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Mark Frerichs Exchanged For Taliban Warlord Bashir Noorzai In Kabul – The Washington Post https://collincountynewsonline.com/mark-frerichs-exchanged-for-taliban-warlord-bashir-noorzai-in-kabul-the-washington-post/ correction An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Bashir Noorzai had been held in Guantánamo Bay. He was serving his life sentence in a federal penitentiary. The article has been corrected. PESHAWAR, Pakistan — American Mark Frerichs, a civilian contractor who was abducted in Kabul over two years ago, was freed in exchange for an Afghan detainee held in U.S. federal prison, U.S. and Afghan officials said Monday. Frerichs’s family hailed his release in a statement, saying they were “grateful and excited to learn that he has been freed” after being held for more than 2½ years. “Our family has prayed for this each day,” Charlene Cakora, his sister, said in the statement from Camden Advisory Group, which has been advocating for his release. “We never gave up hope that he would survive and come home safely to us.” President Biden applauded the freeing of Frerichs, who U.S. officials said was now in U.S. care in Doha, Qatar. “Bringing the negotiations that led to Mark’s freedom to a successful resolution required difficult decisions, which I did not take lightly,” he said in a statement. U.S. officials said Frerichs’s release capped months of negotiations between senior U.S. officials and the Taliban, the insurgent group that has governed Afghanistan in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal last year. To obtain his freedom, the official said, the U.S. government released detainee Bashir Noorzai (also known as Haji Bashir Noorzai) — a warlord and drug trafficker with ties to the Taliban — who was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to life in federal prison after being lured to the United States and arrested in 2005. In Kabul, acting Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi hailed Noorzai’s release. “This will open a new chapter in the bilateral relations between the United States and Afghanistan,” he said at a news conference in Kabul that was broadcast by local television outlets. “We have been persistent in our efforts to free [Noorzai], and now he is with us in his own country,” Muttaqi continued. He said the two men were swapped at Kabul’s international airport. Senior U.S. officials, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations, said Frerichs was in “stable health” and was being offered U.S. support. They declined to provide details on where Frerichs was kept during his long captivity or which faction of the Taliban had held him. Frerichs’s release underscores the delicate path the Biden administration must tread in its dealings with Afghanistan’s new leaders, whom the United States fought for two decades before they took over after the collapse of the U.S.-backed government last year. The United States, like other nations, has not officially recognized the Taliban government, but U.S. officials have engaged with it regularly as they seek to provide aid to Afghans and advocate for the rights of women and girls as the Taliban has imposed new restrictions on them. Last week, the Taliban condemned a move by the United States to redirect $3.5 billion of the country’s frozen central bank reserves to a fund run in part by Swiss government officials and Afghan economic experts. The Frerichs deal comes just weeks after the United States conducted a drone strike in downtown Kabul that killed al-Qaeda’s top militant, an incident that highlighted the Taliban’s ongoing ties to terror organizations and posed a major setback to any potential normalization of U.S. ties with the group. One U.S. official said that the Biden administration told Taliban leaders after that strike “that we would hold them directly responsible if any harm were to come to Mark, and that the best way they might begin to rebuild trust with the United States with the world was to immediately release [him], and that didn’t happen immediately.” “If the Taliban are as interested as they say they are in normal relations with the international community, then that practice must resolutely end,” another official said. Officials said there was a “narrow window of opportunity” following Biden’s initial decision this summer to potentially grant Noorzai clemency. They contrasted Noorzai’s conviction with the fact that Frerichs had been in Afghanistan for work. The release of Frerichs comes as the Biden administration attempts to secure the release of two Americans it says are being wrongly held by Russia, potentially via another prisoner swap. George reported from Islamabad, Pakistan. Ryan reported from Washington.

For Peter Tokar, Economic Development In McKinney Is “ripe For The Picking” And “full Of Opportunity” – Star Local Media https://collincountynewsonline.com/for-peter-tokar-economic-development-in-mckinney-is-ripe-for-the-picking-and-full-of-opportunity-star-local-media/ Allen American Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every morning so you don’t miss out on updates. Allen American e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Allen American Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Carrollton Leader Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Carrollton Leader e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Carrollton Leader Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Celina Record Daily Headlines Daily Headlines from Celina Record Celina Record e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Celina Record Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Coppell Gazette Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Coppell Gazette e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Coppell Gazette Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Flower Mound Leader Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Flower Mound Leader e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Flower Mound Leader Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Frisco Enterprise Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Frisco Enterprise e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Frisco Enterprise Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Lake Cities Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Lake Cities e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Lake Cities Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Lewisville Leader Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Lewisville Leader e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Lewisville Leader Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Little Elm Journal Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Little Elm Journal e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Little Elm Journal Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! McKinney Courier Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. McKinney Courier e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. McKinney Courier Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Mesquite News Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Mesquite News e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Mesquite News Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Plano Star Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Plano Star e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Plano Star Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! Rowlett Lakeshore Times Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. Rowlett Lakeshore Times e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. Rowlett Lakeshore Times Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports! The Colony-Courier Leader Daily Headlines Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates. The Colony-Courier Leader e-Edition Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email. The Colony-Courier Leader Local Sports Get the latest headlines on local sports!

Formulating Into Condiments – Food Business News https://collincountynewsonline.com/formulating-into-condiments-food-business-news/ CHICAGO — Watch out, ketchup, mustard and mayo. During the pandemic, consumers learned how to manipulate food flavors and textures to meet their preferences, and there’s no going back. Now, condiment formulators are exploring all types of mashups, including unique carriers, global fusions and varied consistencies, all intended to wow consumers. “People want more and bolder flavors, and condiments are great delivery vehicles for new experiences,” said Ryan Kukuruzovic, corporate chef, Wixon, Saint Francis, Wis. That’s what the Kraft Heinz Co., Chicago, offers in its new Heinz 57 Collection. The line of oil-based sauces comes in chili pepper, mandarin orange miso and roasted garlic varieties. The collection also includes two infused honeys: black truffle and hot chili. “As an iconic brand, Heinz aims to accelerate culinary trends and create pathways for everyday consumers to discover vast culinary cultures,” said Ashleigh Gibson, head of marketing and strategy. “With the increase in chef-inspired cooking, the Heinz 57 Collection enhances culinary creations and transforms traditional dishes into dynamic creations.” Billy Roberts, senior analyst of food and drink, Mintel, Chicago, and author of “US Condiments Market Report 2022,” said he believes it is paramount brands, especially long-established ones, get creative with modern flavors and textures. Mintel research showed consumers under 45 years old tend to have fewer than six condiments in their refrigerator, while those over 45 have more than six. “Dips and sauces provide a blank canvas for creating myriad flavors and ingredients that the consumer can use to turn simple into sensational without loads of culinary skill,” said Holly Adrian, senior marketing manager, Sensient Natural Ingredients, Turlock, Calif. Erika James, senior applications technologist – savory, Sensient, Hoffman Estates, Ill., added, “Sauces are an easy way to try unexplored cuisines with low risk. Consumers do not have to buy a lot of new ingredients to explore new and unique flavors.” Trends in form and flavor Mintel research from May 2021 showed 70% of US sauce/dip buyers use the condiment for dipping. More than half prefer creamy and savory products. Spicy is favored by 47%, followed by smoky and sweet. Forty-four percent like sauces/dips with internationally inspired flavors. “Consumers have become burnt out on home cooking over the past two years and are increasingly exploring global flavors and ways to spice up their go-to dishes, while still maintaining convenience and ease in the kitchen, which dips, sauces and condiments can provide,” said Christopher Koetke, corporate executive chef, Ajinomoto Health and Nutrition North America Inc., Itasca, Ill. Authenticity is the name of the game with internationally inspired condiments, said Daniel Espinoza, corporate research and development chef, OFI, Chicago. He said he believes it’s important to explain why certain specific flavorful ingredients are used in recipes. “Respecting and protecting ingredient provenance is important,” Mr. Espinoza said. “We work with growers and supply chain partners around the globe, which provides opportunities for innovation and customization from plant to plate. Our single estate black pepper is a great example of the value this adds.” With this seasoning range, producers may trace their pepper ingredient back to its exact plant block of origin. Tracing makes it possible to select specific pepper varieties and ensure consistent quality from batch to batch. “Looking beyond South America, region-specific flavors from Asia and the Caribbean are also having their moment,” Mr. Espinoza said. “Korean barbecue marinades featuring sesame oil, crushed red pepper, ginger, garlic and black pepper have been popular during this year’s cook-out season. And Jamaican Jerk seasoned chicken wings are starting to appear on restaurant menus.” Mr. Espinoza expects to see more rich, earthy flavors, such as garlic, mushrooms, truffle, cinnamon and roasted nuts, over the next several months. He also expects cross-cultural flavor combinations to dominate the savory food market. “Take classic Asian and Mexican flavors,” Mr. Espinoza said. “In both food traditions, spices like cloves, nutmeg, ginger, chili, black pepper, cinnamon, star anise and cumin are everywhere, making a mashup between the two cuisines both logical and exciting.” Jen Lyons, marketing manager, Sensient Flavors & Extracts, Hoffman Estates, added, “We will continue to see fusions of different ethnic cuisines, like Mexican-Korean and Thai-Italian.” Flavored mayonnaise and aioli have taken off the past few years, as have dairy-based condiments. At the same time, plant-based and vegan varieties of the products started being introduced. “It’s a way to incorporate new flavors in a simple way,” Mr. Kukuruzovic said. “We’ve been tasked with a variety of global flavor developments within this space, and we’re certainly not anticipating a slowdown as consumers desire more eclectic flavor combinations and experiences.” United Natural Foods Inc., Providence, RI, is introducing specialty organic aiolis and burger spreads under its Woodstock brand. The sriracha aioli features a creamy garlic base with sriracha flavor, while citrus meets savory in the lemon dill aioli. The burger sauce is a tangy alternative to ketchup. Kim Cornelius, senior food scientist at Wixon, said, “Dairy dip projects I have been involved with include crossover flavors from trendy items such as Nashville hot chicken, pepperoni pizza, cheesy quesadilla and fried pickle. Other interesting concepts include hot honey, spicy giardiniera, elote and shawarma.” As consumer demand for plant-based dairy alternatives grows, the industry is responding with technology aimed at naturally replicating the richness of dairy without the use of dairy products or edible oils. Recently, T. Hasegawa USA, Cerritos, Calif., introduced a plant-based milk colloid emulsion to the North American market. “This advanced fat mimetic technology simulates the creaminess and rich mouthfeel of traditional whole milk or cream in a wide range of products, including condiments,” said Doug Resh, director, commercial marketing. In addition to texture issues, plant-based condiments may have off notes that include astringent, beany and bitter. To assist, Ajinomoto soon will introduce Plant Answer Mayo, an ingredient system for plant-based mayonnaise and creamy dressings. “The comprehensive solution includes realistic egg yolk flavor, umami, kokumi, thickening and emulsifying ingredients,” Mr. Koetke said. “It can also be used to make vegan honey mustard, vegan ranch and vegan sour cream and onion dip.” Plant-based condiments may add flavor to plant-based main courses. Sensient research showed two-thirds of US consumers would consume more plant-based products if there was a greater variety of flavors. Spicy with less heat Dips and sauces are a good way to experiment with spicy flavors, according to 46% of consumers surveyed by Mintel, with 23% of consumers stating their tolerance for spicy foods has risen in the past year. “Hot and spicy is still trending, but brands are now offering more mild options to appeal to consumers who don’t want extreme heat,” said Rachael Jarzembowski, marketing manager at Wixon. “Chilies can offer more than just heat. They can offer layers of flavor and add complexity, resulting in a more dynamic flavor experience.” Ms. Adrian said, “The demand is for milder chili varietals like ancho and guajillo, which offer more complex layering of flavors. They are bold and spicy, but with subtle berry or raisin notes and earthy undertones.” Authenticity and provenance play into sourcing chili peppers. The chili peppers OFI sources from Oaxaca, Mexico, for example, are said to capture the authentic flavors of regional Mexican dishes like Oaxaca mole, Yucatan marinade and carne asada. The flavor dynamic of hot and spicy now has much more regional influence,” Mr. Kukuruzovic said. Chilies vary in capsicum levels, which determines the amount of heat, and flavor profiles. When they are harvested and how they are processed also influences sensory attributes. “Salsa roja, a classic spicy Mexican sauce, is a good example,” Mr. Espinoza said. “It’s made with jitomates (red tomatoes), onion, garlic, and of course, chilies. The preparation method should dictate the chosen chili variety.” The sauce may be prepared three ways. Cocida is when the ingredients are stewed and ground into a smooth sauce. Asada swaps stewing for roasting. Cruda is raw, with the ingredients simply chopped and ground without cooking. “A dried casabel chili is perfect for salsa roja cocida, where a long cooking time will help draw out its smoky, nutty flavor,” Mr. Espinoza said. “More acidic varieties, like de arbol or guajillo chilies, are for salsa cruda.” Mr. Resh added, “The rise of sriracha opened the door for other international sauces focused on high-heat flavors, especially those from Asian countries, with Korea leading the way. Gochujang, for example, is a thick fermented red pepper paste that has a sweet and spicy kick. Future flavors with directional growth from Korea include ganjang, jeotgal and makgeolli, which could lead to exciting new possibilities in dips, dressings and marinades.” Taste preferences Umami and kokumi, which some refer to as the fifth and sixth basic tastes, joining bitter, salty, sour and sweet, are becoming mainstays in condiments as consumer preferences shift in efforts to reduce sodium and sugar intake. More condiments are using monosodium glutamate and other sources of umami and kokumi, such as fish sauce, miso, truffles and even Parmesan cheese. T. Hasegawa recently introduced Boostract, a system for adding or enhancing kokumi in foods. The system allows for a...

Proactive Approach Of South Korea Towards The Metaverse Regulations – The Coin Republic https://collincountynewsonline.com/proactive-approach-of-south-korea-towards-the-metaverse-regulations-the-coin-republic/ Home » Proactive Approach Of South Korea Towards The Metaverse Regulations South Korea is one of the countries that are heavily interested in the Metaverse, Web3, and blockchain industry. A recent instance proves this again. The South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) stated there will be different laws to be applied to the Metaverse unlike laws related to traditional video gaming.  Such efforts could be seen as crucial to help the development of a growing sector. Rather than implementing the traditional gaming laws, MSIT will issue all new guidelines for the digital space, according to the ministry, that will encourage the development of the burgeoning ecosystem.  While putting forward the arguments, MSIT said the traditional regulations might not do justice to the emerging space of Metaverse and could result in hampering its development.  Earlier South Korea was reported to have made an investment of approx 200 million USD with the plan of allocation towards creating an in-house Metaverse.  Should Metaverse be Treated as Video Games? The ministry noted in the National Data Policy Committee’s very first meeting about not making the mistake of putting regulations of existing law on a new service like the Metaverse. Whether Metaverse would be treated as a video game or not, the discussion around this issue still remains though.  It’s worth mentioning that the ministry is responsible for deciding if there is any need for new regulations in new industries like OTT streaming platforms, self-driving cars, and the Metaverse. However, MSIT has concerns around the Metaverse and hampering growth within the industry given the lack of any legal as well as an institutional basis.  Earlier this month, the National Assembly members supported an official proposal in regards to approving the Metaverse Industry Promotion Act in the wake of their support to the Web3 industry.  In contrast to making efforts towards the budding tech spaces, South Korean authorities are stringent towards the violations. A recent example of the same is the actions of the CEO of Terraform Labs Do Kwon along with other executives accused of defrauding the Terra (LUNA) investors.  Author Recent Posts Andrew is a blockchain developer who developed his interest in cryptocurrencies while his post-graduation. He is a keen observer of details and shares his passion for writing along with being a developer. His backend knowledge about blockchain helps him give a unique perspective to his writing Latest posts by Andrew Smith (see all) Download our App for getting faster updates at your fingertips. Top Rated Cryptocurrency Exchange

How To Disable The Always-On Display On Your IPhone 14 Pro Or 14 Pro Max — Temporarily Or Permanently – Gadget Hacks https://collincountynewsonline.com/how-to-disable-the-always-on-display-on-your-iphone-14-pro-or-14-pro-max-temporarily-or-permanently-gadget-hacks/ An always-on display isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t happy about your iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max’s display being visible all the time, even when you press the Side button to lock the screen, there’s an easy way to make the screen act like any other iPhone screen. The always-on display is actually a pretty helpful feature if you use lock screen widgets, so you can always have vital information just a glance away. Even the wallpaper can be a handy piece of glanceable data if you’re using the weather wallpaper that updates in real time. And it does this with minimal effects on your overall battery life since it uses minimal power and a low refresh rate. Don’t Miss: All 350+ New iOS 16 Features for Your iPhone Instead of disabling the always-on display, you can make the display go completely dark whenever you don’t want to look at it, like when in a movie theater or when driving at night. To temporarily sleep the screen: Lay your iPhone face down. Put your iPhone in a pocket, bag, or similar place. Use an iPhone pouch or folio case. Turn on Low Power Mode. Activate the Sleep focus. Connect your iPhone to CarPlay. According to Apple, the always-on display will also go completely dark when: Using your iPhone as a Continuity Camera. You haven’t used your iPhone in a while (it will learn your routine and know when to sleep the screen or keep it active based on your daily patterns). You’re wearing a paired Apple Watch and move away from the iPhone (the display will go back to always-on when you and your Watch are close again). If you want to disable the always-on display permanently or for more time than any of the above options provide, go to “Display & Brightness” in the Settings app. From there, scroll down and toggle off the “Always On” switch. Keep Your Connection Secure Without a Monthly Bill. Get a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited for all your devices with a one-time purchase from the new Gadget Hacks Shop, and watch Hulu or Netflix without regional restrictions, increase security when browsing on public networks, and more. Buy Now (80% off) Other worthwhile deals to check out: 41% off a home Wi-Fi analyzer 98% off a learn to code bundle 98% off an accounting bootcamp 59% off the XSplit VCam video background editor Cover photo and screenshots by Justin Meyers/Gadget Hacks

Tech Prepares For Mid-Week Clash With Longwood – VT Hokiesports.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/tech-prepares-for-mid-week-clash-with-longwood-vt-hokiesports-com/ BLACKSBURG – Following another narrow defeat to a well-proven side, Virginia Tech looks to earn its first win of the season against Longwood on Tuesday evening at Thompson Field.   MATCH DETAILS Date: Tuesday, Sept. 20 Time: 7 p.m. Location: Thompson Field (Blacksburg, Va.) Live Stats: HERE Watch: ACCNX THE SERIES The Hokies are 7-4-2 against Longwood, including 6-1-1 under head coach Mike Brizendine. Tech currently holds a five-match win streak against the Lancers. The last defeat to Longwood came in Farmville, Va. on Sept. 13, 2011. A WIN WOULD… Be Mike Brizendine‘s 100th career win as head coach of the Hokies. Be Virginia Tech’s first win of the season. Be Virginia Tech’s fifth-straight win and seventh-straight result against Longwood. Move Tech to 11-2-2 against non-conference opponents at home since 2018. LAST TIME OUT The Hokies fell to No. 2 Wake Forest, 1-0, at Thompson Field on Friday night. Wake Forest found its breakthrough in the 52nd minute with a curling effort from just outside the box. Tech was able to push forward after falling down a goal – including three solid attempts from Nick Blacklock, Danny Flores and Misei Yoshizawa – but ultimately couldn’t find an equalizer. Ben Martino had a season-high six saves against Wake Forest.  The attendance was marked at 2,350 – the seventh-largest crowd for a men’s soccer home game in Virginia Tech history. A TALE OF TWO HALVES Virginia Tech is outscoring its opponents 3-1 in the first half of games this season, but is being outscored 9-1 in the second half. In the Hokies’ five losses this season, each of the opponent’s game-winning goals have occurred in the second half. In four of its losing results, Virginia Tech has conceded the game-winning goal in the final 30 minutes.    Players Mentioned #17 Nick Blacklock 5′ 11″ 155 lbs Senior Philadelphia Union Academy M #23 Danny Flores 5′ 9″ 152 lbs Sophomore YSC Academy M #1 Ben Martino 6′ 6″ 210 lbs Sophomore Philadelphia Union Academy GK #9 Misei Yoshizawa 5′ 8″ 143 lbs Freshman M

Social Fantasy Sports App Verse Gaming Raises $585k Pre-Seed Round, Launches Mobile Application – Newswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/social-fantasy-sports-app-verse-gaming-raises-585k-pre-seed-round-launches-mobile-application-newswire/ Brooklyn-based Verse Gaming is announcing the launch of its cutting edge peer-2-peer fantasy platform following a $585k pre-seed funding round. Press Release – Sep 19, 2022 13:00 EDT NEW YORK, September 19, 2022 (Newswire.com) – Verse Gaming, an innovative new platform enabling users to compete in peer-2-peer fantasy contests on sports and entertainment, today announced it has raised a pre-seed funding round of $585k funded by private investors with participation from Rally Cry Ventures. This round of funding has enabled the startup to further develop its platform after a strong year of beta testing in addition to securing regulated access to U.S. markets. Along with announcing its pre-seed funding, Verse also announced today the launch of its long-awaited mobile application. Downloadable in all 50 states, users across the country will be able to compete in free-2-play contests, making predictions over player performances, fantasy points, and season-long statistics. Further, paid-entry contests will be rolled out in 22 markets. As a pioneer in the social gaming space, Verse offers players a customizable toolkit to build, play, and manage real-money contests with profiles reminiscent of their favorite social media apps. Users compete in contests with two or more picks on player performance projections. The games can be public for all users to join, or they can be restricted to invite-only private contests. Verse Fantasy contests offer users an unprecedented amount of customization – giving users control of their contest’s title, player pool, scoring system, number of picks, and more. Verse Fantasy also offers unrivalled customization in selections, allowing users to build lineups mixed with player statistic projections and fantasy points on nearly every player suiting up for any game. This round of funding helped Verse leverage the success of its beta testing – which saw just under a thousand testers play in over 11,000 contests, generating an in-app credit transaction volume of $120,000 – to bring users a vibrant, social fantasy sports experience. “Verse was created to fill a major oversight in the market – what if we could connect sports bettors, content creators, and everyday fans by giving them a toolkit that lets them instantly create, share, and compete in fantasy contests?” shares CEO Dan Zimmermann, “How many of us watch big games with a group chat opened up, almost live tweeting amongst our group of friends. Verse makes playing daily fantasy contests with anyone as easy as making a group chat.” About Verse Gaming Founded in July 2020, Verse Gaming is the social marketplace built for peer-2-peer gaming.  The Brooklyn-based startup was developed by two Syracuse University students, David Rosen and Dan Zimmermann. Having spent four years as affiliate content creators for Barstool Sports, the longtime friends founded their own company to service the long-overlooked aspect of the gaming industry – social gaming. Download for iOS, Android, or visit the desktop platform at www.versefantasysports.com. Find out more at: www.versegaming.com Follow Verse on Instagram and Twitter. Press contact: Dan Zimmermann, co-founder and CEO | Dan@versegaming.com Source: Verse Gaming Inc.

Crypto PR Firm Wachsman Hires Cointelegraph’s CEO As Chief Growth Officer – CoinDesk https://collincountynewsonline.com/crypto-pr-firm-wachsman-hires-cointelegraphs-ceo-as-chief-growth-officer-coindesk/ Nick Baker is CoinDesk’s deputy editor-in-chief. He owns small amounts of BTC and ETH. Wachsman, a public-relations firm that represents cryptocurrency companies, has hired the CEO of crypto news organization Cointelegraph as its chief growth officer. Jay Cassano will help Wachsman expand in areas including “community management, content marketing, social media services and digital marketing to support the firm’s growing roster of Web3 and fintech clients,” according to a statement released Monday. Cassano previously was editor-in-chief of Cointelegraph and, before that, worked as a journalist at Fast Company and Newsweek. Wachsman, whose clients have included Avalanche, Cardano and Kraken, employs 175 people on three continents, according to the statement. Sign up for Market Wrap, our daily newsletter explaining what happened today in crypto markets – and why. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Nick Baker is CoinDesk’s deputy editor-in-chief. He owns small amounts of BTC and ETH. Nick Baker is CoinDesk’s deputy editor-in-chief. He owns small amounts of BTC and ETH.

U.S. Adds Cargo Planes Operated By Iranian Airlines Flying To Russia To Export Violation List – Reuters https://collincountynewsonline.com/u-s-adds-cargo-planes-operated-by-iranian-airlines-flying-to-russia-to-export-violation-list-reuters/ Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) – The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday said it will add 3 Boeing 747 airplanes operated by Iranian airlines providing cargo services to Russia to a list of planes believed to violate U.S. export controls as part of the Biden administration’s sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Using commercially available data, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security identified planes operated by Mahan Air, Qeshm Fars Air, and Iran Air flying and transporting goods, including electronic items, to Russia in apparent violation of the Commerce Department’s stringent export controls on Russia. These are the first three Iranian airplanes identified. There are now a total of 183 aircraft identified on the list for apparent violations of U.S. export controls, the department said. The three Iranian airlines identified today are already subject to a variety of restrictions by the U.S. government. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Collin County Appraisal Review Board Seeks New Members – The Dallas Morning News https://collincountynewsonline.com/collin-county-appraisal-review-board-seeks-new-members-the-dallas-morning-news/ By Susan McFarland 8:42 AM on Sep 19, 2022 CDT Administrative District Judge Andrea Bouressa is accepting applications for appointment to the Collin County Appraisal Review Board for a one- or two-year term to begin Jan. 1, 2023. The board is made of residents who determine taxpayer protests of property appraisals made by the Collin Central Appraisal District. To be considered, applicants must live in Collin County and must have lived in the county for at least the past two years. Serving on the board requires full-time commitment during the spring and summer months. This year, the board has had more than 27,000 hearings, according to a Collin County news release. Members are required to attend training sessions and must be available to serve every day if needed, including some Saturdays in May, June and July. Hearings are usually held one week per month throughout the year. Compensation is $125 per half-day session and members are reimbursed for expenses incurred while working. Applications must be received by Oct. 15 to be considered and are available at collinarb.org, collinarb.org/application/ or by calling 469-742-9200. They can be emailed to TLO@cadcollin.org with the subject line ARB Member Application. Applications can also be mailed to Collin CAD / Appraisal Review Board, ATTN: Christopher Nickell – Taxpayer Liaison Officer, 250 Eldorado Parkway, McKinney, TX 75069-8023. More information about the Appraisal Review Board and requirements for members can be found in the Texas Tax Code, Chapter 6.41. Related:McKinney approves lower property tax rate along with 2023 budget Susan McFarland, Freelance writer for DMN Local. Susan McFarland is a longtime journalist in DFW who previously worked as a city government/crime beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a breaking news reporter for United Press International. She has also worked for The Corpus Christi Caller-Times and The Kerrville Daily Times. Susan covers Frisco, Allen and McKinney for DMN Local. dmnlocalwriter@gmail.com @1susanmcfarland

What You Miss And Don’t Miss About Twin Falls When On Vacation – Kezj.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/what-you-miss-and-dont-miss-about-twin-falls-when-on-vacation-kezj-com/ Work can weigh many of us down and life often gets busy, that we no longer make time to do the things we want to do. The routine goes on and on, and we continue to grind away to put food on the table and pay the bills. As time goes on the stress, the routine, and the lack of downtime take their toll and many of us find ourselves getting down, tired, and angry. It is at these times that we need to hit a sort of reset button, and that is when it is time to plan a vacation and escape the routine of everyday life and life in Twin Falls. While vacations are great and something to look forward to, you can often find yourself missing home a little. As you travel away from Twin Falls, it makes you appreciate certain things and miss them, but being in another place can also make you appreciate certain things more. These are the things that you miss when away from Twin Falls, and the things you are glad to be away from. Glad to Escape: The People of Twin Falls Credit: Digital Vision. Credit: Digital Vision. loading… Getting away for a week or two can be nice to escape certain coworkers, neighbors, or perhaps the community as a whole. We all have those certain people we need a break from, and being hundreds or thousands of miles away can be nice. Usually, on vacation, many of us will avoid social media, and it helps us distance ourselves from the community that lives here. Rants and Raves pages can take a toll, as well as dealing with people in general. By going someplace else it is nice to be around a different culture and community for a week or so. Miss: The People of Twin Falls Google Street View Google Street View loading… As much as escaping the people of Twin Falls is nice, it goes the other way as well. You miss your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and those you interact with that make everyday life joyful. Sometimes the time away makes you realize how much you enjoy them and miss them, and you can’t wait to get back to share a story with them or pictures of the vacation you were on. As the phrase goes, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder,’ and that seems to be true more often than not. Glad to Escape: The Food of Twin Falls Photo by Coffeefy Workafe on Unsplash Photo by Coffeefy Workafe on Unsplash loading… This is not to knock down the eating options and restaurants of Twin Falls, as there are many good eating options here. This has more to do with when vacationing, all diets and bets are off. The best part of vacationing is pigging out and trying new local foods, wherever you go. It can be something local to the place you are, a small hole-in-the-wall shop, or a place for dessert, but eating local places you can’t get in Twin or anywhere else is the best part of traveling away. These foods hit the spot just right that you can’t help but wish you could order them in Twin, and that is true for anywhere you live or visit. Miss: The Weather Picture by Bill Colley. Picture by Bill Colley. loading… This one may seem odd due to the way Idaho’s weather does whatever it wants, but when you go to a place that is humid and muggy, you appreciate the dry heat of Idaho a little more. While Idaho weather has a mind of its own, it overall is decently pleasant. Unless you visit someplace like Hawaii, the Caribbean, San Diego, or the mountains, odds are your weather will be too hot, cold, or something else. When the fall and spring weather hits, there is no nicer place to be than in Twin. While winters are long and summers are hot, they still aren’t as bad as other places. Glad to Escape: The Weather of Twin Falls Credit: Irina Igumnova Credit: Irina Igumnova loading… While the weather may not be that bad, if you do decide to take a vacation to a tropical paradise where the weather is perfect year around, you won’t be thinking twice about what the temperatures are like in Idaho. Sit back, enjoy a cocktail, and watch the waves without a care in the world. If you are escaping to the mountains for some cool mountain air or to enjoy some time on the slopes, you will likely not be thinking of the snow or air back in Idaho. Depending on where you end up, determines how you feel about the weather for your trip. Miss: The Traffic Blue Lakes/Pole Line loading… While some may complain about the traffic in Twin Falls, especially on Blue Lakes and Pole Line, it is nothing compared to many other places. Visit any major city, and you will be missing the traffic back home. While yes, you don’t get stuck behind a tractor or combine in cities, it is better than being in four or even eight lanes of nonmoving traffic. It makes you appreciate that there is usually movement, even if it is slow, here. Sitting in a rush hour downtown of a major city, will make you beg to get back to Twin Falls. Glad to Escape: Small Town of Twin Falls City of Twin Falls City of Twin Falls loading… While the small town lifestyle is great and many of us enjoy it, it is nice being able to get away and be on a beach or in a major city, or a theme park from time to time. Life can get routine here, and getting away to see something bigger and not the same place you see every day is a nice escape. There is more to do, more shopping, more eating, and more options than you can get back home in Twin Falls. Sometimes it can be a little thing like having a Macy’s or a Popeye’s, or it can be having slides or rollercoasters to go down that Twin doesn’t offer. Miss: The Beauty of Idaho Credit: Purestock Credit: Purestock loading… When traveling, odds are you looking to go to a destination you have long to see, but sometimes they don’t live up to the expectations. Seeing other places can make you miss the beauty that we are blessed with here. Not everywhere can match the mountains, the farmland, and the canyon that we are blessed with enjoying every day. Visiting big cities or overpopulated beaches or theme parks can make you appreciate the beauty we have here much more. Glad to Escape: The Smells Credit: Khosrork Credit: Khosrork loading… While the fresh air of Idaho can be of great quality, some of the smells in our town are enough to make you need some time away. We all smell the factories, the cows, and some of the whiffs that the breeze picks up and brings into town. While most of us are used to these and they aren’t as much of a burden as they once were, it is still nice to get away from them from time to time and take in some fresh ocean air, mountain air, or whiff a good ole lung full of smog. Maybe not the smog, but the smells of Twin can be a bit much at times. Miss: The Peace and Quiet Credit: christiannafzger Credit: christiannafzger loading… One of the number one things about living in the Magic Valley is it is overall peaceful and quiet. There will be the occasional sirens, neighbors arguing, or anything else, but it is much quieter than most tourist places. It is nice to come home and not worry about honking cars, loud noises, or bright lights, but instead enjoy the peaceful, quiet lifestyle we all love and enjoy here. Life is too short not to travel and enjoy seeing the world. We all need to take time to get away and hit the reset button, or else we burn out and life gets too routine. It is nice to escape, but it is also nice to come home to the Magic Valley and the state of Idaho after a long week or two away. Enjoy your trips, but be grateful you get to come back home here.  Words that Mean Different Things in Idaho Idaho is different, in the best ways possible. Here are some words from movoto that have deep meaning here in Idaho but in other places mean something different and usually less exciting. 15 Perfect Memes For Idaho The beauty of a meme is that it usually doesn’t need any explanation. You can just post the meme and sit back, knowing your work is done.

Questions To Expect When Applying For A Credit Card – 69News WFMZ-TV https://collincountynewsonline.com/questions-to-expect-when-applying-for-a-credit-card-69news-wfmz-tv/ If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS – The Cadillac Pub opens where Klingers used to be at 24 E. Main Street in Fleetwood – II-VI Inc. (pronounced “two-six”) will become Coherent Corp., taking on the name of a company it recently acquired. – ABEC, a company that provides services and products to the pharmaceutical industry, with headquarters in Northampton County, will invest in a new disposable-container facility in North Carolina. – A new Lehigh Valley Martial Arts center will hold a grand opening starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, with a ribbon-cutting shortly afterward. – Bethlehem Township’s planning commission has approved an Amazon parking lot with 248 spaces at Brodhead and Mowrer roads. – The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board rejected variance requests that would have allowed multifamily homes to go up on the Southside properties at 508-512 Selfridge St. – Northampton County Council voted 1-8 against a tax break for development of a proposed warehouse at the Dixie Cup building on South 25 Street in Wilson Borough. – The former Valley Farm Market, now known as Gerrity’s Valley Farm Market, will take on a new name as of Oct. 14: Gerrity’s The Fresh Grocer. – Hamsa Exoticz is already open at the Lehigh Valley Mall, but it will hold a grand opening at 5 p.m. Sept. 16 with the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce. – A new Home Depot will open a 136,048-square-foot building on about 21 acres of vacant land just off Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie Township. – Rocco Ayvazov’s Monocacy General Contracting received approval from the Bethlehem Planning Commission to put up a six-story building with 55 apartments and retail space on the first floor at 128 E. Third St. – The old Allen Organ showroom building on Route 100 in Lower Macungie Township will come down and about 100 total apartment units will go up. – Reading Hospitality’s Catering by DoubleTree will handle food at events at Reading Country Club, after Exeter Township supervisors approved a new agreement. – Natural healing is the goal at Reike Balance, which will open Sept. 9. on Reading Avenue in West Reading. – The Pocono Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening at the Bartonsville branch of Farmhouse Cafe. – The reopening date for the historic Frenchtown Inn building overlooking the Delaware River in New Jersey remains unclear.  – River Paws, a pet-supply store, is across Race Street from the Frenchtown Pharmacy. – The planned reopening date of Aug. 13 for Toby’s Cup was pushed back after ownership said a dispute about the occupancy of a home on the hot dog stand’s property delayed the reopening.

Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services Of 2022 – CafeMom https://collincountynewsonline.com/best-healthy-meal-delivery-services-of-2022-cafemom/

Trae Young & Dejounte Murray Celebrate Birthdays – Sports Illustrated https://collincountynewsonline.com/trae-young-dejounte-murray-celebrate-birthdays-sports-illustrated/ As the sun gleamed through our kitchen windows this morning, I looked at my beautiful wife and asked if she knew what today was on the calendar. Her eyes lit up before I said, “It’s Trae Young and Dejounte Murray’s birthdays! They have the same birthday. How weird is that?” Her excited expression suddenly melted away. “It’s also our six-month wedding anniversary.” I should probably get used to the morning sunlight’s reflection as I will be sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future.  There are two lessons to be learned from my unforced error. First, set calendar reminders on your phone. Second, both fans and media alike are really excited about the upcoming Atlanta Hawks season. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray competing during the 2020-21 NBA season. © Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports My matrimonial shortcomings aside, the 2022-23 NBA season is so close we can almost taste it. The Hawks Media Day is this Friday. After that, we all embark on another marathon season. It’s all I’ve been thinking about since Atlanta’s front office pulled off a blockbuster trade for Murray in late June.  Young, 24, and Murray, 26, have not even come close to entering the prime of their careers. Young is coming off a historic individual season that culminated in an All-NBA selection. Murray was named to his first All-Star team despite playing for a San Antonio Spurs team that finished 14 games under .500. Does an All-Star backcourt guarantee success? No. Once again, almost the entire Eastern Conference improved this offseason. Like an episode of the HBO drama Succession, teams keep trying to one-up their competitors in order to win the ultimate prize (except, in this case, an NBA Championship, not Waystar Royco Company). Additionally, it will take time for Young and Murray to gel. Last season, Young had a usage rate of 33.3% and led the NBA in points scored off the pick-and-roll. Meanwhile, Murray had a usage rate of 26.8% and led the Spurs in points and assists. Asking the driver of the Hawks offense to toss the car keys to another player is no small request. But Young is up to the challenge. He has spent all summer preparing to play off the ball to better accommodate Murray. We have seen Young training with Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and his personal shooting coach. Hawks fans should be excited about their dynamic young backcourt. On paper, this is the best roster since the 2014-15 squad. As always, excitement should be tempered with patience. But today, Young and Murray (as well as Hawks faithful) have reason to celebrate. Recommended For You Hawks Summer 2022 Awards Show What Astrology Says About Hawks Hawks Alternate Jerseys Appear Online

Whiskey In The Metaverse As Jack Daniel’s Files For Virtual Beverages Trademark – Finbold – Finance In Bold https://collincountynewsonline.com/whiskey-in-the-metaverse-as-jack-daniels-files-for-virtual-beverages-trademark-finbold-finance-in-bold/ More global brands are increasingly making inroads to leverage the perceived benefits of incorporating the metaverse and non-fungal tokens (NFTs) in their services. Consequently, global Whisky brand Jack Daniels is the latest entity to express interest in the metaverse with three trademark filings.  In particular, the company filed for the trademarks on September 13, intending to sell NFT-authenticated media, virtual beverages, barware, clothing, digital wallets, and collectibles in the metaverse.  The filing before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was confirmed by licensed trademark attorney Michael Kondoudis in a tweet on September 19.  Part of the filing states that Jack Daniels seeks to provide downloaded computer software for providing information in the field of beverages and apparel.  It is worth noting that Jack Daniels joins the consumer brands and individuals attempting to take a stake in the metaverse despite the sector being in an infancy stage. Standout brands to follow a similar path include chocolate manufacturer Mars Inc. which filed for an NFT trademark application for its popular brand M&M.  Elsewhere, other food companies venturing into the metaverse, including McDonald’s and KFC, aiming to offer their products in the virtual worlds.  Indeed, individuals are also making headway into the space led by basketball star Kevin Durant, who filed 26 trademark applications. The increase by leading brands to embrace the metaverse is also highlighted by the total cryptocurrency-related trademark filings in the United States that have steadily grown in recent months. Between January 1 and August 31, 2022, the figure surpassed 3,600. Notably, 2021 filings stood at 3,516 for the whole year.  Notably, the NFT and Metaverse sector is emerging as a crucial component for brands to interact and connect with their customers.  Latest News Like the article? Vote up or share on your social media 146 Weekly Finance Digest By subscribing you agree with Finbold T&C’s Paul is a finance, cryptocurrency, and blockchain journalist with years of experience. At Finbold, Paul keeps readers up to date by crafting stories on crypto price movements, market analysis, and the latest trends in the blockchain sector. He also crafts data-driven financial stories.

TV In The Bathroom: Technically Doable But A Very Bad Idea – CNET https://collincountynewsonline.com/tv-in-the-bathroom-technically-doable-but-a-very-bad-idea-cnet/ TV lovers want to be able to see their big screens everywhere. And while there are plenty of good places to mount your TV, there are a few places where you might want to think twice about it. The bathroom is one of those places. It’s actually about the worst type of environment for any electronic device, but it’s especially bad for TVs. If you’re so hooked on a show you’re streaming that you don’t want to hit pause even for a bathroom break, you may think that mounting a TV above the bath or toilet is a good solution. It’s not. Really. I’m serious. Just don’t.  But if you absolutely must, mounting a TV in the bathroom is technically doable, as long as you know what you’re getting into. Here’s what you need to know before you start watching National Treasure during your morning constitutional.  Bathroom TV (doo)do’s and don’ts This bathroom is nicer than my entire house. Getty Images/Experience Interiors A bathroom is a bad place for a TV. Two of the worst things for electronic gadgets are moisture and heat. The latter is also one of the reasons why we don’t recommend placing a TV above a fireplace. Even if you have a large, well-ventilated bathroom, it’s likely much more humid than a typical living room.  For example, here’s what Samsung has to say about bathroom TVs: In general, you should not put your Samsung TV in extremely hot, cold, humid or dusty places. Consequently, we recommend that you do not install your Samsung TV in a bathroom or any other room with high humidity. Here’s the relevant section in LG owner’s manual for its 2022 LED LCDs: Do not place the TV and/or remote control in the following environments:  – An area with high humidity such as a bathroom.  – Near kitchen counters or humidifiers where they can easily be exposed to steam or oil.  – Do not expose to dripping or splashing and do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, cups, etc. on or over the apparatus (e.g., on shelves above the unit). Otherwise, this may result in fire, electric shock, combustion/ explosion, malfunction or product deformation. Sony’s TV warranty, for its part, doesn’t cover “contact with liquid, heat, humidity or perspiration,” all of which are pretty much par for the bathroom course. Will humidity destroy the TV instantly? Probably not, and that’s part of the problem. You’ll likely hear or read plenty of anecdotal stories about how someone put a regular TV in their bathroom and it was “fine.” However, these people probably won’t follow up with how the TV later died “for no reason.”  To compound the problem most people will want to put the TV where it’s easily viewable from the tub or shower, namely up out of the way. Unfortunately heat and steam rise, especially when drawn ceiling-ward by a bathroom fan. I could tub here. Getty Images/Phototropic There are waterproof TVs designed for high-humidity areas but, as you’d guess, they’re more expensive than regular models. They also don’t feature names you’d recognize: Elecsung, Soulaca, Haocrown and others. Many have streaming apps built in. Some even double as a mirror when turned off. We haven’t tested any of these models, but they cost at least three or four times as much as standard TVs of similar size. Also, be wary of any lists on sites like Best Buy or Amazon that seem to suggest “bathroom TVs.” These are filled with normal, small TVs that shouldn’t be in a bathroom.  Things to consider for a bathroom TV Add a fridge and I think I could live here. Getty Images/John Keeble Like other waterproof gear, for example headphones and Bluetooth speakers, waterproof TVs should have an IP rating. For example, “IP66-Certified Waterproof” means it’s sealed against dust and jets of water aimed directly at the device.  Voice control would be a plus, for sure, but don’t expect waterproof TVs to have the same features as a typical TV. For that matter, their smart TV interfaces are likely worse than you’re used to, and might not have all the streaming services you’d want. Check user reviews carefully, if you can find any. What’s not important? Resolution. Don’t worry if the TV is 1080p or 720p. With small TVs you’re not likely to see much of a difference, if any.  Better hope it’s splash-proof. Getty Images/John Keeble It’s also worth checking to see if your Wi-Fi is up to the task. The signal might be strong enough to surf the web while you’re enshrined on your throne, but streaming video is another story. You probably don’t need to get any new gear, just give your current Wi-Fi a tuneup. Check local building codes for any specific regulations for installing or mounting an electrical device in your bathroom. You can also mount a TV in the wall, but that’s well beyond the scope of this guide and likely not something for the average DIYer.  Alternate options (tablets, smart displays and more) Totally natural towel placement. Getty Images/Phototropic Maybe you don’t need a “TV.” Smart home displays like the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub can fit just about anywhere. They’ll run Netflix and some other streaming services. You won’t get full TV functionality, nor are they waterproof, but they’re cheap and far easier to fit in your bathroom. Just keep them away from the tub.  Another possibility is a simple waterproof Bluetooth speaker. I’ve had one of these in my shower for years. Certainly not a TV, but you can listen to music, news or podcasts. They have the added benefit of being inexpensive and, of course, portable.  Mirror mirror on the wall, play for me The Gilded Age. Haocrown A common option is a tablet, usually with the addition of some kind of stand or bath tray. Certainly risky for an often-expensive device, but it’s easier than mounting a TV in someplace that’s essentially a temporary sauna. It’s also worth noting that most mid- and high-end phones are waterproof. Most tablets are not. So if you can handle a smaller screen, it’s definitely a safer bath-time option. ‘Bathroom TV, you’re the one’ More than ever, we all need a place to relax. I have a close friend with an extremely stressful job who winds down after a long day by watching shows on a tablet while soaking in the tub. I absolutely get it.  Permanently mounting a TV in your bathroom, however, should be approached with caution. These are not good environments for electronics to live in, as evidenced by the warnings and warranties of manufacturers.  With a TV that’s designed for it, or something inexpensive you don’t mind replacing regularly, they’re certainly better than holding your phone with one hand and your toothbrush in the other. As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures. He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.

Panasonic Showcases V2X Connected Intersections Technology That Demonstrates Critical Safety And Sustainability Impact, At ITS World Congress 2022 – PR Newswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/panasonic-showcases-v2x-connected-intersections-technology-that-demonstrates-critical-safety-and-sustainability-impact-at-its-world-congress-2022-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ — The Panasonic Smart Mobility Office brings its latest V2X technology to the forefront of the ITS World Congress conference in Panasonic booth #1259 South Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Panasonic’s Connected Intersections Manager is an application on the company’s award-winning Cirrus by Panasonic platform, a cloud-based roadway data management system that delivers real-time, actionable situational awareness of roadway conditions to travelers and roadway operators. Cirrus by Panasonic Connected Intersections Manager V2X technology sample screen shot Traffic congestion impacts safety, costs businesses money, disrupts schedules, and adds CO2 emissions generated from idling vehicles. The Cirrus by Panasonic Connected Intersections solution targets urban locations and enables traffic flow to prioritize emergency first responders, freight vehicles and public transit. The system utilizes two-way communication to activate a traffic signal response to priority vehicles and prevent traffic congestion delays. Panasonic’s V2X technology is based on national, open V2X standards to help provide a consistent user experience across different geographical regions and jurisdictions. A combined hardware and software system, Panasonic’s Connected Intersections solution helps manage traffic via roadside units installed in key locations and is matched with easily configured vehicle on-board systems. The technology provides a live view of traffic to roadway operators, capturing and communicating roadway situations requiring signal priority to help keep traffic moving. In addition to the exhibit booth, Panasonic Smart Mobility Office experts will be speaking at two different ITS World Congress forums (both events are available to credentialed attendees of the conference): Panasonic will be presenting “Delivering Dynamic, Connected Intersections with V2X Technology” in the ITS World Congress Education Theater on Wednesday 9/21 at 12:30pm PT. Panasonic is also presenting its white paper “A toolkit for measuring connected vehicle project benefits” during TS23: Regulations, Policy and Benefits of CAV in LACC Room 402A on Wednesday 9/21 at 3:00pm PT.  “Panasonic’s Connected Intersection technology can have a critical, community-wide impact,” said Kellen Pucher, head of business development, Panasonic Smart Mobility Office. “Prioritizing intersection traffic can mean the difference between life or death. It can prevent penalties for missing delivery deadlines. It can maintain public transit schedules and clear a path for tow trucks and snowplows to keep traffic moving. And it can help our planet by reducing emissions. Connected Intersection technology is an important solution for growing urban environments.” About Panasonic Corporation of North America  Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading provider of Consumer Lifestyle technologies, as well as innovative Smart Mobility, Sustainable Energy, Immersive Experiences, and Integrated Supply Chain solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Holdings Corporation. One of Interbrand’s Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2021, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. Learn more about Panasonic’s ideas and innovations at  na.panasonic.com/us SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America

Gaming | Video Games: NBA 2K23, Always Stronger – US Sports – US Sports – https://collincountynewsonline.com/gaming-video-games-nba-2k23-always-stronger-us-sports-us-sports/ Writing that NBA 2K23 is a great game has become a habit. Like slamming a big dunk with two hands on the counterattack, it’s nothing original but it has the merit of going straight to the point. So let’s get this question out of the way: once again this year, 2K hit the nail on the head. Jordan Challenge Fifteen challenges from the career of Michael Jordan are offered.2K Screenshot – DR At first they couldn’t miss this opportunity. Who says 23 necessarily says Michael Jordan. « His Airness » is naturally in the spotlight with the return of the Jordan Challenge. Purists will no doubt remember that this mode which consists of reproducing important moments of the career of « MJ » in the form of challenges was already available on NBA 2K11. ten challenges offered at the time have been completely recreated and five new key moments have been added. Combining gameplay and video testimonials from former athletes who have worked with it, this mode will undoubtedly allow a whole new generation of budding basketball players to understand why Jordan marked the history of his sport as few athletes have done in their discipline – except perhaps Roger Federer in tennis. For those who would like to write the rest of the history of the NBA, the career mode remains a good workspace. A mode in which you can easily spend hours to see your player progress, especially since the famous « VC » necessary to improve your skills are always distributed in dribs and drabs after matches. The other solution to accelerate your accession to hall of fame being to buy credits… or to opt for the Michael Jordan or championship editions which grant you 100,000 bonus VC. If 2K is far from the only publisher to bet on micro-transactions, this economic strategy will not please everyone. In the news department, we note that this year, it is directly possible to choose the franchise that will draft you. End of contracts and 3v3 between friends in MyTeam In MyTeam mode, it is now possible to play 3v3 with friends online.2K Screenshot – DR What will please, however, is the attention paid to MyTeam mode. It is now possible to play 3v3 matches online with friends or Conversely to play « Clutch » matches offline. Above all, 2K decided to remove the system of contracts that had to be applied to the players on its board in order to be able to make them play. For the rest, the graphics and cutscenes are stagnant. We are still waiting for the huge next gen slap, especially since 2K is known to be at the forefront in this area. The gameplay is still just as enjoyable, if not more so with a little less countering on the floor and an AI still just as quick to give you tactical problems. The WNBA is enriched with the all-star game and the Commissioner’s Cup.2K Screenshot – DR Controller in hand, we always feel the physical nuances between the players. It’s even more striking if you go from an NBA game to a WNBA game, the women’s league which has been enriched with the addition of the all star game and some Commissioner’s Cup. In short, this year again, NBA 2K looks like a shot by Juancho Hernangomez behind the three-point line in the Euro final against France: it’s a string and it scores points.

One Of S Korea’s Biggest Card Issuers Launches Blockchain-Powered Platform To Help Customers Spot Fake Goods – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/one-of-s-koreas-biggest-card-issuers-launches-blockchain-powered-platform-to-help-customers-spot-fake-goods-cryptonews/ Source: Daniel Bernard/Unsplash Shinhan Card, South Korea’s biggest credit card company and a global top-five credit card issuer, has launched a blockchain-powered digital warranty service used to certify the authenticity of products.  South Korean news outlet Money Today has reported that the warranty service is first coming to BGZT – a Seoul-based startup operating a used goods sales platform with which Shinhan Card signed a partnership to expand their strategic alliance on platform businesses about a year ago.  When customers purchase goods from BGZT’s three stores in Seoul, they can scan a QR code on the purchased product and receive a digital warranty. They can then check detailed information on the product on Shinhan’s pLay mobile application, whether or not the product was purchased with Shinhan Card’s credit or debit cards.  The service is expected to checkmate the sale of fake goods. The companies say they plan to sell 10,000 products that can be certified with the digital warranty service by the end of 2022.  Shinhan Card says it will expand the service by continuing to sign partnerships with more retailers and manufacturers in the country. A company spokesperson also stated that Shinhan Card will keep developing more blockchain-backed services for use in day-to-day life.  “We will increase the credibility of used products by introducing more secure blockchain technologies and offering better customer experiences. We will keep developing diverse blockchain-backed payment services used in day-to-day life by partnering with more manufacturers and retailers,” the company official said.  Blockchain adoption in South Korea gaining ground but still faces regulatory pushback   The digital warranty service is not the first blockchain-powered product companies in the Shinhan Bank conglomerate have launched. Back in 2020, Shinhan Card became the first credit card issuer in the world to obtain a patent for a blockchain-based payment system after initially announcing its plans in 2019.  Similarly, Shinhan Bank launched a blockchain-based KYC solution in partnership with ICONLOOP in 2020 – becoming the first to commercialize decentralized identity (DID) service for the financial sector in Korea.  While Shinhan Bank and other South Korean giants like Samsung have continued to push blockchain adoption, blockchain technology and the cryptocurrencies it facilitates have faced significant regulatory pushback in the country.  Cryptocurrencies have attained significant notoriety in South Korea. According to a Bloomberg report in August, cryptocurrencies were the largest contributors to illegal foreign exchange transactions in the country this year. This has made regulators crack down hard on the market, while lawmakers are also working on broad legislation to guide the industry.

Weekly Column: Water Resources Development Act–Expanding Collaborative Partnerships In Idaho | U.S – Senator Mike Crapo https://collincountynewsonline.com/weekly-column-water-resources-development-act-expanding-collaborative-partnerships-in-idaho-u-s-senator-mike-crapo/ Published: September 19, 2022 Guest column submitted by U.S. Senator Mike Crapo Through collaborative processes, we can achieve workable solutions to some of the most challenging issues involving our natural resources that balance the clear need for ecological health, adhere to multiple-use principles and achieve economic vitality.  Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) plays a key part in preventing forest fires and is a prime example of what can be achieved when agencies work together to implement a shared vision of healthy, productive lands.  The Senate-passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) extended GNA to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve federal lands in Idaho.   Congress generally enacts WRDA legislation every two years to support the Army Corps of Engineers water resource development programs and projects.  The House of Representatives passed its version of WRDA on June 8, 2022, by a vote of 384-37, before the Senate passed the bill with my support by a vote of 93-1 on July 29, 2022.  The recent WRDA legislation would authorize the Corps to carry out water resources development projects and revise civil works policies and programs of the Corps.   Very importantly, WRDA contained language fellow U.S. Senator for Idaho Jim Risch, Governor Brad Little and I backed to establish a Good Neighbor Authority pilot project in Idaho to reduce fire risk around Corps projects.  Specifically, the legislation authorizes the Corps to carry out a pilot program to enter into GNA agreements with the Governor of Idaho to carry out forest, rangeland and watershed restoration services on federal land.   Congressionally authorized as a pilot program in the early 2000s, GNA has since been expanded by Congress to enable the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to work with states, counties and Tribes to conduct certain projects on federal lands to achieve land management objectives.  Enactment of WRDA will enable the Corps to also use Good Neighbor Authority to create partnerships to improve the health of federal lands in Idaho is a productive step that will build on GNA successes in our great state.   For example, a GNA program coordinated by the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) was recognized with the 2017 Regional Forester Awards.  Through the program, forest management has supported fuels reduction and watershed restoration.   Statewide, the IDL reported the 2018 Agreement for Shared Stewardship between the state of Idaho and Regions 1 and 4 of the U.S. Forest Service “formalized interagency efforts to prioritize and expedite landscape level treatments focused on fuels reduction and improved forest, rangeland, and watershed conditions.”  The IDL detailed results of the partnerships that have enabled the treatment of 17,119 acres through 30 timber sales on four national forests in Idaho from 2016 to 2020.  GNA was also used to treat 52,406 acres through 16 botany, heritage, wildlife, hydrology, soils, fisheries and forest stand exams related projects on four national forests in Idaho during the same time period.     WRDA supports and advances critical water infrastructure projects across the nation and right here in Idaho that include channel maintenance to improve navigation capability at the Port of Lewiston and a study to improve domestic flood control capability in the Northwest.  This reauthorization of WRDA will help facilitate commerce, promote project efficiencies and better ensure effective responses to current and future needs. # # #

Helbiz Releases ParkSense — Proprietary AI Parking Validation Technology – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/helbiz-releases-parksense-proprietary-ai-parking-validation-technology-business-wire/ September 19, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Helbiz (NASDAQ: HLBZ) today announced the release of ParkSense, an AI-powered parking verification tool that allows Helbiz and other operators to easily be compliant with local regulations. Instead of relying on location data, ParkSense relies on a picture of the parked device from the rider at the end of a trip. The ParkSense tool is able to take into account multiple conditions such as whether the device is properly secured, whether the device impedes a walking path or the entrance to a business and whether the device is aligned upright — information that cannot be registered with GPS data. “As we have grown Helbiz, we have put technology at the core which is how we have built our R&D team in Serbia,” said Helbiz Chief Technology Officer Nemanja Stancic. “ParkSense demonstrates the best of what we can do. We approached a problem with technology first, built the AI in-house and deployed it successfully. Not only does this strengthen our position to acquire licenses, it opens up licensing as a new revenue stream as verifying parking is increasingly a requirement of licenses from local governments and until now the industry has used inaccurate and un-flexible solutions. ParkSense is flexible from market to market and can adapt and learn from specific market conditions in each city.” ParkSense is able to return an answer in less than a second 95% of the time and has no hardware requirement. Helbiz and any operator that implements it will be able to easily select for environmental factors which enables a solution that is entirely customizable to the city it is deployed in. Furthermore, the ParkSense tool does not require AI expertise or a developer SDK but simply a few lines of code. To learn more, visit helbiz.com/robotics/parksense. About Helbiz Helbiz is a global leader in micro-mobility services. Launched in 2015 and headquartered in New York City, the company offers a diverse fleet of vehicles including e-scooters, e-bicycles and e-mopeds all on one convenient, user-friendly platform with over 50 licenses in cities around the world. Helbiz utilizes a customized, proprietary fleet management technology, artificial intelligence and environmental mapping to optimize operations and business sustainability. Helbiz is expanding its urban lifestyle products and services to include live streaming services, food delivery and more, all accessible within its mobile app. For additional information, please visit www.helbiz.com.

Turtle Beach’s Award-Winning Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX & Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB Series Wireless Gaming Headsets For PlayStation Are Now Available – Business Wire https://collincountynewsonline.com/turtle-beachs-award-winning-stealth-600-gen-2-max-stealth-600-gen-2-usb-series-wireless-gaming-headsets-for-playstation-are-now-available-business-wire/ WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR) today announced the Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB wireless gaming headsets for PlayStation are now available at participating retailers. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for PlayStation adds longer battery life and expanded compatibility to the acclaimed set of features that have made Turtle Beach’s Stealth 600 series headsets award-winning, best-selling products for years. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for PlayStation also extends battery performance while maintaining the 600’s original attractive $99 MSRP. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for PlayStation comes in Black, Midnight Red, and Arctic Camo for $129.99 MSRP, while the Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for PlayStation comes in Black with Blue trim or White with Blue trim for $99.99 MSRP. “Our Stealth 600 MAX and USB models for PlayStation give gamers on PS5 and PS4 the premium sound and comfort they desire, plus exclusive Turtle Beach audio features like Superhuman Hearing® for a competitive advantage,” said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX uses 50mm speakers compared to 40mm for most competitors in this price range, and now it delivers the same powerful, lag-free wireless audio for Nintendo Switch and Windows PCs. Combined with an upgraded battery life, we expect the Stealth 600 series to continue to lead the category.” IGN has already named Turtle Beach’s Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX the “Best PS5 Headset for Multiplayer” in their “Best PS5 Headset 2022” list. Additionally, The Techne called it, “A complete winner,” and GamesRadar gave it a 4/5 review score plus their Highly Recommended designation, saying, “The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX is one of the most attractive mid-range wireless headsets.” For more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. About Turtle Beach Corporation Turtle Beach Corporation (corp.turtlebeach.com) is one of the world’s leading gaming accessory providers. The Company’s namesake Turtle Beach brand (www.turtlebeach.com) is known for designing high-quality, comfort-driven headsets for all gamers. Innovation, first-to-market features, a broad range of products, and top-rated customer support have made Turtle Beach a fan-favorite brand and the market leader in console gaming audio for over a decade. In 2021, Turtle Beach expanded the best-selling brand beyond headsets and successfully launched the first of its groundbreaking game controllers and gaming simulation accessories. Turtle Beach’s ROCCAT brand (www.roccat.com) combines detail-loving German innovation with a genuine passion for designing the best PC gaming products, including award-winning keyboards, mice, headsets, mousepads, and other PC accessories. Turtle Beach’s Neat Microphones brand (www.neatmic.com) creates high-quality USB and analog microphones for gamers, streamers, professionals and students that embrace cutting-edge technology and design. Turtle Beach’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol: HEAR. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events. Statements containing the words “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “target”, “goal”, “project”, “intend” and similar expressions, or the negatives thereof, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. While the Company believes that its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that its goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to, logistic and supply chain challenges, the substantial uncertainties inherent in the acceptance of existing and future products, the difficulty of commercializing and protecting new technology, the impact of competitive products and pricing, general business and economic conditions, risks associated with the expansion of our business including the integration of any businesses we acquire and the integration of such businesses within our internal control over financial reporting and operations, our indebtedness, liquidity, and other factors discussed in our public filings, including the risk factors included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company is under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this release whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. * Turtle Beach’s Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for PlayStation and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for PlayStation are not compatible with Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One.

Amon Benson, 94 | Obituaries | Colemantoday.com – Coleman TODAY https://collincountynewsonline.com/amon-benson-94-obituaries-colemantoday-com-coleman-today/ Amon Owen Benson, 94 of Brownwood passed away peacefully at his home on September 13, 2022, to rejoin the love of his life Joyce Benson who passed away July 15th, 2018. He was born March 15, 1928, to James Benson and Cora Rogers Benson in Gustine. Amon and Joyce met and fell in love then married on December 23,1948.  Amon worked in road construction all over the state of Texas and at the Brick Yard in Brownwood until 1964 when he started his job as a heavy equipment operator at Whites Mines (now known as Vulcan Materials) for 30 years until he retired in April of 1994. Amon and Joyce loved to travel to other states in their travel trailer always taking their beloved pugs Mindy and Mika with them. They especially loved visiting Branson, Missouri and got to know several of the singers in the shows they visited. He enjoyed going fishing when he had the time, piddling in his shop, and he loved planting his garden and working in it but he really enjoyed giving away most of what he planted to friends and family because he always planted way to much of everything.  He was a kind and gentle soul who was always willing to help anyone that needed help whether it was family or friends. Amon will be greatly missed by all that crossed paths with him. He is survived by two daughters, Debbie Gotcher of Brownwood, and Brenda Powell and husband Roy of Gatesville; three grandchildren, Melissa Phillips and husband David of Early, Randy Powell and wife Chelsea of Gatesville, and Scotty Gotcher of Brownwood; five great-grandchildren, Collin Phillips and wife Katlin of Omaha, Nebraska, Zoe Phillips and Trevor Phillips of Early, and Rowan and Sage Powell of Gatesville, and one great-great-grandchild, Rylee Phillips of Omaha, Nebraska, along with many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Joyce Benson; parents, James Benson and Cora Rogers Benson; four brothers, Walter Benson, Odell Benson, Gene Benson, and George Benson and two sisters; Eva Nell Ingram and Vivian Linville. Family will receive friends at Heartland Funeral Home on, Sunday Sept. 18, 2022, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Funeral services will be at Heartland Funeral Home Chapel on Monday Sept 19th at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Gouldbusk Cemetery in Coleman County. The family would also like to say a special THANK YOU to Amon’s friend Sherry and to Kindred Hospice for their help and kindness to Amon. Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Benson family online at heartlandfunerahome.net

Streamline Packing With These Tips – Nebraska City News Press – Nebraska City News Press https://collincountynewsonline.com/streamline-packing-with-these-tips-nebraska-city-news-press-nebraska-city-news-press/ As summer approaches and people once again begin looking forward to vacations, it shouldn’t be surprising if people who have stayed home throughout the pandemic forget about some travel-related necessities. A refresher course may benefit travelers in regard to one of these tasks in particular: packing. According to Trip Advisor, most major airlines charge between $30 and $35 for a first checked bag, and those costs go up by $10 to $20 for each additional bag. So it’s easy to see why it’s such a savvy move to find ways to pack more efficiently. · Create a packing list. Just like shoppers know how much more effectively they shop for groceries with a list in hand, veteran travelers know using a list when packing ensures they’re less likely to forget must-have travel items. Think about the activities you’ve planned and each member of the family, and make a list of the items each person needs. Check off items as you pack. · Invest in packing cubes. Specially designed packing cubes group similar items together in a suitcase. So shirts can go in one, pajamas in the other and so on. Then simply grab the cube needed when on vacation. · Consider rolling clothes. Rather than folding clothes and placing them in a suitcase, roll them. It’s generally understood that rolling prevents creasing and clothing takes up less space. It also enables you to see items more readily in the suitcase. · Pack heavy items first. Put the heaviest items on the bottom of the suitcase closest to the rolling wheels. This distributes the weight accordingly and makes the suitcase easier to roll. Another option is to wear your heaviest item on the flight, such as those bulky hiking boots. This can lighten the load on flights that charge overages for heavy luggage. · Segregate carry-on belongings. Use plastic zip-top bags or small packing cubes to separate key items in the carry-on. This way you can easily reach your earbuds for the flight or grab those passports and other IDs without hassle. · Bring a laundry bag. Whether it’s an actual laundry bag or a kitchen trash bag, have a way to corral your dirty clothes for the trip back. Stash a fresh dryer sheet in the bag to mask the smell of soiled clothes. Plastic bags also can store wet swimsuits for the trip home. · Use every bit of space. Employ the Russian nesting doll concept when packing. Store socks inside of shoes, tuck underwear inside of bra cups, and use a belt to help keep a collar on a shirt in the right shape. Packing for a trip takes finesse. With some handy hacks, all travelers can perfect their packing techniques.

It’s Your Business | Free Wood For The Taking – News-Gazette https://collincountynewsonline.com/its-your-business-free-wood-for-the-taking-news-gazette/ If you can swing an ax, you can get your fall and winter firewood for free at the Landscape Recycling Center in Urbana. The not-for-profit center has a good supply of free bulk and quartered wood — which you can take and split yourself, according to Scott Tess, sustainability and resilience officer at the city of Urbana. There’s also split wood available, though there’s a charge for the already-split wood, he said. If you plan to come pick up wood, you’re free to pick through the ample supply yourself and look for the chunks you want. The fresher wood will take about a year to season, Tess said, but there may be some seasoned wood available. The wood is available from the trees taken down by public and private arborists, he said. Depending on when you visit the Landscape Recycling Center, you may also find some free produce, which earlier this week included jalapeno peppers and tomatoes grown in gardens on site by Darrick Terry, who runs the retail operation at the center, Tess said. The center at 1210 E. University Ave., U, is open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Other products include compost, mulch, topsoil, urban lumber and crushed granite. Lauren Klemp, retail manager at the new CarleRx pharmacy in Champaign, helps unpack products in preparation for the opening Sept. 20. Debra Pressey/The News-Gazette Bid on a home If you’re in the market to buy a house or a mobile home, here’s a chance to get a potential deal. The Champaign County Treasurer’s office will be accepting sealed bids through Sept. 23 on eight real estate parcels — houses or vacant land — and 73 mobile homes. This surplus property auction is the end result of unpaid taxes on the properties from prior years, according to county Treasurer Cassandra Johnson. To take a look at what’s for sale — at least from the outside — you can buy a booklet listing the properties from the treasurer’s office. The required minimum bid is $801 on the real estate and $905 on the mobile homes. All property will be sold to the highest bidders for each. Results will be available about seven days after the last day of bidding. For more information, here’s the website for the Edwardsville company Joseph E. Meyer & Associates serving as the Champaign County tax agent: ILTaxSale.com. OSF gets high mark OSF HealthCare announced the score for 2021 for its accountable care organization under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: 90.96. According to OSF, that means a grade or “A” for positive health outcomes for patients, based on metrics of a random sample of nearly 43,000 medicare patients served by the OSF accountable care organization. An accountable care organization is a group of health care providers that work together to provide coordinated care to their patients. Overall for front page at the Coaches vs. Cancer event at Gordyville USA on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette Price dropped Gordyville USA is still for sale, and the price has been lowered from $4 million to $3.6 million. If you heard rumors that this Gifford auction house had been sold, they’re false, according to Realtor Jon Fisher earlier this week. A Champaign commercial Realtor, Fisher listed the 39.1-acre property this past June. Recovery grants awarded Champaign-Urbana and Danville will share in some of the $3.5 million worth of state RISE (Recovery, Income, Startup, Expansion) grant funding for cities and economic development organizations to help speed up economic recovery. The Greater Champaign-Urbana Economic Partnership, the parent organization of the Champaign County Economic Development Corp., was awarded $150,000 for a regional market analysis focused on office, retail and industrial spaces. The city of Danville is receiving $75,000 to do an updated study of its downtown area, according to Logan Cronk, Danville’s Community Development administrator. Carly McCrory-McKay, executive director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corp., said Champaign County, like most communities, has experienced job losses and business closures since the start of the pandemic, “and we are still realizing the impact of shifting economic trends, particularly in the office, retail and industrial markets.” In addition, some planned development has been stalled due to the pandemic and rising costs, she said. The organization envisions that the market analysis will help with providing recommendations for local governments, property owners, commercial brokers and others, a list of ideas for developer solicitation and recommendations to support business retention and attraction strategies. The Danville study is intended to provide a sense of direction on both potential redevelopment of blighted vacant buildings and for infrastructure such as sidewalks, bike lanes, roadway improvements and signage, Cronk said. Once the plan is completed, the city can use the plan to apply for additional grant money to help fund projects in the plan, he said. “That was the big grab for the city of Danville,” he said. The plan will be developed by the city’s newly-hired Planner Jun Sohn, and some of the grant money may be used to pay for some consulting services, Cronk said. New pharmacy to be open late A new CarleRx pharmacy will replace the former Walgreens at the Carle branch clinic facility at 1701 Curtis Road, C, starting Sept. 20. The Carle-owned pharmacy will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to midnight. It will also stock over-the-counter products, and will have a drive-thru. The new CarleRx will employ six pharmacists and 11 pharmacy technicians, according to Carle. “At the heart of this decision is the hope to make it easier for regional patients and community members to secure the prescriptions they need to stay well, even if they get sick at an inconvenient time,” said Carle Vice President of Pharmacy Linda Fred. “The new CarleRx location will ensure greater options for the community, something our internal data shows is a real need.”

‘Remove The ‘othering”: Let’s Think About Mental Illness Oct. 3 To 9 – NewmarketToday.ca https://collincountynewsonline.com/remove-the-othering-lets-think-about-mental-illness-oct-3-to-9-newmarkettoday-ca/ ‘We need to treat it with respect. It’s an illness, not a weakness,’ says CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association York Region and South Simcoe One in four Canadians will suffer from mental illness in their lifetime.  Mental Illness Awareness Week, Oct. 3 to 9  offers an opportunity to better understand what mental illness looks like and what needs to be done to help those living with it.  “(Mental illness) is an actual health-care condition. It’s an illness, so we need to talk about it just like we talk about cancer. It’s an actual biophysical illness,” explained Rebecca Shields, chief executive officer of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) York Region and South Simcoe. Mental Health Week, which takes place in May, promotes healthy living from a mental health perspective, while Mental Illness Awareness Week encourages us to think about the impacts of mental illness on those affected by it, and how to support them with access to diagnosis, care, and treatment. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental illness limits the resources and investments necessary to provide this critical support. Shields suggested that the source of the stigma is two-fold.  First, there’s a long-held misconception that those suffering from anxiety and depression are weak and need to “tough it out.” Second, the media has traditionally linked severe mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia to adverse and risky social behaviour. For this reason, we tend to overlook the impact of these illnesses on those who suffer from them and instead jump to the conclusion that they are simply bad people.   The reality is that these individuals are typically very isolated and ill. It’s also necessary to educate people that, like diabetes and cancer, mental illness can range in severity.  “With appropriate treatment and care, people can live full and persistent lives,” Shields said. “We need to treat it with respect. It’s an illness, not a weakness.”  With the ongoing effort to improve awareness about mental illness, Shields pointed out that society has made strides. The added stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a much broader understanding that everyone can be affected by mental illness.  “I think it’s tremendous to remove the ‘othering’” and the attitude that mental illness only happens to other, far different people, explained Shields. “It’s the woman who drops her kids off to school when I drop my kids off to school.”  An increasing number of celebrities and public figures opening up about living with mental illness helps to eliminate the “othering” mindset. It proves and offers reassurance that it is possible to live a fulfilled life despite the challenges of mental illness. Shields offered the example of Beth Beattie, a successful lawyer and now senior counsel for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, who decided to share her struggles with bipolar disorder with her colleagues after several years.  The feeling of immense relief at not having to try to hide her condition any longer inspired her to advocate for an open-minded and proactive approach to mental illness. The expanding dialogue around mental illness creates a necessary awareness that mental illness issues are real.  “The consequences of untreated illness – whether cancer or mental illness – is that it gets worse over time as long as you don’t treat it,” said Shields.  Though the COVID-19 pandemic created a broader understanding of the condition, it forced a massive shift in CMHA’s operations. There was a need to support thousands of people suddenly at home, often isolated and many struggling with depression and anxiety.  At the same time, individuals suffering from more severe and persistent conditions, suddenly left without vital social support, were in crisis. Many individuals delayed care for fear of contracting COVID-19. The opioid addiction crisis is further compounding the severity of the situation. The result has been a substantive increase in the number of people calling crisis helplines or visiting the overcrowded hospital emergency departments. This crisis has forced CMHA and their partners to think about how to help the most acute people stabilize and get connected to care when there’s a lack of capacity across a strained health care system.  Despite the increased challenges, Shields commends both CMHA staff and the staff of their community partners for “working harder than they ever have despite burnout to reach clients and families and to make themselves available.” Focusing on and optimizing the limited capacity to help those in need of support is critical. CMHA and their community partners are determined to do this despite the limited resources available.  Visit cmha-yr.on.ca for information.  Jennifer McLaughlin is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Markham Review

NBA Power Forward Rankings: Giannis, Kevin Durant, LeBron James Lead Stacked List Ahead Of 2022-23 Season – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/nba-power-forward-rankings-giannis-kevin-durant-lebron-james-lead-stacked-list-ahead-of-2022-23-season-cbs-sports/ Tim Duncan. Karl Malone. Kevin McHale. These are the players we think of when we hear “power forward.” My, how things can change over the course of a generation or two. Yes, the back-to-the-basket four-man is an ancient as the phone booth, and in fact, many of today’s best players at the position are tasked with running the offense as point-forwards. LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant are all playmakers nearly as much as scorers, while each makes his money handling the ball and attacking from the perimeter. Yet, in today’s game, they’re all power forwards. Here at CBS Sports, we’ve tried our hand at putting together a list of the top 22 power forwards in the NBA for the 2022-23 season, taking into account projected improvement and decline. It’s part of the rollout of the NBA’s Top 100 players that will be released on Tuesday. Power forward is one of the most hotly contested positions in the league, particularly at the top, with perennial MVP candidates (and potentially future ones) littering the field. Take a cruise through the list and feel free to let us know what we got wrong. Not that you needed us to ask. Coming off a summer with Team USA, Johnson quietly put up one of the most efficient offensive seasons in the league last year for a power forward, averaging 17 points and six rebounds per game on 47/40/76 shooting splits. He thrived in catch-and-shoot situations, landing in the 87th percentile according to Synergy, but his athleticism also allows him to attack the rim effectively. He can guard multiple positions, and was in the 83rd percentile in isolation defense last season, per Synergy. — Colin Ward-Henninger Covington has settled in as a power forward in the NBA, and he looked at home after being traded to the Clippers midway through last season. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds to go along with his blistering 45 percent 3-point shooting in 23 games with Los Angeles, landing in the 93rd percentile in catch-and-shoot situations, per Synergy. He also continues to be a “stocks” machine, putting up 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game between the Blazers and Clippers last season. Ty Lue occasionally used Covington as a small-ball center, and he should get more opportunities there in 2022-23. — Colin Ward-Henninger The veteran has become a model of consistency, putting up at least 17 points on 38 percent from 3-point land in four consecutive seasons. He doesn’t offer a whole lot defensively, but if you want to play small-ball and space the floor he’s a reliable option, which is why he’s unlikely to remain in Utah much longer. As the Jazz continue their teardown, Bogdanovic is one of the next trade candidates a contender will be targeting. — Jack Maloney  Williams is exactly the kind of player who is more valuable in the playoffs. Like P.J. Tucker before him, he’s a strong, smart defender who loves hounding stars and thrives in a switch-everything scheme. He has shown he deserves respect on the perimeter — he made 41.1 percent of his regular-season 3s, 46.9 percent in the corners, 44.6 percent when left wide open — and can stay in front of smaller players. After Williams’ breakout, the Finals showed that the 23-year-old still has room to grow, in terms of his screen navigation and his in-between game.  — James Herbert Batum has turned himself into the ideal veteran role player — an elite spot-up shooter (40 percent on 3-pointers last season) and perimeter defender who can also put the ball on the floor and distribute in a pinch. After playing point guard at times during his career, Batum now has the length, quickness and strength to be a perfect four in the Clippers system. — Colin Ward-Henninger As a power forward, Tucker’s top traits are his versatility and durability. He can guard both forward spots, and at times also serve as a small-ball center. Plus, he’s going to be out on the floor. He’s finished top 20 in total games played five different times in his career, and he’s led the league in that category three times. He’s also finished in the top 10 in total minutes played twice. The ability to be available for your team is very valuable, especially in today’s NBA. — Michael Kaskey-Blomain Kuzma was given significantly more freedom last season with the Wizards, and as a result we got to see his offensive game flourish. He was already known as a hard-working defender who can guard out on the perimeter and down in the low post, but seeing him leading the break in transition, or reading the defense to deliver a well-timed assist proved that there was more to his game than what we saw with the Lakers. — Jasmyn Wimbish Gordon was a highly efficient scorer last season, but he’s out of his depth as a No. 2 guy. This year he won’t have to be with the return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter. With Gordon back in his proper gap-filling, two-way-athlete role, where he is free to eat as a cutter off Nikola Jokic and run the floor, the Nuggets, if they can stay healthy, figure to be among the league’s top-shelf title contenders. — Brad Botkin While it wasn’t the most efficient season for Randle, he still put up 20 and 10, and his versatility as a power forward is what stands out about his game. Two seasons ago he proved that he can stretch his game out to the 3-point line, knocking down over 40 percent of his attempts, and his ability to move with and without the ball for someone at this position is a valuable asset. — Jasmyn Wimbish Unlike the rest of the guys ahead of Finney-Smith on this list, he’s not going to rack up a bunch of points on a nightly basis, but he is going to make you pay if you leave him open in the corner. He’s also going to give a tremendous amount of effort in guarding the opposing team’s best player, and by the end of it all, you may look at the boxscore and see he finished with 12 points and five rebounds. That’s not an eye-popping stat line, but his role on the Mavericks is to knock down his shots when called upon, play tough defense and grab some boards. He checks off all those boxes on a consistent basis, and that’s all you can ask for from a guy who is playing alongside Doncic. — Jasmyn Wimbish Will Collins settle in as the third option on this new-look Hawks team, or will a long-rumored trade finally happen? Regardless, Collins has proven now that he’s a serious offensive threat. Whether it’s diving to the rim for alley-oops or knocking down spot-up 3s, opposing defenses always have to be alert when Collins is on the floor. Last season, he was one of nine players to average at least 15 points and seven rebounds, while shooting 35 percent from 3-point land. — Jack Maloney Harris spent some time at small forward early in his career, but he’s better suited as a power forward in today’s NBA. Last season, Harris was one of just seven power forwards to average over 17 points, six rebounds and three assists per game while shooting over 48 percent from the floor. He’s not the top, or even the second option in Philadelphia, but he’s a reliable role player capable of filling out a stat sheet. — Michael Kaskey-Blomain Grant has played small forward for a lot of his career, but in the modern NBA he profiles as an incredibly versatile four who can stretch to the 3-point line, defend multiple positions and create his own offense when necessary. He’ll be tasked with less bucket-getting now that he’s flanking Damian Lillard in Portland, and should be able to slide back into a more involved version of the role in which he excelled in Denver. His prowess as a spot-up shooter and isolation defender should serve the Blazers well. — Colin Ward-Henninger Mobley is a true 7-footer blessed with the agility of someone much shorter. As a rookie he was more of a finisher than an initiator, but it’s easy to get excited about where his offensive game might go. Ideally, his moves become less mechanical and he gets more comfortable outside the arc. And even if that takes a while, he can be a star in his defensive role, which has him roaming all over the place, blowing up actions and covering for his less versatile teammates. Mobley was third in shot contests last season, behind paint-bound rim protectors Jakob Poeltl and Rudy Gobert. — James Herbert Jackson was a beast defensively last season — fourth in the league with 2.2 blocks per game while scorers made just 41.7 percent of shots that were defended by Jackson, the fourth tightest mark in the league. Johnson shot the lights out from 3 two seasons ago, but last year dipped to 32 percent. If he can put the shooting and defense together in the same campaign, and find a way to stay out of foul trouble, you’re looking at a potential All-Star even in the crowded Western Conference. — Brad Botkin Green’s as hard to lump into a position as any player in basketball — offensively he’s a point guard and defensively he guards wings and centers as much as power forwards. But no matter how you categorize him, his greatness on both ends of the floor is evident. Even with his scoring diminishing to virtually nothing, Green makes the Warriors offense click with his passing, screen-setting and communication. On the other end, he was the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year last season before an injury took him out of the race. Green probably contributes to winning more than any non-scorer in the league. — Colin Ward-Henninger With the ball in his hands, Siakam keeps the defense on edge. He uses an array of hesitation moves and spins to get into the paint, and once he gets there, he’s a crafty finisher, strong enough to take contact around the rim but just as likely to loft it in from floater range. In the Raptors‘ positionless system, he can find cutter...

IFTTT Routines For Fall – Digital Trends https://collincountynewsonline.com/ifttt-routines-for-fall-digital-trends/ For those who want more from our smart home gadgets, it can be frustrating when brand-based apps don’t do as much as you need them to or when certain smart home devices don’t talk to other smart home gadgets. IFTTT solves a lot of those issues by creating pathways for communications between disparate brands, ecosystems, and gadgets. If you’re not familiar with IFTTT, or If This Then That, it’s worth getting to know this tech platform, because it can make your life a lot easier, particularly as we start the slow slide to fall and winter. As days get shorter, and schedules get busier, now is a great time of year to put automation to work for you in a smart, productive way. IFTTT uses Applets which are like tech recipes to create triggers and results for your devices. The good news is IFTTT works with almost every tech brand. Here are a few of our favorite IFTTT Applets for the fall season. Automate your morning coffee When your alarm begins to go off before the sun peeks over the horizon, it can be tough to start the day. Imagine what your world would be like if you could have your coffee brewed and ready for you before you get out of bed. Even if you don’t have a smart coffee maker, you can create a smart coffee experience with some gadgetry and IFTTT. If your coffee maker isn’t smart, plug it into a smart plug, like an Amazon Smart Plug (which is quite inexpensive) so you can get remote or automated control over a coffee maker or kettle. There’s also a gadget called Switchbot that will actively press a button on almost any appliance or machine. Combine one of those devices with this IFTTT Applet  for coffee automation, and it can start the brewing or boiling process when you hit the snooze button on your alarm. Morning magic. Here are some other cool suggestions from the brains at IFTTT to kick start your morning routines. Turn lights on at dusk, off at dawn It’s always nice to have plenty of lighting when the days get shorter, but leaving lights on all day isn’t efficient. A better solution is to automate the entire process. This IFTTT lighting Applet uses your location to calculate the shifting sunrise and sunset times. Use it to automatically turn your smart lights on and off at sunset and sunrise, no matter the time of year. Get a frost alert It’s also at about this time of year when we start to worry about the coming cold. One of the most immediate needs for those who like to garden is to know when frost is coming so they can pick or protect vegetables growing in the garden. This handy plant IFTTT Applet will use your location, combined with weather forecasting to send you a note or message if frost is in the forecast for the following day. No more freeze-burned tomatoes! Find out when snow is coming As we advance further into the winter season, snow can come on rather unexpectedly. For those of us who don’t have cable TV and aren’t following the local weather forecaster, there’s the magic of IFTTT to notify you if there’s going to be snow. You can have IFTTT send you an email or push notification if snow is coming or (a personal preference) get IFTTT to turn your smart lights blue ahead of any white stuff. Drink water every hour When the temperature drops and we spend more time indoors, it can be easy to forget about some of the healthier habits we may have developed over the summer, like drinking lots of water.  This Applet will send you a push notification from the IFTTT app every hour on the hour to remind you to hydrate. Get out of awkward situations We’ve all been stuck in those too-long meetings, awkward conversations with the neighbor or feeling trapped with a long talker at a gathering. This Applet lets you extricate yourself from nearly any situation with a perfectly timed phone call. There’s versions for getting out of awkward situation for US phone numbers and an IFTTT Applet for international calls, too. This is the Applet you won’t know you need until you need it, so trust us; install it today and thank us later. Fall is a great time to explore new technology and get yourself organized. Use our suggestions for these handy Applets to set yourself up for the season or check out some of the best IFTTT Applets. Editors’ Recommendations The best motorized smart blinds for 2022 The best video doorbells for 2022 The best robot vacuums with mapping technology Best Blink camera deals for September 2022 The best Alexa Routines for every lifestyle

J-Pop To Go Crypto With IEO-Funded Idol Group To Debut In 2023 – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/j-pop-to-go-crypto-with-ieo-funded-idol-group-to-debut-in-2023-cryptonews/ The Japanese idol group AKB48. Source: Dennis Amith (kndynt2099)/(CC 2.0) J-pop is ready to take the crypto plunge, with Japan’s biggest pop producer set to debut a new “idol group” (a boy band or girlgroup) in the metaverse – a project that will be funded through an initial exchange offering (IEO). In a press release, a Japanese crypto-pop crossover project named Overse announced that it would be working with Yasushi Akimoto, the nation’s top pop record producer and lyricist, on a project that is scheduled to launch next year. Akimoto is the mastermind behind some of the biggest names in J-pop, such as Onyanko Club, Nogizaka46, and the AKB48 franchise. Akimoto has sold well over 100 million singles, and is the best-selling lyricist in Japan. His success in creating all-female, chart-topping pop acts has been unparalleled in his native country – and has even seen him contribute to the formation of South Korean girl group such as Iz*One. J-pop/crypto crossovers have been on the rise in recent years, and Overse will hope that Akimoto’s Midas touch will not fail him when the group debuts next year. Overse wrote that Akimoto would serve as the as-yet-unnamed group’s “general producer.” It also wrote that the project would be funded through an IEO, and that the group would be active in “blockchain technology” and “the metaverse.” The firm says that it hopes to go ahead with its IEO in “early 2023” – and will begin selecting members of group in Spring next year. It hopes to finalize the group’s membership by Summer – with a debut to follow in Fall. In a previous press release, the same firm stated that it had sealed an agreement with the domestic crypto exchange DMM Bitcoin and the crypto startup Coinbook. These two firms will carry out the IEO, with the sale likely to take place on DMM’s platform. IEOs are still largely uncharted territory for Japanese exchanges, but multiple companies are hoping to move into the space in the next few months – following regulators’ moves last year to formulate guidelines for the sector. In Japan, “idol” groups refer to boy bands and girlgroups that are recruited and managed by powerful domestic talent agencies. “Idol”-style pop groups have gone on to dominate the music scene in much of East Asia – culminating in international chart success for the likes of South Korea’s BTS.

Family Says US Contractor Held In Afghanistan By Taliban Has Been Freed – WTOC https://collincountynewsonline.com/family-says-us-contractor-held-in-afghanistan-by-taliban-has-been-freed-wtoc/ WASHINGTON (AP) — The family of a U.S. veteran and civilian contractor Mark Frerichs, held more than two years in Afghanistan by Taliban, said on Monday that he has been freed by the Taliban. Frerichs’ release appears to have been part of a swap and came as an imprisoned Taliban drug lord also said he had been freed from American custody. Frerichs’ sister said in a statement that her family had prayed every day for his release. Frerichs, a Navy veteran and civilian contractor, was kidnapped in Afghanistan on Jan. 31, 2020. There was no independent confirmation from Washington on Frerichs’ release. His family, from Lombard, Illinois, did not immediately have more details. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. ISLAMABAD (AP) — A senior Taliban detainee said Monday he was released from a U.S. prison and handed over earlier in the day to the Taliban in Kabul, in exchange for an American prisoner held in Afghanistan. Bashir Noorzai, a notorious drug lord and member of the Taliban, told reporters in Kabul that he spent 17 years and six months in U.S. captivity. Other Taliban officials claimed he was held at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, but those statements could not be confirmed. The Taliban-appointed foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, also spoke at the press conference alongside Noorzai and welcomed the exchange, saying it marked the start of a “new era” in U.S.-Taliban relations. Muttaqi said the released American was Mark Frerichs, a Navy veteran and civilian contractor kidnapped in Afghanistan on Jan. 31, 2020. Frerichs was last seen in a video distributed earlier this year, pleading for his release so that he can be reunited with his family, according to a recording posted by The New Yorker magazine at the time. There was no independent confirmation or word from Washington on Frerichs’ release. “This can be a new chapter between Afghanistan and the United States, this can open a new door for talks between both countries,” Muttaqi said at the Kabul presser. “This act shows us that all problems can be solved through talks and I thank both sides’ teams who worked so hard for this to happen,” Muttaqi added. Frerichs, of Lombard, Illinois, was believed to be held by the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network, and U.S. officials across two presidential administrations had tried unsuccessfully to get him home. In the video, which marked the first time Frerichs was seen since his abduction, he says it was filmed last November. Videos of hostages are sometimes released to show proof that they are alive and to facilitate negotiations for a release, though it was not immediately clear if that was the case here. The New Yorker said it obtained the clip from an unidentified individual in Afghanistan. At the time, the FBI declined to comment on the video’s authenticity, but a sister of Frerichs, Charlene Cakora, issued a statement thanking the Taliban for releasing the video and describing it as “public confirmation of our family’s long-held belief that he is alive after more than two years in captivity.” Since their takeover of Afghanistan in August last year, the Taliban have demanded the United States release Noorzai in exchange for Frerichs amid expectations of such exchanges for U.S. citizens held in Afghanistan. However, there has been no public sign of Washington moving forward on any sort of prisoner trade or exchange. The Taliban also posted a brief video Monday on social media showing Noorzai’s arrival at the Kabul airport where he was welcomed by top Taliban officials, including Muttaqi. At the press conference, Noorzai expressed thankfulness at seeing his “mujahedeen brothers” — a reference to the Taliban — in Kabul. “I pray for more success of the Taliban,” he added. “I hope this exchange can lead to peace between Afghanistan and America, because an American was released and I am also free now.” Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.