Virgilio Clapp

Jail Tax Is Changing Lives, Restoring Families, Strengthening Communities – Flagstaff Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/jail-tax-is-changing-lives-restoring-families-strengthening-communities-flagstaff-business-news/ There is no doubt that programs funded through the Jail Tax have changed lives. This November, voters in Coconino County will have a choice. On behalf of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, I am pleased to report our in-custody Coconino County Jail programs are working and showing great results. An important outcome is that many of our community members have received the support they needed, and are being reunited with their families and integrated back into our communities. Many have found rewarding work and have stayed on the path of recovery from addiction. The changes we’ve seen are significant and have occurred since the half-cent Jail Tax took effect in 2007. Known as the County Jail District Excise Tax (sales tax), the Jail Tax has funded in-custody programs that have provided substance abuse and mental health treatment and helped people gain life skills and job training, receive education, practice mindfulness, adopt healthy habits and connect with resources that will support them in their transition to a life outside of jail. The County Jail system has experienced significant success with these programs in place, particularly with the substance-abuse program EXODUS. This multi-faceted voluntary 90-day course teaches participants about how drugs impact the body and brain, and helps inmates see a different life for themselves, free of addiction. It offers meditative practices, communication and parenting skills, and expressive arts. It provides tools for managing emotions like anger, shame and grief. Case managers say they see a marked difference in those who go through the EXODUS program and those who don’t. Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll says these programs have had a game-changing effect in the vicious cycle of alcohol and drug abuse, crime and the return to jail. “Substance abuse is a serious problem and a recurring one for our County Criminal Justice System,” he said. “However, with Jail Tax-funded programs, we’ve witnessed a dramatic and inspirational shift.” The National Institute of Corrections reports that, on a national average, 70% of inmates return to jail in places where there is no in-custody drug and alcohol abuse program. But with EXODUS in our County Jail, the scenario has flipped; only 30% or fewer people who have participated in the program have returned to jail. “EXODUS, along with enhanced educational programs, job training and life skills, makes valuable use of time spent in custody,” said Sheriff Driscoll. “With funding from the Jail Tax, jail becomes a place where people can heal, re-set their lives and have hope for an addiction-free future. They leave jail with emotional and social tools, job skills, a renewed outlook and optimism for a life outside of jail.” By having such programs in place, there are other benefits as well. For example, the county received grant funding this summer to establish Pathways to Community, a program that continues valuable support for those exiting the jail system, including for housing, food, clothes, job training, addiction recovery or mental health. In addition, funding generated by the Jail Tax covers most of the jail operating costs, which includes staffing, maintenance, renovations, medical expenses and food. This support means the $22 million needed to run the jail each year does not have to come from somewhere else, like the County General Fund or local city budgets. The half-cent sales tax (50 cents on a $100 purchase) is collected on the same taxable purchases as the state sales tax, such as retail goods and services, as well as lodging and restaurant charges. Household groceries are not taxed and approximately one-third of the Jail Tax is paid by visitors and non-residents because they benefit from the Jail Tax as well. There is no doubt that programs funded through the Jail Tax have changed lives. Individuals and families are healing, neighborhoods are safer against drug-related crimes and the jail population has decreased. In addition, most of the operating costs necessary for running the County Jail are paid for through the Jail Tax. The current term for the Jail Tax will expire on June 30, 2027. On the General Election ballot, voters are being asked whether to extend the County Jail District Excise Tax by 25 years, to be in effect through Dec. 31, 2051. The question will appear as Proposition 445: Shall the Coconino County Jail District Board of Directors be authorized to extend the term of the existing County Jail District Excise Tax (sales tax), of one half-cent ($.005) by twenty-five years? The Jail District Sales Tax Publicity Pamphlet currently is arriving in the mail. It includes letters from county residents, frequently asked questions and locations for assigned polling places. Remember, the last day to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 11. Early voting begins Wednesday, Oct. 12. And, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8. For more information about the Jail District Sales Tax Extension, Proposition 445, please go to coconino.az.gov/jailtax. FBN By Patrice Horstman For more information related to voting in the November election, contact the Coconino County Elections Office at 928-679-7860 or visit coconino.az.gov/elections. Patrice Horstman is chair of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.

SRQ Daily Oct 7, 2022 – Friday Weekend Edition – SRQ Magazine https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/srq-daily-oct-7-2022-friday-weekend-edition-srq-magazine/ [Arts & Entertainment]  Emerge at Mara Art Studio + Gallery Dylan Campbell, dylan@srqme.com This Friday, head over to the Mara Art Studio and Gallery to check out Emerge – Translation from Sight to Surface, the latest exhibition from local artist Brigitta Wagner Sultana. Emerge marks the first gallery opening for Sultana in over a decade. Since her last showing, she’s been balancing her artwork with being a full-time mother of two. “I took painting through my whole college career, and print-making. I never stopped painting after I graduated college. I always did it as an outlet, a creative outlet, other than what I was doing in graphic design,” says Sultana. “I haven’t really shown since 2010, because I had another baby, and then I took a pause, but I’ve always just been creating. As an artist, you never stop.” Emerge will feature a new direction in Sultana’s painting – landscapes. The showing will draw from two separate series, Salt Flats and Stones. Where her painting prior to this series was more transitory, her focus on the geometric aesthetic of these landscapes has proven fruitful to her work. “I just created what I wanted to at the time, there wasn’t a specific subject matter. Now, I feel like I have a specific subject line that I’m working on and a way that I’m doing it – but it’s taken me a long time to figure out,” attests Sultana. Fittingly, both the Salt Flats and Stones series draw inspiration from time spent vacationing with her family. The Salt Flats series is based upon photographs Sultana took of the salt pans along the coastline of the island nation of Malta, where her husband hails from. Sultana, who mixes her own acrylic-based paints, depicts the rectangular landscapes in various colors and formats, some of the paintings feature hard lines and bold colors, while others are more ethereal in their style. Much of the same can be said for her Stones series, which draws its inspiration from photographs she took of her children while they built a stone wall on a sandy beach. Similarly to the Salt Flats series, the paintings from Stones are based upon Sultana’s initial photography – during her creative process she decides whether or not to transfer the image directly onto the canvas or paint from memory. Regardless of how she comes to it, Sultana has hit her stride with her latest gallery opening. Opening Night Event, Friday, October 7, 2022, 5:30-7:30pm, Mara Art Studio + Gallery, 1421 5th St. Rosemary District, Sarasota, 941-914-8110.  Pictured: Salt Flats 4 – acrylic on canvas, 2019. Photo courtesy of Brigitta Wagner Sultana. [Hospital News]  Post Hurricane Related Injuries Up at Local Emergency Rooms Emergency room physicians at HCA Florida Blake Hospital and HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital are seeing an increase in injuries related to clean up from Hurricane Ian. Injuries involving chain saws and orthopedic injuries from falls from roofs, ladders and tree removal are up significantly. Physicians are also concerned about respiratory problems that may arise from residents burning storm debris on their property and an increase in cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks from residents who are over exerting themselves with cleanup work. Scott Selph, M.D., medical director of emergency services at HCA Florida Blake Hospital, will be available to speak about the trends emerging in the emergency room and offer advice on how to prevent injuries on Thursday, October 6 at Noon, outside near the hospital’s main entrance at HCA Florida Blake Hospital, 2020 59th Street West, Bradenton. HCA Florida Blake Hospital is the only Level II trauma center and burn center in Manatee County. Dr. Selph will be able to offer advice to residents on how to reduce traumatic injuries.  [Hurricane Relief]  Hurricane Ian Updates from the EDC Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $50 million available — at least $10 million of which must go to small businesses that are agricultural producers — for those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Small businesses in the most impacted communities, which includes Sarasota County, will be escalated and prioritized as they are received. Loans are available up to $50,000 per eligible applicant. Loans made under this program are short-term, personal loans using State of Florida funds – they are not grants and must be repaid. The deadline to complete the application is Friday, December 2nd. Visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more or call 833-832-4494. DEO administers the Emergency Bridge Loan Program alongside its fiscal administrator, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation. As always, our team can be reached at info@edcsarasotacounty.com, or by calling 941-309-1200. We will keep you informed as Hurricane Ian business recovery details continue to develop. Below are helpful resources and pending information we will share more about soon.  To learn more click here. [Hurricane]  Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Standing Strong, Serving Region’s Needs After Hurricane Ian Sarasota Memorial Health Care System stood strong through Hurricane Ian and is serving a record number of patients and evacuees from the southwest Florida region. The health system’s flagship acute-care hospital and emergency/trauma center in Sarasota and the new 110-bed acute-care hospital it opened in Venice last November remained fully functional on backup generator power throughout Hurricane Ian, providing shelter for nearly 2,500 staff and physicians who served on the health system’s hurricane response team for several days this week, leaving their families and homes behind as they cared for and supported well over 700 patients throughout the storm. During the hurricane, SMH “sheltered in place,” meaning it continued to care for patients 24/7 with physicians, nurses and support staff who hunkered down and worked around-the-clock to care for patients and medically dependent persons (MDPs) that local emergency management officials brought to the hospital for shelter. (SMHCS is a designated medical shelter for MDPs, who may require hospitalization during emergency situations). SMH assessed the condition of all of its facilities after Hurricane Ian left the Suncoast region, and most of its facilities weathered Hurricane Ian well. The health system has devoted significant funds and resources to ensuring that our hospitals are hurricane hardened, and both hospitals and its skilled nursing facility remained fully operational during and after the storm, with no injuries reported. We reopened all six of SMH’s urgent care centers and most of its physician practices and outpatient centers almost immediately after the storm passed. The only facilities sustaining significant damage were our freestanding emergency room in North Port and a medical office building at SMH-Venice. Both are closed for repairs. Despite roof damage and some water intrusion, damage inside is minimal, and SMH anticipates reopening both facilities in a phased approach starting this weekend. Most hospitals south of Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast were evacuated and remained closed for several days due to damage from the storm. Sarasota Memorial’s Sarasota and Venice campuses have seen record numbers of patients streaming into their emergency care centers, and have worked closely with emergency management officials and hospitals around the state to manage the influx. After the storm passed, Sarasota County and the state dedicated strike teams with nearly 20 ambulances to help transfer patients, and on Sunday (Oct. 2), state and federal emergency officials sent a disaster medical assistance team (DMAT) to help manage the surge of emergency patients at SMH-Venice. The DMAT set up a 30-bed tent facility just outside our Venice hospital’s ambulance bay, with a team of 37 doctors, nurses, physician assistants, paramedics and pharmacists working with our Venice staff to provide 24/7 emergency and urgent care to help manage the surge. A second DMAT opened in Charlotte County, to help reduce the strain in local ERs while hospitals in that region gradually reopen.  Click here to view a recorded video with Sarasota Memorial Health Care System CEO David Verinder. [Hurricane Relief]  Gene Matthews Club Food Pantry with All Faiths Food Bank Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties and All Faiths Food Bank announce a Food Pantry distribution at the Gene Matthews Club in North Port to take place Friday, October 7, 2022, 9:00 am until supplies last at Gene Matthews Club, 6851 Biscayne Drive, North Port, FL 34287 Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties have played an integral role in the lives of local youth for more than 50 years, providing daily programs and services to thousands of young people. The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The vision is to provide a world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit www.bgcsdc.org or call 941-366-3911. All Faith’s Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, providing millions of meals each year with nearly 200 agencies and programs throughout the community. All Faiths works not only to fight hunger today but also strives to end hunger – forever – by helping families and individuals gain long-term food security, enjoy better health outcomes, and achieve self-sufficiency. In 2021, All Fa...

Philip John Paxson 1975-2022 | News, Sports, Jobs – Warren Tribune Chronicle https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/philip-john-paxson-1975-2022-news-sports-jobs-warren-tribune-chronicle/ HICKORY, N.C. — On Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, Philip John Paxson, tragically left us at 47 years old. Phil was born in Warren on July 8, 1975, to Sarah and Ted Paxson of Lordstown. In addition to his parents, Phil is survived by his wife, Alicia Koenig Paxson; daughters, Amelia and Juliet of the home; sisters, Diane Brewster (James) of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Laura Paxson of Fairlawn; sister-in-law, Kayla Koenig Bubar (Jason) of Tampa, Fla..; and many nieces and nephews. After receiving a basketball scholarship, Phil instead chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and joined the Navy, serving from 1993 to 1997 on the aircraft carrier, USS George Washington. After his time in the Navy, he went to college using the GI Bill and graduated from The University of South Florida with a degree in marketing in 2001. This precious family lost a wonderful father, husband, son and son-in-law. He had a lifelong affection for muscle cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes, boats, really anything with a motor. He traveled the world with his father-in-law, riding motorcycles. He and his wife along with their two daughters enjoyed camping and boating with family and friends. Phil put his family first and his friends, almost equal, second. He was larger than life, always ready for an adventure, with a permanent smile on his face. He would give you the shirt off his back or talk you out of the one on yours. He had the best sense of humor, could connect with anyone, and make you feel like you were the most important person in the room. After residing in the Tampa Bay area for 23 years, he and his family decided it was time for a new adventure. He was a health system manager for applied medical specializing in medical device sales. He could have moved anywhere but they chose Hickory, N.C. He had to start from scratch with new co-workers and clients, but he was ready for the challenge and ready for the new territory. He will be greatly missed by everyone all over the globe. We will miss his pranks, his smile, his hugs, his jokes, but mostly that proud smile he would have when talking about Alicia, Amelia and Juliet. A celebration of Phil’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, with the Rev. Charles Kyker officiating, at 636 Bowmans Cutover Road, Taylorsville, N.C., with full military honors. The family will receive friends following until 6 p.m. Anyone wishing to pay their respects may come by the funeral home from 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Amelia and Juliet’s college fund at https://www.go fundme.com/f/paxson-family or if you would like to send a check made out to the girls, you may send it to P.O. Box 747, Hickory, NC 28603. Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory is serving the Paxson family. (special notice)

Meta’s Metaverse App Has Several Quality Issues, Admits Head – Bizz Buzz https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/metas-metaverse-app-has-several-quality-issues-admits-head-bizz-buzz/ San Francisco, Oct 7 The flagship metaverse product of Meta (formerly Facebook) is reportedly inundated with several quality issues and even those building the virtual reality (VR) social network at the company are barely using it. According to a report in The Verge citing internal memos, Meta’s VR social network called ‘Horizon Worlds’ holds little promise in its current avatar. Vishal Shah, Meta’s VP of Metaverse, apparently told the employees that the metaverse team would remain in a “quality lockdown” for the rest of the year to “ensure that we fix our quality gaps and performance issues before we open up Horizon to more users”. “Simply put, for an experience to become delightful and retentive, it must first be usable and well crafted,” he wrote. In August, Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was forced to post new screenshots on Facebook and Instagram, showing off a more life-like version of himself, after he faced memes on his poorly-designed metaverse avatar. In the same month, Vivek Sharma, the Indian-origin VP of Meta’s Horizon social media virtual reality (VR) platform, departed, at a time when Zuckerberg doubles down on his $10 billion metaverse dream. Sharma’s team now reports to Shah. Shah wrote in an internal memo that “currently feedback from our creators, users, playtesters, and many of us on the team is that the aggregate weight of papercuts, stability issues, and bugs is making it too hard for our community to experience the magic of Horizon”. Horizon Worlds is a social VR experience where you can discover new places with friends, build unique worlds of your own, and form teams to compete in action-packed games. The Horizon Worlds social metaverse platform is currently available only on the company’s Quest VR headsets. Share further wrote that for “many of us, we don’t spend that much time in Horizon and our dogfooding dashboards show this pretty clearly” “Why is that? Why don’t we love the product we’ve built so much that we use it all the time? The simple truth is, if we don’t love it, how can we expect our users to love it?” he added. Meta was making a plan to “hold managers accountable” for having their teams use Horizon at least once a week. “Everyone in this organisation should make it their mission to fall in love with Horizon Worlds,” read another memo. A Meta spokesperson said the company is “confident that the metaverse is the future of computing and that it should be built around people”. Zuckerberg said recently that major updates to Horizon and avatar graphics are coming soon.

I Tried These 12 Beauty Hacks And I’ve Incorporated So Many Of Them Into My Daily Routine… – The US Sun https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/i-tried-these-12-beauty-hacks-and-ive-incorporated-so-many-of-them-into-my-daily-routine-the-us-sun/ A BEAUTY expert has revealed 12 simple hacks that will make your products last longer. For shoppers looking to save money against inflation prices, using every bit of your beauty favorites is key. 3 You can save money on beauty products by decanting your product into bottles that limit how much you useCredit: Amazon 3 Tiny beauty spatulas are also great for scraping out every last bit of product from your moisturizing containersCredit: Amazon 3 Other cool gadgets like a tube squeezer will help you save money as inflation jacks up the prices of essentialsCredit: Amazon The first tip involves getting every last bit of that lipstick you’ve been loving. You can scrape out lipstick and other beauty products with small spatulas that will prevent any possible waste. After you scrape out the remaining bits of lipstick, you can melt them down and pour the product into lidded pots that are on sale at Amazon for $6.99, Huffpost reported. This way, you can keep using your favorite lipstick for a good while before you have to purchase your next. Another tip involves revitalizing dry eye makeup with saline. You can actually squirt a few drops of saline into gel liner or cream eye shadow that’s looking less than desirable to bring it back to life. There are also measures you can take to help old, gloopy nail polish. Once you get a cheap bottle of nail polish remover, all it takes is a couple of drops in your old bottle to make it last longer. Most read in Hair & Beauty There’s nothing more frustrating than accidentally dropping a pressed powder that still has tons of use left. Luckily, you can fix a smashed eyeshadow or damaged blush with some rubbing alcohol. All you have to do is add a few drops to the broken product and repress it with a kitchen towel and the back of a spoon. You can also make liquid foundation go further and last longer by adding drops of cheap highlighting liquid before applying it, Huffpost reported. Not only will it stretch the product, but it will also add a dewy glow to your skin. Another beauty gadget that pays for itself is a tube squeezer that can extract every last bit of your products. And you can also help to prevent waste by switching to a silicone sponge instead of a regular one. A non-absorbant silicone makeup sponge, which blends makeup without sucking up any product, will help you get the most out of your foundation and concealer. When you’re looking to save money on beauty products, it may be beneficial to take note of how long your products actually last. Some solid products, like this shea butter shampoo bar, could outlive a liquid counterpart. In order for these solid products to last long, however, you’re gonna need to take care of them. Make sure you get a soap dish that can protect your new beauty purchases from getting soggy and falling apart. A fun way to liven up your bathroom space and also reduce waste is to fill reuseable pump bottles with liquid product. These amber bottles help you to really control how much shampoo or conditioner you use so you aren’t losing money with each wash. It turns out some beauty items can quickly turn bad if they see too much direct sunlight or heat. You can extend the life of items by organizing a small drawer in your fridge that keeps foundation, night cream, and nail varnish cool and fresh.

Fed-Fueled Crypto Bear Market Could Last 12-18 More Months: Solana Co-Founder – Decrypt https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/fed-fueled-crypto-bear-market-could-last-12-18-more-months-solana-co-founder-decrypt/ In brief Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko appeared on the latest episode of Decrypt’s gm podcast. He discussed the current crypto bear market and why the Breakpoint conference is an important event for Solana’s development scene. It’s been a rough few months for crypto following the collapse of Terra in May, sending shockwaves throughout the wider market. But crypto prices had been trickling down for months at that point, and financial markets across the board have been hit hard this year as inflation rises. How much longer will the bear market last? Estimates vary widely, but many in the crypto space don’t believe that we’ll see another bull run anytime soon. And you can count Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko among them. On the latest episode of Decrypt’s gm podcast, Yakovenko pointed to continued pain in the markets for some time to come, citing the impact of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s ongoing rate hikes. But Yakovenko also told co-hosts Dan Roberts and Stacy Elliott that he’s optimistic about an eventual return to crypto market growth “Looking at macro stuff, my guess is there’s probably 12 to 18 months more of this brutal Fed rates going up,” he said. “But there is an end to it. And just like the last bear market, a lot of teams that built and focused on product-market fit, and really tried to build amazing products—a lot of those succeeded, I think, in a very dramatic way.” Solana has been no exception to the wider crypto market decline, with the price of SOL down 81% since the start of 2022 per data from CoinGecko. The layer-1 blockchain network has also suffered three significant periods of downtime this year, including one last week, which Yakovenko addressed in the episode. But Solana has also seen growth and continuing momentum despite the macro decline and technical hitches. Solana’s NFT market is still growing despite the lower price of SOL and declining value of some collectibles, plus new projects are steadily being built on the network. Yakovenko also pointed to Solana startups that are raising funds at “still pretty high valuations” despite the crypto winter. His comments come ahead of Solana’s annual Breakpoint conference in Lisbon, Portugal in early November. After debuting last year, Breakpoint is already considered by some to be a fixture on the Web3 conference circuit. Yakovenko sees the event as an opportunity to take stock of everything in the Solana ecosystem over the last year: the good, the bad, and the ugly. “We call it Breakpoint because it’s kind of a break,” he said with a laugh. “But I think that’s important—to take a break and then look back at what we accomplished, what the challenges were over the last year, and really reenergize everyone to continue building.” Asked if he expects a different vibe for this year’s Breakpoint compared to the 2021 debut, during a time in which the price of SOL was soaring to new heights, Yakovenko replied (again with a laugh), “Are people going to be depressed and somber? I don’t know, honestly.” He observed that “people are still having fun” when at the Solana Spaces store or at Solana’s dev-centric Hacker Houses events, and wondered aloud whether that resilient attitude is due to builders having already lived through multiple crypto market cycles. “They’re like: ‘Well, here we go again. We might as well make the best of it,’” Yakovenko said. “So they tend to have a pretty good attitude about it.” Listen to the full episode of the gm podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and make sure to subscribe. Stay on top of crypto news, get daily updates in your inbox.

Slower U.S. Job Growth Anticipated In September; Labor Market Still Tight – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/slower-u-s-job-growth-anticipated-in-september-labor-market-still-tight-reuters/ Nonfarm payrolls forecast increasing 250,000 in September Unemployment rate seen unchanged at 3.7% Average hourly earnings expected to rise 0.3% WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) – U.S. job growth likely slowed in September as rapidly rising interest rates leave businesses more cautious about the economic outlook, but overall labor market conditions remain tight, providing the Federal Reserve with cover to maintain its aggressive monetary policy tightening campaign for a while. The Labor Department’s closely watched employment report on Friday is also expected to show the jobless rate unchanged at 3.7% last month, with strong annual wage gains. The labor market has largely been resilient to the higher borrowing costs and tighter financial conditions, with economists saying businesses are reluctant to layoff workers following difficulties hiring in the past year as the COVID-19 pandemic forced some people out of the workforce, partly due to prolonged illness caused by the virus. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “There is obviously no inclination for firms to fire people, but they’re starting to get a little bit more nervous about the economic outlook,” said James Knightley, chief international economist at ING in New York. Nonfarm payrolls likely increased by 250,000 jobs last month after rising 315,000 in August. While that would be the weakest reading since December 2020, it would be way above the monthly average of 167,000 in the 2010s. Estimates for payrolls growth ranged from as low as 127,000 to as high as 375,000. “That’s a performance that we feel would not change the Fed’s assessment of a labor market that is still too tight,” said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo in Charlotte, North Carolina. “And that is not conducive to getting inflation back down to the Fed’s 2% target.” The U.S. central bank has hiked its policy rate from near-zero at the beginning of this year to the current range of 3.00% to 3.25%, and last month signaled more large increases were on the way this year. September’s consumer price report next Thursday will also help policymakers to assess their progress in the battle against inflation ahead of their Nov. 1-2 policy meeting. Financial markets have almost priced-in a fourth 75-basis points rate increase at that meeting, according to CME’s FedWatch Tool. While government data this week showed job openings dropped by 1.1 million, the largest decline since April 2020, to 10.1 million on the last day of August, there are still 4 million more vacancies than there are unemployed Americans. An Institute for Supply Management survey on Wednesday also showed several services industries reporting labor shortages in September. There is a risk that the unemployment rate fell last month after being boosted in August by 786,000 people who entered the labor force, the most since January. That together with seasonal adjustment issues around summer employment patterns lifted the labor force participation rate, or the proportion of working-age Americans who have a job or are looking for one to 62.4% in August from 62.1% in July. But most of the entrants were prime-age workers, which raised the labor force participation rate for this cohort above the average rate for 2019. A repeat was not expected. NOT IN RECESSION “This suggests still positive monthly job gains, in excess of 100,000, will continue to put downward pressure on the unemployment rate,” said Veronica Clark, an economist at Citigroup in New York. “Evidence of a still very tight labor market will likely keep the Fed hawkish.” The Fed is projecting that the unemployment rate will rise to 3.8% this year and to 4.4% in 2023. That would be above the half-percentage-point rise in unemployment that has been associated with past recessions. With the labor market still tight, wage gains remain solid. Average hourly earnings are forecast increasing 0.3% after a similar rise in August. That would lower the annual increase in wages to 5.1% from 5.2% in August. The Atlanta Fed’s wage tracker, which controls for compositional effects like skill level, occupation and geography, is running above 6%. The average workweek is forecast unchanged at 34.5 hours, indicating firms are opting to hang on to their workers instead of cutting jobs for now. Indeed, first-time applications for unemployment benefits remain at very low levels. “It tells you that the economy is not exactly booming but not contracting either,” said Sung Won Sohn, a finance and economics professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. But with the headwinds from higher borrowing costs and slowing demand rising, economists expect companies will significantly pull back on hiring, with negative payrolls likely next year. Economists say businesses have been backfilling open positions as they struggled to expand headcount to match increased demand for their products, driving up job gains. The economy has created 3.5 million jobs so far this year, even as gross domestic product contracted in the first half. “The boost to job growth from backfilling may end sooner rather than later,” said Ellen Zentner, chief U.S. economist at Morgan Stanley in New York. “Given the slowing in labor demand we foresee coming from higher interest rates should continue, removing the pillar of support that labor backfilling has provided so far this year could lead to a faster collapse in jobs growth than normal.” Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

2003 Changed The Course Of Michigan Tech Football | News, Sports, Jobs – Daily Mining Gazette https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/2003-changed-the-course-of-michigan-tech-football-news-sports-jobs-daily-mining-gazette/ The 2004 Michigan Tech poses for a picture prior to the start of the season. Team members include coach Bernie Anderson, offensive coordinator Tom Kearly, Dan Mettlach, Kirk Williams, Chad Alger, Lee Marana, Brad Schultz, Jim Bestul, Rob Black, David Kopke, Mike Brewster, Kyle Stewart, Brian Janeshek, Jacob Smith, S. Mathison, David Anderson, Andy Bonk, DaVaughn Dixon, Travis Boik, Dustin Daniels, Bryan Klett, Joe Bassindale, Jackson Emnott, Antoine Young, Brian Lepley, Chris Lomasney, Grant Botz, Paul Linn, Daryl Graham, Jack Meikle, Juan Wilson, T. Merrit, Jered Wills, Brad Ruohonen, Zach Tatro, Luke Edwards, Ryan Essex, Cheyne Nelson, Andy Luehmann, Matt Lamberti, Ethan Sklom, Billy oenig, Mike Hutchens, Andy Bruce, Lee Keys, R. Richard, Kurt Troutman, W. McCubbrey, Josh Dorn, Pete Moyryla, Steve Fantetti, DeVon Allen, Keith White, Erik Lehman, and D. Williamson. (Photo provided by Michigan Tech Athletics) HOUGHTON — In the 100-year history of the Michigan Tech Huskies’ football program, the most recent years have been some of the most prosperous, even despite the team’s current 1-4 record. However, it wasn’t all that long ago that the program nearly died off, thanks to a decision to cut the program following the 2003 season. Dan Mettlach, who serves now as an associate head coach and offensive coordinator for the Huskies, was caught in the middle of a wild two-week sequence that set in motion a renewed drive for the Huskies to take the next step as a program. In the Spring of 2003, Mettlach had just finished up his third season with the Huskies. He was the starting quarterback of a team that had gone 3-7 in 2002. The Huskies finished the season losing six of their final seven games. One morning, as he and his teammates approached the SDC Gym, something seemed alarming. The lights in the large room were still off. “We found out the morning of one of our morning conditionings,” he said. “So it was 6:30 or 6:15 in the morning, or whatever, in the wood gym. All the lights were off. All the guys were kind of wondering what was going on. Then coach (Bernie) Anderson came in and gave us the news. “(It was) about a 5-10 minute conversation. Everybody didn’t know what to think. People were upset and whatever else, kind of wondering what the next step was going to be. So you’re walking out in the SDC at 6:30 in the morning, not knowing what’s going to happen.” While trying to process the decision that was made by the Athletic Department, Mettlach and his teammates had decisions to make, should they stay or should they go? He recalls that some of his professors were wondering why he and his teammates were even bothering coming to class, given that they could be out looking to transfer. For Mettlach, the whole experience was surreal in that moment. “It was one of those deals where you’re sitting there questioning, ‘man do I really feel like going to school right now?’ because of the state of everything else,” he said. “Then you’re getting to class and some of the professors are wondering why you’re there.” Over the course of the next two weeks, several team members did attend recruiting trips, trying to find a new school to play for. Others made the decision to stick around, even if there was no hope of playing another game at Michigan Tech. As rumors spread that there might be enough support from the alumni and the community to fund the return of the program, Mettlach and his teammates had another distraction to deal with: should they continue to search for a new home, or stay in Houghton on the chance that the program would return. “We went on visits,” he said. “Some of us went on visits together. Certain teams were recruiting the same guys. You’re trying to find out not only what’s going to be a fit football-wise, but academically, three years into your college career. What transfers, what doesn’t, and so it was an odd time.” When it was announced that the program would return, Mettlach could hardly contain his excitement. Over the coming days, the team learned that only a handful of players had decided to transfer, meaning that they would return most of its starters for the 2003 season. Also, new to the program in 2003 was the VIP pavilion at Sherman Field. Built by kicker Grant Botz’s father and stocked by Jim and Julie Cortright, the space became a gathering place for alumni and fans alike. Mettlach also commends the efforts of Sue Johnson, who coordinated the VIP program. With such support, the team came into the 2003 season excited to know that they were supported by more than just their families. During the 2003 season, the Huskies won their opening game, but then lost the next four. There is an adage in sports that teams need to learn how to win. Mettlach felt that was exactly what was going on with the team, because once they figured it out, they won four of their last five games. That knowledge proved valuable heading into the 2004 season. Mettlach and the Huskies defeated Northern Michigan to open the season and never looked back, winning their next eight games and setting up a huge matchup against perennially-ranked Grand Valley State. With the conference title up for grabs, the two teams met at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The Huskies ultimately lost three players to injury in the game and lost the game, but they did get to play in front of 52,000 fans, something every player on that team will remember for the rest of their lives. In that moment, Mettlach and his teammates were just focused on football. “We stayed not too far from the stadium,” he said. “So there were, obviously, quite a few alums around the two hotels that we were at. My wife now, girlfriend at the time, went to Michigan, so we were driving by, and we saw her tailgate, and there were a bunch of our buddies out there.” Afterwards, the Huskies learned just how much it meant to alumni and the community to be a part of a very special moment dubbed, the “Bash at the Big House.” “We got out of our team dinner at the hotel that night, and the amount of people that were just around the parking lot, or in the hotel, or the hotel next door, was unlike any other game we had had before,” he said. “When we meet alums, or talk to alums, or Tech supporters, whatever, that were at that game, we still get people to come up to us.” The Huskies earned the chance to play in, and host, their first NCAA playoff game that season. While they lost to North Dakota, the experience was one that helped set the tone for the next 18 seasons of Michigan Tech football. Now a coach with the program, Mettlach instills the same principles in players that he was held to in his playing days. “There is no easy way to get wins, but I think the thing I appreciate about this place is we do not take shortcuts, just to get wins,” he said. “We’re going to do things the right way, the Michigan Tech way. The guys that have been in that program understand what that means. That part, to me, is you know whether you’re 1-4 or 5-0, that part makes Michigan Tech special.” Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Black Wombs Matter: ‘Aftershock’, By Julianne Malveaux – Richmond Free Press https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/black-wombs-matter-aftershock-by-julianne-malveaux-richmond-free-press/ Did you know that Black women are three or four times more likely to die from childbirth complications than white women? Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL), who heads the Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain trust, said the data are more dire depending on where a mother lives. In Illinois, Black women are six times as likely to die. In New York, Black women are 10 times as likely to die. And it’s not just Black women. With a significant Indigenous population in Washington state, those women are eight times as likely to die as white women! The issue of Black maternal health care is tackled in the film, “Aftershock,” which can be seen on Hulu. Produced by Tonya Lewis Lee and Paula Eiselt, the film features families directly and painfully impacted by how Black women are treated as they deliver children. The Congressional Black Caucus’ recent Annual Legislative Forum featured several brain trust meetings on health, including one titled, “Creating Maternal Health Care Systems that Believe and Protect Black Women.” It showed clips from “Aftershock” and included panelists affected by the Black maternal health crisis. Shawnee Benton Gibson’s daughter Shamony Makeba Gibson died from complications from childbirth only 13 days after she gave birth to her son. Although she complained of pain, shortness of breath, and more, health care providers told her these were “natural” childbirth symptoms. Ms. Gibson was only rushed to the hospital to die when she could not move. Later, it was shown that health care provid- ers ignored vital signs of her increasingly poor health. She died from medical indifference and incompetence. Also featured in the film are Omari Maynard, Ms. Gibson’s partner who is now raising two children alone, and Bruce McIntyre III, whose partner Amber Rose Isaac, died after an emergency C Section. He said her death is the result of “medical negligence” and has joined several others in shining light on this pandemic of Black maternal health. “Aftershock” lifts the im- portance of doula (pregnancy coaches and advocates) and midwives, an essential part of maternal health. It also looks at the criminalization of midwives and those who eschew traditional birthing. Some midwives have been criminally prosecuted for bringing healthy babies into the world. The film also highlights the racist origins of the OB/GYN medical specialty. Developed by a sadist white physician, James Marion Sims, the specialty has its roots in experiments on en- slaved Black women. Indeed, the lie that Black people can withstand enormous pain is rooted in enslavement and the brutal way Black women were experimented on. Because Dr. Sims believed Black women could stand all kinds of pain, he conducted painful experiments without anesthesia. Really? Yet some medical professionals continue to laud his work, and until 2018 a statue celebrating him was part of New York’s Central Park. His defenders say he was just a product of his times, but it is clear that he not only experimented on enslaved women that he owned but also purchased women to experiment on them. I reject the notion that Dr. Sims was a product of his times. He was a sadistic brute who denied Balck women’s very humanity. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-Ill), the youngest member of the Congressional Black Caucus, has introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, an essential step toward eliminating the treatment Black women experience as they give birth. Supported by more than 250 organizations, including the American Nurses Association, the Association of Black Women Physicians, the Center for American Progress, the Children’s Defense Fund, Families USA, the NAACP, and others, the legislation has more than 30 Congressional co-sponsors. The legislation has yet to pass the House of Representatives, and it is unlikely to pass the parsimonious Senate. People can get involved by reminding their representatives of the importance of this Momnibus Act. Shawnee Benton Gibson, Shomany Gibson’s mom, said that if Black Lives Matter, then Black Wombs must also matter. She has turned the pain of her daughter’s death into powerful advocacy for Black maternal health. She is among the many, including Congresswomen Robin Kelly, Lauren Underwood and others who must be applauded for addressing this life-and-death issue. The author is an economist and dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA.

Can Airline Handouts And Free Flights Revive Hong Kong Travel? – Nasdaq https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/can-airline-handouts-and-free-flights-revive-hong-kong-travel-nasdaq/ Published Oct 6, 2022 10:00PM EDT For more crisp and insightful business and economic news, subscribe to The Daily Upside newsletter. It’s completely free and we guarantee you’ll learn something new every day. After nearly three years of self-isolation, Hong Kong is dying for some company. The city announced Thursday it will give away 500,000 free airline tickets, worth north of $250 million, to jump-start its beleaguered tourism industry. But all the free mini-pretzels, Bloody Marys, and in-flight dim sum in the world might not be enough to lure back travelers. Come Fly With Me. Please? Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, has mirrored the mainland in imposing strict, lengthy lockdowns this year while the rest of the world largely carried on as normal. Late last month the city finally lifted its quarantine rules on travelers, who were previously forced to cloister for three days upon arrival. But visitors still must abide by Hong Kong’s relatively strict covid policies, including wearing masks in most public spaces, both indoors and out. Non-compliance risks fines of up to HK $5,000 ($636 USD) — not exactly vacation vibes. While most international airports weathered a chaotic 2022, Hong Kong’s has stayed a ghost town, with capacity this week at just 19% of 2019 levels, Reuters reported. The city welcomed 184,000 visitors from January to August this year compared to 56 million all of 2019, per the BBC. The low down on the lockdowns isn’t pretty: Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s biggest airline, hollowed out its operations during the pandemic, reducing total headcount from 34,200 to 20,800 and imposing pay cuts of up to 58%. Now, as Hong Kong opens up, prospective travelers have seen the price of some airline tickets more than triple amid what Cathay called an “unprecedented staffing and training shortage.” American Airlines departed the city in late 2021, and Virgin Atlantic announced Wednesday it’s abandoning the city, nixing its London-Hong Kong flight route and shutting down its offices there after 30 years. Virgin said this was partly due to “complexities” caused by Russian airspace being closed off. So it’s dosvedanya from Branson. Home discomforts: The tourism industry isn’t the only part of Hong Kong’s economy that’s taking a major hit. Goldman Sachs predicted a 30% fall in Hong Kong house prices by the end of 2023. Hong Kong has been the world’s most unaffordable housing market for 12 years now, so no one’s expecting a soft landing. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. The Motley Fool Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world’s greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company’s name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king — without getting their heads lopped off. Learn More %

Business News At 09:30 Am On 7th October 2022 – The Financial Express https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/business-news-at-0930-am-on-7th-october-2022-the-financial-express/ Listen to the latest business news by the Financial Express where we talk about the free trade agreement between India nd UK. We also have latest updates on Sebi asking Brickwork Ratings to wind down its operations and also, World Bank scaling down India’s growth projection. And lastly, listen to some industrial news where we update you about the FMCG companies and Nirmala Sitharaman’s recent address to the CCI. Today’s Latest Business News at 9:30 am on 7th October 2022. [Disclaimer: This transcript is auto-generated] === Let’s begin. The Securities and Exchange Board of India on Thursday asked Brickwork Ratings to wind down its operations within six months for failing to exercise proper skill, care and diligence while discharging its duties as a credit rating agency. The regulator has cancelled Brickwork’s certificate of registration, granted in 2008. Brickwork is one of the seven credit rating agencies registered with Sebi. The others are Crisil, ICRA, CARE, Fitch, Infomerics Ratings and Acuité Ratings & Research. The regulator in its 51-page order on Thursday said, the repeated lapses, noticed across multiple inspections conducted by Sebi, shows that governance changes recommended in earlier inspections, and monetary penalties imposed have not proved effective or deterred the Noticee in addressing very basic requirements of running a CRA. The regulator added that strict regulatory action is required at this juncture to address the issue and protect the market ecosystem. Meanwhile, The World Bank on Thursday substantially scaled down its FY23 growth projection for India to just 6.5% from 7.5% predicted in June, presenting the gloomiest forecast for the country by any major agency, as it warned of “deteriorating external environment”. For FY24, it has trimmed the growth forecast by 10 basis points to 6.5%. In its latest South Asia Economic Focus report, the bank said amid slowing global growth, (India’s) export growth will moderate while import growth will be driven by recovering domestic demand. Nevertheless, India will still remain the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The multilateral body has also acknowledged India’s relatively strong macroeconomic fundamentals. With this, the bank joins a number of agencies that have revised down their India forecasts after the June quarter GDP data were out. Fitch recently cut its FY23 forecast for the country to 7% from 7.8%. Moody’s trimmed its projection to 7.7% for CY22 from 8.8% and Goldman Sachs cut its 2022 growth forecast for India to 7% from 7.6%; for the fiscal year FY23 as well. In some more economy news, The proposed free trade agreement between India and the UK is likely to miss the Diwali deadline. Official sources told FE that both sides are yet to wrap up negotiations for the FTA text. Usually, once the text is finalised, it’s subject to legal scrubbing and other internal processes like Cabinet clearances before it’s signed. Also, the concerns over “open migration policy”, expressed by Britain’s home secretary Suella Braverman on Thursday, cast a doubt on the FTA. The statement suggests that Braverman is unlikely to endorse any further visa concession, a critical area of interest for India under the proposed FTA. Officially, both sides are still sticking to the October 24 deadline, set in April by the Prime Ministers of both countries to hammer out the FTA. This is despite concerns in certain quarters about the slow pace of negotiations in recent months due to a change of guard in the UK and national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth-II last month. Moving on. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday called on the regulator to address competition issues arising out of a rapidly-evolving digital market by aligning its steps with the global best practices. The minister at an event organised by the Competition Commission of India said that as we evolve to be a digital economy, the challenges that digitisation brings are also very important for us to address, and that we can’t ignore them. The statement comes at a time when some of the global tech giants are facing a probe by the CCI for alleged anti-competitive practices. In fact, in a presentation before the Parliamentary Committee on finance in April, the CCI had apprised it of a number of investigations it was carrying out in the digital space, including those involving Google, Facebook-WhatsApp, Apple, Amazon, Flipkart, MakeMyTrip-Goibibo, Swiggy, and Zomato. Sitharaman also stated that the competition regulator also needs to address issues emanating from cross-country mergers and acquisitions fair and square. And lastly, High commodity prices continue to eat into the operating incomes of FMCG companies. Dabur India on Thursday said the soaring inflation during the second quarter could lower its operating margin by around 150-200 basis points year-on-year. “During the quarter, inflation was at peak levels which impacted gross margins,” the consumer goods major said in a regulatory filing. In addition, the geopolitical situation continued to impact the business with unprecedented inflation during the quarter leading to weak demand trends across categories. Marico expects gross margin to contract sequentially. Higher cost inventory consumption during the quarter, coupled with some currency depreciation across geographies, is expected to have some bearing on profitability, it said in its business update for the second quarter. However, the margins would remain higher year-on-year on a consolidated basis. Show More

7 Surprising Health Benefits Of Pumpkins – AARP https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/7-surprising-health-benefits-of-pumpkins-aarp/ The orange fruit of fall can help boost your immune system, protect your vision and even help you look younger artoleshko / Getty Images For many people, fall is practically synonymous with pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie. Although these treats are fine in moderation, they shouldn’t be mainstays of your diet. The problem is hardly the pumpkin itself, but rather the oodles of sugar and fat that tend to accompany such seasonal favorites. ​​“Pumpkin has an impressive nutrient profile,” says Amy Kimberlain, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “One cup of cooked pumpkin has 49 calories, virtually no fat, 2 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber,” and it’s loaded with beta-carotene, an antioxidant that gets converted in your body into vitamin A. Here are seven facts about pumpkins that might surprise you, as well as tips for enjoying it in a healthier manner. 1. It may help keep your immune system strong. Steering clear of sick people, practicing good hand hygiene and staying up to date on your flu, COVID-19 and pneumonia vaccines are still crucial. But if you’re looking to give your immune system a little extra boost this fall and winter, eating an ample variety of produce — including pumpkin and pumpkin seeds — may help, Kimberlain says. Pumpkin packs a wallop of vitamins and minerals, including several that may help get you through cold and flu season relatively unscathed. Vitamin A, for instance, may strengthen the immune system and help fight infections, Kimberlain says. Pumpkin also contains vitamin C, which increases the production of white blood cells, helps immune cells work more effectively and makes wounds heal faster, she adds. And pumpkin seeds offer myriad nutrients that support the immune system, including zinc. 2. It may help keep your vision sharp. In addition to beta-carotene, pumpkin provides lutein and zeaxanthin, powerful antioxidants that have been linked to better vision, says Lyssie Lakatos, a nutritionist, personal trainer and coauthor of The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure. “Lutein has been shown to prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the U.S.” (for those 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), she says. “Studies also show that high levels of both lutein and zeaxanthin protect the eyes from harmful UV light.” 3. It’s good for your heart. Pumpkin is a good source of potassium, which helps moderate blood pressure by counteracting the impact of sodium, as well as fiber, which lowers blood cholesterol. It also contains arginine, an amino acid your body needs to make nitric oxide, “which is critical for blood vessel relaxation and blood pressure reduction,” Lakatos says. See more Health & Wellness offers Pumpkin contains an array of antioxidants that may prevent LDL cholesterol (the “lousy” kind) from a process called oxidation. “When LDL cholesterol particles oxidize, this can restrict our blood vessels, ultimately increasing our risk for heart disease,” Kimberlain explains. 4. It may help you look younger. No, you can’t eat pumpkin in lieu of wearing sunscreen, but the beta-carotene in it provides some protection against UV rays that contribute to wrinkles, sunspots and skin cancer. The vitamin C and E in pumpkin serve as potent antioxidants that reduce damage caused by free radicals and promote the production of collagen, which helps to keep skin youthful and supple, Lakatos says. 5. Canned pumpkin and fresh pumpkin are similarly healthy — but read labels carefully. Fresh is best, but canned is a pretty close second and is usually much more convenient. The key, Kimberlain says, is to make sure you buy the version with only one ingredient: pumpkin! She notes that grocery stores often keep 100 percent canned pumpkin right next to “canned pumpkin pie mix,” which might look similar at first glance but contains added sugars and other ingredients. Pure canned pumpkin can be added to smoothies, oatmeal, baked goods, pancakes and much more. Need just a small amount? Pour the remainder into small, freezer-safe containers (or into a silicone ice cube tray covered with a gallon-size zip-close bag), freeze it and defrost as needed. ​​ 6. Pumpkin spice lattes contain little to no actual pumpkin. Most of these frothy drinks are totally pumpkin-less, though some versions contain a smidgen. In either case, the biggest problem is that these are really indulgent desserts in disguise: A 16-ounce cup may have as much as 400 calories, 50 grams of sugar and nearly half the maximum amount of saturated fat you should get in an entire day. (If you can’t pass it up, ordering yours with skim milk, less syrup and no whip will blunt the damage.)  Pumpkin pie spice doesn’t contain any pumpkin either, but this spice blend (typically cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice) offers plenty of health benefits — provided you use it to add flavor to otherwise healthy foods. Cinnamon might help balance blood sugar, ginger may relieve minor stomach upset, and nutmeg offers B vitamins and minerals, Kimberlain says. Try adding this seasoning to unsweetened applesauce, oatmeal or regular coffee or tea. 7. It’s technically a fruit, but it works in both savory and sweet recipes. Many people think of pumpkin as a vegetable, but treat it as a fruit by saving it for sweet drinks and desserts. Neither is quite right. By scientific definition, a fruit develops from the flower of a plant, while other parts are categorized as vegetables, so pumpkin fits the bill. And pumpkin itself isn’t inherently sweet; it’s all about what you pair with it. “Pumpkin is very versatile,” says Kimberlain, who likes to use it in risottos and chilies or simply roast it and serve as a side dish. Lakatos is a fan of pumpkin seed butter, an earthy green paste you can buy premade or make yourself (by pureeing pumpkin seeds with a small amount of sea salt). “I often recommend it to vegetarians, because it’s a good deal higher in protein than most nut butters,” she says. (It has about 9 grams per serving.)​​ When you’re craving something with a little sweetness but don’t want to go overboard, try Lakatos’ recipe for Pumpkin Pie Oat Breakfast Muffins. It incorporates canned pumpkin and pumpkin seeds and has a reasonable 8 grams of sugar per muffin. (A typical blueberry muffin, in contrast, can have as much as 35 grams.) Pumpkin Trivia Pumpkins come in a wide range of sizes, some weighing more than 1,000 pounds. The heaviest pumpkin ever harvested weighed more than 2,700 pounds and was grown in Chianti, Italy.  The biggest pumpkin pie ever made weighed in at a whopping 3,699 pounds. It was created by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers and presented at the New Bremen Pumpkinfest in Ohio in 2010.   There are more than 100 varieties of pumpkins, including the miniature Sweetie Pie and the supersize Atlantic Giant.​ 85 percent of the canned pumpkin distributed worldwide is packed at the Nestlé/Libby’s factory in Morton, Illinois, a.k.a. the Pumpkin Capital of the World. Pumpkins are 90 percent water. A blend of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg was included in a recipe for pumpkin (and squash) pie in the Fannie Farmer 1896 Cook Book: The Boston Cooking School. McCormick & Co. introduced the Pumpkin Pie spice blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice in 1934. Pumpkin Pie Oat Breakfast Muffins Ingredients​ 2 cups old fashioned oats or rolled oats (not instant)​ 1 tsp. baking powder​1/4 tsp. salt​1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice ​1/4 tsp. vanilla extract​1 cup almond milk (we used unsweetened vanilla)​ 3/4 cup canned pure pumpkin ​1 egg ​1/4 cup honey ​1/4 cup dried cranberries (if you’d like muffins a little sweeter, we suggest adding an additional 1/4 cup)​ 3 Tbsp. raw pumpkin seeds​ 1 Tbsp. seed and grain blend (we used Trader Joe’s Super Seed & Ancient Grain blend; you can use whatever type of seed or grain you have on hand!) Directions​1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.​ 2. Line a 12-cup cupcake pan with muffin papers or coat with nonstick spray. ​3. Combine all ingredients and mix completely until thoroughly combined in a bowl.​ 4. Divide batter into 12 cups so it’s evenly distributed.​ 5. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes. When done, the tops will be firm and not gooey or moist. Poke with a toothpick — and when it comes out clean, the muffins are ready! Be careful not to overbake. Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 105 calories, 2g fat, 0g saturated fat, 16mg cholesterol, 75mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 8g sugar, 3g protein   Source: Nutrition Twins Barbara Brody is a New York-based freelance writer who specializes in health and wellness. Her work has appeared in many outlets, including WebMD, Health and Prevention. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS

Mount Aloysius’ New Hall Creates ‘wow’ Moment For Basketball Coach – Altoona Mirror https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/mount-aloysius-new-hall-creates-wow-moment-for-basketball-coach-altoona-mirror/ Joe DeAntonio back in the day for the Mount Aloysius women’s basketball program. Courtesy photo By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Some of the inductees into the Mount Aloysius Athletic Hall of Fame were doubly surprised to learn of their recognition. For one, they didn’t know the Mount’s new hall existed, let alone that they were selected as inaugural selections. “I really didn’t expect the Mount to have a hall of fame,” former women’s basketball coach Joe Antonio, who is one of six individuals and one team set for tonight’s recognition, said. “The AD (Kevin Kime) called me. I thought, ‘Wow.”’ “It’s definitely an honor,” Ginger Fanelli Claar, a 2003 Mount grad and the school’s all-time scoring leader in women’s basketball 2,358 points, said. “It’s an honor to be in any hall of fame, let alone the first class.” DeAntonio and Fanelli will join fellow inductees Aaron Kovach (baseball), Brianna Baker (basketball, volleyball); Roman Mims (basketball); Jalisa (Westover) Murphy (softball) and the 2015 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference champion men’s soccer team. “We’ve always known that Mountie athletes are leaders — both in their sports and in their communities,” Kime said. “We’re so happy to now fully honor their legacies properly in our new athletic hall of fame. It’s a great way to celebrate the history of the athletics department while also shining a light on our future.” Kime also serves as the Mount baseball coach, and Kovach, a Hollidaysburg native, is the school’s career leader in batting average (.401) and the 2013 AMCC player of the year. “It was definitely something unexpected but an unbelievable honor,” Kovach said. “It’s been almost 10 years, and looking back at the whole experience has been cool to reflect on — all the experiences on and off the field, all the relationships and life lessons learned. I’m just very grateful.” Fanelli, a former standout at Altoona Area High School, played when Dave Adams was the Mount’s coach. She was a key player on the school’s USCAA women’s Division I national championship team. “It’s hard to believe I scored that many points, but I think we played a lot more games back then,” she said. “I built a lot of friendships, and it was a good four years. I feel very thankful I had such good teammates and coaches and obviously my parents played a big role in that as well.” While the majority of Mount’s first class represents a more recent era, DeAntonio was on the ground floor. From 1984-95, he developed the Mount into a junior-college power, evidenced by his career record of 235-74. DeAntonio, or Joey D. as he is still known, was a six-time NJCAA Region XX coach of the year who was inducted into the NJCAA Region XX Hall of Fame in 2003. His teams were nationally ranked 10 out of 11 seasons with three making it to the Sweet 16 and one to the Elite Eight, and he sent multiple players to Division I programs. “Coach DeAntonio was a pioneer at Mount Aloysius,” Kime said. “He established our first consistent winning program in women’s basketball team. He also found a way to take a small junior college in Cresson, Pennsylvania to several national championship appearances.” Kime called DeAntonio’s career, “remarkable, especially competing at the NJCAA D1 level.” Now 75 years old, DeAntonio, who resides in Altoona, said he’s “happy, humbled and blessed” by the recognition. His teams participated not only before today’s new arena at the Mount but prior to the old gym on campus. “The first few years, I kept pushing for a new gym,” he said. “We practiced at Portage Middle School and Penn Cambria. We drove to practice. I drove the van. We had to transport everything — shot clocks, all our equipment.” When they built what is now the old gym, “it was a godsend,” DeAntonio said, adding the latest facility — a $25 million shrine that is the Mount’s Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center that opened in 2014 — is “beautiful.” “I always felt it was a nice little campus,” he said. Even after his tenure didn’t end well. He ran into a conflict with a former administration over what later became a legal case of racial bias following the unanimous recommendation of a minority by the search committee that he chaired for the men’s basketball job. The school balked at the choice, and two weeks later, DeAntonio’s contract was not renewed. Twenty-seven years later, Mount Aloysius is finally considering him a legend. “I always loved the school,” DeAntonio said. “I think this administration is trying to right the wrongs of the past so everyone can move forward.” What a good idea. Rudel can be reached at 814-946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com. Head of class The following will be enshrined tonight in the Mount Aloysius Athletics Hall of Fame: Brianna Baker – women’s basketball and volleyball Ginger (Fanelli) Claar – women’s basketball Aaron Kovach – baseball Roman Mims – men’s basketball Jalissa (Westover) Murphy – softball Joe DeAntonio – women’s basketball 2015 men’s soccer team Emcee: Tim Rigby The Mount Aloysius Athletics Hall of Fame is located in McLanahan Plaza on the second floor of the Athletic Center (ACWC). To nominate someone for a future consideration, visit mountieathletics.com Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

GPSSA To Showcase Virtual Customer-Centric Experience In The Metaverse At Gitex Global – Gulf Business https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/gpssa-to-showcase-virtual-customer-centric-experience-in-the-metaverse-at-gitex-global-gulf-business/ The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has announced its participation at the 42nd edition of Gitex Global. The technology event will be held from October 10-14, 2022. The GPSSA will present a range of its digital projects, reflecting its dedication to providing user-friendly access to its services, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction, a statement said. Visitor will also be able to participate in a live chat session with a customer happiness agent at the GPSSA Metaverse Customer Happiness Virtual Center. They will be able to take part in requesting a service within virtual reality, enjoying real-time service in the metaverse. Dr Maysa Rashed Ghadeer, head of GPSSA’s Government Communications Office, said: “We are delighted to participate in this year’s edition of Gitex, which brings together experts from different fields and from across the world. At the GPSSA, we continuously strive to improve the quality of services we provide as we support the UAE’s vision for digital transformation, which can only be achieved through the use of top-notch leading technology, while ensuring a smooth, convenient and satisfactory experience in our integrated digital services that cater to a diverse community of stakeholders.” To get you Gitex Global pass, click here

6 New Gadgets To Keep On Your Radar – Gear Patrol https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/6-new-gadgets-to-keep-on-your-radar-gear-patrol/ This week, it was reported that the current iPhone SE will be the last iPhone to have Touch ID — it’ll be Face ID or nothing moving forward. Google held its big hardware event where it officially announced its newest Pixel smartphone and first Pixel smartwatch. And it looks like if you want to watch 4K videos on YouTube, you’re soon going to have to pay. But that’s just the news. Below, you’ll find a recap of all the cool new gadgets that were announced this week. Sony FX30 Sony The Sony FX30 is the newest entry in the company’s Cinema Line of digital film cameras. It’s essentially a more budget-friendly version of the FX3. It shares similar body and design, but opts for a 26-megapixel APS-C sensor instead of the FX3’s full-frame sensor. It’s positioned as a compact camera for new filmmakers. Price: $1,799+ LEARN MORE Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro Google Google Google held its big Pixel event this week where announced its latest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. As you’d expect, they Google’s best-ever smartphones with the most advanced camera capabilities of any Pixel smartphone to date. Both are powered the latest Tensor G2 chip, and they are actually more similar than they are different. The main differences are that the Pixel 7 Pro has a bigger display, more advanced camera (specifically for zoom) and a longer lasting battery. Both are pretty affordable for flagship smartphones, too. Price: $599+ (Pixel 7); $899+ (Pixel 7 Pro) LEARN MORE Pro-Ject Vinyl NRS Box S3 Courtesy The Vinyl NRS Box S3 is new and niche component for your turntable setup. It’s meant to go between your phono preamp and amplifier (or powered speaker). It then filters and reduces the noise (the crackles and skips) that a turntable picks up because the record is slightly damaged or warped. Available in black or silver finishes. Price: $399 LEARN MORE Audioengine DAC3 Courtesy The Audioengine DAC3 is a tiny portable USB-C DAC/amp that’s designed to squeeze that extra quality out of your smartphone or laptop. It packs a ES9281A PRO DAC and supports high-end lossless audio (up to 32-bit/384kHz including MQA files); it looks to be a perfect and relatively budget-friendly option for people who like to listen to Tidal (or another lossless streaming service) and who have a pair of high-end wired headphones. Price: $149 LEARN MORE Nest Doorbell (Wired) Courtesy Google announced a second-generation model of its smart doorbell, the Nest Doorbell — and it’s a modest update. It looks basically identical to its predecessor and has all the same capabilities. The difference is that it has better local storage capabilities — specifically it can store an hour worth of video footage even if the Wi-Fi goes down temporarily — and it supports HDR, so the video quality it captures should look a little bit better no matter the time of day or the lighting conditions. Available in four finishes: green, gray, beige or white. Price: $180 LEARN MORE Clear Audio Roam Sport Courtesy Clear Audio announced a new pair of wireless earbuds for runs and workouts. The Roam Sport have an IPX4 water-resistance rating and have active noise-cancellation. The earbuds look fairly similar to the Beats Fits Pro, as they both work with a silicone earhook to help them fit more securely. The kicker is that they come with $100 price tag, which is very competitive. Price: $100 LEARN MORE

Is Crypto Really Crypto When It’s Reversible?: Bloomberg Crypto – Bloomberg Law https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/is-crypto-really-crypto-when-its-reversible-bloomberg-crypto-bloomberg-law/ By Olga Kharif Welcome to Bloomberg Crypto, our twice-weekly look at Bitcoin, blockchain and more. In today’s edition, Olga Kharif imagines a reversible crypto world: Crypto’s Undoing For proponents of blockchain technology, some of its biggest strengths lie in the fact that open-source digital ledgers are under no one’s control, and that transactions, once made, can’t be tinkered with. On major blockchains like Ethereum, anyone can be involved in operations, and no one party should have veto power — a hallmark of a so-called permissionless system, where everything is governed by computer code. Immutability of transactions is a key part of this democratic system, designed to ensure that no government, … To read the full article log in. © 2022 The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. All Rights Reserved

INDIA STOCKS Indian Shares Inch Down As Banks Weigh; U.S. Jobs In Focus – Reuters https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/india-stocks-indian-shares-inch-down-as-banks-weigh-u-s-jobs-in-focus-reuters/ BENGALURU, Oct 7 (Reuters) – Indian shares edged lower on Friday, dragged by banks and energy stocks, ahead of major U.S. jobs data that will provide clues on the Federal Reserve’s rate hike strategy, while subdued global sentiment also weighed. The NSE Nifty 50 index (.NSEI) fell 0.14% to 17,305 as of 0351 GMT, while the S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) dropped 0.13% to 58,147. The World Bank trimmed India’s growth forecast for this financial year by a full percentage point, as rising commodity prices and debt-trouble hit economies in South Asia. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Meanwhile, the monthly U.S. jobs report on Friday will give a fresh indication of inflation pressures in the country. U.S. Federal Reserve officials have showed no intention of backing down from the most aggressive rate hike campaign in decades, emphasising that the inflation fight was ongoing. Shares of Titan Co (TITN.NS) rose 5.3% after the jewellery maker said overall second quarter sales rose 18% year-on-year. The Nifty bank index (.NSEBANK) lost 0.7%, while the energy index (.NIFTYENR) fell 0.5%. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Nallur Sethuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D’Souza and Dhanya Ann Thoppil Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Thoma Bravo Backs Financial Services Automation Provider SMA Technologies – ChannelE2E https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/thoma-bravo-backs-financial-services-automation-provider-sma-technologies-channele2e/ by Joe Panettieri • Oct 6, 2022 Private equity firm Thoma Bravo has acquired a stake in financial services automation company SMA Technologies — though percentage ownership details and dollar figures were not disclosed. This is technology M&A deal number 873 that ChannelE2E has covered so far in 2022. See more than 2,000 technology M&A deals involving MSPs, MSSPs & IT service providers listed here. SMA Technologies: Workload Automation Software Capabilities SMA Technologies, founded in 1980, is based in Houston, Texas. The company has 139 employees listed on LinkedIn. SMA develops OpCon, an Enterprise Workload Automation  platform for financial services firms, banks, insurers, credit unions and retailers. The workload automation and orchestration software can “eliminate manual tasks and manage workloads across business-critical operations.” The software  works with numerous third-party cloud, virtualization, database management, ERP, identity management, IT service management (ITSM) and operating system platforms. Aside from software, SMA also offers automation consulting and managed automation services. We don’t know if SMA somehow plans to compete against ServiceNow’s workflow automation or third-party Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software. SMA Technologies’ previous majority investor, ParkerGale Capital, will retain a minority stake in the software business, the parties said. When ParkerGale acquired the SMA stake in September 2020, the software company had 600 customers across 27 countries and territories. Fast forward to October 2022, and ChannelE2E doesn’t know know if that installed base has changed significantly The Thoma Bravo investment is “expected to enable SMA to significantly expand its offering of automation solutions for its clients while accelerating growth geographically and into tangential industries over time,” the private equity firm said. Thoma Bravo Invests In SMA Technologies: Executive Perspectives In a prepared statement about the Thoma Bravo-SMA deal, SMA CEO Todd Dauchy said: “SMA has been a pioneer in the workload automation space for over four decades and we are thrilled to continue our journey with Thoma Bravo. With Thoma Bravo’s operational expertise and financial resources, we will be better positioned to drive global growth while continuing to provide our clients and their employees with seamless solutions to automate processes, applications and workflows.” Added Adam Solomon, a partner at Thoma Bravo: “As the increasingly digital workplace multiplies IT workloads, SMA is mission-critical to helping enterprises smoothly manage today’s complex IT environment. Todd and the SMA team have built exceptional trust by consistently delivering products and solutions that meet clients’ ever-changing business needs and priorities. We are excited to partner with a company that values innovation and operational excellence as well as strong relationships with its clients.” Concluded Kristina Heinze, a partner and co-founder at ParkerGale: “Throughout its growth, SMA has remained a product-oriented and employee-driven software business with a laser focus on the client experience. We are proud of what we accomplished throughout our majority ownership with Todd Dauchy and the SMA team and look forward to continuing to support the company in partnership with Thoma Bravo.” Thoma Bravo: Business and Technology Automation Expertise Thoma Bravo has extensive experience in the IT automation software market. For instance, Thoma Bravo also owns stakes in information management software provider Hyland Software, and intelligent process automation provider Nintex. Those software companies, in turn, made RPA (robotic process automation) and DPA (digital process automation) acquisitions in 2020. The first deal involved Hyland buying Another Monday The second deal involved Nintex buying K2 Software Inc. Thoma Bravo also owns ConnectWise, which develops IT management and business automation software for MSPs in the SMB market. Thoma also owns a minority stake in N-able, another MSP-focused software provider.

Newhouse, White Face Off In 4th Congressional District Race That Will Test Central Washington Republicans’ Willingness To Forgive Trump Impeachment Vote – The Spokesman Review https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/newhouse-white-face-off-in-4th-congressional-district-race-that-will-test-central-washington-republicans-willingness-to-forgive-trump-impeachment-vote-the-spokesman-review/ WASHINGTON – In his nearly eight years representing Central Washington in the House, Dan Newhouse has fended off challengers from across the political spectrum and carved out a niche as a pragmatic lawmaker more interested in policy than bluster. But this year’s general election presents the Republican from Sunnyside with a new kind of challenge: convincing voters in the state’s reddest district to look past his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump and give him the support they largely withheld in the August primary. Newhouse and his Democratic opponent, Yakima businessman Doug White, each received roughly 25% of votes in the primary, enough to advance from the top-two contest only because six other GOP candidates who aligned themselves with Trump split the remaining half of votes. What that pro-Trump voting bloc does in the general election will play a big role in determining the outcome. “It’s the most conservative district in the state of Washington,” Newhouse said in an interview, “so my strategy and my message has been to appeal to those people that have supported me in the past and to remind them that I’m still the same conservative Republican that I’ve always been.” The Cook Political Report rates Washington’s 4th congressional district “R+11,” meaning Republican candidates are expected to perform 11 percentage points better than the national average and making it the most heavily GOP-leaning district in the state. Newhouse bested Democratic challengers in 2018 and 2020 by a roughly two-to-one margin, while his closest races came in 2014 and 2016 against fellow Republican Clint Didier, now a Franklin County commissioner. But White, a first-time candidate who returned home to Yakima after a 20-year career in international business, thinks right-wing voters’ lingering resentment toward Newhouse makes the incumbent vulnerable. Pitching himself as a solutions-oriented moderate, White said in an interview he hopes to assemble a coalition of reliable Democratic voters, independents and conservatives who want to see Newhouse gone. “Obviously, it’s an uphill battle,” White said, before citing a recent internal poll his campaign commissioned that makes him optimistic. The survey’s most important finding, he said, is that 40% of Republicans in the district “would vote for a Democrat if that Democrat had the profile that I do.” “This is a completely different game,” White said. “We’ve literally never seen this in this district before. My message is resonating well with people. They’re fed up with Dan Newhouse and we’re going to see a change.” A spokesman for the White campaign, John Wyble, declined to share the full poll results but said it shows that Newhouse is “a divisive figure,” even among Republicans, and that the race narrows to within the margin of error “after voters hear about Doug White.” There has been no independent polling this year in the district, which national political analysts consider safely in GOP hands. But White isn’t the only one who thinks the pro-Trump electorate could throw a wrench in Newhouse’s reelection bid. “I’ve heard a lot of people say that they’re going to vote for White, because they cannot get over what Newhouse did, and I’ve heard a lot of people say they’re not going to vote at all,” said Teagan Levine, chair of the Okanogan County GOP. Levine said that when she has told those voters to “take Newhouse’s name out of it” and “look at the bigger picture,” they have usually agreed to vote for the Republican, but she is concerned that not every disaffected voter in the district will get that message before casting their ballots. If GOP voters can’t get over Newhouse’s impeachment vote, Levine said, she worries they will jeopardize the party’s chances of taking control of the House – and in turn the odds of a Republican winning the presidency in 2024. None of the Republicans Newhouse bested in the primary have formally endorsed the incumbent, although some said they plan to vote for him. “Newhouse is in trouble, for sure, just talking to people,” said Jerrod Sessler, a former NASCAR driver from Prosser who took 12.3% of votes in the primary, adding that he has encouraged others to vote for Newhouse. “There’s a lot of people voting for Doug White, or they’re going to abstain.” Jacek Kobiesa, an engineer from Pasco who entered the race late and received just 490 votes, called the race “a huge mess” but said he would vote for Newhouse. Corey Gibson, a marketing entrepreneur from Selah who won 3.4% of votes, said he has received “so many calls” from conservatives who say they are considering voting for White, “not because they align with him, but because there’s this energy out there of wanting to be heard, wanting to be able to show that people want something different.” Gibson said he expects Newhouse to win the general election, but said he worries having such a “wildly unpopular” candidate could depress voter turnout in the district and hurt other Republicans, like Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley. Loren Culp, a former Republic police chief who won Trump’s endorsement and 21.6% of votes in the primary, said he doesn’t plan to vote for either Newhouse or White. “They’re both Democrats,” Culp said. “One of them just lies to us and tells us he’s a Republican.” With the 50% of primary voters who backed neither Newhouse nor White theoretically up for grabs, there is a potential opening for a write-in candidate to enter the race. State law prevents a losing primary candidate from running a write-in campaign for the same office, but some voters have encouraged Didier, the Franklin County commissioner who ran for the seat in 2014 and 2016, to mount a write-in campaign. In a text message, Didier confirmed he has had “an incredible amount of people want me to run as a write in,” but said he had no plans to do so. Mike Massey, chair of the Benton County GOP, said he estimates as many as one-third of conservatives “can’t put the clothes pin over their nose” and vote for Newhouse. “I’m going to vote for Dan because I have learned in the past that if you don’t support your party, it can really damage things,” Massey said, recalling how he voted in the 1992 presidential race for independent Ross Perot, whose candidacy helped Democrat Bill Clinton defeat Republican George H.W. Bush. Mike McKee, chair of the Grant County GOP, said he expects Newhouse to prevail but also worries many Republicans will not vote for him. “I just tell them, ‘Dan may not have been your first, second, third or fourth selection, but he’s won fair and square and now it’s time to fire (House speaker Nancy) Pelosi,’” McKee said, adding with a chuckle, “I can guarantee that Dan Newhouse is not going to vote to impeach another Republican president in the next two years.” The Washington State Republican Party didn’t endorse a candidate ahead of the August primary, but officially “nominated” him as the party’s candidate after he won the primary, party spokesman Ben Gonzalez said. For his part, Newhouse is counting on most of the district’s Republican-leaning voters forgiving him for the impeachment vote. In an interview, he alluded to a quote attributed to conservative icon Ronald Reagan, who reportedly said, “The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and an ally, not a 20% traitor.” In that spirit, Newhouse said, he hopes his conservative constituents who have supported him in the past will see the race against White as a clear choice between Republican and Democratic platforms. “I think if they sit down and think about that, even though they’re angry with me for one vote, that’s still better than the other choice that they have in front of them,” he said. “So we’re doing the best that we can to communicate that message.” When a new Congress is sworn in at the start of 2023, Newhouse may be the only remaining member of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The only other pro-impeachment Republican who survived the primaries, Rep. David Valadao of California, is in a tight race the Cook Political Report rates as a toss-up. He will also be among a dwindling number of House Republicans who are interested in working with Democrats on bipartisan legislation, as the GOP conference is increasingly dominated by hardline members who say their top priority in the next two years is investigating and even impeaching members of the Biden administration. Newhouse, a third-generation Yakima Valley farmer, is one of the leading advocates for bipartisan immigration reform to create a reliable, legal supply of U.S. agricultural workers, about half of whom are unauthorized immigrants, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That effort has drawn the ire of anti-immigration hardliners, but Newhouse said he believes 4th district voters want solutions to problems that affect the region. “The fact that I’m pragmatic, solutions-oriented, willing to work with people on both sides of the aisle in order to find those solutions, I don’t see that as a negative,” he said. “I think that’s what people expect of me.” As chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, a group of House Republicans focused on rural issues and limited government, Newhouse said he tries to cultivate an interest in conservative policy – rather than political grandstanding – among fellow GOP lawmakers. “Certainly you have those that want to just get headlines or become famous on social media and those kinds of things,” he said, “but there actually are a good number of ...

5 Black Travel Families To Inspire Your Next Family Vacation – Travel Noire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/5-black-travel-families-to-inspire-your-next-family-vacation-travel-noire/ Photo Credit: kali9 Black travel families are simply our favorites. There is nothing like experiencing the world with your loved ones, and capturing it all online? That is truly impressive work that deserves all the attention and all the claps. We created this article to celebrate and shed some light on some of our favorite travel families gracing social media. This is a Travel Noire list to get you ready for the next family vacation to somewhere gorgeous, these families make it look too easy! 2. Black Trekking View this post on Instagram A post shared by Family Travel (@blacktrekking_) “ This travel-loving family are no strangers to world exploration. Having wandered through Ghana, Belgium, Fort Lauderdale, and more. Working towards financial freedom and feeling their passion (traveling the world) is the vibe to expect from this family.  4. O Family View this post on Instagram A post shared by O Family | Digital Nomad Family (@o.family.adventures) “ This digital nomad family left the U.S. to live around the world. Navigating the world of travel with two small children and a desire to explore… we’re already invested. What’s more, the O family share tips and the realities of their wanderings. They’re learning how to be a family of ‘true global citizens’.  %

Heatherwood Grows Again – Long Island Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/heatherwood-grows-again-long-island-business-news/ For a developer with such a long history on Long Island, it’s not surprising that the name of the family-owned builder’s newest community is a nod to the area’s past. Commack-based Heatherwood Luxury Rentals recently opened Heritage Spy Ring Golf Club in South Setauket, a 200-unit luxury apartment complex and nine-hole golf course named for the Culper Spy Ring, which operated in the Setauket area, providing intel for General George Washington on enemy troop movements during the British occupation of New York City in 1778. And while its name may harken back to the Revolutionary War some 244 years ago, Heatherwood’s latest development is anything but an antique, offering a comfortable contemporary lifestyle to renters aged 55 and over. DOUGLAS PARTRICK and CHRISTOPHER CAPECE: Heatherwood’s brain trust is building new communities and re-imagining its legacy properties. Photo by Judy Walker Amenities at the new $70 million South Setauket rental community feature a 6,500-square-foot clubhouse with a fully equipped fitness center, clubroom, conference room, event space and game room. There’s also an outdoor pool and splash pad, fire pits, tennis and pickleball court, bocce court, playground, 2-acre great lawn and walking trails. As the name implies, one of the main attractions of the 70-acre Heritage Spy Ring Golf Club is a new nine-hole rolling layout designed by noted golf course architect Tyler Rae. In fact, the entire development was built on the former 18-hole Heatherwood Golf Club, originally built in the early 1960s by Heatherwood founders Donald Partrick and Stanley Neisloss. Established in 1950 by Partrick and Neisloss, Heatherwood started out by building several single-family-home subdivisions on Long Island before the company turned its attention to multifamily rental developments. The firm’s very first apartment community was the 272-unit Heatherwood House at Port Jefferson, which opened in 1962 and is still owned by the developer. IN THE BEGINNING: Company co-founder Donald Partrick (center) with other execs and local officials at the original Heatherwood Golf Club site. Courtesy of Heatherwood Today, Heatherwood’s portfolio has grown to about 7,000 apartments in Queens, Brooklyn and throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. “Everything we own, we’ve built,” says CEO Douglas Partrick, Donald Partrick’s son, who first came into the business in 2002 soon after Neisloss died. “To this day, Heatherwood hasn’t sold any of its developments.” In the last couple of years, Heatherwood has made some key additions to its executive team. Christopher Capece, formerly with AvalonBay Communities, came on board as president in Jan. 2020 and this spring, Heatherwood added Sean Sallie, former deputy commissioner for planning at the Nassau County Department of Public Works, who is now the company’s director of Planning and Development. “Although we sometimes consider acquisitions, our growth has historically been via new development. That’s part of Heatherwood’s DNA,” Capece said. “One of the strategic advantages of Heatherwood is that we’re a fully integrated development firm, including design, development, construction, operations and golf and recreational facilities.” That strategy has been paying off, as the company can claim some major recent achievements. In 2018, Heatherwood opened Tower 28, a 450-unit apartment building in Long Island City. The 58-story complex, which cost well over $200 million, was at the time the tallest residential building in New York City outside of Manhattan. Another ongoing Heatherwood project will bring 125 apartments and 14 attached ranch-style homes to a 26.9-acre site just south of the company-owned-and-operated Pine Hills Golf Club in Manorville. Dubbed Sun River Town Homes, the $31.16 million project will complement the company’s existing Villas at Pine Hills community where residents will share amenities that include a clubhouse, fitness center and pool. Heatherwood is also planning on redeveloping the 9-acre site in West Hempstead formerly occupied by National Wholesale Liquidators. That project will transform the property, located across from the West Hempstead Long Island Rail Road station, into a 428-unit, transit-oriented rental complex. Currently in the permitting process, the company hopes to start construction before the end of next year. And though Heatherwood is always looking for opportunities to expand its portfolio, it hasn’t forgotten about its existing communities. The company has recently embarked on a multi-million-dollar program to renovate and refresh its legacy rental complexes, adding amenities like turf soccer fields, new playground equipment, basketball and pickleball courts, even beach volleyball facilities. “We did a full market assessment of our entire portfolio, considering demographics and competition, and we identified our communities where we want to begin our re-investment back into the properties,” Capece said. The renovation work is nearly completed at the 348-unit Norwich Gate apartments in Oyster Bay, where the company built a brand-new clubhouse, courtyard area and added amenities. Next up is extensive renovations at Heatherwood House at Port Jefferson, the firm’s first-ever rental development. The project also includes redeveloping the community’s clubhouse and adding new amenities. “Even though we’re constantly investing in all of our communities, we’ve just taken a more pointed approach to giving them an enhanced lifestyle,” Partrick said. “It’s not just re-investment. It’s a re-imagining and creating a lifestyle.” The conference and meeting area inside the new community’s clubhouse. Photo by Judy Walker Heatherwood offers a wide range of monthly rents at its rental properties, starting at around $1,500 at some of its Long Island communities to more than $10,000 at some of its New York City buildings. Monthly rents at the Heritage Spy Ring Golf Club range from around $3,600 for a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment to more than $6,600 for a three-bedroom, two-bath residence. Thirty of the new apartments are designated as workforce housing and priced with reduced rents, with half of those restricted to people earning up to 80 percent of the area median income and half for people earning up to 120 percent of the AMI. The South Setauket development is about 20 percent leased and move-ins began a couple of months ago. Mitch Pally, CEO of the Long Island Builders Institute, said Heatherwood is a major player in the development of rental housing in Long Island, which is sorely needed. “There’s no doubt that Heatherwood has been re-invigorated over the last couple of years, as you can see with both new projects like up in South Setauket and hopefully soon in West Hempstead, and refurbishing of their existing product line all throughout the Island,” Pally said. “They are very community oriented. They’ve done a lot through our charitable arm and with LIBI itself over the years. Doug is a former president of LIBI and Chris has been involved with our executive committee for many years, so they take a great role in the need for and the importance of rental housing on Long Island of all types to make it easier to meet the great demand that there is for rental housing.” The 6,500-square-foot clubhouse at Heritage Spy Ring features a fully equipped fitness center, game room and other amenities. Photo by Judy Walker Attorney Howard Stein, who heads the Real Estate Practice Group at East Meadow-based Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman and has worked on many Heatherwood projects, echoed that sentiment. “Representing Heatherwood as a client has been and continues to be a rewarding opportunity,” Stein said. “Their projects are innovative and fulfill the needs of an evolving market. Their team is extremely professional and talented, and their reputation is impeccable because they always fulfill their promises.” Meanwhile, as the company continues to grow on Long Island, the difficult development environment here poses a challenge and Heatherwood may eventually look to expand in other regions. “Our preference is to invest in our home market,” Partrick said. “We strive to continue to keep our investment dollars on Long Island even in the face of often challenging entitlement hurdles, but we are also aware that there is capital flight out of the region for a reason.” DWINZELBERG@LIBN.COM

Chaitra Bryant Elected Chair Of National Minority Health Association Board – BlackEngineer.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/chaitra-bryant-elected-chair-of-national-minority-health-association-board-blackengineer-com/ The National Minority Health Association (NMHA) has elected Chaitra Bryant as Board Chair, succeeding David Dalton, who becomes Chairman Emeritus. Mrs. Bryant is an accomplished business leader and investor. She assumes the leadership of the board of directors as NMHA accelerates its growth and mission of health equity after an $11.1M HRSA COVID-19 grant to reduce vaccine hesitancy in underserved communities. Since founding 360 Wellness Collective Inc. and The Art of Wellness (a division of Chaitra, Inc.), she has spent the past 20 years serving as a wellness expert to executives and organizations at home and abroad, including National Jewish Health, Detroit East Health Services, and UPS®. Her services include “360-degree” healthy lifestyle coaching, career development, and co-developing preventive care programs. Mrs. Bryant’s passion is to help people live their best lives, as evidenced by her leadership of the Bryant Family Foundation, which she co-founded. In her new role as Board Chair, she will leverage her expertise, connections, and skills to “reach, touch, and bring healthy living to even more people,” according to Burgess Harrison, NMHA Executive Director. In an accompanying announcement, the NMHA board has also recognized his many years of commitment and distinguished service by appointing David Dalton as Chairman Emeritus.  Dr. Dalton is a founder of the National Minority Health Association and has provided untiring service to the association and the people of the nation and beyond. As chairman emeritus, Dr. Dalton will continue to offer expertise and provide his guidance in a volunteer capacity to the board from time to time and as needed on issues related to the health of underserved and minority communities.

Sports Planner For Friday – The Republic https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sports-planner-for-friday-the-republic/ COMING UP Indianapolis Colts Oct. 16 vs. Jaguars, 1 p.m. (CBS) Oct. 23 at Titans, 1 p.m. (CBS) Oct. 30 vs. Commanders, 4:25 p.m. (FOX) Indiana University football Saturday vs. Michigan, Noon (FOX) Oct. 15 vs. Maryland, Noon (TBA) Oct. 22 at Rutgers, Noon (TBA) Purdue football Saturday at Maryland, Noon (BTN) Oct. 15 vs. Nebraska, Noon (TBA) Oct. 22 at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. (TBA) Notre Dame football Saturday at BYU, 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Oct. 15 vs. Stanford, 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) Oct. 22 vs. UNLV, 2:30 p.m. (Peacock) Indiana Pacers Today at Knicks (preseason), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday vs. Knicks (preseason), 7 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Oct. 14 vs. Rockets (preseason), 7 p.m. (Bally Sports Indiana) Indy Eleven Saturday vs. Charleston Battery, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/WNDY) Oct. 15 at Birmingham Legion FC, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) NASCAR Sunday at Charlotte, N.C., 2 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 16 at Las Vegas, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 23 at Homestead-Miami, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TODAY Football Jeffersonville at Columbus East, 7 p.m. Bloomington North at Columbus North, 7 p.m. Floyd Central at Jennings County, 7 p.m. North Putnam at Brown County, 7 p.m. Southside HomeSchool at South Decatur, 7 p.m. SPORTS ON TV TODAY College field hockey Louisville at Wake Forest, 6 p.m. (ACC) College football Harvard at Cornell, 7 p.m. (ESPNU) Nebraska at Rutgers, 7 p.m. (FS1) Houston at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) UNLV at San Jose State, 10:30 p.m. (CBSSN) Colorado State at Nevada, 10:30 p.m. (FS1) Men’s college soccer Clemson at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. (ACC) Women’s college volleyball Penn State at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m. (BTN) Alabama at Mississippi, 8 p.m. (SEC) Minnesota at Michigan, 8:30 p.m. (BTN) Golf DP World Tour: The Open de Espana, 8 a.m. (Golf Channel) PGA Juniors: The Junior League Championship, Noon (ESPN2) PGA Tour Champions: The Constellation Furyk & Friends, 2 p.m. (Golf Channel) PGA Tour: The Shriners Hospitals For Children Open, 5 p.m. (Golf Channel) LPGA Tour: The Mediheal Championship (taped), 9 p.m. (Golf Channel) High school football Corner Canyon (Utah) at Lone Peak (Utah), 10 p.m. (ESPNU) Girls high school volleyball GEICO Invitational: Skyview (Idaho) vs. Papillion (Neb.), Semifinal, 5 p.m. (ESPNU) Horse racing NYRA: America’s Day at the Races, 12:30 p.m. (FS2) MLB Wild Card Series: Rays at Guardians, Game 1, Noon (ESPN) Wild Card Series: Phillies at Cardinals, Game 1, 2 p.m. (ABC) Wild Card Series: Mariners at Blue Jays, Game 1, 4 p.m. (ESPN) Wild Card Series: Padres at Mets, Game 1, 8 p.m. (ESPN) NBA Preseason: Heat at Grizzlies, 8 p.m. (NBA) NHL Global Series: San Jose vs. Predators, at Prague, 2 p.m. (NHLN) Preseason: Maple Leafs at Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (NHL) Women’s soccer International Friendly: England vs. U.S., London, 3 p.m. (FOX) Tennis Tokyo-ATP, Nur-Sultan-ATP, Ostrava-WTA, Monastir-WTA Quarterfinals, 6 a.m. today and 6 a.m. Friday (Tennis) Tokyo-ATP Semifinals, 1 a.m. Saturday (Tennis)

Japan PM Bares Digital Transformation Strategy That Includes NFTs And Metaverse – CoinGeek https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/japan-pm-bares-digital-transformation-strategy-that-includes-nfts-and-metaverse-coingeek/ Home » Business » Japan PM bares digital transformation strategy that includes NFTs and metaverse Japan’s radical transformation of its digital economy has received a jolt following the comments of the country’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In a speech, the head of the Japanese government disclosed the new strategy as one that will rely primarily on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse. The Prime Minister’s speech was given before the Japanese National Diet, made up of a bicameral parliament, where he indicated that steps have already been taken to bring the government’s goal to reality. Kishida noted that in the coming months, national identity cards will be digitized using distributed ledger technology (DLT), while local governments across the country will be given oversight functions to find new use cases for the technology in their jurisdictions. He confirmed that his government will support private enterprise in the digital assets industry and “promote efforts to expand the use of Web 3.0 services that utilize the metaverse and NFTs.” As proof of the government’s commitment to exploring Web 3 technology, it turned to NFTs to reward seven mayors with a proven track record of improving the digital economies of their cities. The NFTs were issued on the Ethereum network, leveraging the Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP), with Prime Minister Kishida attending the award ceremony. The Digital Society Promotion unit of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party unveiled a white paper that described NFTs as a pinnacle of the government’s plan to stimulate the digital economy early in the year. Given the revelation of the country’s strategy, financial institutions like SBI Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group have launched subsidiaries to explore NFTs. Regulators are holding their ground Despite the optimistic stance of the ruling party toward DLT and Web 3, Japanese regulators are not flexing their muscles over the ecosystem. The country’s tax regime is among the firmest globally, with corporate holdings of digital assets being subjected to a 30% flat tax on gains while individual investors face a maximum rate of 55%. Back in 2018, Binance was kicked out of Japan for operating without the Financial Services Agency’s (FSA) consent in line with an earlier injunction for all industry service providers to be registered with local regulatory agencies. Given the renewed push by Kishida, Binance is set to return to the country after four years, but it faces an uphill task of snagging market share from FTX and Crypto.com—exchanges that are already running operations in Japan. Watch: The BSV Global Blockchain Convention panel, Metaverse, NFTs & Blockchain New to Bitcoin? Check out CoinGeek’s Bitcoin for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about Bitcoin—as originally envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto—and blockchain.

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

Crypto Exchange Crypto.com’s Downsizing Larger Than Previously Reported: Ad Age – CoinDesk https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/crypto-exchange-crypto-coms-downsizing-larger-than-previously-reported-ad-age-coindesk/ Cameron Thompson is a news reporter at CoinDesk. Cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has made sizable efforts to downsize its workforce and brand partnerships during the bear market, reported Ad Age on Thursday. The company has cut headcount by more than 2,000 – or 30%-40% of staff – since layoffs began last summer, according to the report, which cites multiple sources. Previous reporting had put the number closer to 1,000, and CEO Kris Marszalek in June said there had been job cuts of 260, or 5% of the workforce. Additionally, Crypto.com’s ambitious marketing schemes and brand deals have suffered. In addition to walking back its $495 million UEFA Champion League sponsorship last month, the company has also retracted its sponsorship with Los Angeles-based soccer team Angel F.C., said Ad Age. It has also pulled back on its sponsorship deal with the esports league of streaming service Twitch. Although the company is still planning to be the official sponsor of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it has whittled down some of its hospitality packages, or required benefits it must provide to help facilitate the tournament’s operations, according to the report. Though declining to address specific numbers on how many have been laid off, a Crypto.com spokesperson told Ad Age: “As disclosed in June, Crypto.com underwent a restructuring process that concluded in July to strengthen our position amidst the backdrop of a bear market climate … As part of that restructuring, we made the difficult decision to conduct targeted job reductions, 60% of those roles came from non-corporate, back office and support services tied to trade volumes.” Sign up for The Node, our daily newsletter bringing you the biggest crypto news and ideas. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Cameron Thompson is a news reporter at CoinDesk. Cameron Thompson is a news reporter at CoinDesk.

U.S. Conducts Back-To-Back Raids In Syria, Killing Key ISIS Operatives – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-conducts-back-to-back-raids-in-syria-killing-key-isis-operatives-the-washington-post/ The U.S. military announced on Thursday that it had conducted two raids in Syria within a day of each other, killing two key ISIS targets and their associates. According to U.S. Central Command, American forces conducted an airstrike in northern Syria on Thursday that targeted and killed Abu-Hashum al-Umawi, a deputy wali, or governor, in Syria, as well as “another senior ISIS official associated with him,” whom the military did not name. “This strike will degrade ISIS’s ability to destabilize the region and strike at our forces and partners,” Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command, said in a statement announcing the raid and al-Umawi’s death. “Our forces remain in the region to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS.” The operation against al-Umawi followed a Wednesday night helicopter raid in northeastern Syria, near the village of Qamishli, that targeted and killed Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, as well as one other associate. Al-Shammri was an ISIS smuggler known to bring in weapons, fighters and money to support the terrorist organization, who had also beheaded two members of the Syrian Defense Forces, according to a person familiar with the operation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the particulars of the raid and its target. The raids are the latest in recent operations aimed at killing influential ISIS figures. Over the summer, U.S. military forces killed Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi, a senior ISIS bombmaker known as the “Wali of Raqqa.” That followed the killing of al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, ISIS’s leader at the time, who is believed to have rigged his hideout in Atma, Syria, with explosives that were detonated when the structure was raided. The Qurayshi operation became mired in a greater controversy about whether the U.S. military had taken enough steps to ensure the safety of civilians after UNICEF and local witnesses counted at least five children dead. In the aftermath of that strike, U.S. forces have been careful to point out that successful raids against ISIS targets have not resulted in civilian injury or death. U.S. Central Command’s Thursday announcements about the most recent ISIS raids varied slightly, however, in the certainty with which they proclaimed the operations had avoided causing civilian harm. “No U.S. forces were injured or killed during the operation, no civilians were killed or wounded, and there was no loss or damage to U.S. equipment,” the news release announcing the al-Shammri killing stated. While the news release announcing the death of al-Umawi stated with similar confidence that there had been no injuries among U.S. forces and no damage to U.S. equipment, the status report on civilians was slightly less assured. “Initial assessments indicate no civilians were killed or wounded during this operation,” that announcement stated.

Piedmont Tech Recognizes 2022-2023 Presidential Ambassadors | News | Golaurens.com – GoLaurens.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/piedmont-tech-recognizes-2022-2023-presidential-ambassadors-news-golaurens-com-golaurens-com/ Each year, Piedmont Technical College (PTC) officials hand-pick some of the college’s most promising students to serve as Presidential Ambassadors to represent the college at campus events, provide campus tours, and speak about their experiences to various audiences. This year’s 17 Ambassadors hail from a variety of backgrounds and represent many program areas. Here’s a brief introduction to our latest class of Presidential Ambassadors: Andrea Argo of Abbeville County is a Respiratory Care major at PTC and serves as vice president of the college’s Respiratory Care Club. While attending classes at PTC, Andrea is working as a respiratory care assistant at Self Regional Healthcare. She wears a ring with her daughter’s birthstone all the time to remind herself of her priorities. “My daughter inspires me to be the best version of myself. Everything I have accomplished and continue to accomplish is for her,” Andrea said. “I want to give her the best life possible.” In her spare time, Andrea enjoys playing with her daughter, cooking, and gardening. She is happy she chose PTC. “Everyone is so nice and helpful. They truly care about their students and make going to school fun and affordable.” Lacy Arnold of Laurens County is a Commercial Art – Advertising Design/Photography major at PTC. She has always been creative, and encouragement from her father and fiancé helped motivate her to pursue a degree in something she is passionate about. “My daddy has always supported me and always, always, ALWAYS pushed me to use my creativity and to not give up,” she said. “He has always reminded me of what I’m capable of.” Before enrolling at PTC, Lacy created logos, designed T-shirts, flyers, and ads for various freelance clients but wanted to maximize her success and gain confidence that she could really do creative work for a living. “When I designed a food truck wraparound for one of my fiancé’s two companies, that is when it really clicked that this is what I was meant for,” Lacy said. Tracy Arrowood of Newberry County is majoring in Human Services at PTC. While taking classes, Tracy is working as a breakfast and lunch server at Mid-Carolina Middle School in the Newberry County School District. In addition to serving as a Presidential Ambassador this year, Tracy also is a member of the Human Services Club.   “I want to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “Helping and serving have always been passions of mine, and this major is the perfect fit.” Austin Belcher of Greenwood County is majoring in Building Construction Technology at PTC, a direction he chose because he already had begun working in the industry. He continues to work while in school, at Harbor Freight in Greenwood. “I want to get a base knowledge of all things to do with construction,” he said. “This program will give me the tools to start my own business.” An avid golfer, Austin dreams one day of owning his own course. He says he could not do anything without the support of his wife, who pushes him to better himself. Austin’s most prized possessions are his tools. “I spent a lot of money on them, and they make me money, so I could not go on without them.” Rachel Caron of Charleston County is a student in the Cardiovascular Technology/Invasive Program. An athlete (track, cross-country, cheerleading) at her alma mater, Wando High School, Rachel originally majored in exercise science at the University of South Carolina but changed her major to biology. In a reversal of the conventional transfer pathway to a baccalaureate degree, she is finishing the clinical portion of her degree as a transfer student to PTC. The daughter of a pediatrician, Rachel has not ruled out applying to medical school one day. But that is just one option. “I change my mind all the time!” she quipped. Jaxon Connell of Saluda County is majoring in Commercial Art, Digital Rendering and Gaming with secondary specialty in Advertising Design. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing sports, drawing, and playing video games. His most prized possession is his longboard because, “It was one of the purchases I had with money I earned.” Jaxon finds inspiration from professional athletes such as former Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. “He was just such a hard worker in baseball and inspired me to play,” Jaxon said. Ebony Ellis of Newberry County earned her Diploma in Applied Science in Practical Nursing this summer and plans to apply for PTC’s Transition Nursing Program in February of next year. She was a Summer Term 2022 commencement speaker. Ebony has wanted a career in healthcare since she was a small child watching relatives who worked in the field. Her goal has been to become the first nurse in her family and to one day serve as a flight nurse. She feels it is important to be a good role model for her daughter, Nevaeh. Madalyn Harris of Greenwood County is majoring in Cardiovascular Technology at PTC. She served as a Presidential Ambassador when she was a high school dual enrollment student and now is repeating as a regular PTC student. “I had heart surgery when I was in the 8th grade, and I realized that I wanted to pursue a career that involved the heart in some way,” she said. “I shadowed (CVT Instructor) Laura Boone and her students one day and fell in love with the CVT Program.” While in school, Madalyn worked in the PTC Admissions Call Center. She credits her mother for inspiring her to pursue this career path. “My mom has always taught me to be compassionate, loyal, and determined,” she said. “She has pushed me to be the person I am today, and I model my actions and behavior after her.” Abigail Jacquet of Newberry County is majoring in Practical Nursing at PTC. Abigail says she has always wanted to work in the medical field, and her instructors have shown her it is possible. She enjoys dancing and working out with weights at the gym. “Being an Ambassador has made it easy to make connections,” she said. “God has driven me to do better and be a better person.” Jarvis Johnson of Greenwood County is majoring in Business Administration/Management at PTC. A busy man, he previously worked three jobs while attending college before accepting a full-time position in the college’s Admissions Center. Jarvis is grateful for his health and positive mindset. “I am almost 30 and do not look like I am 30 because health is wealth. Your mindset is everything. This is why I grind so hard every day to better myself and others around me,” he said. The hardworking Jarvis is super-focused on his career goals. “I want to own my own food truck in the next three years and start helping people eat healthy.” Raistlin Lee of Greenwood County is majoring in Automotive Technology, a field he says continues to grow consistently and offers value and opportunity. While at PTC, he also is a member of Full Throttle, the Automotive Technology Program’s club. While studying at PTC, Raistlin is working as a certified trainer at Chick-fil-A. He says his father is the most influential person in his life. “He has taught a lot of hard lessons. Learning those lessons has been the most frustrating and rewarding moments of my life,” Raistlin said. “I wouldn’t be the man I am today if not for him.” Jo Ann Moore of Greenwood County is working on an associate in applied science degree at PTC and is a member of the Human Services Club. She has worked in the human services field for more than 20 years and is currently employed at SC Vocational Rehabilitation. She holds herself to high standards. “I want to earn a degree for my own personal growth,” JoAnn said. “I am a first-time college student and the first in my immediate family to attend college.” JoAnn draws immense strength from her faith. “My faith is priceless to me, and I pray I never lose it.” Amaro Sunga of Greenville County is a student in PTC’s Respiratory Care Program because he has a passion for working with and helping people. While working toward his degree, Amaro has been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital. Amaro most values the support of his parents and his rich life experiences. He also is grateful for support he finds in the college community. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, coaching, and reading. Ginny Wagler of Abbeville County is working toward an associate in applied science in cardiovascular technology – adult echocardiography. She is a member of the PTC Cardiovascular Technology Club. “I care about people and their health, so this career is a great fit for me,” she said. “Being there with people during their scariest moments of life is not easy, but it is so rewarding.” Wagler is thankful for the opportunities she has at PTC. “My instructors and classmates at PTC have been so influential to my life. I am grateful that I get to be part of such a great community.” Portland Wallace of Laurens County is enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at PTC and is a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA). While she looks all business, Portland also loves collecting toys and is particularly fond of her collection of old sports cards. She is grateful for her parents’ unconditional love and devotion. “My parents support me through anything, and they always have my back no matter the situation,” she said, adding that she is excited to be at PTC because of “the flexibility and the affordability of the school.” Aundrea West of Ware Shoals is a Criminal Justice major at PTC and member of the Human Services Club. She is going through the program with her mother, Stephanie, who also is a Presidential Ambassador this year. “I chose Criminal Justice to set the foundation for my future degrees. I want to...

Obituaries 10/06/2022 – Vevay Newspapers https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/obituaries-10-06-2022-vevay-newspapers-2/ – Advertisement – Rose Marie Curry   Rose Marie (Bovard) Curry, 86, of Rising Sun, passed away on Friday, September 30th, 2022 at the home of her daughter in Rising Sun.   Rose Marie was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana on April 22nd, 1936, the daughter of the late Kathleen (Weathers) Bovard and Selba Bovard. She was a graduate of Rising Sun High School, class of 1954.   Rose Marie married Donald L. Curry on July 25th, 1958 in Rising Sun. Rose Marie and Donald were married over 59 years until his passing on November 9th, 2017.   Early on, Rose Marie worked as an operator at the East Enterprise Telephone Exchange. Most of her life was devoted to providing a loving home and caring for her family.   Rose Marie was a woman of faith and a member of the Rising Sun Church Of The Nazarene. She was also a member of the Windstormers Home Ec. Club.   Rose Marie was noted for her poems and people were amazed she could recite all the lengthy verses from memory. She also enjoyed antiquing and playing euchre with family and friends. Rose Marie was a loving mom to her children, beloved maw to her many grand and great grandchildren and cherished friend to many.   Rose Marie is survived by her daughter, Tamara Brett, of Rising Sun; by her four sons: Mark Curry, of Rising Sun, D. Lynn Curry (Patty), of Pataskala, Ohio, Christopher Curry (Nikki), of Vevay, and Shawn Curry of Rising Sun; by her grandchildren: Angel Lieland, Misty Weiss, Nena Curry, Joshua Curry, Lora Curry, Megan Kincart, Luke Brett, Tia Doolittle, Kelli Jones, Ian Curry, Wesley Curry, Shyanne Rugg, Braxton Eaglin and Elysia Melville; by her great-grandchildren: Sawyer Lieland, Willow Lieland, Nazreth Lieland, Canaan Lieland, Adrianna Curry, Brianna Weiss, Decklynn Weiss, Zion Burnett, Julian Burnett, Elijah Curry, Cameron Curry, Maddox Kincart, Georgia Kincart, Henry Jones, Liam Doolittle, Laila Doolittle, Lennon Doolittle and Braelyn Freytag; and by her great- great-grandson, Draven Marshall.   Rose Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Selba and Kathleen Bovard; by her husband, Donald Curry; by her brother, Bernie Bovard; by her son-in-law, Dayle Brett; by her daughter-in-law, Marian Jean Curry; and by her grandson, Noah Curry.   Visitation was held on Wednesday, October 5th at Markland Funeral Home in Rising Sun. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 6th, at the funeral home with Pastor Darwin Pressler officiating. Burial will be at New Liberty Cemetery in East Enterprise.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cass Union Scholarship Fund or Rising Sun Church of the Nazarene. Ronald Hannah   Ronald Gene Hannah, 79, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida (formerly of Ohio County), passed away on Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 at the Port Orange Nursing & Rehab Center.   Ronald was born in Milan, Indiana on June 2nd, 1943, the son of the late Marcella (Detmer) Hannah and Austin Harold Hannah. He grew up on the family farm in Ohio County where he attended Cass Union Grade School; and was a 1961 graduate of Rising Sun High School.   He served his country in the U.S. Air Force Reserves for a period of time.   Ronald worked at Cummins in Columbus, Indiana for several years. He enjoyed car racing and later on began running and participated in marathons.   Ronald is survived by his son, Robert Dale Hannah (Beth), of Rising Sun; and by his daughter, Sandra Lynn Graff (Frank), of Clarksville, Tennessee. He is also survived by his five grandchildren: Tyler Hannah, Macy Hannah, Connor Hannah, Mike Graff and Logan Graff; and by his three great grandchildren; Paisley, Makenzie and Nolan.   Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, October 7th at Markland Funeral Home in Rising Sun. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, October 7th, with Tom Work officiating, at the funeral home.   Burial will be at Rising Sun New Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Rising Sun United Methodist Church. John ‘J.C.’ Iery   John Clarence “J.C.” Iery, Jr., age 55, of Vevay, passed away on September 27th, 2022 at his residence.   J.C. entered this life on March 18th, 1967 in Evansville, Indiana, the son of the late John Clarence Iery, Sr. and Anna Marie (Wilburn) Iery. J.C. was raised in Florence, Indiana and was a 1987 graduate of Switzerland County High School.   J.C. was united in marriage in June of 1990 to Shana Dorane Ledford in Lowell, Ohio. This happy union was blessed with two children: Jerude and Nathaniel.   J.C. was a former union steel worker, where he helped build Belterra Casino & Resort in Florence, Indiana; the Tree of Life at Walt Disney World in Florida; and helped with the reconstruction of North American Stainless in Ghent, Kentucky. He was also a former fabricator for Pioneer Pipe in Marietta, Ohio for 10 years.   J.C. enjoyed welding, listening to music and mowing. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his children and his grandchildren.   J.C. will be missed by his sons: Nathaniel Iery and Jerude Trent Iery of East Enterprise; by his step-son, Joshua Stoneburner and his wife Markie of Crooksville, Ohio; by his grandchildren: Brantley Iery, Clayton Iery, Chase Iery, Freyja Stoneburner and Brenjar Stoneburner; by his sisters: Joyce Hoskins and her husband Danny of Carrollton, Kentucky, Jackie Wehner and her husband Tom of Madison, Barbara Chilton and her husband Troy of Bedford, Kentucky, and Jeannie Beasley of Bucyrus, Ohio; by his brothers: James “Jim” Rider of Patriot, Johnny Rider of Florence, Indiana, and Eddie Iery and his wife Kathy of Birmingham, Alabama; and by his several nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by his parents, John Clarence Iery, Sr. and Anna Marie (Wilburn) Iery; by his brother, Jack Iery; by his sister, JoAnne White; and by his grandchild, Harlow June Iery.   Visitation was held on Friday, September 30th, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana, 47043. Funeral services were conducted following the time of visitation on Friday, September 30th, by Reverend Mike Jones at the funeral home.   Interment followed in the Concord Cemetery, Patriot.   Memorial contributions may be made to the J.C. Iery Memorial Expenses Fund c/o Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home. Cards are available at the funeral home. James ‘Junker’ May   James Thurston “Junker” May Jr., age 56, of Allensville, Indiana, passed away on Sunday, September 25th, 2022 at his residence.   Junker entered this life on October 28th, 1965 in Madison. He was the son of James Thurston May, Sr. and Charlene (Kays) May, both of whom preceded him in death. Junker was a lifelong resident of Switzerland County, Indiana and was a 1984 graduate of Switzerland County High School.   Junker was united in marriage on November 8th, 1984 to Kelly Ann Thompson.   Junker continued in his family’s legacy, as he was a lifelong farmer who raised tobacco, corn, cattle, and hogs. Throughout his life, he also would help several local farmers around the county, plant and harvest their crops.   He will be remembered for his love of baseball, and his favorite team was the Cincinnati Reds. His favorite player of all-time was Pete Rose. He took his passion for baseball and coached for several years, Little League Baseball at the Markland Park in Switzerland County.   Junker will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Kelly May of Allensville; by his sons: Eddie May and his wife Krissy of East Enterprise and Luke May and his wife Cierra of Cincinnati, Ohio; by his brother, Charlie May and his wife Paula of East Enterprise; by his best friends, David Sandlin and Ricky Werner; by his grandchildren: Isabelle, Cassius, Buddy, Aamauriel, and Luke, Jr.; by his nephews and nieces: Troy, Benton, Lacy and Brevon; and by his several aunts, uncles and cousins.   The family would also like to give a special thank you to a few of Junker’s neighbors; Dave and Rachel Schuler and Brett Boles for being so thoughtful, caring, and helpful to Junker over the years, as their kindness will not be forgotten.   He was preceded in death by his parents, James Thurston May, Sr. and Charlene (Kays) May; by his infant brother; by his paternal and maternal grandparents; and by several aunts, uncles and cousins.   At Junker’s request, no formal funeral services will be conducted, however the family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.   Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay is assisting the family during this difficult time.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Charity of the Donor’s Choice. Cards are available at the funeral home. Rita Patrick   Graveside Services for Mrs. Rita Roelker Patrick will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 8th,  in the Eastview Cemetery, Patriot.   Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay is assisting the family during this difficult time. Thomas ‘Tom’ Roy   Thomas William “Tom” “Moss” Roy, age 73, of Aurora, Indiana, passed away doing what he loved to do at 4:38 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022, in Vevay.    Tom entered this life on September 19th, 1949 in Russell Springs, Kentucky. He was the loving son of the late Curtis and Alberta (Rohrig) Roy. He was raised in Milan, Indiana and helped farm and bail hay. Tom was a 1969 graduate of Milan High School, where he played basketball and ran track.   Tom was inducted into the United States Marine Corps on October 1st, 1969 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He rose to the rank of Private and earned the National Defense Service Medal. Tom was honorably discharged on May 13th, 1970 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.   On June 7th, 1969, Tom was united in marriage to Glenda Faye Powell in Switzerland County. This happy union was blessed with three daughters: Dorie, Julie and Summer.   Tom and Glenda were remarried on December 24th, 2015 at their home in Aurora,...

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