KBC releases Value Chain Optimization Manifesto to guide an embattled Energy and Chemical industry back to profitability

A blueprint for executives seeking a major step change in profitability through integrated asset and supply chain optimization

LONDON, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — KBC (A Yokogawa Company) has released its Value Chain Optimization Manifesto to help asset owners and operators in the Energy and Chemicals industry drive top line revenue growth, at significantly less cost. Few companies have been able to align all aspects of their business model to extract maximum value from their asset…

A blueprint for executives seeking a major step change in profitability through integrated asset and supply chain optimization

LONDON, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — KBC (A Yokogawa Company) has released its Value Chain Optimization Manifesto to help asset owners and operators in the Energy and Chemicals industry drive top line revenue growth, at significantly less cost. Few companies have been able to align all aspects of their business model to extract maximum value from their asset and supply chain optimization activities. The manifesto provides a blueprint for the agile optimization of fluids, feedstocks and other inputs with products and operations to reflect market demand and prices.

Oil and gas dominate the COVID-19 lost revenue projections with over USD 1.8 trillion lost in 2020, according to recent research by Fitch Ratings1. The Energy and Chemicals industry as a whole has experienced a major contraction in free cash flows. This has driven a big focus on lowering costs, optimizing existing production at lower throughput / flow rates, and deferment of maintenance on uneconomic production. Companies are being forced to adjust their portfolios and operating models; digitalizing deeper and faster to improve economics of marginal assets.

The manifesto outlines how value chain optimization can be applied wisely, demystifies the jargon, describes practical solutions and demonstrates value. It is based on deep hands-on experience, alongside KBC’s parent Yokogawa, working with the world’s largest and most complex companies in the Energy and Chemical industry. The manifesto focuses on upstream oil and gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil refining, petrochemicals and power utilities sectors, and showcases how certain assets can achieve in excess of USD 600 million incremental profitability.

«Value chain optimization is the key to driving more revenue, at less cost, with higher capital efficiency and reinforced license to operate,» comments Duncan Micklem, Executive Vice President at KBC. «Many businesses struggle with operating plan execution and efficiently linking operating plans to production schedules. The Value Chain Optimization Manifesto outlines how to solve for this at scale.»

The Value Chain Optimization Manifesto is available for free download now from KBC’s website, www.kbc.global.

About KBC

KBC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, is all about excellence in the Energy and Chemical industry. We make excellence real for our customers through the actions of our people fused with our technology and best practices. We provide leading software and expert services, powered by the cloud, to assure process operations achieve their full potential. Our customers achieve operating performance that surpasses ordinary standards, now and into the future. For more information, visit www.kbc.global.

1 https://www.fitchratings.com/research/corporate-finance/the-road-back-post-lockdown-assumptions-for-global-corporates-09-06-2020

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SOURCE KBC – A Yokogawa Company

Cellcom Israel Announces a Purported Class Action Filed Against the Company

NETANYA, Israel, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL) (TASE: CEL) (hereinafter: the «Company») announced today that a purported class action was filed against the Company, alleging that the Company misled its customers by failing to disclose certain information in relation to a certain service. The amount claimed from the Company, if the lawsuit is certified as a class action, was estimated by the plaintiff to be approximately NIS 179…

NETANYA, Israel, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL) (TASE: CEL) (hereinafter: the «Company») announced today that a purported class action was filed against the Company, alleging that the Company misled its customers by failing to disclose certain information in relation to a certain service. The amount claimed from the Company, if the lawsuit is certified as a class action, was estimated by the plaintiff to be approximately NIS 179 million. At this preliminary stage, the Company is unable to assess the lawsuit’s chances of success.

About Cellcom Israel

Cellcom Israel Ltd., established in 1994, is a leading Israeli communications group, providing a wide range of communications services. Cellcom Israel is the largest Israeli cellular provider, providing its approximately 2.747 million cellular subscribers (as at March 31, 2020) with a broad range of services including cellular telephony, roaming services for tourists in Israel and for its subscribers abroad, text and multimedia messaging, advanced cellular content and data services and other value-added services in the areas of music, video, mobile office etc., based on Cellcom Israel’s technologically advanced infrastructure. The Company operates an LTE 4 generation network and an HSPA 3.5 Generation network enabling advanced high speed broadband multimedia services, in addition to GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. Cellcom Israel offers Israel’s broadest and largest customer service infrastructure including telephone customer service centers, retail stores, and service and sale centers, distributed nationwide. Cellcom Israel further provides OTT TV services, internet infrastructure and connectivity services and international calling services, as well as landline telephone services in Israel. Cellcom Israel’s shares are traded both on the New York Stock Exchange (CEL) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (CEL).

For additional information please visit the Company’s website http://investors.cellcom.co.il.

 

Company Contact

Elad Levy

Investor Relations Manager

investors@cellcom.co.il

Tel: +972-52-998-4774

Investor Relations Contact

Ehud Helft

GK Investor & Public Relations

cellcom@gkir.com

Tel: +1 617 418 3096

 

 

 

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SOURCE Cellcom Israel Ltd.

Valencia Hotel Group Offers Refreshed Take on Court-Style Concept

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — It’s no secret that old trends eventually come back into style and as social distancing and outdoor experiences continue to grow in popularity, Valencia Hotel Group is utilizing their court-style concept to put travelers’ minds at ease. The acclaimed hospitality group has an expansive Texas portfolio that includes

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — It’s no secret that old trends eventually come back into style and as social distancing and outdoor experiences continue to grow in popularity, Valencia Hotel Group is utilizing their court-style concept to put travelers’ minds at ease. The acclaimed hospitality group has an expansive Texas portfolio that includes Lone Star Court in Austin, TX , Cavalry Court in College Station, TX, Texican Court in Irving, TX and the upcoming Cotton Court opening in Lubbock, TX this fall.

Together with acclaimed international architecture and interior design firm, Rottet Studio, Valencia Hotel Group draws inspiration for their properties from the beloved court-style hotels that began popping up in the 1940s. Known for courtyard space, pools and exterior-facing rooms, Lone Star Court, Cavalry Court, Texican Court and Cotton Court couple the retro style with thoughtful touches and modern amenities.

«Valencia Hotel Group’s court properties embody a retro design that attract guests with thoughtful layouts that can easily accommodate for social distancing,» says Lauren Rottet, founding principal and president of Rottet Studio. «One of the key components we considered while designing each property was creating comfortable gathering spaces that provide guests with the room they need to unwind and relax at their own pace, which is especially important in the current climate.»

Today, as the hospitality industry continues to evolve, many travelers are choosing to drive to their destinations and want to «see safe» wherever they stay. Upon arrival at any of Valencia Hotel Group’s Court properties, guests are able to drive up to the hotel and park their own car, minimizing potential interaction in busy lobbies and avoid elevators entirely if they prefer. Each guest room also offers guests their own inward-facing exterior entrance, generous front porches and full size SMEG fridges with locally sourced food and beverage options.

Valencia Hotel Group’s Court properties also allow ample opportunity to explore outdoor experiences through spacious, landscaped acreage, pool areas for lounging and swimming, outdoor games and dining at one of the on-property, Southern-inspired dining concepts. Fire pits are scattered throughout the properties for daily use and bike rentals are complimentary at each location. On weekends throughout the summer, guests can enjoy socially-distant, live outdoor concerts from local musicians.

«Our intention across all properties is that guests can enjoy the experiences they normally look for during their travels while still having the space they need to practice social distancing and enjoy the outdoors,» says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing and public relations for the Valencia Hotel Group. «Each of our properties especially cater to the current climate with beautiful courtyards, patio dining and outdoor activities for all to enjoy.»

For more information on the Valencia Hotel Group, please visit https://www.valenciahotelgroup.com/.

About Valencia Hotel Group’s Court Properties
The Valencia Hotel Group portfolio currently includes:

  • Lone Star Court – Conveniently located in Austin, Texas’ popular shopping complex, The Domain, Lone Star Court embodies the cultural appeal of Austin and the comfort of Texas Hill Country.
  • Cavalry Court – Located on four acres of land in College Station, Texas, Cavalry Court blends rich history and luxury touches to create an energetic atmosphere. Unique to the Cavalry Court, the hotel offers cabanas to enjoy poolside for additional outdoor recreation.
  • Texican Court – Combining modern amenities with timeless hospitality, Texican Court is located in the Las Colinas area in Irving, Texas. The hotel is steps away from popular destinations including the Irving Convention Center and Toyota Music Factory,
  • Cotton Court – Set to open this Fall, Cotton Court will offer 165 rooms in the heart of Lubbock, Texas. Ideal for business and leisure travelers alike, the property will include extensive event space and a relaxed luxury travel experience.

About Valencia Hotel Group
Houston-based Valencia Hotel Group is a fully integrated hospitality company that provides management, development, branding and repositioning services for independent, full-service hotels owned by the company, in addition to third parties. Exceptional service, style and location have become brand trademarks. Earning both national and international recognition for their distinctive designs, amenities and settings, Valencia Hotel Group properties are destinations and gathering places within their respective communities, some further benefitting from and enriching their space within the cultural heart of a city. The company continues to forge a niche with hotels that anchor and add value to urban, mixed-use environments, which further support or enhance the guest experience with superior residential, restaurant, retail and office components. The Valencia Hotel Group portfolio currently includes: Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, CA, Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX, The George™ in College Station, TX and Hotel Alessandra in Houston, TX. The Court concept brands include Lone Star Court in Austin, TX, Cavalry Court in College Station, TX, Texican Court in Irving, TX and coming soon Cotton Court in Lubbock, TX. For more information, please visit http://www.valenciahotelgroup.com

 

SOURCE Valencia Group

Home Equity Levels Improve Across Nation In Second Quarter Of 2020 Despite Coronavirus Pandemic

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation’s premier property database and first property data provider of Data-as-a-Service (DaaS), today released its second-quarter 2020 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report, which shows that 15.2 million residential properties in

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation’s premier property database and first property data provider of Data-as-a-Service (DaaS), today released its second-quarter 2020 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report, which shows that 15.2 million residential properties in the United States were considered equity-rich, meaning that the combined estimated amount of loans secured by those properties was 50 percent or less of their estimated market value.

The count of equity-rich properties in the second quarter of 2020 represented 27.5 percent, or about one in four, of the 55.2 million mortgaged homes in the United States. That was up from the 26.5 percent level in the first quarter of 2020, despite the spreading economic fallout from the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic.

The report also shows that just 3.4 million, or one in 16, mortgaged homes in the second quarter of 2020 were considered seriously underwater, with a combined estimated balance of loans secured by the property at least 25 percent more than the property’s estimated market value. That figure represented 6.2 percent of all U.S. properties with a mortgage, down from 6.6 percent in the prior quarter.

Among the 50 states, 49 showed an increase in the percentage of homes considered equity-rich while just three showed an increase in the percentage that were seriously underwater.

The second-quarter home equity picture reflects a housing market that put out strong, but mixed signals, amid a nationwide economic slowdown aimed at battling the spread of a pandemic that began surging across the country in February and March of this year. Unemployment spiked and sales slumped from April through June, but single-family home equity remained strong as most housing markets saw prices rise on properties that did sell.

«Homeowners saw their equity rise far and wide throughout the United States during the second quarter of this year in yet another sign of the housing market punching back against the Coronavirus pandemic. More property owners rose into equity-rich territory and escaped the seriously underwater lane, putting more money into the average household,» said Todd Teta, chief product officer with ATTOM Data Solutions. «The housing market still faces enormous challenges, given that unemployment remains historically high and the broader economy contracted severely in the second quarter. If that continues, owner equity will be seriously threatened. But for now, homeowners are enjoying the gains when it comes to what, for most, is their most significant asset.»

Midwest and South show biggest improvements in equity-rich share of homes and largest declines in underwater properties
Seven of the 10 states with the biggest gains in the share of equity-rich homes from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2020 were in the South and Midwest. They were led by Georgia, where the level of homes considered equity-rich rose from 17.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020 to 20 percent in the second quarter, Idaho (up from 33.6 percent to 35.4 percent), Mississippi (up from 19.3 percent to 21 percent), Indiana (up from 23.5 percent to 25.2 percent) and Nebraska (up from 18.2 percent to 19.9 percent).

States with decreases or the smallest gains from the first to the second quarter of 2020 included Hawaii (down from 39 percent to 38.6 percent), Delaware (stayed the same at 17.9 percent), New Jersey (stayed the same at 23.7 percent), Illinois (up from 15.2 percent to 15.6 percent) and North Dakota (up from 20.8 percent to 21.3 percent).

Nine of the 10 states with the biggest declines from the first to the second quarter of 2020 in the percentage of homes considered seriously underwater also were in the Midwest and South. They were led by West Virginia, (share of homes seriously underwater down from 15.7 percent to 13.8 percent), Mississippi (down from 16.9 percent to 15 percent), Georgia (down from 9.9 percent to 8.4 percent), South Dakota (down from 12.4 percent to 11.1 percent) and Alabama (down from 11.3 percent to 10.2 percent).

States where the percentage of seriously underwater homes rose or stayed the same in the second quarter of 2020 from the previous quarter included Hawaii (up from 2.7 percent to 2.8 percent), Indiana (up from 7.7 percent to 7.8 percent), Colorado (stayed at 2.8 percent), Oregon (stayed at 2.5 percent) and Delaware (stayed at 9.3 percent).

Northeast and West continue to have largest shares of equity-rich homes
Despite the improvement in the Midwest and South, the top 10 states with the highest share of equity-rich properties in the second quarter of 2020 were all in the Northeast and West regions, led by California (43 percent of homes were equity rich), Vermont (39.1 percent), Hawaii (38.6 percent), Washington (38.1 percent) and Idaho (35.4 percent),

States with the lowest percentage of equity-rich properties in the second quarter of 2020 were Louisiana (14 percent equity-rich), Oklahoma (15.6 percent), Illinois (15.6 percent), Arkansas (16.9 percent) and Alabama (17.6 percent). Those were the same states with five lowest levels in the first quarter of 2020.

Among 107 metropolitan statistical areas analyzed in the report with a population greater than 500,000, nine of the 10 with the highest shares of equity-rich properties in the second quarter of 2020 were in the West, led by San Jose, CA (64 percent equity-rich); San Francisco, CA (56.5 percent); Los Angeles, CA (47.9 percent); Santa Rosa, CA (45.3 percent) and Seattle, WA (40.9 percent). The leader in the Northeast region again was Boston, MA, (35.9 percent), while Dallas, TX, again led the South (38.3 percent) and Grand Rapids, MI, continued to top the Midwest (28.8 percent).

Metro areas with the lowest percentage of equity-rich properties in the second quarter of 2020 were again Baton Rouge, LA (10.7 percent equity-rich); Columbia, SC (14 percent); Little Rock, AR (14 percent); Dayton, OH (15 percent) and Tulsa, OK (15.2 percent).

Among the 107 metro areas, 100 (93.5 percent) showed an increase in levels of equity-rich properties from the first to the second quarter of 2020; just seven (6.5 percent) showed a decrease.

Top equity-rich counties concentrated in West and Northeast
Among 1,492 counties that had at least 2,500 properties with mortgages in the second quarter of 2020, 21 of the top 25 equity-rich locations were in the West or Northeast regions. The highest concentration was in California.

Counties with the highest share of equity-rich properties were San Mateo County (outside San Francisco), CA (71.1 percent equity-rich); San Francisco County, CA (68.3 percent); Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA (64.9 percent); Dukes County (Martha’s Vineyard), MA (58.9 percent) and Alameda County (outside San Francisco), CA (56.3 percent).

Counties with the smallest share were Wayne County, IN (outside Indianapolis) (5.8 percent); Vernon Parish, LA (6 percent); Hoke County, NC (outside Fayetteville) (6.5 percent); Beauregard Parish, LA (outside Lake Charles) (7.2 percent) and Hampton City-County, VA (outside Newport News) (7.4 percent).

At least half of all properties were equity-rich in 482 zip codes
Among 8,334 U.S. zip codes that had at least 2,000 properties with mortgages in the second quarter of 2020, there were 482 where at least half of all properties with a mortgage were equity rich.

Twenty-four of the top 25 were in California, mostly in the San Francisco Bay area. They were led by zip codes 94116 in San Francisco (80.7 percent equity-rich), 94122 in San Francisco (80.3 percent), 94112 in San Francisco (78.9 percent), 94306 in Palo Alto, CA (77.1 percent) and 94040 in Mountain View (76.9 percent). The same zip codes were in the top five in the first quarter of 2020.

Highest seriously underwater shares remain in the South and Midwest
The top 10 states with the highest shares of mortgages that were seriously underwater in the second quarter of 2020 were all in the South and Midwest regions, led by Louisiana (16.4 percent seriously underwater), Mississippi (15 percent), Iowa (13.9 percent), West Virginia (13.8 percent) and Arkansas (12.4 percent).

Among 107 metropolitan statistical areas analyzed in the report with a population greater than 500,000, those with the highest share of mortgages that were seriously underwater in the second quarter of 2020 were Youngstown, OH (15.7 percent); Baton Rouge, LA (15.5 percent); Syracuse, NY (14.1 percent); Scranton, PA (14 percent) and Toledo, OH (12.8 percent).

Among the 107 metro areas, 18 (16.8 percent) showed an increase in levels of underwater properties from the first to the second quarter of 2020; 89 (83.2 percent) showed a decrease.

At least 25 percent of all properties were seriously underwater in 130 zip codes
Among 8,334 U.S. zip codes that had at least 2,000 properties with mortgages in the second quarter of 2020, there were 130 zip codes where at least a quarter of all properties with a mortgage were seriously underwater. The largest number of those zip codes were in the Cleveland, OH; St. Louis, MO and Dayton, OH.

The top five zip codes with the highest share of seriously underwater properties were 47374 in Richmond, IN (76.3 percent seriously underwater); 95969 in Paradise, CA (69.6 percent); 08611 in Trenton, NJ (59.6 percent); 71446 in Leesville, LA (58 percent) and 53206 in Milwaukee, WI (58 percent).

Report methodology
The ATTOM Data Solutions U.S. Home Equity & Underwater report provides counts of properties based on several categories of equity — or loan to value (LTV) — at the state, metro, county and zip code level, along with the percentage of total properties with a mortgage that each equity category represents. The equity/LTV is calculated based on record-level loan model estimating position and amount of loans secured by a property and a record-level automated valuation model (AVM) derived from publicly recorded mortgage and deed of trust data collected and licensed by ATTOM Data Solutions nationwide for more than 155 million U.S. properties. The ATTOM Data Solutions Home Equity and Underwater report has been updated and modified to better reflect a housing market focused on the traditional home buying process.  ATTOM Data Solutions found that markets where investors were more prominent, they would offset the loan to value ratio due to sales involving multiple properties with a single jumbo loan encompassing all of the properties. Therefore, going forward such activity is now excluded from the reports in order to provide traditional consumer home purchase and loan activity.

Definitions
Seriously underwater: Loan to value ratio of 125 percent or above, meaning the property owner owed at least 25 percent more than the estimated market value of the property.

Equity-rich: Loan to value ratio of 50 percent or lower, meaning the property owner had at least 50 percent equity.  

About ATTOM Data Solutions
ATTOM Data Solutions provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation’s population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes and enhances the data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 9TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIsreal estate market trends, marketing lists, match & append and introducing the first property data delivery solution, a cloud-based data platform that streamlines data management – Data-as-a-Service (DaaS).

Media Contact:
Christine Stricker
949.748.8428
christine.stricker@attomdata.com 

Data and Report Licensing:
949.502.8313
datareports@attomdata.com

 

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SOURCE ATTOM Data Solutions

CAO, Gallup Research Finds Fragile Community Residents Struggling in Key Aspects of Their Lives As Pandemic, Unrest Hit

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In America’s fragile communities, residents face numerous barriers to opportunity that hinder their ability to lead fulfilling and prosperous lives. Today the Center for Advancing Opportunity and Gallup released their third study on the lived experiences of…

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In America’s fragile communities, residents face numerous barriers to opportunity that hinder their ability to lead fulfilling and prosperous lives. Today the Center for Advancing Opportunity and Gallup released their third study on the lived experiences of residents of these communities — geographic areas with concentrated poverty and limited access to educational and economic opportunities.

The study was conducted at the national and local level in the 11 largest urban areas in the US — Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, DC metropolitan area, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco — and Appalachia.

Among key findings from the State of Opportunity in America, 2020 report:

  • 60% of Black fragile community residents know «some» or «a lot» of people who were treated unfairly by the police, while 49% said they know some or a lot who were unfairly sent to jail.
  • 52% of Black fragile community residents and 59% of Hispanic fragile community residents would like the police to spend more time in their area, compared with 46% of White fragile community residents. In urban fragile communities, 53% of residents would like to see a greater police presence, compared with 41% of rural fragile community residents.  
  • While almost half of Americans overall (47%) said in 2019 they were «living comfortably» on their current income, just one in five (20%) among fragile community residents responded this way.
  • 28% of fragile community residents «strongly agree» or «agree» all people in their area have access to an affordable college education. This contrasts with views on the importance of a college education today, particularly among minority groups: 89% of Hispanic fragile community residents, 87% of Black fragile community residents and 68% of White fragile community residents say it is very important or important.
  • 58% of fragile community residents said they were satisfied with the availability of quality healthcare in their area, vs. 74% of Americans overall.

Criminal justice
At the time of the survey, just under one-fourth (24%) of Black fragile community residents said they were «very confident» local police would treat them with courtesy and respect, compared with one-third (33%) of Hispanic residents and almost half (47%) of White residents.

This disparity is magnified in the treatment fragile community residents have witnessed. Sixty percent of Black fragile community residents said they knew «some» or «a lot» of people who were treated unfairly by the police, compared with 31% of White residents and 39% of Hispanic residents in fragile communities. Further, close to half of Black fragile community residents (49%) said they know «some» or «a lot» of people who were unfairly sent to jail, compared with less than a quarter of White (19%) or Hispanic (23%) residents.

Despite these negative experiences, a majority of Black and Hispanic fragile community residents would like the police to spend more time in their area – 52% and 59%, respectively. In urban areas, 53% of fragile community residents would like to see an increased police presence. Meanwhile, 46% of White fragile community residents and 41% of rural fragile community residents would like to see the same.

Economic status and opportunity
While almost half of Americans overall (47%) said in 2019 they were «living comfortably» on their current income, just one in five (20%) of fragile community residents responded this way, with 35% saying they were finding it «difficult» or «very difficult» to live on their current income.

When asked what barriers to opportunity exist in their lives, fragile community residents most commonly identified a lack of enough jobs that offer career advancement (39%) and drug or alcohol addiction (35%). However, these results differed by city and region.

Education
Fragile community residents widely agree a college education is important today, especially Black and Hispanic residents. Fully 89% of Hispanic residents and 87% of Black residents say a college education is very important or important today, compared with 68% of White fragile community residents who say the same.

Still, the importance fragile community residents place on higher education is met by dissatisfaction with access — 28% of residents said they «strongly agree» or «agree» that all people in their area have access to an affordable college education if they want it.

Similarly, just 40% of fragile community residents were «extremely satisfied» or «satisfied» with the quality of K-12 schools in their area.

Mindset
Seventy percent of fragile community residents overall said they are «very confident» or «confident» they can improve their own lives, with Black (75%) and Hispanic (72%) residents somewhat more likely than White (65%) residents to feel this way.

Among the demographic and attitudinal factors that best predicted fragile community residents’ confidence in their ability to improve their own lives, self-reported health status was the most important.

«This latest update provides a powerful set of tools for anyone interested in uplifting the residents of America’s fragile communities,» said Dr. Harry L. Williams, president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, one of the key partner organizations in the Center for Advancing Opportunity.

«The lives of residents of America’s fragile communities are critical to understand at this time, but they are not understood well enough,» said Camille Lloyd, director of Gallup’s Center on Black Voices. «The third year of our research on fragile communities with the Center for Advancing Opportunity reveals new opportunities as well as persistent ones that demand attention from leaders.»

To learn more about the findings and the methodology of this project, read the full report here. To explore the data further, including the local results, visit the Opportunity Dashboard. To listen to a webinar discussing the report findings, register here

This study was conducted with support from Koch Industries (KII) and the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF), an organization that partners with other nonprofits and educational institutions that seeks to remove barriers to opportunity that prevent Americans from reaching their full potential. KII and CKF have been proud partners of CAO since 2017.

About the Center for Advancing Opportunity
The Center for Advancing Opportunity (CAO) is a research and education initiative affiliated with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. CAO supports students and faculty at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other institutions in developing research-based solutions to the most pressing issues in fragile communities: education, entrepreneurship, criminal justice and overall economic conditions.

About Gallup
Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Gallup
Riley Brands
Riley_brands@gallup.com
202-715-3106

Thurgood Marshall College Fund/Center for Advancing Opportunity
Jamal Watson
Jamal.Watson@tmcf.org
202-888-0039

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SOURCE Gallup, Inc.

Cynopsis Announces Free Webinar, «Black Owned Media Matters»

NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Cynopsis, together with Entertainment Studios’ Byron Allen and TheGrio’s Natasha Alford, are presenting a conversation on how to create a better marketplace for all players in the media space, in order to grow a larger, healthier business community. On Thursday, August 27 from 1-2pm, we’ll host the

NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Cynopsis, together with Entertainment Studios’ Byron Allen and TheGrio’s Natasha Alford, are presenting a conversation on how to create a better marketplace for all players in the media space, in order to grow a larger, healthier business community. On Thursday, August 27 from 1-2pm, we’ll host the webinar, «Black Owned Media Matters: The Ways You Can Include Us And Build Long Term Partnerships.»

«Black owned media is not supported by many companies and that is the very definition of systemic racism. Let’s use this opportunity to work together and achieve a positive change,» says Byron Allen, Chairman & CEO, ALLEN MEDIA GROUP.

The one-hour, virtual event will allow for real time Q&As to ensure specific questions are answered. In this webinar, you will learn:

  • How to find out what percent of media investment goes to diversity-owned businesses
  • What agencies can do now (and in the future) to support these efforts
  • The benefits of reaching the Black audience and a diverse society

Register today for Cynopsis’ latest and free-to-attend webinar. All attendees will receive full access to speaker presentations for 1 year. Questions? Contact syeomans@accessintel.com.

About Cynopsis:
Cynopsis is what the TV industry reads first every day. The Cynopsis family of products includes the media industry’s most-read daily, Cynopsis, plus sister daily Cynopsis Sports; weekly Esports, Media Tech, the Cynopsis Jobs board and special reports. Serving TV, agency and brand professionals, Cynopsis Media produces conferences, webinars, and awards programs that are second to none. Find out more at http://www.cynopsis.com.

 

SOURCE Cynopsis

Program Helps «People in the Pews» and Faith Communities Respond to Trauma

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — «Trauma includes the separation from each other that accompanies COVID, the widespread social unrest, death, disaster, and more,» Power said. «How does the story of our faith relate to these events?»

TSoT helps faith communities do four things:

  • Recognize the parallels between stories in scripture and traumatic events today.
  • Understand how trauma is transmitted from generation to generation….

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — «Trauma includes the separation from each other that accompanies COVID, the widespread social unrest, death, disaster, and more,» Power said. «How does the story of our faith relate to these events?»

TSoT helps faith communities do four things:

  • Recognize the parallels between stories in scripture and traumatic events today.
  • Understand how trauma is transmitted from generation to generation.
  • Connect specific spiritual practices to current best practices in healing.
  • Integrate more helpful, less stigmatizing responses to trauma in their ministries.

TSoT focuses on the impact of what happens rather than the name of the event. It considers the symptoms people have in response to overwhelming experiences «normal reactions to abnormal events.»

«Every ‘people of the book’ has strong stories across history,» Power said in a recent interview. «Whether it’s getting kicked out of the Garden, or what happened when the Prince who became the Buddha saw suffering for the first time, it’s traumatic.» Power finds the thread of trauma exists in all scriptures.

Power knows the how faith communities can harm or help heal. «I used to meet church people for the first time and tell them everything about my life, leading with the unsavory bits. They would steer clear of me from then on. It was painful.» Power said. «TSoT helps folks, including survivors, learn a different way and why it helps.»

The Sacredness of Trauma, from The Trauma Informed Academy, is online. Materials are also available in written Spanish and written Somali. The next public offering begins August 18 (5- week series) and the one-day event is August 22.

Nashville TN-based, The Trauma Informed Academy offers virtual training and coaching worldwide on change, resilience, and alignment, including trauma-informed processes. Power’s TIA has helped organizations and individuals worldwide develop and implement trauma-informed responses in customer service, HR, healthcare and more. The TIA is part of EPower & Associates, Inc. For more information about TSOT, or to register, go to https://epower.kartra.com/page/tsot-6hour.

 

SOURCE The Trauma Informed Academy

FDA issues Emergency Use Authorization to Vela Diagnostics’ coronavirus PCR test

FAIRFIELD, New Jersey, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Vela Diagnostics announced that the manual version of its coronavirus PCR test has obtained Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). By targeting conserved regions of the viral genome, the probe-based reverse transcription PCR test detects SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The EUA allows the emergency use of FDA medical products in qualified labs, thus facilitating widespread access to the…

FAIRFIELD, New Jersey, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Vela Diagnostics announced that the manual version of its coronavirus PCR test has obtained Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). By targeting conserved regions of the viral genome, the probe-based reverse transcription PCR test detects SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The EUA allows the emergency use of FDA medical products in qualified labs, thus facilitating widespread access to the diagnostic test.

«RT-PCR is currently the gold standard for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections. Given the escalating number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., Vela Diagnostics is helping Americans get tested so as to detect and slow the spread of the virus,» said Sam Dajani, interim CEO and Chairman of the Board. «Our coronavirus test will assist healthcare professionals in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.»

The ViroKey™ SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Test detects SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. The manual version of the ViroKey™ SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Test enables flexible sample processing and quick adoption of the test by laboratories with existing ABI 7500 Fast Dx instruments. For high throughput testing, Vela Diagnostics has also developed an automated version of the assay optimized for a workflow consisting of the Sentosa™ SX101 instrument, in conjunction with the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time (ABI 7500 Fast Dx) PCR instrument or the Sentosa™ SA201 instrument.

In addition to being authorized by the FDA for emergency use, the ViroKey™ SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Test has also received the CE mark and provisional approval from the Singapore Health Sciences Authority.

About Vela Diagnostics

Vela Diagnostics is a leading provider of an automated IVD Next–Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflow in the global diagnostics market. VELA’s real-time PCR and NGS applications are available on an integrated Sentosa™ platform; this provides a unique ability to leverage one system for two workflows, while carrying out tests for various targets in order to answer current clinical and research questions, as well as to drive laboratory operational efficiency.

All Sentosaproducts listed above are by Vela Diagnostics. For more information, visit www.veladx.com.

FONTE Vela Diagnostics

FDA issues Emergency Use Authorization to Vela Diagnostics’ coronavirus PCR test

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Vela Diagnostics announced that the manual version of its coronavirus PCR test has obtained Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). By targeting conserved regions of the viral genome, the probe-based reverse transcription PCR test detects SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The EUA allows the emergency use of FDA medical products in qualified labs, thus facilitating widespread access to the diagnostic…

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Vela Diagnostics announced that the manual version of its coronavirus PCR test has obtained Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). By targeting conserved regions of the viral genome, the probe-based reverse transcription PCR test detects SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The EUA allows the emergency use of FDA medical products in qualified labs, thus facilitating widespread access to the diagnostic test.

«RT-PCR is currently the gold standard for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections. Given the escalating number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., Vela Diagnostics is helping Americans get tested so as to detect and slow the spread of the virus,» said Sam Dajani, interim CEO and Chairman of the Board. «Our coronavirus test will assist healthcare professionals in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.»

The ViroKey™ SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Test detects SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. The manual version of the ViroKey™ SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Test enables flexible sample processing and quick adoption of the test by laboratories with existing ABI 7500 Fast Dx instruments. For high throughput testing, Vela Diagnostics has also developed an automated version of the assay optimized for a workflow consisting of the Sentosa™ SX101 instrument, in conjunction with the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time (ABI 7500 Fast Dx) PCR instrument or the Sentosa™ SA201 instrument.

In addition to being authorized by the FDA for emergency use, the ViroKey™ SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Test has also received the CE mark and provisional approval from the Singapore Health Sciences Authority.

About Vela Diagnostics

Vela Diagnostics is a leading provider of an automated IVD Next–Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflow in the global diagnostics market. VELA’s real-time PCR and NGS applications are available on an integrated Sentosa™ platform; this provides a unique ability to leverage one system for two workflows, while carrying out tests for various targets in order to answer current clinical and research questions, as well as to drive laboratory operational efficiency.

All Sentosaproducts listed above are by Vela Diagnostics. For more information, visit www.veladx.com.

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-issues-emergency-use-authorization-to-vela-diagnostics-coronavirus-pcr-test-301107278.html

SOURCE Vela Diagnostics

Investor Alert: Kaplan Fox Investigates Cheetah Mobile, Inc. For Potential Securities Fraud

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP (www.kaplanfox.com) is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Cheetah Mobile, Inc. («Cheetah Mobile» or the «Company») (NYSE: CMCM).  A complaint has been filed on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise…

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP (www.kaplanfox.com) is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Cheetah Mobile, Inc. («Cheetah Mobile» or the «Company») (NYSE: CMCM).  A complaint has been filed on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired Cheetah Mobile securities between March 25, 2019 and February 20, 2020, inclusive (the «Class Period»).

On February 21, 2020, the Company disclosed that its Google Play Store, Google AdMob, and Google AdManager accounts were disabled on February 20, 2020 «because some of the Company’s apps had not been compliant with Google policies, resulting in certain invalid traffic.»

Following this news, Cheetah Mobile’s stock price fell $0.61 per share, about 17%,
to close at $2.99 per share on February 21, 2020.

The Complaint alleges, among other things, that throughout the Class Period, Cheetah Mobile and the other defendants failed to disclose to investors that certain of Cheetah Mobile’s apps were not compliant with the terms of its agreements with Google, and, as a result, there was a reasonable likelihood that Google would terminate its advertising contracts with the Company.

If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than August 25, 2020 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class.  You need not seek to become a lead plaintiff in order to share in any possible recovery.  If you would like to discuss the complaint or our investigation, please contact us by emailing pmayer@kaplanfox.com or by calling 646-315-9003.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, with offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New Jersey, has many years of experience in prosecuting investor class actions. For more information about Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, you may visit our website at www.kaplanfox.com.  If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:

Donald R. Hall

KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP
850 Third Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10022
(646) 315-9003
E-mail: dhall@kaplanfox.com

Laurence D. King
KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP
1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1560
Oakland, California 94612
(415) 772-4704
Fax:  (415) 772-4707
E-mail: lking@kaplanfox.com

 

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/investor-alert-kaplan-fox-investigates-cheetah-mobile-inc-for-potential-securities-fraud-301107218.html

SOURCE Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP