Headline: Governor Stein Announces $55 Million in Grants Have Been Distributed to Nearly 3,000 Western North Carolina Businesses
Governor Stein Announces $55 Million in Grants Have Been Distributed to Nearly 3,000 Western North Carolina Businesses lsaito
Raleigh, NC
Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the Dogwood Health Trust, the Duke Endowment, and the State of North Carolina have distributed $55 million to 2,812 small businesses through the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative. These grants are supporting western North Carolina businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene and bolstering regional economic recovery. More than 7,300 businesses applied.
“These grants will go a long way in helping western North Carolina’s beloved small business owners keep their doors open after Helene,” said Governor Josh Stein. “But the volume of unfunded applications makes it crystal clear – more help is desperately needed. I’m ready to work with the legislature to deliver support for small businesses that power our mountain economy.”
“The Dogwood Health Trust is proud of this partnership’s work to support small business owners in western North Carolina,” said Dogwood President and CEO Dr. Susan Mims. “The Dogwood Health Trust created the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative last fall as part of our larger Helene relief efforts. These businesses are vital to the health of our communities, and we must continue to support them.”
The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative, initiated by the Dogwood Health Trust and then expanded by the State of North Carolina and the Duke Endowment, awarded grants of up to $50,000 to small business with an annual revenue of up to $2.5 million. Earlier this week, Governor Stein announced the new $55 million Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, which directs up to $1 million in grants to local governments to rebuild public infrastructure like sewers and sidewalks, which small businesses rely upon to attract business. Governor Stein’s second Hurricane Helene relief budget proposal will include increased support for small businesses in western North Carolina.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Five defendants who were convicted of a conspiracy scheme to defraud the retirement accounts of elderly and retired Florida school district employees have been sentenced after three defendants pleaded guilty and two defendants were found guilty by a federal jury. Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentences of the following defendants:
Lambert Aguebor, 33, of Miramar, Florida, has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison after previously being found guilty by a federal jury of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
Floyd Bostic, 42, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison after previously being found guilty by a federal jury of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, three counts of Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, 16 counts of Money Laundering, and Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business.
Grace Aguebor, 36, of Miramar, Florida, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
Ronald Vargas, 38, of Osteen, Florida, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
Sarina Levy, 34, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, has been sentenced to 6 months and 1 day in federal prison, to be followed by 6 months of home detention, after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly,” said Acting United States Attorney Spaven. “With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and aggressively prosecuting those who seek to steal the hard-earned savings of our senior citizens.”
Evidence presented at trial and court records show that Vargas worked as a Retirement Specialist at a Tallahassee-based company that administers a retirement 401(k) savings program whose participants are comprised largely of Florida school district employees or prior employees. Between January 2022, and March 2022, Vargas conspired with siblings Grace Aguebor and Lambert Aguebor to steal the retirement funds from the accounts of elderly retired school district employees—some of whom were deceased. Through his position, Vargas had access to the retired employees’ personally identifiable information (“PII”) and oversaw the processing of withdrawal requests from the 401(k) accounts. Vargas provided Grace and Lambert with PII of elderly 401(k) participants whose retirement accounts appeared to be dormant so the PII could be used to prepare fraudulent withdrawal request forms for these accounts.
The fraudulent withdrawal request forms were then faxed to the company where Vargas worked so he could process them. Grace and Bostic personally faxed some of the fraudulent withdrawal request forms; in other cases, the fraudulent forms were given to other conspirators, including Levy, to fax. Once Vargas processed the forms, the stolen retirement funds were transferred to bank accounts controlled by Grace, Bostic, and other conspirators. In total, the conspirators withdrew and attempted to withdraw retirement funds from 25 different 401(k) accounts, resulting in a net total of $1.1 million actually being stolen.
Evidence presented to the jury showed that Bostic also served as a money launderer who received over half of the stolen funds into his personal bank accounts and those of his Tallahassee-based music promotion businesses. Bostic then transferred some of the stolen funds between his various bank accounts in an effort to conceal or disguise its nature, location, source, or ownership. Evidence also showed that Bostic used some of the stolen funds to purchase a residence and pay for his personal and business expenses. Bostic also withdrew over $400,000 worth of stolen funds in cash at various banks and ATMs in Tallahassee and central Florida. The jury also saw evidence which showed that Bostic communicated and coordinated with Lambert Aguebor about the transfer of the stolen funds and to arrange meetings in central Florida.
In addition to their prison sentences, the defendants were ordered to pay restitution totaling approximately $1,000,000 to the victims. The defendants’ imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
“Motivated by sheer greed, these individuals conspired to take advantage of Florida’s public servants, and their punishments mark an important step in holding these fraudsters accountable,” said FBI Jacksonville Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Carley. “Fraud and corruption pose a fundamental threat to our national security and our way of life, and the FBI and our partners will continue to identify and bring to justice anyone who takes advantage of hardworking Americans, and especially educators who dedicate their lives to supporting our children.”
“As law enforcement professionals, it is our duty to protect our community, especially our most vulnerable members, from those who seek to exploit them for personal gain,” said Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department. “This case is a clear example of how greed can drive individuals to harm others, and we remain committed to working alongside our federal partners to ensure those who commit such crimes are held accountable.”
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at www.ovc.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
DALLAS, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CSW Industrials, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSWI) (the “Company” or “CSW”) today announced the Company has completed the previously announced acquisition of Aspen Manufacturing for approximately $313.5 million in cash, utilizing cash on hand and borrowings under the existing $500 million revolving credit facility while maintaining sufficient liquidity and a strong balance sheet. The purchase price is approximately 11x Aspen Manufacturing’s 2024 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $28.5 million.
This strategic acquisition expands CSW Industrial’s HVAC/R product offering with the incorporation of Aspen Manufacturing’s market leading evaporator coils and air handlers. By leveraging CSW’s deep experience in the HVAC/R market, strong distribution channels, successful go-to-market strategy, and demonstrated track record of industrial manufacturing, this acquisition is expected to drive market and customer share of wallet gains, while providing an enhanced service offering and maximizing channels to market.
Aspen Manufacturing’s current product suite includes a vast range of high-quality residential and light commercial evaporator coils, blowers, and air handling units for single-family, multi-family, and manufactured homes. Based in Humble, TX, all of Aspen’s products are designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States.
Joseph B. Armes, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of CSW Industrials, commented, “We are pleased to have consummated the Aspen Manufacturing acquisition and to welcome approximately 350 new colleagues to the CSW Industrials family. By adding Aspen Manufacturing, CSW expects to further drive above-market growth through the expansion of our highly profitable and resilient HVAC/R product portfolio thereby enhancing long-term value for all of CSW’s shareholders.”
For additional information about CSW Industrials’ acquisition of Aspen Manufacturing, please visit the previously released transaction documents, including the March 18, 2025 press release and investor presentation, which are both available on the Company’s website at https://cswindustrials.gcs-web.com.
Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “could,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “predicts” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation, earnings forecasts, effective tax rate, statements relating to our business strategy and statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies and anticipated developments concerning our industry, business, operations, and financial performance and condition.
The forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on our current expectations, projections, estimates, and assumptions. These statements are only predictions, not guarantees. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from what is forecast in such forward-looking statements, and include, without limitation, the risk factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This press release contains estimated results of Aspen Manufacturing for the calendar year 2024 (the “estimated results”). The estimated results are forward-looking statements based on Aspen Manufacturing’s management’s preliminary, unaudited results as of the date hereof, and Aspen Manufacturing’s actual results may be materially different from the estimated results. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other factors. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the estimated results. Our independent registered public accounting firm has not audited, reviewed or performed any procedures with respect to the estimated results and does not express any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.
All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as may be required by law.
About CSW Industrials CSW Industrials is a diversified industrial growth company with industry-leading operations in three segments: Contractor Solutions, Specialized Reliability Solutions, and Engineered Building Solutions. The Company provides niche, value-added products with two essential commonalities: performance and reliability. The primary end markets we serve with our well-known brands include: HVAC/R, plumbing, electrical, general industrial, architecturally-specified building products, energy, mining, and rail transportation. For more information, please visit www.cswindustrials.com.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON — During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, questioned Trump Administration nominees on upholding the law, protecting public lands from large scale sales, and ensuring Tribal nations are consulted during the permitting process. The nominees considered by the Committee today include Mr. Tristan Abbey for Energy Department Administrator of the Energy Information Agency, Ms. Leslie Beyer for Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Lands and Mineral Management, Mr. Theodore J. Garrish for Energy Department Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, and Dr. Andrea Travnicek for Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Water and Science.
During his opening remarks, Heinrich sought commitments from the nominees to follow the law as enacted by Congress and support and defend — rather than demolish — the offices and programs entrusted to their oversight, especially amid unprecedented attacks on career federal workers.
VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) Demands Answers from Pending Trump Administration Nominees on Protecting Public Lands, Upholding the Law, and Ensuring Tribal Nations Are Consulted in Permitting Reform, April 30, 2025.
Heinrich began his line of questioning by asking Leslie Beyer, nominee for Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Lands and Mineral Management, about her support of divesting from public lands, “As Assistant Secretary you will oversee management of more than 245 million acres of public land. This land belongs to all Americans— including every single one of my constituents. Americans highly value their ability to access these lands for hunting, fishing, and other recreational uses. Do you support the large-scale divestment of our public lands?”
Ms. Beyer avoided directly answering whether or not she supports public lands divestment, “Sir, only Congress has the ability to dispose of any public lands. But I believe that our public lands have multiple use mandates, and they can be used for energy production, recreation, any number of other uses, for the benefit of all Americans.”
Heinrich turned to Dr. Andrea Travnicek to clarify the Trump Administration’s intentions with recent actions decreasing the timeline of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews, which will inevitably harm meaningful consultations with Tribal nations, “Dr. Travnicek, you’ve been on staff for several months now and I appreciate many of our conversations, but [your role] gives you specific insights in the decisions that have already been made in the Department. The new guidance for NEPA projects that the Secretary announced for energy projects does not make any mention of Tribal consultation. However, it requires all reviews to be done within 14-28 days. I have personally never seen meaningful Tribal consultation completed in that time frame. My question is: Is the Administration proposing to eliminate Tribal consultation for these projects?”
Dr. Travnicek responded, “Thank you Senator Heinrich and I appreciate the conversations that we have had already. So, we know that there’s been a lot of conversations for a long tome related to trying to streamline the permitting processes, right? I think we’ve all been frustrated by that. We’ve seen some of these discussions here within this Committee as well. So, we are really just trying to figure out how we can move forward while still meeting the different requirements as well. We know that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was mentioned in there, and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Also, we know that we will have to engage with Tribes. So, at the same time, how do we get permits out the door, get the infrastructure in place, develop the resources we need? So, it’s going to be trying to work on all the above, working with ESA, NHPA, and also engaging with the Tribes.”
Heinrich pushed back, “As someone who strongly supported permitting reform, and a majority of members on this Committee did— I think we largely support getting to yes or no faster. I really want to urge you to make sure that the Tribal consultation process is not a ‘check the box’ exercise, and that it is meaningful.”
Heinrich returned to questioning Beyer to address arbitrary stop work orders on permitted projects and the job losses it is creating, “Let me quote back something that you said a few minutes ago: ‘If our companies can’t get permits, we will be behind.’ I agree with that sentiment. Two weeks ago, Secretary Burgum sent a letter to the Acting Director of OEM, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, ordering an unprecedented stop work order to Equinor’s empire wind project off the coast of New York. That’s a fully permitted project. It has undergone rigorous review. It’s already under construction. And it would power half a million homes. Cancelling this project is a job killer for the skilled trades. And my concern is that it will squash any faith that the private sector has in the federal permitting process. If we do this to one project of one energy type, you can do it to another of a different energy type. So, if fully permitted projects are subjected to arbitrary stop work orders, how can we expect the private sector to commit capital to permit those large, expensive projects?”
Beyer replied, “Senator, thank you for that question. As you know, I have not been confirmed so I did not participate in that decision making-”
Heinrich redirected her answer, “Speak to the larger issue. Not to the specificity of that issue.”
Beyer answered, “Right. We need all forms of energy that we can get our hands on. There is a premium to secure, reliable, and affordable energy. I’m from Texas; we have a lot of wind energy there. I appreciate that it’s additive. But there is a premium to secure, affordable, and reliable energy that is not weather dependent in my view. And I will adhere to the guidance of the Secretary if I am confirmed.”
Heinrich clarified her answer, “In your view, should permitting be transparent and predictable?”
Beyer responded, “Yes sir.”
Heinrich wrapped his questions, “Thank you.”
. Pillen Attends White House ‘Invest in America’ Event
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement celebrating the strength of Nebraska’s business community after attending President Donald Trump’s ‘Invest in America’ event at the White House.
“Bragging about Nebraska is the best part of my job, and I’m proud to highlight our hard-working agriculture, construction and manufacturing industries, as well as our dynamic small business owners and growing tech ecosystem. People around the country, and around the world, know that Nebraska is a special place for businesses to invest, build and grow because of our people.
President Trump’s vision for fixing trade and championing an ‘Invest in America’ policy is critical to our economy and our national security.”
During this afternoon’s event President Trump welcomed top executives from multiple companies pledging significant new U.S.-based investments.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Stillwell, Ks., man was sentenced in federal court on April 29, 2025, for bankruptcy fraud related to his healthcare company.
William L. Said, 62, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 21 months in prison without parole. The court also ordered Said to pay $85,000 in restitution, which was paid at the time of sentencing.
On Oct. 1, 2024, Said plead guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud. Said admitted that he fraudulently transferred and concealed assets in a bankruptcy case.
Said was the owner, president, and officer in charge of Restorative Brain Clinic, Inc., which provided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation services. Restorative Brain Clinic, Inc. filed a voluntary bankruptcy case in July 2021. A debtor-in-possession account was established as part of the bankruptcy. Restorative Brain Clinic’s operating funds were stored in the debtor-in-possession account and Said was the only authorized person who had access to the account.
In Sept. 2021, the United States Trustee for Region 13, which includes the Western District of Missouri, filed a motion to convert Restorative Brain Clinic’s bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 liquidation case based on gross mismanagement of the estate and a continuing loss or diminution of assets of the estate. On Oct. 14, 2021, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis R. Dow presided over an evidentiary hearing on the conversion motion. At the conclusion of evidence, Judge Dow granted the motion to convert the case to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and found there was mismanagement of assets, self-dealing, and inadequate corporate controls, among other issues. Judge Dow ordered the United States Trustee to appoint a Chapter 7 trustee to identify assets to pursue for unsecured creditors. The hearing concluded at 4:12 p.m.
Minutes after the conversion hearing, where Said was displaced as the fiduciary of the bankruptcy estate and the Bankruptcy Court ordered that Said no longer had control over Restorative Brain Clinic’s assets, Said initiated several wire transfers of money from the debtor-in-possession account. At 4:16 p.m., Said wired $5,000 to his own bank account from the debtor-in-possession account. At 4:25 p.m., Said initiated a wire transfer for $12,400 from the debtor-in-possession account to the bank account of a shareholder in Restorative Brain Clinic. Said also wired $16,300 to a medical staffing company and attempted to wire $5,760 to Restorative Brain Clinic’s landlord. The debtor-in-possession account was frozen before the funds to pay the landlord left the account.
Said also admitted to selling leased medical equipment. Restorative Brain Clinic leased medical equipment manufactured by AB Sciex, LLC in 2018. Said was also the owner of Cox Scientific, which sold medical equipment. In 2019, Cox Scientific agreed to sell AB Sciex medical equipment to a California company. Said sent an electronic invoice to the owner of the California company. The invoice contained a description of the equipment Said was selling along with an itemized list of the equipment’s components, which included a unique serial number for each component. The list of components Said sent to the California company were the same components leased by Restorative Brain Clinic. Said admitted that he scratched out and altered serial numbers on the AB Sciex equipment to conceal he was selling equipment through Cox Scientific that was being rented by Restorative Brain Clinic, Said. Then, Said used the altered serial numbers on the invoice to the California company.
The California company paid $85,000 for the AB Sciex equipment that Said sold to them and which Said did not own.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley Cooper and Adam Miller. It was investigated by the FBI and the United States Trustee for Region 13.
NEW YORK, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, today announced the acquisition of CFS International Inc. (CFS) into Willis, a WTW business. This targeted acquisition represents continued investment in the growing trade credit business, while concurrently expanding geographic coverage and presence on the U.S. West Coast.
Founded in 1990, CFS has specialized in delivering trade credit insurance solutions to global firms. Recognizing the growing need for effective credit risk management in an increasingly complex and competitive environment, CFS built its reputation on helping clients compete globally through tailored trade credit and trade finance programs.
Scott Burnett, Head of Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions for WTW’s Risk & Broking business, said, “The acquisition of CFS is our second in as many months. The first, Global Commercial Credit, expanded our trade credit footprint in the Midwest, while CFS enhances our coverage and service for clients and prospects on the West Coast. CFS aligns with our focus on specialized industries, expanding our resources and services nationwide. This deal strengthens our position as a leading trade credit provider and demonstrates WTW’s strategic investments to optimize our global portfolio and pursue high-growth broking businesses.”
Ralph Clumeck, President of CFS, commented, “After more than thirty incredible years in the trade credit insurance industry, I am proud to announce that our firm has been acquired by WTW, one of the world’s leading advisory, broking and solutions companies. This world-class organization is a perfect strategic fit for our clients as the transition will provide them with broader access to the markets, a wider range of products and solutions, and the strength of one of the industry’s most respected names. As I step away from the business, I do so with confidence and gratitude, knowing that our clients are in excellent hands. Bridget Clumeck is excited to lead this next chapter, and she will continue to provide the exceptional service and support our clients have come to expect.”
Todd Lynady, Regional Head of Willis Financial Solutions added, “Bringing CFS into WTW further demonstrates our commitment to building the leading trade credit platform in North America. We are excited to welcome their clients and colleagues, and we look forward to continuing to invest in regional talent and resources to better serve our clients throughout the U.S. and Canada.”
About WTW
At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce, and maximize performance.
Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at wtwco.com.
Media Contact
Douglas Menelly; Douglas.Menelly@wtwco.com | +1 (516) 972-0380
Headline: Release wave brings hundreds of updates to Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform
The next wave of innovation for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform starts today. This morning, at the Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event, we are officially launching the 2025 release wave 1, a six-month rollout of new and enhanced capabilities that will be rolled out between April 2025 and September 2025.
This release wave comes at an exciting moment, in a year marked by rapid advancements in AI. Microsoft Copilot and agents are at the heart of this release wave, promising to transform how we all work and to help elevate organizations into AI-first companies. New Copilot and agent capabilities showcased at today’s event will help you to improve business processes, enhance customer engagement, and empower your workforce to automate tasks.
Watch the Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event to hear directly from product teams as they share demos and real customer stories that showcase the newest features in action. Companies like Eneco, Intralox, Apollo Travel, Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply, Pro Refrigeration Incorporated, and State Farm are leveraging these features to drive transformation.
Explore the Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event
Create your own autonomous agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio
In this release wave, Copilot and agents take center stage with even more functionalities to help organizations transform their operations and deliver exceptional customer experiences. At the event, we are showcasing custom agents that can autonomously conduct a range of processes across sales, service, finance and supply chain functions.
Explore agents pre-built for you in Microsoft Copilot Studio
Read the blog
Microsoft Copilot Studio serves as the foundation for agents, making it easy to customize and build your own customer and internal facing agents using your data and workflows. In addition, upcoming pre-built agents for Dynamics 365 are ready to customize and launch, accelerating your time to value. Stay tuned for blog updates and deep dives about Copilot and agent capabilities during this release wave.
Transform customer experiences with AI agents
AI is transforming every aspect of customer experience, from rethinking user experience and business processes to the way apps are built and maintained. The 2025 release wave 1 features Dynamics 365 customer experience apps designed to help you deliver connected and personalized experiences for customers.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales brings the power of AI to help sellers meet their targets while boosting seller productivity. Copilot and agents enhance performance and simplify tasks to help grow your pipeline, sharpen strategies, and accelerate deals. A re-imagined user experience ensures sellers never miss the best move to close a deal. And automated research, ongoing follow-ups, and prioritized tasks provide continuous guidance—allowing you to focus on the right actions to drive success and grow your business.
Dynamics 365 Sales introduces new Copilot and agent capabilities to research and prioritize inbound leads, initiate sales conversations, and develop personalized sales engagements. These features help your teams to simplify tasks to help grow your pipeline, sharpen strategies, and accelerate deals.
During the launch event, we showcase how Intralox, an industry leader in complex conveyance solutions, is leveraging the sales qualification agent in Dynamics 365 Sales to help qualify leads, build stronger relationships with customers, and close deals faster.
New functionalities for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center include Microsoft Teams phone integration, which helps to reduce telephony complexity, proactive conversational journeys, and three agents that work in concert to create an autonomous contact center. These agents automate intent determination, manage the case lifecycle from creation to closure, and convert cases and related conversations into knowledge articles to support your contact center operations.
Learn how Apollo Travel, a subsidiary of European travel leader Dertour Group, is using Dynamics 365, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Copilot, and agents to automate a range of processes—from generating hotel descriptions to developing chatbots for case summarization. In addition, using Dynamics 365 Contact Center with Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, Apollo Travel can now leverage custom-built agents to proactively reach out to customers with personalized recommendations, adding value to the customer’s travels and opportunities for upselling additional services. This experience is enabled through new proactive engagement activities such as SMS or phone calls, helping to create personalized journeys in real-time.
Explore the release plans for:
Optimize workflows with autonomous ERP
Today’s launch also showcases innovation across ERP solutions that is leading organizations into a new era of autonomous operations—where humans and agents work together to drive increased efficiency across business processes.
To support autonomous financial operations, Dynamics 365 Finance introduces the Account Reconciliation Agent, along with a new financial task workspace to help teams manage and track recurring processes like period close with greater structure and visibility.
In Dynamics 365 Project Operations, new capabilities will simplify time, expense, and approvals; accelerate scenario planning with what-if analysis; and improve planning accuracy with customizable task details. Dynamics 365 Human Resources will add AI-powered candidate assessment to help hiring teams identify top applicants faster by comparing resumes to job requirements, and a new onboarding agent that guides new hires through personalized onboarding journeys directly within Microsoft Teams.
In Dynamics 365 Commerce and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, we’re delivering new tools to enhance pricing strategy and procurement efficiency. Unified pricing management enables organizations to centralize omnichannel pricing across segmentation, channel-specific rules, and price trees. At the launch event, we showcase how Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply is using the new Supplier Communications Agent in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management to reduce manual vendor follow-ups and improve purchase order accuracy.
We also feature how Pro Refrigeration Incorporated is using the Sales Order Agent in Dynamics 365 Business Central to process customer orders faster and improve responsiveness. Business Central also adds the integration with Dynamics 365 Field Service, new Copilot summarization capabilities and Scope 3 emissions tracking to help organizations meet sustainability goals.
Updates include Copilot-first experiences in Dynamics 365 Finance to streamline complex tax and compliance management and automate account and bank reconciliations using intelligent agents. Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management introduces integrated AI, analytics, and automation features to improve operational efficiency, enhanced supplier communication, demand planning accuracy, and intelligent manufacturing features that align production data to real-world processes.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central also adds the integration of Field Service with service management, as well as the ability to enhance purchase order line matching with Copilot.
Explore the release plans for:
Redefine development: AI-first innovation in Microsoft Power Platform
Microsoft Power Platform continues to empower everyone to build their own AI-powered solutions through low-code or no-code tools with new features. Microsoft Power Apps is changing how software solutions are built with plan designer, enabling makers to build an end-to-end solution plan from simply describing their business problems, generating business requirements, data tables, and suggested solution architecture.
Microsoft Copilot Studio brings together the best AI innovations into a single low-code agent platform so that you can build amazing things. New capabilities like Agent Flows and Deep Reasoning expand the frontier of agents you can build, while new text and generative AI tools give you the ability to direct agents in specialized ways. The general availability of triggers and generative orchestration enables new categories of autonomous agents to transform business processes. We also are introducing more tools to optimize your agents including new diagnostics, testing, and performance analytics.
Explore the release plans for:
Watch the virtual Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event
Watch the Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event to discover the latest in Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform. You’ll get access to in-depth demos of new autonomous agents and other capabilities designed to optimize your workflows and streamline operations.
Don’t forget to review the detailed release plans for Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform. Stay updated on the latest features and upcoming enhancements, and create your personalized release plan using the release planner to ensure you’re equipped with the knowledge needed to maximize on this new release wave.
We look forward to seeing how capabilities in this release wave enhance your business processes and bring new levels of efficiency and customer success.
A new way for Londoners to hear about policing in their area is being rolled out, starting in south-west London.
Local officers in the south-west of the capital will lead the way, using ‘Met Engage’ – a subscription email service – to provide their communities with crime prevention advice, updates on ongoing incidents and investigations, and information about successful outcomes and operations.
Neighbourhood policing is at the forefront of the Met’s work to deliver on their ambition for more trust, less crime and high standards.
Communities have told the Met they want to, be more connected to their local policing teams and the Met is now asking people in – Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth to sign up for Met Engage here.
People who sign up will be asked to complete a survey, where they’ll be able to select where they live and choose the type of alerts they’d like to be informed about. This means the messages they receive will be specifically tailored to them.
Superintendent Josh Laughton, the Met’s local policing lead in south-west London, said:
“The Met is placing communities at the heart of everything it does by putting more officers into neighbourhood policing to focus on the issues that matter most to Londoners.
“Launching Met Engage is an exciting new way for our neighbourhood officers to keep people updated on what’s going on in their area.
“It will become the place for residents to get reliable information directly from officers who are out in their neighbourhood, whilst also giving the opportunity for people to raise their concerns and have their say. I’d encourage anyone who lives in the pilot area to sign up to Met Engage, so we can work together to keep London safe.”
Met Engage will be a key part of the Met’s community-first approach, by providing a platform to raise concerns, while also being kept updated on the issues that matter most to them in their local area.
The system is provided by VISAV Limited, a company that has produced similar products for other police forces across the UK.
While Met Engage will provide opportunities for the public to highlight issues, it is not a crime reporting tool and will not replace all the existing methods of reporting crime including the Met website, dialling 101 or calling 999 in an emergency.
AIKEN, S.C., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Security Federal Corporation (the “Company”) (OTCBB: SFDL), the holding company for Security Federal Bank (the “Bank”), today announced earnings and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
The Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $2.6 million, or $0.81 per common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.54 per common share, for the first quarter of 2024. The increase in net income available to common shareholders was primarily due to increases in net interest income and non-interest income, as well as a decrease in the provision for credit losses, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense, provision for income taxes and the payment of preferred stock dividends during the first quarter of 2025.
First Quarter Financial Highlights
Net interest income increased $1.2 million, or 12.5%, to $11.2 million as interest income increased and interest expense decreased.
Total interest income increased $514,000, or 2.7%, to $19.2 million while total interest expense decreased $733,000, or 8.4%, to $8.0 million during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter in 2024. The increase in interest income was the result of a $1.6 million increase in interest income from loans, which was partially offset by a decrease in interest income from investments and other interest-earning assets. Interest expense decreased during the first quarter of 2025 due to lower market interest rates and the payoff of outstanding borrowings with the Federal Reserve, which resulted in a lower balance of average interest-bearing liabilities compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Non-interest income increased $122,000, or 5.3%, to $2.4 million during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter in the prior year primarily due to a $60,000 increase in rental income and $62,000 gain on sale of land held for sale. During the first quarter of 2025, we purchased a multi-tenant property resulting in an increase to rental income. The property is intended to be the future site of a full-service branch.
Non-interest expense increased $205,000, or 2.1%, to $9.8 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same quarter in the prior year primarily due to a $256,000 increase in salaries and expenses for employee benefits, which was partially offset by a decrease in expenses for advertising and depreciation and maintenance of equipment.
Quarter Ended
(Dollars in Thousands, except for Earnings per Share)
3/31/2025
3/31/2024
Total interest income
$
19,233
$
18,719
Total interest expense
8,004
8,737
Net interest income
11,229
9,982
Provision for credit losses
–
335
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
11,229
9,647
Non-interest income
2,443
2,321
Non-interest expense
9,840
9,635
Income before income taxes
3,832
2,333
Provision for income taxes
826
580
Net income
3,006
1,753
Preferred stock dividends
415
–
Net income available to common shareholders
$
2,591
$
1,753
Earnings per common share (basic)
$
0.81
$
0.54
Credit Quality
The Bank recorded no provision for credit losses during the first quarter of 2025 compared to $300,000 in provision for credit losses on loans and $35,000 in provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments, resulting in a total provision for credit losses of $335,000 for the first quarter of 2024.
Non-performing assets were $7.3 million, or 0.46% of total assets, at March 31, 2025, compared to $7.6 million, or 0.47% of total assets, at December 31, 2024.
The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of gross loans was 1.99% at March 31, 2025, compared to 1.98% at December 31, 2024.
At Period End (dollars in thousands):
3/31/2025
12/31/2024
3/31/2024
Non-performing assets
$
7,264
$
7,636
$
6,635
Non-performing assets to total assets
0.46%
0.47%
0.44%
Allowance for credit losses
$
14,005
$
13,894
$
12,842
Allowance for credit losses to gross loans
1.99%
1.98%
1.95%
Balance Sheet Highlights and Capital Management
Total assets were $1.6 billion at March 31, 2025, a year-over-year increase of $65.8 million, or 4.3%, and a $27.7 million, or 1.7% decrease from the prior quarter.
Cash and cash equivalents decreased $45.2 million during the first quarter of 2025 to $133.1 million at March 31, 2025 primarily because of the repayment of borrowings with the Federal Reserve.
Total loans receivable, net was $689.1 million at March 31, 2025, an increase of $2.0 million, or 0.3%, since December 31, 2024.
Investment securities increased $13.7 million, or 2.1%, during the quarter to $674.6 million at March 31, 2025, purchases of investment securities exceeded maturities and principal paydowns.
Deposits increased $21.5 million, or 1.6%, during the first quarter to $1.3 billion at March 31, 2025.
Borrowings decreased $53.6 million, or 57.6%, during the quarter to $39.4 million at March 31, 2025, primarily due to the repayment of borrowings with the Federal Reserve Bank.
Common equity book value per share increased to $32.57 at March 31, 2025, from $31.21 at December 31, 2024.
Dollars in thousands (except per share amounts)
3/31/2025
12/31/2024
3/31/2024
Total assets
$
1,584,027
$
1,611,773
$
1,518,214
Cash and cash equivalents
133,080
178,277
92,775
Total loans receivable, net
689,111
687,149
646,007
Investment securities
674,569
660,823
691,554
Deposits
1,345,548
1,324,033
1,205,879
Borrowings
39,391
92,964
125,383
Total shareholders’ equity
186,738
182,389
174,569
Common shareholders’ equity
103,789
99,440
91,620
Common equity book value per share
$
32.57
$
31.21
$
28.41
Total risk based capital to risk weighted assets (1)
20.16%
19.96%
19.27%
CET1 capital to risk weighted assets (1)
18.90%
18.71%
18.01%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio (1)
10.58%
9.88%
9.91%
(1) – Ratio is calculated using Bank only information and not consolidated information
Security Federal has 19 full-service branches located in Aiken, Ballentine, Clearwater, Columbia, Graniteville, Langley, Lexington, North Augusta, Ridge Spring, Wagener and West Columbia, South Carolina and Augusta and Evans, Georgia. A full range of financial services, including trust and investments, are provided by the Bank and insurance services are provided by the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary, Security Federal Insurance, Inc.
Forward-looking statements:
Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which the Company operates, projections of future performance, perceived opportunities in the market, potential future credit experience, and statements regarding the Company’s mission and vision. These forward-looking statements are based upon current management expectations and may, therefore, involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those suggested, expressed, or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of a wide variety or range of factors including, but not limited to: potential adverse impacts to economic conditions in our local market area or other aspects of the Company’s business, operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels, labor shortages and the effects of inflation, a potential recession or slowed economic growth; economic conditions in the Company’s primary market area; demand for residential, commercial business and commercial real estate, consumer, and other types of loans; success of new products; competitive conditions between banks and non-bank financial service providers; changes in the Community Development Capital Initiative (CDCI) Program; changes in management’s business strategies, including expectations regarding key growth initiatives and strategic priorities; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect the Company’s business, including the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; the ability to attract and retain deposits; the availability of resources to address changes in laws, rules, or regulations or to respond to regulatory actions; adverse changes in the securities markets; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods; technology factors affecting operations, including disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on the third-party vendors who perform critical processing functions for us; pricing of products and services; environmental, social and governance goals and targets; the effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, and other external events on our business; and other risks detailed in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. These factors should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake any responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statement.
SINGAPORE, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the cryptocurrency market experiences increased volatility, BexBack, a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform, is offering traders unparalleled opportunities to maximize their profits. With Bitcoin surging to new highs, reaching $95,000, BexBack is at the forefront, helping both new and experienced traders capitalize on the market’s fluctuations. The platform provides up to 100x leverage, no KYC, and exclusive bonuses, redefining the way crypto trading is done.
Why Choose BexBack?
BexBack is designed to offer more than just a simple trading platform. Its innovative features empower traders to take control of their investments with enhanced flexibility, safety, and profitability. Key advantages of the platform include:
No KYC Requirement: Users can start trading immediately without undergoing complicated identity verification processes, ensuring maximum privacy.
100x Leverage: BexBack provides up to 100x leverage on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and more, allowing traders to open larger positions with smaller capital and maximize profit potential in volatile market conditions.
Exclusive Bonuses:
$100 Trading Bonus: New users who deposit at least 0.01 BTC or 1000 USDT and complete their first trade will receive a $100 bonus, helping them get started with trading and offset potential losses.
100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds with a 100% deposit bonus, which can be used as margin for increased trading power. While this bonus is non-withdrawable, it can significantly amplify profits by allowing traders to open larger positions.
Zero Deposit Fees: There are no deposit fees on the BexBack platform, giving traders more freedom to manage their investments without worrying about additional costs.
How Does 100x Leverage Work?
100x leverage allows traders to open positions much larger than their initial investment, enabling them to profit from even small price movements in the market. For example, if the price of Bitcoin rises by $5,000, a trader using 100x leverage can earn up to 5 BTC from a 1 BTC investment, resulting in a 500% return. However, traders should be cautious, as higher leverage also increases the risk of liquidation.
Global Access and 24/7 Support
BexBack is accessible to users across the globe, including in the United States, Canada, Europe, and many other regions. The platform is available via both web and mobile applications, offering users a feature-rich, seamless trading experience wherever they are. Additionally, BexBack offers 24/7 customer support to assist traders with any questions or issues they may encounter.
The Future of Crypto Trading
BexBack continues to innovate, offering traders the tools they need to succeed in the ever-changing world of cryptocurrency. The platform’s commitment to providing high-leverage trading, a user-friendly interface, and robust customer support has quickly earned it a reputation as a trusted platform in the global crypto community.
Join BexBack Today
If you’re ready to take your crypto trading to the next level, now is the time to act. With 100x leverage, a 100% deposit bonus, and the opportunity to earn a $100 trading bonus, BexBack is the perfect platform for those seeking to capitalize on the current crypto market trends.
BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, and XRP futures contracts. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack.The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
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BOSTON, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Park View OZ REIT (Stock Symbol: PVOZ), the only qualified opportunity fund with publicly traded stock, announced its annual earnings for the 2024 fiscal year.
Park View OZ REIT’s earnings report for 2024 shows strong positive momentum. Revenue grew by 1500% in 2024 as compared to 2023. Moreover, the loss per share declined by approximately 85% in 2024 to $0.47 per share from $3.06 a share in 2023. The improved results were largely attributable to having more assets in service during the 2024 fiscal year.
“We remain highly encouraged by the sustained momentum across our business, supported by strong leasing activity and robust demand trends,” says Michael Kelley, CEO of Park View OZ REIT. “Our properties continue to demonstrate that they are highly appealing to renters, which is reflected in our rental income. This performance underscores the quality of our assets, the resilience of our markets, and the effectiveness of our strategic approach to asset management and tenant engagement.”
The fund remains focused on opportunities that deliver both profitability and meaningful community development. The properties acquired are not only delivering financial returns but also enhancing the overall value and vitality of the area in which they’re located.
About Park View OZ REIT Park View OZ REIT (PVOZ) is the only Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) to offer freely tradable shares of stock. We give all investors access to powerful opportunity zone tax incentives and provide the flexibility needed to create a myriad of tax-efficient wealth management strategies. The proceeds of this offering will be invested in opportunity zone properties throughout the U.S. Our unique structure is highly advantageous for investors with capital gains, facilitating compound tax-efficient growth. For more information about the company, visit www.parkviewozreit.com.
The information discussed in this press release includes “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein concerning, among other things, changes to exchange rates and their impact on the Company, planned capital expenditures, future cash flows and borrowings, pursuit of potential acquisition opportunities, our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. Refer to our risk factors set forth in our reports filed on Edgar. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement made here.
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) highlighted his efforts to fight for Nebraska priorities during the recent Senate state work period. Ricketts led a bipartisan delegation trip to the Philippines and Taiwan focused on deterring Communist China. Trade issues were also discussed. He then held a series of public events in Nebraska. Those included town halls in Scottsbluff, Valentine, and Kearney. He made the following comments while on a conference call with Nebraska media:
“Before Easter, I visited the Philippines and Taiwan,”said Ricketts. “I met with the leaders in both those countries. We discussed ways to push back on Communist China’s aggression. Communist China is our greatest external threat.”
Ricketts also underscored the potential for expanded trade opportunities for Nebraska agriculture producers.
“There is a lot of interest in signing new trade deals,” said Ricketts. “For example, Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao expressed an interest in buying more of our soybeans instead of buying them from Brazil. Others expressed interest in buying more of our natural gas. They know Communist China is a bad trading partner. They want to work with us. There’s a lot of opportunity. We need to start cutting these trade deals.”
In addition, Ricketts recapped the many public events he held across Nebraska. This included three town halls, roundtable conversations in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, a cattle branding in Sioux County, and events in Lincoln with Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
“I shared how I’m working with President Trump to secure the southern border, protect the 2017 tax cuts, and support Nebraska agriculture,”continued Ricketts.“I gave an update on how I’m fighting to address our $36 trillion national debt – which is our greatest domestic threat. I also heard feedback and answered questions directly from Nebraskans. These conversations help me stay connected to the priorities and values of my constituents.”
[embedded content]
Watch the video here
TRANSCRIPT:
Senator Ricketts: “Over the last two weeks, I focused on some of the priorities that we face now as a nation.
“For example, specifically deterring China and tackling our debt.
“Before Easter, I visited the Philippines and Taiwan.
“I met with the leaders in both those countries.
“We discussed ways to push back on Communist China’s aggression.
“Communist China is our greatest external threat.
“Xi Jinping has said that he wants to be the world’s dominating power by 2049.
“Communist China’s dramatic military buildup and increasingly provocative actions are designed to force everyone else to bend to its will.
“Just this week, it took over an island in the West Philippine Sea.
“In the past, they have stolen intellectual property and continue to do so.
“They manipulate or disregard rules to gain advantages that risk our security.
“That threatens our security and threatens the security of many of our allies and partners.
“We also discussed expanding trade opportunities for American producers.
“There is a lot of interest in signing new trade deals.
“For example, Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao expressed an interest in buying more of our soybeans instead of buying them from Brazil.
“Others expressed interest in buying more of our natural gas.
“They know Communist China is a bad trading partner. They want to work with us.
“There’s a lot of opportunity. We need to start cutting these trade deals.
“Last week, I held public events in the Western, Central, and Eastern parts of our state.
“For example, I hosted three town halls in Scottsbluff, Valentine, and Kearney.
“At these town halls, I shared updates on my work in Washington.
“I shared how I’m working with President Trump to secure the southern border, protect the 2017 tax cuts, and support Nebraska agriculture.
“I gave an update on how I’m fighting to address our $36 trillion national debt – which is our greatest domestic threat.
“I also heard feedback and answered questions directly from Nebraskans.
“These conversations help me stay connected to the priorities and values of my constituents.
“In addition to the townhalls, I spoke to the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
“I gave a legislative update and answered questions about taxes, tariffs, and other topics.
“In Lincoln, I partnered with Nebraska Farm Bureau to call for making the Trump tax cuts permanent.
“If the tax cuts expire, Americans would see a $4 trillion tax increase.
“That would hurt Nebraska families, farmers, and small businesses.
“The child tax credit will be cut by $1,000.
“The standard deduction will be cut in half.
“And the deduction for the Death Tax would also be cut in half, putting our Nebraska family farms and ranches at risk.
“If these tax cuts were to expire, a family of four making $80,000 would pay $1,700 more in taxes.
“I want to see Nebraskans’ taxes cut, not raised.
“I also held several important roundtable meetings.
“In Grand Island, I heard directly from local Chambers of Commerce.
“They shared their strategies for economic development and revitalization.
“For example, I heard about the Kearney sportsplex, which is attracting events from all over the region.
“In fact, they told me that they are entirely booked, having only two open weeks from now until 2029.
“That’s huge for central Nebraska.
“In Scottsbluff, I sat down with agriculture leaders.
“They shared with me the challenges facing rural communities.
“Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers feed the world.
“I’m committed to passing a comprehensive farm bill that delivers the tools they need to succeed.
“While in western Nebraska, I took part in a cattle branding in Sioux County.
“Branding is a great part of western life.
“It’s tough, honest work that brings families and communities together.
“The brand identifies cattle and protects against theft.
“The calves are also vaccinated to protect their health.
“Nebraska is the Beef State because of the grit demonstrated every day by our ranchers.
“I’ll always advocate for Nebraska agriculture.
“In addition, my team and I are hosting Mobile Office Hours in every single county.
“We did that in all 93 counties last year – twice.
“We help Nebraskans navigate the federal bureaucracy.
“And I’ll continue fighting every day to make sure Nebraskans’ voices are heard in Washington.
ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) leadership, and members of the Georgia General Assembly signed legislation strengthening the state’s workforce pipeline at the TCSG Leadership Summit. Building on recent measures that connect Georgians with career opportunities, each of the bills signed by the Governor further opened pathways for learners of all ages to receive the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
“As the No. 1 state for business, Georgia has seen record-breaking jobs and investment come to communities in every part of the state,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “With the bills I signed today, we’re taking further steps to prepare Georgians to walk through those open doors. I’m proud to sign these bills with so many of the men and women whose work every day is building the workforce of tomorrow.”
Governor Kemp signed three pieces of legislation included below:
HB 217, sponsored by Representatives Soo Hong and Chuck Martin and carried in the Senate by Senator Bo Hatchett, is TCSG agency legislation that reforms the Dual Achievement Program and extends the pilot an additional five years. It also includes Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) agency legislation on granting the agency the ability to use DOR’s data to verify income for Promise Scholarship applicants and a fix on the enrollment count reference date for the school board elections nepotism clause. The Governor is also grateful for the leadership of Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier, and GSFC Presidents Lynne Riley and Chris Green on this legislation.
SB 180, sponsored by Senator Clint Dixon and carried in the House by Representative Matt Dubnik, enables apprenticeship sponsors in addition to employer sponsors to participate in the High Demand Apprenticeship Program and receive funding for the successful completion of apprenticeships.
SB 193, sponsored by Senator Matt Brass and carried in the House by Representative Houston Gaines, establishes an adult workforce high school diploma program within TCSG to award diplomas to individuals between the ages of 21 and 40.
Governor Kemp extends his appreciation to all of those whose diligent work and efforts led to him being able to sign these bills today.
BURLINGTON, Mass., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning software company, has acquired myTIPreport, a platform that modernizes medical education feedback and competency tracking. myTIPreport will be integrated into Ascend’s MedHub brand, enabling medical education institutions to more efficiently and conveniently track the performance of both medical trainees and programs. With this enhanced offering, medical training institutions and programs can ensure the next generation of clinicians have the training and clinical competencies needed to deliver best-in-class care for the growing patient population.
By incorporating the myTIPreport technology into the MedHub portfolio of products and services, alongside curriculum and assessment technology, Ascend provides medical education institutions with comprehensive solutions to track trainee, program, and institutional performance and effectiveness. myTIPreport offers a suite of features enabling:
Real-time feedback for streamlined evaluation processes benefitting educators and trainees
Increased engagement via mobile notifications and gamification, building a positive culture around feedback across institutions
Comprehensive evaluation and tracking via class summary reports and tools for rotation assessments
Streamlined milestone reporting
Data visualization and increased understanding via reporting and analytics dashboards
“myTIPreport is a vital tool for numerous medical education programs and specialty boards worldwide, many of which are also clients of MedHub,” said Mike DeSimone, VP of Product, Medicine and Workforce Solutions at Ascend Learning. “Through these offerings, we’re enhancing our capabilities to help institutions efficiently manage learner, program, and institutional processes and data.”
“Since its inception in 2014, myTipReport has grown organically, driven by users who find genuine value in its ability to solve critical feedback challenges in medical training. Allowing MedHub to carry myTIPreport into the future is a natural progression for us, as they bring a deep understanding of the medical education landscape, robust technical capabilities, and the reach to expand our impact across multiple specialties,” said Taylor Lafrinere, Creator of myTIPreport. “Together, both companies aim to enhance competency-based training and foster a culture that values the essential process of giving and receiving feedback, ultimately contributing to the development of better healthcare professionals.”
About Ascend Learning Ascend Learning is a leading healthcare and learning technology company. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend Learning focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. Learn more at www.ascendlearning.com.
About MedHub MedHub is a leading provider of healthcare education management solutions for graduate and undergraduate medical education and advanced practice healthcare institutions. MedHub consolidates disparate data into one platform, providing an integrated approach to healthcare education management. Its focus is boosting overall program efficiencies, including daily programmatic and workflow processes, so that curriculum, coursework, scheduling, assessments, site management, task distribution, and other program facets can live in a single platform.
Cleveland, OH, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BuyerTwin today announced the launch of its groundbreaking AI-powered platform that creates interactive “twins” of ideal buyer personas, providing businesses with direct, unfiltered feedback on their marketing, sales, and product strategies. The platform allows teams to test messaging, content, website usability, and more, receiving instant, honest insights as if talking directly to their target audience.
BuyerTwin leverages advanced AI and data from its proprietary TwinForce network—which recruits real buyers—to build highly accurate virtual personas. Users can interact with these AI twins in real-time to understand customer perspectives deeply. Key capabilities include:
Website Feedback: Instantly see how site copy, design, and navigation feel from the buyer’s perspective.
Content Insight: Understand which topics, formats, and messaging angles genuinely capture buyer attention and address their needs.
Channel Behavior Analysis: Discover where ideal buyers actually spend their time and how they prefer to engage.
Positioning & Messaging Tests: Refine value propositions and eliminate confusing jargon to ensure clarity.
Sales Approach Validation: Get direct feedback on sales messaging and identify what buyers need to feel confident.
Competitor Analysis: Understand how buyers perceive competitor offerings and positioning.
Keyword Discovery: Uncover the authentic language and search terms buyers use.
This innovative platform addresses a critical challenge: while most companies strive for buyer-centricity, they often operate from an internal “inside-out” perspective. This leads to an “illusion of understanding,” where decisions are based on assumptions, internal biases, and legacy thinking rather than the buyer’s true reality. Traditional market research methods can be slow, costly, or fail to capture the dynamic nature of buyer motivations.
“Every business thinks they know their buyer, but the reality is, internal biases and legacy thinking create significant blind spots. Breaking free from that inside-out perspective is incredibly difficult,” said Andy Halko, CEO of BuyerTwin. “BuyerTwin acts as the mechanism to finally achieve genuine buyer-centricity. It provides that crucial, unfiltered outside-in view, removing the guesswork and allowing companies to align their strategies with what truly motivates and resonates with their customers. It’s about moving from assumption to understanding, which is the foundation of sustainable growth.”
BuyerTwin is designed for business leaders, marketing professionals, sales teams, and content creators committed to building a truly buyer-centric organization. By providing always-on, dynamic buyer intelligence, the platform empowers companies to make smarter, data-backed decisions, reduce wasted effort on misaligned initiatives, and accelerate growth by deeply understanding and serving their customers.
About BuyerTwin
BuyerTwin provides an innovative AI-powered platform that enables businesses to operationalize buyer-centricity. By creating interactive virtual buyer personas (“twins”) based on real-world data, the platform offers instant, unfiltered feedback on marketing, sales, and product strategies, simulating direct conversations with ideal customers. BuyerTwin helps companies break free from internal biases and assumptions, fostering deep customer understanding to refine strategies, eliminate guesswork, and drive sustainable growth. Learn more at https://buyertwin.com/.
Press inquiries
BuyerTwin https://buyertwin.com/ Tony Zayas tony@buyertwin.com 310-270-6149 5000 EUCLID AVE SUITE 102
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
1.KEY INFORMATION
(a)Full name of discloser:
Rathbones Group Plc
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
GlobalData Plc
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
30/04/2025
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
No
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
0.01p Ord
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
14,813,136
1.83%
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
14,813,136
1.83%
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
0.01p Ordinary Shares
Purchase
1,680
147.8p
0.01p Ordinary Shares
Sale
3,320
171.61p
0.01p Ordinary Shares
Sale
2,600
170.03p
0.01p Ordinary Shares
Sale
1,680
146.1p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
None
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
None
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
No
Date of disclosure:
01/05/2025
Contact name:
Chinwe Enyi – Compliance Department
Telephone number:
0151 243 7053
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
AUSTIN, Texas, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS accelerator, recently participated in a podcast on Supply Chain Now, the voice of supply chain. AutoScheduler CEO Keith Moore discussed how disjointed tech wreaks havoc on distribution with hosts Scott Luton and Jake Barr, who used AutoScheduler when he worked at P&G.
“Distribution centers and warehouses have no shortage of challenges, including labor shortages, increased demand, and disparate automation and technology that doesn’t integrate well,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “For enterprises serious about efficiency and resource maximization, AutoScheduler delivers dynamic orchestration tailored to warehouse complexities, ensuring every asset and process is optimized to support production, boost throughput, and drive profitability.”
On the podcast “The Logistics Problem No One Talks About: How Disjointed Tech is Wreaking Havoc on Distribution,” AutoScheduler highlighted:
The real cost of scattered data and disconnected workflows.
Many companies build buffers to account for the disjointed information, resulting in excess inventory, additional labor, and underutilized automation. Adding more space and crew also adds unnecessary costs.
AutoScheduler improves the quality of work by eliminating the endless firefighting cycle of ensuring the right products arrive at the right place at the right time.
“These buffers, costs, and challenges that exist because of the disjointed nature of systems wouldn’t exist in a perfect world because everything would just get where it needs to go,” adds Moore. “You would have optimized service at optimized cost. For example, a production schedule changes by the minute, so companies need to know what raw materials need to be brought to what line at what time. This must be perfectly orchestrated to get everything there so production continues running.”
Why traditional WMS and ERP solutions aren’t enough anymore.
The traditional WMS is not designed to optimize a facility’s overall constrained flows. An ERP doesn’t plan in size buckets for less than a day, but most changes in the warehouse occur in minutes, not days.
To meet customer delivery requirements, businesses need to know where inventory is, what inventory is going on which truck, how many pick processes are needed to get the inventory, and the capacity limits that the dock or production line can handle at a particular time. This can only be done with advanced mathematics like AI that can think further than the next 5, 10, or 20 minutes into the future.
“The snowball effect that as all these changes, dilemmas, and delays add up, so we need to take a smarter, better, forward-looking approach with available technology, rather than using the very limiting traditional platforms that are out there,” adds Moore.
How visibility and orchestration eliminate operational silos.
Step one is to have a single pane of glass showing all the ingested data from the siloed units so you can pull together the threads that hold the data together and show how they will impact each other. AutoScheduler allows companies to have all the data in one place by integrating the data across platforms, giving businesses a single view of information, which enhances decision-making.
Step two is predictivity—being able to examine the data, examine known boundaries and conditions inside your facility, and start to predict what will happen.
Step three is “prescriptivity”—or orchestration—where you make decisions to optimize future outcomes.
“With orchestration, we take all the data, do scenario modeling to figure out where the world’s going to break and where my bottlenecks are going to be, and then start to make tradeoffs to optimize outcomes – and at the end of the day, that optimized outcome is some combination of maximized service, minimized cost,” adds Moore.
AI’s role in integrating, predicting, and optimizing distribution workflows.
It creates calm out of the chaos because you have taken the prescriptive steps to create a cadence of activities where the people running the operations know what to execute next without stopping and waiting.
AI is evaluating all the different potential options for running a facility, not just for the next five minutes but for the next day or two, based on all known information.
What an intelligent, dynamic logistics platform looks like in action.
It harmonizes the data across all systems.
It continuously and dynamically runs and understands exactly how each site needs to operate.
It’s configurable so that when we model a site inside our platform, it is tuned to that site to understand how it operates and runs.
Identifies where the bottlenecks are – telling the who, what, where, and when.
“With AutoScheduler.AI, people inside of facilities can spend their valuable time on fighting actual fires and not on the management of overall orchestration of work,” says Moore.
About AutoScheduler.AI
AutoScheduler.AI empowers you to take full control of your warehouse with a cloud-based solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing WMS/LMS/YMS or any other solution. We automate critical tasks like labor scheduling, dock management, and task sequencing, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. You’ve already invested in the software to run your warehouse—what we do is provide the orchestration layer that ties it all together to make real-time data driven decisions. With AutoScheduler.AI, you get smart orchestration for a smarter, more agile warehouse. For more information, visit: http://www.autoscheduler.ai.
Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent accusers of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has died at age 41. Her family said she died by suicide at her farm in Australia.
Giuffre had long accused Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. She brought a civil sexual assault case against him, which Andrew ultimately settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. He has denied all claims against him. But the accusations and his friendship with Epstein ultimately led to Andrew’s partial withdrawal from public life.
Giuffre’s story is a poignant reminder of the great consequences to anyone who speaks out about their abuse, especially someone who speaks out against the powerful.
Giuffre was not just a victim of Epstein’s crimes, she was also the focus of brutal tabloid media coverage in the UK and around the world. That’s not to say there weren’t moments of great reporting. But those were often overshadowed by sensationalising and stereotyping that regularly accompany reporting on those who come forward with allegations of sexual abuse.
A search for Virginia Giuffre on news database Factiva yields over 25,000 results. It’s hard to imagine carrying the weight of so much attention, positive or negative.
News coverage was a mix of support and scrutiny, starting almost 15 years ago and then intensifying in the last six years, when Epstein was arrested. He died while in jail, awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.
The first wave of news coverage on Giuffre dates back to early 2011. The tabloids and broadsheets often referred to Giuffre (known as Virginia Roberts then) as a “masseuse” or more explicit terms, while also reporting that she was a minor when she was first allegedly sexually exploited and abused by Epstein and only 17 when she first met Prince Andrew. Coverage largely included one-word quotes from Giuffre, but nothing that humanised her to readers.
The Times and other publications reported on Andrew’s friendly connection to Epstein – though there was no direct accusation against him at that time.
There was a breezy tone to coverage that focused on catchy wordplay headlines between the prince and the “pervert” Epstein. Epstein was already a registered sex offender in 2008, but there was little reflection on his horrendous actions that led him to that title.
More glaringly, there was little to no concern for Giuffre or other survivors. They were salacious fodder. There was little empathy for what they experienced and the risks they took speaking publicly. The main focus was on the apparent embarrassment of Andrew’s friendship with Epstein, which eventually led to the prince stepping down from his trade envoy role.
The important men and their roles were the news angles. Giuffre was only a supporting character.
The second wave of news coverage on Giuffre happened in 2019, when Epstein was arrested for accusations of child sex trafficking. She was named in court documents and noted as a victim of Epstein in media, but was again overshadowed by Epstein’s connections to other powerful men such as Donald Trump or Bill Clinton (both deny knowing of Epstein’s crimes).
None of this is to imply that those linked to Epstein shouldn’t be named and investigated. But, as my research shows, when powerful men are accused, the coverage largely revolves around those powerful men and the monetary or career consequences to them. The survivors and the abuse and trauma they experience are a footnote.
Research shows that how journalists evaluate the newsworthiness of a story often values power structures, men’s perspectives and celebrity status. Therefore, when someone like Giuffre does come forward, her story and voice come secondary to the more powerful accused.
Changing headlines
A shift in the tone of coverage came in 2020, when Giuffre and others were the focus of a Netflix docuseries on Epstein’s crimes. Watching the detailed accounts from so many humanised Giuffre and others, while showing the tremendous weight put on survivors when they come forward. Their stories elicited empathetic responses from viewers.
News coverage has made some progress in the last decade due to the ##MeToo movement and survivors speaking out. However, this has since been tempered by a backlash to #MeToo – and problematic attitudes persist within news and entertainment industries. Threats of legal action from those accused can leave journalists hesitant to report on sexual abuse.
In February 2022, Andrew settled a civil sexual assault case with Giuffre for an undisclosed amount. The coverage was more sensitive to Giuffre than a decade prior – the mislabelling and scandalising were mostly left out – but still lacked survivors’ perspectives. Andrew was stripped of his royal and military titles at the time but appears to remain in standing with the royal family unofficially.
There has also been compassion in the coverage of Giuffre’s death, particularly in interviews with her family and friends. There are calls for accountability from Andrew, as well as the usual, terrible tabloid coverage exploiting the situation.
One limitation of reporting on sexual abuse cases is that often survivors don’t want to speak publicly to news media because of the tremendous risks and consequences they face. Survivors face backlash when telling friends and family in their private circles because they are blamed, or are not believed. These consequences are intensified when survivors go public.
Several organisations have provided guidelines to news organisations on how to report more fairly and accurately on sexual abuse.
Many people who experience sexual abuse never come forward. Giuffre did, and repeatedly spoke to media for over a decade. While some news organisations learned how to be more sensitive, the focus has never been enough on her story, her life and her determination.
If any of the content in this piece affects you or someone you know, resources are available.
In the UK: Samaritans are available by phone, for free, at 116 123, or by email at jo@samaritans.org. Further resources can also be found here.
If you are in crisis in the US, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
Lindsey Blumell receives funding from City St George’s, University of London
Ukraine has finally signed its minerals agreement with the US. The deal states that Washington will eventually receive a share of the profits from the sale of Ukrainian natural resources, providing an economic incentive to continue investing in Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.
The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessant, says the deal demonstrates the Donald Trump administration’s commitment to peace in Ukraine.
On the surface, there is nothing surprising about the deal. The idea that natural resource extraction can play a role in building peace has been around for a decade or two, and has been promoted by the World Bank, the UN and the mining industry itself.
But what is surprising is how the conversation about mining and peace has changed. It used to be about increasing prosperity in war-torn countries, rather than the “who gets what” that has been associated with this deal.
The idea that mining can contribute to peace emerged somewhat paradoxically from the demonstrated capacity of natural resources to drive conflict in places like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sierra Leone. The theory is that mining can also lead to development – and therefore peace – if it is managed properly.
If local communities are consulted, revenues are shared fairly, harms are minimised, and if there is transparency and accountability, a mine can play a role in lifting countries out of the economic, environmental and social mess war brings.
In reality, things are more complicated. The idea that mining can bring about positive change suffers from the same top-down and externally led approach to building peace as the wider peacebuilding model in which it sits. It doesn’t necessarily take local realities and aspirations into account.
But over the past two decades, natural resources in conflict-affected areas have attracted an enormous amount of attention from UN agencies. The United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep), for example, established an initiative in 2008 aimed at understanding the risks and opportunities presented by high-value natural resources.
It developed policies and practices related to mining intended to be part of the UN’s peace and security architecture. These included guidance for UN staff working in post-conflict countries that are rich in resources.
In Sierra Leone, Unep identified the inability of the Environmental Protection Agency to monitor environmental performance and force compliance as a significant risk to the sustainable development of the mining industry. The agency had become overwhelmed by the number of environmental impact assessments submitted for review as the sector expanded after the end of the civil war in 2002.
A dedicated project to build capacity in Sierra Leone was set up by the UN to remedy this. The project team report that the environmental impact assessment process itself provided an opportunity for dialogue and trust-building between those involved.
Around the same time, a raft of initiatives were was developed for the extractive sector itself to encourage responsible mining. These included the Kimberley Process, a UN-mandated certification scheme designed to eliminate the trade in conflict diamonds. Sierra Leone has been a member since it was launched in 2003.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an Oslo-based organisation of government, industry and civil society representatives was also established in 2003. Its aim is to promote the good governance of oil, gas and mineral extraction through the reporting of revenues and payments.
The concept of good governance has been expanded to include promoting the participation of women, as well as the disclosure of information relating to the environmental impact of a mine. Over 50 countries now implement the EITI Standard.
All these initiatives and processes can be criticised. But the point is that natural resources in conflict zones have, to a degree at least, been understood as sites for negotiation and dialogue for some time.
Lowering the bar
The natural resources beneath Ukraine have become sites for something else – a conflict-riven back-and-forth over their control. And it’s not just in Ukraine. The US is reportedly considering a minerals-for-security deal in the DRC, where Rwandan-backed rebels are currently seizing resource-rich territory in the east.
The bar appears to have dropped substantially where mining and peacebuilding is concerned. In the heyday of the liberal peacebuilding project, metal and mineral deposits in war-torn countries, like the copper beneath Afghanistan, promised a more positive future, albeit with caution. That optimism now seems misplaced.
In Afghanistan, this is because the country has fallen back under the control of the Taliban. Mines are quickly being developed to take advantage of the country’s mineral wealth. But the technical, financial and environmental checks associated with mining are reportedly being bypassed. There are concerns that any revenues won’t benefit the population in the way they should.
In Ukraine, it’s something different. The mineral deposits there are being used to prop up geopolitical ambitions that reflect the dangerous, transactional and increasingly extractive world we now seem to live in. Specifically, the Ukrainian mineral deposits are bringing an authoritarian, Trumpian version of peace to life.
It is a peace that comes through the geopolitical expression of power by the operation of mines, the acquisition of territory, the expulsion of citizens from certain places, and the top-down transformation of other people’s space.
This has already expressed itself in Trump’s vision for the US to take over the Gaza Strip, which prompted the UN’s secretary-general, António Guterres, to warn against ethnic cleansing.
I have written about the problem of natural resource-related peacebuilding before. Whether liberal or illiberal, this problem is the same: geological resources are non-renewable.
There is a profound paradox here. Whatever we want these resources to do for us, they can’t do it indefinitely. And we are heading for even more trouble if we think they can.
Expecting a voracious Trump administration or a beleagured Ukrainian one to think about this is expecting too much. But therein lies the tragedy of current peacebuilding endeavours.
They are fixated on the here-and-now, in the hope that the social, environmental, ecological and geological future will take care of itself. Unfortunately, it won’t.
Bridget Storrie does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Vatican’s College of Cardinals will soon gather in Rome to elect a new head of the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis.
As the church prepares for the papal conclave, the world is assessing Francis’s legacy and his stance on the role of women in the church, LGBTQ+ rights and the needs of migrants and refugees.
In many ways, it’s a remarkable document. At once rational and urgent, it calls on all of us — “every person living on this planet” — to think about what we are doing to the only planet we have.
Our common home, Francis wrote, “is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” And yet, we “have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will.”
Unlike the IPCC report, however, Francis didn’t pull his punches. “The Earth, our home,” he wrote, “is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.”
Francis didn’t hold back
A few months after the publication of Laudato Si’, the world gathered in Paris to draft a new climate treaty. It too is a remarkable document. However, if the authors of the Paris Agreement couldn’t mention the economic roots of the climate crisis – they couldn’t even use the term fossil fuels — the pope could and did.
Francis relentlessly called out our “models of growth which have proved incapable of ensuring respect for the environment,” our “irrational confidence in progress and human abilities” and our “blind confidence in technical solutions.”
He was critical of “current models of production and consumption” and our faith in “the invisible forces of the market,” as well as our “misguided anthropocentrism” and our “throwaway culture.”
Francis pointed a finger at obstructionism and denial. He worried about the rise of social media, which has led to disconnection from each other and from nature. And he was critical of “the idea of infinite or unlimited growth.”
Although terribly “attractive to economists, financiers, and experts in technology,” it’s a fantasy based on the lie “that there is an infinite supply of the Earth’s goods.” There isn’t, and the planet is “being squeezed dry beyond every limit.”
Using ironic quotation marks, he even criticized “green” rhetoric, so fashionable in eco-capitalist circles.
It wasn’t the first time Francis talked about a global economy that doesn’t work. A few years earlier, in 2012, he caused a minor fit in some circles with the publication of Evangelli Gaudium. Wealth moves up, not down, he argued, while the poor are excluded and grow in number.
The late American pundit Rush Limbaugh called it “pure Marxism.” Undeterred, Francis went further in Laudato Si’ when he linked the climate crisis to an economy premised on constant consumption.
Of course, Francis had stuck to his knitting in one important way: on at least four separate occasions in Laudato Si’, he singled out abortion — or, in his words, “eliminating children” — as part of the climate problem. He wrote:
“Thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.”
No, it doesn’t. Moreover, empowering women through access to birth control and abortion care is part of the solution to poverty in both the Global South and the Global North, something Francis cared deeply about, like his namesake St. Francis of Assisi.
In 2023, Francis published Laudate Deum, a short followup to Laudato Si’. At the same time as he urged the world to act, he condemned those who blame climate change on the poor for having so many children and who “attempt to resolve the problem by mutilating women in less developed countries.”
Still, Laudato Si’ invites all of us to connect the dots between growth, consumption, poverty and climate breakdown. One doesn’t need to be Catholic, or even religious, to read Pope Francis’s encyclical on climate change for what it is: a powerful and deeply moral reminder that the climate is not something separate from us.
To quote Francis, it’s a “common good” that belongs to all of us.
Donald Wright does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Bank of Canada is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of its scholarship awards for students with disabilities, Indigenous students, LGBTQ2S+ students, francophones and students who identify as a woman or as a member of a racialized group. We know that the inclusion of diverse identities and ideas fosters innovative thinking and better policy outcomes for Canadians. It’s core to our success as a leading central bank. That is why our scholarships are designed to encourage Canadians from diverse backgrounds to further their education and consider employment in fields related to the work of the Bank.
The 2024-25 award recipients are as follows:
Abigail Meloche, pursuing a Bachelor of Economics at Carleton University
Allison Tsypin, pursuing a Bachelor of Mathematics at McGill University
Andy Duan, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Princeton University
April Quill, pursuing a Bachelor of Science with major in Statistics at University of Manitoba
Wendy Liao, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science and business at Western University
Elliot Thordarson, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at I.H. Asper School of Business (University of Manitoba)
Katherine Brennan, completed a bachelor’s degree in economics and statistics at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics
Katherine Karapetrovic, pursuing a Bachelor of International Economics at University of British Columbia
Laila Virani, pursing a bachelor’s degree in business at University of British Columbia
Linda Nidale-Sadeck, pursuing a Bachelor of Economics at Carleton University
Manahil Malik, completed a bachelor’s degree in economics at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics
Manuel Fernandez, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce, Management, Economics and Finance at University of Guelph
Melody Johnson, pursuing a college diploma in Protection, Security and Investigation at Conestoga College
Rand Al-Nauimi, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with option in Business Technology Management at Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa)
Rosana Gao, pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Science at University of Toronto
Simeon Muepu, pursuing a Bachelor of Finance at Université de Montreal
Xavier Desroches Borelly, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science at Western University
Yeo Eun Chi, completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration with specialization in finance at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics
The 2024–25 recipients of the Bank’s Scholarship Award for Post-Secondary Students receive Can$8,000. The award is intended to assist the following students with tuition at an accredited academic institution:
students with disabilities
Indigenous students
LGBTQ2S+ students
francophones
students who identify as a woman
students who identify as a member of a racialized group
Successful candidates may be offered a work opportunity at the Bank, with mentorship by a Bank employee.
Recipients of the Master’s Scholarship Award for Women in Economics and Finance must have completed or be in the final two years of an undergraduate degree at a Canadian university and self-identify as a woman. In addition to the award of Can$10,000, successful candidates may be offered a work opportunity at the Bank, with mentorship by a Bank employee.
For more information on all opportunities for students, please visit our webpage.
ACHESON, Alberta, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — North American Construction Group Ltd. (“NACG”) (TSX: NOA / NYSE: NOA) announced today that it has successfully closed its previously announced private placement offering (the “Offering”) of $225 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due May 1, 2030 (the “Notes”).
As previously stated, NACG will utilize the proceeds of the Offering to repay indebtedness under its existing Credit Agreement, and for general corporate purposes.
The Notes were offered for sale in Canada on a private placement basis pursuant to certain prospectus exemptions. The Notes have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“), or any state securities laws, and were offered and sold in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.
The Offering was underwritten by National Bank Financial Inc., including its U.S. affiliates, ATB Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., and Ventum Financial Corp.
About the Company
North American Construction Group Ltd. is a premier provider of heavy civil construction and mining services in Australia, Canada, and the U.S. For over 70 years, NACG has provided services to the mining, resource and infrastructure construction markets.
Forward-Looking Information
The information provided in this release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “should” or similar expressions and include guidance with respect to the Offering, including, but not limited to, the use of proceeds of the Offering. The material factors or assumptions used to develop the above forward-looking statements, and the risks and uncertainties to which such forward-looking statements are subject, include, but are not limited to, the expected use of proceeds of the Offering, interest rates and market conditions, heavy equipment demand, and credit risks and existing indebtedness. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements because of any number of factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond NACG’s control. Although NACG believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and NACG cautions you to not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. NACG undertakes no obligation, other than those required by applicable law, to update or revise such forward-looking statements. For more complete information about NACG, please read our disclosure documents filed with the SEC and the CSA. These free documents can be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or on the CSA website at www.sedarplus.ca and on our company website at www.nacg.ca.
For more information, contact:
Jason Veenstra, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer North American Construction Group Ltd. (780) 960.7171 ir@nacg.ca www.nacg.ca
CHICAGO, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GTreasury, the pioneer and global leader in Digital Treasury Solutions for the Office of the CFO, today announced that American Airlines has been named a Technology Excellence category finalist in Treasury & Risk’s 2025 Alexander Hamilton Awards. American Airlines uses GTreasury’s treasury and risk management platform to help achieve its treasury and financial goals.
Treasury & Risk’s 29th annual Alexander Hamilton Awards recognize companies taking big leaps forward in treasury, finance, and/or risk management through process innovation and technology implementation. The Technology Excellence Award category honors corporate treasury or finance departments for their implementation of innovative technology solutions that solve major problems, yield impressive results, and set precedents for best practices in treasury or finance.
“We’re proud to congratulate our customer American Airlines as one of just three finalists for the 2025 Alexander Hamilton Award for Technology Excellence,” said Jason Baldree, Chief Customer Officer, GTreasury. “American’s Collateral Management System, built from our configurable asset and transaction solution, is a first-of-its-kind solution that consolidates all treasury activities into one platform while addressing their specific need for detailed collateral management across their vast fleet. Their implementation has already increased accounting entry automation, freed up treasury staff hours, and established a new blueprint for asset-heavy businesses raising collateralized debt. It’s an especially great treasury technology success story, and we’re excited to see American’s team honored for its achievement.”
About GTreasury
GTreasury provides CFOs and Treasurers with The Clarity to Act on strategic financial decisions with the world’s most adaptable treasury platform, empowering them to face the challenges of today and tomorrow. Our industry leading solutions are purposefully designed to support every stage of treasury complexity, from Cash Visibility and Forecasting to Payments, Risk, Debt, and Investments. With GTreasury, financial leaders gain comprehensive connectivity across all banks and ERPs to build an orchestrated data environment, enabling rapid value realization with implementations up and running in weeks. Plus, our unmatched industry expertise ensures clients’ continued success through dedicated guidance and top-tier support. Trusted by over 1,000 customers across 160 countries, GTreasury provides treasury and finance teams with the ability to connect, compile, and manage mission-critical data to optimize cash flows and capital structures. To learn more, visit GTreasury.com.
GTreasury is headquartered in Chicago, with locations serving EMEA (Dublin and London) and APAC (Sydney, Singapore, and Manila).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) announced that his office will host two in-person passport fairs in Council Bluffs and Sioux City.
Iowans interested in attending must register beforehand by either emailing our office atIA04passports@mail.house.govor calling our office at 202-225-4426.
“I’m excited to announce that our office will hold two passport fairs in Council Bluffs and Sioux City. These events are a great opportunity for Iowans to have their questions answered by professionals and submit applications to get a new passport or renew an existing passport,” saidRep. Feenstra. “I encourage anyone who needs help with their passport to attend one of our passport fairs, and as always, I urge Iowans who need assistance with federal agencies to contact our office online at Feenstra.House.Gov or by phone at 202-225-4426.”
Constituents who wish to get a new passport or renew an existing passport must come with a completed application, government-issued ID, proof of citizenship, a State Department approved 2”x 2” printed passport photo, and method of payment (money order, credit card, or check; cash will not be accepted).
The passport fair in Council Bluffs will be held on Tuesday May 13th from 9 AM – 4 PM at the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce office. The address is 149 West Broadway Council Bluffs, IA 51503.
The passport fair in Sioux City will be held on Wednesday May 14th from 9 AM – 4 PM at the Sioux City Public Library in the Gleeson Room. The address is 529 Pierce Street Sioux City, IA 51101.
From May 5 to 9, school communities throughout the United States will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, a week dedicated to thanking educators for their hard work in inspiring and shaping the young minds of tomorrow. Samsung would like to take this opportunity to recognize all educators for their commitment to instilling students with the knowledge and skills necessary for future success by offering exclusive savings for educators and school administrators from May 1 to 31.
“Educators are the backbone of our future successors, expanding the horizons of millions of students and guiding them on the path to become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Sara Grofcsik, Head of Sales, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, access to impactful, user-friendly technology is essential in empowering both teachers and students. By offering best-in-class education solutions, we’re not just supporting educators, we’re investing in learning, innovation and opportunities for all.”
Big Thanks, Bigger Savings on Interactive Displays and Monitors
Teacher Appreciation Week deals include discounts up to $800 on select products on Samsung.com, including $300 off the Interactive Display (model name: WAD), Samsung’s first Google Enterprise Devices Licensing Agreement (EDLA)-certified classroom display. Powered by the Android 13 operating system, the Samsung WAD Interactive Display — available in 65-, 75- and 86-inch models — provides an intuitive and engaging experience that eliminates the learning curve of new instructional tools for teachers and students alike. To enhance student collaboration and classroom engagement, the WAD series offers a natural writing experience with infrared (IR) touch and supports up to 40 simultaneous touchpoints.
Additional savings include up to a $620 discount on the award-winning 27-inch ViewFinity S9 monitor — a 5K high-resolution screen that delivers incredible detail when developing engaging and vibrant classroom materials. Educators can also enjoy $300 off the immersive curved 34-inch ViewFinity S65VC and up to $360 off the 34-inch ViewFinity S65TC monitors that maximize screen real estate and improve productivity when it comes to crafting lesson plans, reviewing curriculum or managing the classroom.
Saluting Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Champions: 10 Schools, New Tech!
Samsung recently awarded 10 public middle and high schools with a Samsung Interactive Display (model name: WAF) and specialized training from the Samsung Education Solutions team as part of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM competition. Now in its 15th year, Solve for Tomorrow challenges students in grades 6–12 to use STEM to develop real-world solutions to issues impacting their local communities. This milestone year celebrates a legacy of student-driven innovation, with more than $2 million in prizes awarded in 2025 alone. At the core of Solve for Tomorrow is a mission to advance STEM literacy, proficiency and equity, ensuring that educators are equipped with transformative technology and students are empowered to think boldly and creatively. To date, Samsung has provided over $29 million in technology and classroom resources to nearly 4,300 public schools across the United States, helping to bridge the knowledge and resource gaps in STEM education.
“Receiving the Samsung WAF Interactive Display is a game-changer for our school. It will open up new possibilities for how we teach, connect and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Dr. Kirstin Milks, science teacher, Bloomington High School South in Bloomington, Indiana.
Bankruptcy filings rose 13.1 percent during the 12-month period ending March 31, 2025. That is a similar rate of acceleration as in the Dec. 31, 2024, quarterly report, but new bankruptcy cases remain significantly lower than after the 2007-08 Great Recession.
According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, total filings rose to 529,080 cases, compared with 467,774 cases reported during the year ending March 31, 2024.
Business filings increased 14.7 percent, from 20,316 in March 2024 to 23,309 in the newest report. Non-business filings rose 13.0 percent, from 447,458 in March 2024 to 505,771 in March 2025.
Bankruptcy totals for the previous 12 months are reported four times annually.
For more than a decade, total filings fell steadily, from a high of nearly 1.6 million in September 2010 to a low of 380,634 in June 2022. Total filings have increased each quarter since then, but they remain far lower than historical highs.
Business and Non-Business Filings, Years Ending March 31, 2021-2025
Year
Business
Non-Business
Total
2025
23,309
505,771
529,080
2024
20,316
447,458
467,774
2023
14,467
388,806
403,273
2022
13,160
382,213
395,373
2021
19,911
453,438
473,349
Total Bankruptcy Filings By Chapter, Years Ending March 31, 2021-2025
Year
Chapter
7
11
12
13
2025
320,571
8,844
259
199,130
2024
271,825
8,036
155
187,539
2023
231,200
5,371
148
166,449
2022
265,071
4,333
228
125,655
2021
345,224
7,823
487
119,502
Additional statistics released today include:
Business and non-business bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2025 (Table F-2, 12-month),
A comparison of 12-month data ending March 2024 and March 2025 (Table F),
Filings for the most recent three months, (Table F-2, 3-month); and filings by month (Table F-2, January, February, and March),
Bankruptcy filings by county (Report F-5A).
For more on bankruptcy and its chapters, view the following resources:
Marks Key Milestone Toward Becoming a Fully Reporting Public Company
ATLANTA, GA, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dinewise, Inc (OTC PINK-DWIS) (referred to as “Dinewise”, “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) A leading national technology conglomerate specializing in automotive, fintech, and entertainment solutions has announced the filing of its Form 10 Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Formerly known as Dinewise, the Company will now operate under its new name, Superstar Platforms, Inc., as it transitions into a fully reporting public entity.
“This is a pivotal milestone in our company’s journey,” said Michael Farr, CEO of Superstar Platforms, Inc. “From the moment I accepted the role of CEO, I have been laser-focused on providing transparency and meeting all necessary compliance requirements in our operations. This filing reflects our commitment to our stakeholders, and paves the way for greater liquidity.”
With this filing, Superstar Platforms, Inc. will now adhere to the SEC’s regulatory framework required of public companies. The company has also established a board of directors composed of a diverse group of seasoned entrepreneurs, trailblazers, and community leaders, each bringing valuable experience and insight to guide the company’s strategic initiatives.
Looking forward, the company anticipates finalizing its acquisition of TitlePal; a fintech company that has developed an innovative online solution for Title Pawn transactions, in the coming month. Superstar Platforms also plans to update its ticker symbol to better align with its new corporate identity.
About Superstar Platforms
Superstar Platforms, a leading national technology conglomerate, is the parent company that owns and controls a diversified portfolio of subsidiaries across various industries. Growth will primarily be driven through strategic acquisitions. Currently Superstar Platforms owns PawnTrust: a specialized marketplace designed exclusively for the approximately 11,000 pawn shops across the country. The online marketplace (www.pawntrust.com) digitizes the inventory using advanced image recognition algorithms to automate item descriptions of the participating pawn shops and markets them on a national scale. The marketplace contains cutting-edge technology that streamlines the borrowing, buying, and bartering transactions typically found at a pawn shop. The platform plans to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize pricing, reduce fraud, and create personalized search recommendations to enhance the customer’s experience. These enhancements let consumers experience a frictionless shopping experience on their mobile app that gives them instant access to this nationwide inventory of pawn shops. Not only does this provide a more efficient way for consumers to shop, eliminating the need to visit multiple stores, but it also amplifies the reach of individual pawn shop owners. By joining the PawnTrust- ‘Pawn Partners’ network, shop owners gain access to a broader audience, enhancing their visibility and sales opportunities. This innovative approach aligns customer convenience with business growth, reshaping how people interact with the pawn industry. Consumers that purchase items outside of their local area will have their items conveniently shipped to them. As the intermediary in each transaction, PawnTrust earns a fee on every item sold in the marketplace. Many of these local pawn shops lack an online presence or the capital to market their inventory on a national scale. By bridging this gap, PawnTrust opens up opportunities for incremental sales from a wider buying base, effectively transforming the pawn shop and micro-lending industries. This model not only supports local businesses but also extends their reach, driving growth and innovation within the market.
About TitlePal
TitlePal is an innovative, web-based lender that delivers fast, convenient cash loans to individuals with clear auto titles. By harnessing advanced algorithms and integrating with third-party systems, the platform ensures seamless verification of applicants’ identity, financial capacity, and vehicle condition. Approved funds are deposited directly into customers’ bank accounts, often within minutes, setting a new standard for efficiency in title lending
Forward-Looking Information
This release includes statements that may constitute ”forward-looking” statements, usually containing the words ”believe,” ”estimate,” ”project,” ”expect” or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.While the Company believes the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances such expectations will prove to be accurate. Security holders are cautioned such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Certain factors may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements made in this release.Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, acceptance of the Company’s current and future products and services in the marketplace, the ability of the Company to develop effective new products and receive regulatory approvals of such products, competitive factors, dependence upon third-party vendors,risks and uncertainties related to the current unknown duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemicand other risks detailed in the Company’s periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton
Supporters of charter schools rally outside the Supreme Court building on April 30, 2025, during oral arguments over a proposed Catholic charter school.AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
As demonstrators gathered outside, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation’s firstfaith-basedcharter school. St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual, K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.
Charters are typically public schools of choice, funded by taxpayer dollars. Unlike regular public schools, they are free from most state regulations on curriculum and teacher qualifications. Until now, however, charters, like other public schools, have been secular.
The litigation over St. Isidore reveals a built-in tension in the First Amendment religion clauses, under which “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” While the free exercise clause guarantees people the right to believe as they wish, controversy remains over what constitutes an “establishment” of religion.
Here, the specific question is the extent to which, if any, states can spend public funds to allow parents to enroll their children in a faith-based charter school. Supporters are appealing a 2024 ruling from the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, which held that a religious charter school violated state law, as well as the Oklahoma and federal constitutions.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court bench in the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
On the other hand, the attorney for St. Isidore’s challengers – led by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who blocked the school’s opening – said that a victory for St. Isidore “would result in the astounding rule that states not only may but must fund and create public religious schools, an astounding reversal from this court’s time-honored precedents.”
It remains to be seen whether a ruling in favor of St. Isidore’s would prove to be a win for religious freedom, as Stitt claimed, or a threat. Even so, as a professor focused on education law, I believe an order to continue expanding taxpayer aid to faith-based institutions looks more likely after Wednesday’s arguments, where five of the eight participating justices seemed sympathetic to St. Isidore.
First, do the teachings of “a privately owned and run school constitute state action simply because it contracts with the state to offer a free educational option for interested students?” In other words, is a charter school a state actor?
Second, the justices will weigh how the First Amendment religion clauses apply to a faith-based charter school. According to the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The question is whether Oklahoma violates the free exercise clause by excluding schools from the charter program “solely because the schools are religious.” If so, is the exclusion justified by concerns about the government “establishing” religion?
The dispute over St. Isidore comes at a time when the Supreme Court has been steadily expanding the limits of aid to faith-based schools. Starting in 2016, a trio of cases have held that states cannot deny institutions and believers generally available, taxpayer-funded aid based solely on their religions. These cases covered aid to enhance playground safety at a Missouri preschool, the right to participate in Montana’s educational tax credit program, and providing tuition assistance to Maine parents in districts lacking public secondary schools.
The other issue – the “state actor” question – essentially asks whether a state-funded school teaching Catholicism would constitute the government promoting a religion, in violation of the First Amendment’s prohibition against doing so.
The Supreme Court building on April 30, 2025, the day of oral arguments in St. Isidore’s case. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Drummond, Oklahoma’s attorney general, is also a Republican. However, he reversed his predecessor’s action allowing St. Isidore’s creation, arguing that the school “misuses the concept of religious liberty by employing it as a means to justify state-funded religion.”
In a 2024 brief to the Supreme Court, Drummond noted that Oklahoma’s “charter schools bear all of the hallmarks of a public school,” such as being entirely state-funded. During April arguments, his attorney emphasized that charters are “required to be public schools by the Congress of the United States and the legislatures of 47 states.”
If this argument prevails, it means St. Isidore is a government actor, and therefore it cannot promote any one religion over another.
The state action claim may be difficult for St. Isidore’s supporters to overcome. However, the ace in the hole is the Supreme Court’s recent trend of expanding the boundaries of government aid to faith-based schools and their students.
Justice Amy Barrett, a supporter of increased aid to faith-based schools, recused herself from participating in the oral arguments, without explanation. This leaves five justices who support expanding public aid for faith-based schools: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Roberts.
Oral arguments
During questioning, Roberts commented that St. Isidore’s creation seems like “much more comprehensive [state] involvement” with a religious organization, compared with the previous cases that expanded taxpayer aid to religious schools – leaving the door open to speculation over how he might vote. Nevertheless, he and the other four proponents of aid appeared open to St. Isidore’s argument that to exclude faith-based schools from charter programs is unconstitutional discrimination on the basis of religion.
“All the religious school is saying is don’t exclude us on account of our religion,” Kavanaugh commented. He added, “You can’t treat religious people and religious institutions and religious speech as second class in the United States.”
The remaining justices – Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson – appeared skeptical of expanding state aid to faith-based schools.
Illustrating the tensions within the First Amendment, Sotomayor remarked to the attorney representing St. Isidore, “what you’re saying is the free exercise clause trumps the essence of the establishment clause.”
Jackson said to the same attorney that St. Isidore is “not being denied a benefit that everyone else gets. It’s being denied a benefit that no one else gets, which is the ability to establish a religious public school.”
If Roberts agrees with these three justices, resulting in a 4-4 tie, the judgment of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma would remain undisturbed.
In the words of the baseball sage Yogi Berra, “it ain’t over ‘till it’s over.” The court is expected to rule near the end of its term, likely in late June.
Charles J. Russo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Heated tobacco products are often marketed by tobacco companies as less harmful than cigarettes, but they can pose health risks to users, according to a new review I co-authored in the journal Tobacco Control. Evidence on their health risks in people who smoke is limited, sometimes contradictory, and hard to make sense of.
Heated tobacco products are electronic devices that heat tobacco so users can inhale nicotine. Common brands include IQOS, available in the U.S., and Ploom and Glo, sold in other countries.
Heated tobacco products are different from e-cigarettes, though they may look similar. E-cigarettes, which are also called vapes, heat a liquid containing nicotine but not tobacco, whereas heated tobacco products heat actual tobacco leaf. Heated tobacco products are also different from traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco rather than heating it. These distinctions matter because it’s the burning of tobacco leaf – not the nicotine – that directly causes the disease and death associated with smoking.
There is limited long-term data about the health harms of heated tobacco products. My colleagues and I analyzed the available data, drawn from 40 clinical trials, that followed participants who used these products for a year or less. We looked at molecular changes in the blood, breath and urine, called biomarkers, to explore the potential risks of heated tobacco products.
The studies we reviewed reported changes in 143 different biomarkers, including measures linked to heart disease and cancer. But drawing clear conclusions from the data was hard because of issues with the available evidence. Of the 40 studies, 29 were funded by the tobacco industry. Furthermore, 31 of the 40 studies were conducted in confined settings, meaning that participants’ activities and their use of the assigned product were controlled. This may not reflect heated tobacco products’ real-world use.
If heated tobacco products are less harmful than cigarettes, we would expect to see largely beneficial effects in smokers who switched to them. However, the evidence we reviewed was inconclusive. Though most studies suggested that heated tobacco products might reduce risks of disease compared with smoking, other studies found no difference, or even the potential of increased risk. Compared with quitting smoking completely, use of heated tobacco products had more consistently harmful effects.
Tobacco companies claim that heated tobacco products pose less of a health risk than cigarettes.
Few studies have directly compared the effects of heated tobacco products with e-cigarettes. However, many independently funded, longer-term studies have examined e-cigarettes and have shown they can help people stop smoking and reduce health risks in people who switch completely from smoking to vaping.
Why it matters
Heated tobacco products may be coming to a town near you – or already be there. They are already widely used in Japan. IQOS was removed from the U.S. market in 2021 after a court ruled that the product had infringed on an existing patent. However, following a flurry of promotional activities, IQOS relaunched in March 2025 in Austin, Texas. Like most heated tobacco product brands, IQOS is owned by one of the largest cigarette companies in the world, Philip Morris International.
The company claims it wants to bring IQOS to the U.S. market to provide smoking adults a “better alternative” to cigarettes. But the science we’ve reviewed on whether heated tobacco products are truly healthier is inconclusive. Our review found inconsistencies in data on health effects, and other research suggests these products may not help smokers quit.
What still isn’t known
We do not know the long-term health effects of heated tobacco products, nor whether they can actually reduce the risk of disease and death in people who switch from smoking to using heated tobacco products. It is also unclear how heated tobacco products fit into the wider tobacco and nicotine market, especially in light of other available products and interventions already proved to help smokers quit.
While our findings do not rule out the possibility that these products have fewer health risks than cigarettes, they provide little support for such claims.
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce receives research funding for tobacco related research from the US NIH-FDA and Cancer Research UK. She has provided research consultancy for the Truth Initiative. Her involvement in this work was not funded and the views expressed here are those of the researchers and do not necessarily represent those of her funders. Other authors of this work are funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies as part of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use. This funder had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
