Source: NASA
On June 10, 2023, the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8 acquired this image of Mount Taranaki, a snow-capped mountain in New Zealand that is ringed by a dark green forest. Two older and extinct volcanoes, Kaitake and Pouakai, lie to the northwest of its peak.
Learn more about Mount Taranaki.
Image Credit: NASA/Wanmei Liang, USGS
Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory
“When you look at renewable energy, not everything is linear,” said Swaroop Atnoorkar, an analyst at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “Technologies often operate in complex systems with many moving parts in the background.”
Atnoorkar relies on understanding the intricacies of clean energy systems in her research on biofuel economics and supply chains. Research like hers is a vital step in understanding how each decision made with any given technology could impact its evolution.
But how do researchers examine the relationships between various factors within a given system, how they could change, and how those changes ultimately lead to different behaviors in the system over longer periods of time? And what exactly does this type of research inform?
The answers to those questions may lie within a sophisticated modeling method known as system dynamics.
Since its creation in the 1950s by Jay W. Forrester, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, system dynamics has become a tried-and-true method for understanding the behaviors of complex systems in terms of stocks, flows, and the feedback loops that connect them.
Think of this relationship like planting crops such as corn. The growth of corn in the field—a flow—is controlled by feedback processes including watering and nutrient availability. When the stock of corn is harvested, other feedback loops control the decomposition of residues and the return of nutrients to the soil.
At the time Forrester developed it, system dynamics research was applied to corporate managerial questions at General Electric’s plants. Studying corporate managerial problems remained its primary application through the 1960s, until researchers broadened its uses to examine other larger-scale societal questions. Initially, these simulations of stock-flow feedback structures were conducted with command-line programs, visualized with hand-drawn diagrams, and showed how internal management decisions impacted the dynamics of inventory and human resource systems. Now, its applications include examining everything from public health to renewable energy systems.
“Many of the early users of system dynamics knew its potential was far greater than its original business management use,” said Bobby Jeffers, acting laboratory program manager in NREL’s Energy Systems Integration directorate. “We are always trying to answer the question: ‘What are the feedback loops that really take hold of the system and cause it to go on some trajectory?’ We’re trying to encourage virtuous cycles that build on themselves while finding dampening cycles that allow things to grow sustainably.”
Jeffers specializes in system dynamics research. He and other researchers at NREL, like Atnoorkar, now use computer modeling to explore the complex relationships between various elements of system structures.
Atnoorkar is among the newer members of the research team working to find new ways to approach biofuel development at NREL.
For the last decade, much of the work being done to gain insights into the biofuel market has utilized NREL’s Bioenergy Scenario Model (BSM), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The System Dynamics Society Award-winning model tracks biofuel deployment and the effects of various influences on the biofuel market, such as changes in consumer demand, government policies, and land availability for feedstock. It dynamically models these elements as part of the U.S. domestic biofuels supply chain.
“Factors like oil prices, biofuel demand, and the costs of resources are always fluctuating—sometimes unpredictably—and changes in each one creates different outcomes, especially at the national scale,” Atnoorkar said.
NREL and BETO have historically used BSM to develop deployment strategies for advanced biofuels. Currently, it helps researchers like Atnoorkar develop insights into U.S. biofuels market growth and examine potential barriers to broader expansion of biofuel technologies. Among those technologies are those that create sustainable aviation fuels.
System dynamics research at NREL helps inform development and policies surrounding sustainable aviation fuel that is used at airports across the United States. Photo from Getty Images
“Many airports nowadays have sustainability goals, and they want to determine if those goals are feasible,” Atnoorkar said. “While the BSM does analysis for potential biofuels supply at the national scale, the analysis we do at the regional scale can also help ports and airports make decisions about their biofuel sourcing.”
To that end, the system dynamics research being done at NREL has ultimately helped inform policy strategies surrounding low-carbon fuel standards. A major part of that research is the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge—a plan set forth by DOE, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Transportation, and other federal agencies that aims to spur the expansion of commercial SAF production technologies.
Critically, the SAF Grand Challenge is targeting at least a 50% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions and ramping up SAF supply to meet 100% of aviation fuel demand by 2050.
“The BSM is now being used to investigate how we could reach those goals and what kinds of roadblocks may need to be overcome,” said Emily Newes, the NREL Strategic Energy Analysis Center’s Integrated Modeling and Economic Analysis Group manager.
Newes works extensively with the system dynamics models informing potential biofuel deployment, specifically the SAF Grand Challenge and biofuels for maritime applications. These models are answering questions about how changes in everything from the resources needed to build refineries to the different types of potential feedstocks ultimately affect the policies and decisions being made.
“It helps inform us about what barriers there could be so that we can help find solutions—either through policy or the industry—to overcome them,” Newes said.
System dynamics models are also informing NREL’s research in battery energy storage. A key modeling framework used in this space is the Lithium-Ion Battery Resource Assessment, or LIBRA, model. LIBRA is vital in NREL’s work in understanding the supply chain of lithium-ion batteries, which have become a key component to a future with more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road.
“When we’re talking about the needs for manufacturing in this country and globally, you can’t just look at one technology at a time,” NREL’s supply chain analytics lead Maggie Mann said. “When we talk about batteries, we’re looking at how much cobalt, nickel, and lithium are needed to manufacture them, as well as the demand for those same materials for other technologies.”
Mann was on the team that pioneered and developed the LIBRA model. It gives users the means to examine the long-term effects of changes in the battery supply chain for multiple EV battery types, consumer electronics, and utility-scale storage systems.
Through examining elements such as the costs, raw materials, and changing policies at both the domestic and international scales, LIBRA is providing invaluable insights into the U.S. battery recycling supply chain. Those insights then inform manufacturing and industry practices as well as policy decisions in the clean energy sector.
Along with the LIBRA model, supply chain researchers at NREL, like Mann, are also developing the Recursive Integrated Networks for Growth (RING) model, which supports NREL’s Mapping, Modeling, and Analysis Consortium (MMAC). This model, designed specifically for DOE’s Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) office, calculates how each output can be cycled back into the supply chain itself. What does that mean?
“Say you want to look at how many batteries are manufactured, then go through their life, hit the end of their life, and you want to recycle them, so the raw materials and battery components go back into manufacturing,” Mann said. “System dynamics can allow for those types of recursive calculations and help us look out 10 to 12 years to see the total demand for manufactured batteries minus the raw materials that are recycled.”
Both the RING and LIBRA models help researchers answer the critical question of “How much could recycling batteries affect the amount of new material we need to produce?” Each model helps inform the decisions behind battery production and policies through 2050 and quantify the impact that recycling can have on decreasing the United States’ dependence on foreign resources.
Much of the research Atnoorkar, Jeffers, Mann, Newes, and others do in supply chains is centered around system dynamics. Because of their broad lenses, models like BSM, LIBRA, and RING are often used to develop strategies for new technology deployment.
In the case of BSM, bioenergy’s large, comprehensive nature makes it tougher to focus on smaller-scale system dynamics. That is why the team is working to modify it for limited-case, regional scenarios, using a new BETO-funded model called the Regional Bio-Economy Model (RBEM).
“The main structure is the same,” Atnoorkar said. “But with RBEM, we are able to focus on biorefinery investment decisions in specific regions, such as marine biofuel production in coastal areas or aviation biofuel production in the immediate area around a major airport.”
RBEM will enable researchers to examine the logic behind the feedback loops in those smaller systems. The team aims to publicly release this model in the next year or two.
And while Atnoorkar and Newes are helping with the development of RBEM, Jeffers says NREL could look to system dynamics as a unique lens to broaden the scope of NREL’s research into a low-carbon energy system future.
“I think we lead the world in showing what a decarbonized energy system could look like,” Jeffers said. “But system dynamics can help us realize this future by giving us a means to think about all the complex elements of economic, social, and environmental systems that influence the pathway to affordable, resilient, and secure decarbonization.”
Explore NREL’s bioenergy, energy analysis, and grid modernization research.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
Form EIA-861, Annual Electric Power Industry Report, and Form EIA-861S (the shortform) collect data from distribution utilities and power marketers of electricity. This survey is a census of all United States electric utilities. The short form is intended for smaller bundled-service utilities and has less detailed responses. This survey collects more data than the monthly counterpart, Form EIA-861M. Data are the individual surveys responses and are included in the files described below.
Our survey page contains the current survey form, instructions, respondent portal, and frequently asked questions. Data from these files can be found throughout our publications, usually in aggregated form in our Electric Power Annual (EPA) report; State Electricity Profiles (SEP); Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price (ESR) report; Electricity Data Browser; and in some Today in Energy articles.
Please refer to our Guide to EIA Electric Power Data and send any questions to InfoElectric@eia.gov.
In 2012, we created Form EIA-861S to reduce respondent burden and to increase our processing efficiency; that year, about 1,100 utilities initially reported on this form instead of Form EIA-861. In 2020, the number of utilities increased to about 1,700 utilities. We reformatted the files for the years 1990–2011, but we didn’t change or update any data files. We reformatted the files to make them easier to understand and to match the format and titles of the current files.
Source: US Government research organizations
Students receiving instruction in an advanced manufacturing lab at Palo Alto College, one of the community colleges in the Alamo Colleges District, which is among this year’s Baldrige Award recipients.
Credit: Alamo Colleges District
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that five organizations will receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s only presidential award for performance excellence. Among the recipients of the newly redesigned national quality award are a pair of two-time winners.
The Baldrige Award was redesigned earlier this year to focus on organizational resilience. The new criteria are intended to help organizations adapt, innovate and thrive in a dynamic environment where change and disruption are constant. To win the award, in addition to demonstrating organizational resilience, recipients also must show long-term success through favorable performance levels and trends, comparisons to competitors and appropriate benchmarks, and relevant metrics.
“The 2024 Baldrige Award recipients are role-model organizations that are helping us address some of our nation’s most critical needs, and they demonstrate the resilient spirit of the American people,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These five awardees are bettering the lives of American workers, strengthening our infrastructure, and improving the quality of life in communities across the nation. Each awardee demonstrates how the Baldrige process makes it possible for any type of organization to achieve excellence on behalf of the people and communities they serve.”
The 2024 honorees and some of their achievements are:
Alamo Colleges District (ACD) (Texas) provides affordable or tuition-free education to eligible students in an effort to help end poverty, enhance economic and social mobility, and meet workforce demands. Founded in 1945, the district includes five community colleges in the San Antonio area. In 2018, ACD won the Baldrige Award in education, and it now becomes the first higher education institution to win twice.
Chickasaw Nation Department of Health (CNDH) (Oklahoma) provides many types of inpatient, outpatient and population health services across a 13-county service area in southern Oklahoma. CNDH received a five-star (highest) rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, placing it among the top 10% nationally among health care organizations so rated. CNDH also ranks within the top 10% nationally both for patients’ willingness to recommend it and for low workforce turnover.
The City of Henderson (Nevada), founded in 1953 and named a “city of destiny” by President John F. Kennedy, ranks in the top 10% nationally for police and fire services, emergency preparedness, parks and overall city services. Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded it a “What Works Cities Gold Certification” for data-driven, well-managed local governance. Nearly 100% of the city’s employees indicate that they like the kind of work they do.
Freese and Nichols Inc. (Texas) is a privately owned engineering, planning and consulting firm with offices in 12 states. Its projects range from water supply reservoirs and wastewater treatment plants to state highways and flood risk reduction programs. In 2010, Freese and Nichols Inc. won the Baldrige Award in the small business category, and it now becomes the first two-time engineering firm winner. The firm showed total revenue growth from $200 million in 2019 to $325 million in 2023.
Northeast Delta Dental (New Hampshire) provides prepaid dental insurance coverage and benefits to employers (including associations and union groups) and to individuals. Founded in 1961, Northeast Delta Dental comprises the Delta Dental Plans of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Northeast Delta Dental’s “March to a Million” journey to a million covered lives has insured 1,091,563 people out of a population of 3 million, with a retention rate of 99%.
Additionally, several organizations were designated as finalists for the award and received site visits from the Baldrige examiners. These organizations were: the City of Pharr, Texas; the Community Hospital Association of McCook, Nebraska; the Nor-Lea Hospital District, New Mexico; and Southcentral Foundation, Alaska.
The Baldrige judges may offer special recognition to finalists for having impact in areas of importance to their organizations, the nation or both. This year, the judges recognize Southcentral Foundation for best practices in its integrated health care system, workforce development, and data and information management approaches.
Baldrige Award recipients will be recognized during a formal ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland, in the spring of 2025. The ceremony will be followed by the Quest for Excellence Conference, where Baldrige Award recipients and other leading organizations share best practices and innovations that can help any organization improve.
The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program is a public-private partnership within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is dedicated to promoting U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology. The program has fostered the adoption of proven leadership, management and operational best practices, and supported a global community that values people, organizational learning, continuous improvement and striving for sustained excellence.
The program is funded in part through user fees. Key partners include the nonprofit Alliance for Performance Excellence, a network of Baldrige-based regional and state award programs, and the Baldrige Foundation, which provides advocacy but does not have a role or influence in the annual Baldrige Award process.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
| Summary Tables | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Number of consumers (bundled and unbundled) by sector, Census Division, and State | XLS | |
| T2 | Sales to bundled and unbundled consumers by sector, Census Division, and State | XLS | |
| T3 | Revenues for sales to bundled and unbundled consumers (including delivery service revenue) by sector, Census Division, and State | XLS | |
| T4 | Average retail price for bundled and unbundled consumers by sector, Census Division, and State | XLS | |
| T5.a | Residential average monthly bill by Census Division, and State | XLS | |
| T5.b | Commercial average monthly bill by Census Division, and State | XLS | |
| T5.c | Industrial average monthly bill by Census Division, and State | XLS | |
| Class of ownership, number of consumers, sales, revenue, and average price by State and utility: | |||
| T6 | Residential sector | XLS | |
| T7 | Commercial sector | XLS | |
| T8 | Industrial sector | XLS | |
| T9 | Transportation sector | XLS | |
| T10 | All sectors | XLS | |
| T11.a | Number of consumers by end use sector and State: non-utility power producers | XLS | |
| T11.b | Sales by end use sector and State: non-utility power producers | XLS | |
| T11.c | Revenue by end use sector and State: non-utility power producers | XLS | |
| Class of ownership, number of consumers, sales, revenue, and average price for power marketers and energy service providers by State: | |||
| T12 | Residential sector | XLS | |
| T13 | Commercial sector | XLS | |
| T14 | Industrial sector | XLS | |
| T15 | Transportation sector | XLS | |
| T16 | All sectors | XLS | |
| T17 | Revenue for delivery services collected by traditional distribution utilities for customers who selected alternate energy providers by State | XLS | |
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Patria (Nasdaq:PAX) announced today that it will release financial results for the third quarter 2024 on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and host a conference call via public webcast at 9:00 a.m. ET.
To register, please use the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/emuekpt7
For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, there will be a webcast replay on the Shareholders section of Patria’s website at https://ir.patria.com/.
Patria distributes its earnings releases via its website and email lists. Those interested in firm updates can sign up to receive Patria press releases via email at https://ir.patria.com/ir-resources/email-alerts.
About Patria
Patria is a global alternative asset manager and industry leader in Latin America, with over 35 years of history, combined assets under management of $40.3 billion, and a global presence with offices in 13 cities across 4 continents. Patria aims to provide consistent returns in attractive long-term investment opportunities as the gateway for alternative investments in Latin America. Through a diversified platform spanning Private Equity, Infrastructure, Credit, Real Estate, Public Equities and Global Private Markets Solutions strategies, Patria provides a comprehensive range of products to serve its global client base. Further information is available at http://www.patria.com.
Contact
Rob Lee
t +1 917 769 1611
rob.lee.consult@patria.com
Andre Medina
t +1 917 769 1611
andre.medina@patria.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Innventure (Nasdaq: INV), a technology commercialization platform, today announced its sponsorship of the Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada), Inc. (LES) 2024 Annual Meeting. Innventure’s Gold Level sponsorship and attendance at the October 20-23 event in New Orleans underscores its commitment to fostering innovation and bringing groundbreaking technologies to market.
“The LES Annual Meeting is like no other IP event you’ll go to,” said Bob Held, IP & Licensing Expert, Past President & Chair of the Board and part-time CEO of LES. “It brings together people from all walks of the IP life – students, university professors, CEOs of corporations, startups, mid-size companies, university tech transfer offices, government officials, attorneys, and consultants. It’s a forum where relationships are built that can last for decades, benefiting attendees both personally and professionally.”
The LES Annual Meeting is a cornerstone event for professionals in intellectual property, licensing, and technology transfer. This year’s meeting is expected to draw over 500 attendees from around the world.
The four-day event will feature over 30 panel sessions, 15 roundtable discussions, and distinguished keynote speakers, including Alaina van Horn, Chief of the Intellectual Property Enforcement (IPE) Branch of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Congressman Troy Carter. Topics will range from artificial intelligence and life sciences to data use in complex SEP licensing and recent legal updates across the U.S. and Europe.
Innventure’s Gold Level sponsorship underscores its commitment to fostering innovation and bringing groundbreaking technologies to market.
“We see tremendous value in supporting LES and its mission,” said Bill Haskell, CEO of Innventure. “Our model of commercializing breakthrough technologies aligns perfectly with the LES community’s focus on advancing the business of intellectual property.”
At the LES Annual Meeting, Innventure will lead a workshop titled “Maximizing IP Value through Strategic Spin-Outs and Alternative Commercialization Approaches” that is scheduled for October 22, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Galerie 4 (2nd Floor). This panel will feature Innventure executives Gayle Anderson and Tom Cripe, alongside David Rikkers of Expedited Climb Capital LLC. This interactive session, conducted in a talk show format with Q&A, is designed for seasoned IP executives and professionals seeking to understand the nuances of technology transfer and spin-outs.
The LES Annual Meeting provides unparalleled networking opportunities and insights into the evolving landscape of IP and technology commercialization.
Representatives from Innventure will be on-site at the New Orleans Marriott, and available for meetings. Please visit them at the Innventure booth or reach out to Erin Steigerwalt, Innventure events manager.
“In today’s rapidly changing IP environment, staying informed and connected is crucial,” Held said. “Whether it’s understanding the impact of generative AI on patents or keeping up with judicial rulings, LES offers the knowledge and connections needed to navigate these challenges effectively.”
For more information about the LES Annual Meeting 2024 and to register, visit https://les2024.org/ or Innventure.com.
About Innventure
Innventure founds, funds, and operates companies with a focus on transformative, sustainable technology solutions acquired or licensed from multinational corporations. As owner-operators, Innventure takes what it believes to be breakthrough technologies from early evaluation to scaled commercialization utilizing an approach designed to help mitigate risk as it builds disruptive companies it believes have the potential to achieve a target enterprise value of at least $1 billion. Innventure defines ‘‘disruptive’’ as innovations that have the ability to significantly change the way businesses, industries, markets and/or consumers operate.
About LES
Established in 1965, the Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc. (LES) is the largest member society of the Licensing Executives Society International, Inc. (LESI). LES has over 1,600 members and LESI has over 6500 members engaged in the creation, commercial development, and orderly transfer of intellectual property rights; protection and management of intellectual capital; and intellectual capital management standards development.
Events Manager Contact
Events Manager Contact: Erin Steigerwalt, Innventure
esteigerwalt@innventure.com
Media Contact: Laurie Steinberg, Solebury Strategic Communications
press@innventure.com
Investor Relations Contact: Sloan Bohlen, Solebury Strategic Communications
investorrelations@innventure.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGBD) (the “Company”) today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.750% unsecured notes due 2030 (the “Notes”). The Notes will mature on February 18, 2030 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Company’s option at the applicable redemption price. The offering is expected to close on October 18, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay the Company’s outstanding debt including the revolving credit facility, the Company’s 4.750% unsecured notes and 4.500% unsecured notes in the aggregate principal of approximately $190.0 million, each of which is scheduled to mature on December 31, 2024, and to fund new investment opportunities, and for other general corporate purposes.
J.P. Morgan, Barclays, BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Securities, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and R. Seelaus & Co., LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for this offering. ICBC Standard Bank, TCG Capital Markets L.L.C., B. Riley Securities, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company and Raymond James are acting as co-managers for this offering.
Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and charges and expenses of the Company before investing. The pricing term sheet dated October 10, 2024, preliminary prospectus supplement, dated October 10, 2024, and the accompanying prospectus, dated April 29, 2024, each of which has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), contain a description of these matters and other information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing.
The Company’s shelf registration statement is on file with the SEC and is effective. The offering is being made solely by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus, which may be obtained for free by visiting the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attn: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, facsimile: 212-834-6081; or Barclays Capital Inc., Attention: Syndicate Registration, 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, telephone: 1-888-603-5847; or BofA Securities, Inc., NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, or by calling 1-800-294-1322; or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attn: Prospectus Department, or by calling 1-866-718-1649.
The information in the pricing term sheet, the preliminary prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and this press release is not complete and may change. The pricing term sheet, the preliminary prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, the Notes in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.
About Carlyle Secured Lending: Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. is a closed-end, non-diversified and externally managed investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Our objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation by sourcing and providing senior secured debt investments to U.S. companies in the middle market that are generally backed by private equity sponsors. The Company is managed by Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C., an SEC-registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of The Carlyle Group Inc (“Carlyle”). We derive significant benefit from our ability access and leverage Carlyle’s significant scale, vast resources and world-class talent.
About Carlyle: Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Global Investment Solutions. With $435 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2024, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,200 people in 29 offices across four continents.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included herein contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements with regard to the Company’s Notes offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the offering. You can identify these statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “plans,” “continue,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “would,” “could,” “targets,” “projects,” “outlook,” “potential,” “predicts” and variations of these words and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our plans, strategies, prospects and expectations concerning our business, operating results, financial condition and other similar matters. We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to our investors. There may be events in the future, however, that we are not able to predict accurately or control. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which we make it. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ, possibly materially from our expectations, include, but are not limited to, the risks, uncertainties and other factors we identify in the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Supplementary Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in filings we make with the SEC, and it is not possible for us to predict or identify all of them. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| Contacts: | |
| Investors: | Media: |
| Nishil Mehta | Kristen Greco Ashton |
| +1 (212) 813-4918 publicinvestor@carlylesecuredlending.com |
+1 (212) 813-4763 kristen.ashton@carlyle.com |
SOURCE: Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
GLENVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TrustCo, Nasdaq: TRST) today announced that it will release third quarter 2024 results after the market close on October 21, 2024. Results are released on the 21st of the reporting months (January, April, July and October), or on the next day that equity markets are open if the 21st falls on a Friday, weekend or holiday. A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 22, 2024. Those wishing to participate in the call may dial toll-free for the United States at 1-833-470-1428, and for Canada at 1-833-950-0062, Access code 034120. A replay of the call will be available for thirty days by dialing toll-free for the United States at 1-866-813-9403, Access code 285814.
The call will also be audio webcast at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/854762065, and will be available for one year. The earnings press release will be posted on the Company’s Investor Relations website at: https://trustcobank.q4ir.com/corporate-overview/corporate-profile/default.aspx. Other information, including the Company’s most recent annual report, proxy statement and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission can also be found at this website.
TrustCo Bank Corp NY is a $6.1 billion savings and loan holding company and through its subsidiary, Trustco Bank, operates 138 offices in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida. For more information, visit http://www.trustcobank.com.
In addition, the Bank’s Wealth Management Department offers a full range of investment services, retirement planning and trust and estate administration services.
The common shares of TrustCo are traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TRST.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future developments, results or periods. TrustCo wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and such forward-looking statements are subject to factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for TrustCo from the views, beliefs and projections expressed in such statements. Examples of these include, but are not limited to: volatility in financial markets and the soundness of other financial institutions; U.S. government shutdowns, credit rating downgrades, or failure to increase the debt ceiling; changes in interest rates; the effects of inflation and inflationary pressures and changes in monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including changes in the Federal funds target rate by, and interest rate policies of, the Federal Reserve Board; ongoing armed conflicts (including the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas); the risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and, if any, in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; the other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in TrustCo’s cautionary statements contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the effect of all of such items on our operations, liquidity and capital position, and on the financial condition of our borrowers and other customers. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent TrustCo management’s judgment as of the date of this news release. TrustCo disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements, either as a result of future developments, new information or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
Subsidiary: Trustco Bank NASDAQ — TRST
| Contact: | Robert Leonard Executive Vice President (518) 381-3693 |
|
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
LYON, France, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus recently held its quarterly meeting in Lyon, where the entire headquarters gathered to celebrate milestones, strategize for the future, and share some exciting product updates. The company, known for its innovation and affordable alternatives to Citrix, is on track to expand its presence globally and further strengthen its offerings.
Dominique Benoit, CEO of TSplus, opened the meeting by highlighting the company’s rapid growth, with about 600,000 clients and 8,000 resellers across the world. He emphasized TSplus’ position as the “French Citrix-Killer,” with upcoming subscription models for TSplus Remote Access poised to capture more market shares.
“We’re building towards an exciting future,” Dominique said. “By 2030, we aim to grow from 80 employees to 500, and we’re already laying the groundwork with new strategic developments.”
Powering the Future of Remote Access
This quarter has seen remarkable growth, with invoice numbers doubling and a projected 15% revenue increase by year-end. The company’s flagship product, Remote Access Enterprise, has emerged as a best-seller, and key markets like India, France, and the USA are hosting the largest customers. Additionally, TSplus is proud to announce the official launch of TSplus China, located near Shanghai, marking an important milestone in expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Advanced Security, Remote Access and Beyond
The Development Team has been hard at work, with the upcoming release of Advanced Security 7.1 taking center stage. This release, still in beta version, will introduce a completely revamped user interface, providing a smoother and more intuitive experience. New features will be included too, to increase risk awareness and protection performance.
In other product news, Remote Access has seen over 30 updates and 40 fixes, such as improvements to the Universal Printer and a sleek new Web Portal. Remote Support now boasts 2FA protection, cross-platform compatibility over macOS and Windows devices, and a soon-to-be-released Android app.
Leader To Be in Secure Remote Access Solutions
TSplus has also focused on enhancing its digital presence, with a complete redesign of TSplus.net. The revamped website has significantly boosted traffic generating a 20% sales growth. Meanwhile, the Licensing Portal has been simplified, making it easier for resellers to navigate.
As AI continues to shape the marketing landscape and Google ranking algorithm, TSplus is staying ahead to create high-quality videos, blog posts, and website enhancements, further expanding the company’s visibility everywhere on the Web.
With ambitious plans on the horizon, TSplus is set to roll out additional updates, including a full overhaul of all their showcase websites. These developments will further solidify TSplus’ position as a global leader in secure remote access solutions.
Try any TSplus software for free today with a 15-day trial by visiting http://www.tsplus.net.
Media Contact:
Floriane Mer
Marketing Manager at TSplus
floriane.mer@tsplus.net
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03affb29-cb02-4102-8792-863ea0b86f83
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Detroit, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) will announce its third quarter 2024 earnings before the market opens Thursday, October 24, 2024.
The company will conduct a conference call to discuss earnings results at 9:00 a.m. ET the same day.
Investors, the news media and the public may listen to a live internet broadcast of the call at dteenergy.com/investors. The telephone dial-in number in the U.S. and Canada toll free is: (888) 510-2008. The U.S. and international toll telephone dial-in number is: (646) 960-0306 and the Canada dial-in toll is: (289) 514-5035. The passcode is 4987588. The webcast will be archived on the DTE Energy website at dteenergy.com/investors.
About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers across Michigan. The DTE portfolio also includes energy businesses focused on custom energy solutions, renewable energy generation, and energy marketing and trading. DTE has continued to accelerate its carbon reduction goals to meet aggressive targets and is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy, emission reductions and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, x.com/DTE_Energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.
For further information, analysts may call:
Matt Krupinski, DTE Energy: 313.235.6649
John Dermody, DTE Energy: 313.235.8750
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
RENO, Nev., Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ormat Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ORA), a leading renewable energy company, today announced it has successfully secured multiple land parcels in Nevada’s Annual Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Auction. These lease acquisitions will significantly support Ormat’s ongoing exploration and expansion efforts in the state, further strengthening the company’s commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions and meeting Nevada’s increasing demand for sustainable energy.
The newly leased parcels hold substantial potential for geothermal energy production including a new greenfield prospect, an expansion opportunity for an existing operational asset, and several additional parcels that will enhance Ormat’s land position on an existing greenfield prospect.
“We believe the parcels we successfully won have a high success rate that will support our growth in the U.S.,” said Doron Blachar, CEO of Ormat Technologies Inc. “Our team is dedicated to exploring and developing these resources to their fullest potential, providing reliable and eco-friendly energy to the people of Nevada.”
By leveraging nearly 60 years of advanced technologies and industry expertise, Ormat is an industry leader in geothermal energy production and environmental stewardship.
ABOUT ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES
With over five decades of experience, Ormat Technologies, Inc. is a leading geothermal company and the only vertically integrated company engaged in geothermal and recovered energy generation (“REG”), with robust plans to accelerate long-term growth in the energy storage market and to establish a leading position in the U.S. energy storage market. The Company owns, operates, designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and REG power plants primarily based on the Ormat Energy Converter – a power generation unit that converts low-, medium- and high-temperature heat into electricity. The Company has engineered, manufactured and constructed power plants, which it currently owns or has installed for utilities and developers worldwide, totaling approximately 3,400 MW of gross capacity. Ormat leveraged its core capabilities in the geothermal and REG industries and its global presence to expand the Company’s activity into energy storage services, solar Photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage plus Solar PV. Ormat’s current total generating portfolio is 1,420MW with a 1,230MW geothermal and solar generation portfolio that is spread globally in the U.S., Kenya, Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, and Guadeloupe, and a 190MW energy storage portfolio that is located in the U.S.
ORMAT’S SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such matters as our projections of annual revenues, expenses and debt service coverage with respect to our debt securities, future capital expenditures, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, development or operation of generation assets, market and industry developments and the growth of our business and operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “projects”, “potential”, or “contemplate” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words or expressions. These forward-looking statements generally relate to Ormat’s plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon its management’s current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Although we believe that our plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we may not achieve these plans or objectives. Actual future results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties and other risks described under “Risk Factors” as described in Ormat’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 23, 2024, and in Ormat’s subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that are filed from time to time with the SEC.
These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and, except as legally required, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
| Ormat Technologies Contact: Smadar Lavi VP Head of IR and ESG Planning & Reporting 775-356-9029 (ext. 65726) slavi@ormat.com |
Investor Relations Agency Contact: Alec Steinberg or Joseph Caminiti Alpha IR Group 312-445-2870 ORA@alpha-ir.com |
Source: United States Navy
VENICE, Italy – Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, attended the 14th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium (TRSS) in Venice, Italy, Oct. 8-10, 2024.
This year’s TRSS brought together Heads of Navy and Coast Guard from 67 countries with experts and professionals from around the world to discuss critical maritime issues and foster collaboration. The symposium, themed “A Spotlight on the Depths: the Underwater as a New Frontier for Humankind,” aimed to address the growing importance of the underwater through panel discussions, presentations, and interactive sessions that allowed participants to explore innovative approaches and strategies for maritime cooperation.
“It is great to be here among friends who are united by our shared values, our shared commitment, and our shared stake in the continued stability, security, and prosperity of the entire global maritime commons, especially in the undersea domain,” said Franchetti. “We’ve all scanned the horizon and see the forces that are threatening to make the world more unstable and more dangerous. And we’ve witnessed the vulnerabilities of our critical undersea infrastructure, like gas pipelines, fiber optic cables, which are so critical to our economies, our shared security, our prosperity, and our peoples’ way of everyday life.”
During the symposium, Franchetti participated in a panel titled “Safeguarding the Underwater: New Solutions and Technologies for new Challenges,” where she discussed how U.S. Navy is leveraging modern technology, like robotic autonomous systems, underwater command and control networks, and sensing and detection systems; is integrating these systems into the fleet and adopting the new technology, getting the innovation into the hands of Sailors as quickly as possible; and building relationships and having conversations with Allies and partners.
“Integrating robotic and autonomous systems into the daily business of our operations is a critical part of my recently released Navigation Plan for America’s War Fighting Navy,” said Franchetti. “It’s one of my seven Project 33 targets, areas where I will invest my personal time and my resources, where I’m going to put my thumb on the scale to raise the baseline level of readiness of the American Navy in the fastest time possible.”
She went on to say, “we are continuing to closely collaborate with you, all of our allies and partners, and your respective innovation bases to advance our capabilities in the undersea domain. And I see us doing this together as part of a broader warfighting ecosystem. It’s another component in my Navigation Plan, which is fundamental to my vision of how we will deter and, if necessary, fight and win future wars.”
While at the symposium Franchetti also held bilateral engagement with her counterparts from Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Nigeria, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden; and conducted over 40 meaningful discussions with TRSS Head of Navy participants about the importance of increasing interoperability with Allies and partners.
Franchetti also conducted her second trilateral meeting with her Australian and United Kingdom counterparts as part of the AUKUS partnership. Their first meeting occurred earlier this summer at HMAS Stirling in Perth, Australia.
“In three years of the AUKUS agreement we have made significant progress in integrating the exceptional undersea capabilities of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States,” said Franchetti. “Our navies will continue to build on our relationships, strengths, and interchangeability to provide security and stability, and maintain the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific and around the globe.
The CNO wrapped up her time at TRSS with a multilateral meeting with Heads of Navy from the Group of Seven (G7: U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom) and a meeting with the chiefs of carrier strike group navies.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Recovery efforts in the aftermath of a hurricane can be immense and require close coordination at both the federal and the state levels. The airspace around the recovery efforts have high levels of aviation activity, including small airplanes, helicopters, and drones. The FAA’s goal at all times is to ensure safety and help facilitate this critical work.
Learn more about operating near hurricane recovery efforts: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/hurricane_season/operating-near-hurricane-recovery-efforts
Source: Government of Canada regional news
As a result of a number of non-compliances involving unsupervised children, Willowbrae Academy West Point Centre, a child-care program in Edmonton, was suspended and placed on a probationary licence with a term that expired on Oct. 9. Since the probationary license was issued, Child Care Licensing has worked with the program through enhanced monitoring to support them in returning to compliance.
Due to ongoing concerns and unaddressed non-compliances involving unsupervised children, Willowbrae Academy’s suspended licence was not reinstated. The closure of this program affects about 187 children.
Families affected by the closure of the program were notified in person on Oct. 9. Families not informed in person will be notified by email as soon as the contact information is provided by the child-care program. In addition, a notice confirming closure of the program, which describes the reason for closure, has been posted on the door of the facility.
Jobs, Economy and Trade will continue to provide support, information and assistance to families looking for alternative child-care options.
Anyone with concerns about a child-care program in their community or needing to report an incident is encouraged to call Child Care Connect toll-free at 1-844-644-5165.
Information on child-care program closures can be found on the Finding and Choosing Child Care webpage (link below).
Source: Government of Canada News (2)
October 10, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada
Access to justice is a fundamental value of the Canadian justice system, in line with our country’s respect for the rule of law. Justice Canada remains committed to playing a leadership role in advancing a people-centred approach to justice and the law, including through its international relationships.
The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) joined delegates from around the globe as Justice Canada co-hosted, in collaboration with Canada’s International Development Research Centre, the 2024 OECD Global Roundtable of Access to Justice.
The two-day roundtable included more than 100 delegates from OECD member and partner countries, academia, and civil society as well as representatives from international, regional, and legal academic organizations. Discussions supported the implementation of the 2023 OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People-Centred Justice Systems and its core components, which include: building a purpose and culture in the justice sector that puts consideration of the individual at the heart of justice responses; designing and delivering people-centred justice services; establishing an enabling governance infrastructure; empowering people to be informed and to participate; and committing to evidence-based planning, monitoring, evaluation and accountability.
The Global Roundtable on Access to Justice is part of a series for knowledge-sharing on people-centered justice at the highest level of government. As part of the OECD Reinforcing Democracy Initiative, the 2024 OECD Roundtable seeks to advance people-centred justice, to strengthen democracy and public trust, to foster prosperity and to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all. Building on the momentum of the previous Roundtables, this event explored measures and strategies to bring justice closer to communities in practical, inclusive and compassionate manner. To achieve this, participants shared experiences and challenges related to the implementation of different justice pathways and innovation to reach people and enable them to resolve their everyday justice problems.
“Access to justice is a fundamental element of any healthy justice system, and an important pillar of democracy. This Roundtable helps advance our understanding of the role of justice and the rule of law in advancing these key principles. Canada will continue to focus on making our justice systems more responsive and more inclusive, while ensuring the justice sector can respond to global challenges. We are moving in the right direction to achieve our access to justice goals, including the full realization of Sustainable Development Goal 16.”
The Honourable Arif Virani, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
“The discussions over the past two days reaffirmed the critical importance of the rule of law and people-centred justice, of which Canada is a champion, particularly in the context of increasing pressures on democracy. The OECD, notably through its Reinforcing Democracy Initiative, has been instrumental in supporting countries to make justice systems more responsive, accessible, and people-centred. The outcomes from this Roundtable will inform the development of a toolkit to help policymakers implement the OECD Recommendation and will contribute to global efforts, including the forthcoming OECD Global Forum on Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy and the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum, as we work towards creating a future where justice serves everyone.”
Elsa Pilichowski,
Director for Public Governance, OECD
The annual OECD Roundtable is the premier international meeting of governments, justice sector stakeholders and partners to share information and insights in justice globally.
The OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice is an important tool to support countries in their efforts to promote transparent, responsive and inclusive justice systems. The efforts that flow from their work will promote justice-related commitments and peer learning to advance open government, open justice and equal access to justice.
Following the adoption of the Recommendation in 2023, the OECD and its partners are developing practical tools, including concrete examples of initiatives and promising practices, that countries could use in support of their implementation of the Recommendation on access to justice.
For more information, media may contact:
Chantalle Aubertin
Deputy Director, Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
613-992-6568
Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207
media@justice.gc.ca
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote a letter to Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Chairwomen Jessica Rosenworcel concerning the purchase of more than 200 radio stations by Soros Fund Management (SFM). The rushed approval of SFM’s purchase of Audacy raises concerns about the FCC’s process, its impartiality, and the risks to our national security.
In part, Senator Cotton wrote:
“The FCC’s approval process for large acquisitions of radio stations generally takes a year or more to complete and is subject to a national-security review if foreign-company ownership exceeds 25 percent. In this case, however, the FCC reportedly attempted to approve the SFM transaction with only 48 hours’ notice. Reports also indicate that no other commissioners aside from you were invited to opine on the issue before staff handled it on the Commission’s behalf. Moreover, SFM requested to bypass the traditional national-security review, despite raising $400 million for the purchase with foreign investments.”
Full text of the letter may be found here and below.
October 10, 2024
Jessica Rosenworcel
Chairwoman
Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairwoman Rosenworcel,
I write regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to expedite Soros Fund Management’s (SFM) purchase of more than two hundred radio stations just weeks before a critical presidential election.
The FCC’s approval process for large acquisitions of radio stations generally takes a year or more to complete and is subject to a national-security review if foreign-company ownership exceeds 25 percent. In this case, however, the FCC reportedly attempted to approve the SFM transaction with only 48 hours’ notice. Reports also indicate that no other commissioners aside from you were invited to opine on the issue before staff handled it on the Commission’s behalf. Moreover, SFM requested to bypass the traditional national-security review, despite raising $400 million for the purchase with foreign investments.
This decision affects over 165 million monthly listeners on Audacy—a network that includes conservative programming like Sean Hannity, Dana Loesch, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, and Erick Erickson. It would be naive to think the timing is coincidental, or that a Soros-funded network would impartially manage conservative talk shows in the weeks before the election. The FCC’s rushed approval of SFM’s purchase raises significant concerns about the FCC’s process, its political impartiality, and the risks to our national security.
I urge the FCC to use its traditional process outlined by Section 310 of the Communications Act. Accordingly, please respond to the below questions by ___
Sincerely,
Tom Cotton
U.S. Senator
Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
The prime ministers discussed the dynamic bilateral relationship between Canada and Malaysia, which is further being strengthened through the implementation of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. They welcomed co-operation on a variety of issues, including bolstering trade and investment, deepening defence partnerships, strengthening democratic institutions, and protecting cybersecurity. The leaders also highlighted recent examples of this mutually beneficial co-operation, including this year’s Team Canada Trade Mission to Malaysia and the opening of BlackBerry’s Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Malaysia, in March.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Anwar discussed their interest in expanding co-operation on energy security and renewables.
The leaders exchanged views on pressing geopolitical issues. They discussed the impact that multiple crises around the world are having on social cohesion and agreed to work together to explore ways to manage their effects.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Anwar agreed to stay in close contact and looked forward to ongoing collaboration.
Source: Government of Canada News
ACOA supports successful events and strategic tourism plans in Truro and Amherst
October 10, 2024 · Truro, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Tourism is essential to Atlantic Canada. It boosts local economies and creates jobs, while promoting and showcasing the region’s vibrant cultures and communities. The Government of Canada is investing to help organizations harness tourism potential by undertaking strategic planning and hosting exciting events.
Stampede and hockey showcased the region while communities plan for more opportunities
Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, announced a total non-repayable contribution of $362,500 to three organizations for four tourism projects.
This investment helped the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society (operating as Central NS Sports & Entertainment) host two events in Truro, the 2023 World Junior A Hockey Challenge and the inaugural Nova Scotia Stampede. This investment will also help the Town of Truro and the Town of Amherst, in partnership with municipalities and First Nations partners, develop strategic plans to increase tourism in rural centres, promote the diverse variety of local offerings and extend the tourism season. For more information, see the attached backgrounder.
Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to help grow Atlantic Canada’s tourism sector, and showcase the region’s diverse experiences to visitors from around the world.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Boston (October 10, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement today on the passing of Ethel Kennedy.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ethel Kennedy, a woman of true grace and grit, a dedicated matriarch, and a supportive friend. Ethel Kennedy’s generosity of spirit transcended politics, and her dedication to her family and her husband’s legacy were a driving force.
“When Ethel started the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in 1968, she ensured that her husband’s life’s work would continue. She transformed her personal tragedy into a lasting legacy of public service and global leadership. Her mission will forever be felt beyond the shores of her beautiful home in Hyannis to the far reaches of the world where her fight for human rights lives on.
“A true force for social change in her own right, Ethel Kennedy worked to address society’s greatest injustices, fighting for equity, inclusion, compassion, and lasting change. The country has lost one of our greatest advocates for American exceptionalism, and the world has lost an irreplaceable champion of humanity. Ethel Kennedy was a woman whose vision was fueled by her boundless heart and goodwill, and she will be remembered forever. The entire Kennedy family is in my prayers.”
Source: Government of Canada News
Tourism boosts local economies, highlights unique attractions, and celebrates the region’s rich culture.
October 10, 2024 · Truro, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Tourism boosts local economies, highlights unique attractions, and celebrates the region’s rich culture. Today, the Government of Canada announced a total of $362,500 to three organizations for four tourism projects to help tap into tourism opportunities through strategic planning and hosting dynamic events.
The Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society (operating as Central NS Sports & Entertainment) received a $150,000 non-repayable investment through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to host the four-day inaugural Nova Scotia Stampede from September 26-29, 2024 at the Provincial Exhibition Grounds in Truro. The professional rodeo featured international and national champions competing in events such as bull riding, barrel racing and saddle bronc, as well as 4H showcases, musical performances, Nova Scotian food, artisans and vendors. The week-long event sold out all rodeo events, full-day passes and VIP tickets, attracting many visitors outside of the traditional peak tourism season, and showcasing Nova Scotia’s culture and agriculture sector to an international audience. The Province of Nova Scotia provided $150,000 for this project, and the Town of Truro and Colchester County provided a combined $75,000.
The Society also received a $100,000 non-repayable investment through ICF to host the 2023 World Junior A Challenge which took place December 10-17, 2023 at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre (RECC). The event is an under-20 international ice hockey tournament sponsored by Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). It featured six teams from around the world, giving young players exposure to international level competition, and bringing visitors to the region outside the peak tourism season. The Province of Nova Scotia provided $100,000 for this project and the Town of Truro and Colchester County each provided $50,000.
The Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society is a not-for-profit organization which operates the Rath Eastlink Community Centre and provides event management services for the Provincial Exhibition Grounds which includes the development of the inaugural Nova Scotia Stampede project.
The Town of Truro and Municipality of the County of Colchester are receiving a non-repayable investment of $96,850 through ICF to create a strategic tourism plan for the Truro-Colchester region. The town and county, in collaboration with regional partners Millbrook First Nation and the Town of Stewiacke, will continue to engage local businesses, community organizations, industry leaders and all levels of government to play an active role in creating a long-term success plan for elevating tourism in the area. The plan will focus on developing tourism all year long by identifying potential gaps and opportunities in the market, and will be implemented over the next three to five years.
The Truro-Colchester region is located in north central Nova Scotia and has a population of over 50,000 people. Known as the “Hub of Nova Scotia,” Truro’s central location and historic downtown make it a popular destination from which to view the famous tidal bore in the Bay of Fundy.
The Town of Amherst is receiving a non-repayable investment of $15,250 through ACOA’s Tourism Growth Plan (TGP) to develop and implement a strategic tourism plan in Cumberland County. The plan will help the town build on its tourism potential, improve its tourism products, and engage with the broader network of tourism stakeholders in the area. It will also conduct a Digital Footprint Analysis, to help tourism businesses improve their virtual profile and better present themselves to potential visitors online. Cumberland County provided $7,625 for this project.
The Town of Amherst is the largest town in Cumberland County and has a population of approximately 9,500. Amherst welcomes visitors crossing the border from New Brunswick, and is a good place to explore both the rugged cliffs of the Bay of Fundy, home of the world’s highest tides, and the sandy shores and warm water of the Northumberland Shore.
Connor Burton
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Source: Government of Canada News
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement
October 10, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:
“On this World Day Against the Death Penalty, Canada reaffirms its opposition to the death penalty in all cases, everywhere.
“The death penalty is incompatible with human rights and human dignity. Not only is it ineffective as a deterrent to crime, but its use also carries the significant risk of innocent individuals being executed. It has also been disproportionately used against members of marginalized groups and people who oppose authoritarian regimes, including political opponents and human rights defenders.
“Canada strongly encourages all countries to abolish the death penalty. While condemning the death penalty, Canada also calls on countries where it is still practiced to respect international safeguards and standards, including due process and fair trials.
“We are pleased to work closely with the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, the International Commission Against the Death Penalty and the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, all of which aim to abolish the use of the death penalty, torture and other cruel and degrading punishments.
“The majority of nations have abolished the death penalty, and Canada proudly stands among them. Our stance is rooted in a commitment to upholding human rights for all individuals.”
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Lebanon
– Senior Personnel Appointment
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Lao PDR
– Deputy Secretary-General
– Libya
– Sudan
– South Sudan
– Zambia
– Ukraine
– Nepal
– Haiti
– Senior Personnel Appointment
– Nansen Award
– Post Day
– Briefings today and tomorrow
Lebanon
We have an update from our peacekeeping colleagues in southern Lebanon. Over the past 24 hours, the exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and Hizbullah have continued to intensify. Peacekeepers observe large-scale air strikes by Israel, mainly across southern Lebanon, concurrent with its ground activities in the areas of Marun ar-Ras, Bint Jbeil, Aytarun, Kafr Kila and Labbouneh. They have also continued to observe fire by Hizbullah towards Israel.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that yesterday [8 October] IDF personnel vacated their position in the vicinity of UNIFIL post UNP 6-52, although movement of IDF personnel and vehicles continues on a nearby road.
Some UN positions have been impacted, sustaining damage from numerous incidents, including to a security camera at UNP 1-31, damage to perimeter walls, gunshots on a vehicle, and shrapnel damage to prefab accommodation. Fortunately, there are no reports of peacekeepers wounded.
As we have been saying repeatedly, the safety and security of our peacekeepers is a paramount priority and is a shared responsibility of all parties.
All parties must abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
We also reiterate our call, both for immediate de-escalation and for the parties to return to a cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of Resolution 1701.
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has an update on the situation in the northern areas. In recent days, Israeli authorities once again ordered more than 400,000 people who remain north of Wadi Gaza to move south, while at the same time tightening access restrictions and expanding military operations in the north. Crossing points into northern Gaza have been largely closed for both humanitarian and commercial supplies. Checkpoints inside Gaza are only permitting civilians to move south — and allowing just a trickle of humanitarian movement into the north.
OCHA warns that these developments are forcing services critical for people’s survival to shut down one by one. According to the UN Relief and Works Agency, seven schools sheltering displaced people are being evacuated, and only two of eight water wells in the Jabalya refugee camp remain functional.
The north is also facing severe shortages of bread and food supplies. Explosive munitions burned down the only bakery supported by the World Food Programme in Jabalya refugee camp.
Today, OCHA and the World Health Organization tried to reach northern Gaza to support the Kamal Adwan hospital, after Israeli authorities ordered its immediate evacuation. After receiving a green light from the Israeli authorities for the mission, the team was forced to wait at a holding point for many hours. Ultimately, the mission had to be aborted.
Despite these challenges, aid workers are seizing any opportunity to support people in northern Gaza. UNRWA is utilizing limited stocks already in the north to distribute high-energy biscuits from WFP to children in designated shelters and delivering bread bundles to families in certain areas. Hot meals are being distributed by our partners to newly displaced families, some of whom are also receiving tents. And water is being delivered using trucks.
Ukraine
Turning to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says intense attacks in the south and east of the country this week have killed and injured dozens of civilians and damaged homes, a hospital and schools.
Authorities and partners on the ground in the southern city of Kherson report that about 20 civilians – including children – were injured in attacks on Monday. At least 280 apartments in 10 buildings were also damaged.
NGOs have mobilized emergency assistance – including first aid, food kits and shelter materials – to help families cover the damage to their homes as winter approaches.
Aid workers continue to provide emergency support, including in Chornomorsk Town in the Odesa Region, where attacks yesterday and today injured five civilians and damaged multiple homes and a hospital. Those affected received emergency shelter kits and psychosocial support, as well as child protection and case management services.
OCHA saus that inter-agency convoys also reached war-affected communities in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions this week, delivering essential hygiene supplies, winter clothes, blankets and charging stations.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%20October%202024
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kyle Breen, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Texas A&M International University
The volunteers who take part in search-and-rescue operations and then support disaster survivors belong to organizations that have become more formal and established over the past decade. That’s what we found after spending more than four years volunteering alongside eight of these groups to better understand their role and the motivations of the people who participate in these efforts.
We did this research as part of a larger team of sociologists, an urban planning scholar and emergency management specialists. All of us worked alongside civilian volunteer search-and-rescue groups from Louisiana and Texas between 2017 and 2022 during and after many hurricanes, including Harvey and Laura, the winter storm known as Uri and other major disasters.
While we volunteered with these organizations, we observed them in action and interviewed their leaders and volunteers to learn why they were making the time and taking personal risks to save others. Many cited their personal values, expressed their need to belong to a group, and said it had helped them find a sense of purpose. Others shared that they were motivated by their personal circumstances and experiences or feelings of guilt, or that this kind of volunteering gave them a deep sense of satisfaction.
“I lost everything I owned in Katrina. They deemed my family’s property uninhabitable,” said a boater we’ll call Dylan to protect his anonymity. “I can’t sit here after knowing what it is to lose everything.”
Some volunteers said that one reason why they have repeatedly done this work is to counter stereotypes about people who engage in these efforts. When he’s heard people say, “Oh you’re just out there, doing it for the spotlight,” said Roger, he told us he wants to respond by saying, “Yeah, dude. If you flood, call me, I’ll come get you.”
While the organizations we researched were based in Louisiana and Texas, the volunteers who participate in these efforts come from across the U.S. and, in some cases, other countries. One volunteer we met was from the United Kingdom.
Since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, volunteers have been participating in search-and-rescue efforts after big disasters – especially in that region. But these volunteers come from all over.
Many of these groups are known as “Cajun Navy” organizations. Whether or not these organizations use the Cajun Navy branding in their names they share, a common mission of helping others in emergencies.
These volunteers aren’t just operating boats and helicopters. Others serve as dispatchers, handle logistics, and run social media operations.
Over time, some of the organizations have begun to team up with local emergency responders, signing memorandums of understanding with them. They partner with government agencies while assisting in disaster response and relief efforts, but they primarily operate with autonomy and are able to travel where they perceive the need is greatest.
This kind of group tends to dissolve after a disaster is over, instead of evolving into an established nonprofit.
But many of the eight groups we studied have become nonprofits or are in the process of doing so.
We were able to do this research by becoming volunteers ourselves. We took part in dispatch operations on the ground and remotely, and we supported logistics planning. We also observed and, in some cases, participated in search-and-rescue training and operations in the water and on land.
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
Kyle Breen received funding from the National Science Foundation for this research. He currently holds funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for other research projects.
J. Carlee Purdum received funding from The National Science Foundation for this research and for other ongoing projects.
– ref. ‘Cajun Navy’ volunteers who participate in search-and-rescue operations after hurricanes are forming long-lasting organizations – https://theconversation.com/cajun-navy-volunteers-who-participate-in-search-and-rescue-operations-after-hurricanes-are-forming-long-lasting-organizations-240769
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
WATCH: Senator Reverend Warnock Discusses Faith, Family, and Service in New Episode of PBS’ “Breaking Bread with Alexander”
In his hometown of Savannah, Senator Reverend Warnock joined host Alexander Heffner for a discussion about his public service as a U.S. Senator for all Georgians, and how his faith and family shaped his childhood in the Coastal Empire
Over brunch and a stroll, Senator Reverend Warnock shared his approach to making change in Washington, including the importance of bipartisanship and his work on issues top of mind for Georgians like defending our democracy and closing the health care gap
Senator Reverend Warnock: “I think activism, and speaking, and demonstrations are part of the democratic process. We need people shaking it up on the outside, as long as they are non-violent and dignified in their approach, and we need people shaking it up on the inside”
Above: Senator Warnock and Alexander Heffner
Washington, D.C. – In a recently-aired episode of PBS’ Breaking Bread with Alexander, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined journalist and host Alexander Heffner in his hometown of Savannah to discuss how his family, faith, and childhood in Coastal Georgia shaped his life and continues to inform his service for all Georgians in the United States Senate. The interview, which originally aired on October 2, follows Senator Warnock and Alexander as they converse while strolling along “Raphael Warnock Way” a street named honoring the Senator just outside of his childhood home, and then as they enjoy a meal of chicken and waffles at famous Savannah restaurant Collins Quarter.
During the episode, the Senator dived into his approach to delivering for Georgians in Washington and how he works to center people in federal policymaking, discussing the power of bipartisanship to create consensus and solve problems, how being a father shapes his leadership, and why he continues to fight on issues like health care that are top of mind to many Georgians.
Watch the new episode HERE.
Read key excerpts from the interview below:
On bipartisanship
Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): “I’m proud of the fact that I came to the Senate in the 117th Congress. Out of 100 senators, it was easy for me to remember where I was on the pecking order, I was number 100, the most junior senator in the Senate. Yet I managed to be listed, according to bills and work that I had done, as the 18th (now 14th) most bipartisan senator in the Senate. I’m proud of that because I won in the special election, which means Republicans knew I was going to be up again in two years for reelection and yet, I was able to get enough of them to work with me to be listed as the 18th most bipartisan senator in the Senate.
“I think that is what our country needs, I am who I am, I believe what I believe, there are some things I’m not going to compromise on in terms of the core of my values and what I think are important – human dignity, that everybody ought to have a path to prosperity, that ours is a country that ought to embrace all of our children. And that’s my North Star, but you’ll find there are a whole range of things we can work on together.”
On his family and ministry
SRW: “My dad was the pastor of a small church not far from here on Gwinnett Street, but he was also a junk man. He literally took care of our family by loading old junk cars that other folk had thrown away, stacking them one on top of the other, taking them down to what was then Chattem Steel, and that’s how he took care of his family.
“On Sunday mornings, the man who spent all week lifting broken cars, lifted broken people with his message of hope, the depth of his faith, his grit and determination of a Black man born in 1917, a World War II veteran who in one instance had to give up his seat on a bus while wearing his soldiers uniform to a young teenager.
“His faith inspires me.
“My mother grew up in Waycross, Georgia. She grew up in a slightly different time in the 1950s, as a teenager picking somebody else’s Tobacco, picking somebody else’s cotton.
“The octogenarian hands that used to pick somebody else’s Tobacco, somebody else’s cotton, could pick her son to be a United States Senator. Only in America is my story possible.”
On health care
SRW: “I’m someone who was shaped and inspired by the civil rights and human rights tradition. In 2014, I stood up saying we need to expand Medicaid in Georgia, as part of the Affordable Care Act. We have 600,000 Georgians in the coverage gap, and who are these people? They are mostly the working poor.
“Dr. King said ‘Of all the injustices, inequality in healthcare is the most shocking and the most inhumane’. I was part of a demonstration in front of the Governor’s office here in Georgia and I was arrested fighting for Medicaid expansion. I thought it was a small price to pay when I considered that here we had an opportunity to give poor people, working-class people access to dignity, access basic health care, preventative care, that would literally save lives. And the state leaders were digging in their heels for political purposes. And so I got arrested in the state capital in Georgia, I’ve gotten arrested in the U.S. capital, also fighting for health care, fighting to protect SNAP benefits. And I’ll continue to ring the bell on this issue, it’s so very important.”
Alexander Heffner: “Do we need more civil disobedience in American life today?”
SRW: “I think activism, and speaking, and demonstrations are part of the democratic process. We need people shaking it up on the outside, as long as they are non-violent and dignified in their approach, and we need people shaking it up on the inside. I’ve had my experience with both, I often say that now I’ve translated my protest into public policy, my agitation into legislation, but I will do anything within reason, that is consistent with my values if it will get people health care.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
October 09, 2024
“[Taxpayers] should not be forced to jump through extra, onerous, hoops that private tax prep companies are not required to meet.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Boston, MA – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Representative Katie Porter (D-Calif.) wrote to the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging the agencies to make the Direct File tax filing program more accessible by ending reliance on ID.me, which uses a flawed facial recognition software.
When Direct File, the first free, public, electronic federal tax filing tool in U.S. history, launched, the IRS announced that taxpayers would need to submit to identity verification through ID.me because it met the IRS’ desired level of strictness, “Identity Assurance Level 2” (IAL 2). IAL 2 is the middle of three “levels” of national identity verification standards, and requires an applicant’s face to be compared to a government ID using facial recognition software or by a human. But the facial recognition technology used by ID.me has been shown to be less accurate when dealing with vulnerable groups, including individuals of color, and has been linked to wrongful arrests of black men. This heightened identity verification is required for the Direct File service and not for commercial tax preparation services.
“Requiring them to use ID.me is creating yet another needless barrier to exactly these taxpayers who need Direct File most to claim tax benefits, as it has been with other government benefits,” wrote the lawmakers.
Private tax preparation companies are not judged against IAL standards but operate at the equivalent of a level 1 by just having users simply assert their identity. The private tax preparation companies have also egregiously misused private taxpayer information, and Direct File allows taxpayers the option to not give their money and personal information to private companies when filing their taxes. Login.gov, a government-run identity verification alternative, is expected to be compliant with existing IAL 2 standards, making it available for the 2025 tax season.
The IRS’ current approach to security does not make sense.
“If the threat posed by identity thieves and fraudsters is severe enough to warrant requiring taxpayers to submit to identity verification…then the IRS should require such security protections, across the board, regardless of whether taxpayers use Direct File, commercial services like TurboTax and H&R Block…,” the lawmakers continued. “Alternatively, if the threat posed by identity thieves is not serious enough for the IRS to require commercial tax prep companies to implement burdensome identity verification, then taxpayers using Direct File should not be required to do so either.”
The 2024 Direct File pilot was a clear and resounding success, helping taxpayers claim over $90 million in tax refunds and saving taxpayers $5.6 million in estimated filing fees. The IRS recently announced that it will expand service to 24 states and over 30 million taxpayers for the 2025 tax season. In order to keep Direct File serving taxpayers effectively, the lawmakers requested answers from the Treasury and the IRS about the impact of ID.me on taxpayers’ access to Direct File and potential alternatives to ID.me by October 21, 2024.
Senator Warren has been at the forefront of holding tax prep firms and Big Tech accountable for their behavior, and pushed for an effective IRS direct free file program:
In June 2023, Senators Warren and Carper and Representatives Sherman, Porter, and Beyer led a coalition of 99 Democratic lawmakers in sending a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Daniel Werfel and Deputy Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo, applauding the IRS’ announcement of a pilot of a free tax filing tool next year.
In April 2023, Senators Warren and Carper led their colleagues in sending a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel urging the agency to simplify the tax process and broaden access to free e-filing options.
In April 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Warren questioned Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Daniel Werfel about the IRS’s failed Free-File partnership with private tax preparation software companies and called on the agency to implement a direct E-File program that will be truly free and easy for millions of Americans.
Commission Werfel agreed with Senator Warren that the gap between the 70% of taxpayers that Free File is supposed to serve and the 2% it actually does is “massive.” When Senator Warren pointed out that tax prep companies are instead pushing alternative services that should be free, are marketed as free, but are not, Commissioner Werfel also agreed that “the whole process needs to be improved,” that taxpayer rights have been violated, and the IRS has an obligation to make “the tax system easier for taxpayers to navigate.”
In March 2023, Senators Warren and King wrote a letter with 19 other senators to the Internal Revenue Service and Secretary Yellen expressing strong support for Secretary Yellen’s directive for the IRS not to raise audit rates for small businesses or households making under $400,000 annually.
In December 2022, Senators Warren and Wyden, along with Representatives Porter and Sherman sent letters to tax preparation companies H&R Block, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer, plus big tech firms Meta, and Google, amid reports that the tax preparation companies have been secretly transmitting individual taxpayers’ sensitive financial information to Meta and Google.
In July 2022, Senator Warren led 22 of her colleagues in introducing the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2022 to simplify the tax filing process for millions of Americans by lowering costs, eliminating red tape for all taxpayers, and saving them hours and hundreds of dollars.
During an exchange of the United States Senate Finance Committee in June 2022, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen agreed with Senator Warren on the need to create a free tax filing system that actually works for Americans.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced a new investment to replace lead service lines in Youngstown. Brown advocated for this much-needed investment, which will result in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarding $1.2 million to the City of Youngstown for its Lead Service Line Replacement Program.
“Families shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not the water coming out of the faucet is safe for their children to drink,” said Brown. “I fought for this investment so that the City of Youngstown can replace old lead pipes, creating jobs while ensuring that Ohioans in the Valley have access to safe and reliable drinking water.”
Brown secured this investment in the 2024 government funding law, which provides key funding for water infrastructure projects. These investments complement the resources allocated by Congress in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Brown helped write and pass.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown announced that East Palestine residents who received reimbursements from Norfolk Southern in the aftermath of the February 3, 2023 train derailment will be able to take advantage of a free, one-day tax clinic where Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Certified Volunteers will help residents complete amended returns so that they don’t pay taxes on their reimbursements.
Brown aggressively and successfully pushed the IRS and Treasury Department to make tax exempt most payments and reimbursements received from Norfolk Southern.
The IRS is requiring East Palestine residents to file amended returns to ensure that they are not taxed on any assistance received from Norfolk Southern.
“It was important to take on the IRS and ensure that East Palestine residents did not have to pay tax on assistance they received from Norfolk Southern,” said Brown. “Now, we want to make sure they do not have to pay a tax service to file the amended tax return that they shouldn’t have had to file in the first place. Our office is glad to bring together these community organizations to make this happen.”
Details of the one-day tax clinic hosted by Brown’s office are below. Brown’s office partnered with The Way Station, The Village of East Palestine, United Way Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Catholic Charities Regional Agency, and the United Way of Summit & Medina.
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 9AM-5PM
Location: First Church of Christ, 20 W Martin St, East Palestine, OH 44413
Call 330.540.1947 or 330.610.3805 to schedule an appointment.
Appointments must be scheduled in advance.
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: Federal Disaster Assistance for Connecticut Tops $6 Million
Federal Disaster Assistance for Connecticut Tops $6 Million
Two weeks after President Joseph R. Biden declared a major disaster for the state of Connecticut following the August 18-19, 2024 severe storm, flooding, landslides and mudslides, more than $6 million in federal assistance has been provided by FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to support disaster recovery.
Homeowners and renters whose homes and property were damaged by the storm, and who still need to apply for federal assistance, have until November 19, 2024, to do so.
As of October 8, Connecticut’s recovery assistance includes:
The three Connecticut counties designated for FEMA assistance in this disaster are: Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams have been visiting storm-affected neighborhoods in the designated counties to help residents apply for FEMA assistance, identify and address immediate needs, and make referrals to other local, state and voluntary agencies for additional support. To date, DSA personnel have visited more than 8,803 households and 697 businesses to connect survivors with assistance.
In addition to FEMA’s $5 Million in grants and SBA’s $1 Million in loans, the National Flood Insurance Program has also helped survivors whose homes were affected by the disaster, paying more than $2.4 million in claims to policy holders for flood damage related to the storm.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) have been opened in Fairfield and New Haven counties to provide one-on-one support to survivors. At the centers, recovery specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration provide information on available services, explain assistance programs, and help survivors complete or check the status of their applications for assistance. A FEMA Hazard Mitigation Community Education Outreach Specialist will also be on site to assist survivors in preparing for future incidents. No appointment is necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Walk-ins are welcome.
The DRC in Fairfield County is located at:
Our Lady of Fatima Church
229 Danbury Road
Wilton, CT 06897
The DRC in New Haven County is located at:
Southbury Town Hall
501 Main Street S
Southbury, CT 06488
Operating Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Note: Open on the holiday – Monday, October 14
To apply for FEMA assistance without visiting a center, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. If you use a relay service such as video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.
adrien.urbani
Source: NASA
In October 1604, a new star appeared in the sky, puzzling astronomers of the day. First observed on Oct. 9, German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) began his observations on Oct. 17 and tracked the new star for over a year. During that time, it brightened to magnitude -2.5, outshining Jupiter, and for several weeks remained visible in the daytime. Publication of his detailed observations in 1606 led astronomers to call the star Kepler’s Supernova, today formally designated as supernova SN 1604. Astronomers of the day did not know what caused the star’s sudden appearance and eventual disappearance, but the phenomenon helped shape European cosmology toward the heliocentric model proposed by Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus half a century earlier. Today, astronomers designate SN 1604 as a Type Ia supernova, resulting from the explosion of a white dwarf star, and use ground-based and space-based telescopes to study its remnants.
Left: Portrait of Johannes Kepler by August Köhler. Middle: Kepler’s book about his observations of the 1604 supernova open to the page depicting the location of the new star. Right: Closeup of Kepler’s illustration of the location of the new star, designated N, in the constellation Ophiuchus near the right foot of the serpent-bearer.
Italian astronomer Lodovico delle Colombo first observed the supernova in the constellation Ophiuchus on Oct. 9. Kepler, then working in Prague, heard rumors of the new star but did not observe it until Oct. 17. He continued to monitor the star for over a year, inspired by the earlier work of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe’s observations of a similar phenomenon, the 1572 supernova. The new star quickly brightened to magnitude -2.5, outshining Jupiter, and for three weeks could be seen in the daytime before finally fading into obscurity in March 1606. Kepler could only make naked eye observations, since Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei didn’t turn his newly invented telescope to the skies for another four years after SN 1604 faded from view.
Later in 1606, Kepler summarized his observations in his book De Stella nova in pede Serpentarii (On the New Star in Ophiuchus’ Foot), published in Prague. SN 1604 is believed to be about 20,000 light years away, near the edge of a dark nebula complex. Kepler and his contemporaries observed not only the last known supernova to occur in the Milky Way Galaxy but also the last supernova visible to the naked eye until 1987. That one, Supernova 1987A, appeared in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.
A Type Ia supernova results from a white dwarf drawing in material from a nearby red giant star, the additional mass leading to a runaway thermonuclear explosion.
Astronomers today understand that what Kepler and others believed as the birth of a new star actually represented the violent death of a star. Astronomers today classify supernovas according to their characteristics, and SN 1604 belongs to the group known as Type Ia supernovas, typically found in binary star systems composed of a white dwarf and a red giant. The gravitation force of the white dwarf draws in material from its larger less dense companion until it reaches a critical mass, around 1.4 times the mass of our Sun. At that point, a runaway thermonuclear chain reaction begins, causing a release of tremendous amounts of energy, including light, that we see as a sudden brightening of an otherwise dim star.
Images of Kepler’s supernova remnants in different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Left: X-ray image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Middle: Visible image from the Hubble Space Telescope. Right: Infrared image from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Supernova explosions leave remnants behind and those of SN 1604 remain visible today. Ground-based and space-based instruments using different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum study these remnants to gain a better understanding of their origins. The remnants of SN 1604 emit energy most strongly in the radio and X-ray parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. In recent years, astronomers have used Type Ia supernovas to determine the rate of expansion of the universe. Because Type Ia supernovas all occur in stars of about 1.4 solar masses, they give out about the same amount of light. This makes them useful as distance indicators – if one Type Ia supernova is dimmer than another one, it is further away by an amount that astronomers can calculate. Based on this information, astronomers believe that the expansion of the universe is accelerating, possibly caused by the presence of a mysterious substance called dark energy.
Events in world history in 1604:
January 1 – First performance of William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.
March 22 – Karl IX begins his rule as King of Sweden.
August 5 – Sokolluzade Mehmed Pasha becomes the new Ottoman Grand Vizier in Constantinople.
August 18 – England and Spain sign the Treaty of London, ending their 20-year war.
September 1 – Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s religious text, is installed at Hamandir Sahib in Amritsar, India.
October 4 – Emperor of Ethiopia Za Dengel is killed in battle with the forces of Za Sellase, who restores his cousin Yaqob to the throne.
November 1 – First performance of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello.
December 29 – A magnitude 8.1 earthquake shakes the Taiwan Strait causing significant damage.