Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
HAMMOND- Markith Williams, age 39, of West Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after a jury found him guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Williams was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on January 13, 2022, a traffic stop of Williams’ vehicle in Jasper County, Indiana, led to the recovery of a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Williams’ criminal history revealed that he had 3 prior Illinois felony convictions which included being a felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and delivery of cocaine, any one of which prohibited him from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hammond Police Department, and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Grindlay and Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Headline: Gartner ReimagineHR Conference, Orlando: Day 3 Highlights
We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner ReimagineHR Conference, concluding today, in Orlando, Florida. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference. Here’s a summary of happenings from Day 1 and Day 2.
A federal grand jury in Minneapolis returned an 18-count indictment yesterday against 11 alleged members of the Lows — a violent Minneapolis street gang — for crimes including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy involving murder, attempted murder, gun trafficking, and drug trafficking.
“According to the indictment, these defendants are leaders, organizers, and members of the Lows street gang, a violent gang that allegedly committed multiple murders and attempted murders and trafficked in guns and drugs, including fentanyl,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Violent gangs that engage in bloody street wars and peddle deadly drugs endanger our communities. The Criminal Division, along with our local, state, and federal partners, is committed to holding violent criminals accountable, including by bringing racketeering charges.”
“The Lows are an exceptionally violent criminal street gang that has terrorized north Minneapolis for nearly 20 years. Through threats and violence — shootings and murders — the Lows have long sought to establish dominion over large swaths of our city,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. “My office will continue to respond to gang violence by treating it as the organized criminal activity it is. This indictment is an important step in dismantling a violent street gang that has devastated families and communities in north Minneapolis.”
“More than 100 people lose their lives to gun violence every day in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “There will never be a time where this will be considered acceptable. Our ATF agents put forth solid investigative work in this case utilizing crime gun intelligence that without a doubt aided the case announced today. ATF is happy to work alongside each of our partners in this investigation, and we are grateful to the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Luger, and the entire team for taking up this challenging RICO case.”
“The charges in this indictment reflect our unwavering commitment to bringing violent criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “For too long, the Lows have inflicted pain and spread fear in north Minneapolis. Together with our law enforcement partners, we are determined to remove this threat from our communities and help restore a sense of security to all who call this city home.”
“Today’s indictment provides a stark reminder that violence and drug trafficking go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division. “These were not victimless crimes. Communities were hurt. The DEA will continue its unwavering focus to remove threats of violence and hold accountable the individuals responsible for inflicting fear on the streets of Minneapolis.”
“The individuals named in this indictment allegedly engaged in homicide, and illegal drug and firearms trafficking, which created an atmosphere of terror and disrupted countless lives in this community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Chicago Field Office. “These charges represent a pivotal milestone in our commitment to restore safety and uphold justice in the communities we serve. Working with their federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, IRS-CI special agents will continue to follow every financial trail to dismantle the networks fueling these criminal enterprises. We stand united against the violence and fear that street gangs have inflicted upon our communities in Minneapolis and elsewhere.”
“The Lows, and criminal organizations like them, wreak havoc on our communities, threatening the safety of our communities on a daily basis through their many acts of violence, murder, and narcotics and firearms trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “HSI St. Paul will continue to foster a strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners to bring an end to the chaos these criminal organizations inflict on our local communities.”
“This multi-count indictment against ranking members of the Lows gang is an excellent example of multiple law enforcement agencies combining their expertise and resources to conduct investigations with the common goal of taking down violent leaders perpetuating street violence involving guns and narcotics,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division. “These RICO charges aim to remove these allegedly violent offenders from our community. U.S. Postal Inspectors are committed to continuing our work to dismantle drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from greedy drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives.”
As alleged in this indictment, the defendants were members of the Lows criminal street gang, which has been in existence in Minneapolis since approximately 2004. The Lows are primarily active in the northside of Minneapolis. They allegedly traffic in firearms and narcotics, including fentanyl, and use threats, intimidation, and violence to protect their territory, reputation, illicit proceeds, and power.
The indictment charges that the defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering — that is, unlawful acts of violence, gun trafficking, and narcotics trafficking — for the benefit of the Lows enterprise. These acts include seven alleged murders or attempted murders involving a total of ten victims.
The 11 defendants, all from Minneapolis, have been indicted for the following crimes:
Ashimiyu Alowonle II, 38, also known as Cash, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Timothy Callender III, 26, also known as Lil’ Tim, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Glenn Carter III, 23, also known as G5 and Bossman Carter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Carter is charged with committing a murder on May 14, 2022, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Victor Collins, 22, also known as Vic, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; and possessing a firearm a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Collins is charged with committing a murder and an attempted murder on Feb. 27 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Damari Douglas, 20, also known as Mari, is charged with RICO conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a machine gun. Douglas is charged with committing a murder on Dec. 3, 2023, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Deontae Jackson, 35, also known as Leef, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Shannon Jackson, 32, also known as Shakedown, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson is charged with committing a murder on April 27, 2023, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Robert Knights Jr., 19, also known as CMB Rob and Lil’ Rob, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Albert Lucas V, 20, also known as Abk Sav, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Lucas is charged with committing multiple murders and an attempted murder on Feb. 27 and May 6, 2021, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Kaprice Richards, 23, also known as Kap, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death. Richards is charged with committing an attempted murder on May 29, 2022, and a murder on April 27, 2023, as racketeering acts in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Cartrelle Smith, 27, also known as Poo Moe, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after the consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI, HSI, USPIS, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Trial Attorney Jared Engelking of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and David M. Classen for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Let’s talk competition in farming in Australia. A member of the federal government has identified farming as an area in dire need of competition reform in Australia. Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition in the Labor government. He says this country’s small‑scale farmers are getting hammered at both ends by concentrated markets and at numerous points along the agricultural supply chain. I had a chat to him about improving the improving the competition playing field for farmers after he made a speech on such a topic to ABARES in Canberra.
ANDREW LEIGH:
Well, farmers are the meat in the sandwich when it comes to problems of competition in the Australian economy. We see too many farmers buying seed and fertiliser from concentrated markets and then getting squeezed by having to sell into concentrated markets for processors or in freight. And the effect is that farmers aren’t getting a fair deal. I’m talking about a lot of what we’re doing in the competition space through the lens of farming. Farming is a critical industry to the Australian economy, but it also illustrates some of the big competition problems that the Australian economy faces right now.
LONG:
Why is farming such an easy example to grasp about the lack of competition and what it does to markets?
LEIGH:
Compared to many industries, small‑scale farming is pretty easy to enter. It is not as easy to set up a tractor manufacturing business or to set up a freight distribution network. The result is that you get a lot of competition in farming across many commodities but not so much upstream and downstream. So if you’re looking at fertiliser, the big 4 fertiliser manufacturers in Australia have 62 per cent of the market between them. And then if you’re looking downstream, fruit and vegie processing, the big 4 have 34 per cent of the market. Meat processing, the big 4 have 44 per cent of the market. So there’s these really concentrated markets, and that’s before we’ve even gotten to the supermarkets where the supermarket duopoly does have the effect of squeezing farmers. Which, of course, is why, Warwick, we’re moving to make the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct a mandatory code.
LONG:
What has failed in the past? So the meat industry is one of those that you’re using, particularly you cite its effect on small‑scale beef producers, for example, because there’s such market concentration. Now, I’ve been around for quite a long time, Assistant Minister, and I remember when the ACCC didn’t oppose JBS’s taking over of Primo, for example, because even though it meant a highly concentrated market in areas like New South Wales and Queensland. So what’s gone wrong in the past to lead us down this road of concentration now?
LEIGH:
Our merger law system just hasn’t been up to what it needs for a modern economy. Australia’s competition watchdog doesn’t get to see about 3 out of every 4 mergers because there’s no requirement on big firms to notify them. You can’t block what you can’t see. So the merger reforms we’ve got in parliament right now are the biggest merger shake‑up in half a century. We’d hope they’d get support right across the parliament. And they’ll have 2 results, Warwick, one will be that low‑risk mergers get approved quicker, and the other is that high‑risk mergers can have the scrutiny that they deserve applied to them by the competition watchdog.
LONG:
What other rules and changes are you proposing?
LEIGH:
We’ve got the banning of unfair contract terms. We did that as soon as we came into office. And that’s mattered for areas such as fertiliser contracts and potato processing where those unfair contract terms have been used. For consumers we’ve got the CHOICE quarterly price monitoring to make sure that consumers are seeing where they can get their best deal across the grocery sector. And we’re giving the competition watchdog more resources in order to check up on unit pricing, make sure that the prices on the supermarket shelf really are a fair reflection of what Australians will pay.
LONG:
You’ve also cited in your speech today about the right to repair laws affecting the motor vehicle industry. You and I spoke a lot in the past about trying to extend that to tractor and machinery sales. Why hasn’t that happened yet?
LEIGH:
Well, we’re encouraging parties to first look at a voluntary agreement here which can often have a more tailored approach. But we recognise that there’s a squeeze on and it can particularly affect farmers where you’re working off short timeframes. You’ve got to get a crop harvested. Your machine breaks down and you just can’t afford to take a week for the authorised dealer to fix it. So we understand the squeeze. We understand that the farm machinery industry is heavily concentrated. This one is not as straightforward as what we did for the motor vehicle scheme –
LONG:
Why not?
LEIGH:
Well, because in motor vehicles you’ve got a greater diversity of independent repairers. There’s some 20,000 independent repairers across the country. You just don’t have that network of independent repairers in the area of farm machinery. Most of the repair is being done at the moment by the big firms. And what we’re looking at is a discussion where people say we could have a vibrant independent repair industry if only there was a right to repair laws for farm machinery.
LONG:
Yeah, so as opposed to what you had to do in the motor vehicle sector where there was already an existing network there effectively you need to look if your law changes for the farm machinery sector would effectively almost create a new category of business?
LEIGH:
Yes, that’s right. Whereas independent mechanics, we were seeing them being crushed by a lack of access to data. But data is a big thing. John Deere has got more software development engineers than mechanical design engineers. Farm machines are becoming increasingly computerised, and that means that access to the data is fundamental to allowing a third‑party repairer to fix a fault.
LONG:
This is your passion, isn’t it? Competition and how markets work.
LEIGH:
I’m glad you detected that passion, Warwick. Absolutely. For economists this goes back to Adam Smith in 1776. There’s really good work about the benefits of competition for consumers, for workers and just for innovation. More competitive markets see higher productivity growth. And so this is one of the key things we need to do if we’re going to kickstart more growth in the Australian economy.
LONG:
And obviously more competition, more buyers for products is important. Your government is restricting that in the world of agriculture, particularly for the WA sheep industry right now with the phase out of live sheep exports. Have you looked at what that will do to the market there?
LEIGH:
Look, we’re providing support to the industry – over $100 million there – and also encouraging the boxed meat industry. And as you well know, Warwick, the volume of live sheep exports has been steadily declining. We’re very keen to see that local processing industry increasing, the value‑adding, and also working hard to open up new markets. So if you look at the resumption of the rock lobster trade with China, with the trade deal with the United Arab Emirates, all of that opening up of the international markets gives more options to our farmers. It means that they’re not as constrained at just selling to a couple of local processors.
LONG:
A sheep farmer can hardly jump into the world of rock lobster farming, though, can they?
LEIGH:
No, that’s right. I’m just giving you an illustration of what we’re doing across the markets, recognising the importance of international trade to Australian farmers.
LONG:
I suppose you and I are talking about the same thing here, right, aren’t we, Andrew Leigh? We’re talking about how government decisions or actions, whether it be the closure of key international markets or whether it be phase‑outs of industry, that does affect markets and it’s on government to pull the levers to decide the future of these industries, isn’t it?
LEIGH:
The government plays a significant role. And what you’re talking about with live sheep really is an issue of animal welfare, which I think is broadly supported across the Australian community. But what we’ve been doing in opening up international markets really is very much in the traditions of the Whitlam, Hawke and Keating governments – that international engagement often led by farmers because we export the vast majority of our agricultural produce in Australia to the benefit of farmers and the broader economy.
LONG:
So, this is part of your discussion with ABARES. Do you have a plan to sort of update on whether your levers and work in competition areas will be working in, say, 12 months’ time?
LEIGH:
Yeah, it’s a great question, and one of the things we haven’t done very well in government is evaluating what we do. And so we’re now just thinking through the best ways of evaluating the impact of the competition reforms, making sure that as we move to a mandatory code of conduct for food and grocery that we are seeing those better deals coming through for farmers, ensuring that as we go into the new merger regime that we see better competition across Australian industries. So, tracking performance is absolutely the best practice in government. That’s what I want to do more of.
LONG:
That’s the Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh, speaking there about improving competition rules, the playing field essentially for farmers.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)
LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) presented a $500,000 check to IKAR to assist in the development of the new IKAR Center and Supportive Housing Project. This project is one of fifteen that Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove secured a total of $12.4 million for through Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation.
This project will build at least 60 units of permanent supportive housing for unhoused people, including seniors, atop a new Jewish community campus. The project will also include space for supportive services and indoor and outdoor common areas for residents. Located on S. La Cienega Blvd., the development will be situated in a high-opportunity, transit-rich corridor that is lacking in affordable housing and permanent supportive housing.
“Ensuring that all Angelenos have a place to call home isn’t just good policy—it is a moral obligation, often informed by faith. By incorporating permanent supportive housing into their new community space, IKAR is upholding its values and following in the long tradition of Los Angeles faith communities working to combat social and economic injustices,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “I am proud to have secured funding for this project that will provide real, lasting housing security for formerly unhoused people in our community. IKAR’s first-of-a-kind community center will serve as a shining example for how other faith institutions can help address the housing crisis in Los Angeles and beyond.”
“We are honored to accept this federal funding award that will help us realize IKAR’s mission to build affordable housing as part of our new IKAR Center. Our community is tremendously grateful to Representative Kamlager-Dove for embracing our vision that faith communities can meet the need of the broader community for more low-income affordable housing by building those new homes on faith organization-owned land. We hope that this project will be a model for other faith communities across the district and the state to say ‘yes’ to housing not only in our backyards, but right alongside our communal institutions. We look forward to welcoming our new neighbors home,” said IKAR Executive Director/CEO Melissa Balaban.
Last month, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove hosted a roundtable centered on the development of affordable housing on land owned by faith organizations, during which IKAR Executive Director/CEO Melissa Balaban discussed this project’s potential and how IKAR can serve as a model for other faith institutions.
ABOUT IKAR: IKAR is a dynamic, multi-generational community rooted in Los Angeles and reaching globally with the mission to reanimate Jewish life and develop a spiritual and moral foundation for a just and equitable society. IKAR, as a faith community, stands with multifaith partners as voices of moral courage, sources of spiritual strength, and first responders to injustice and indifference. IKAR understands that its role extends beyond Jewish religious and spiritual practice, and indeed beyond the Jewish community. IKAR is working to develop a spiritual roadmap for soulful, multi-faith justice work in Los Angeles and around the country.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Brazil Caucus Co-Chair, Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement affirming the importance of accountability in the assassination of Marielle Franco, a Brazilian anti-racism and LGBTQ+ advocate and Rio de Janeiro City Council member:
“More than 6 years after the assassination of Marielle Franco, we are encouraged by the news that a trial for her murder began today. Franco advocated tirelessly to address the marginalization and persecution of afro-descendants and LGBTQ+ communities across the Western Hemisphere. Bringing the perpetrators of her murder to justice represents a critical opportunity for Brazil to demonstrate its longstanding commitment to the rule of law and addressing political violence rooted in racial and gender-based discrimination, pursuant to the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality.
“We express solidarity with the Brazilian people in their calls for justice for Franco and an end to the systemic discrimination of Afro-descendants and indigenous communities in Brazil and across the hemisphere.”
Aerial view of wildfires near Fox Lake and Garden River in July.
Through effective investments, including a historic $155-million wildfire base budget, Alberta’s government ensured the province was prepared to respond throughout the 2024 wildfire season. In anticipation of the wildfire season, Alberta’s government recruited 100 additional wildland firefighters and an additional 40 contract wildland firefighters – in addition to securing more airtankers, heavy equipment, and helicopters equipped with night vision technology. As a result of this preparation, front-line crews were able to respond quickly and fight fires around the clock, containing 85 per cent of wildfires within 24 hours of detection.
“While the 2024 wildfire season was challenging, our coordinated efforts and the resilience of Albertans have been crucial in mitigating the impact. We will continue to adapt and strengthen our wildfire management strategies to protect our communities and natural resources.”
“This wildfire season has tested our resolve, especially in areas like Fox Lake and Jasper. The coordinated efforts of our firefighters and support teams were instrumental in protecting our communities. We will build on this experience to continue to improve response strategies and initiate new strategies to ensure the safety of all Albertans.”
The 2024 wildfire season began earlier than usual, with 64 carryover wildfires stemming from a mild winter and extremely dry conditions. In response to this elevated danger, Alberta’s government activated an early start to the wildfire season on February 20, 2024, implementing a fire ban and fire permit system to prevent additional human-caused wildfires.
Despite significant challenges, including large wildfires near Jasper that led to evacuations and the tragic loss of an Alberta wildland firefighter, as well as the loss of homes and businesses in the community, Alberta Wildfire demonstrated remarkable coordination, offering immediate aid and resources to Parks Canada, including support personnel, firefighters, aircraft and equipment.
While supporting the Jasper response led by Parks Canada, Alberta Wildfire crews continued to tackle substantial wildfires throughout the province, deploying personnel, aircraft and equipment to combat wildfires and assist impacted communities. Throughout the season, residents of Garden River, John D’Or Prairie, Fox Lake in the Little Red River Cree Nation, and the Chipewyan Cree Nation were also evacuated. Additionally, an area near Peace River and four neighborhoods in Fort McMurray faced short-term evacuations due to wildfires.
“In the wake of the heartbreaking loss from the Jasper wildfire, we are reminded of the strength found in collaboration – with each other and among all orders of government. We are reminded also of the compelling need to invest together in training, preparation, mitigation and adaptation, ensuring that we not only respond effectively, but that we also build a more resilient future.”
“The 2024 wildfire season underscored the importance of early planning and preparation. Investments in people, resources and new technology proved invaluable in our response efforts.”
During the 2024 wildfire season, Alberta Wildfire responded to more than 1,210 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area, exceeding last year’s record-breaking total. While the number of fires in 2024 exceeded the total number of fires in 2023, wildfires this season burned less than a third of the area compared with 2023, underscoring the effectiveness of Alberta’s preparation and investments.
Although Oct. 31 marks the end of Alberta’s wildfire season, Alberta Wildfire remains vigilant and ready to respond to any potential wildfires across the province.
Quick Facts
Alberta Wildfire responded to more than 1,210 wildfires this year with more than 705,000 hectares burned.
In 2023, there were 1,080 wildfires and more than 2.2 million hectares burned.
Alberta Wildfire had almost 1,900 firefighters, contractors and support staff working on Alberta’s provincial response.
Alberta Wildfire also received assistance from other agencies with more than 1,300 firefighters and support staff arriving from around the world to assist.
While most wildfires were caused by people, we had 410 lightning-caused wildfires in July, the highest number in 20-years.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)
Headline: Moolenaar Statement on Chinese National Illegally Voting in Michigan
Today, the Michigan Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office announced charges against a Chinese national for election fraud in Michigan. The Chinese national is a student at the University of Michigan, and illegally registered to vote and cast a ballot on Sunday, October 27 in Ann Arbor.
“Secretary Jocelyn Benson has hurt the public’s trust in Michigan elections as her department failed to prevent this illegal vote from being cast and will count it in the results next week. The University of Michigan should expel this student for violating our laws and our state’s leaders need to take serious action against the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to influence our state. Secretary Benson must tell us how she will prevent similar election fraud in the next week, and how she will secure our elections against CCP interference. Governor Whitmer must cancel the state’s $715 million giveaway of taxpayer money to CCP-affiliated Gotion and end its plans to build near Camp Grayling. Finally, U-M President Santa Ono needs to shut down his university’s institute with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which collaborates with China’s military. Until these actions happen, our state’s security, elections, universities, and auto supply chains will remain vulnerable to CCP influence,” said Congressman John Moolenaar.
According to reporting from the Detroit News, the illegally cast ballot is expected to be counted in the 2024 election results, “because there is no way for election officials to retrieve it once it’s been put through a tabulator.”
Moolenaar has previously called on the University of Michigan to end its joint research institute with Shanghai Jiao Tong University after five Chinese nationals studying through the program were charged by the FBI with spying on Camp Grayling.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports. SEL6
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 696 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 555 PM CDT Wed Oct 30 2024
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of Northeast Oklahoma
* Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 555 PM until Midnight CDT.
* Primary threats include… A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts to 80 mph possible Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
SUMMARY…A line of storms over north-central Oklahoma will continue to intensify and spread eastward through the evening, posing a risk for damaging winds gusts and a few tornadoes.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles east and west of a line from 15 miles northeast of Bartlesville OK to 60 miles south of Chandler OK. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 693…WW 694…WW 695…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 24035.
…Hart
SEL6
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 696 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 555 PM CDT Wed Oct 30 2024
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of Northeast Oklahoma
* Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 555 PM until Midnight CDT.
* Primary threats include… A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts to 80 mph possible Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
SUMMARY…A line of storms over north-central Oklahoma will continue to intensify and spread eastward through the evening, posing a risk for damaging winds gusts and a few tornadoes.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles east and west of a line from 15 miles northeast of Bartlesville OK to 60 miles south of Chandler OK. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 693…WW 694…WW 695…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 24035.
…Hart
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas. SAW6 WW 696 TORNADO OK 302255Z – 310500Z AXIS..55 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE.. 15NE BVO/BARTLESVILLE OK/ – 60S CQB/CHANDLER OK/ ..AVIATION COORDS.. 50NM E/W /33WSW OSW – 42NNE ADM/ HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.
LAT…LON 36919483 34849585 34849779 36919682
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU6.
Watch 696 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
High (70%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Mod (40%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events
High (70%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots
Mod (30%)
Hail
Probability of 10 or more severe hail events
Mod (40%)
Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches
Low (20%)
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events
High (90%)
For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.
The Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Anna Cody, has spoken out on the crucial role employers and institutions hold to end the normalisation of harmful behaviour and improve women’s safety, amid an influx of allegations of workplace sexual harassment and of dangerous hazing at private colleges.
Following a 2018 investigation into Sydney University’s St Paul’s College, led by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, disturbing allegations have emerged this week claiming ‘humiliation-type behaviours’ among a group of male students. Separately, hospitality giant Merivale has faced claims of sexual harassment, exploitation and drug use at its high-profile Sydney venues.
Dr Cody credited last year’s introduction of a positive duty on Australian workplaces as a critical step forward towards eliminating harmful behaviours, but she believes far more work needs to be done to ensure widespread compliance.
“The recent allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination in Australia’s hospitality industry are deeply troubling and highlight how important it is that Australian workplaces implement the positive duty in a way that works for them,” Dr Cody said.
“Senior leaders play a vital role in creating a culture of respect, accountability, and inclusion. When leaders visibly uphold these values, they set an example that resonates throughout their organisations.
“These recent reports serve as a powerful reminder to employers across industries that workplace safety and respect must be actively championed from the top down.”
“It is also essential we have men and women in leadership and people from a range of race and cultural backgrounds so that new, respectful work and study cultures can be created.
“We all have a role in this effort to create a safer, more respectful Australia where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination, with respect and dignity.”
Working together to enhance community safety in Hobart
Thursday, 31 October 2024 – 9:57 am.
Tasmania Police and City of Hobart council staff have again collaborated to conduct a public safety operation in Hobart’s CBD. Inspector John Toohey said the effort conducted last night demonstrated an ongoing united approach to community safety and security, after a successful operation in July. “Last night our combined resources, including Hobart Police, Taskforce Saturate, and the Dog Handler Unit, worked alongside City of Hobart staff to monitor CCTV in real-time and provide an enhanced response capability,” he said. “As a result of the operation, five arrests were made, two summonses issued, one person was referred to the drug diversion process, two will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act and three people were issued infringement notices.” “Offences included breaching a police family violence order, breach of a restraint order, stealing, breaching bail, possess a controlled drug or plant, possess thing used to administer a controlled drug, possess an open container of liquor, possess a dangerous article and possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearm licence.” “These collaborative efforts are crucial in ensuring Hobart continues to be a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.” “We encourage all community members to support this initiative by staying vigilant and reporting any incidents to police.” Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds highlighted the importance of the City’s collaboration with Tasmania Police in promoting community safety, following similar successful operations in Wellington Court and at Salamanca. “Our aim is to make Hobart’s CBD and surrounding areas safe, welcoming, and vibrant, supporting businesses and ensuring everyone enjoys the city,” Cr Reynolds said. “With our partnership with Tasmania Police, we’re building a strong community and instilling confidence. “This safety blitz is a proactive way to enhance Hobart’s atmosphere, and we’re committed to creating a harmonious public space.” “We encourage everyone to support this effort by staying aware, reporting incidents, and looking out for one another. “Together, we can keep Hobart safe and enjoyable for all.” Results: A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with breaching a Police Family Violence Order and breach of bail, he was detained for court. A 15-year-old girl was arrested for breaching a restraint order and stealing, she has been released and summonsed. A 14-year-old girl was arrested and charged with stealing; she was bailed to appear. A 16-year-old girl was arrested and charged with stealing; she was bailed to appear. A 56-year-old man was taken into custody for public intoxication, he will be released when sober. A 24-year-old man will be summonsed for possess thing used for the administration of a controlled drug. A 20-year-old man will be summonsed for possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearm licence and possess a controlled weapon, namely pepper spray. A 37-year-old man has been referred to the drug diversion process after being found in possession of a controlled drug, namely LSD. A 35-year-old man was issued a liquor infringement notice for possessing an open container of liquor in a public place. A 23-year-old man was issued a liquor infringement notice for possessing an open container of liquor in a public place. A 17-year-old girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act for possess thing used for the administration of a controlled drug. A 14-year-old girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act after being found in possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis. 17 formal directions to leave the CBD were also issued.
Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The ACCC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court alleging that Optus Mobile Pty Ltd (Optus) engaged in unconscionable conduct in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law when selling telecommunications goods and services to hundreds of consumers, that they often did not want or need, and in some cases then pursuing consumers for debts resulting from these sales.
Many of these consumers were experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, or having limited financial and legal literacy.
Many of the impacted consumers were First Nations Australians from regional and remote areas or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“We allege Optus’ conduct disproportionately impacted consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, and that these practices were incentivised by the commission-based remuneration for sales staff. In some cases, we allege Optus took steps to protect its own financial interests by clawing back commissions to sales staff but failed to remediate affected consumers,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“This case concerns allegations of very serious conduct, as our case is that Optus sold goods to consumers experiencing vulnerability which they did not need, did not want and could not afford.”
“We also allege that Optus’ unconscionable conduct continued after management became aware of deficiencies in its systems that were being exploited by sales staff, and despite this, failed to implement fixes,” Ms Cass Gottlieb said.
Alleged conduct
The ACCC’s case against Optus involves allegations that Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with about 429 consumers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct and/or pursuing consumers for debts, including when it knew contracts were created fraudulently.
The conduct included Optus allegedly putting undue pressure on some of these consumers to purchase a large number of products, including expensive phones and accessories, and not undertaking coverage checks to inform the consumer whether they would have Optus coverage where they lived.
It is alleged that Optus engaged debt collectors to pursue many of these consumers, despite knowing that they were subject to inappropriate or fraudulent sales conduct.
The alleged conduct involves 363 consumers from two Optus Darwin stores, 42 consumers from the Optus Mount Isa store and 24 individual consumers from store locations across Australia.
“We are taking this action against Optus and seeking consumer redress in relation to the hundreds of consumers affected by this alleged unconscionable conduct,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
The ACCC began its investigation after receiving a referral from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman about concerns regarding Optus’ sales practices to consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage.
The ACCC is seeking declarations and orders for penalties, non-party consumer redress, publication orders, a compliance program, and costs.
Optus’ Darwin stores conduct
The ACCC alleges unconscionable conduct at Optus’ two licensee-operated stores in Darwin, where nearly all staff allegedly engaged in inappropriate sales conduct, encouraged by senior store management, during a two-year period to June 2023. The conduct included not carrying out coverage checks, despite some of the 363 impacted consumers being First Nations Australians from regional, remote and very remote parts of the Northern Territory where there was no Optus coverage available.
The ACCC’s allegations include that Optus staff manipulated credit checks, oversold and overpriced accessories, and sold consumers phones and plans they could not afford at the Darwin stores.
Optus’ Mount Isa store conduct
The ACCC also alleges Optus acted unconscionably by pursuing debts for at least 42 consumers from Mount Isa and remote areas of the Northern Territory, despite some senior executives knowing that those debts related to contracts for goods and services which were fraudulently created by a staff member at a licensee-operated Optus store in Mount Isa, without the knowledge of the affected consumers.
Optus’ conduct to individual consumers
The ACCC alleges Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with 24 individual consumers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct. This included by applying undue pressure and inducing the consumers to purchase a large number of goods and services.
The alleged conduct includes claims that sales staff manipulated credit check results without the consumers’ knowledge to sell goods and services that they could not afford, while failing to explain the terms and conditions of contracts in an understandable manner. Despite knowing about this alleged conduct, Optus pursued debt collection activities in many cases, and referred and sold the consumers’ debts to third party debt collection agencies.
In relation to four of these consumers, the ACCC also claims that Optus made false, misleading or deceptive representations that particular goods were ‘free’ when that was not in fact the case.
“Many consumers suffered financial harm, incurring thousands of dollars of debt and non-financial harm, such as shame, fear, and emotional distress about the debts or being pursued by debt collectors,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
“Thankfully many consumers were supported by financial counsellors, carers and other advocates who gave their time and effort to support consumers to eventually seek resolution of Optus’ conduct.”
“We will take appropriate enforcement action against breaches of the Australian Consumer Law, and we pay particular attention to conduct that disproportionately impacts consumers who are experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.”
An example of the alleged conduct includes a person living with an intellectual disability which impacts their ability to speak and understand financial matters went into an Optus store and was sold an expensive phone, a business phone contract under a false ABN, a new NBN internet plan and accessories, though their disability was evident to Optus staff. The person did not want or need the majority of these items, and was upset and embarrassed about the unwanted and expensive items they were sold. When the person’s representative went to the store to return the items, the Optus staff refused to cancel the contracts and it was only through the intervention of a financial counsellor that Optus cancelled the contracts.
Background
Optus is Australia’s second largest telecommunications provider. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singtel Optus Pty Ltd, a foreign owned private company.
In Australia, Optus’ stores are either:
owned and operated directly by Optus RetailCo Pty Ltd; or
owned and operated through third party licensees, through Retail License Agreements. For example, all Optus stores in the Adelaide region are owned and operated by Mavaya Pty Ltd, and all Optus stores in the Northern Territory, as well as several in regional Queensland, are owned and operated by Suntel Communications Pty Ltd.
The ACCC has commenced this proceeding with a Statement of Claim. The document available via the link contains the introduction section of the ACCC’s Statement of Claim in relation to this matter, which contains a summary of the ACCC’s case. We will not be uploading further documents.
ARCHBOLD, Ohio, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) today reported financial results for the 2024 third quarter and year-to-date ended September 30, 2024.
2024 Third Quarter Financial and Operating Highlights (on a year-over-year basis unless noted):
86 consecutive quarters of profitability
Net income increased 36.4% to $6.5 million, or $0.48 per basic and diluted share, from $4.8 million, or $0.35 per basic and diluted share, and net income expanded 14.7% from the 2024 second quarter
Net interest margin increased 12 basis points to 2.71%
Efficiency ratio improved to 67.98%, compared to 73.07% for the same period a year ago, and 69.03% for the 2024 second quarter
Total net loans remain stable at $2.54 billion at September 30, 2024
Total assets increased 4.8% to a record $3.39 billion
Deposits increased 4.3% to a record $2.68 billion
Stockholders’ equity increased 10.6% to a record $335.4 million
Asset quality remains at historically strong levels with nonperforming loans of only $2.9 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $22.4 million at September 30, 2023
Allowance for credit losses was 879.37% of nonperforming loans
F&M ended the quarter with excellent liquidity levels, and over $635 million in contingent funding sources, and a cash-to-assets ratio of 7.2%
According to the FDIC, F&M continued to have the third largest share of deposits out of the 58 financial institutions that are also operating within its local markets
Lars B. Eller, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “F&M produced excellent earnings growth on a year-over-year and sequential basis, driven by higher net interest income, historically strong asset quality, and prudent expense management. Most importantly, our third quarter results reflect the talent of our associates, as we continue to work hard to drive operating improvements at F&M, serve our local Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan communities, and position F&M for long-term success. In addition, I am pleased to report that F&M was the third largest bank out of 58 financial institutions within the markets we compete, according to the FDIC, reflecting the leading value we provide to our local communities. In fact, F&M is the number one bank, based on deposits, in almost half of the communities in which we operate.”
Income Statement Net income for the 2024 third quarter ended September 30, 2024, was $6.5 million, compared to $4.8 million for the same period last year. Net income per basic and diluted share for the 2024 third quarter was $0.48, compared to $0.35 for the same period last year. Net income for the 2024 nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $17.6 million, compared to $17.2 million for the same period last year. Net income per basic and diluted share for the 2024 nine months was $1.28, compared to $1.26 for the same period last year.
Mr. Eller continued, “Our 2024 third quarter and year-to-date performance demonstrate the success of the near-term strategies we are pursuing to navigate a complex operating environment and improve earnings. Most importantly, while the demand for loans is high across our markets, our approach to risk and pricing remains conservative. This near-term strategy has contributed to excellent asset quality. In addition, we continue to focus on strategies aimed at optimizing our deposit base and growing low-cost checking (DDA) deposits. Since the beginning of 2024, we have added over 5,600 new checking accounts, and benefited from new and expanded relationships at offices that were opened in 2023. As a result, we ended the quarter with a loan-to-deposit ratio of 93.6%, compared to 97.2% at September 30, 2023, and 96.0% at June 30, 2024. Our third quarter of 2024 loan-to-deposit ratio was the lowest quarterly value in two years. The final near-term strategy we are pursuing is focused on controlling expenses, and I am encouraged by the continued year-over-year and sequential improvement in our efficiency ratio. This reflects the opportunities we are pursuing to manage operating costs and expand productivity.”
Deposits At September 30, 2024, total deposits were $2.68 billion, an increase of 4.3% from September 30, 2023. The Company’s cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 3.2% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to 2.82% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and 3.02% for the 2023 fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.
Loan Portfolio and Asset Quality “F&M’s teams continue to do an excellent job managing our cost of funds, loan pricing, deposit growth and overall net interest margin. Since the quarter ended December 31, 2023, our yield on earning assets has increased by 34 basis points, compared to a 19 basis point increase in our cost of interest bearing liabilities – representing the third consecutive quarter our yield on earning assets has outpaced our cost of interest bearing liabilities. We expect this trend will continue as more of our loan portfolio reprices in 2024,” continued Mr. Eller.
Total loans, net at September 30, 2024, increased 0.3%, or by $8.7 million to $2.54 billion, compared to $2.53 billion at September 30, 2023. The year-over-year growth was driven by higher consumer real estate, commercial and industrial, and agricultural loans, partially offset by lower commercial real estate, agricultural real estate, and consumer loans.
F&M continues to closely monitor its loan portfolio with a particular emphasis on higher risk sectors. Nonperforming loans were $2.9 million, or 0.11% of total loans at September 30, 2024, compared to $22.4 million, or 0.89% of total loans at September 30, 2023, and $22.4 million, or 0.87% at December 31, 2023.
F&M maintains a well-balanced, diverse and high performing CRE portfolio. CRE loans represented 51.3% of the Company’s total loan portfolio at September 30, 2024. In addition, F&M’s commercial real estate office credit exposure represented 5.3% of the Company’s total loan portfolio at September 30, 2024, with a weighted average loan-to-value of approximately 64% and an average loan of approximately $880,000.
F&M’s CRE portfolio included the following categories at September 30, 2024:
CRE Category
Dollar Balance
Percent of CRE Portfolio(*)
Percent of Total Loan Portfolio(*)
Industrial
$
274,953
21.1
%
10.8
%
Retail
$
237,622
18.2
%
9.4
%
Multi-family
$
223,926
17.2
%
8.8
%
Hotels
$
141,642
10.9
%
5.6
%
Office
$
134,973
10.4
%
5.3
%
Gas Stations
$
62,028
4.8
%
2.5
%
Food Service
$
46,526
3.6
%
1.8
%
Development
$
30,999
2.4
%
1.2
%
Senior Living
$
29,866
2.3
%
1.2
%
Auto Dealers
$
25,068
1.9
%
1.0
%
Other
$
93,557
7.2
%
3.7
%
Total CRE
$
1,301,160
100.0
%
51.3
%
* Numbers have been rounded
At September 30, 2024, the Company’s allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans was 879.37%, compared to 112.61% at September 30, 2023, and 111.95% at December 31, 2023. The allowance to total loans was 1.01% at September 30, 2024, compared to 1.00% at September 30, 2023. Including accretable yield adjustments, associated with the Company’s recent acquisitions, F&M’s allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.10% at September 30, 2024, compared to 1.18% at September 30, 2023.
Mr. Eller concluded, “With two months remaining in 2024, I am encouraged by F&M’s strong financial and operating performance to date. F&M ended the quarter with record stockholders’ equity, historically strong asset quality, record deposits, and excellent liquidity levels with over $635 million in contingent funding sources, and a cash-to-assets ratio of 7.2%. We remain focused on continual improvements, managing the items under our control, and providing our customers and communities with outstanding, and local financial services. As a result, F&M’s financial and operating performance continues to strengthen and I believe the Company is well positioned to create lasting value for our communities, customers, team members, and shareholders.”
Stockholders’ Equity and Dividends Total stockholders’ equity increased 10.6% to $335.4 million, or $24.48 per share at September 30, 2024, from $303.2 million, or $22.19 per share at September 30, 2023. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.04%, remained stable compared to September 30, 2023.
Tangible stockholders’ equity increased to $242.8 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $208.8 million at September 30, 2023. On a per share basis, tangible stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2024, was $17.72 per share, compared to $15.28 per share at September 30, 2023.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company has declared cash dividends of $0.66125 per share, which is a 5.0% increase over the same period last year. F&M is committed to returning capital to shareholders and has increased the annual cash dividend for 30 consecutive years. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the dividend payout ratio was 50.99% compared to 49.50% for the same period last year.
About Farmers & Merchants State Bank: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) is the holding company of F&M Bank, a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in West Bloomfield, Michigan; Muncie, Indiana; and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.
Safe Harbor Statement Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release includes disclosure of financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are required to be disclosed by GAAP. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide both management and investors a more complete understanding of the underlying operational results and trends and Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.’s marketplace performance. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the numbers prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is included within this press release.
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME & COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) (in thousands of dollars, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2024
June 30, 2024
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2023
Interest Income
Loans, including fees
$
36,873
$
36,593
$
35,200
$
34,493
$
33,783
$
108,666
$
94,851
Debt securities:
U.S. Treasury and government agencies
1,467
1,148
1,045
987
1,005
3,660
3,103
Municipalities
387
389
394
397
392
1,170
1,201
Dividends
334
327
333
365
246
994
517
Federal funds sold
7
7
7
8
6
21
36
Other
2,833
2,702
1,675
2,020
927
7,210
1,830
Total interest income
41,901
41,166
38,654
38,270
36,359
121,721
101,538
Interest Expense
Deposits
16,947
16,488
15,279
15,015
13,323
48,714
31,908
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
277
276
284
293
349
837
1,181
Borrowed funds
2,804
2,742
2,689
2,742
2,741
8,235
6,134
Subordinated notes
284
285
284
285
284
853
853
Total interest expense
20,312
19,791
18,536
18,335
16,697
58,639
40,076
Net Interest Income – Before Provision for Credit Losses
21,589
21,375
20,118
19,935
19,662
63,082
61,462
Provision for Credit Losses – Loans
282
605
(289
)
278
460
598
1,420
Provision for Credit Losses – Off Balance Sheet Credit Exposures
(267
)
(18
)
(266
)
189
(76
)
(551
)
(143
)
Net Interest Income After Provision for Credit Losses
21,574
20,788
20,673
19,468
19,278
63,035
60,185
Noninterest Income
Customer service fees
300
189
598
415
248
1,087
917
Other service charges and fees
1,155
1,085
1,057
1,090
1,133
3,297
3,253
Interchange income
1,315
1,330
1,429
1,310
1,266
4,074
4,008
Loan servicing income
710
513
539
666
502
1,762
3,739
Net gain on sale of loans
215
314
107
230
294
636
469
Increase in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance
265
236
216
216
221
717
618
Net loss on sale of available-for-sale securities
–
–
–
–
–
–
(891
)
Total noninterest income
3,960
3,667
3,946
3,927
3,664
11,573
12,113
Noninterest Expense
Salaries and wages
7,713
7,589
7,846
6,981
6,777
23,148
19,934
Employee benefits
2,112
2,112
2,171
1,218
2,066
6,395
6,302
Net occupancy expense
1,054
999
1,027
1,187
950
3,080
2,646
Furniture and equipment
1,472
1,407
1,353
1,370
1,189
4,232
3,652
Data processing
339
448
500
785
840
1,287
2,362
Franchise taxes
410
265
555
308
434
1,230
1,179
ATM expense
472
397
473
665
640
1,342
1,946
Advertising
597
519
530
397
865
1,646
2,209
Net (gain) loss on sale of other assets owned
–
(49
)
–
86
49
(49
)
49
FDIC assessment
516
507
580
594
586
1,603
1,388
Servicing rights amortization – net
219
187
168
182
106
574
429
Loan expense
244
251
229
246
241
724
809
Consulting fees
251
198
186
192
179
635
640
Professional fees
453
527
445
331
358
1,425
1,099
Intangible asset amortization
445
444
445
446
445
1,334
1,334
Other general and administrative
1,128
1,495
1,333
1,532
1,319
3,956
4,841
Total noninterest expense
17,425
17,296
17,841
16,520
17,044
52,562
50,819
Income Before Income Taxes
8,109
7,159
6,778
6,875
5,898
22,046
21,479
Income Taxes
1,593
1,477
1,419
1,332
1,121
4,489
4,235
Net Income
6,516
5,682
5,359
5,543
4,777
17,557
17,244
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Net of Tax):
Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities
11,664
2,531
(1,995
)
13,261
(4,514
)
12,200
(2,480
)
Reclassification adjustment for realized loss on sale of available-for-sale securities
–
–
–
–
–
–
891
Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities
11,664
2,531
(1,995
)
13,261
(4,514
)
12,200
(1,589
)
Tax expense (benefit)
2,449
531
(418
)
2,784
(947
)
2,562
(333
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
9,215
2,000
(1,577
)
10,477
(3,567
)
9,638
(1,256
)
Comprehensive Income
$
15,731
$
7,682
$
3,782
$
16,020
$
1,210
$
27,195
$
15,988
Basic Earnings Per Share
$
0.48
$
0.42
$
0.39
$
0.41
$
0.35
$
1.28
$
1.26
Diluted Earnings Per Share
$
0.48
$
0.42
$
0.39
$
0.41
$
0.35
$
1.28
$
1.26
Dividends Declared
$
0.22125
$
0.22
$
0.22
$
0.22
$
0.21
$
0.66125
$
0.63
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (in thousands of dollars, except per share data)
September 30, 2024
June 30, 2024
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
Assets
Cash and due from banks
$
244,572
$
191,785
$
186,541
$
140,917
$
151,711
Federal funds sold
932
1,283
1,241
1,284
1,471
Total cash and cash equivalents
245,504
193,068
187,782
142,201
153,182
Interest-bearing time deposits
2,727
3,221
2,735
2,740
2,989
Securities – available-for-sale
404,881
365,209
347,516
358,478
348,255
Other securities, at cost
15,028
14,721
14,744
17,138
16,995
Loans held for sale
1,706
1,628
2,410
1,576
1,039
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $25,484 9/30/24 and $25,024 12/31/23
2,512,852
2,534,468
2,516,687
2,556,167
2,504,329
Premises and equipment
33,779
34,507
35,007
35,790
31,723
Construction in progress
35
38
9
8
3,044
Goodwill
86,358
86,358
86,358
86,358
86,358
Loan servicing rights
5,644
5,504
5,555
5,648
5,687
Bank owned life insurance
34,624
34,359
34,123
33,907
33,691
Other assets
46,047
49,552
54,628
43,218
47,388
Total Assets
$
3,389,185
$
3,322,633
$
3,287,554
$
3,283,229
$
3,234,680
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Deposits
Noninterest-bearing
$
481,444
$
479,069
$
510,731
$
528,465
$
505,358
Interest-bearing
NOW accounts
865,617
821,145
829,236
816,790
778,133
Savings
661,565
673,284
635,430
599,191
591,344
Time
676,187
667,592
645,985
663,017
700,445
Total deposits
2,684,813
2,641,090
2,621,382
2,607,463
2,575,280
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
27,292
27,218
28,218
28,218
30,527
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances
263,081
266,102
256,628
265,750
266,286
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized issuance costs
34,789
34,759
34,731
34,702
34,673
Dividend payable
2,998
2,975
2,975
2,974
2,838
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
40,832
27,825
25,930
27,579
21,892
Total liabilities
3,053,805
2,999,969
2,969,864
2,966,686
2,931,496
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock – No par value 20,000,000 shares authorized; issued
14,564,425 shares 9/30/24 and 12/31/23; outstanding 13,702,593
135,193
135,829
135,482
135,515
135,171
shares 9/30/24 and 13,664,641 shares 12/31/23
Treasury stock – 861,832 shares 9/30/24 and 899,784 shares 12/31/23
(10,904
)
(11,006
)
(10,851
)
(11,040
)
(11,008
)
Retained earnings
230,465
226,430
223,648
221,080
218,510
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(19,374
)
(28,589
)
(30,589
)
(29,012
)
(39,489
)
Total stockholders’ equity
335,380
322,664
317,690
316,543
303,184
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
$
3,389,185
$
3,322,633
$
3,287,554
$
3,283,229
$
3,234,680
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SELECT FINANCIAL DATA
For the Three Months Ended
For the Nine Months Ended
Selected financial data
September 30, 2024
June 30, 2024
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2023
Return on average assets
0.78
%
0.69
%
0.66
%
0.67
%
0.59
%
0.71
%
0.73
%
Return on average equity
7.93
%
7.13
%
6.76
%
7.27
%
6.26
%
7.28
%
7.52
%
Yield on earning assets
5.27
%
5.22
%
5.00
%
4.93
%
4.79
%
5.17
%
4.57
%
Cost of interest bearing liabilities
3.21
%
3.18
%
3.06
%
3.02
%
2.82
%
3.16
%
2.35
%
Net interest spread
2.06
%
2.04
%
1.94
%
1.91
%
1.97
%
2.01
%
2.22
%
Net interest margin
2.71
%
2.71
%
2.60
%
2.57
%
2.59
%
2.68
%
2.77
%
Efficiency
67.98
%
69.03
%
74.08
%
69.23
%
73.07
%
70.36
%
68.24
%
Dividend payout ratio
45.99
%
52.35
%
55.52
%
54.23
%
60.07
%
50.99
%
49.50
%
Tangible book value per share
$
17.72
$
16.79
$
16.39
$
16.29
$
15.28
Tier 1 leverage ratio
8.04
%
8.02
%
8.40
%
8.20
%
8.02
%
Average shares outstanding
13,687,119
13,681,501
13,671,166
13,665,773
13,650,823
13,679,955
13,633,101
Loans
September 30, 2024
June 30, 2024
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
Commercial real estate
$
1,301,160
$
1,303,598
$
1,304,400
$
1,337,766
$
1,304,118
Agricultural real estate
220,328
222,558
227,455
223,791
225,672
Consumer real estate
524,055
525,902
525,178
521,895
512,973
Commercial and industrial
260,732
268,426
256,051
254,935
250,891
Agricultural
137,252
142,909
127,670
132,560
123,735
Consumer
67,394
70,918
74,819
79,591
83,024
Other
25,916
26,449
26,776
30,136
31,083
Less: Net deferred loan fees, costs and other (1)
1,499
(1,022
)
(982
)
517
(1,890
)
Total loans, net
$
2,538,336
$
2,559,738
$
2,541,367
$
2,581,191
$
2,529,606
Asset quality data
September 30, 2024
June 30, 2024
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
Nonaccrual loans
$
2,898
$
2,487
$
19,391
$
22,353
$
22,447
90 day past due and accruing
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
Nonperforming loans
$
2,898
$
2,487
$
19,391
$
22,353
$
22,447
Other real estate owned
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
Nonperforming assets
$
2,898
$
2,487
$
19,391
$
22,353
$
22,447
Allowance for credit losses
$
25,484
$
25,270
$
24,680
$
25,024
$
25,277
Allowance for unfunded
1,661
1,928
1,946
2,212
2,023
Total Allowance for Credit Losses
$
27,145
$
27,198
$
26,626
$
27,236
$
27,300
Allowance for credit losses/total loans
1.01
%
0.99
%
0.97
%
0.97
%
1.00
%
Adjusted credit losses with accretable yield/total loans
1.10
%
1.10
%
1.11
%
1.13
%
1.18
%
Net charge-offs:
Quarter-to-date
$
68
$
15
$
55
$
531
$
93
Year-to-date
$
138
$
70
$
55
$
551
$
20
Net charge-offs to average loans
Quarter-to-date
0.00
%
0.00
%
0.00
%
0.02
%
0.00
%
Year-to-date
0.01
%
0.00
%
0.00
%
0.02
%
0.00
%
Nonperforming loans/total loans
0.11
%
0.10
%
0.76
%
0.87
%
0.89
%
Allowance for credit losses/nonperforming loans
879.37
%
1016.08
%
127.28
%
111.95
%
112.61
%
NPA coverage ratio
879.37
%
1016.08
%
127.28
%
111.95
%
112.61
%
(1) Includes carrying value adjustments of $3.0 million as of September 30, 2024, $612 thousand as of June 30, 2024, $969 thousand as of March 31, 2024 and $2.7 million as of December 31, 2023 related to interest rate swaps associated with fixed rate loans
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS AND RELATED YIELDS AND RATES (in thousands of dollars, except percentages)
For the Three Months Ended
For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2023
Interest Earning Assets:
Average Balance
Interest/Dividends
Annualized Yield/Rate
Average Balance
Interest/Dividends
Annualized Yield/Rate
Loans
$
2,551,899
$
36,873
5.78
%
$
2,536,885
$
33,783
5.33
%
Taxable investment securities
415,943
2,107
2.03
%
393,910
1,559
1.58
%
Tax-exempt investment securities
19,661
81
2.09
%
23,986
84
1.77
%
Fed funds sold & other
197,258
2,840
5.76
%
85,515
933
4.36
%
Total Interest Earning Assets
3,184,761
$
41,901
5.27
%
3,040,296
$
36,359
4.79
%
Nonearning Assets
168,055
180,193
Total Assets
$
3,352,816
$
3,220,489
Interest Bearing Liabilities:
Savings deposits
$
1,538,387
$
10,691
2.78
%
$
1,367,168
$
7,673
2.24
%
Other time deposits
667,224
6,256
3.75
%
667,880
5,650
3.38
%
Other borrowed money
264,539
2,804
4.24
%
266,467
2,741
4.11
%
Fed funds purchased & securities sold under agreement to repurchase
27,481
277
4.03
%
34,128
349
4.09
%
Subordinated notes
34,769
284
3.27
%
34,654
284
3.28
%
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities
$
2,532,400
$
20,312
3.21
%
$
2,370,297
$
16,697
2.82
%
Noninterest Bearing Liabilities
491,851
544,801
Stockholders’ Equity
$
328,565
$
305,391
Net Interest Income and Interest Rate Spread
$
21,589
2.06
%
$
19,662
1.97
%
Net Interest Margin
2.71
%
2.59
%
Yields on Tax exempt securities and the portion of the tax-exempt IDB loans included in loans have been tax adjusted based on a 21% tax rate in the charts
For the Nine Months Ended
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2023
Interest Earning Assets:
Average Balance
Interest/Dividends
Annualized Yield/Rate
Average Balance
Interest/Dividends
Annualized Yield/Rate
Loans
$
2,561,774
$
108,666
5.66
%
$
2,470,770
$
94,851
5.12
%
Taxable investment securities
397,466
5,575
1.87
%
396,917
4,544
1.53
%
Tax-exempt investment securities
20,684
249
2.03
%
24,865
277
1.88
%
Fed funds sold & other
165,227
7,231
5.84
%
67,869
1,866
3.67
%
Total Interest Earning Assets
3,145,151
$
121,721
5.17
%
2,960,421
$
101,538
4.57
%
Nonearning Assets
161,113
176,568
Total Assets
$
3,306,264
$
3,136,989
Interest Bearing Liabilities:
Savings deposits
$
1,487,809
$
30,291
2.71
%
$
1,373,110
$
18,854
1.83
%
Other time deposits
662,129
18,423
3.71
%
620,071
13,054
2.81
%
Other borrowed money
264,310
8,235
4.15
%
204,927
6,134
3.99
%
Fed funds purchased & securities sold under agreement to repurchase
27,887
837
4.00
%
37,649
1,181
4.18
%
Subordinated notes
34,741
853
3.27
%
34,625
853
3.28
%
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities
$
2,476,876
$
58,639
3.16
%
$
2,270,382
$
40,076
2.35
%
Noninterest Bearing Liabilities
507,843
561,001
Stockholders’ Equity
$
321,545
$
305,606
Net Interest Income and Interest Rate Spread
$
63,082
2.01
%
$
61,462
2.22
%
Net Interest Margin
2.68
%
2.77
%
Yields on Tax exempt securities and the portion of the tax-exempt IDB loans included in loans have been tax adjusted based on a 21% tax rate in the charts
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS AND RELATED YIELDS AND RATES (in thousands of dollars, except percentages)
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
As Reported
Excluding Acc/Amort
Difference
As Reported
Excluding Acc/Amort
Difference
$
Yield
$
Yield
$
Yield
$
Yield
$
Yield
$
Yield
Interest Earning Assets:
Loans
$
36,873
5.78
%
$
36,149
5.67
%
$
724
0.11
%
$
33,783
5.33
%
$
32,631
5.15
%
$
1,152
0.18
%
Taxable investment securities
2,107
2.03
%
2,107
2.03
%
–
0.00
%
1,559
1.58
%
1,559
1.58
%
–
0.00
%
Tax-exempt investment securities
81
2.09
%
81
2.09
%
–
0.00
%
84
1.77
%
84
1.77
%
–
0.00
%
Fed funds sold & other
2,840
5.76
%
2,840
5.76
%
–
0.00
%
933
4.36
%
933
4.36
%
–
0.00
%
Total Interest Earning Assets
41,901
5.27
%
41,177
5.17
%
724
0.10
%
36,359
4.79
%
35,207
4.64
%
1,152
0.15
%
Interest Bearing Liabilities:
Savings deposits
$
10,691
2.78
%
$
10,691
2.78
%
$
–
0.00
%
$
7,673
2.24
%
$
7,673
2.24
%
$
–
0.00
%
Other time deposits
6,256
3.75
%
6,256
3.75
%
–
0.00
%
5,650
3.38
%
5,500
3.29
%
150
0.09
%
Other borrowed money
2,804
4.24
%
2,800
4.23
%
4
0.01
%
2,741
4.11
%
2,759
4.14
%
(18
)
-0.03
%
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase
277
4.03
%
277
4.03
%
–
0.00
%
349
4.09
%
349
4.09
%
–
0.00
%
Subordinated notes
284
3.27
%
284
3.27
%
–
0.00
%
284
3.28
%
284
3.28
%
–
0.00
%
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities
20,312
3.21
%
20,308
3.21
%
4
0.00
%
16,697
2.82
%
16,565
2.80
%
132
0.02
%
Interest/Dividend income/yield
41,901
5.27
%
41,177
5.17
%
724
0.10
%
36,359
4.79
%
35,207
4.64
%
1,152
0.15
%
Interest Expense / yield
20,312
3.21
%
20,308
3.21
%
4
0.00
%
16,697
2.82
%
16,565
2.80
%
132
0.02
%
Net Interest Spread
21,589
2.06
%
20,869
1.96
%
720
0.10
%
19,662
1.97
%
18,642
1.84
%
1,020
0.13
%
Net Interest Margin
2.71
%
2.62
%
0.09
%
2.59
%
2.46
%
0.13
%
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
As Reported
Excluding Acc/Amort
Difference
As Reported
Excluding Acc/Amort
Difference
$
Yield
$
Yield
$
Yield
$
Yield
$
Yield
$
Yield
Interest Earning Assets:
Loans
$
108,666
5.66
%
$
106,588
5.55
%
$
2,078
0.11
%
$
94,851
5.12
%
$
92,364
4.99
%
$
2,487
0.13
%
Taxable investment securities
5,575
1.87
%
5,575
1.87
%
–
0.00
%
4,544
1.53
%
4,544
1.53
%
–
0.00
%
Tax-exempt investment securities
249
2.03
%
249
2.03
%
–
0.00
%
277
1.88
%
277
1.88
%
–
0.00
%
Fed funds sold & other
7,231
5.84
%
7,231
5.84
%
–
0.00
%
1,866
3.67
%
1,866
3.67
%
–
0.00
%
Total Interest Earning Assets
121,721
5.17
%
119,643
5.08
%
2,078
0.09
%
101,538
4.57
%
99,051
4.47
%
2,487
0.10
%
Interest Bearing Liabilities:
Savings deposits
$
30,291
2.71
%
$
30,291
2.71
%
$
–
0.00
%
$
18,854
1.83
%
$
18,854
1.83
%
$
–
0.00
%
Other time deposits
18,423
3.71
%
18,423
3.71
%
–
0.00
%
13,054
2.81
%
13,458
2.89
%
(404
)
-0.08
%
Other borrowed money
8,235
4.15
%
8,254
4.16
%
(19
)
-0.01
%
6,134
3.99
%
6,187
4.03
%
(53
)
-0.04
%
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase
837
4.00
%
837
4.00
%
–
0.00
%
1,181
4.18
%
1,181
4.18
%
–
0.00
%
Subordinated notes
853
3.27
%
853
3.27
%
–
0.00
%
853
3.28
%
853
3.28
%
–
0.00
%
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities
58,639
3.16
%
58,658
3.16
%
(19
)
0.00
%
40,076
2.35
%
40,533
2.38
%
(457
)
-0.03
%
Interest/Dividend income/yield
121,721
5.17
%
119,643
5.08
%
2,078
0.09
%
101,538
4.57
%
99,051
4.47
%
2,487
0.10
%
Interest Expense / yield
58,639
3.16
%
58,658
3.16
%
(19
)
0.00
%
40,076
2.35
%
40,533
2.38
%
(457
)
-0.03
%
Net Interest Spread
63,082
2.01
%
60,985
1.92
%
2,097
0.09
%
61,462
2.22
%
58,518
2.09
%
2,944
0.13
%
Net Interest Margin
2.68
%
2.59
%
0.09
%
2.77
%
2.64
%
0.13
%
Company Contact:
Investor and Media Contact:
Lars B. Eller President and Chief Executive Officer Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (419) 446-2501 leller@fm.bank
Andrew M. Berger Managing Director SM Berger & Company, Inc. (216) 464-6400 andrew@smberger.com
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff (1SL/CNS) Adm. Sir Ben Key, and U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations Lt. Gen. James Bierman Jr. met at the Pentagon to discuss the ongoing strategic charter between the three services, Oct. 30.
The charter, known as “Delivering Combined Seapower” or DCS, is a bilateral, tri-service strategic plan that supports cooperation, collaboration, and integration among U.S. and U.K. maritime services. First signed in 2014, DCS was introduced to build and sustain interoperability between the U.S. and U.K. fleets.
“I am honoured to return to Washington to refresh the DCS Charter and reinforce our commitment to collaborative working with the U.S.,” said Key. “This strong and vital relationship between us continues, as we work side by side to protect the freedom of the seas. We support CNO’s Navigation Plan and together, our navies will remain a force for stability, security and innovation in an unpredictable world.”
Integrating with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps for more than 100 years, Key’s visit reinforced the Royal Navy’s commitment to remaining closely aligned with the U.S. and the services’ ability to cooperate seamlessly. The three leaders took the opportunity to reaffirm their strategic vision for interchangeability and their determination to maximize opportunities to drive towards this goal – in both current and future force constructs.
This year’s “Azimuth Check” focused on the four lines of effort of the DCS Charter: carrier strike, underwater superiority, littoral ops, and future integrated warfighting, to include improvements in Live, Virtual, and Constructive training opportunities and increased integration of robotic and autonomous systems.
Franchetti and Bierman also discussed strategic guidance detailed in CNO’s Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy, and the Commandant’s Planning Guidance, noting how both documents increase synergy with U.K.-U.S. bilateral relations. A key manifestation of this cooperation is the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific in 2025, alongside U.S. forces in the region, to help contribute to regional security.
“In this decisive decade, our relationship is critical because we know that will never fight alone, but as part of a Joint warfighting ecosystem and with Allies and partners,” said Franchetti “Our relationship also sends a strong deterrent message to any potential adversaries. These “Azimuth Checks” are an important way to stay synchronized on and ensure that we are making measurable progress in driving DCS outcomes.”
Last year CNO, the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith and 1SL/CNS met for the first “Azimuth Check” and to sign the inaugural tri-service agreement, adding in the USMC for the first time, highlighting their shared vision of enabling the next level of interchangeability for the three services.
“As one of the sea services, alongside the Navy, it is critical that the Marine Corps assists in delivering combined seapower with our staunch British ally as we both navigate the changing character of war and the multitude of threats our Nations face,” said Bierman. “It is paramount that we continue to plan, train, and deploy together to enhance our interoperability as a combined Naval and Marine force.”
The U.S. and U.K. naval forces regularly operate together around the globe with a collective dedication to safeguarding global maritime interests and promoting the rules-based international order.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 30 — The majority of Chinese localities, including 27 provincial-level regions on the mainland, have added assisted reproduction services into the scope of medical insurance reimbursement, the National Healthcare Security Administration said on Wednesday.
The remaining four provincial-regions on the mainland have also announced expedited measures to catch up on the issue, according to the administration.
Assisted reproduction normally refers to the use of technologies such as artificial insemination and test-tube fertilization to help couples suffering from infertility or family genetic diseases conceive and give birth to healthy newborns.
On Oct. 28, China’s State Council issued a directive outlining 13 targeted measures to enhance childbirth support services, expand child care systems, strengthen support in education, housing and employment, and foster a birth-friendly social atmosphere.
Notably, suitable labor-pain relief and assisted reproductive technology services will be added to the list of services that qualify for medical insurance reimbursement, according to the document.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 30 — The world’s first international standard for stem cell data, ISO8472-1, has been officially released, the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said Wednesday.
This standard is expected to enhance global stem cell data management and make contributions to the advancement of stem cell research and applications, according to the institute.
As biotechnology advances rapidly worldwide, stem cell data is proliferating. However, the lack of international standards for stem cell data has resulted in issues such as unregulated data management and low efficiency in data sharing and application.
ISO8472-1, co-formulated by experts from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and other countries, stipulates a framework for the interoperability of stem cell data. It is applicable to related databases, data management systems, web interfaces, and more in the field of stem cell research.
The release of ISO8472-1 will provide standard and guidance for data management in the field of stem cells and offer a systematic framework for the development of subsequent international standards for stem cell data, said Qiao Gexia, director of the Institute of Zoology.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 30 — China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters launched a Level-IV emergency response on Wednesday to flooding and typhoons in the coastal province of Zhejiang as Super Typhoon Kong-rey approaches.
Kong-rey is forecast to bring torrential rain to parts of Fujian Province, Zhejiang Province, Shanghai and Jiangsu Province from Wednesday to Friday, with Zhejiang to be hit hard.
The headquarters also maintained a Level-IV emergency response to flooding and typhoons in Hainan Province and Fujian Province.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has deployed more than 4,100 rescuers. It also urged local authorities to take solid steps to brace for the super typhoon.
Free breast screening has been extended for 70 to 74-year-old women living in the Nelson Marlborough district, ahead of a national roll-out late next year, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand with about 3,400 women diagnosed with the disease each year,” says Dr Reti.
“The aim of breast screening is to find breast cancers early – before there are any noticeable symptoms.
“Women who participate in the BreastScreen Aotearoa programme are 34 per cent less likely to die from breast cancer.
“That’s why earlier this year I announced that the Government would extend breast cancer screening to women aged 70-74 – a commitment reinforced through Budget 2024, which delivered $31.2 million for this initiative.
“It’s a real pleasure to be in Nelson, on the last day of Breast Cancer Awareness month, to celebrate a significant milestone in the extension of our free breast screening programme – the start of the roll out here in the Nelson Marlborough district.”
Over the next five years, women will continue to be eligible, while living in Nelson Marlborough, for screening at sites in district until they turn 75, before a roll out across the country from October 2025.
“Extending breast screening to an approximately 60,000 additional eligible women per year takes an immense amount of planning, including investment in workforce and physical infrastructure,” says Dr Reti.
“I thank everyone involved for their efforts and look forward to seeing this programme rolled out nationwide. The extension will potentially save 22 lives per year. We will also be looking to improve the outcomes for women like the more than 60 New Zealanders who succumbed in this age group in 2019.
“The extension of breast screening to 70 to 74-year-olds is only one initiative the Government has introduced to provide New Zealanders with better cancer care.
“As a Government, we’ve already made a number of other advancements such as:
Introducing a target for faster cancer treatment
Increasing access to PET-CT scanning, which is particularly helpful for diagnosis of prostate cancer
Expanding access to life-extending cancer medicines through our transformative investment in Pharmac
Building a new cancer radiotherapy machine at Whangārei Hospital, so 520 Northlanders a year will no longer have to travel to Auckland for treatment
Boosting the National Travel Assistance scheme by $18 million per year for those that need to travel for treatment.
“The Government is committed to improving outcomes for the thousands of Kiwis and their families affected by cancer every year.”
On 13 September 2024, the ACT Government assumed a caretaker role, with an election to be held 19 October 2024. Information on this website will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the election and conclusion of the caretaker period.
Released 31/10/2024
Woden library will reopen at 10am on Monday 18 November 2024 following upgrade works.
The library was temporarily closed in May 2024 due to the significance of the upgrade works. The range of upgrades included:
replacing the heating and air conditioning system
renovating the ground floor bathroom
new LED lighting
roof repairs and other improvements.
We thank the community for their patience as these important works were completed.
A pop-up library at 26 Corinna Street in Phillip has been open during the closure.
The reading room, public PCs, children’s room and community rooms at the pop-up library will be closed from 5.30pm on Wednesday 13 November 2024. The pop-up library will remain open on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 November 2024, between 10am and 5.30pm, to allow community members to return items and collect reservations. The pop-up library will permanently close at 5.30pm on Friday 15 November 2024.
On Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November 2024 reservations ready for collection will be held and will be available at the Woden library for collection from Monday 18 November 2024. During this time, we encourage you to access the digital resources available with your Libraries ACT membership.
The return chute at Woden library will be open and you can return items 24/7. You can now also make bookings for community room hire at Woden library, including for the HIVE, from Monday 18 November 2024.
A range of events and activities are scheduled at the Woden library when it reopens. These include drag story time, giggly wiggly balloon story time with Chloe Lim and an ACT Book of the Year author talk panel. For more information on the reopening and the events planned visit the Libraries ACT website at www.library.act.gov.au.
Distinguished Member of Operations Staff Is Busy Making the World a Better Place
Suzy DiMont is a force to be reckoned with.
Suzy DiMont. Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL
Since she was hired at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2014, the Energy and Sustainability manager has evolved from an intern to a program manager and integral member of the Women’s Network Employee Resource Group (ERG). On the Intelligent Campus team, she is involved with all things sustainability, including the annual commuter survey, Site Sustainability Plan, and climate resilience planning and was also a key contributor to the NREL Smart Labs initiative, which NREL uses to meet sustainability goals.
DiMont is actively engaged in her community and is always looking for ways to give back. Annually, she participates in the Bike MS NREL team ride to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS) research. As a member of the Women’s Network, she regularly mentors NREL peers and helps enable pathways for the professional advancement of women.
Earlier this year, DiMont was named a Distinguished Member of Operations Staff for her “dedication to advancing NREL’s mission and making meaningful strides toward a sustainable and clean energy future.” As a member of the Intelligent Campus Program, she is the primary point of contact with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Golden Field Office and manages NREL’s electric vehicle supply equipment rollout and cost recovery program and NREL’s energy and water utility billing.
When asked if she ever gets time to rest amid numerous projects, leadership roles, and community engagement activities, DiMont responded, “I do rest, I do rest. Well, I have a toddler now, so I don’t rest.”
Then, always finding a way to make others shine, DiMont said, “It’s not just me doing it. I couldn’t do it by myself. I work with a lot of really great people all over the lab.”
During her decade at the laboratory, DiMont has collaborated with diverse groups across NREL and is constantly getting involved with new projects related to sustainability. Although this line of work may seem custom fit, her path from student to educator to engineer to Sustainability manager was far from linear.
Suzy DiMont, husband Neil, and Kosol Kiatreungwattana on their first Bike MS Ride. Photo by Suzy DiMont, NREL
A Lifelong Love for Learning
As a child, DiMont did not long to settle into a perfect career. Instead, her innate curiosity sparked a desire to learn and participate in as many activities as possible.
“I don’t know if I ever really had a dream that I wanted to work,” DiMont said. “I always had a dream that I wanted to learn. I really liked school, I liked all topics, I liked everything. Math, reading, art, history, science—I wanted to do all of it.”
DiMont’s desire to be a well-rounded learner drew her to a liberal arts education at Hamilton College in New York.
At Hamilton, she explored a variety of majors—psychology, art, French, and archeology—before landing on anthropology and mathematics.
Her first job after college was teaching math at the Solebury Boarding School in Pennsylvania. The role was intimidating because, although DiMont was a lifelong learner, she had no practice developing formal lesson plans for grade schoolers. She learned how to write tests that were appropriately challenging for students and experienced the joys of being a dorm mom for the girls on campus. DiMont also realized teaching was not her calling.
After leaving Solebury, DiMont joined AmeriCorps, an independent U.S. government agency focused on service and volunteerism, and began working for the “I Have a Dream” Foundation. DiMont worked with students at under-resourced schools on dropout prevention and helped the students, known as “dreamers,” realize their aspirations and connected them with support.
One of DiMont’s former dreamers, Anakary Valenzuela, is now a business support administrative associate for NREL’s Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences (MTES) directorate. She remembers meeting DiMont as a sophomore at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colorado.
Valenzuela had been a dreamer since second grade and was all too familiar with the influx of AmeriCorps members who served for a year then moved onto the next opportunity. DiMont was different. She stayed with the program for three years—long enough to see the cohort of students graduate high school—and she took a genuine interest in the lives of students she mentored.
When Anakary Valenzuela was a student, the “I Have a Dream” Foundation hosted an event to celebrate high school graduation. Photo from Casie Zalud Photography
“She was the best AmeriCorp we ever had,” Valenzuela said. “I would go to her for advice. She would mentor me. [She was] my counselor, my friend. She would always stay extra hours to talk to us if it had to do with homework or college prep or advising us on what type of college we should go to or major [we should declare]. And then she would drive us home.”
Their friendship extended well beyond Valenzuela’s high school graduation as DiMont informally mentored Valenzuela throughout college and encouraged her to apply at NREL. After Valenzuela was hired, DiMont encouraged her to get involved with the Women’s Network and Hispanic and Latinx Alliance and invited her to ERG meetings and dinners to make friends and build her network.
“She inspires me to do more. I feel like I am part of her family,” Valenzuela said. “I can always count on her, she’s always been there. I don’t know how she does everything, but I’m so grateful that we crossed paths in this lifetime.”
From Educator to Engineer
During her three years with AmeriCorps, DiMont realized she could pursue her dual loves for mathematics and community engagement with a career in engineering. Working with low-income students exposed disparities in the lack of access to civil infrastructure. She saw engineering as a way to make infrastructure and transportation equitable for all.
DiMont enrolled in the Engineering and Developing Communities graduate program at the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder. DiMont got involved in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, known as the RASEI program, now a joint program between NREL and CU Boulder.
The university was DiMont’s introduction to NREL, via one of the laboratory’s vocal supporters: former NREL research technician Marc Landry.
“What an incredible human,” DiMont said. “He would not stop talking about NREL and what a wonderful place it was … an unbelievable mind.”
During one of the first events DiMont attended as an intern in 2014, Xcel Energy awarded NREL the Self-Direct Achievement Award. Photo from Suzy DiMont, NREL
During graduate school, DiMont pondered a career in international development work. She and her then boyfriend, now husband, traveled to Bolivia with a South Dakota Engineers Without Borders program to participate in a water development project. Although the work was important, she felt it was better to stay in Boulder.
“To do international development work well, you have to be part of that community, and you have to invest in that community and spend time there and be there,” DiMont said. “You can’t just swoop in with technology. It’s not kind; it’s not effective.”
After hearing Landry sing NREL’s praises for so many years, DiMont decided to apply for a sustainability internship at NREL.
‘Sustainability Is a Marathon, not a Sprint’
As DiMont evolved from an intern into her current role, much of her work folded into the Intelligent Campus program, which leverages NREL campuses to advance research and achieve operational excellence by deploying cutting-edge control and analytics technology. Or in DiMont’s words, her job “sits at the intersection of research and making things happen.”
She focuses on creating programs and strategies to implement changes regarding energy efficiency, the kind of energy NREL uses, and getting to net zero. However, DiMont acknowledged that “sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint.” For NREL to achieve its sustainability goals, the right folks—including researchers, subject matter experts, communicators, and technicians—need to come together and stay excited about work ahead.
“A lot of what we do won’t have an impact for a while. That’s why it’s important to keep a generational lens,” DiMont said. “It’s not always easy, but having a great team makes it possible. They can commiserate with you, they support you, they back you up.”
The NREL Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention Team was recognized for a DOE Sustainability Award in 2016. Right to left: Ali Mohagheghi, Kenneth Proc, Kevin Donovan, Ellen Fortier, Laura Justice, Nancy Stovall, Laurie Snyder, Suzy DiMont and Susan Chadwick. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Making the World a Better Place for All
When it comes to making the world a better place, for DiMont, that starts with making NREL a better place. As an early member of the Women’s Network, Suzy advocates for diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The Women’s Network is one of NREL’s 11 ERGs and provides a platform for promoting women in leadership and the workforce.
“I think the Women’s Network is so important, because there is still, especially in research in STEM, so much discrimination against women, people of color, women with intersectional identities, folks that are marginalized in some way,” DiMont said.
For many, the biggest hurdle is staying in a career field if you see few people who look like you or share your experiences.
“It’s a huge loss, because these are the fields where we need a diversity of thought, people that don’t see the world the same way, that think about problems differently, people that lead differently,” DiMont said. “You need that diversity in a field where you’re looking for innovation and new things. To reach everyone on the planet, you must have that diversity to be successful.”
During her tenure at NREL, DiMont has witnessed major changes in the ways NREL promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and credits much of this change to NREL’s women in leadership, such as Bobi Garrett, NREL’s former chief operating officer, and Julie Baker, deputy laboratory director for Laboratory Operations.
Suzy DiMont and her child Sebastian. Photo from Suzy DiMont, NREL
“It’s incredible to be around these powerful women,” DiMont said. “It’s very inspiring.”
As a mother, DiMont wants to make the world a better place for her child. Living in a world impacted by climate change causes many to feel anxious and depressed about the future. For DiMont, knowing that humans caused climate change means humans are also part of the solution. She hopes to impart this optimism onto the next generation.
“I want my child to live in a world where he sees engineers and expects them to be women,” DiMont said. “I want him to feel like he has agency and can be part of these solutions.”
It is a lot of work and the job is not easy, but for DiMont, making the world better for the next generation is what it is all about.
“When do I rest?” DiMont asked. “I’ve got this time to do what I can do with it. I put in my energy when I can, then I unplug. I unplug and put my energy in other places. It’s just about being present for the things you are doing in that moment.”
Learn more about NREL’s commitments to sustainability and resilience.
The public evaluates our mission and services primarily through online interactions. In 2021, GSA’s Service Design program in the Office of Customer Experience launched a strategy to enhance our customers’ digital experience. Building upon our case study on composite indicators, we asked ourselves: How do we define compliance? How do we measure it in a consistent way? This led us to a critical prompt: How do we get these wildly different websites to behave in ways customers expect, while aligning to federal policy and law?
Our objective was clear. We needed to design an evaluation process that captured qualitative and quantitative data to help us determine which websites needed improvement.
Over the next three years, we launched a series of digital analytics tools, successfully inventoried over 180 public-facing websites, and interviewed close to 90 website managers to gain a clear understanding of our agency’s digital portfolio. We also produced over 160 recommendations reports (one for each website we evaluated), to help each web team improve digital experience and increase compliance with federal web policies. We learned strategies to integrate both qualitative and quantitative data, ensuring our transformation process remains tightly aligned with our customers’ needs.
Customer-centricity, also known as the understanding of customer needs and expectations, became the central theme of our website evaluation project. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches, we created a holistic view of each website’s performance and compliance. Furthermore, our team designed the Enterprise Digital Experience Index to improve the customer-centricity of GSA’s websites, and ground our work in GSA strategic goals and federal web policy, including the requirements for delivering a digital-first public experience.
The index uses qualitative and quantitative measures to determine whether sites are well-managed, and meet customer needs and agency mission. Our team leveraged a series of free, accessible digital analytics tools to evaluate the quantitative side. We also met with every website team in GSA to gather qualitative customer-centricity data.
Whale Design/iStock via Getty Images
The qualitative component of the index uses human-centered design interviews that have been compiled into evaluation documents. These evaluations identify such things as opportunities for additional coaching, sites that are not properly resourced to meet customer needs, and candidates for website modernization or decommissioning. We assessed each web team’s ability to identify their primary audience, site purpose, whether they used repeatable customer feedback mechanisms, and whether they took action based on customer feedback. Additionally, we evaluated whether teams possessed the necessary skills to improve their websites, and whether they used robust methodologies (in addition to Digital Analytics Program data) to measure the impact of these improvements.
The quantitative component analyzed the website’s accessibility, performance and search engine optimization, user behavior, U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) usage, and presence of required links. We designed a Google Chrome extension for our agency, curated from free and accessible analytics tools such as:
Site Scanner and custom crawlers: These tools help us evaluate compliance with agency-determined performance indicators, including the presence of certain USWDS components, and required links (FOIA, accessibility statement, privacy policy, etc.).
Digital Analytics Program (DAP): Integrated with Google Analytics, DAP offers a broad view of how users interact with the website, identifying such things as the top referring and outbound sites, page load times, and bounce rates.
Google Lighthouse: Assesses performance, search engine optimization, accessibility, and mobile optimization, and provides actionable insights to enhance site performance.
Accessibility testing: GSA has acquired and adopted a standard accessibility testing tool to help our web teams assess conformance with Section 508 standards. We scan for accessibility issues, focusing on critical metrics such as keyboard accessibility and alt text for images.
Tightening up digital experience
Sharing the data generated by these tools, along with appropriate context to help our teams understand the meaning of the data, led to significant improvements in website management and user experience.
In the first year of the project, we implemented a digital registry that streamlined the data collection process. Within one month, 100% of our teams had participated and registered their sites — a stark improvement from the previous year’s 70% input rate.
In the second year, we identified a responsible manager for 100% of our websites and partnered with GSA’s Office of Human Resources to develop a 3-part training series to orient people to the expectations and requirements of this role. This effort was based largely on what we learned through our qualitative analysis and has proven transformative for our agency. The management chain for each digital property is now visible at the enterprise level, and each website manager has a strong foundation in digital property management, in alignment with federal requirements and agency best practices. This project also inspired us to contribute to the design and launch of a new enterprise tool to display critical information about each GSA website, including linking each website to common service categories or themes. This helps our web teams gain a holistic perspective of their website and its role in the broader digital experience we offer GSA customers.
In year three, we piloted annual website self-assessments via our Digital Lifecycle Program which provides a framework for website management at GSA. This program provides implementation guidance to comply with over 100+ federal requirements and is a roadmap launching and managing websites, and assessing how we invest in our digital portfolio.
Over the course of this work, we discovered teams that hadn’t assessed the impact of their website on business operations and customer experience, and we identified several outdated products. These teams needed guidance on how to decommission websites that no longer served the public or supported agency mission. In 2024, we developed and published a decommissioning guide.
Through the Digital Lifecycle Program, our agency has reduced our digital portfolio by over 35%, resulting in huge cost savings for the agency, and a better digital experience for our customers. This demonstrates that our collaborative approach to advancing information technology strategies and continually improving our customers’ digital experience is working.
Embracing digital transformation
As GSA leadership continues to refine our agency vision for customer-centric digital service delivery, we can all demonstrate commitment through actions and resource allocation. Integrating both qualitative and quantitative data ensures our transformation process is tightly aligned with our customers’ needs, and positions GSA as a leader in customer centricity and digital excellence.
What can I do next?
Review an introduction to analytics to learn how metrics and data can improve understanding of how people use your website.
You can also join the Digital.gov Web Analytics Community of Practice to connect with government web practitioners who are working to share and make better, data-informed decisions using web analytics and other optimization strategies.
If you work at a U.S. federal government agency, and would like to learn more about this work, reach out to GSA’s Service Design team at customerexperience@gsa.gov.
Disclaimer: All references to specific brands, products, and/or companies are used only for illustrative purposes and do not imply endorsement by the U.S. federal government or any federal government agency.
LOS ANGELES, CA, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — M&G ENT USA, the U.S. branch of M&G ENT Co., Ltd., a specialized manufacturer of smart education and ICT equipment for business use, will officially enter the North American market, starting with the 2024 photo booth business presentation to be held at The One event hall in LA on Tuesday, November 5, at 5 PM.
M&G ENT Co., Ltd. manufactures and supplies projectors and electronic whiteboards to major Korean video equipment companies and educational institutions. To enter the North American market, the company established branches on the East Coast (Boston) and West Coast (LA) of the U.S., a first for the industry, during the second half of last year.
M&G ENT’s Momentura is a brand that is derived from the Latin word meaning “moment.” the Momentura photo booth is equipped with a high-performance DSLR and a dedicated photo printer, producing high-quality photos in a short time compared to photo booths currently available in the North American market. It has the ability to move the camera vertically to accommodate diverse user audiences, as well as the ability to freely apply filters and stickers to the images taken. The photo booth also is equipped with AR features such as caricatures, as well as regular frame cuts, ID photo features, and the function to print images saved on your phone. Moreover, it incorporates Korean-style designs based on K-culture that resonate with younger generations. Momentura also provides a customizable service for the exterior and frames to fit various installation settings, which has been gaining traction amongst users.
Notably, at the ISTE Live 2024 International Education Exhibition held in Denver, Colorado, in June, M&G ENT unveiled a modular photo booth, specialized for rental services. The particular model is convenient for transportation and storage and ideal for use at events hosted by schools and public institutions. This received enthusiastic responses from education institution representatives.
Sungju An, CEO of M&G ENT, announced that through the Los Angeles business presentation, they plan to recruit dealers and agents across the U.S., while showcasing the actual products. They aim to provide differentiated services such as sales, delivery, and after-sales support through local branches and distribution networks. By introducing various products into the market, they hope to create new business opportunities that offer a win-win situation for both partners, and expand the photo booth business to the global market.
The 2024 photo booth business presentation schedule is as follows:
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: The One Event Hall 5F, 3680 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, participated in the 28th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) held in Singapore. Held under the theme “Strengthening Resilience and Promoting Innovation,” the Meeting exchanged views, reviewed the progress of the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Work Programme 2021-2025 as well as deliberated on priorities for the post-2025 cooperation on labour. Singapore assumed the ALMM Chairmanship for 2024-2026. The Meeting was attended by ASEAN Member States, with Timor-Leste joined as observer.
The post The 28th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting convenes in Singapore appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) welcomed a combined $4,570,920 for two projects in New Mexico from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen the nation’s supply chain, reduce costs, and grow New Mexico’s economy.
$4,000,000 will help San Juan County and the Navajo Nation complete the planning for a proposed freight rail line connecting Farmington and Gallup.
$570,920 will help the City of Clovis enhance safety and reduce traffic delays at two railway crossings.
“Thanks to our Infrastructure Law, we’re delivering the funds needed to kick-start planning for a freight rail line from Farmington to Gallup and improve railway crossings in Clovis. Combined, these investments will strengthen our nation’s supply chain, grow local economies, lower transportation costs, create high-quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around, and improve safety for our communities,” said Heinrich. “I’m pleased to welcome these federal investments, and I remain committed to securing more investments to connect rural communities to the abundant opportunities ahead.”
“Across our state, New Mexicans rely daily on our railways for travel and to keep our economy running,” saidLuján. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this $4.5+ million in federal funding will deliver much-needed railway safety enhancements in Clovis and help construct a new rail line within the Navajo Nation to expand regional rail service in Northwestern New Mexico. I’m proud to welcome these two grants that will both boost railway service and drive economic development for Clovis, the Navajo Nation, and their surrounding communities. I will continue to fight to bring federal dollars home to New Mexico to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail.”
“Every time I go to the Four Corners, local leaders emphasize the importance of connecting the region with rail. The Four Corners area is a major economic center of our state, and the funding we’re announcing today is the beginning of our work to make sure our rail infrastructure is ready to meet that potential across San Juan and McKinley Counties,” said Leger Fernández. “I am happy that this funding also includes improvements to safety and efficiency of freight in Clovis. With the support of the CRISI program, we can begin the critical work needed to build stronger connections and drive growth in rural New Mexico.”
“I am thrilled about the recent allocation of two significant federal grants from the Federal Railroad Administration’s CRISI program, which will greatly enhance rail safety and connectivity in New Mexico,” saidStansbury. “These two grants reflect our commitment to investing in infrastructure prioritizing safety and economic growth. I am grateful for the support from the Federal Railroad Administration and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition as we work together to build a safer New Mexico!”
“Federal investments like this bring vital safety and economic benefits to communities across New Mexico. With this funding, we’re improving railway safety, cutting down delays, and connecting New Mexicans to opportunities that drive economic growth and quality jobs,” saidVasquez. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are building a stronger, safer transportation network. I’m proud to welcome this funding to bring more jobs and opportunities to our rural communities.”
“The award of grant funding takes a prospective freight rail line study further than any study in the past and is further proof of the importance of collaboration between tribal, local, state, and federal partners to open doors to economic opportunities. We are appreciative of assistance from New Mexico’s federal delegation and excited for future economic growth opportunities in San Juan County and the Four Corners region,” saidJohn T. Beckstead, San Juan County Commission Chairman.
“The Federal CRISI Grant brings San Juan County and the City of Farmington one step closer to having competitive transportation and economic development. This is an important step in growing our regional economy,” said Tim Gibbs, Four Corner Economic Development CEO.
The grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. The CRISI Program received significant, additional investments from the Infrastructure Law – legislation passed by Democrats in the N.M. Congressional Delegation.
The N.M. Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation supporting the grant for San Juan County that is being announced today. This grant will prepare the Four Corners Rail Project for final design proposals and planning.
In May 2020, Heinrich and Luján wrote a letter of support for San Juan County’s application for a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant, which applicants of the CRISI Program are required to be approved for.
Members of the N.M. Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging the support of the grant for the City of Clovis that is being announced today. This grant will enhance safety and reduce traffic delays at two railway crossings including modifications to the Norris Street railroad crossing and construction of a new grade-separated crossing at MLK Jr. Boulevard.
Below is a breakdown of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration funding:
Project Name
Recipient
Award Amount
Project Description
Clovis, N.M. Corridor Improvement Project
City of Clovis
$ 570,920
The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes activities for one grade crossing separation and improvements to a second at-grade crossing along the BNSF Railway line in Clovis, New Mexico. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and improving system and service performance as the project will reduce blocked crossings. The City of Clovis and BNSF Railway will contribute the 53 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.
Four Corners Freight Rail Project
San Juan County
$ 4,000,000
The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes activities to develop a new rail line to connect the Farmington, New Mexico Area to the BNSF Railway corridor near Gallup across San Juan County and McKinley County, New Mexico. The proposed project is a partnership between San Juan County, the Navajo Nation, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and most of the project is located within the Navajo Nation. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing resilience and improving system and service performance as the project will provide a viable freight transportation modal alternative to highway trucking, opportunities to simplify the supply chain, and enable new, rail-dependent economic development opportunities thereby imparting benefits to the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities. San Juan County will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.
For more information from San Juan County on the proposed Four Corners Rail Project, please click here.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
PHOTOS/VIDEOS
CLOVIS, N.M. — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on a new 21,000 square foot terminal at Clovis Regional Airport (CVN). The new terminal at Clovis Regional Airport is fully funded by a $15.7 million grant and a $3.5 million grant from the Infrastructure Law — legislation passed by Democrats in the N.M. Congressional Delegation — and a Heinrich-led $3.5 million Congressionally Directed Spending award that is advancing in the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee in July.
These three investments, totaling $22,700,000, are making it possible for Clovis to complete the new terminal.
The terminal at Clovis Regional Airport will better connect the community, improve travelers’ experiences, create high-quality jobs, and grow local economies across New Mexico.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on a new terminal at Clovis Regional Airport (CVN), October 29, 2024.
“When we invest in New Mexico’s airports, we invest in the people who rely on these facilities to do business in our state, create jobs, and contribute to our economy,” said Heinrich. “I am proud to have secured funding from the Infrastructure Law to fully construct Clovis Regional Airport’s new terminal and I will keep fighting to secure more investments to improve airports all across New Mexico — improving travelers’ experiences, creating high quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around, and driving our state’s economic growth for the future.”
“Thanks to our work on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this $22 million investment will create good jobs, connect families across the region, and drive economic vitality for communities across eastern New Mexico,” said Leger Fernández. “Today’s groundbreaking at the Clovis Regional Airport gets us closer to connecting eastern New Mexico to new economic opportunities and supporting the region’s growth. This new terminal isn’t just about creating a strong foundation for the future of Clovis — it’s about creating a strong foundation for the future of eastern New Mexico. I also want to thank Senator Heinrich for his leadership as he champions rural projects like this one in the Senate Appropriations Committee.”
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) participate in a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on a new terminal at Clovis Regional Airport (CVN), October 29, 2024.
The Infrastructure Law is delivering billions of dollars in historic infrastructure investments to New Mexico.
The Infrastructure Law is set to invest $4.3 billion in formula funding alone for at least 337 vital projects in New Mexico. Some of the projects and priorities that have already received federal funding from the Infrastructure Law include:
$1.8 billion for New Mexico’s roads and bridges.
$379 million over five years, based on formula funding, for New Mexico’s public transit. To date, New Mexico has been allocated $147.2 million to improve public transportation options across the state in Fiscal Year 2022.
$710 million for clean drinking water in New Mexico.
$362.3 million for infrastructure resilience, including $23.4 million through the Army Corps of Engineers for flood mitigation in New Mexico.
$160 million, the first installment of funding from the Infrastructure Law, to support the completion of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System pipeline in Eastern New Mexico.
$3 billion across Indian Country to help Tribes deploy broadband infrastructure.
$52.4 million for capping orphaned oil and gas wells and reclaiming abandoned mine lands and $20.7 million has been allocated to cleaning up Superfund and Brownfield sites across New Mexico.
$38 million over five years, based on formula funding, to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
$74.9 million for clean energy, energy efficiency, and power in New Mexico.
$50 million for airports across New Mexico.
$33 million for clean and low emission buses in New Mexico.
The Infrastructure Law is also helping 173,000 New Mexico households save on broadband. For eligibility on internet programs, visit GetInternet.gov.
For more information, click here to see a map of funding and announced projects in New Mexico through the Infrastructure Law.
Find a fact sheet of the investments New Mexico has received through the Infrastructure Law here.
Headline: Trial Use of a Generative AI-based Demand Forecasting Application to Drive E-commerce Sales Growth in Southeast Asia
Aiming to expand the direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales of Panasonic products with a focus on home appliances and consumer electronics in Southeast Asian markets, GDX Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Jun Horata, hereafter “GDX”) has developed a new application called AI Commerce Series 1 “Demand Forecast” in collaboration with Panasonic Appliances Marketing Asia Pacific (hereafter “PAPMAP”) based in Malaysia and affiliated with Panasonic Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Masahiro Shinada, hereafter “Panasonic”), and began its trial use in Thailand.
AI Commerce Series 1 “Demand Forecast” is an application for demand prediction independently developed by GDX to maximize sales and streamline inventory control. Specifically, generative AI selects the scenario best suited for the situation from the predictions generated by AI based on 36 scenarios and outputs various demand forecast data in the format specified by users. PAPMAP has collaborated with GDX in application development to improve the accuracy of demand forecasting for e-commerce sales in Southeast Asia and to develop a user-friendly generative AI-based tool for its marketing staff without AI-related expertise.
In October 2024, a Panasonic sales company in Thailand (Panasonic Solutions (Thailand) Co., Ltd.) began the trial use of this new application to improve the accuracy of e-commerce sales forecasts for home appliances and consumer electronics. This will enable PAPMAP to predict future demand effortlessly and simply, without reliance on individual expertise, and to incorporate the forecast into product purchase planning by applying generative AI and machine learning to Panasonic’s sales-related data, thereby reducing the loss of sales opportunities. The company will start by expanding e-commerce sales in Thailand.
By contributing to Panasonic’s e-commerce sales through the use of advanced generative AI technology, GDX aims to open up new possibilities for D2C sales in Southeast Asian markets. PAPMAP will verify the effectiveness and usability of the application through trial use in Thailand and consider broadening the scope of collaboration in e-commerce sales with a view to expanding its use in the rest of Southeast Asia.
In order to support the DX promotion of brand companies’ entire value chain, GDX plans to establish a series of AI Commerce products as generative AI-based solutions and release them successively.
Headline: Kid Witness News (KWN) Global Summit 2024—Announcement of Award Results
Participating countries (11 countries)
Brazil, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vietnam
* Presented in alphabetical order* Participants will be able to view a live stream of the summit on the day of the summit.
Senior officer terminated following Professional Standards investigation
Wednesday, 30 October 2024 – 5:00 pm.
A senior police officer’s employment has been formally terminated following an extensive Professional Standards investigation into internal complaints of sexual misconduct at a Christmas function with colleagues in Hobart in December 2023. The officer, an inspector of police, was dismissed under section 30(1) of the Police Service Act 2003, which determines that a commissioned officer can be terminated if the Commissioner does not have confidence in their suitability to continue as a police officer. Commissioner Donna Adams said that Tasmania Police was committed to delivering a policing service in line with our Values of Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Support. “The Tasmanian community has high expectations of its policing service, and we are entrusted with significant powers to perform our duties to keep people safe. The conduct of every police officer can impact on the community’s confidence in police to deliver this service,” she said.
Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority
CASA Director of Aviation Safety Pip Spence discusses flight operations with a focus on safety, including upset prevention and recovery training, combating fatigue, clear communication, pilot mental health, and the importance of continuous education in building a strong safety culture.
Topics: COVID-19 pandemic; COVID inquiry report; Australian Centre for Disease Control; PLACE announcement; Qantas flight upgrades.
PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: What would you do if Australia faced another global pandemic and you were again asked to make big sacrifices in the name of public health? A major review of Australia’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has found many people will be less accommodating of those requests in the future, while warning another pandemic is likely to happen in our lifetimes. Now, the Government says a new disease control centre will help restore public trust. We’re going to be joined now by Amanda Rishworth, who is the Minister for Social Services. She’s going to talk to us about this and another scheme the Government’s announcing today. Welcome to the programme, Minister.
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Great to be with you.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: The COVID inquiry found mistakes were made, but overall, Australia was one of the most successful countries in its pandemic response. Do you think history will give the Morrison Government more credit?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, I think really what this review tried to do is identify what can we do better next time and what actually worked. And so the report’s been very useful in that. But what really, I think, came out of the report is we need to be better prepared in the future. I think that was one of the really key findings. How do we get in a position where we are better prepared to respond to something like that in the future? And I think in terms of key learnings of this report, I think that is one of the key learnings, that we need to be prepared for what may come next.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: You’ve promised to fund an Australian Centre for Disease Control, and you say it will restore public trust, but will that be enough?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, the public trust issue is a very concerning element of this report. If you remember back to that time during COVID you know, people were very compliant. But I think one of the elements is that this Centre for Disease Control will be independent, but I think importantly, it will be much more responsive and transparent with the evidence. I think that is one of the things coming out of this report that really talked about how do we make sure that the health data, the evidence, that what we’re asking people to do is very much embedded in real-time evidence, is really critical. And I hope that as we build up this capability, this transparency, but also the real-time evidence, provides people with the reassurance that what we’re asking them to do actually is something that they should do, because it’s backed up by that real-time evidence.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: The coalition says this review didn’t look at the states and territories. They are right. And given they were the ones that imposed some of these restrictions, isn’t that a major flaw?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: This wasn’t wanting to go over the existing reviews that have been done in states and territories. I think from the Commonwealth’s perspective, this report was really about how do we prepare for a future pandemic. What are the lessons learned for the Commonwealth? It’s very important that the Commonwealth is better prepared and that came through clearly both in its economic response and its health response. So, I’m focused on, as is the Government, what can we do better next time? And this report has been really important in identifying what went right, but where we could have adjusted the settings as well.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: You’re the Minister for Social Services and that involves really many vulnerable communities. It was in fact vulnerable communities, particularly when I think about the NSW lockdowns, that were disproportionately affected. Was that wrong with the benefit of hindsight?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, I don’t want to second guess, but the report did highlight the disproportionate impact [the lockdowns] had on some vulnerable communities. So, I think that is really important. And what the report said is we, obviously, had to have a strong response to understand what we were dealing with, but how do we transition really quickly and weigh up the health benefits and the non-health risks, which were things at both economic but also wellbeing risks. So, this report does talk about how we better transition in different phases, but it did highlight that as a result of perhaps not transitioning from the initial response to the suppression response, that some vulnerable communities were particularly targeted or not targeted – that’s probably not the right word – were particularly impacted as a result. And I think we have to be very much aware of that. The other element that really came out in the report is the impact on mental health and wellbeing. And I think that’s something we need to be very conscious of and work into the future on repairing.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: I want to move to what you’re launching today. You’re launching a new policy that brings philanthropic donors and the Government together to take on entrenched social issues. How will it work?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Today is a really exciting day because we’re announcing a new organisation called PLACE, which will be a not-for-profit, independent national organisation that will work with communities about responding to the issues that they know are in their communities, but in a way that they would like to see responded. Now, this is different, because this isn’t the Government just giving a grant to an organisation to do this work. This is a true partnership where five philanthropic organisations are putting money on the table, with government, to create this organisation in true partnership, and it will work with local communities to get better outcomes and shift in some areas – which have been seeing entrenched disadvantage – to see things move. So, this is really exciting. There is really amazing work being done in communities when it comes to what we call place-based solutions. That’s where communities have a say and help design the solutions. And money isn’t top down, but it really is directed to where communities want. But it’s pretty sporadic, and a lot of communities don’t have the data they need, for example, this organisation will work with communities, so if they want to implement this type of response, they can.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: It’s not a lot of money. So, how would it work? How do you get the money to actually be meaningful in a community that’s identified as being high needs?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, this money is not about funding the services and support. That money is often there being provided by philanthropy and being provided by Government, but it’s not being directed into the initiatives or into the areas that community want. So, what this organisation will do will work with communities and government and philanthropic organisations to get the money that’s often already in their community, working better in programs that align to what the community wants. So, this isn’t about funding programs, this is about doing the work, working on how to get the data, for example. A lot of communities have a gut feeling something’s working, but they can’t see the data. And where we’ve implemented this place-based response, we can see it really working. One example is the community in Burnie decided they wanted to focus on completion rates, year 12 completion rates and it has gone up since 2011 to 2020 by 86%. And so this organisation is about working with communities to help them build these responses and attract the investment and get the money working for their community.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: Before I let you go, there’s been a lot of talk about the Prime Minister in the wake of this book on Qantas and upgrades. There is a proposal from Peter Dutton that the Prime Minister should refer himself to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Will he?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, I think that instead of focusing on the Prime Minister and his family, the Opposition Leader needs to start explaining about his upgrades, about his use of Gina Reinhart’s private jet. I mean, the Prime Minister has been incredibly transparent about this. He has declared on the public record over and over again. But Peter Dutton seems to be absolutely focused on the politics of this and not on the substance.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: But you didn’t kind of go to my fundamental question, which is, do you think this should be looked at by the National Anti Corruption Commission? If there’s nothing to see, where’s the harm in him referring himself?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, I think the Prime Minister, as with other members of Parliament, are required to be transparent through their declarations on their register of interest. And, you know, we’ve seen over the last couple of days many, many politicians from all sides having flight upgrades.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: Have you ever asked for one?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: To be honest, I’ve got a young family and I don’t travel into very many places, but I haven’t asked for one. But I think that there are many politicians that have had upgrades. And so there’s a register of public interest, so that it’s all transparent. And, you know, if Peter Dutton is saying there’s questions to be answered, he needs to answer the question, explain his use of Gina Rinehart’s private jet.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: It doesn’t have to be a competition between will you answer questions? Will you answer questions? Shouldn’t, you know, both sides just answer the questions? And there are some additional questions that the Prime Minister has not addressed about if he discussed upgraded flights directly with Alan Joyce when he was Transport Minister.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, I think that there needs to be a consistent approach. The opposition is making this completely political. It’s a complete pile on the Prime Minister. Peter Dutton can’t explain his use of Gina Rinehart’s private jet. So, quite frankly, I think there’s a lot of politics here and a lot of hypocrisy from the opposition. I mean, we have Paul Fletcher, who’s declared sixty-nine upgrades. So, I think what I’m pointing out here is the hypocrisy of the opposition playing politics with this.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: Thank you so much for joining us, Minister.