPS Group To Expand Its Global Operations – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/tetra-tech-to-acquire-rps-group-to-expand-its-global-operations-business-wire/ PASADENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK), a leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services, is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with RPS Group plc (“RPS Group”) on the terms of an all-cash acquisition of RPS Group for 222 pence per share (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition has been unanimously recommended by the Board of Directors of RPS Group. The combined 26,000 associates of the RPS Group and Tetra Tech will establish a premier global consultancy in water, environment, sustainable infrastructure, and energy transformation. The RPS Group employs 5,000 associates in Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia Pacific, and North America, delivering high-end solutions especially in energy transformation, water, and program management for government and commercial clients. Tetra Tech is a global high-end consultancy with #1 rankings in both water and environmental management as published in Engineering News-Record. Its 21,000 associates are technical experts in delivering more than 70,000 projects per year around the world. The RPS Group significantly expands Tetra Tech’s water practice in the United Kingdom, and enhances Tetra Tech’s leading position in renewable energy and environmental management. The combination further strengthens our geographic presence in the United Kingdom, European Union, and Australia. The RPS Group and Tetra Tech are culturally aligned and together will use a Leading with Science® approach to address critical issues such as climate change, resiliency, and energy transformation. The combination of the RPS Group and Tetra Tech also advances both companies’ strategies to provide high-end consulting with an emphasis on advanced data analytics and unique software applications, such as those in water management, ocean analytics and contaminant modeling. “The RPS Group advances our long-term strategy to enhance our position as the premier global high-end consulting and engineering firm focused on water, environment, sustainable infrastructure, and energy transformation.” said Dan Batrack, Tetra Tech Chairman and CEO. “We welcome the RPS Group’s associates to join us and collectively leverage our long-term client relationships and project experience. As a global consultancy with a commitment to high-end solutions, we can offer our expanded team of associates even greater professional opportunities.” Ken Lever, Non-Executive Chairman of RPS commented, “The Board of RPS is pleased to recommend Tetra Tech’s offer, which provides our shareholders with even greater value for their shares. Our combination with Tetra Tech will provide attractive opportunities and long-term benefits to our associates and global clients.” Furthermore, John Douglas, Chief Executive of RPS explained, “Joining Tetra Tech represents a highly attractive combination of two leading companies in the industry for our clients and provides an ideal opportunity for our people to realize RPS’ goals to meaningfully contribute to the world’s most challenging problems in energy transformation and water management around the world. I am very excited about the future of our combined company and the benefits for our people and clients. By joining together, Tetra Tech provides RPS and its employees with a strong and culturally aligned platform that creates a pre-eminent consulting and engineering firm addressing climate change and all its effects.” The Transaction It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement (the “Scheme”) under Part 26 of the U.K. Companies Act 2006. The purpose of the Scheme is to provide for Tetra Tech to indirectly become the owner of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of RPS Group. Details of the proposed Acquisition will be sent to RPS Group shareholders within 28 days of the date of this announcement (unless the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers under the U.K. City Code on Takeovers and Mergers agrees otherwise). Subject, amongst other things, to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions, the approval of the Scheme by the RPS Group shareholders, the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and the Court’s sanction of the scheme of arrangement, it is expected that the Acquisition will complete by the end of 2022. For further details regarding the proposed Acquisition, readers are referred to the firm offer announcement in respect of the Acquisition (the “Announcement”) previously released in the United Kingdom on the date hereof in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers and which can be found on Tetra Tech’s website at tetratech.com/investor-offer. The Announcement and other important documents (including, among others, the New Credit Facility (as defined below)) are also attached as exhibits to Tetra Tech’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC concurrently with this release. Please note that this release is not a summary of the Announcement and should not be regarded as a substitute for reading the Announcement. We therefore strongly encourage you to read the Announcement in full in connection with this release, which is subject to the full text of the Announcement in all respects. The Acquisition is expected to be mid to high teen percent accretive to adjusted earnings per share (EPS) after realizing the full benefit from an expected £21 million in cost synergies and integration into Tetra Tech. The cost to realize these synergies is estimated to be £16 million and would be substantially incurred in first twelve months after closing. Adjusted EPS excludes one-time transaction related costs and intangible amortization. All relevant documentation will be made available on Tetra Tech’s website at tetratech.com/investor-offer. Acquisition Financing Concurrently with the announcement of the Acquisition, Tetra Tech has obtained a “certain funds” of £714 million (approximately 800 million USD) plus 350 million USD New Credit Facility, which includes commitments for the full amount of the purchase price for the Acquisition value of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of RPS. Bank of America, N.A. is acting as administrative agent and sole lender with respect to the New Credit Facility. The New Credit Facility is designed to ensure compliance with the “certain funds” requirements from announcement of the Acquisition under the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers. Further, the Acquisition financing plan has been designed and structured with a view to preserving Tetra Tech’s credit profile. The New Credit Facility contains representations, warranties, conditions precedent, covenants, a leverage ratio and events of default that are customary for a transaction of this nature. Approvals and Recommendation The Board of Directors of RPS Group has unanimously recommended the Acquisition. Tetra Tech has also received undertakings and letters of intent from certain RPS Group major shareholders to vote for the transaction at the RPS Group shareholder meetings to be convened in connection with the Scheme, in respect of a total number of RPS Group shares representing in the aggregate approximately 28% of the existing issued share capital of RPS Group on September 23, 2022. Financial and Legal Advisors BofA Securities is acting as financial advisor to Tetra Tech on the Acquisition. Legal advice is being provided to Tetra Tech by Hogan Lovells International LLP. About RPS Group RPS Group is a public limited company registered in England and Wales. RPS Group’s shares are listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange. Founded in 1970 and built on a legacy of environmental and social engagement, RPS Group is a diversified and well recognized global professional services firm of approximately 5,000 talented employees. As an established technology enabled consultancy that operates across a range of sectors, RPS Group provides specialist services to government and private sector clients with a focus on front-end consulting. RPS Group creates shared value for all stakeholders by solving problems that matter in a complex, urbanizing, resource-scarce world and concentrates its expertise on the parts of project lifecycles that have the biggest impact on project outcomes with a strong sustainability agenda. RPS Group has been widely recognized in this respect, having been ranked number one in the UK for climate change and energy consulting by the Environment Analysis for 2019/2020, a top 200 environmental firm by Engineering News-Record in 2021 and recognized in 2021 as one of the first “carbon champions” by the Institution of Civil Engineers. RPS Group operates across approximately 100 offices in 12 countries, with more than 99% of its net revenue during the 2021 financial year generated from its operations in OECD countries. The majority of its net revenue during the 2021 financial year was generated from its operations in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. About Tetra Tech Tetra Tech is a leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 21,000 associates working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems in water, environment, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and international development. We are Leading with Science® to provide sustainable and resilient solutions for our clients. For more information about Tetra Tech, please visit tetratech.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Any statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this release represent management’s best judgment as to what may occur in the future. However, Tet...

Nvidia’s New Gaming GPUs, Up To $1599, Prompt User Outrage: ‘Capitalist Greed Knows No Limits,’ Gamer Posts On Twitter – FierceElectronics https://collincountynewsonline.com/nvidias-new-gaming-gpus-up-to-1599-prompt-user-outrage-capitalist-greed-knows-no-limits-gamer-posts-on-twitter-fierceelectronics/ Nvidia’s new gaming GPUs, up to $1599, prompt user outrage: ‘Capitalist greed knows no limits,’ gamer posts on Twitter  FierceElectronics

Top 50 Most Popular Anime Characters Of All Time (According To Japan) – Anime Senpai https://collincountynewsonline.com/top-50-most-popular-anime-characters-of-all-time-according-to-japan-anime-senpai/ Published on September 23rd, 2022 More than 150 anime series are released yearly, but not many become as popular as Demon Slayer or Naruto. While the story and animation play a significant role in the popularity of the series, the majority of the fans remember the anime because of its popular characters. To determine the most popular anime characters, Japan’s biggest ranking website, Goo Ranking, created a poll where users could vote for the most popular anime characters of all time. Almost 25,000 Japanese anime fans participated in this poll, and 175,000 votes were collected to determine the most popular anime character of all time. Every participant can give their favorite characters a rating of 0 to 100. Here are the Top 50 most popular anime characters of all time, as voted by Japanese anime fans. 50. Hanako-kun Anime Title: Toilet Bound Hanako-kun Hanako is a dark-haired boy who is about 14 years of age and is a ghost. He has big amber eyes making him look kinda cute. He is always wearing a male-school uniform and has a paper seal on his left cheek. Hanako is always accompanied by two spirit orbs, just like any classical ghost. These orbs are called Haku-Joudai. He is always wearing a black hat, with a gold emblem on it. The real name of Hanako, when he was still human, was Yugi Amane. He has a pretty jolly personality, despite being a ghost. Hanako is the School Mystery Number 7 out of the School Mysteries which students have. 49. Nanami Kento Anime Title: Jujutsu Kaisen. Nanami is a first-grade jujutsu sorcerer who is in a serious mood all the time. He was the underclassman of the famous character of the series, Gojou Satoru. He started a normal job as a salaryman after graduation but returned to jujutsu training after a short amount of time. Nanami always looks like a salaryman with a suit, a spotted tie, and black shoes. He also teaches the protagonist, Yuji Itadori the basics of jujutsu sorcery. Nanami’s personality is very calm and collected as long as Gojou Satoru is not involved. He extremely hates loud people and tries his best to stay away from them. 48. Taizo Hasegawa Anime Title: Gintama. Hasegawa is a middle-aged man who was formally associated as a member of Bafuku, the central government. He now does strange part-time jobs all the time to receive some income. Hasegawa lost his previous job because the protagonist, Gintoki, motivated him in such a way that he committed some rude acts in Bafuku, leading to him being fired. Hasegawa has a kind personality, but his appearance, with sunglasses and a goatee, say otherwise. He has a nickname, “MADAO,” which means “completely useless old man.” 47. Eren Yeager Anime Title: Attack on Titan Eren is the protagonist of the series and holder of the most titan forms in the series i.e. Attack Titan, Founding Titan, and War Hammer Titan. He is an alone fighter and manipulator. Eren’s appearance changed from a pretty cute appearance when he was a young boy to the appearance of a villain with long hair. His personality changes the same way, from being kind and friendly to being a rude, hard-headed maniac later in the series. Eren plans to destroy the whole world, as he wants to see his friends happy and wants them to carry on a normal life. He betrays his older brother for this purpose and becomes a rebel. He is also famous for his highly talented voice actor “Yuuki Kaji”. Also Read: 10 Most Memorable Deaths In Attack on Titan 46. Inosuke Hashibira Anime Title: Demon Slayer Inosuke is the hot-headed member of the rookie trio of Demon Slayers in this anime. Despite his voice and appearance being crude and manly, his face is quite beautiful, making him look like a female. He is always wearing a boar mask to hide his face. His personality is extremely rude and he does not respect anyone. He has a buffed body and does not wear anything on his upper body. Inosuke is extremely obsessed with power and wishes to be the strongest demon slayer in the world. He uses Beast-Style Breathing. Also Read: Demon Slayer Season 3 Release Date & Plot 45. Shiro Anime Title: Crayon Shin-chan Shiro is an amorphous-looking dog that the protagonist, Shin, found in a box abandoned. He is a pretty wise dog because he comes up with more sharp decisions compared to his human owners. He is most of the time neglected by his owners because of their forgetful nature. He is white and fluffy in appearance. Shiro is responsible for his food as the food he gets from his owners is pretty much useless. He is extremely careful of nature and is very responsible. 44. Yuuta Okkotsu Anime Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Yuuta is a second-year student at Jujutsu High and the main protagonist of the record-breaking movie of this anime. He has a pretty rough appearance with blue eyes and unorganized black hair. He was treated as a special-grade curse in his early days because he was cursed by his childhood friend, Rika. He has to suffer a lot because of this situation. Yuuta is in Africa as the anime is about to reach its second season. He is training there with Miguel, the antagonist of the movie, who was recruited by Gojo later on. 43. Toushirou Hijikata Anime Title: Gintama (Series) Hijikata is the vice-commander of The Shinsengumi (a police force). He is famous for being hot-headed and a real headache for other people. But despite that, he has a pretty weak heart. Hijikita also has an obsession with cigarettes and mayonnaise. He covers everything that he eats in a flood of mayonnaise and this earned him the nickname “Mayora.” He is the eternal rival of the protagonist, Gintoki. He challenges him in every little thing he can think of, for instance, drinking challenges or simple rock-paper-scissors. Also Read: Japanese Fans Rank Best Anime In History 42. Ray Anime Title: The Promised Neverland Ray is one of three perfect children of the Grace Field House. He has a pretty cool aura and is very sharp. He has black hair and tries to associate with others the minimum, besides Emma and Norman, the other protagonists of this anime. Ray has a pretty short temper and is often seen shouting at small issues. He prefers to read books all the time and looks at everything realistically. It was later revealed that Ray is the real child of Mama, the antagonist of the story. Ray betrayed the children of the House after escaping but he planned to help them escape the demon world. 41. Emma Anime Title: The Promised Neverland Emma, just like Ray, is one of the perfect students of the Grace Field House. Despite being a girl, she is the gutsiest out of all the children. She, along with Norman, witnessed the true reality of the house after sneaking out secretly. She has a pretty good talent for learning things quickly. Emma has an extroverted personality and loves every child present in the house. She plays the role of a big sister for every little child present in the House. Her only flaw is that she is pretty soft-hearted. Later in the series, when everyone decides to exterminate the demons, Emma refuses. Emma is also pretty air-headed, despite being one of the perfect scorers of the House. 40. Naruto Uzumaki Anime Title: Naruto (Series) Naruto is the protagonist of one of “The Big Three” anime of the 2000s. He is an orphan who was left behind after his parents died after sealing the Nine-Tailed Beast inside him when he was just born. Naruto has a jolly personality and is very friendly. He always wears his orange jacket and is loved by his school teacher, Iruka, who treats him just like his own son. Initially, he is just a brat who likes to annoy people, but when he saves the village from Pain’s invasion, he becomes a hero. Later on in the series, Naruto makes up with the Nine-Tailed Beast inside him and reaches his perfect form. He also forms a pact with all nine beasts and gets power from them. This gives him a power of equal level to that of The Sage of the Six Paths (God). Also Read: 15 Years After Release, Naruto Is Still the Most Popular Anime 39. Miku Nakano Anime Title: The Quintessential Quintuplets Miku is one of the show’s five quintuplets and the third oldest out of them. She has a pretty calm appearance and is a very silent girl. Miku has little confidence in herself because of her silent behavior. She becomes pretty hectic when she gets in a bad mood. She loves to study Japanese history though. Miku later falls in love with the protagonist, Futaro, who is his teacher, when he starts to teach him more about Japanese history. She does gain confidence in herself later in the series. 38. Kikyo Anime Title: Inuyasha Kikyo is one of the supporting characters of the series and she loves the main protagonist, Inuyasha, throughout the series. She is killed by the main antagonist, Naraku. He loved Kikyo so much that he was killed while being disguised as Inuyasha. Kikyo is later given rebirth by a demon but she has to collect the souls of others to stay alive. Before death, Kikyo was a very kind and passionate girl who cared about everyone. But after she became a Spector, her personality became cunning and very cold. Kikyo is always in a white robe with red cords. She was a very beautiful woman with long hair and a pretty voice. After becoming a Spector, her appearance remained the same but she stopped bleeding whenever she was hurt. 37. Arsene Lupin III Anime Title: Lupin III Lupin III is the son of Lupin II and the grandchild of the Great Arsene Lupin. Lupin III is the most wanted thief in the world. He bears a fondness to cool gadgets and pretty women. Lupin III is treated as a gentleman despite being a thief, as he refuses to kill women. He is happy as long as she is successful in a heist, despite getting nothing from it. His hobbies include dating...

CFO Of Insolvent Crypto Lender Voyager Resigns – CoinDesk https://collincountynewsonline.com/cfo-of-insolvent-crypto-lender-voyager-resigns-coindesk/ Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000. The chief financial officer of crypto lender Voyager, which filed for bankruptcy in July, is leaving to pursue other opportunities, the company announced Friday. CFO Ashwin Prithipaul will leave Voyager after a transition period, with Voyager CEO Stephen Ehrlich handling Prithipaul’s duties for an interim period, the company said. According to Prithipaul’s LinkedIn profile, he had only been Voyager’s CFO since May. Prithipaul was previously the CFO at crypto exchange DriveDigital for nine months, and prior to that was the CFO at crypto investment firm Galaxy Digital. Voyager’s assets are currently being auctioned off by a bankruptcy court, with crypto exchanges Binance and FTX reportedly submitting the highest bids of around $50 million. Sign up for The Node, our daily newsletter bringing you the biggest crypto news and ideas. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000. Nelson Wang is CoinDesk’s news editor for the East Coast. He holds BTC and ETH above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000.

2022 Presidents Cup Scores, Results: Live Coverage, Standings, Golf Updates, Schedule For Day 2 On Friday – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/2022-presidents-cup-scores-results-live-coverage-standings-golf-updates-schedule-for-day-2-on-friday-cbs-sports-2/ The United States takes a commanding 4-1 lead into Day 2 of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Golf Club. The U.S. looked right at home in Charlotte, and the Americans appear primed to win their 12th Presidents Cup if all goes according to plan. Adding to their dominance in foursomes on Thursday, they now shift their attention to four-ball where the U.S. side has drawn square with the International team since 2007. The Internationals squad is sending out Adam Scott first, once again, despite the eldest member of the away team struggling mightily alongside Hideki Matsuyama on Day 1. He will be paired with his fellow Australian Cameron Davis as the pair aims to take down the American duo of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. In total, five four-ball matches will be contested as Trevor Immelman’s squad attempts to claw its way back into contention. Despite all the naysayers, falling behind by three points early in the competition is not insurmountable for an away team as showcased by the U.S. in 2019 at Royal Melbourne. In Australia, the U.S. lost the first session at the exact same 4-1 score  only to raise the Presidents Cup by week’s end with a 16-14 victory. While the likelihood of the International team replicating this feat is faint, it remains a possibility heading into the second day of event. 2022 Presidents Cup scores, results Day 2 — Four-ball 1 Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas 2&1 Adam Scott & Cameron Davis 2 Scottie Scheffler & Sam Burns TIED Sungjae Im & Sebastian Munoz 3 Cameron Young & Kevin Kisner TIED thru 17 Mito Pereira & C. Bezuidenhout 4 Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele 3&2 Hideki Matsuyama & Tom Kim 5 Billy Horschel & Max Homa TIED thru 16 Corey Conners & Taylor Pendrith CBS Sports will be with you the entire way updating this story with the latest from the second day of the Presidents Cup. Keep it locked here for live scores, updates and highlights. See New Posts Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Match of the day ends in a tie Match 2 saw Burns/Scheffler battle Im/Munoz and it felt right that it ended with a tie. After trading blows, a bogey on No. 17 from the U.S. allowed the internationals to finally tie the match. With closing pars, the internationals picked up their first points of the day. The U.S. leads 6.5-1.5 with two matches still tied on the course. Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned This is wild. Golf Channel Pinned Pinned Pinned Spieth, Thomas win 2&1; make history in the process With the victory over Adam Scott and Cam Davis, Justin Thomas becomes the first man to start his Presidents Cup fourball career 5-0-0. They ham-and-egged it around Quail Hollow perfectly on Friday with Spieth putting the finishing touches on the match with a 20-foot birdie on the 17th. U.S. leads 5-1. Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Internationals mounting comeback The International team is starting to feel it late. They’re now tied in two matches and down in three. Big final hour or so for Trevor Immelman’s squad if they want to be competitive at all on Saturday and Sunday. Pinned Pinned Pinned See More

18-Wheeler Driver Killed In Fiery Collin County Crash Identified As 71-Year-Old Man – FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth https://collincountynewsonline.com/18-wheeler-driver-killed-in-fiery-collin-county-crash-identified-as-71-year-old-man-fox-4-news-dallas-fort-worth/ Published September 21, 2022 4:37PM Updated 4:38PM Video shows 18-wheeler falling from overpass in fiery crash Another driver managed to record a fiery crash that left the driver of an 18-wheeler dead in Collin County. The video shows the big rig out of control. It flies over the concrete barrier where it catches on fire and then crashes down onto the street below. FAIRVIEW, Texas – 71-year-old Gustavo Rodriguez Gomez was the driver of the 18-wheeler killed in a fiery crash at the Fairview-Allen border on Tuesday, according to the Collin County Medical Examiner. Gomez’s tractor-trailer flipped over the concrete guard rail on US-75 near Stacy Road. Allen police say the big rig collided with another vehicle while heading north on 75, causing the 18-wheeler to fly off the right side of the overpass.  Gomez died on scene. No one else was injured. READ MORE: 18-wheeler flips over barrier on US-75 overpass in Fairview, driver killed The crash closed down 75 and the area around Stacy Road for a long time Tuesday while investigators gathered evidence. Police say the driver of the other vehicle was not injured. Police have not said if charges are expected,

5 Charts That Show How A Pilot Shortage Is Altering The Way We Travel – The Dallas Morning News https://collincountynewsonline.com/5-charts-that-show-how-a-pilot-shortage-is-altering-the-way-we-travel-the-dallas-morning-news/ July was the second busiest month in the history of DFW International Airport as 6.9 million passengers traveled through the airport during the peak of the summer vacation season. Those passengers bound for cruises, family reunions, business trips and post-pandemic getaways took nearly 90% of all seats available on incoming and outgoing flights at DFW during the month. Perhaps crowds would have been bigger if the return of travel hadn’t suddenly stalled this summer when airlines cut back to get a handle on a crippling shortage of pilots along with high delay and cancellation rates, partially caused by that pilot shortfall. “Everything is sold out; that’s the main issue,” said Yolanda Meador, an Irving-based travel agent and owner of You Deserve It! Vacations. “And now we are getting to the fall when things are supposed to lighten up and it’s not slowing down.” Shortages across the airline industry are causing subtle and overt changes to the U.S. travel system. Major airlines such as Fort Worth-based American Airlines are relying less on regional partners less, cancellations are up and so are delays. Here are five charts that show how much travel has changed coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic: Fewer pilots means fewer flights A shortage of pilots looming over the travel industry for nearly two decades is now the main constraint for airlines, forcing carriers to cut recovery plans even though demand for flights is booming. At a conference of regional airline executives this month in Washington, D.C., industry leaders said there is a need for about 14,000 new pilots every year, while only about 6,000 are being added. “We expect to see a shortfall of 28,000 pilots over the next decade,” said Chris Brown, vice president of government affairs for the National Air Carriers Association. “We need a dialogue on solutions.” Airlines have responded by cutting flights this year. They’ve also said it could take years to get the problem under control. Over this summer, airlines operated about 13% fewer flights than they did in summer 2019, according to flight schedule service Cirium. The trend is holding into the fall and winter months, too. That means about 100,000 fewer flights each month across the airline industry. That also means that there are fewer routes to fewer destinations, particularly to small cities. American Airlines has cut flying entirely to cities such as Dubuque, Iowa; Toledo, Ohio; and Islip and Ithaca in New York. It’s changing who flies our planes In 2019, 54% of all flights sold by American, Delta or United were operated by one of their smaller regional airline partners with names on the livery such as American Eagle, Endeavor and United Express. Some companies operating those flights, such as Compass, SkyWest and Republic, are independent and fly for larger carriers. Others, such as Envoy and Horizon, are owned by bigger airlines. Now, it’s a lot less likely that passengers will fly on a regional jet because pilots who worked for those airlines are leaving for more money at American, United, Delta or Southwest. A majority of American Airlines flights were with regional carriers between October 2015 and the end of 2021, according to Cirium’s data. But fewer than half have been on regional carriers in 2022. “Depending on the relationship between the regional carrier and the main airline — American Airlines owns some of their own — they can take those same, highly skilled pilots and re-muster them to fly larger aircraft with more passengers and lower costs,” said Mike Arnot, a spokesman for Cirium. “It’s a better use of a scarce resource.” About 1,000 American Airlines pilots retired during the COVID-19 pandemic, including many who took buyouts to leave early. Those cutbacks only made the travel recovery harder as the need to hire new pilots grew. “COVID struck during a period in which 30 years ago we had done some of the largest hiring that we’ve ever done in our history as an airline industry,” said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom at the U.S. Travel Association Conference on Sept. 20. “So what it’s meant as pilots, I can’t fly beyond age 65, and they all retire at the exact same time.” American said it plans to hire as many as 4,000 pilots by the end of 2023. The planes are different, too Riding on a regional airline also means flying on those small 50- to 76-seat jets made by Embraer or Bombardier. Those planes usually had a cabin that was four seats wide and primarily shuffled passengers from smaller cities to large hubs. “We do have a hundred aircraft on the ground because of the pilot shortage, and it continues to be a real challenge,” said American Airlines vice president of global government affairs Stephen Neuman during the Regional Airline Association conference. It’s not all bad news. Regional airline jets are smaller and have fewer amenities and premium seats than larger planes manufactured by Boeing and Airbus. It can also be more economical for airlines. While that has meant parking some planes, carriers have been “upgauging” some flights to use bigger planes, even wide-bodies, for flights that used to be operated by smaller aircraft. “Flying a jet is expensive, especially because of fuel and pilots, and those costs are measured across the number of seats flown,” Arnot said. “Regional jets have less seats — 76 or less — and so it’s just math that they have higher costs per seat flown.” Low supply meets high demand Airfares fell to historic lows in 2020 because of COVID-19. And while consumers enjoyed low airfares for nearly two years, prices surpassed pre-pandemic levels in April. By May, the average airfare was 22% higher than it was during the same month in 2019, according to the consumer price index. While the price gap narrowed as the summer peak subsided, travel agents say tickets are still expensive heading into the fall. Austin-based travel agent Keith Waldon said it’s hard to find seats on airplanes, even for those willing to upgrade to business or first class. “The front of the plane is selling out at full price, and there isn’t a lot of opportunity to upgrade,” said Waldon, founder of Departure Lounge travel agency. “A lot of our clients that have points saved up can’t use them.” High prices have helped offset higher spending by airlines for fuel and labor. American made its first profit without government help since 2019 during the second quarter of this year. U.S. airlines pulled in $2.2 billion in profits during the second quarter after losing $5.1 billion during the same period a year earlier. Flights have been less reliable in 2022 As airlines increased flights in 2021 and 2022 to get back to pre-pandemic levels and respond to high demand from travelers, carriers struggled with increased delays and cancellations. Nearly 25% of planes have landed more than 15 minutes late so far this year through July, according to government data. That’s the lowest on-time arrival rate since 2014. And almost 3% of flights have been canceled, the highest rate in at least a decade excluding 2020, when thousands of flights were canceled when the pandemic blindsided airlines. “Our on-time performance is not quite back to our historical averages but very respectable, and our mission is to get everybody where they want to go that day and not cancel their flight,” said Southwest Airlines chairman Gary Kelly at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Aerospace Summit on Aug. 16. “So we’re running a little bit later. … We have a ways to go, and our company’s No. 1 priority is to get back to that operational excellence.”

What Student Loan Forgiveness Means For You | Business News | Wfmz.com – 69News WFMZ-TV https://collincountynewsonline.com/what-student-loan-forgiveness-means-for-you-business-news-wfmz-com-69news-wfmz-tv/ If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS – All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue is on its way, with 88 K-Pot opening perhaps in December near the Wine & Spirits store in the Bethlehem Square shopping center.  – Air Products’ joint venture in Saudi Arabia has acquired an industrial-gas business for an undisclosed price. The Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases & Equipment venture acquired Khafrah Industrial Gases from Paris-based Air Liquide S.A. – Anatolian Kitchen is still closed for renovations, according to a sign at the Taylor Court, Bethlehem, business.  – After 36 years, the owners of Cavaluzzo’s Pasta, Steaks & Subs in Emmaus are retiring, and the restaurant will close. – The high-tech conglomerate formerly known as II-VI (pronounced “two-six”) has taken on the name of a company it acquired, Coherent Corp.  – Palmer Township’s board of supervisors approved a conditional-use application for four industrial buildings know as “First Park 33” on Tatamy Road, between Newlins Mill and Corriere roads. – The Florida-based chain Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers plans to open three physical-therapy clinics within two years in the Lehigh Valley. – Radish Republic, a specialty grocery store on North Seventh Street in Allentown, is closing after three years. – The Palmer Township Zoning Hearing Board made the decision to keep a cease-and-desist order against The Reserve at Palmer Pointe apartments, which township officials say were built contrary to designs submitted six years ago. – The Allentown-Based payment-processing company Shift4Payments Inc. introduced SkyTab POS, a point-of-sale system for restaurants.  – The Bethlehem Planning Commission approved three separate “mixed-use” buildings for South Bethlehem, on East Fourth Street, South New Street and West Fourth Street. – Transform Rehabilitation’s physical-therapy clinics in Allentown, New Tripoli and Whitehall are now part of Upstream, which owns or manages more than 1,200 locations in the U.S. – The Lehigh Valley’s newest Wawa opened on the east side of Nazareth Pike/Route 191, just south of the Borough of Nazareth.  – DoubleTree Hotel has expanded its catering to private jets that take off from Reading Regional Airport. – The not-for-profit Kutztown Community Partnership has discussed buying the shuttered Strand Theatre to continue its tradition, but KCP would need grants and donations to keep it going. – A man police say was drunk drove into Budd Lake Bagel & Deli II in Hackettstown, New Jersey, on Sunday night, causing the shop to close indefinitely.

Yoga Weighted Bracelets For Perfect Workout And Healthy Living – Digital Journal https://collincountynewsonline.com/yoga-weighted-bracelets-for-perfect-workout-and-healthy-living-digital-journal/ Yoga is an exercise that produces unimaginable results. Improved flexibility, tone, muscle strength, energy, vitality, respiratory health, and more are possible with yoga. Those that know about these benefits never joke about their early money and late evening yoga and meditation. For optimal results from yoga, there is a need for the required accessories. The Weighted Bracelets can boost the overall results one gets. The owner of a top yoga accessory company has explained the benefits of each accessory in their online store. “Amp Well Being is a trusted source for all kinds of Yoga exercise regimes. We deal with the selected tools that can make yoga training useful to everyone. There aresome accessories. Yoga lovers use it without knowing its true benefits. The Wrist Weights offers users the opportunity to train the wrist for flexibility. Improving lifestyle and wellbeing is our top priority, and we are ready to do everything within our ability to ensure every one of us enjoys satisfaction. The weights on the right part of the body boost circulation and provides everyone the opportunity to enjoy the best result.” said the owner. “We provide all our customers with an opportunity to choose the right yoga tools. Our Yoga Mats are sourced from the right source. Quality and affordability are two things that make us different from other companies dealing with the same product.  There is an opportunity to also shop our collection and get the accessories delivered to your doorstep without spending a dime. Our large collection gives everyone an equal chance to get the desired product at any given time. Added the owner of AMP WELL BEING. Yoga lovers, workout aficionados, and others were glad the explanation of AMP Well Being owner. One of the people said, “AMP Well Being has a story driven by limited time or interest in gym activities. The company has made it easier for those interested in enhancing their lifestyle to do so without spending extra time in the gym. Perhaps, the explanation of the owner will encourage Womens Workouts among the working class women.” Visit the website at https://www.ampwellbeing.co.uk to get the knowledge about Weighted Bracelets. There is something for signing up for an account with AMP WELL BEING, as the company provides an opportunity to all of its members. The right yoga regime is available for everyone. Those interested in utilizing their limited time after work at home can find the accessories they need from the online store of the company here. When it comes to Womens Fitness, there are different tools and equipment that can make work easier for everyone. So, checking through the collection of accessories here will make it easier for one to make the desired choice instead of spending money on expensive gym equipment or putting one’s body at risk. So, no more paint cane, water bottles, or resistance bands, as the best yoga equipment is available here. Media Contact Company Name: AMP WELL BEING Contact Person: Support Email: Send Email Phone: +4407775726639 Address:5 Brayford Square City: London, E1 0SG Country: United Kingdom Website: https://www.ampwellbeing.co.uk/

College Football: No. 8 Tigers Oack Bags To Face Phoenix – News- Graphic https://collincountynewsonline.com/college-football-no-8-tigers-oack-bags-to-face-phoenix-news-graphic/ Rob Sheffield, shown floating to make a tackle for Georgetown last week against Faulkner, is among the leaders of a Tigers’ defense that has 11 takeaways through three games. Kal Oakes With the exception of probably a few seniors, the Georgetown College football team is preparing for an itinerary few if any Tigers have experienced at this level: Staying overnight in a neighboring state to play a game. We’re always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what’s going on!

NASAA (State Securities, Not Outer Space) Cautions Investors Exploring Opportunities In The Metaverse – JD Supra https://collincountynewsonline.com/nasaa-state-securities-not-outer-space-cautions-investors-exploring-opportunities-in-the-metaverse-jd-supra/ The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), an organization of state and provincial securities regulators in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, recently issued an investor advisory warning about the potential risks of investing in the metaverse. The potential for fraudulent securities activity exists “IRL” (in real life) and in virtual worlds, whether through investing directly into a metaverse-focused company or by making an investment while par-digi-pating in the metaverse as an avatar (we may need to workshop that one a bit). NASAA points out that the difference between investing IRL and investing in the metaverse is increasingly blurry, but “real assets can be put at risk and transferred” in either case. Importantly, the advisory emphasizes that “the rules that apply to investments in the physical world also apply to investments in virtual worlds.” On that point, the SEC and state and provincial securities regulators could not be more clear. The NASAA advisory notes that the metaverse is “increasingly viewed as the future of the internet” with large, well-known technology companies already deploying resources to develop the space. As growth and advancements in this space continue, so too will regulatory scrutiny. Securities regulators already seem to be paying closer attention to metaverse-related considerations, including in a Texas case we recently covered involving the use of NFTs to finance multiple metaverse casinos. Issuers, intermediaries, or other service providers considering utilizing the metaverse or other facets of Web3 technologies must conduct themselves with the same care as they would IRL. Firms should pay special attention to the novel ways existing rules may apply in the metaverse, including in the areas of marketing and communication. Concerns around cybersecurity and the protection of personal information, an evergreen regulatory focus, are intensified given the digital landscape of the metaverse. The NASAA advisory identified several key areas of which investors should be mindful when evaluating metaverse-related investments. These are also instructive for issuers and service providers looking to establish a meta-presence in a compliant manner: Offerings and Personnel May Require Registration Offerings should be registered, or should utilize an appropriate exemption from registration. Absent exemptions, those providing investment advice related to securities, should be registered as an investment adviser or associated person of a broker-dealer. NASAA encouraged investors to check and verify these real-world facts before engaging with any metaverse investment. Be Wary of Scammy and Hyped Marketing Don’t get caught up in the hype. Fraudsters intentionally try to generate “viral” content, but popularity is not a good criterion for evaluating investment opportunities. Nor are celebrity endorsements. Avoid avatars that are persistent in discussing investment ideas or asking for money. Common Sense Remains Critical in the Metaverse Don’t share personal information. Identity theft can happen in any number of ways, including in the metaverse. Don’t ignore red flags. Every investment comes with risk, nothing is guaranteed, and nothing about the metaverse changes these tried-and-true principles. We will continue to monitor developments in this space and provide updates as we see them. [View source.]

More Cubans Are Coming To The US By Sea Than Any Time Since The 1990s – CNN https://collincountynewsonline.com/more-cubans-are-coming-to-the-us-by-sea-than-any-time-since-the-1990s-cnn/ Miami (CNN)An alarming trend is emerging in south Florida where officials are seeing a rising number of migrants, primarily Haitians and Cubans, journeying to US shores on makeshift boats. US Coast Guard crews have intercepted more than 6,000 Cubans since last October, according to the agency, the most in a fiscal year since the 1990s. “We’ve seen this before. It’s a natural phenomenon. However, seeing the uptick for us is really concerning and the fact that we’re seeing more individuals on not-so-seaworthy vessels, putting a significant amount of those individuals at very dangerous risk for loss of life,” said Walter Slosar, chief patrol agent of the Miami Sector. For years, Cubans have been fleeing the island, but recent unrest, persecution, and shortages of basic goods have pushed more to leave. “Individuals have come to us with stories of persecution from the local government for their inability to participate in certain events, for not agreeing with local and communist policy of the island. It’s not just them but also many stories of family members, friends that have been apprehended, detained for minor, non-criminal offenses,” said David Claros, director of Immigration Legal Services Southeast Region at Church World Service, adding that he’s hiring additional staff to meet the demand. Patrols here are complicated by the varying terrain, requiring coordination among agencies on land, air, and sea. CNN recently embedded with US Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the US Border Patrol, and Coast Guard. The agencies will work together to identify and interdict migrants so they may be repatriated. If they make landfall, however, they’re brought into Border Patrol custody. While the Coast Guard tries to intercept migrants before they make it to the US coast, thousands have made it to shore. So far this fiscal year, border authorities arrested nearly 3,600 in the Miami Sector, which covers more than 1,200 miles of Florida’s coast, up from just over 1,000 last year. Authorities encounter a wide array of vessels out at sea and on shore, ranging from surfboards tied together and boats with limited provisions and no navigation system for what is often a days-long journey. Just an hour into a Coast Guard patrol, crew members spotted a makeshift vessel at sea with roughly eight people. And it’s not just Cubans. Officials are also grappling with an increasing number of Haitian migrants journeying by sea. The Coast Guard has responded to incidents of large sail freighters carrying dozens, if not hundreds of, Haitian migrants, putting those on board at great risk. “The conditions on board were horrible,” said Mark Lamphere, a Coast Guard marine interdiction agent, recalling a vessel that arrived at the Florida coast this year. “There were reports of injured people in the hull, so I had to jump down in there and it was just obvious standing room only,” he said. Two hundred of them packed in there and they would defecate and urinate right where they’re standing.” Slosar acknowledged the demand on resources to address the new trends. “We’re all working with finite resources, and as we encounter these individuals, you don’t know who’s on that boat. It is our mission to understand who is coming into the country. It takes our agents time to bring them into our custody, make sure that they’re healthy and that they’re clean and that they’re fed and they’re safe and then identify exactly who they are,” he said.

Marvell Technology, Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend Payment | | News-Journal.com – Longview News-Journal https://collincountynewsonline.com/marvell-technology-inc-declares-quarterly-dividend-payment-news-journal-com-longview-news-journal/ , /PRNewswire/ — Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), today announced a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock payable on October 26, 2022 to shareholders of record as of October 7, 2022. About Marvell To deliver the data infrastructure technology that connects the world, we’re building solutions on the most powerful foundation: our partnerships with our customers. Trusted by the world’s leading technology companies for over 25 years, we move, store, process and secure the world’s data with semiconductor solutions designed for our customers’ current needs and future ambitions. Through a process of deep collaboration and transparency, we’re ultimately changing the way tomorrow’s enterprise, cloud, automotive, and carrier architectures transform—for the better. Marvell® and the Marvell logo are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or its affiliates. For further information, contact: Ashish Saran Senior Vice President, Investor Relations 408-222-0777 ir@marvell.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marvell-technology-inc-declares-quarterly-dividend-payment-301632365.html SOURCE Marvell

Nonprofit Video Game Publisher Wants To Break ‘Into The Gaming Space With God’s Word’ – Movieguide https://collincountynewsonline.com/nonprofit-video-game-publisher-wants-to-break-into-the-gaming-space-with-gods-word-movieguide/ Published: September 23, 2022 Photo from Foundation for Intelligent Media & Design’s Instagram Nonprofit Video Game Publisher Wants to Break ‘Into The Gaming Space With God’s Word’ By Movieguide® Contributor Nonprofit video game publisher Foundation for Intelligent Media & Design announced the upcoming release of their first video game, “The Anointed: David Saves Keilah.” It’s set during 1 Samuel Chapter 22 and 23, and players will get to play as David and hide from King Saul and his army.  This game is set to be the first of three video games IMD will release, all following the life of King David.  Part of the reason IMD wants to release games like this are due to the skyrocketing numbers of teens who are experiencing depression and committing suicide.  “According to the CDC, youth suicides soared during Covid-19, while depression, fear and anxiety is at an all-time high,” said IMD Interactive President Drayton Cosby. “Showing people that God is searching for them through difficult times is a big reason why we were led to merge the Bible and gaming.” IMD Interactive Chief Technology Officer Matt Clark added, “We are breaking into the gaming space with God’s Word because that’s where younger generations are spending the most of their time. Our hearts are focused on equipping young leaders, supporting parents and giving churches more tools to grow so our society can thrive.” IMD Interactive Chief Operating Officer and Head of Interactive Carlo Romano is particularly dedicated to spreading the message of the game; he lost a young family member to suicide.  “Losing a loved one to suicide is difficult, you never fully recover from it as a family,” he explained. “But we know the power of the Bible and the wisdom it contains, so if we can deliver it the right way, lives can be changed.” Movieguide® has not reviewed this game and cannot advice on its content. Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer. What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support. You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

IOS 16 Changes How You Record And Send Audio Messages On Your IPhone — Here’s How It Works Now – Gadget Hacks https://collincountynewsonline.com/ios-16-changes-how-you-record-and-send-audio-messages-on-your-iphone-heres-how-it-works-now-gadget-hacks/ To record an audio message in the Messages app on iOS 15, you would tap and hold the audio messages button in the text entry field of the conversation. Then, you could let go to preview it before sending it or swipe up to send it right away. That’s no longer the case on iOS 16 for iPhone. The audio messages button in the text entry field was replaced by a new Dictation button on iOS 16, so if you tried using that to send an audio message, you wouldn’t get anywhere. If you do try to long-press Dictation’s microphone icon, iOS will point out that the audio message button moved to the app drawer. Even if your app drawer is hidden, iOS will unhide it to show you the new button. Don’t Miss: Apple Just Improved Messaging on Your iPhone with 26 New Must-Try Features The change also appears on iPadOS 16.1 for iPad, which is still in beta. Using the Audio Messages App When you open the new Audio Messages app in the app drawer, its interface will replace your keyboard. You can swipe up or double-tap the expand icon to show the timeline, then swipe down or double-tap the collapse icon to minimize the view. In either view, you can send an audio message in two ways. Option 1: Tap to Record Tap the microphone button to start recording. Tap the stop button when done. Tap the play button to preview the audio message before sending it, the X icon in the text entry field to discard the recording, or the send button in the text entry field to send the audio message. Option 2: Long-Press to Record Touch and hold the microphone button to start and continue recording. While holding it down, the mic button becomes a send button. Release your finger over the send button when done to send the audio message right away, or slide your finger out until the send button becomes an X, and release to discard the recording. Receiving Audio Messages When it comes to receiving audio messages, nothing has changed. You can still tap play or raise your iPhone (see below) to listen to the audio message. The messages disappear after two minutes unless you tap “Keep” to save them, which appears to both sender and recipient. It’s also possible to turn off “Expire” in Messages’ settings to remove the two-minute limit. Don’t Miss: Every iPhone User Should Know These Hidden Moves in Apple’s Messages App To enable Raise to Listen, go to Settings – Messages, scroll down to the Audio Messages section, and toggle on “Raise to Listen.” After it’s on, you can bring your iPhone to your ear to listen to incoming messages. After you listen to them, Raise to Listen will change to Raise to Talk, so you can bring your iPhone to your mouth and start recording a reply. 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, screenshots, and GIFs by Jovana Naumovski/Gadget Hacks

Brazilian Federal Police Raids 6 Crypto Exchanges In Money Laundering Investigation – CoinDesk https://collincountynewsonline.com/brazilian-federal-police-raids-6-crypto-exchanges-in-money-laundering-investigation-coindesk/ Rodrigo Tolotti is a crypto editor at InfoMoney, a leading financial news publication in Brazil. He graduated in Journalism from Faculdade Cásper Líbero. This article is adapted from CoinDesk Brasil, a partnership between CoinDesk and InfoMoney, one of Brazil’s leading financial news publications. Follow CoinDesk Brasil on Twitter. The Brazilian Federal Police began raids on six undisclosed crypto exchanges on Thursday in an investigation into tax evasion and money laundering involving the use of cryptocurrencies. As part of Operation Colossus executed in conjunction with the Brazilian tax authority, the Federal Police is carrying out 101 warrants issued by a criminal court in São Paulo, according to an official police report. They include two arrest warrants and 37 search and seizure warrants. In addition, the police ordered the freezing of roughly $238 million in assets and securities held by those under investigation, and they also seized an undisclosed amount of virtual assets held by 28 exchanges under investigation. The investigations stemmed from a report conducted by Brazil’s Financial Intelligence, which found suspicious bank activity linked to the trading of crypto assets. The alleged crimes occurred between 2017 and 2021, but according to the Brazilian police they are ongoing. This article was translated by Andrés Engler, and edited by CoinDesk. The original Portuguese can be found here. Sign up for The Node, our daily newsletter bringing you the biggest crypto news and ideas. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Rodrigo Tolotti is a crypto editor at InfoMoney, a leading financial news publication in Brazil. He graduated in Journalism from Faculdade Cásper Líbero. Rodrigo Tolotti is a crypto editor at InfoMoney, a leading financial news publication in Brazil. He graduated in Journalism from Faculdade Cásper Líbero.

Blinken Tells China’s Wang Peace In Taiwan Strait Is Vital – Reuters.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/blinken-tells-chinas-wang-peace-in-taiwan-strait-is-vital-reuters-com/ Information you can trust Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

Wesco Acquires Global Systems Integrator, VAR Rahi Systems – ChannelE2E https://collincountynewsonline.com/wesco-acquires-global-systems-integrator-var-rahi-systems-channele2e/ by Joe Panettieri • Sep 23, 2022 Wesco International is acquiring systems integrator and VAR Rahi Systems for $217 million, or roughly 7.5x Rahi’s projected trailing 12 months EBITDA (months adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). This is technology deal number 808 that ChannelE2E has covered so far in 2022. See more than 2,000 technology M&A deals involving MSPs, MSSPs & IT service providers listed here. Wesco Acquires Rai Systems; Expands Communications and Security Solutions Business Unit Rahi Systems, founded in 2012, is based in Fremont, California. The company has 940 employees listed on LinkedIn. The IT solutions provider’s expertise spans data center and IT infrastructure, cloud services, unified communications, managed services and global distribution/logistics. Wesco, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, provides business-to-business distribution, logistics, and supply chain services. Wesco’s areas of expertise include Electrical and Electronic Solutions, Communications and Security Solutions, and Utility and Broadband Solutions. Company sales were $5.5 billion in Q2 of 2022, up 19% compared to the corresponding quarter last year. Rahi Systems will tuck into Wesco’s Communications and Security Solutions (CSS) strategic business unit. That CSS business unit generated: Net sales of $1.6 billion for the second quarter of 2022 — up 9.6% compared to $1.5 billion for the second quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA of $150.0 million for the second quarter of 2022, up 14.4% compared to $131.1 million for the second quarter of 2021. Global Systems Integrator M&A: Executive Perspectives In a prepared statement about the deal, Wesco CEO John Engel said: “This acquisition strengthens our leading data center solution offerings for our global customers. Rahi’s extensive services portfolio serving the leading global hyperscale data center providers expands the cross-sell opportunities across our company.” Added Bill Geary, executive VP and general manager, Wesco Communications and Security Solutions. “Rahi has a successful history of above-market growth since its inception. With more than 900 employees in 25 countries around the world, this acquisition provides complementary global coverage and enhances our full suite of data center solutions for contractors, integrators and end-user customers.”

Gaming Commission Approves Warhorse Casino License – KSNB https://collincountynewsonline.com/gaming-commission-approves-warhorse-casino-license-ksnb/ LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The first casino in Lincoln, and the state, will open Saturday. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission voted Friday to authorize WarHorse Gaming Lincoln, LLC a license to begin operating. The casino is located at the Lincoln Race Course in southwest Lincoln. The casino that will open Saturday pales in comparison to what it will look like when construction is finished. The first phase includes a 9,000-square-foot gaming floor, more than 400 slot machines, sports book kiosks, and simulcast and live racing. The second phase, which is anticipated for September 2023, will include a 200-room hotel, event center, and steakhouse. Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved.

Vigil Held To Remember Beloved Youth Coach In Celina Who Suffered Fatal Heart Attack – FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth https://collincountynewsonline.com/vigil-held-to-remember-beloved-youth-coach-in-celina-who-suffered-fatal-heart-attack-fox-4-news-dallas-fort-worth/ Published September 21, 2022 7:54PM Updated 9:11PM Vigil held to remember beloved youth coach in Celina who suffered fatal heart attack Members of a Collin County community gathered Wednesday night to honor a man who acted as a coach and mentor to many young athletes. Trey Boddie died after suffering a heart attack. He was only 39 years old. CELINA, Texas – Members of a Collin County community gathered Wednesday night to honor a man who acted as a coach and mentor to many young athletes. Trey Boddie died after suffering a heart attack. He was only 39 years old. He coached youth softball, baseball, basketball, and football, impacting many young lives. His family said they don’t even know who put together the vigil, but it comes during a time when they need it most. Sports have a way of bringing people together, a distraction from life’s challenges.  “He ate, slept and breathed youth sports,” Boddie’s wife, Thera, said. In Celina, one coach’s commitment to youth sports brought the community together when his family needed it most. Boddie coached his last game Saturday.  “He coached my son that morning,” Thera said. “Felt a little bit of pain in his chest and numbness in his arm.” His wife said he suffered a heart attack and died. He leaves behind two young children, 10-year-old Tyton and 14-year-old Isabelle, and his own siblings. “You can’t explain why he died at 39,” his wife said. READ MORE: Frisco running community honors murdered Memphis jogger Eliza Fletcher During their darkest hour, candlelight revealed love from their community during a vigil Wednesday at the Old Bobcat Field in Celina.  It was organized by Ashley Walker. Coach Boddie’s family was surprised when they heard about it. “So it just shows what this community is,” Boddie’s older brother, Jacob, said. And overwhelmed with gratitude “And I know he’s seeing it and my parents are seeing it and they’d be so proud because I know I am, you know, as his sister,” Boddie’s sister, Shanda, said.  You might think, with this type of showing, that the family has lived in Celina for decades.  But they’ve only lived there for five years. They said that’s a glowing example of how tight-knit and special their community is. “We will never be able to thank each and every one of them individually, but all I can say is that I’m grateful that I’m a part of Celina,” Thera said. “We did find our home. Celina is home, and I’m so grateful for everybody in this community.”

Icelandic Horses Reply To Your Emails During Your Vacation – Beaumont Enterprise https://collincountynewsonline.com/icelandic-horses-reply-to-your-emails-during-your-vacation-beaumont-enterprise/ Sep. 23, 2022 The tourism website Visit Iceland is offering a promotion just in time for the fall travel season. Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost/Getty Images The tourism website Visit Iceland is offering a promotion just in time for the fall travel season. As part of a campaign called “OutHorse Your Email,” a number of Icelandic horses will help people “disconnect from work and let the horses of Iceland reply to your emails while [they] are on vacation,” according to the website. Vacationers can choose from one of three horses to craft their out-of-office messages. This includes horses named Litla Stjarna Frá Hvítarholti, Hrímnir Frá Hvammi and Hekla Frá ÞOrkellshóli, with each horse coming with its own composition style to consider. For example, one of the horses “types fast, but might take a nap,” the site states, while another is “friendly” and “trained in corporate buzzwords.” The last horse is described as “assertive” and “efficient” with “shiny hair” to boot. A pair of videos on the site shows how the process works. In the clips, the horses are shown walking along the enlarged “horse keyboard” with each shot featuring a healthy dose of Icelandic scenery such as block rock beaches, waterfalls, streams, snow-capped expanses, mountains and more. It’s important to note that the draft emails shown resulting from the horses’ typing skills didn’t produce any comprehensible language at first glance. For example, a portion of one of the typed email replies show states, “wFwhxsqjnzgmsrqaaaa.” Another example reply states, “”’bdqtde.” People interested in “outhorsing” their emails can peruse the Visit Iceland page for more information.

News Archives – Page 878 Of 878 – New Hampshire Business Review https://collincountynewsonline.com/news-archives-page-878-of-878-new-hampshire-business-review/ Daniel Webster MBA a ‘premier’ graduate program Daniel Webster College in Nashua has long been recognized for its excellence in undergraduate degree programs. Now that recognition can extend to its graduate program as well, with the introduction of a 20-month MBA program. “We’ve spent two years developing… RiverStone Resources: an insurance industry leader RiverStone Resources LLC is an insurance industry leader, specializing in insurance claims handling/management/resolution, reinsurance and other related consulting services. RiverStone is part of Toronto, Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, one of the largest insurance holding companies in the world. RiverStone’s… Kinko’s quality saves businesses time, money Today’s business needs to be done better, faster and cost-effectively. Kinko’s at 10 Fort Eddy Rd. in Concord fills all three needs, with business solutions and express service for customers who’ve come to expect nothing less from the full-service copy… The Corrigan Company: commercial realty experts The motto, “do one thing and do it well” could very well describe the Concord commercial and industrial real estate firm of The Corrigan Company. The firm was founded in 1980 by Jim Corrigan, who made a decision early on… NHBR editor wins national SBA honor Jeff Feingold, editor of the New Hampshire Business Review, has been named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2003 Small Business Journalist of the Year. He also has been named Small Business Journalist of the Year for New Hampshire as well…

Community Calendar: Sept. 30-Oct. 7 – Portland Press Herald – Press Herald https://collincountynewsonline.com/community-calendar-sept-30-oct-7-portland-press-herald-press-herald/ Benefits Thursday 10/6 Inside Wayside: A Celebration & FUNdraiser: 6 p.m., Wayside Food Programs, 135 Walton St., Portland. $50, waysidemaine.org. Books/Authors Patten Free Library Writing Contest: Open to adults and teens grades 7 and up in library’s service, RSU 1 and other schools for short fiction and nonfiction. Deadline Dec. 3, cash prizes, .patten.lib.me.us/2022-writing-contest. Gulf of Maine Books will host Portland author Philip Hoose at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick Oct. 3. Gordon Chibroski Monday 10/3 Portland Author Phillip Hoose: Reading and discussion of his new book “Duet – Our Journey in Song with the Northern Mockingbird,” 7 p.m., Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick. Free and open to the public. Wednesday 10/5 “Angel of the Garbage Dump” book launch: 6:30 p.m., First Parish Unitarian Church, 425 Congress St., Portland. Features the late Yarmouth native Hanley Denning, who launched a school in the Guatemala City garbage dump. angelofthegarbagedump.com. Thursday 10/6 NEA Big Read: “Infinite Country”: 6 p.m., series of five book discussions on “Infinite Country” by Patricia Engel. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland. Free, portlandlibrary.com. Friday 10/7 Maine Lit Fest Day: Rebecca Traister with Kerri Arsenault: 7 p.m., Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, 519 Congress St., Portland. Free, mechanicshallmaine.org. Ongoing Blurb Club in Congress Square Park: noon to 1 p.m., every other Thursday in Congress Square Park, Portland. Hosted by Portland Public Library, Riverton Branch, 1600 Forest Ave. portlandlibrary.com. Books and Brews: 6 p.m., fi3333rst Thursday, Flight Deck Brewing, Brunswick Landing. Books on Tap: 5:30 p.m. third Monday of the month via Zoom, hosted by Scarborough Public Library. Contact Tom Corbett at [email protected] Casco Bay Writers’ Project at the Hall: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Thursday, Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, 519 Congress St., Portland. mechanicshallmaine.org. Great Books Discussion: 10 a.m. to noon second Saturday, Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road. Always looking for new members; email [email protected] Guerilla Poetry Whoop: 6:30 p.m., second Thursday of the month via Zoom, hosted by Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth, thomasmemoriallibrary.org/poetry-at-tml. Just Desserts Mystery Group: 6:30-7:30 p.m. virtual meeting first Tuesday of the month, presented by Curtis Memorial Library. curtislibrary.com. Midcoast Indigenous Awareness Group Book Club: 10 a.m. Fridays via Zoom, hosted by Curtis Memorial Library. Email [email protected] for Zoom invitation. Monday Afternoon Book Group: 1 p.m., first Monday of the month at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick. Email [email protected] Racial Equity Book Group: 7-8 p.m. third Thursday of the month, hosted by Curtis Memorial Library. Books provided. Email [email protected] with questions. Registration and book list at curtislibrary.com (if registration is full, submit the form to be put on the waiting list). Read Your Mind: 12:30 p.m. last Wednesday of the month, virtual from Portland Public Library. Features new books, topics and resources about teen mental health, portlandlibrary.com. Reading Challenge 2022: Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland. List of 18 reading prompts to challenge readers throughout the year, princememorial.org. Road Scholars Walking Group: 10-11 a.m. Thursday. Do you want to read more? Do you want to walk more? Would you like to do both at the same time? Merrill Memorial Library, 215 Main St., Yarmouth. yarmouthlibrary.org. Sci-fi Book Club: 5-6 p.m. via Zoom second Thursday of the month, hosted by Curtis Memorial Library. Email Marian Dalton at [email protected] to sign up. South Portland Public Library Writers’ Group: 2-4 p.m. first and third Saturdays via Zoom, southportlandlibrary.com/writers-group. World War II Commemoration: free military history, African-American history and Latino history downloads at ebooksforstudents.org. Writers’ Meet-Up: 6 p.m. second Thursday of the month via Zoom through Portland Public Library, portlandlibrary.com/series/writers-meet-up/ for more, including monthly writing prompts. Bulletin Board Freeport Fall Festival: Sept. 30-Oct. 2, L.L.Bean, KeyBank lawn, Freeport Village, over 180 New England artists, makers and local food producers,  visitfreeport.com. Saturday 10/1 Blessing of the Animals: 10-10:30 a.m., St. Mary Church parking lot, 144 Lincoln St., Bath; 10-10:30 a.m., St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth St., Portland; 1-2 p.m., St. Joseph Church lawn, 673 Stevens Ave., Portland; 2-2:30 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main St., Yarmouth. Farm Tours: Wagon Ride: 2:30 p.m., Wolfe’s Neck Center, 184 Burnett Rd, Freeport. visitfreeport.com. Yard sale: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. North Pownal United Methodist, Lawrence Road, Pownal. Sunday 10/2 Pettengill Farm Day: 10:30 a.m., hosted by Freeport Historical Society, visitfreeport.com. Wednesday 10/5 Successful Aging Expo: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park St., Freeport. Free, maineseniorguide.com. Thursday 10/6 Snowmobile Club meeting: 6 p.m., Tri-Town Penguins, Acacia Lodge, Route 136, Durham. Ongoing Board Game Social: 3-5 p.m. Fridays, Slot Car Junction, Brunswick. brunswickdowntown.org. Cafe en Français – French Conversation Club: 2:30 p.m., fourth Tuesday of the month, People Plus, 35 Union St., Brunswick. peopleplusmaine.org. Calico Quilters: 7 p.m. first and third Mondays, North Yarmouth Congregational Church, Route 115, 7-9 PM. All are welcome to attend; contact Lorna Clark, [email protected] Chess Club: 6 p.m. first and third Wednesdays of the month, Curtis Library Chess Club open to all ages, younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult helper. Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick. curtislibrary.libcal.com. Citizens Climate Lobby Portland Chapter: 9-10:30 a.m. via Zoom first Saturday of the month, Facebook or citizensclimatelobbymaine.weebly.com. Connected: nondenominational social group for widowers, widows, divorced and singles 55 and over, 7 p.m. first Monday of the month, St. Charles Borromeo Church Hall, 132 McKeen St., Brunswick. Guest speaker, light refreshments, 725-1266 or 725-8386. Craft Meetup: 4:30-6 p.m. Mondays, Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St, Brunswick. curtislibrary.libcal.com. Critical Home Repair program: Habitat for Humanity partners with low-income homeowners who require safety and structural repairs, including accessibility issues, unsafe roofing or flooring, lack of heat, electrical or plumbing hazards. Cumberland County residents only, habitatportlandme.org/critical-home-repair. Down East Ship Modelers Guild: 1 p.m. second Thursday of every month, 200 Congress St., Bath, rear of the American Legion Hall. 751-2453. Freeport American Legion: 5:30 p.m. every 2nd Thursday of the month, Freeport Masonic Lodge, 33 Mallot Drive. ALL Veterans welcome. Freeport Classic Car Cruise Night: 5-7 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 17, 31 Maine St., Freeport Antiques and Heirlooms Showcase with food, live music, 50/50, giveaways. Game Night: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Sunday, Foreplay Sports Pub, 436 Fore St., Portland. Free. Maine Irish Heritage Trail: self-guided historical Portland tour, map at maineirishheritagetrail.org. Maker’s Market: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Brick South at Thompson’s Point, 15 Resurgam Place, Portland. Local farms, artisans, artists, thompsonspoint.com. Makers on Main: 10 a.m., first Saturday of each month through September. Freeport. visitfreeport.com. Monument(al) Square Market: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday in Portland, goods crafted by Portland makers. Museum Passes: Merrill Memorial Library in Yarmouth has passes for patrons to Maine Maritime Museum, Maine Wildlife Park, Portland Museum of Art, Children’s Museum of Maine, Farnsworth Art Museum and Maine State Parks. Reserve at 846-4763 or [email protected] Portland ReStore: 659 Warren Ave., restoreportlandmaine.org. Scarborough 55-plus Program Senior Drop-In: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday. Get together for coffee, snacks, games and camaraderie. Registration not necessary. SCS Hub, 418 Payne Road, Scarborough. Free, scarboroughmaine.org. Scarborough Kiwanis: noon lunch meeting Fridays, Cowbell Wood-Fired Grill, 185 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough. scarboroughkiwanis.org. Senior Bingo: noon, every Monday, Scarborough Community Center Hub, 418 Payne Road, Scarborough, 55-plus, free, registration not necessary, scarboroughmaine.org. Stump Trivia: 8-10 p.m., Sea Dog Brewing Company, 125 Western Ave., South Portland. sopo.seadogbrewing.com. Topsham ReStore: 126 Main St., 504-9340. Trivia: 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Stroudwater Distillery, 28 Resurgam Place, Portland. Free, stroudwaterdistillery.com. Trivia Night: 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays, Byrnes’ Irish Pub, 38 Centre St. Bath. byrnesirishpub.com. Vigils for Peace and Justice: 5-5:30 p.m. Fridays, Brunswick Town Mall, Maine Street at Park Row. Dining Saturday 10/1 Saturday Supper: 5-6 p.m., Brunswick Post 20 American Legion Hall, 1 Columbus Drive (next to the Brunswick U-Haul). $12, [email protected] Ongoing Brunswick Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, Brunswick Mall, Park Row and Maine Street. Cumberland Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Town Hall, 290 Tuttle Road. Curbside Souper Supper: 5 p.m. second and fourth Fridays of the month. Masks and social distancing. Free to all. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth. smary.org. Deering Center Community Church in Portland: Call 773-2423 for more information. Freeport Community Services Food Pantry: open for in-person shopping 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday at 55 Depot St., Freeport, see fscmaine.org. Freeport Farmers Market: hosted by Freeport Climate A...

2022 Presidents Cup Scores, Results: Live Coverage, Standings, Golf Updates, Schedule For Day 2 On Friday – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/2022-presidents-cup-scores-results-live-coverage-standings-golf-updates-schedule-for-day-2-on-friday-cbs-sports/ The United States takes a commanding 4-1 lead into Day 2 of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Golf Club. The U.S. looked right at home in Charlotte, and the Americans appear primed to win their 12th Presidents Cup if all goes according to plan. Adding to their dominance in foursomes on Thursday, they now shift their attention to four-ball where the U.S. side has drawn square with the International team since 2007. The Internationals squad is sending out Adam Scott first, once again, despite the eldest member of the away team struggling mightily alongside Hideki Matsuyama on Day 1. He will be paired with his fellow Australian Cameron Davis as the pair aims to take down the American duo of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. In total, five four-ball matches will be contested as Trevor Immelman’s squad attempts to claw its way back into contention. Despite all the naysayers, falling behind by three points early in the competition is not insurmountable for an away team as showcased by the U.S. in 2019 at Royal Melbourne. In Australia, the U.S. lost the first session at the exact same 4-1 score  only to raise the Presidents Cup by week’s end with a 16-14 victory. While the likelihood of the International team replicating this feat is faint, it remains a possibility heading into the second day of event. 2022 Presidents Cup scores, results Day 2 — Four-ball 1 Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas 2 UP thru 7 Adam Scott & Cameron Davis 2 Scottie Scheffler & Sam Burns 1 UP thru 7 Sungjae Im & Sebastian Munoz 3 Cameron Young & Kevin Kisner TIED thru 6 Mito Pereira & C. Bezuidenhout 4 Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele 2 UP thru 5 Hideki Matsuyama & Tom Kim 5 Billy Horschel & Max Homa 1 UP thru 4 Corey Conners & Taylor Pendrith CBS Sports will be with you the entire way updating this story with the latest from the second day of the Presidents Cup. Keep it locked here for live scores, updates and highlights. See New Posts Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Cantlay and Schauffele rolling The duo again looks unbeatable. They might play the role of Morikawa and DJ or Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari this week and just go out and never lose en route to a rout. Pinned Pinned Three U.S. flags on the board Leading in the first match of the day, slowly but surely other U.S. partnerships have followed the way of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele command a 2 UP lead through five while Max Homa and Billy Horschel are 1 UP through four. The internationals need to start making putts and fast. Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned JT and Spieth picking up where they left off Now 2 UP thru five, the American frontmen are one of two pairs to command a lead on the golf course. Thomas continues to find his stride with the putter in hand while Australians Cam Davis and Adam Scott can’t seem to figure out the greens of Quail Hollow. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay recently went 1 UP in their match. Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Keep an eye on the internationals’ putting The visiting team made just one putt outside 15 feet on Day 1 and just three holes into fourball, they have already matched that total. Sam Burns and Sebastian Munoz traded birdies on the par-4 third to remain tied. Up ahead, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth take a 1 UP lead thanks to a Thomas birdie. Pinned Pinned Kisner gets his first taste of 2022 Presidents Cup Dapping up George W. on the first tee, Kisner later got up-and-down for par on No. 1. He is paired with Cameron Young and will take on Mito Pereira and Christiaan Bezuidenhout in the third match of the day. Pinned Pinned Pinned Presidents in attendance It always makes this event feel bigger. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are on the first tee this morning to watch the festivities. Pinned Pinned Pinned See More

2B3D Aims To Reduce Veteran Suicide In The Metaverse, With Virtual Reality Mental Health Therapies – Forbes https://collincountynewsonline.com/2b3d-aims-to-reduce-veteran-suicide-in-the-metaverse-with-virtual-reality-mental-health-therapies-forbes/ By Christos Makridis Metaverse platform 2B3D announced the first-of-its-kind “virtual reality medical environment,” which delivers live, free mental health services to military veterans via the metaverse. Owned and operated by military veterans, 2B3D is deploying new treatment via technology that has the potential to vastly improve the physical and mental health of veterans over the internet. Facts about veteran suicide and mental health There is a bipartisan recognition that urgent responses are needed to reduce veteran suicide in America. “Veteran suicide is still too high, but we are making progress… there is still work to do so that one day we are speaking of veteran suicide in the past tense,” said U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy on September 20. After the Taliban takeover last summer, Cassidy led a bipartisan group of senators advocating outreach to veterans who served in Afghanistan to provide mental health resources in response to an uptick in veteran suicide hotline calls. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, which has only intensified over the past two years following a surge of mental health declines during the lock downs across states. But the incidence of suicide falls more heavily on some groups over others, especially veterans. “Veterans bear a disproportionate but preventable burden… veteran suicide-related deaths are also increasing at a greater rate than that of the general U.S. population: from 2001 to 2019, the rate of suicide among veterans increased nearly 36% relative to an increase of 30% in the general population,” said Christopher Jones, acting director of Public Health Service at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in a congressional testimony in June. (Courtesy of 2B3D) Suicide can be particularly difficult problem to prevent because it is often the result of a cluster of underlying factors, which may include any combination of mental health and substance abuse issues, economic and housing insecurity, loneliness and high stress. Post-traumatic stress disorder also increases the risk of a suicide attempt. A Veterans Affairs study on 60,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans found 13.5% of deployed and undeployed vets screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s hard to tell how that figure compares with stress disorder rates in veterans from earlier armed conflicts, since the disorder wasn’t given its name until 1980. Conditions with the same basic symptoms and risk factors were called “Post-Vietnam Syndrome” and caused up to 25% of Vietnam veterans to require interventions and treatment. Much needed remedies One of the Department of Veteran Affair’s main responses to curb veteran suicide attempts is through a crisis line, namely a suicide prevention hotline. A person does not need to be enrolled in benefits to call these lines, so family members are often encouraged to call on behalf of a loved one who may be having suicidal thoughts or behaviors. However, the efficacy of a phone call to help someone in a life or death situation depends on the competency and availability of the person on the line. Research into the suicide hotline by the Veterans Affair’s inspector general revealed that as many as a third of calls placed go unanswered. Frontline workers tasked with the responsibility of answering these calls have historically spent little time on the phone or requested to leave before their shift was over, causing calls to be rerouted to back-up centers where operators lacked sufficient training to address veterans in crisis. Hearing a busy signal exacerbates suicidal thoughts and other mental health challenges among veterans on the receiving line. Although the House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill in 2016 requiring the Veteran’s Affairs to ensure that all telephone calls, text messages and other communications received by the crisis line are answered in a timely manner by an appropriately qualified person, finding enough of those qualified individuals remains a challenge. For example, there has been a lot of staff turnover, especially over the past two years, and the quality of care has changed in facilities. While lack of skilled staff is a major roadblock in ensuring that veterans receive help, another challenge is the delivery mechanism: care must be accessible when the veteran needs it, which might happen at any time of the day, and the therapies must be enjoyable. Support should be integrated into veterans’ daily lives. (Courtesy of 2B3D) One potential solution is the use of chatbots that are powered by artificial intelligence, as the National Artificial Intelligence Institute at the Department of Veterans Affairs is pioneering through their partnerships with industry in technology sprints. Building reliable chatbots is a useful goal for veterans who have simple queries, but it may not be a substitute for therapy. “These are problems that require humans interfacing with humans… the sooner we leverage technology to create virtual reality environments that emulate the human-to-human aspect of treatment, then we can augment that with proven treatments that can maximize artificial intelligence or machine learning. Right now the cart is in front of the horse,” said retired Col. Mark Schonberg, chief of staff at 2B3D. 2B3D’s upcoming beta launch The prototype beta version for 2B3D’s metaverse environment for veterans simulates a typical analog medical clinic or center. The individual’s avatar walks into the facility and is then evaluated by one of the counselors. Depending on that evaluation, a subject could be referred to group counseling, scheduled a follow-up appointment in the real world, execute individual therapy sessions, or in extreme cases referred to 911 services. However, the crisis support aspect is simply one option within the virtual reality medical environment. The environment can become a place where disadvantaged veterans can spend time together and interact with others experiencing similar challenges. 2B3D’s solution also addresses substance use and addiction. Treatment protocols are initiated for addiction prior to, or simultaneously with, virtual reality treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder for best results. During the beta testing of the virtual reality medical environment, 2B3D partnered with BioCorRx, which is addressing the challenges of addiction treatment using a holistic approach of cognitive behavior therapy and prescribed medication. Select resources from BioCorRx’s library of digital cognitive behavior therapy modules will be discoverable to visitors to the Phase I environment and can be engaged with at any time. (Courtesy of 2B3D) Over half of today’s veterans flock to gaming to alleviate service-induced stress since they provide an engaging, suspense-filled, and interactive experience. The non-clinical and autonomous setting also encourages veterans to open up and share in ways they may be unwilling to do within the confines of a hospital facility. “We are working to take already proven post-traumatic stress disorder symptom-reducing programs and not only duplicate them in virtual reality, but also gamify them to make healing fun… the first test patient in our current trials showed results of improved rebalancing of the brain by 34% of the brain overall and over 60% in damaged low functioning centers,” said Robert Bell, president of 2B3D. By borrowing from the immersive environments and collaborative team aspects of games that are popular with veterans, a virtual reality medical environment can deliver support in a way that veterans already enjoy and are comfortable with at any hour of the day, with only a headset and the internet. Technological improvements, such as expanded 5G coverage and satellite-based solutions like Starlink, and the expansion of artificial intelligence provide additional momentum for virtual reality. “Today, we have much more data available to us that we can use to understand and identify suicidal ideation, crisis, and risk for self-harm—at the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs], for example, we have genomic information from the Million Vet Program and transcript data from crisis lines like the VA Veterans Crisis Line… new technology like artificial intelligence will never replace the expertise, intuition, and judgment of care teams, but it offers the promise of perspective—an additional safety net that can sift through big data and help us to learn and flag those who could be in need and connect them quickly to the care they need.” said Gil Alterovitz, director of the National AI Institute at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The adoption of metaverse experiences will also come with a wide array of blockchain based complementary assets. 2B3D is already planning to deploy non-fungible tokens to ensure identity management seamlessly across platforms in virtual reality medical environment so that users can avoid the hassle and risk of sharing personal and identifiable information whenever they consent to releasing it for therapies. Whether it is group therapy or listening to live music, the metaverse will unlock new possibilities for human flourishing among veterans and individuals at large. Ahead of its platform launch, 2B3D will have an non-fungible token sale in early Q4, details forthcoming via its website and social channels. The proceeds will be used to fund further development of its metaverse environments; extra funds will support the Forge Forward Project.