Mes: agosto 2020

Mercedes-Benz y CATL, en calidad de importante proveedor, se asocian para alcanzar el liderazgo en la tecnología para las baterías del futuro

  • Mercedes-Benz y CATL anunciaron hoy una asociación mejorada en el campo de tecnología para baterías.
  • El sedán de lujo eléctrico Mercedes-Benz EQS se lanzará el próximo año con una autonomía determinada por el procedimiento WLTP de más de 700 km, equipado con módulos de celda de CATL.
  • Mercedes-Benz y CATL darán un impulso conjunto a la industrialización de las baterías de ion de litio en Alemania.

NINGDE, China, 5 de agosto de 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Mercedes-Benz y…

  • Mercedes-Benz y CATL anunciaron hoy una asociación mejorada en el campo de tecnología para baterías.
  • El sedán de lujo eléctrico Mercedes-Benz EQS se lanzará el próximo año con una autonomía determinada por el procedimiento WLTP de más de 700 km, equipado con módulos de celda de CATL.
  • Mercedes-Benz y CATL darán un impulso conjunto a la industrialización de las baterías de ion de litio en Alemania.

NINGDE, China, 5 de agosto de 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Mercedes-Benz y Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL)<300750.SZ> han entrado en una nueva etapa de su asociación estratégica y crearán tecnología para baterías de vanguardia con el fin de apoyar la electrificación a gran escala del portafolio de modelos de Mercedes-Benz. El fabricante de vehículos de lujo con sede en Stuttgart está acelerando su estrategia de «Electric First» (eléctrico primero) con celdas, módulos y sistemas de baterías avanzados y fabricados con neutralidad en CO2 suministrados por CATL, una empresa tecnológica líder en baterías de ion de litio. El acuerdo abarca toda la gama de tecnologías para baterías, desde celdas en los módulos para los vehículos para pasajeros de Mercedes-Benz Cars hasta sistemas completos de batería para las furgonetas de Mercedes-Benz Vans, en configuraciones tecnológicas prometedoras e innovadoras. Esto también incluye el diseño celda-a-paquete (cell-to-pack, CTP) de CATL, el cual elimina los módulos convencionales e integra las celdas directamente en la batería.

«Nos proponemos liderar en tecnologías para baterías, y por esa razón estamos combinando ahora nuestra propia experiencia en investigación y desarrollo con socios audaces. Integraremos revolucionarios sistemas de batería para crear vehículos de lujo con autonomía, velocidad de carga, seguridad y sostenibilidad sobresalientes. El trabajo conjunto con CATL nos llevará a acelerar nuestra transformación hacia la neutralidad en carbono», señaló Markus Schäfer, miembro del consejo de administración de Daimler AG y Mercedes-Benz AG, a cargo de Investigaciones del Daimler Group y director de Operaciones de Mercedes-Benz Cars. «CATL será un proveedor importante que garantizará la capacidad para las próximas generaciones de nuestros productos EQ en los años venideros».

«Mercedes-Benz es un socio especial e importante para CATL. Estamos muy complacidos por continuar ampliando y mejorando la asociación para el desarrollo futuro de ambas partes. Mercedes inventó el automóvil hace más de 130 años y ha desarrollado su tecnología con innumerables innovaciones. Esto, combinado con la experiencia de CATL en baterías, será un paso decisivo para las estrategias de electrificación de ambas partes», dijo el Dr. Robin Zeng, fundador, presidente de la junta directiva y CEO de CATL. «Juntos colaboramos en el desarrollo y en la entrega de soluciones fiables y competitivas para promover la movilidad eléctrica en todo el mundo».

Electrificación de su portafolio de modelos con innovadoras tecnologías de baterías

Las celdas de baterías son el corazón de sistemas de batería extremadamente complejos. Su química contribuye considerablemente al desempeño, la autonomía y la vida de servicio de los vehículos eléctricos. Mediante su asociación estratégica con CATL, Mercedes-Benz hará progresos en su desarrollo de baterías de ion de litio, actuales y futuras, que sean las mejores de su clase. Los dos socios ya comenzaron a trabajar en las futuras generaciones de baterías que se introducirán en diversos vehículos dentro de los próximos años. La finalidad clara es acortar los ciclos de desarrollo, aumentar considerablemente la autonomía de las baterías del futuro mediante avances en la densidad energética y reducir los tiempos de carga. Para hacer que la electrificación sea aún más atractiva para los clientes en el segmento de lujo, los objetivos establecidos son ambiciosos. Con el sedán de lujo EQS, que llegará a los clientes el próximo año, el objetivo del desarrollo es alcanzar una autonomía de larga distancia de más de 700 km (autonomía determinada mediante el procedimiento WLTP) y duplicar la velocidad de carga en comparación con los modelos actuales. El Mercedes-Benz EQS también estará equipado con módulos de celda CATL.

«Daimler continuará fortaleciendo su competitividad mundial y mejorando la eficiencia mediante el trabajo con socios sólidos e innovadores en la búsqueda de nuestra estrategia para el futuro, incluida la movilidad eléctrica. En China, hemos establecido a lo largo de los años una estrecha cooperación con importantes socios industriales y tecnológicos que no solo han contribuido a nuestro sólido impulso, sino que también han aportado eficiencia en las actividades de producción, adquisiciones e investigación y desarrollo», dijo Hubertus Troska, miembro del consejo de administración de Daimler AG, a cargo de la Gran China. «Ahora estamos complacidos por llevar a un nuevo nivel nuestra cooperación con CATL, un fabricante de baterías líder a nivel mundial establecido en China y de integrar aún más esta asociación en nuestra estrategia de ‘Electric First‘ y desarrollo sostenible. Consideramos que esta cooperación permitirá a Daimler continuar encantando a nuestros clientes con liderazgo tecnológico e innovación acelerada».

Mercedes-Benz y CATL tienen el compromiso de diseñar y producir baterías que sean líderes en calidad y rendimiento, con la huella más sostenible posible.

Productos para baterías fabricados con neutralidad en carbono

Con «Ambition 2039» (Ambición 2039), Mercedes-Benz persigue la visión a largo plazo de una nueva flota de vehículos para pasajeros que sea climáticamente neutra, y está impulsando activamente la transformación hacia la neutralidad en CO2. Para minimizar la huella de carbono de las generaciones actuales y futuras de vehículos, los socios han acordado que la producción de productos para baterías sea neutra en carbono. Para que esto sea realidad, la electricidad que CATL usará en la producción provendrá de fuentes de renovables de energía, como eólica, solar e hidroelectricidad. Al comienzo de 2020, Mercedes-Benz y CATL ya habían lanzado un proyecto piloto conjunto que usa tecnología de cadena de bloques para crear transparencia en las emisiones de gases dañinos para el clima y en la proporción de material secundario a lo largo de la cadena de suministros para celdas de baterías. El próximo paso es reducir considerablemente la dependencia de la minería de materias primas mediante el reciclaje de las baterías que han llegado al final de su vida útil.

«Dentro del marco de esta relación estratégica recién establecida, CATL se compromete a cabalidad con los objetivos de sostenibilidad de Mercedes-Benz AG, entre ellos ‘Ambición 2039’. Esto contempla la producción sostenible con energía renovable, la huella de CO2 mínima posible en términos de logística dentro de toda la cadena de suministros y el respeto por todos los aspectos de la responsabilidad social. CATL garantizará una producción de baterías neutra en CO2 y maximizará la reducción de CO2 en la cadena de suministros para las baterías del Mercedes-Benz EQ de próxima generación, comenzando con el EQS», dijo Zhou Jia, presidente de CATL. «Estoy convencido de que esta asociación abrirá nuevas oportunidades para que ambas compañías creen un negocio sostenible y aceleren la transición de nuestra industria».

Industrialización de una tecnología clave en Alemania

La asociación estratégica de Mercedes-Benz y CATL acelera el posterior desarrollo e industrialización de tecnologías de vanguardia para baterías en Alemania. Con la construcción de la planta en Turingia, CATL está desarrollando un sistema de servicio europeo para ofrecer a Mercedes-Benz productos más competitivos, así como un suministro fluido. Esto permitirá a Mercedes-Benz a aumentar aún más el grado de localización de las adquisiciones y, en el futuro, comprar productos para baterías desde la planta de CATL cercana a Erfurt.

Acerca de CATL

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) es un líder mundial en el desarrollo y la fabricación de baterías de ion de litio, con negocios que abarcan I+D, fabricación y ventas en sistemas de baterías para vehículos con nuevas energías y sistemas de almacenamiento de energía. En el año 2019, el volumen de las ventas de baterías para vehículos eléctricos de la empresa alcanzó los 40,25 GWh en todo el mundo, lo cual le convirtió en el líder mundial en volumen anual de consumo de baterías para vehículos eléctricos (fuente: SNE Research).

CATL tiene su sede en Ningde, China, y en el año 2019 contaba con más de 26.000 empleados en todo el mundo y subsidiarias en Beijing, Liyang (provincia de Jiangsu), Xining (provincia de Qinghai) y Yibin (provincia de Sichuan), así como en Múnich (Alemania), París (Francia), Yokohama (Japón), Detroit (Estados Unidos) y Vancouver (Canadá). Además, la empresa posee y opera instalaciones para la fabricación de baterías en las provincias de Fujian, Jiangsu, Qinghai y Sichuan, y en su planta europea ubicada en in Erfurt, Alemania, su primera planta en el extranjero que actualmente está en construcción. En junio de 2018, la empresa comenzó a cotizar públicamente en la Bolsa de Valores de Shenzhen con el código de acción 300750.

Para obtener más información, visite http://www.catlbattery.com.

Mercedes-Benz AG de un vistazo

Mercedes-Benz AG tiene a su cargo los negocios mundiales de Mercedes-Benz Cars y Mercedes-Benz Vans con más de 173.000 empleados en todo el mundo. Ola Källenius es el presidente de la junta de administración de Mercedes-Benz AG. La empresa se enfoca en el desarrollo, la producción y las ventas de vehículos para pasajeros, furgonetas y servicios. Además, la empresa aspira a ser líder en los campos de conectividad, conducción automatizada y accionamientos alternativos con sus innovaciones progresistas. El portafolio de productos abarca la marca Mercedes-Benz con las submarcas Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach y Mercedes me – así como la marca smart, y la marca de productos y tecnología EQ para la movilidad eléctrica. Mercedes-Benz AG es uno de los mayores fabricantes de vehículos premium para pasajeros. En 2019 vendió casi 2,4 millones de vehículos y más de 438.000 furgonetas. En sus dos divisiones empresariales, Mercedes-Benz AG está ampliando continuamente su red de producción mundial con más de 40 sitios de producción en cuatro continentes, al tiempo que se alinea a sí misma para satisfacer los requisitos de la movilidad eléctrica. Al mismo tiempo, la empresa está desarrollando su red mundial de fabricación de baterías en tres continentes. En ambas divisiones empresariales juegan un papel decisivo las acciones sostenibles. Para la empresa, la sostenibilidad significa la creación de valor, sobre una base duradera, para todas las partes interesadas: clientes, empleados, inversores, socios comerciales y la sociedad en su conjunto. La base para esto es la estrategia empresarial sostenible de Daimler en la cual la empresa asume responsabilidad por los efectos económicos, ecológicos y sociales de sus actividades empresariales y atiende a toda la cadena de valor. 

Foto – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224323/Left__Markus.jpg
Foto – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224324/Hubertus_Troska.jpg
Foto – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224325/Zhou_Jia.jpg

 

FUENTE CATL

Shaw Industries Announces Virtual Convention Series in 2021

DALTON, Ga., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Shaw Industries Group, Inc. (Shaw) has announced plans to host a series of virtual events as an alternative to its traditional biennial convention for its Shaw Flooring Network (SFN) of aligned retailers. Previously scheduled for January 2021 in Orlando, Fla., the 2021 SFN Convention will now kick-off Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 2:00…

DALTON, Ga., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Shaw Industries Group, Inc. (Shaw) has announced plans to host a series of virtual events as an alternative to its traditional biennial convention for its Shaw Flooring Network (SFN) of aligned retailers. Previously scheduled for January 2021 in Orlando, Fla., the 2021 SFN Convention will now kick-off Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. EST with former Navy Seal and best-selling author Jocko Willink as a guest speaker.

«Our vision is to make it easier for our retail partners to do more business,» explains Danny Crutchfield, vice president of the Shaw Flooring Network. «With all that is happening in the world, that vision has never been more important. The challenges of 2020 have forced us to think differently and explore new ways to experience the SFN Convention. We decided not to gather in Orlando in 2021 to ensure the safety of our customers and their families, but we’re committed to maintaining the spirit of the event in an entirely new way.»

The company announced its plans to its SFN customers last month, highlighting the need for creativity and imagination in the face of sudden and immediate change with guest speakers Harris III and former-college-football-player-turned-inspirational-speaker Inky Johnson. Harris III, a popular storyteller, illusionist and keynote speaker who has worked with other prominent organizations like NASA, Microsoft and Chick-Fil-A, will emcee the 2021 SFN Virtual Convention Series.

«Being able to lean into the network for ideas and best practices is the hallmark of Convention,» says Dana Park, co-owner of Great Western Flooring in Napierville, Illinois. «We have so much to gain and learn from each other and we’re excited to have the opportunity to do that all year, instead of just in January.»

The first virtual event in the series will take place Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. EST, with additional 90-minute virtual events in October and November. An even more robust virtual experience is slated for January 2021.

«It’s certainly different, but it’s refreshing to think we can connect more often,» says Rebecca Laspada, co-owner of Direct Carpet Unlimited in San Marcos and Oceanside, California. «Having access to resources even earlier gives busy store owners more time to breathe. It’s good to be teamed up with Shaw.»

For more information on the 2021 SFN Virtual Convention Series and to watch the announcement to customers, visit SFNLive.com. Customers can sign into their ShawNow® account closer to the event for more details.

About Shaw Industries
Shaw Industries Group, Inc. is more than a flooring company – we are more than 20,000 people united in our vision of creating a better future for our customers, for our people, for our community and for our company. We provide carpet, resilient, hardwood, tile & stone, laminate, synthetic turf and other specialty items for residential and commercial markets worldwide. We meet diverse customer needs through an expansive portfolio of brands, including: Anderson Tuftex, COREtec, Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial, Shaw Contract, Shaw Floors, Shaw Sports Turf, Southwest Greens, USFloors and more.

Headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, Shaw is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway with more than $6 billion in annual revenue and representation throughout the U.S., as well as in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, India, Mexico, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. For more information about our company brands, operations and community involvement, or to join our industry-leading team, visit http://www.shawinc.com.

 

SOURCE Shaw Industries

Intermap Technologies Closes on $2 Million Canadian Private Placement

Successful balance sheet restructuring positions Company to fund its future growth

Oversubscribed Offering raises significantly more capital than originally anticipated

Strong demand expands shareholder liquidity; financing attracts over 40 new investors, with minimal equity dilution and no disruption of $200 million of favorable tax assets 

Proceeds applied to settle $34 million of debt owed to…

Successful balance sheet restructuring positions Company to fund its future growth

Oversubscribed Offering raises significantly more capital than originally anticipated

Strong demand expands shareholder liquidity; financing attracts over 40 new investors, with minimal equity dilution and no disruption of $200 million of favorable tax assets 

Proceeds applied to settle $34 million of debt owed to Vertex and Pender Funds

DENVER, CO, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Intermap Technologies Corporation («Intermap» or the «Company») today announced that it has closed the first tranche of its previously announced and fully subscribed issuer private placement (the «Private Placement») of up to 4,317,118 Class A common shares («Shares») at a price of CAD$0.56 per Share – a 40% premium to the previously announced offering price on July 7, 2020. Both tranches were well oversubscribed. The first tranche included the issuance of 3,571,428 Shares, raising aggregate gross proceeds of CAD$2 million. Strong investor demand allowed the Company to attract dozens of new sophisticated investors.

The Private Placement was executed carefully, with the Company taking care not to disturb its valuable tax attributes. As previously disclosed in the Company’s financial statements, Intermap has $221 million in Net Operating Losses («NOLs»), including $164 million in the United States and $57 million in Canada. Greater ownership diversification protects the Company’s tax assets from a deemed ownership change, as defined by US IRC Section 382. A deemed ownership change would limit the Company’s ability to utilize its tax attributes to increase future cash flow. As a result of this private placement, the total ownership shift for the prior three years immediately after the private placement will be approximately 40%, well within the US IRC Section 382 allowances. The Board and management will remain diligent in maximizing these tax assets as they consider alternative capital strategies to accelerate the Company’s growth and strategic alternatives.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement to satisfy obligations under the amended settlement agreement (the «Settlement Agreement») entered into among the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Intermap Technologies Inc. («ITI»), and PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. (the «Lender»). Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Company and ITI can fully settle the Company’s outstanding debt of US$33.9 million to the Lender with a payment to the Lender of US$1 million on or before September 1, 2020.

«This is the first time we have issued stock in nearly three years and we issued only the amount of stock necessary to achieve our goals,» commented Patrick Blott, Intermap’s Chairman and CEO. «Because the offering was oversubscribed, we issued fewer shares at a higher price to raise more capital with less dilution than we announced previously. With this financing, the Company has eliminated its debt overhang, strengthened its investor base, and positioned itself for highly scalable growth, while preserving the Company’s valuable tax assets, which can fund growth and acquisitions. Investors and customers have begun to respond favorably as we continue to responsibly execute on Intermap’s business plan.»

The Company also issued 139,284 warrants to certain finders (the «Warrants») under the Private Placement. Each Warrant is exercisable for one Share at an exercise price of US$0.417 per Share, being the U.S. dollar equivalent to CAD$0.56 as of the date of issuance of the Warrants, at any time until July 31, 2022.

All Shares and Warrants issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a 4-month hold period during which trading in the securities is restricted in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company intends to close a second tranche of the Private Placement within the next two weeks at the same offering price of $0.56 per Share, up to the cumulative maximum number of Shares and Warrants issuable under the Private Placement of 4,317,118. The second tranche is oversubscribed.

The Private Placement and the listing of the Shares issued under the Private Placement and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the «TSX») are subject to final approval of the TSX upon satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The TSX conditionally approved the Private Placement and the listing of the Shares issued thereunder and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants prior to closing of the first tranche.

Patrick A. Blott, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, subscribed for 267,857 Shares. His participation constitutes a «related party transaction» as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions («MI 61-101»). Such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 on the basis that participation in the Private Placement by Mr. Blott does not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company’s market capitalization. Mr. Blott’s participation was reduced by strong demand among other investors and reflects continued insider commitment to the Company’s business plan. In order to accommodate strong investor demand, amounts allocated to insiders were reduced to approximately 8% of the newly issued shares, down from an initial requested allocation of approximately 23% of the Offering.

The Board of Directors and management team are committed to the ongoing protection of shareholder value and re-establishment of credibility in the capital and business markets where the Company competes. The Company completed the Private Placement among 41 investors, including existing, former and new shareholders. As a result, the Company expanded and diversified its investor base, and following the lock-up the publicly traded stock, now has a bigger float with greater liquidity. The Company will continue to minimize dilution as it seeks to capitalize on opportunities to grow the Company and safeguard and maximize shareholder value.

For more information about Intermap’s geospatial solutions, visit intermap.com/investors to download a presentation.

Intermap Reader Advisory
Certain information provided in this news release, including (but not limited to): the completion of additional issuances of Shares and Warrants in one or more subsequent tranches, the use of proceeds of the Private Placement, the elimination of the Company’s debt to the Lender, the future value and liquidity of the Company’s updated investor base and the Company’s future efforts to minimize dilution, the Company’s future growth prospects, and the value of the NOLs including their ability to fund future growth and acquisitions, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words «anticipate», «expect», «project», «estimate», «forecast», «will be», «will consider», «intends» and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap’s forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, COVID-19 and its impact on both the Company’s business and operations and those of its customers, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap’s Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward‐looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

About Intermap Technologies
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP) (ITMSF: BB) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions. The Company’s proprietary NEXTMap® database and value-added geospatial data management, processing, analytics, fusion and orthorectification software and solutions are utilized across a range of industries that rely on accurate, high-resolution elevation data, including aviation, engineering, environmental planning, government markets, hydrology, insurance, land management, law enforcement and patrol, oil and gas, renewable energy, telecommunications, transportation and utilities. Intermap’s commercial applications include location‐based intelligence, risk assessment, geographic information systems, global positioning systems and 3D visualization. For more information, please visit www.intermap.com.

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SOURCE Intermap Technologies Corporation

Philadelphia Administrators’ Union Calls On Comcast To Provide Internet Access For Students

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Teamsters Local 502/Commonwealth Association of School Administrators (CASA) members joined with political, community and labor leaders today to call on Comcast to provide reliable, high-speed internet access to thousands of students at the School District of Philadelphia who cannot participate in distance learning.

…

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Teamsters Local 502/Commonwealth Association of School Administrators (CASA) members joined with political, community and labor leaders today to call on Comcast to provide reliable, high-speed internet access to thousands of students at the School District of Philadelphia who cannot participate in distance learning.

Wearing masks and holding signs that read «Equity Through Connectivity,» principals, administrators, teachers, building engineers and climate managers for the school district, who are represented by Teamsters Local 502/CASA, joined with parents and students outside the Comcast Center, calling on the country’s largest cable provider to make a greater investment in the community.

«If you look at PEW Research Center, Black and Brown families are at a disadvantage when it comes to internet access; many only have access through a mobile device. Large corporations like Comcast and Verizon do not run the newest equipment in high poverty and rural areas. This is not just an urban issue. The lack of high-speed internet in these communities puts our students at a disadvantage,» said John W. Spencer, a School District of Philadelphia Principal and member of Local 502/CASA. «In order for virtual learning to work, students need reliable Internet that allows access to video, audio and other interactive media. We are calling on Comcast to make a bigger investment in the community and our children.»  

In late July, it was announced that Philadelphia public school students will not return to classrooms until November at the earliest and that students will continue distance learning until schools reopen.

«It is unacceptable to deny any student an education. Education is a right, and we have a moral obligation to stand up for our children in Philadelphia and their families. This shouldn’t be about dollars and cents; it’s about taking collective responsibility to do what is morally right. What’s right is for Comcast to remove any barriers to reliable, high-speed internet access. The end justifies the means,» said Dr. Robin Cooper, President of Local 502/CASA.

Cooper and Spencer were joined by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan, State Representative Brian Sims, State Senator Sharif Street, Councilwoman Helen Gym, Councilwoman Kendra Brooks, Philadelphia Home and School Council President Shakeda Gaines and Dana Carter, Policy Advisor for the Racial Justice Organizing Committee.

Teamsters Local 502/CASA represents approximately 700 school administrators who work in the School District of Philadelphia as principals, assistant principals, facilities area coordinators, climate managers and school police, food service supervisors, early childhood supervisors, leadership coaches and curriculum specialists.

Contact:
Dr. Robin Cooper, (215) 205-5147
casapresident502@gmail.com

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SOURCE Teamsters Local 502

UPA President Testifies in Support of Senate Effort to Revitalize the Domestic Nuclear Fuel Cycle

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Today, Uranium Producers of America President and Chief Operating Officer of Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: UUUU; TSX: EFR), Paul Goranson, testified before a U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) hearing in support of the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act, draft legislation released by EPW Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) to help…

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Today, Uranium Producers of America President and Chief Operating Officer of Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: UUUU; TSX: EFR), Paul Goranson, testified before a U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) hearing in support of the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act, draft legislation released by EPW Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) to help revitalize the domestic uranium industry and reclaim American nuclear leadership globally.

Below are Mr. Goranson’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

«Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper, thank you for holding this hearing on the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020.  I am the President of the Uranium Producers of America, the trade association representing the domestic uranium mining and conversion industry.  I am also the Chief Operating Officer for Energy Fuels Resources, and I have worked in the U.S. uranium industry for over 30 years.  The UPA strongly supports this bill, which will help reclaim America’s leadership in global nuclear markets.

«As I was starting my career, the U.S. led the world in uranium production, employing over 20,000 workers and supplying almost all our own nuclear fuel, and we were a net exporter of uranium.

«Today, commercial reactors in the US import more than 90% of annual demand and less than one percent of the uranium they use is mined in the United States.  This has left domestic production on the brink of collapse.

«Earlier this year, the multi-agency Nuclear Fuel Working Group recommended immediate government actions to address the predatory market tactics of state-owned uranium enterprises.

«U.S. mined production in 2019 is the lowest since 1949.  The U.S. mined only a fraction of the uranium needed to fuel even one of our 95 commercial nuclear reactors.  Employment is at an all-time low, we are almost entirely dependent on imported uranium, and we rely heavily on strategic competitors to sell us uranium.

«Uranium imports from countries in the Former Soviet Union: Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, represent almost half of the fuel used by America’s nuclear reactor fleet.

«Let me be clear – we have more than ample uranium supply in the U.S.  We have over 40 million pounds of licensed and partially licensed capacity, almost enough to fuel America’s entire commercial nuclear fleet. 

«When normal market forces are in play, U.S. mines are cost-competitive globally. We have abundant, high-quality uranium resources for the future.

«The challenge today for any free market uranium company, whether in the U.S., Canada, or Australia, is that we are not competing with other free-market companies.  We are competing with governments that seek to use energy as political capital.

«State-owned enterprises are not price sensitive.  When global prices plummeted a decade ago, free market companies were forced to reduce production and lay off workers, while Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan increased their production, drove down prices, and took control of global supply chains.

«The potential expiration of the Russian Suspension Agreement at the end of 2020 will only hasten the demise of the U.S. industry.  The agreement already guarantees Russia 20 percent of the U.S. market, but Russia has already contracted to increase imports significantly should the agreement expire.

«The UPA strongly supports the Commerce Department’s efforts to extend the RSA with protections for the domestic industry, as well as legislation to codify more restrictive limits on Russian uranium.  We appreciate the support of Chairman Barrasso in leading a bipartisan effort to reign in Russian uranium imports.

«It’s not just Russia, China is increasingly dumping underpriced uranium onto the global market. Data from the Departments of Energy and Commerce show that tens of millions of dollars’ worth of Chinese uranium has entered U.S. reactors in recent years.  

«The U.S. must immediately take bold action to preserve a domestic supply chain for nuclear fuel in the United States.

«The UPA strongly supports the draft American Nuclear Infrastructure Act.  Section 402 would codify the Nuclear Fuel Working Group’s proposal to establish a Strategic Uranium Reserve.  This reserve would ensure domestic uranium supply in the event of a market disruption and reduce our reliance on state-owned enterprises.

«The Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget requests $150 million for the uranium reserve, a modest investment considering it will preserve the nuclear fuel cycle in the U.S., instead of ceding it to Russia, China, and their allies. 

«The UPA also supports the U.S. nuclear fleet, our nation’s largest source of carbon-free, baseload power.  Section 301 of the draft bill would provide financial incentives to prevent the premature shutdown of nuclear power facilities.

«We appreciate the draft’s recognition that such facilities should be buying American uranium, and we look forward to working with the committee to strengthen this requirement and ensure that nuclear power facilities receiving taxpayer funds procure U.S.-mined and -converted uranium.

«Also, codifying the recent MOU signed by the EPA and NRC would further strengthen this legislation by providing certainty and robust, effective regulation of in situ uranium recovery.

«Thank you again Chairman Barrasso, Ranking Member Carper, and Members of the Committee.  I look forward to your questions and working with the committee to address these important issues.»

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SOURCE Uranium Producers of America

National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Issues Statement on California Prosecutor’s Request that NFL Take Down PSA

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump issued the following statement regarding California prosecutor’s requests to the NFL to remove PSA of Stephon Clark:

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump issued the following statement regarding California prosecutor’s requests to the NFL to remove PSA of Stephon Clark:

«This video portrays the truth that every life has value and meaning; there is real suffering behind every needless death, and we need to work to reframe expectations so that police only use deadly force when it is absolutely necessary. Stephon’s death led to the passage of important legislation in California that we hope will reduce the use of lethal force and save the lives of others, including many people of color. We applaud the NFL for using its significant platforms to promote awareness and positive change.»

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.

CONTACT: press@bencrump.com

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SOURCE Ben Crump

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today continued to take action in the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • The FDA issued its first warning letter to

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today continued to take action in the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • The FDA issued its first warning letter to New Life International and its second warning letter to Fishman Chemical of North Carolina, LLC, both of which distribute chloroquine phosphate products intended to treat disease in aquarium fish. Chloroquine phosphate intended to treat disease in aquarium fish has not been approved, conditionally approved, or indexed. Although neither company identified in today’s warning letters made claims about these products’ use by people, the agency is concerned that consumers may mistake, and have mistaken, unapproved chloroquine phosphate animal drugs for the human drug chloroquine phosphate. People should not take any form of chloroquine unless it has been prescribed by a licensed health care provider.
  • Testing updates:
    • To date, the FDA has currently authorized 203 tests under EUAs; these include 166 molecular tests, 35 antibody tests, and 2 antigen tests.

Additional Resources:

Media Contact: Lee.Herring@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) logo (PRNewsfoto/FDA)

 

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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Berwyn North School District 98 partners with SWYE360 Learning to deliver online learning district-wide

FRISCO, Texas, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As K–12 district leaders across the country are faced with tough decisions around remote, hybrid, or face to face learning environments, others are using this opportunity to be innovative and creative on how they solve these problems. Berwyn North School District…

FRISCO, Texas, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As K–12 district leaders across the country are faced with tough decisions around remote, hybrid, or face to face learning environments, others are using this opportunity to be innovative and creative on how they solve these problems. Berwyn North School District 98 has partnered with SWYE360 Learning, an innovative tech company to deliver remote learning. By using SWYE360 Learning, their teachers will have a system and structure to manage their learners, directly engage with students and parents, initiate and deliver virtual instruction, all in one platform without having to manage several different applications. Using SWYE360 Learning, Berwyn North 98 will be able to support both synchronous and asynchronous instruction.

Through SWYE360,

Students will have unique logins with access to dashboards to their upcoming virtual classes highlighted, built in-game mechanics to drive engagement and access to engage their teacher in a virtual classroom for one on one and personalized instruction.

Teachers will have access to their entire homeroom in the cloud. They will have all the tools they need to be effective in delivering highly interactive and engaging lessons including, multiple whiteboards, and access to online professional development coaches when needed.

Parents will have access to their learners’ dashboards with full visibility to all their virtual classes, assessments, assignments, and a marketplace for tutors if they need additional support for their students.

The district office has access to in-depth reporting and tools and to communicate with parents and teachers directly through the platform.

«Teachers are overwhelmed and facing uncertainty. What happened during the spring was challenging for teachers, students, and parents and it cannot happen again. SWYE360 was created to solve that problem,» says Jacob Makuvire CEO of SWYE360. «K-12 district leaders, including board members need to innovate and think differently to address these challenges.»

Districts that are interested to learn more about SWYE360 can send an email to partners@swye360.com

SWYE360 Learning is a collaborative e-learning platform for school districts and teachers to seamlessly deliver direct online instruction to all students regardless if they are in the classroom or at home learning and with all the reporting tools available for tracking attendance.
Berwyn North School District 98 is a school district headquartered in Berwyn, Illinois, serving K-8 students. The district serves the northern half of Berwyn.

About SWYE360
With SWYE360, schools create content, lesson plans, assignments, assessments, manage classes, initiate, and deliver virtual instruction all in one place. SWYE360 is the only fully integrated collaborative e-learning platform designed as a virtual instructional tool to support teachers, students, parents, and district leaders.

Media Contact
Media@swye360.com

 

SOURCE SWYE360

CARESTAR Foundation Awards Grant To Contra Costa County EMS Partnership For Opioid Response

BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The CARESTAR Foundation has awarded a two-year, $450,000 grant to evaluate a pilot program aimed at improving care delivery for opioid use disorder (OUD) patients in Contra Costa County. The grant supports the CA Bridge Program at the Public Health Institute, which has begun a multidimensional, innovative project to address the issue in alliance with the California Department of Public…

BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The CARESTAR Foundation has awarded a two-year, $450,000 grant to evaluate a pilot program aimed at improving care delivery for opioid use disorder (OUD) patients in Contra Costa County. The grant supports the CA Bridge Program at the Public Health Institute, which has begun a multidimensional, innovative project to address the issue in alliance with the California Department of Public Health, the Contra Costa County EMS Agency, American Medical Response, the Contra Costa County Department of Public Health, and UCLA.   

Tanir Ami, CARESTAR CEO, says that the grant fits squarely with CARESTAR’s goals to strengthen partnerships and build knowledge in injury prevention, emergency response and trauma care. «CARESTAR is fully engaged in systems improvement, and in realigning care provision to better fit the needs of all communities. We are opening the door to big conversations about providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place,» she says. «The CA Bridge program will help improve opioid use treatment for our diverse population, with immediate use of evidence-based medication, a culture-changing viewpoint that is more supportive, and a means of following patients to help prevent future overdoses.»

According to Gene Hern, MD, EMS Director of CA Bridge and an emergency physician, «This is the first county-wide pilot in California where EMS responders start buprenorphine treatment for OUD directly from the ambulance, and then outreach workers connect with patients within the community to provide longer-term resources. Improvement in this area of care is critical right now, given that the number of deadly opioid overdoses in many California counties is rising drastically.»

In Contra Costa specifically, deaths from overdose increased 51.9 percent between 2017 and 2018, according to the group.

Dr. Hern adds: «California is facing a dual crisis of COVID-19 and increasing opioid overdoses as fentanyl and methamphetamine move into our communities. Integrating EMS into a system of care for people with OUD is an essential next step in combatting the opioid epidemic. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to innovate and lead this effort for the entire country.»

He continues, «Many people found overdosed are reversed with naloxone only to go out and use again. It is not uncommon for a person to overdose multiple times in a single day. We think this is a tragedy and a failure. In the ER, we have seen that by implementing a comprehensive protocol of treatment for post-overdose survivors, we can stop this wasteful and deadly pattern of overdose. By extending this protocol to EMS, we can better reach marginalized communities, where most patients who die from overdoses tend to be, and bring more equitable access to modern, evidence-based treatments that work.»

«Supporting this pilot is a perfect opportunity for CARESTAR to help redefine and enhance crisis response,» says Tanir Ami. «We want to help create an emergency response system that is fully integrated, and that treats people in a unified and compassionate way.»  

About the CARESTAR Foundation

The CARESTAR Foundation was founded as a result of the sale of CALSTAR (California Shock Trauma Air Rescue), and honors CALSTAR’S legacy and lifesaving work in the field of emergency and trauma care. Our mission is to strengthen connections and foster partnerships in California’s injury prevention, emergency response and trauma care landscape to improve health outcomes for all Californians. www.carestarfoundation.org. 

 

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SOURCE CARESTAR Foundation

Tusk Philanthropies Commends Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker Signing Urgent Anti-Hunger Bill into Law

BOSTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Tusk Philanthropies yesterday applauded Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker for signing Breakfast After the Bell legislation into law (H.4218). The bill goes into effect immediately due to an attached emergency preamble.

This legislation will be officially implemented in the 2022-2023 school year. It will require all public K-12 schools in Massachusetts with…

BOSTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Tusk Philanthropies yesterday applauded Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker for signing Breakfast After the Bell legislation into law (H.4218). The bill goes into effect immediately due to an attached emergency preamble.

This legislation will be officially implemented in the 2022-2023 school year. It will require all public K-12 schools in Massachusetts with 60% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal National School Lunch Program to offer breakfast after the school day has begun. Serving breakfast for all students after the bell, as part of the school day, has a proven track record of dramatically increasing breakfast participation among the children that need it most.  

Before the pandemic, 1 in 9 children faced food insecurity in Massachusetts. Now, that number is 1 in 5. Massachusetts law requires high-poverty schools to provide breakfast to eligible students. But because breakfast is typically offered before the school day begins, just 40% of eligible students participate. More than ever, we are aware that solving the challenges contributing to lower participation is critical as communities struggle to recover from this crisis.

«This is a win for Massachusetts. Pre-pandemic, this bill made a lot of sense. The pandemic has only furthered the urgency and need for this bill, as we grapple with rising food insecurity, school funding challenges, and the need to limit cafeteria use to contain the virus. For years to come, we know Breakfast After the Bell will help close achievement gaps, improve physical and mental health, and even better students’ earning potential as adults,» said bill sponsor Rep. Andy Vargas. «In a time of uncertainty, we must give the children of Massachusetts the best opportunities and means to succeed.»

«150,000 students will now have access to breakfast. This legislation is the most impactful way to ensure that kids eat breakfast at school, while also tapping into an estimated $25 million in USDA reimbursements every year. This was the win we needed right now,» said bill sponsor Rep. Aaron Vega.

«No child who shows up to school hungry can possibly be ready to learn,» said Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). «I have seen firsthand the success of breakfast after the bell in my own district, and I am confident this new law will ensure that thousands of children across Massachusetts will now have access to the nutritious and stigma-free breakfast that they need to start their day. This policy has been one of my foremost legislative priorities for many years now, and I am grateful to everyone who played a role in making this day a reality for our Commonwealth’s students.»

Project Bread led the legislative effort in partnership with Tusk Philanthropies, the family foundation of venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk. Tusk Philanthropies has seen recent success securing Breakfast After the Bell for students in Maine, New Jersey, Tennessee, Washington, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, and expanded access to food stamps in North Carolina. For nearly 25 years, Project Bread has been partnering with the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement breakfast after the bell programs in districts and schools across the state. Their efforts to pass Breakfast After the Bell legislation have been supported by the Greater Boston Food Bank and non-profit partners in the Rise & Shine coalition.

«Getting this bill over the finish line has never been more timely. In a time of unprecedented unemployment and food insecurity, this legislation will contribute to children’s well-being and educational success in Massachusetts,» said Tusk. «I want to thank Governor Charlie Baker for signing this much-needed effort into law and to Senator Sal DiDomenico and Representatives Aaron Vega and Andy Vargas for sponsoring the bill. Thank you also to the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Education Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Alice Peisch, as well as Senate President Karen Spilka and Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Ways and Means Chairs Senator Michael Rodrigues and Representative Aaron Michelwitz.

«Breakfast after the Bell will have an enormous impact on the health and food security of our kids in Massachusetts at what a time when more families than ever are at risk of experiencing hunger. School Breakfast fuels learning for the day and relieves the household grocery budget to help families afford other living expenses,» said Erin McAleer, President at Project Bread. «We have been working school by school, district by district for over a decade to increase access to Breakfast because the potential benefit is so significant. Now we can scale that work with urgency so that all students have the chance to learn unencumbered by hunger.»

Media Contact:
Dani Frese | dani@tuskstrategies.com

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SOURCE Tusk / Montgomery Philanthropies