Collin County News Online

Eli Lilly Sued For Age Discrimination By U.S. Agency EEOC – Reuters https://collincountynewsonline.com/eli-lilly-sued-for-age-discrimination-by-u-s-agency-eeoc-reuters/ FILE PHOTO: An Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is pictured at 50 ImClone Drive in Branchburg, New Jersey, March 5, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Sept 26 (Reuters) – Eli Lilly and Co was sued on Monday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which accused the drugmaker of illegally refusing to hire older workers for sales representative jobs because of their age. The complaint said Lilly’s violations began after Stephen Fry, its senior vice president for human resources and diversity, lamented during an April 2017 “Leadership Town Hall” that its sales force was skewed toward older workers, with 20% fewer “millennials” than the American workforce. According to the EEOC, Fry suggested that the lack of millennials was a problem, and the Indianapolis-based company would target 40% “Early Career” hiring. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Managers then changed their hiring practices for sales representatives, sometimes requiring greater review and approval before extending offers to older candidates, even after some recognized that the 40% goal was illegal, the EEOC said. The target remained through 2021, it added. Lilly, in a statement, denied the accusations and said it was “committed to fostering and promoting a culture of diversity and respect.” The lawsuit filed in Indianapolis federal court accused Lilly of violating the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act. It seeks to permanently enjoin future discrimination, obtain back pay and other damages for people not hired because of their age, and improve training for supervisors and managers. “This case underscores the continued need for the EEOC to break down barriers to employment” for older Americans as they work longer and in larger numbers, Robert Weisberg, an EEOC lawyer who helped bring the case, said in a statement. Lilly’s top-selling product is Trulicity, a treatment for type 2 diabetes. On Aug. 11, Lilly said Fry would retire at the end of 2022 after more than 35 years at the company. The case is EEOC v Lilly USA LLC, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, No. 22-01882. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Dan Levine in San Francisco; Editing by Stephen Coates Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Texas Tech Fined For Field Storming When Texas Player Shoved – The Associated Press – En Español https://collincountynewsonline.com/texas-tech-fined-for-field-storming-when-texas-player-shoved-the-associated-press-en-espanol/ IRVING, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech was fined $50,000 and reprimanded Monday by the Big 12 Conference because fans stormed the field following an overtime victory against rival Texas, a celebration during which a video showed one of them shoving a Longhorns player. A post on Texas Tech’s official athletic department Twitter account included a still shot from the video asking for help in identifying that fan, and said the matter had been turned over to the school’s police department. “Texas Tech does not condone any physical altercations between spectators and student-athletes. This behavior has no place at Texas Tech athletic events,” the school said in a statement. The video showed Texas senior edge rusher Ovie Oghoufo being shoved from behind by one of the fans who ran onto the field Saturday after the Red Raiders’ game-ending field goal for a 37-34 win, their first at home in the series since 2008. “I wouldn’t call the fan running into our player. I think the fan went and knocked our player down,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. “Those are tough situations. I love the pageantry of college football. When fans rush the field, it’s dangerous for us as coaches on both sides. It’s dangerous for the players. I give Ovie a lot of credit. I thought he showed great poise and composure. I thought it could have turned into an ugly situation.” Sarkisian said he didn’t blame fans for rushing the field to celebrate a victory like that, but said it would be good to find a better and safer way for everybody involved. He also acknowledged significant fines some conferences have to try to eliminate such situations. Texas Tech was fined and publicly reprimanded in accordance to Big 12 policy regarding standards of sportsmanship. “We have a duty to provide a safe game environment,” Big 12 Conference Commissioner Brett Yormark said. “The Texas Tech Department of Athletics has a written event management policy that, while well thought out, was unsuccessful in ensuring the safety and security of all visiting team student-athletes, officials, coaches and staff. There is zero tolerance for any act that compromises the safety of game participants.” ___ More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pqZVaF

Gaming Magazine Names Ilani ‘best Casino’ For Sixth-Straight Year – The Reflector https://collincountynewsonline.com/gaming-magazine-names-ilani-best-casino-for-sixth-straight-year-the-reflector/ The Reflector The streak of top-place success for ilani continues this year as the casino resort received the title of “best casino” in the Native Northwest category for the sixth year from Casino Player Magazine, ilani announced this month. Casino Player Magazine bestowed 18 awards on ilani for its 2022 Best of Gaming Awards released this month, according to a news release from the casino. The Native Northwest category covers dozens of casinos in Washington, Oregon and Northern California, according to the magazine. The casino has received the accolade every year since it opened its doors in 2017. In 2021, ilani won “best overall gaming resort” from the magazine. At the time of that award, the magazine highlighted ilani’s 100,000 square feet of gaming space, nearly 3,000 slot machines, 75 tables and 15 restaurants, bars and retail shops. The casino still placed in the top-three for overall gaming resort this year, taking second place, the release stated. This year ilani received eight first-place rankings including best video slots, best high limit room and best VIP lounge and services, among others, according to the release. The casino was honored to have received the numerous awards, ilani President and General Manager Kara Fox-LaRose stated in the release. “With such commendable recognition from Casino Player’s readers, ilani is continuing to rise to new heights in its ability to create memorable experiences for its valued guests,” Fox-LaRose stated. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s casino is up against several establishments in the Native Northwest category that feature one thing ilani doesn’t currently have — a hotel. That will change soon as the casino plans to open its 14-story, 300-room hotel next year.

Frisco ISD CTE Expansion Keeps Up With Program Demand, Workforce Needs – Community Impact Newspaper https://collincountynewsonline.com/frisco-isd-cte-expansion-keeps-up-with-program-demand-workforce-needs-community-impact-newspaper/ As students returned to school in Frisco ISD, construction began on a $22.19 million project to expand FISD’s Career and Technical Education Center from 175,186 square feet to 220,549 square feet. FISD students are encouraged to explore programs at the CTE center, FISD Associate Deputy Superintendent Wes Cunningham said. The experience gained through CTE courses in high school helps students be more sure about their future careers, he said. In many cases, students can also start working immediately in their field upon high school graduation. “This gives them the chance to experience some real-world jobs, and real-world skills and concepts in a safe environment,” Cunningham said. CTE Center Principal Dianna Manuel said the student enrollment at the center is driving its expansion. When the CTE Center first opened in 2008, it served about 1,200 students, Manuel said. Now it serves more than 5,000. In previous years, the CTE program has seen as much as a 12%-13% increase in the number of students. It continues to grow today, officials said. “We’re to the limit of our building capacity,” CTE Center Assistant Principal Travis Volk said. There are some programs that FISD has to limit because of space, staffing or internship availability, which the district wants to avoid, Manuel said. “Even 3% or 5% growth can still be hundreds of students that we right now don’t have room for,” she said. “That’s why the expansion is so important.” Project details The expansion is being funded through FISD’s 2018 school bond program. Project completion is slated for the summer of 2024, in time for classes during the 2024-25 school year, officials said. The existing building will be expanded to include a single-story addition on the southwest side. Also included in expansion plans are a two-story tornado shelter on the southeast side that will be surrounded by new single-story space, according to a January board presentation. The southwest addition will feature expanded space for the district’s veterinary medicine program, according to the presentation. The southwest addition will also add classroom space. In the new southeastern space, a two-story circulation space between the existing building and addition will aim to “provide a smooth transition while maintaining the existing south facade,” according to the presentation. A mixture of architecture, graphics, animation, esports and artificial intelligence labs will be included throughout the addition. Renovation work on the first and second floors of the existing building space are also included in architect’s plans, which will add more space for health science studies. The parking lot on the southeast side of the building along Ohio Drive will be removed for the new addition, reducing the center’s total parking capacity from 787 to 673 spaces. In the end, the CTE Center will have 30 new classrooms and seven multipurpose spaces to accommodate the hands-on learning models of CTE. The space will allow for about 1,000 additional students per day to be able to take classes at the CTE Center, according to the district website. How it works CTE programs are typically offered during high school for FISD students at the center located at 9889 Wade Blvd. Typically starting from their freshman year, students can select a course of study, or pathway, and if they so choose they can follow that pathway all the way through their senior year, Manuel said. However, FISD also allows students to choose more than one course of study and to pick up CTE courses at any time. “They don’t [have to] commit,” Manuel said. “They’re kids, they don’t know what they want to do yet.” CTE classes differ from other classes in that they are not lecture-based, Manuel said. The teachers and students are usually producing or creating something during the class period, such as programming a piece of software, creating an animation, or preparing meals and gaining kitchen experience in the CTE Center’s restaurant, Saveur. “That’s a big part of what we do here, is exposing kids to things that they could just really fall in love with,” said Bryan Bunn, a computer science teacher at the CTE Center. The district partners with the city, the Frisco Economic Development Corp., the Frisco Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Workforce Commission to understand what career opportunities students should know about, Cunningham said. The classes aim to ensure students experience as much as they can before they enter the workforce or decide on a course of study in college, officials said. “You don’t waste years in college trying something that you’re not really sure you like or not,” Manuel said. Expanding professions In addition to providing students with hands-on experience with real-world work, FISD offers certifications in many of its pathways so students can either get a step ahead on college applications or enter the workforce immediately out of high school, Manuel said. Michelle Millen, dean of health sciences and emergency services at Collin College, said all the partnerships the college has with FISD lead to a certification of some sort. She said not only do CTE programs help students explore career path options, but they also involve more rigorous coursework. “To hold those students accountable to that higher level of college rigor is something that is, I think, really valuable for high school students,” she said. Collin College recognizes that some students are ready for the workforce right after high school, and others are college bound, Millen said. Partnering with the CTE and dual-credit programs with various districts ultimately helps those students succeed, which in turn helps the workforce, she said. Collin College has increased its opportunities for CTE-based programs, opening four new campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic, including its technical education center in Allen. This also indicates the demand for programs like these, not just from students, but also from employers, she said. “We recognize the community impact of being able to prepare students for their next chapter,” Millen said. Cunningham said that while CTE classes are fun and engaging, they do involve intense learning that usually helps students be better prepared for college, too. Volk added that sometimes the students who struggle in other subjects or cause trouble in the classroom are able to “come alive” at the CTE Center. The programs there can help these students find a new passion for learning, he said. “The kids mature … because they see that there’s a positive outcome for them in the long run,” Volk said. “They found that passion for something they’ve discovered here in one of the classes.”

Great Wolf Lodge Gulf Coast Texas Will Open In 2024 – Houstonia Magazine https://collincountynewsonline.com/great-wolf-lodge-gulf-coast-texas-will-open-in-2024-houstonia-magazine/ The water park will feature 532 rooms and 95,000 square feet solely dedicated to the indoor water park Family fun is best experienced year-round, and while Texas has natural lakes and rivers for floating on by, nothing beats an indoor waterpark with exciting rides that you can visit any time. The country’s largest water park franchise is taking to the Gulf Coast to give Houston-area families the best stay-cation possible at Great Wolf Lodge Gulf Coast Texas.  Great Wolf Resorts is one of America’s largest indoor water park franchises. The company prides itself on family-friendly attractions, even beyond water park fun; many of the resorts feature areas for mini golf and bowling. The building of a Great Wolf Park to the Gulf Coast area means the addition of new jobs, a heightened tourism industry, and an overall economic boost to the region. While Great Wolf has resorts across the United States, up to this point, Grapevine has been its only other Texas location. But this fall, Great Wolf Resorts is set to break ground on a Webster location: Great Wolf Lodge Gulf Coast Texas, just 25 miles out of Houston.  With the grand opening planned for mid-to-late 2024, the water park will feature 532 rooms and 95,000 square feet solely dedicated to the indoor water park, totaling 27 acres of jam-packed joy. Featuring an additional adventure park, family dining options, and daily itineraries full of preplanned activities, this water park is the perfect place to schedule your weekend getaway—any time of the year. In addition to giving Houstonians a new vacation spot, the project has been endowed with over $200 million, which will provide an economic uplift to the Gulf Coast region, particularly as the opening of the new resort will bring over 500 job openings to the region.  While you wait for this addition to our local travel and leisure scene, you can still enjoy the great outdoors and nature’s own bodies of water by taking a drive to any of the lakes or rivers that surround Houston.

Gas Prices Edge Up In Wisconsin, Across Nation – Beloit Daily News https://collincountynewsonline.com/gas-prices-edge-up-in-wisconsin-across-nation-beloit-daily-news/ MADISON—Gas prices are rising in Wisconsin and across the nation. Prices at the gas pump rose a nickel over the past week, as the national average gas price hit $3.72 per gallon. The main reason is higher regional prices on the West Coast and the Midwest due to refinery issues ranging from planned maintenance to a fire, according to a news release from the AAA—The Auto Club Group. But low domestic demand as fewer drivers fuel up and much lower oil prices have helped to blunt some of the impact. On Friday, the price of oil slipped below $80 a barrel for the first time since January, primarily due to fears of a recession-led global economic slowdown.

20+ Anti-Inflammatory Vegetarian Lunch Ideas – EatingWell https://collincountynewsonline.com/20-anti-inflammatory-vegetarian-lunch-ideas-eatingwell/ Egg Salad and Watercress Tea Sandwiches Credit: Jacob Fox Packed with fiber, plant-based protein and plenty of veggies, these tasty vegetarian lunch ideas deliver the nutrients your body needs to fight off inflammation. Too much inflammation overtime can lead to pesky symptoms, like mental fog and achiness, and if left untreated, can contribute to the development of chronic conditions like arthritis and heart disease.  With these packable lunch ideas, like our Citrus Lime Tofu Salad and Egg Salad & Watercress Tea Sandwiches, you’ll not only get a delicious mid-day meal, but will also get the anti-inflammatory benefits that come from eating more plant-based foods. Citrus Lime Tofu Salad Citrus Lime Tofu Salad This veggie-packed salad has plenty of protein and fiber, so you’ll feel full and satisfied. Prep the ingredients ahead of time for an easy vegan lunch idea to pack for work. Advertisement Advertisement Pickled Beet, Arugula & Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwich Pickled Beet, Arugula & Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwich Credit: Jacob Fox This pickled beet, arugula and goat cheese sandwich is peppery with creamy notes from the goat cheese and sweet and tangy undertones from the pickled beets. Chopped walnuts add nuttiness and crunch to this easy sandwich. Cucumber, Tomato & Arugula Salad with Hummus 4526600.jpg Tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and feta top arugula in this quick Greek-inspired salad. Served with whole-wheat pita and prepared hummus, it makes a filling, yet healthy lunch. Advertisement Roasted Veggie Mason Jar Salad 4727200.jpg This vegan mason jar salad is easy to pack up and take for lunch. Layering the creamy cashew sauce into the bottom of the jar ensures that your big, bold power salad won’t become wilted by the time you’re ready to eat. Egg Salad & Watercress Tea Sandwiches Egg Salad and Watercress Tea Sandwiches Credit: Jacob Fox Peppery watercress adds zest to classic egg salad in these easy tea sandwiches. Enjoy as a quick appetizer or brunch option. Cucumber Salad, Hummus & Pita Bento Box Lunch 4538615.jpg Enjoy this refreshing bento box idea on your lunch break. It combines cucumber salad, hummus, pita and more for a satisfying work lunch. Advertisement Advertisement Vegan Kale Caesar Salad with Tofu Croutons 6807932.jpg Swapping tofu for the bread in these meal-prep Caesar salad bowls bumps up the satiety factor with 18 grams of protein. These crispy tofu croutons originally appeared in Lauren Grant’s recipe for Diabetic Living magazine (see Associated Recipes). Lacinato kale, also known as dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale, has flat, dark green-blue leaves–and its tenderness makes it perfect for eating raw, like in this salad. Tomato Sandwiches with Roasted Garlic & Basil Aioli Tomato Sandwich Roasted Garlic Basil Aioli Credit: Brittany Conerly These tomato sandwiches feature thick slices of fresh summer tomatoes plus homemade garlic aioli. To avoid a soggy sandwich, we toast the bread and draw moisture out of the tomatoes by placing them on paper towels and sprinkling them with a little salt. Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce 4513586.jpg Quinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these flavorful grain bowls and pack them in lidded containers to stash in the fridge for easy, healthy grab-and-go lunches all week long. Advertisement White Bean & Veggie Salad White Bean & Veggie Salad This meatless main-dish salad combines creamy, satisfying white beans and avocado. Try mixing it up with different seasonal vegetables. Vegan Lentil Soup Vegan Lentil Soup This vegan lentil soup recipe is packed with fresh ingredients and plenty of lentils that deliver a healthy dose of fiber in each bite. This vegan soup is the perfect cold-weather lunch or healthy dinner the whole family will love. Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple 4548014.jpg This salad with lentils, feta and apple is a satisfying vegetarian entree to whip together for lunch. To save time, swap in drained canned lentils–just make sure to look for low-sodium and give them a rinse before adding them to the salad. Advertisement Vegetarian Sushi Grain Bowl 4513584.jpg Skip the hassle of making sushi rolls at home and just go for this grain bowl. Start with a base of brown rice and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious and easy meal. Veggie Sandwich veggie sandwich There’s no chance of getting the afternoon munchies when you fuel up with this vegan veggie sandwich filled with fiber and healthy fats, plus fruit on the side. It’ll keep you energized until dinner. Feel free to swap in your other favorite sandwich vegetables, sprouts or greens. Meal-Prep Vegan Lettuce Wraps 6725219.jpg For these meal-prep-friendly lettuce wraps, we swap the traditional warm filling for a cold plant-based bean salad filling loaded with fresh herbs and lemon. Topping each lettuce leaf with a little quinoa before adding the filling helps to keep the lettuce from getting soggy. Advertisement Edamame & Veggie Rice Bowl 4727227.jpg The ingredients in this vegan grain bowl recipe can be prepped ahead for an easy lunch to pack for work. The tangy citrus dressing is a refreshing flavor with the sweet caramel of the roasted sheet-pan veggies. Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps 5241956.jpg We love the retro vibe of these egg salad lettuce wraps. Iceberg lettuce makes a perfect low-carb swap for bread to serve the egg salad. Caprese Sandwich Caprese Sandwich Credit: Photographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine Keely This caprese sandwich is fresh from the basil and hearty from thick, crusty ciabatta. The sun-dried tomatoes deepen the flavor. Topping the bread with a layer of basil leaves and using toasted bread helps to keep the sandwich from getting soggy if you need to make it a few hours ahead. Advertisement Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios 8427587.jpg Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup! Chopped Veggie Grain Bowls with Turmeric Dressing veggie grain bowl in a glass to-go container In about 10 minutes, you can prep a week’s worth of lunches using 4 simple ingredients from your local specialty grocery store. To minimize prep, we’re taking advantage of prechopped fresh veggie mix and frozen quinoa (which heats in the microwave in under 5 minutes). These crunchy chopped salad bowls are high in fiber but lower in calories, making them perfect for those following a reduced-calorie diet. Chickpea Salad Sandwich Chickpea Salad Sandwich Credit: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn This vegan chickpea salad sandwich is lemony, bright and surprisingly delicious. It’s got all the flavors of a classic tuna salad sandwich—dill, lemon and a bit of garlic—but with chickpeas instead to add a vegan source of protein and a healthy boost of fiber. Celery brings a nice crunch. Advertisement Guacamole Chopped Salad Guacamole Chopped Salad All of the delicious guacamole flavors you love in a healthy veggie-packed salad. Want to pump up the protein? Add leftover roast chicken or sautéed shrimp. Serve with tortilla chips on the side (or crumbled over the top) to take it up a notch. Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Rice Bowl Cuban Cauliflower Rice Bowl In this riff on a healthy grain bowl recipe, we use cauliflower rice instead of another whole grain like brown rice to cut back on carbs and load up on veggie servings. A simple citrusy drizzle, inspired by Cuban mojo sauce, finishes these vegan rice bowls, perfect for lunch or dinner. Loaded Cucumber & Avocado Sandwich loaded cucumber and avocado sandwich Credit: Jacob Fox This loaded cucumber-and-avocado sandwich is filled with creamy avocado and crispy cucumbers. Ricotta cheese mixed with extra-sharp Cheddar adds flavor while sliced red peppers offer a splash of color. Advertisement Chopped Rainbow Salad Bowls with Peanut Sauce 6725217.jpg Make good use of crunchy and colorful seasonal produce in these meal-prep-friendly vegetable bowls. With just 30 minutes of prep, you get four healthy lunches that are ready to grab-and-go. We use bulgur, which cooks faster and is higher in fiber than brown rice, but you could swap in quinoa (or any hearty whole grain). Feel free to add chopped cooked chicken, shrimp or tofu for extra protein.

Hurricane Ian: Buccaneers Moving Practice To Miami; NFL Monitoring Week 4 Game Vs. Chiefs In Tampa Bay – CBS Sports https://collincountynewsonline.com/hurricane-ian-buccaneers-moving-practice-to-miami-nfl-monitoring-week-4-game-vs-chiefs-in-tampa-bay-cbs-sports/ National Hurricane Center A matchup between two contenders who recently met in the Super Bowl is scheduled to take place Sunday night, as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are set to visit Tampa to face Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. However, Hurricane Ian has changed how the teams are preparing for the important showdown, and may even reschedule the game altogether. Hours after the National Hurricane Center upgraded Ian to a Category 2 storm on Monday, the Buccaneers finalized plans to evacuate Tampa on Tuesday and spend the rest of the week practicing at the Dolphins’ training facility in Miami, according to CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. Since the Dolphins play the Bengals on the road this Thursday, their stadium and fields were available for use. In the meantime, the NFL is continuing to monitor storm developments to determine whether the Buccaneers’ Sunday night matchup with the Chiefs can proceed as scheduled in Tampa. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles previously said Monday that the team is working with the NFL to make contingency plans in case they are forced to move Sunday’s game. “Right now, we’re still monitoring things but we’re working things out with the league and we should have a decision hopefully later on today about what we’re going to do,” Bowles said, via Rick Stroud.   Hurricane Ian is quickly approaching Cuba, and is expected to rapidly strengthen into a major hurricane as it moves into the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico, per The Weather Channel. As of now, the projections show the hurricane making its largest impact/landfall in Tampa on Wednesday through Thursday.

Purpose-Led Brands Could Diversify The Metaverse – Adweek https://collincountynewsonline.com/purpose-led-brands-could-diversify-the-metaverse-adweek/ Social Media Week Europe gives you exclusive access to live discussions with social media and digital marketing experts in London, 7–8 Nov. Save 20% on your pass today (ends 3 Oct.). This year, Roberto Max Salas transported 30,000 guests to Coachella. Salas, co-founder and CEO of creative agency Young Hero, knows the average person can’t afford a ticket, so instead he brought the music and art festival experience to the metaverse. The activation, which was created in partnership with media shop UEG, promoted client Absolut Vodka with a high-tech dance floor, open bar and Pride-themed, genderless clothing. WORK SMARTER – LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED. Subscribe today! To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber View Subscription Options Already a member? Sign in

From Mjolnir To Batarangs: 10 Of The Coolest Weapons Seen In Superhero Movies – Collider https://collincountynewsonline.com/from-mjolnir-to-batarangs-10-of-the-coolest-weapons-seen-in-superhero-movies-collider/ With She-Hulk currently racing towards its finale and Werewolf By Night recently receiving overwhelmingly positive first reactions, superhero properties continue to cast a large shadow over pop culture. Not to mention, the highly anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Black Adam arrive in theaters very soon. Discourse about superhero films is constantly ongoing. Fans like to debate the best characters, the best villains, and even, in this case, the coolest weapons and gadgets seen in superhero films. Batarangs As far as superheroes go, they do not get any cooler than Batman. The character has been a staple of movies, TV, comics, and video games for several decades now, and with Gotham Knights and The Batman Two on the way, Bruce Wayne isn’t going away anytime soon, either. None of the many weapons and gadgets wielded by Batman are as effective, simple, and fun as the Batarang. If you’ve ever played any Arkham games, you’ve likely wasted hours repeatedly throwing Batarangs at low-level thugs to frighten them. Cap’s Shield To put it simply, Cap’s shield defines the character. It symbolizes pride, patriotism, and the unstoppable desire to do what is right. The ownership of said shield was hotly debated during the Disney+ series, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. By the time the series concluded, however, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) embraced the Captain America mantle and held the shield with pride. Though his time with the shield was limited in the series, we expect to see him unleashing star-spangled fury when Captain America: New World Orderhits theaters in 2024. Lasso of Truth Image via HBO Max Perhaps one of the most unique weapons on this list, Wonder Woman’s Lasso Of Truth is an object of incredible power. The magical golden object forces anybody captured within it to obey the wielder’s commands and tell the truth. The Lasso of Truth is Diana Princes’ (Gal Gadot) main weapon in the DCEU. In addition to striking fear into the hearts of villains everywhere, it has also occasionally been played for laughs. Hopefully, the Lasso will continue to play a big role in Diana’s crime-fighting when she returns to the big screen in the upcoming Wonder Woman 3. Mjolnir Mjolnir is not only a weapon of nearly unthinkable power but also completely fair. The hammer can only be wielded by a being who is worthy of its power, and in the entirety of the MCU thus far, only three people have managed to wield Mjolnir. Thor was devastated when Mjolnir was crushed in the hands of Hela, but he was blown away when he discovered that Mjolnir had reformed and was now being wielded by his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). Though it is unclear if Mjolnir will return to the MCU, we sure hope we haven’t seen the last of that faithful hammer. The Cloak of Levitation Image via Marvel The Cloak of Levitation is clothing, magical artifact, and trusty companion all rolled into one. The cloak has saved Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) life on multiple occasions. It’s hard to think of a Doctor Strange appearance in which The Cloak Of Levitation hasn’t come to the rescue of the former Sorcerer Supreme. The cloak will certainly continue saving Doctor Strange’s life, but we’re still sad that the Infinity War scene in which Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) and Doctor Strange swapped costumes was cut. The Batmobile This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Like everybody has a favorite Batman, we all have a favorite Batmobile. It doesn’t matter the decade, the generation, or the director; the Batmobile always has been and will always be the coolest car in cinema history. Though it often looks different from film to film, there are some things the Batmobile always is. It’s always fast. It’s always armed to the teeth. And it always comes in black. The Batmobile will return to our screens in the upcoming The Flash movie, perhaps even two different iterations of the beloved car. Stormbreaker Image via Disney Like Batman, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has a badass and extensive arsenal. After Mjolnir was destroyed, fans assumed there was no way the MCU could give the God of Thunder an equally cool weapon. Thankfully, Thor knows Eitri (Peter Dinklage), a dwarf with the knowledge and skillset required to build an axe that can not only summon the Bifrost but also kill Thanos (Josh Brolin). Seeing Thor’s two weapons fight for his affection is one of the best jokes in Thor: Love and Thunder, and hopefully, Stormbreaker will be functioning as normal when we next see Thor. The Hulkbuster Building a suit capable of going toe to toe with the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) is something that only Tony Stark could accomplish. Of course, it doesn’t contain the Hulk quite as quickly as Tony planned, leaving considerable collateral damage in their wake. Of course, the Hulkbuster suit is redeemed when, years later, it is worn by Bruce Banner himself. Given that he can’t turn into the Hulk, a suit capable of kicking the Hulk’s ass is the second-best option. It proves to be a reliable option, too, with Bruce playing a significant role in the battle of Wakanda before the Avengers’ eventual loss. Hawkeye’s Trick Arrows Image via Disney The Hawkeye Disney+ series was a lot of fun. It was filled with festive cheer, lovable new characters, unexpected introductions, and, perhaps best of all, more trick arrows than you could count. Perhaps most memorably, one arrow contained Pym particles which Clint (Jeremy Renner) used to shoot another arrow, enlarging it massively and sending it crashing down into a car full of bad guys. The trick arrows provided the series with some incredibly memorable fight scenes and set pieces, and audiences hope to see more of this whenever Clint and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) return to action. Trident of Neptune (Bernadette) Image Via Warner Bros. Jason Momoa is effortlessly cool, so it should be no surprise that his take on Arthur Curry is one of the slickest superheroes to grace the big screen. Very few actors out there could pull off a gold and green superhero costume, but Momoa does so without even trying. His Arthur is charming, bold, and endearingly brave. It may have taken him a while to find the Trident Oo Neptune, which Momoa lovingly refers to as Bernadette, but it was well worth the wait. The Trident is the perfect weapon for Aquaman. The mystical weapon is powerful and enchanted, often strong enough to harm the New Gods and a symbol of the ruler of Atlantis. KEEP READING: 5 Superhero Movie Recastings That Worked (And Some That Didn’t)

Have Helium Leaders Been Lining Their Own Pockets While Not Delivering On Product? – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/have-helium-leaders-been-lining-their-own-pockets-while-not-delivering-on-product-cryptonews/ Source: Adobe/FellowNeko Executives at Helium (HNT), a developer of a “decentralized wireless infrastructure,” as well as their family and friends, hoarded the majority of wealth at the project’s launch, claims Forbes. This is a $1.2 billion web3 company that said it was building a global wireless internet connection called the “People’s Network.” Helium COO Frank Mong wrote that one of the tenets of the Helium network is fairness, saying that “everyone has an equal opportunity to mine.” But Forbes has painted a very different picture of the company – an antonym of fair. Per its report, the People’s Network users have seen “vanishingly small crypto rewards,” claiming that, “Helium has made a handful of people disproportionately rich: its executives and their friends.” Lee Reiners, Policy Director at the Duke Financial Economics Center, who teaches cryptocurrency law at Duke Law, was quoted by the news outlet as saying that, “This thing was set up to enrich the founders and early supporters at the expense of everyday people.” Forbes claims to have reviewed “hundreds of leaked internal documents” and transaction data, and that it interviewed five former Helium employees, finding that, despite the project insiders promoting democracy and fairness, a majority of wealth generated in the earliest days of the project, when it was the most lucrative, went to these insiders. The authors claim to have identified 30 digital wallets that appear to be connected to Helium employees, their friends, family, and early investors. These wallets show HNT 3.5 million mined, which is almost half of all tokens mined within the first three months of the network’s launch in August 2019. Then, within six months, more than a quarter of all HNT had been mined by insiders — valued at some $250 million during the token’s peak last year. After the crash, the tokens are still worth $21 million. The authors claim that, “While Helium and its executives have publicly discussed their incentive plan — a scheme called Helium Security Tokens, or HST, which guarantees about a third of all HNT for insiders — they haven’t previously disclosed the additional windfall taken from Helium’s public token supply, worth millions, that was identified by Forbes.” This means that, when Helium rewards per hotspot hit their all-time high, a bit more than 30% went to the community, while insiders claimed the rest. Each hotspot earned an average HNT 33,000 in August 2019, while each hotspot today only earns around HNT 2 a month. So, the executives, friends, family, and certain early investors made windfalls in addition to the guaranteed dividends before earnings plummeted. The article also claims that some insiders exploited vulnerabilities known to the company to further fill their bags. ‘Nothing unreasonable’ That said, Amir Haleem, Helium’s co-founder and CEO, described the project on Discord, as “by far the most fair token distribution of any project that I’m aware of.” Haleem further said in an interview that approximately half of the initial hotspots were distributed to employees, and their family and friends. “None of those numbers feel unreasonable to me or egregious in any way,” he told Forbes. However, a hotspot linked to Haleem’s wife displayed the coordinates of a California home the couple owned, and five hotspots connected to this wallet mined HNT 250,000 in the network’s first three months – earning a total HNT 455,000 from mining rewards, worth $25 million at HNT’s peak price, and $2 million today. It is unclear when or if Haleem sold these tokens and he declined to comment, the authors said. Another example is that of COO Frank Mong. Per Forbes, in a single day in August 2021, a wallet that appears connected to Mong received almost a dozen payments – worth nearly $1 million – from two other wallets linked to him. The sum was moved to a Binance wallet. Asked if Helium should have disclosed to the community this additional insider windfall, Haleem replied that, “I don’t know why we would be asked to be in a position to reveal anything about these people…They took an enormous risk and a huge chance on paying money to build something.” Haleem claimed that some crypto projects reserve as much as 90% of initial token supplies for investors and team members, which Forbes could not substantiate, and Haleem allegedly did not provide an example. “That’s the playing field that we’re always on in crypto, whether rightly or wrongly,” he said. “The generally accepted reality is that someone has to start the network.” More than one alleged issue Helium also seems to be struggling to generate revenue from its network, claimed Forbes, adding that, between June 2021 and August 2022, just $92,000 in revenue was generated from data moving across the network – compared to the $250 million the parent company has raised from investors. Helium generates the vast majority of its revenue from people registering their new hotspots and authenticating other devices on the network. Source: Forbes The company may have also exaggerated the nature of some of its partnerships, with Helium subsequently removing certain companies from their website where they had been displayed as customers. Though the money + hype poured in, however, we found that Helium only generated $92K from its network being used over the past ~year. Just $1500 for the month of August. Meanwhile, its community has purchased more than $500M worth of hotspots, and their rewards have plummeted. pic.twitter.com/lYBZguVieN — sarah emerson (@SarahNEmerson) September 23, 2022 Helium is backed by Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global, among other investors. Neither of these companies appeared in the early insider group, said Forbes. At noon UTC on Monday, HNT is trading at $4.52. It’s up nearly 1% in a day and 14% in a week. It’s down 24% in a month, 74% in a year, and 92% since its all-time high of $54.88 recorded in November 2021. The company says it is currently building Helium 5G, collaborating with wireless carriers DISH and T-Mobile, while they also announced the launch of the MOBILE token to reward hotspot owners for building the 5G ecosystem. And while some applauded Forbes’ report: Others criticized it: I read it twice. They “reported” and “investigated” nothing. They know nothing about the network or how it functions. They don’t even understand how radio waves work lmao. Forbs and these “writers” are trying to cash in on the noise. Funny how they wanna talk after T-Mobile deal. — Crypto_Zonk (@therunningman__) September 25, 2022 ____

Technology Innovation Center To Bring Over 200 Tech Jobs To Tahlequah – Tahlequah Daily Press https://collincountynewsonline.com/technology-innovation-center-to-bring-over-200-tech-jobs-to-tahlequah-tahlequah-daily-press/ A new technology innovation center is opening in Tahlequah and will bring over 200 tech jobs with it. Provalus’ fourth innovation center is now in Tahlequah and it’s something that has been in the works since January with the board members of the Tahlequah Regional Development Authority. TRDA CEO President Nathan Reed said this move couldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Chair Josh Hutchins, Dower Combs, Ward 3 City Councilor Stephen Highers, and the board members of TRDA. “The Tahlequah Regional Development Authority is thrilled to welcome Provalus to our community,” Reed said. “We could not be happier Provalus chose Tahlequah and thank them for considering and choosing our community for their investment. They will bring over 200 well-paying, stable jobs to downtown Tahlequah over the next several years.” Reed, Hutchins, Combs, and Highers traveled to Brewton, Alabama earlier this year to recruit and Reed said the four of them hit it hard. Hutchins went to learn more about Provalus and the people working there. “They had a beautiful facility there and we met several of their team members, from the president/CEO of Provalus to several members of their teams providing services to specific clients. I was very impressed by how they do business and by the folks themselves,” Hutchins said. They began assembling stakeholders in the community after they returned from Alabama with the goal of bringing Provalus to Tahlequah. Hutchins said the careers Provalus will create will broaden Tahlequah’s base economy. “Things like manufacturing, government, education, healthcare, etc., comprise the base economy. Services and retail are very important too, but the base economy jobs provide that solid foundation which allows retail and services to grow and prosper,” he said. Hoskin announced that CN is purchasing the 12,000 square-foot Foundry building and leasing it back to TRDA for Provalus’ use. Officials with Provalus said Tahlequah stood out because of the people and the strong partnership between all its entities. “Our business is about collaboration and partnership and innovation. All of the attributes that make our business successful are present here. We’re looking forward to partnering with the people of Tahlequah to influence revitalization in this community.” said Will Ruzic, Provalus vice president of facilities. Combs said his focus was bringing businesses and higher paying jobs to Tahlequah. “This also puts Tahlequah in the spotlight and on the radar for other companies looking to locate here,” he said. “This shows Tahlequah is open for business and will continue to support our business community.” The next step is recruitment and Reed said that’s the biggest piece of this whole process. “They are already offering jobs to people and their first training class for clients — they’ve already got clients who are ready to come in to the Oklahoma site — Oct. 10, they’re going to start their first training session,” he said. Highers called this a ‘huge win” for the community and it was due to a group effort of many people in Tahlequah. “For Tahlequah, this is an awesome opportunity for our community, and I hope this is the start of a much bigger effort to grow the Tahlequah economy,” Highers said.

Popular Dell G15 Gaming Laptop With Ryzen 5 6600H And RTX 3050 Drops To US$675 Thanks To Coupon Code – Notebookcheck.net https://collincountynewsonline.com/popular-dell-g15-gaming-laptop-with-ryzen-5-6600h-and-rtx-3050-drops-to-us675-thanks-to-coupon-code-notebookcheck-net/ Reviews, News, CPU, GPU, Articles, Columns, Other Not Set Default Review Flagship Review Short Review Review Update Ultra Short Review Live Default Review Live Flagship Review First Impression Review Other Review Smartwatch / eBike / Camera Comp. Accessory Review Game Benchmark Review 3D Printer Review Analysis Default News Major Launch News (NDA) Sponsored News Special Topic News Advertorial Article Magazine Article List Article Column “or” search relation. 3D Printing, 5G, Accessory, AI, Alder Lake, AMD, Android, Apple, Arc, ARM, Audio, Benchmark, Biotech, Business, Camera, Cannon Lake, Cezanne (Zen 3), Charts, Chinese Tech, Chromebook, Console, Convertible / 2-in-1, Cryptocurrency, Cyberlaw, Deal, Desktop, DIY, E-Mobility, Education, Exclusive, Fail, Foldable, Gadget, Galaxy S, Gamecheck, Gaming, Geforce, Google Pixel, GPU, How To, Ice Lake, Intel, Intel Evo, Internet of Things (IoT), iOS, iPad, iPad Pro, iPhone, Jasper Lake, Lakefield, Laptop, Launch, Leaks / Rumors, Linux / Unix, List, Lucienne (Zen 2), MacBook, Mini PC, Monitor, MSI, OnePlus, Opinion, Phablet, Radeon, Raptor Lake, Renoir, Review Snippet, RISC-V, Rocket Lake, Ryzen (Zen), Science, Security, Single-Board Computer (SBC), Smart Home, Smartphone, Smartwatch, Software, Storage, Tablet, ThinkPad, Thunderbolt, Tiger Lake, Touchscreen, Ultrabook, Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR), Wearable, Wi-Fi 7, Windows, Workstation, XPS, Zen 3 (Vermeer), Zen 4 Ticker

Watch NASA’s DART Mission To Crash Into An Asteroid And Defend The Earth: Live Updates – The New York Times https://collincountynewsonline.com/watch-nasas-dart-mission-to-crash-into-an-asteroid-and-defend-the-earth-live-updates-the-new-york-times/ Space rocks have hit Earth with devastating impact. Just ask the dinosaurs. The good news: At present, astronomers do not know of any asteroids that have any chance of hitting Earth in the next century or so. The bad news: Astronomers estimate they have not yet found another 15,000 or so near-Earth asteroids that are big enough to wipe out a city. If an asteroid that is on a collision path with Earth is discovered, there could be a chance to divert it before it hits. That’s where NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test spacecraft — DART, for short — comes in. On Monday at 7:14 p.m. Eastern time, DART is set to crash into a small asteroid at 14,000 miles per hour. This isn’t like the movie “Armageddon” — no one is going to blow up an asteroid. Rather it is a proof of principle that colliding with a space rock and pushing it into a different orbit could be a feasible strategy for planetary defense. NASA TV will broadcast coverage of the end of this mission beginning at 6 p.m.. If all you want to watch is a stream of photos from the spacecraft as it closes in on the asteroid, NASA’s media channel started broadcasting those at 5:30 p.m. Or you can watch it in the video player above. Sept. 26, 2022, 5:59 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2022, 5:59 p.m. ET Image An image of Jupiter taken by the DART spacecraft at a distance of 435 million miles.Credit…NASA/Johns Hopkins APL When DART collides with its asteroid target, we’ll see nothing. Rather, the stream of pictures of the small asteroid Dimorphos getting bigger and bigger as the DART spacecraft gets closer and closer will freeze. Then, if triumphant, the engineers will cheer. There is nothing like a severing of communications to confirm a successful crash. That final image, which will be taken about two and a half seconds before impact, with the surface of the asteroid filling the camera’s field of view, is the last we will see of Dimorphos on Monday evening. It will not be the last image, however. Trailing behind DART is a tiny spacecraft named the Light Italian CubeSat for Imaging of Asteroids, or the LICIACube. Built by the Italian Space Agency, the LICIACube tagged along with DART for the first nine months of the mission, then separated and went on its own way on a slightly shifted trajectory that will miss Dimorphos. The LICIACube will capture images of DART’s demise as well as the resulting crater. But because it is so small — its antenna is small, too — it will only be able to send data slowly via a weak radio signal to the radio dishes of NASA’s Deep Space Network. It will probably be a day or two before the first of the LICIACube’s images are available. About 40 telescopes on Earth and several in space will also be pointed at Dimorphos and its parent asteroid, Didymos, before and after the impact. None of them can see Dimorphos, much less the divot that DART will carve out. But the expectation is that the Didymos-Dimorphos system will become brighter in the hours after the impact. “What we’re looking for there is an overall brightening of the whole system, indicating how much dust and other debris got kicked up because that ejecta goes into space, and it is also lit up by the sun,” said Thomas Statler, the DART program scientist, during a news conference last week. How much and how quickly the brightening occurs “is a measure of something about the consistency of the material that was lofted up and how much there was,” Dr. Statler said. The telescopes include NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes and the camera on the Lucy spacecraft that is headed toward a rendezvous with asteroids trapped in the orbit of Jupiter. The Lucy mission launched about a month before DART did. Hubble will not have a view of Didymos at the time of impact because Earth will be in the way. Instead, the telescope will start observing about 15 minutes later. “That’s OK because we don’t really expect anything to be really observable from the exact moment of impact,” Dr. Statler said. Whether the Webb telescope, which spends much of its time peering at galaxies billions of miles away, can track a small speeding asteroid fewer than seven million miles from Earth, is not clear. “Let me stress here, this is not what J.W.S.T. is designed to do,” Nancy Chabot, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore who serves as the coordination lead for the DART mission, said during a news conference on Sept. 12. “This is a challenging measurement for them.” Still, it’s worth a try, she said. “This is a unique opportunity in a unique moment to take all the resources that we possibly can to maximize what we learn,” Dr. Chabot said, “so they will be looking. We’ll see what they get.” The key measurement will be the change in the time it takes Dimorphos to complete an orbit around Didymos. The head-on crash of DART will sap some of Dimorphos’s angular momentum, causing it to fall a bit closer to Didymos. That is predicted to speed up Dimorphos and shorten its orbital period, currently 11 hours, 55 minutes by about 1 percent. “We will notice that the binary asteroid system is running fast,” Dr. Statler said. That measurement, by radar and by the periodic dimming as Dimorphos passes in front of or behind Didymos, will take some time. “I would be surprised if we had a firm measurement of the period change in less than a few days,” Dr. Statler said. “And I would be really surprised if it took more than three weeks.” Sept. 26, 2022, 5:40 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2022, 5:40 p.m. ET Image Regolith dispersed as the OSIRIS-REX spacecraft tried to take a sample of the surface of the asteroid Bennu in 2020.Credit…NASA Most asteroids in the solar system orbit in the main belt, between Mars and Jupiter and never come close to Earth. But others, through billions of years of gravitational do-si-do, have been slung into other orbits. Some of those now cross paths with Earth’s orbit, and thus potentially could crash into Earth someday. If astronomers discover an asteroid that is on a collision course with Earth, they would want to prevent it. Hence, the DART mission. Astronomers estimate that there are about 25,000 of these near-Earth asteroids that are 460 feet or wider in diameter. Those are big enough that a collision with Earth would release more energy than the largest of thermonuclear weapons — more than enough to destroy a city, but not enough to inflict a planet-wide mass extinction. (The asteroid blamed for the extinction of the dinosaurs was much bigger, about six miles wide. Astronomers have located all of those, and none of them pose any imminent danger to Earth.) One of them is Bennu, an asteroid as wide as the Empire State Building is tall that NASA’s OSIRIS-REX spacecraft visited recently. There is no chance of Bennu hitting Earth in the next century. But then in 2135, it will come close, within 125,000 miles or so, or about half the distance from the Earth to the moon. The uncertainties in just how close it will be make the numerical simulations after 2135 more uncertain, and some of the possible trajectories collide with Earth. Last year, NASA calculated a 1-in-1,750 chance of an impact between now and 2300, with concern rising in the 2100s. NASA continues to search for thousands of asteroids that are believed to be 460 feet or wider and in orbits not far from Earth. A new U.S.-financed ground-based telescope in Chile, the Vera Rubin Observatory, will perform sweeps of the night sky and will find most of the missing asteroids. NASA is also working on a space telescope called NEO Surveyor that will also discover many near-Earth objects, including asteroids. At present, NASA is aiming for a launch in 2028. Even when all of the 460-foot-diameter asteroids are found, the task is not done. Impacts of smaller asteroids, which are even more numerous, could also inflict major damage. The meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013 was about 60 feet in diameter. It did not cause any deaths, but it caused numerous injuries, mostly from glass shattered by the shock wave. Sept. 26, 2022, 5:36 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2022, 5:36 p.m. ET Michael Roston Editing spaceflight coverage NASA has just started a feed of pictures from the camera on the DART spacecraft. It’s embedded in the video player above. For now, all you will see is a dot, but watch for that dot to grow as the spacecraft approaches Didymos and Dimorphos. Sept. 26, 2022, 5:00 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2022, 5:00 p.m. ET Image A placard showing the DART mission’s target at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.Credit…Jim Watson/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The asteroid now known as Didymos was discovered on April 11, 1996, by Joseph Montani of the Spacewatch project at the University of Arizona. About half a mile wide, Didymos travels in an orbit that crosses Earth, making it what astronomers call a potentially hazardous object. In November 2003, it passed pretty close to Earth, missing by less than 4.5 million miles. Next year, it will miss by even less, coming within 3.6 million miles of our planet. Nonetheless, Didymos is not on a path to hit Earth — for context, the moon is typically some 238,000 miles from Earth. Video An animation showing the approximate orbit of the Didymos system around the Sun.CreditCredit…NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben A few years later, echoes bounced back when radar signals were directed at Didymos. That suggested the asteroid was not alone, but possessed a moon. That was supported by visual observations that showed a clocklike dip in brightness whenever the moon passed in front of or behind Didymos. Radar images taken in 2003 by the giant Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico directly confirmed the ...

27-Acre Multifamily Development Coming To North McKinney In 2024 – Community Impact Newspaper https://collincountynewsonline.com/27-acre-multifamily-development-coming-to-north-mckinney-in-2024-community-impact-newspaper/ Dallas-based developer Billingsley Company has filed a new multifamily development, termed The Chase at Wilson Creek, with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The $120 million development, located at 6500 W. University Drive, will begin construction at the end of November and should be completed in May 2024, according to the TDLR filing. The multifamily development will be placed on nearly 58 acres that have been owned by Billingsley Co. since 2005, according to the Collin County Appraisal District. The development will be designed by Hensley Lamkin Rachel, Inc and will include 17 residential buildings, three amenity buildings, one detached garage and one standalone garage. The McKinney Planning and Zoning Commission will vote on a preliminary-final plat request at its Sept. 27 meeting to subdivide the property into smaller zoning sections, allowing for Phase 1 of the development to use only 27.6 acres, according to the meeting’s agenda.

Where To Stay In Palm Springs: Vacation Rentals – Palm Springs Life https://collincountynewsonline.com/where-to-stay-in-palm-springs-vacation-rentals-palm-springs-life/ They also offer beachy abodes on Catalina Island. Together with their sister brands Catalina Island Vacation Rentals and Palm Springs Rental Agency, the company represents more vacation rentals and annual leasing properties than any other locally owned agency in California. Once you experience a private vacation home, crowded hotels become a thing of the past. Vacation Palm Springs 901 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Ste. B200 Palm Springs 800-544-0300 vacationpalmsprings.com Short- and long-term stays with luxurious amenities are the specialty here. Locally based teams work to ensure your home away from home is comfortable, clean, and ready to host you for the most amazing desert holiday. Many rental options include private pools, hot tubs, and on-site golf or tennis courts.

Forest Service Seizes PG&E Equipment As Part Of Fire Probe – 69News WFMZ-TV https://collincountynewsonline.com/forest-service-seizes-pge-equipment-as-part-of-fire-probe-69news-wfmz-tv/ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Federal investigators have taken possession of a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. utility transmission pole and attached equipment in a criminal probe into what started a Northern California fire that has become the largest in the state this year, the utility said in a regulatory filing Monday. U.S. Forest Service officials indicated to PG&E that an initial assessment showed the Mosquito Fire started near one of its power lines on National Forest lands, the Oakland-based utility said in its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Federal investigators removed the pole and equipment on Saturday, the utility said. The Mosquito Fire has scorched 120 square miles (310 square kilometers) and was 85% contained as of Monday. The blaze in the Sierra Nevada foothills, about 110 miles (180 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco, broke out Sept. 6 and has destroyed at least 78 homes and other structures and charred forestland across Placer and El Dorado counties. Earlier this month, the fire surpassed the size of the previous largest conflagration in 2022 — the McKinney Fire — although this season has seen a fraction of last year’s wildfire activity so far. Fire officials said total containment of the Mosquito Fire is expected around Oct. 15. PG&E is cooperating with the U.S. Forest Service investigation, which has yet to determine what caused the blaze, the utility said in a statement Monday. The utility said it is conducting its own investigation into what sparked the blaze and that it doesn’t have access to the physical evidence that was collected by the Forest Service investigation over the weekend. “As the threat of extreme weather continues to impact our state and the West, we remain focused on preventing major wildfires and safely delivering energy to our customers and hometowns,” it said. PG&E equipment has been blamed for several of California’s deadliest wildfires in recent years, even as drought and heat waves tied to climate change have made wildfires fiercer and harder to fight. The utility pleaded guilty in 2019 to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for a 2018 blaze ignited by its long-neglected electrical grid that nearly destroyed the town of Paradise and became the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019, after that blaze and others were blamed on its aging equipment. The utility emerged from bankruptcy in 2020 and negotiated a $13.5 billion settlement with some wildfire victims. But it still faces civil and criminal actions related to other fires. On Friday, a lawsuit claiming the Mosquito Fire was ignited by PG&E’s poorly maintained utility infrastructure was filed in San Francisco Superior Court. “The damage done to several counties by PG&E was entirely avoidable with their knowledge and expertise as electrical service providers,” attorney Gerald Singleton said in a statement. “PG&E continues to act negligently and has been responsible for more than 1,500 fires across the states leading to deaths, property destruction, financial burdens, and ruined lives because of their poorly maintained utility equipment,” Singleton said. The financial impact has not yet been reported but will likely be significant due to the number of acres that have been charred and recklessly ruined, forever changing the communities and lives of those affected, Singleton said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Executive Constantine Announces Plan To Bolster Behavioral Health Access By Creating Crisis Care Centers, Preserving Residential Treatment, And Investing In Community Behavioral Health Workforce – King County https://collincountynewsonline.com/executive-constantine-announces-plan-to-bolster-behavioral-health-access-by-creating-crisis-care-centers-preserving-residential-treatment-and-investing-in-community-behavioral-health-workforce-kin/ Summary King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a robust plan to improve the state of behavioral health availability and sustainability in King County alongside a broad coalition of elected officials, behavioral health workers and providers, emergency responders, and businesses. Story King County Executive Dow Constantine and a regional coalition of leaders today announced a plan to address the behavioral health crisis by creating a countywide network of five crisis care centers, investing in the recruitment and retention of the community behavioral health workforce, and restoring the number of residential treatment beds in the region. The plan would be funded by a nine-year property tax levy to treat immediate crisis and support long-term recovery and wellbeing, and if approved by the King County Council will be submitted to voters for approval in April 2023. “We must do more to deliver the behavioral health care people need, when they need it, especially in a moment of crisis. Today, we are telling the thousands of King County residents in behavioral health crisis, their families, and our communities – help is on the way,” said Executive Dow Constantine. “The behavioral health system in this state has long been underfunded and underappreciated. The pandemic added further stress, and need is increasing even as we lose both treatment beds and qualified workers. Now, we can chart a path forward as a region – to create places where people can receive the effective care they need and begin their journey to recovery. This is an opportunity to make the generational investment our region needs.” The proposal is estimated to cost the owner of a median-value home about $121 in 2024. The levy would continue through 2032, generating a total of $1.25 billion to stabilize and strengthen King County’s behavioral health crisis care system. Informed by a broad-based coalition of local governments, behavioral health workers and providers, emergency responders, and businesses, the behavioral health crisis response plan developed by Executive Constantine will do four things: Create five new regional crisis care centers: Distributed geographically across the county, the centers will provide walk-in access and the potential for short-term stays to help people stabilize, depending on needs, with one center specifically serving youth. Preserve and restore the dramatic loss of residential treatment beds: In 2018, 355 beds providing community-based residential care for people with mental health residential needs existed in King County. Today, only 244 of these beds are available. Grow the behavioral health workforce pipeline: The proposal will create career pathways through apprenticeship programming and access to higher education, credentialing, training, and wrap-around supports. It will also invest in equitable wages for the workforce at crisis care centers. Provide immediate services while centers are being constructed: The proposal will also use initial proceeds to quickly create mobile or site-based crisis behavioral health services that can operate until the first crisis care centers open. This bridge strategy will complement recent state and federally-funded-mobile crisis teams. “Building healthy communities requires investing in individualized, comprehensive, and sustained behavioral health care. Our residents in crisis and the most vulnerable deserve nothing less,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “The time is now to reestablish proven behavioral health solutions and reverse the trend of negative health outcomes. Together, we can show progress for our communities and provide stability, resources, and expanded access to care for those in need.” Currently, King County is without a walk-in behavioral health urgent care facility. Only one 46-bed behavioral health crisis facility is in operation for the entire county. The region’s only voluntary crisis facility resource, DESC’s Crisis Solutions Center in Seattle requires a referral from a first responder, hospital, designated crisis responder, or mobile response team due to its limited capacity. “For many years now, law enforcement has been the primary responder for people in behavioral health crisis. I’m excited that the proposed behavioral health levy will bring urgently needed resources to work alongside first responders,” said King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “A well-resourced and well-functioning behavioral health system is a vital component of an effective public safety system. When there are more places for people to go to receive timely, life-saving care from mental health professionals, and we have expanded behavioral health outreach, we will begin to address the unmet behavioral health needs in our communities. At the same time, we can increase the effectiveness of law enforcement, allowing officers to respond to higher priority public safety incidents.” Many people cycle through a revolving door of emergency rooms, jails, and homelessness because other options do not exist. In King County, case managers identify people who need a behavioral health supportive housing unit or a psychiatric residential treatment bed and find that providers reach capacity by mid-month. As of July 2022, people wait an average of 44 days for a mental health residential bed. “As I have stated before, our ability to respond to behavioral health crisis events is itself in crisis,” said Michelle McDaniel, CEO of Crisis Connections. “It is imperative that King County invests in the connection of a system where community members have a place to call, there are places for people to go to access care, and someone who can respond no matter the circumstance. King County is acting with the urgency this moment requires, and I look forward to working closely with the Executive and the coalition to ensure people get the care they need when they need it.” In recent years the number of residential treatment beds is in steady decline. King County recently purchased Cascade Hall in North Seattle, preserving 64 beds or approximately 25 percent of King County’s remaining mental health residential treatment beds. “Behavioral health care is built upon inadequate wages. People in this field—including people with bachelor’s and Master’s degrees—regularly find themselves working to enroll clients in housing and food subsidy programs that they themselves qualify for. Choosing to do work we care about should not mean sacrificing a living, thriving wage,” said Kristen Badin, Crisis Counselor, SEIU 1199NW. “In this proposal King County is making a commitment to begin to change that. By committing that these centers will open with wages that recruit and retain workers, rather than the low wages that exist in the field today, we are righting a wrong.” In North King County, the Cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Shoreline, and Lake Forest Park are in the process of developing a place for more crisis stabilization beds for north King County residents. Executive Constantine’s 2023-2024 Biennial Budget to be announced tomorrow invests up to $11.5 million in the project already underway, including a $10 million state capital grant, for the county’s first crisis care center. “This proposal expands upon the work we have been doing in North King County and opens doors across the entire region to more compassionate, effective behavioral health care.” said Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet. “Having somewhere to go is a critical missing piece of the behavioral health continuum of care, and it is a priority of our North King County city coalition to secure funding to build out and operate a future facility.  The health and well-being of our communities are at the center of our region’s safety and security.  I am grateful for the County and our City partners of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline in helping realize these critical investments.” King County will continue to partner with state agencies and state legislators to address key priorities in the behavioral health crisis response system. This partnership at the state and local level is essential to increase foundational Medicaid funding as well as capital and crisis services investments that match the community’s needs. King County’s robust community-based behavioral health provider network will also play a lead role in designing and operating the facilities this levy will make possible. The County Council is expected to vote by February on whether to put the proposal on the April 2023 ballot. Additional behavioral health investments will be announced as part of the Executive’s 2023-2024 Biennial Budget, set to be sent to the King County Council on September 27. Relevant links August 2022 – Executive Constantine announces coalition to tackle behavioral health crisis in King County September 2022 – King County and State acquire behavioral health treatment center in North Seattle, preserving sixty-four treatment beds Crisis Care One-pager (PDF) Quotes We must do more to deliver the behavioral health care people need, when they need it, especially in a moment of crisis. Today, we are telling the thousands of King County residents in behavioral health crisis, their families, and our communities – help is on the way. The behavioral health system in this state has long been underfunded and underappreciated. The pandemic added further stress, and need is increasing even as we lose both treatment beds and qualified workers. Now, we can chart a path forward as a region – to create places where ...

Is Florida Ready For Ian?; First Coast Success; What’s Health Got To Do With It?; Sports Wrap – WJCT NEWS https://collincountynewsonline.com/is-florida-ready-for-ian-first-coast-success-whats-health-got-to-do-with-it-sports-wrap-wjct-news/ Published September 26, 2022 at 4:42 PM EDT Is Florida ready for Hurricane Ian’s potential impact? A.G. Gancarski of Jacksonville Today and Florida Politics joined us for a closer look. First Coast Success In today’s First Coast Success, Karen Brune Mathis of the Jacksonville Daily Record spoke with Andy Block, CEO of Rubix Foods/Darifair – a local company with ties to a beloved national brand: Reddi-wip. What’s Health Got To Do With It? WJCT News’ What’s Health Got To Do With It? kicked off its second season this weekend. Host Dr. Joe Sirven joined us to look back at the first season and preview what listeners can expect in the new one. Sports After years of losing to the Chargers on the road, the Jaguars rolled to victory yesterday. Our sports analyst Josh Torres joined us with a wrap up of the game, as well as some other sports news and notes.

Daily Roundup: Telefónica And Qualcomm Team On XR, Metaverse – SDxCentral https://collincountynewsonline.com/daily-roundup-telefonica-and-qualcomm-team-on-xr-metaverse-sdxcentral/ Cookie Settings SDxCentral employs cookies to improve your experience on our site, to analyze traffic and performance, and to serve personalized content and advertising relevant to your professional interests. You can manage your preferences at any time. View our Privacy Policy for more information. Toggle Necessary and Functional Cookies Necessary and Functional Cookies – These cookies are necessary for the Site to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. These are used to let you login and to and ensure site security. Without these cookies, our Services won’t work properly or won’t be able to provide many features and functionality. Toggle Performance & Tracking Cookies Performance & Tracking Cookies – We use our own and 3rd party analytics and targeting cookies to collect and process certain analytics data, including to compile statistics and analytics about your use of and interaction with the Site along with other Site traffic, usage, and trend data which is then used to target relevant content and ads on the Site. Opting out of these cookies may impact some minor site functions.

Slime Rancher 2: How Does Slime Science Work – GameRiv https://collincountynewsonline.com/slime-rancher-2-how-does-slime-science-work-gameriv/ Learn the Science that discusses Slime in Slime Rancher 2. Beatrix used to chase after those thicc jello monsters for a long time. After catching one or two, she then feeds them and ranches the Plort out of them. These Plorts are the reason she finds the motivation to survive in a land far, far away. Now, what she didn’t know was that these Plorts have other uses other than just selling them off in the Plort Market. What could it be? Slime Science is the Science of Slimes. See? Pretty straightforward. Now what the Science is about is our main topic today. To uncover the deepest secrets, the unreal mysteries of Rainbow Island, you need to know the Science behind those Slimes. Come on, this is not even Rocket Science, is it? Without further ado, scroll a bit more to get into the depth. Read More: Slime Rancher 2: All Plort Types What is Slime Science in Slime Rancher 2? Slime Science is basically a research methodology. Say you have enough cash in your hand (I presume that happens hardly). Or, say, the Plort Market seems a bit downrated for the day. What you want to do is you would want to invest those unused, unsold Plorts to invest in the research of Slime Science. This has a major part in the whole plot. You put in your time and effort, and you get some cool gadgets in return. Moreover, you can also craft some special items that can ease your in-game experience. To start with this way of Science, you need to access the materials. Let’s discuss that. The Refinery Refinery is the place where your materials are broken down to rebuild into a new item. And these new items will be the fruits of your Slime Science project. So, gather your resources, and put them into the Refinery. And then, prepare your materials for the next step. However, note that the items you are about to put in the Refinery cannot be taken back. Means, once you put for good, you put for real. There is no coming back. However, the Refinery can store up to 999 items at once. The Blueprint What do we need to make the Ratatouille Special? We need the ingredients and, the most important thing, the recipe. Your refined items have no value without a proper Blueprint. According to Chef Ramsey, there is no value to a dish unless the Lamb Sauce is in. You can get the Blueprints from the Builder’s Shop or any random Treasure Pods. Well, for the Treasure Pods, you do have to travel to the Far Far Range. Or, just expend some NewBucks at the Builder’s Shop to save time. The Fabricator Now, this is the fun part. You now have the refined items and the cookbook. All you need to do is, transfer all your refined items to give birth to the gadgets of the Slime Science project. Easy as that. Now, you can build as many gadgets as you want, even if it’s the same gadget countless times. However, there is a special condition for some special gadgets. You are allowed to craft only 1 piece of them. Even the Grand line follow this rule. However, all these gadgets fall under 5 categories: Extractors: Used to build other gadgets. Exp: Drills, Pumps, Apiaries, etc. Utilities: Used to manage Ranch and to explore the Far Far Range. Warp Tech: Used to harness the power of instantaneous travel, like teleporting, and to create shortcuts. Decoration: Used to decorate your environment with various objects. Curios: These are the jargons of gadgets. Build toys for your Slimes and other gimmicky objects. Gadget Mode in Slime Rancher 2 Now that you have crafted a gadget, you need to put that in your pocket. All you have to do is Press the T or D-pad of your console to enter into Gadget Mode. There will be several sites to equip your crafted gadgets. Go to a site and press E. That will open up the option to choose your crafted gadgets. Choose and put them on the site. There you go. You are now ready to face the Slimes with the new Saiyan form. That is all you need to know about Slime Science in Slime Rancher 2. Cheers! As you are already into Slime Rancher 2, I would presume you might want to know how to get radiant ore, whether Slime Rancher 2 is available on Game Pass, or can you even play it as multiplayer, and more answers to your curiosity. Hop in!

Best Crypto To Buy Now As LUNC Price Rally Leaves Dip Buyers Behind – Cryptonews https://collincountynewsonline.com/best-crypto-to-buy-now-as-lunc-price-rally-leaves-dip-buyers-behind-cryptonews/ Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com. With the Terra Classic price up 80% from the lows today, many LUNC dip buyers missed the boat – what’s the best crypto to buy right now instead? Best Crypto to Buy Now One of the latest market insights posted to leading crypto news publication Cointelegraph reviews ‘innovative‘ new cryptocurrency project Tamadoge. OKX exchange is set to list the play to earn crypto game’s native token TAMA tomorrow in a listing that ‘could spark huge growth‘. The listing will take place first on OKX’s centralized exchange at 11:00 UTC, with the addition of a TAMA/USDT trading pair. According to CoinMarketCap, OKX is one of the 20 largest crypto exchanges in the world, regularly handling over $1.6 billion in daily trading volume. The exchange also boasts over 20 million registered users, ensuring Tamadoge will have a massive audience of potential investors. Many market commentators believe this could be the catalyst that Tamadoge needs to produce market-beating returns, with some regarding Tamadoge as one of the best cryptocurrencies to invest in. As Cointelegraph notes, OKX also has an attached decentralized exchange (DEX) which is accessible for traders in all countries. That will list Tamadoge the same day at 17:00 UTC. The official Tamadoge Twitter posted a tutorial guide on how to use the OKX wallet and Web3 DEX for its 70,000 followers. YouTuber Jacob Bury, whose channel reviews the best cryptos to buy daily, has also posted a beginners’ guide to OKX. The Tamadoge Telegram chat has now passed 56,000 members.  Over 25,000 investors took part in the Tamadoge token presale which lasted just 55 days before selling out despite the Bitcoin price crashing during its final phases. The incredible success of Tamadoge’s presale has provided a solid foundation for future growth. The presale raised a total of 19 million Tether (USDT) for the project, which is even more impressive considering the ongoing “crypto winter” and poor macroeconomic conditions. Lead game developer Thomas Seabrook has extensive experience in game design, having previously worked for leading entities, such as Voodoo, StarDigital, SketchJam and WMS. Terra Classic vs Tamadoge For those that missed the explosive Terra Classic LUNC price pump earlier today, the Tamadoge (TAMA) initial exchange offering could be one of the best cryptos to watch this week. Other than Terra Classic price volatility following new LUNC burn news from CZ Binance, crypto prices have been flat – but ‘all eyes will be on TAMA’s price in the coming weeks‘. Cointelegraph cites publications outside the crypto news industry such as Yahoo Finance and Business2Community which also speculate Tamadoge could be one of the best cryptos to invest in long term. CT notes that following Tamadoge’s IEO tomorrow, ‘2023 is likely to be a breakthrough year for the project‘ and it may be the next cryptocurrency to explode ‘in the coming weeks as demand continues to rise‘. Read the full review of what could potentially be the best crypto to buy now on Cointelegraph. OKX Exchange Sign Up OKX DEX Platform Tamadoge Website

U.S. Congress Negotiators Set Nearly $12 Bln In New Ukraine Aid -Sources – Reuters https://collincountynewsonline.com/u-s-congress-negotiators-set-nearly-12-bln-in-new-ukraine-aid-sources-reuters/ A local resident walks past an apartment block damaged in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Mariupol, Ukraine September 25, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) – Negotiators of a stop-gap spending bill in the U.S. Congress have agreed to include nearly $12 billion in new military and economic aid to Ukraine in response to a request from the Biden administration, sources familiar with the talks said on Monday. The sources, who asked not to be identified ahead of the announcement, said the funding would include $4.5 billion to provide defense capabilities and equipment for Ukraine, as well as $2.7 billion to continue military, intelligence and other defense support. It also will include $4.5 billion to continue to provide direct budget support to the Kyiv government through the next quarter. That way President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s administration can pay salaries to essential staff, support Ukrainians fleeing conflict and cover other critical expenses to help civilians, a government official said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress earlier this month to provide $11.7 billion in new emergency military and economic aid for Ukraine in the stopgap spending bill. There is widespread support in Congress from both Biden’s fellow Democrats and Republicans for helping Ukraine to defend itself following Russia’s invasion. read more Congress is facing a midnight Friday deadline to pass the spending bill, which also would temporarily fund a wide range of U.S. government programs. In addition to the previously listed funding, the package – which could be announced as soon as later on Monday – includes $2 billion for the U.S. energy industry, to address the impact of the war and reduce future energy costs. One of the sources familiar with the package said the funding request – known as a continuing resolution – would also include resettlement funding for Afghan refugees. In a separate, but related authorization request, a U.S. official said the Biden administration also planned to ask Congress for an additional $3.5 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the president to authorize the transfer of excess weapons from U.S. stocks. Washington and its allies have sent billions of dollars in security and economic assistance to Ukraine during the seven-month-long war. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Richard Cowan, Steve Holland, Mike Stone and Patricia Zengerle; editing by Grant McCool Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

VIU Launches New Educational Technology Partnership In The Caribbean | News | Vancouver Island University | Canada – Vancouver Island University News https://collincountynewsonline.com/viu-launches-new-educational-technology-partnership-in-the-caribbean-news-vancouver-island-university-canada-vancouver-island-university-news/ VIU and Canadian partner institutions will help six Caribbean nations expand capacity in online learning. Vancouver Island University (VIU) is helping Caribbean institutions develop and expand capacity in online learning. The new $480,000 international cooperation project, delivered in partnership with Durham College and Humber College, will grow the capacity of institutions in Belize, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Guyana, and St. Lucia to integrate educational technology in their teaching practices. The project is part of the Global Affairs Canada-funded Colleges and Institutes Canada Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) program. VIU’s Global Engagement team and subject matter experts in the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning (CIEL) will implement the project over the next two years. Darrell Harvey, VIU’s Manager of Global Engagement, said the need for a project like this really came to light during the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID really exposed the need for online learning opportunities and in many of these countries, that just hadn’t been part of their teaching toolbox,” he said. “As a result, when the pandemic hit, a lot of their classrooms went dark because they weren’t able to shift to online learning, or if they did, it was in a very rudimentary way.” The opportunity is an exciting one for Anwen Burk, a Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Specialist at VIU. Her areas of focus include the integration of technology into face-to-face, blended and online courses. She will be one of VIU’s lead subject matter experts for the duration of this project. “Partnerships like this provide the opportunity for everyone involved to build their knowledge and capacity in ways that can have a positive impact on their respective communities,” said Burk. “It also creates new and international communities of learning and challenges us to think about our own work in new and creative ways.” The project will assess the needs of instructors at institutions in each of the six Caribbean partner countries to determine where they’re at in terms of knowledge and skill when it comes to online learning and teaching, what tools currently exist, and what other tools can be used to design, develop and deliver an online teaching and learning teacher program that will meet their needs. Burk is excited to work with people who hold similar roles as hers at other institutions. “This will be an opportunity to exchange different theoretical and practical approaches to the work we do,” she said. “This will expand and enrich my knowledge of the field and I look forward to applying this knowledge to the work I do at VIU.” She said another highlight will be learning more about how educational institutions work overall in the Caribbean: “How are they similar to Canadian institutions? How are they different? What can we learn from their approach to teaching and learning?” The partnership builds on VIU’s growing portfolio of international cooperation partnerships in the Caribbean and elsewhere. The work planning phase is happening now through the fall, with curriculum development and training taking place over the course of the next two years. To learn more about VIU’s international cooperation projects, visit the Global Engagement website. -30- MEDIA CONTACT: Eric Zimmer, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University P: 250.618.7296 | E: Eric.Zimmer@viu.ca | T: @VIUNews

Paris District Road Report For Sept. 26, 2022 – MyParisTexas.com https://collincountynewsonline.com/paris-district-road-report-for-sept-26-2022-myparistexas-com/ Here’s a look at work planned in the district for the week starting Sept. 26, 2022. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems. Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties) Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co. Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561. SH 37, Red River County: from US 82 to Texas-Oklahoma state line. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews resurface the roadway. US 271, Red River County: from SH 37 to Titus County Line. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews resurface the roadway. FM 906, Lamar County: from FM 2648 to CR 47400. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures. FM 38, Lamar County: from US 82 to US 82. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews improve drainage structures and upgrade bridge rail and metal-beam guard fence. FM 195, Red River County: from the Lamar County line to SH 37. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews improve drainage structures and replace bridge rail. FM 1487, Red River County: from FM 909 to FM 910. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews widen and rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures. Loop 286, Lamar County: from FM 1497 around the North Loop to FM 1507. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews improve guardrail and drainage structures, perform bridge maintenance, and make crossover closures. Loop 286, Lamar County: At Collegiate Drive intersection and the westbound FM 195 exit ramp. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews improve guardrail and drainage structures, perform bridge maintenance, and make crossover closures. FM 64, Delta County: from FM 128 to SH 1532. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures. FM 2675, Delta County: from Lamar County line to FM 128. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures. CR 3440, Delta County: at Jennings Creek. Watch for road closure while crews replace the existing bridge. CR 15100, Lamar County: at a Branch of Cuthand Creek. Be aware that the road is closed while crews replace the existing bridge. Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties) Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831; Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566. SH 56 at the SH 289 intersection in Southmayd. The intersection of SH 56 with the SH 289 exit ramps has been converted to an all-way stop. Motorists approaching this intersection are asked to approach the intersection cautiously and be prepared to stop. SH 56 (Lamar St.) at the Post Oak Creek bridge will be closed to traffic beginning Sept. 26 for contractors to perform bridge repairs. The closure is scheduled to last for nine days. During this closure, traffic will be signed to detour onto Woods Street and then take Pecan Street back to the US 75 frontage road. After the initial closure, the remaining work will be completed using lane closures. US 75, Grayson County: from FM 1417 to SH 91 (Texoma Parkway). Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts on the northbound and southbound US 75 main lanes between SH 91 and FM 1417 as crews work on building new main lanes, bridges, and retaining walls. Watch for lane closures on the frontage roads between FM 1417 and SH 91. A reduced speed limit of 60 mph on the US 75 mainlanes has been set for this construction project. The southbound lanes for SH 91 will be closed at the US 75 underpass beginning Sept. 27 for crews to begin construction on the new overpass. Motorists traveling southbound on SH 91 will be detoured along the northbound US 75 frontage road to Taylor Street where they will make a left on Taylor St. and another left on the southbound frontage road. This closure is expected to last until Oct. 25, weather permitting.  The northbound and southbound US 75 frontage road intersections with Center Street have been converted to an all-way stop condition. Traffic on the frontage roads is asked to pay attention to the advanced warning signs and new stop signs, and approach the intersection prepared for a stop there. Lamar Street and Houston Street under US 75 are closed to through traffic with detour signs in place to guide motorists around these intersections.  Eastbound Lamar Street traffic will turn right on the southbound US 75 frontage road, turn left on Center Street, and turn left on the northbound US 75 frontage road to return to eastbound Lamar Street. Video animation of this detour can be seen at the following link. https://youtu.be/5LrCpdOA8OQ Westbound Houston Street traffic will turn right on the northbound US 75 frontage road, turn left on Washington Street, and turn left on the southbound US 75 frontage road to return to westbound Houston Street. Video animation of this detour can be seen at the following link. https://youtu.be/7jCatnI3Oq4 These switches will allow crews to reconstruct the proposed US 75 mainlanes and the bridge over Lamar and Houston Streets. The US 75 northbound frontage road traffic is reduced to one travel lane, but two travel lanes remain for northbound US 75 mainlane traffic. A concrete barrier separates the northbound frontage road and mainlane traffic. Video animation of this alignment can be seen at the following link. https://youtu.be/y_uO0UmpCzk For southbound US 75 the frontage road traffic is reduced to one travel lane, but two travel lanes remain for southbound US 75 mainlane traffic. A concrete barrier separates the southbound frontage road and mainlane traffic. Video animation of this alignment can be seen at the following link. https://youtu.be/k2EG2W9rFJY US 75, Grayson County: at the US 82 intersection. Watch for shoulder closures on the northbound and southbound US 75 main lanes between South Loy Lake Road and Lamberth Street as crews work on building new exit and entrance ramps. Watch for shoulder closures and lanes shifts on the eastbound and westbound US 82 main lanes between FM 131 and Loy Lake Road while crews work on building new exit and entrance ramps. Watch for lane closures and lane shifts for the frontage roads at the US 75 and US 82 intersection as crews work on construction of new frontage road lanes. FM 1417, Grayson County: from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for lane shifts and shoulder closures between US 82 and SH 56 while crews construct the new roadway pavement. The ultimate roadway will be a four-lane divided section with turn lanes. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph has been set for this construction project. The Taylor Street intersection on the east side of FM 1417 is closed to through traffic in order to complete the concrete paving at this intersection. During the closure, traffic wishing to use Taylor Street is asked to use either Lamberth or Washington Streets as a detour route. The West Cypress Grove Road intersection on the east side of FM 1417 will be closed to through traffic to work on paving at the intersection beginning Oct. 3. During the closure, traffic wishing to use Cypress Grove Road is asked to use Mimosa Drive and Redbud Trail as a detour route.  South Travis Street, Grayson County: in Sherman at Post Oak Creek. Construction is underway for the South Travis Street bridge over Post Oak Creek. During construction, the bridge will be reduced to one lane with traffic signals controlling traffic through the project, while the new bridge is built in phases. Business US 377B, Grayson County: in Whitesboro from Randy Street to Walnut Street. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to construct sidewalks and curb ramps. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone. Business US 377B, Grayson County: south of Whitesboro at the railroad underpass near US 377. Watch for lane closures with signals controlling traffic while crews work to upgrade the bridge railing. SH 5, Grayson County: in Van Alstyne along Newport Drive from Partin Elementary School to SH 5, and along SH 5 from Newport Drive to Forrest Moore Park. Construction on a new multi-use trail is underway. The project will install a minimum eight-foot-wide sidewalk trail along this stretch of roadway. Occasional lane closures will be required to complete the work while this project is underway.  FM 121, Grayson County: from Jim Jones Road to FM 3356. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews work to complete the remaining work on the project.   US 75 full depth concrete repair, Grayson County: Crews will be working on US 75 each week from Sunday night through Friday morning during the overnight period. Lane closures will be present at night for crews to replace failed concrete sections. Lane closures will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night and should be reopened to traffic by 6 a.m. This work will extend from the Collin-Grayson County line to the Oklahoma State line. FM 1753, Grayson County: from FM 120 to FM 1897. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and then overlay the roadway. FS 121 (Grayson Parkway), Grayson County: from the Collin County line to FM 121.  Construction is ongoing on this new-location roadway which is west of SH 289 approximately four miles. The new roadway will be two lanes with shoulders and will be an extension of the fr...

Cruise Line Categories: What Do They Mean In 2022? – Travel Weekly https://collincountynewsonline.com/cruise-line-categories-what-do-they-mean-in-2022-travel-weekly/ Clockwise from top left: Andrea Zelinski and Rebecca Tobin of Travel Weekly and Mike Estill of Westa discuss how cruise-line categories have changed over the years. Subscribe now using your favorite service: In this episode we’re talking about a Travel Weekly cover story by Andrea Zelinski that examined traditional cruise line categories — contemporary, premium and luxury — the buckets that each line fell into based on price, size, amenities, vibe and historical positioning. Over time, the industry has gotten bigger and ships more sophisticated, new types of cruising have created new categories and broken down old barriers, prompting host Rebecca Tobin, Zelinski and Mike Estill, the COO of the Western Association of Travel Agencies, to debate how the categories have blurred – and whether they are still relevant — and how this impacts the way travel advisors assist their clients with making the right vacation choice. This episode has been edited for length and clarity. Related reports: Travel Weekly cover story: Defying cruise categorization Cruise insight: Dress up, dress down, enjoy your cruise evening

Boeing Sells Apache Helicopters To Poland, Expands Operations In Mesa – Chamber Business News https://collincountynewsonline.com/boeing-sells-apache-helicopters-to-poland-expands-operations-in-mesa-chamber-business-news/ September 26, 2022 3 min read Aerospace and defense giant Boeing secured a contract to produce 96 Apache helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces as the company scales up its manufacturing capabilities in Mesa, Arizona. Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland’s Minister of Defense, announced September 8th that the Central European nation had selected Boeing Defense, Space & Security to be its partner for the KRUK Attack Helicopter Program, an initiative started to replace the currently “outdated, Soviet-designed Mil Mi-24 fleet.” Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland has heavily invested in modernizing its military. During their International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO), the Apache helicopters took the spotlight and were introduced by Adam Hodges, the Capture Team Lead for Vertical Life International Sales at Boeing. The Apaches for Poland are all expected to be newly manufactured. As Hodges explained to reporters before the announcement, “there is no Apache [in the boneyard], and in Mesa we produce 80-100 aircraft per year.”  No price tag has yet been released, but a recent deal between Boeing and the Australian government for 29 AH-64E Apache helicopters came in at $3.83 billion. Meanwhile, Boeing’s operations in Mesa have only been expanding. On September 15th, Boeing opened the 155,000 square-foot Advanced Composition Fabrication Center, a $150 million facility which will produce “advanced composite components for future combat aircraft programs” While Boeing said they could not disclose which programs will be manufactured in Mesa, they said that their newest facility would be at “the front end of the next capabilities coming down for our warfighter.” This deal comes as the aerospace industry continues to grow in Arizona. Leading companies, including Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Raytheon Missile and Defense, and Northrop Gruman, have expanded operations throughout the state in recent years. Mark Gaspers, Boeing’s senior manager of governmental operations, highlighted the state’s attractive qualities, noting that “with research and university preeminence, technology clusters in areas like optics and sensors, and a large engineering workforce to grow from, Arizona has the key components for the industry’s future.” In a statement by Boeing, the company said the Apache deal will strengthen “US-Polish military ties by enhancing interoperability and cooperation between Poland, the U.S. Army and NATO nations.” Polish officials also applauded the deal for increasing security in the region, noting that  “such a fundamental benefit is the fact that the Polish Army is armed with modern weapons. The immediate advantage is that Poland is safe.” The AH-64E Apaches serve as the United States Army’s attack helicopter, built to destroy enemy targets “in obscured battlefield conditions.” They are equipped with “air-to-ground missiles that can hit targets up to 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) away.” The new model features updated targeting systems and enhanced imaging capabilities.

‘I’m Gonna Turn Some Heads’: Weight-Lifting Women Talk Gym, Health Culture – The State News https://collincountynewsonline.com/im-gonna-turn-some-heads-weight-lifting-women-talk-gym-health-culture-the-state-news/ Efforts to make the gym a safer place for women  Studio art sophomore Amanda Roberts and kinesiology sophomore Charly May said they have seen more women in the gym moving away from cardio and beginning to pick up free weights, but it’s still far and few between. “Say I walk into PowerHouse gym at 5 p.m.,” May said. “I’m the only girl in there and I can literally feel everyone staring at me.” After study upon study, it’s no secret that social media is prone to exacerbating beauty standards and contributing to our feelings of self-consciousness. But with the rise of fitness influencers and content online, some believe the nature of this influence is changing, and not necessarily for the better. “I’ve been in the lifting community for a long time and I feel like the content that (influencers) put out isn’t really anything that benefits people,” May said. “It’s kind of just them glamorizing it and only showing the good parts of it.” Last year, members of the Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, drafted a bill that sought to put funds towards a strictly female and non-binary gym space on campus.  At the time, education junior (then sophomore) Ella Woehlke said that while female health was so important, she always felt uncomfortable in a “male-dominated” space such as the gym. Her ideal gym vision included fewer mirrors on the walls and, instead, more encouraging quotes.  The bill was tabled.  Political science-prelaw freshman Alex Seidleck said at the time, that she has had several uncomfortable encounters that discourage her from working out in a gym. If she had a safer space, she would work out more often, she said. Promoting accessibility to physical health is the purpose of gyms, but they fall short when women want to get strong safely.  “I have no issue walking in there and acknowledging that I’m the only girl and that I’m gonna turn some heads,” May said. “But … as a beginner, I think that that can be extremely daunting to a lot of women.” May said a more informative, beginner-friendly environment might excite more women and allow them to feel more comfortable. So many people, she said, walk into the gym and don’t know where to start. Instead of feeling supported to start their journey, they quit before they can even begin. “Don’t get too big.” May is determined to compete in a bodybuilding competition someday.  She lifts weights five days a week and regularly tracks her macronutrients. Above all else, the lifestyle associated with weight lifting is something that makes her feel her best, both mentally and physically.  The beauty standard, she said, is shifting away from the stereotypical quest to be as thin as possible.  But while weightlifting becomes more of a trend, May said, what women actually want to look like becomes a gray area. Just because beauty standards are shifting doesn’t mean that things are perfect — not by a long shot. Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism. May describes herself as having a “bulkier” muscle build, something she faces difficulties for. “I’ve had a lot of girls reach out to me in the past and be like … ‘I don’t really want to look like you,’” May said. “I’ve heard that probably like 50 times in my life. There’s a huge stigma behind the fact that lifting will make you bulky.” Roberts said that more content online nowadays, particularly on TikTok, promotes being muscular. However, there is still a long way to go in the way of equal representation for women who lift. “I feel like for women, there aren’t a lot of super muscular, big influencers out there to show that it’s okay … to have nice, big muscles,” Roberts said. “It’s mostly just being thin and petite and not taking up a whole lot of space.” Despite online fitness content intending to be seen as “motivating”, studies show young people who regularly view health or fitness content online are more likely to have an eating disorder. One study forces readers to consider the format of Instagram — an image-dominant platform where users interact with content largely because of how visually pleasing it is. It is not a text-based platform; there is less emphasis on what the poster says and more on what the image shows us.  Therefore, it’s easy for “wellness” posts, not often based on scientific evidence or the advice of a professional, to win a nod of approval strictly based on what users see – which might be a toned stomach, a vibrant nutrition infographic or copious plates full of nothing but chicken and rice.  Finding Balance Roberts chooses to never look at the number on the scale.  She goes to the gym three to five times a week. She tracks her calories to make sure that she intakes enough protein but does not follow a strict diet. Her overall goal is to “be stronger,” something she said she measures by how she feels rather than her reflection in the mirror.  “#food” is the 25th most popular hashtag on Instagram, and “#fitness” clocks in at 30th. Photos of perceived “healthy” food, however, garner the most popularity when posted with this tag. Studies show that 42% of consumers use social media to gather advice about what they’re eating.  Instagram use is also shown to be associated with a greater tendency to exhibit orthorexic behaviors. The National Eating Disorder Association defines Orthorexia Nervosa as an “obsession with proper or ‘healthful’ eating.” Individuals who engage in orthorexic behaviors may compulsively check nutritional labels, cut out entire food groups in the name of wellness or show distress when their “safe” food options are unavailable. They also might obsessively follow the advice of ‘health’ blogs on social media. The more people post about this kind of lifestyle, May said, the more toxic it becomes. For herself, being healthy is about balance, and this can look very different for people. “There’s not one definition of (being healthy),” May said. “Personally for me, living a healthy lifestyle is me mentally being happy and satisfied with myself and physically feeling good. I don’t necessarily go by the number on the scale or if I’m eating clean however many days in a row … it’s about balance.”

Planters Bank Begins Season Of Giving Today – Clarksville Online https://collincountynewsonline.com/planters-bank-begins-season-of-giving-today-clarksville-online/  Entering its ninth year, the Planters Bank Season of Giving is a bank tradition that has a goal of bringing awareness to non-profit organizations’ missions at the same time as fundraising for the organizations.    This year looks a little different than years past for the community giving campaign.  Each organization selected has chosen items that would be helpful for them to receive. Each Planters Bank location will be collecting items throughout the Season (September through December) to donate to each organization based on those needs. Planters Bank will match all donations with a monetary donation to each non-profit agency. “The Season of Giving has always been about community support, and this year we are excited to take that a step further. In addition to the monetary donation that comes along with Season of Giving, this year we’ve worked with each non-profit to identify what donation items would most help them carry out their mission. We’re proud to host a drive to collect these much-needed items in each Planters Bank location,” says Planters Bank CEO Elizabeth McCoy. The following are the organizations supported this Season of Giving.  The items needed for each may be found at expectgreatthingsbank.com/giving. Donations may be brought throughout the Season of Giving to the location noted. Clarksville Bella’s Closet – Planters Bank, Rossview office YAIPak Outreach – Planters Bank, Sango office Toys for Tots – Planters Bank, Hilldale office Richview Middle School – Planters Bank, Commerce office Western Kentucky Webster County Community Food Bank – Planters Bank, Providence office Landon’s Hope – Planters Bank, Sebree office St. Vincent DePaul Union County – Planters Bank, Sturgis office 4H Youth Development – Planters Bank, Princeton office DAPS – Planters Bank, Dawson Springs office Hopkinsville Alpha Pregnancy Care Center – Planters Bank, Boulevard office Joy Closet – Planters Bank, Main office Aaron McNeil House – Planters Bank, Indian Hills office In addition to supporting these groups through collections and matched donations in each branch, Planters Bank is donating $25.00 for every checking or savings account opened mentioning the Season of Giving when visiting a Planters Bank location.    Visit the Planters Bank Facebook and Instagram to learn more and participate, and find out more about Planters Bank’s philanthropic efforts at plantersbankonline.com. About Planters Bank Planters Bank is headquartered in Hopkinsville, KY, and has twelve locations throughout Western Kentucky and Tennessee.  Planters Bank is a community bank that is committed to delivering an exceptional banking experience all while giving back to the community.   Find out more about Planters Bank by visiting www.plantersbankonline.com

APE IN POKER TAKES STEPS INTO THE METAVERSE – GlobeNewswire https://collincountynewsonline.com/ape-in-poker-takes-steps-into-the-metaverse-globenewswire/ Cheyenne, WY, Sept. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The founders behind Ape In Poker have housed an online casino and sportsbook for over five years and are now announcing the grand opening of their Poker Room Cashier, an online platform bridging traditional casino play with cryptocurrency. This is the first step for the company as they migrate into Web3 technology towards the vision of providing players with interactive and immersive experiences.  Ape In Poker is not the first to integrate cryptocurrency into their platform. However, they are the first company to implement a cashout protocol that is near immediate, allowing players to receive their funds easily, quickly and efficiently. In addition, the cashier system will be able to accommodate multiple blockchain cryptocurrencies, first starting out with Solana, with Ethereum and Bitcoin following shortly after.  What’s to come is the ability to share in an immersive experience with other players. A full casino experience will be available; walking into a casino, choosing your table based on what you see, sitting down at a table and placing your bet, talking to other players and even your trip to the cashier to cash out will all be part of the Mixed Reality experience that Ape In Poker is creating.  “This vision has been many, many years in the making,” says David Galan, Web3 Innovator and Strategist, “what is being built here has never been done before. We are building the framework and blueprint for what will become the household norm. It’s incredibly complex work but every step we take closer to that end vision is worth celebrating. This cashier system with Ape In Poker is definitely worth celebrating”. To check out the new player server, visit www.apeinpoker.com where you can also view their current promotions, poker game schedule, and create your player account for free.  Ape In Poker Deposit Match Cashier Now Live Ape In Poker Deposit Match Registered players can use code ‘Grand100’ for up to $1,000 deposit match. Cashier Now Live Ape In Poker launches a cashier system that integrates blockchain technology and transparency.