“Compassion.” “Moral leadership. “Devoted.” Southern California’s lawmakers on both sides of the aisle r emembered former President Jimmy Carter’s public service — and his humanity — as news of his death reverberated throughout the political world Sunday afternoon, Dec. 29. Carter, the 39th president, was 100 years old. Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, cast his first presidential ballot for Carter after he had turned 18, the congressman said on social media. “President Jimmy Carter was a veteran, a military academy graduate and a humble George peanut farmer,” said Correa. “He led this nation through difficult times. Thank you, President Carter.” “President Carter was a man of rare character — whose beliefs ran true and ran deep, whose moral compass never wavered,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “He saw the common humanity in all of us, building bridges between people of different faiths and factions abroad while working to meet the needs of those at home. Despite daunting challenges and trying times, his bright energy and spirit never faltered.” “President Carter’s candor and compassion, moral leadership and sense of duty set a standard we all should aspire to,” the Democratic governor added. “His enduring example reminds us that we can still find common ground despite our differences.” Rep. Young Kim, a Republican whose district spans Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, said in a social media post that her “heart is with (Carter’s) loved ones.” “President Carter devoted his life to serving the American people, whether in public service or through his charity and humanitarian work,” Kim said. Carter was the longest-living American president. Rep. Mike Garcia, R- Santa Clarita : “President Jimmy Carter’s passing is a loss for our nation. From his days as a midshipman at the Naval Academy to his service as our 39th president, he embodied leadership, honor, and compassion. Keeping the Carter family in my prayers tonight.” Sen. Adam Schiff : President Jimmy Carter leaves a legacy unlike any other. Ceaseless in his service, unbending in his dignity and revered for his commitment to our common humanity. He fought the good fight and kept the faith — and now he has finished his race. May his memory be an inspiration.” Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario : “Today, we mourn President Jimmy Carter, a leader of faith, compassion and service. His legacy of humanity and hope will endure. My thoughts are with the Carter family.” Former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa : “Jimmy Carter was a man of character and integrity whose lifelong service to the greater good was most evident when he left office. His tireless advocacy on behalf of the unhoused was something I was fortunate enough to witness firsthand and a remarkable feature of a humanitarian who never stopped believing in the dignity of our neighbors. May we continue the legacy of President Carter through acts of selfless service to others to never stop uplifting our community.” This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. Related Articles
True freshman Luke Kromenhoek threw three touchdown passes and Caziah Holmes ran for two more as host Florida State routed Charleston Southern 41-7 on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla. The Seminoles (2-9) convincingly snapped a six-game losing streak and ensured that the Buccaneers (1-11) would finish theirs on a 10-game skid. Florida State has not had much to celebrate during one of its worst seasons in program history. But on Saturday, the Seminoles overcame a rough start and put together one of their more complete efforts of the season. Florida State had not scored more than 21 points in a game prior to Saturday's contest and its 175 rushing yards more than doubled its average (80.5 per game) this season. No single runner had over 40 yards, but seven rushers combined for that output on 34 attempts. The Seminoles entered the game ranked 130th out of 133 FBS teams in rushing offense. Holmes, a senior, finished with three carries for 38 yards, including touchdown runs of 3 and 18 yards. Kromenhoek gave Florida State a sliver of hope for its quarterback future as he completed 13 of 20 passes for 209 yards and no interceptions. He threw TD passes for Amaree Williams, Ja'Khi Douglas and Hykeem Williams. The highlight was a 71-yard touchdown pass to Douglas on the first play from scrimmage of the second half to put the Seminoles ahead 24-0. Douglas finished with 82 yards receiving on three catches, and 10 different Florida State players caught passes for 240 total yards. The Seminoles went 6 of 10 on third downs after averaging only a 25 percent conversion rate all season. Their defense held Charleston Southern to 275 total yards (57 rushing) and forced two turnovers. Florida State was unable to hang on to the shutout, however, as Bucs quarterback Kaleb Jackson found Landon Sauers for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Jackson completed 22 of 32 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Bucs defense recorded three sacks led by Davion Williams, who had eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. The Seminoles will conclude their season next Saturday at home against rival Florida. --Field Level MediaNostromo will use funds to deploy its IceBrick® thermal energy storage systems in 193 commercial buildings across California IRVINE, Calif. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nostromo Energy , provider of the IceBrick® system, a virtual power plant (VPP)-enabled thermal energy storage solution for commercial and industrial buildings, announced today that it has received a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $305.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO). The proposed financing would be used by Nostromo for Project IceBrick® – the first, wide-scale deployment of Nostromo's technology to reduce costs, emissions, and grid strain related to electricity for commercial cooling. If finalized, the loan will finance the deployment of IceBrick® installations at up to 193 commercial buildings and facilities across California . Nostromo will also target installing at least 20% of these projects in disadvantaged communities, further improving the reliability of local systems. Project IceBrick® has the potential to create more than 200 jobs, including over 170 peak construction jobs. Over the 5-year construction period, the project will also create more than 874 annual job equivalents, including hiring installation contractors from disadvantaged communities when possible. The project could also enable the state's bulk power system to avoid up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over its lifetime by installing a potential equivalent of 170 MW (450 MWh) of behind-the-meter, or on-site, storage capacity in buildings – while making power more reliable and affordable. Seventy-four percent of all electricity in the US is consumed by buildings, with approximately half used to maintain thermal conditions, representing the largest load on both buildings and the power grid. California is the second-largest total energy consumer by state in the US and has set a target of being a 60% clean energy grid by 2030 and 100% by 2045. Nostromo's IceBrick® ice-based thermal energy storage (TES) technology reduces costs, emissions, and grid-congestion associated with the largest energy use in large commercial buildings-HVAC. The IceBrick® systems charge when electricity is cheap and clean (when renewables are available) and discharge later for use when power is both expensive and polluting. The IceBrick storage cells are 100% US-made from recycled or recyclable materials. All IceBrick® systems are centrally managed for grid-integration as a virtual power plant (VPP). They are compatible for new buildings or retrofitting on properties including hotels, offices, data centers, and hospitals. Host building owners can install IceBrick® systems without any capital or other upfront costs under Nostromo's "Energy Storage-as-a-Service" (ESaaS) program. Project IceBrick® is the third VPP project that the LPO has announced and the first to use TES. The potential for VPPs to alleviate grid load is significant as peak hours air conditioning accounts for approximately 50% of US electricity load during those hours. VPPs are aggregations of electrified, grid-connected devices, including grid interactive efficient buildings . They reduce utilities' reliance on natural gas peaker plants and the strain on transmission and distribution infrastructure by intelligently time-shifting cooling loads to shave electricity demand from times of peak usage, when electricity is most carbon-intensive. As a VPP, Project IceBrick supports a higher rate of grid asset utilization, further tempering cost increases for Californians, who face some of the highest electricity bills in the nation. "We're excited to help fulfill the vision of the DOE and LPO to make VPPs a key resource of the modern grid by serving up to 20% of its peak loads and making power more secure, affordable and clean," said Yoram Ashery, CEO of Nostromo Energy. "This project will benefit not only commercial buildings, but also electricity consumers in general, create hundreds of good paying domestic jobs, and reduce emissions from gas peaker plants which mostly impact disadvantaged communities around them." The loan guarantee for Project IceBrick would be issued under the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Financing for the first Project IceBrick will be provided, subject to the outstanding required approval, by the DOE guaranteed loan of up to $305.5 million (inclusive of $1.85 million of capitalized interest), and in addition project equity, for which a term sheet has been executed with a private equity management firm, and investment tax credits (ITC). Nostromo has recently completed the sale of the ITC earned on its first IceBrick® system. In conjunction with Project IceBrick, Independence Point Securities is the exclusive financial advisor to Nostromo Energy. This conditional commitment indicates DOE's intent to finance the project, however, DOE must complete an environmental review, and the company must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental, commercial, and financial conditions before the Department can decide whether to enter into definitive financing documents and fund the loan guarantee. For more information, review the DOE's announcement blog . About Nostromo Energy Nostromo Energy's ice-based energy storage solution is redefining energy storage for commercial and industrial buildings, enabling them to become sustainable energy storage assets and reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions. Nostromo's IceBrick® system uses ice to store energy when electricity prices are low and renewable energy is abundant, and later discharge the energy to avoid purchasing electricity that is both carbon-intensive and expensive. In this way, Nostromo helps accelerate the renewable revolution and paves the way to a carbon-free electric grid, while offering building owners a safe, clean, and financially beneficial energy storage solution. The IceBrick® is non-flammable, modular, and compact, easily retrofitted to existing commercial and industrial buildings. To learn more about Nostromo and the IceBrick® technology, visit www.nostromo.energy . Nostromo Energy's IceBrick® System Nostromo's IceBrick system is composed of thermal storage cells that are modular and compact, allowing for installation in a variety of building types as well as various locations within a building, such as in a basement or on a roof. It operates by using regular electricity to freeze a water-based solution during the hours when the grid's electricity supply is at its most abundant and clean. The stored energy in the frozen IceBricks is then used to help power the building's cooling system during hours of peak demand, reducing the need to rely on power from the grid at these times, which are the most expensive and when the grid faces highest demand and produces electricity from the most carbon-intensive and polluting sources. Nostromo's VPP software can control operation and performance of IceBrick systems either as standalone systems or in concert as a VPP. The IceBrick storage cells are manufactured entirely in the US, from partially recycled and 100% recyclable materials. Contact: Rebecca Ash rebecca@gova10.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nostromo-energy-secures-305-million-conditional-commitment-from-us-department-of-energy-to-cut-climate-impact-and-costs-of-cooling-in-large-california-buildings-302326710.html SOURCE Nostromo © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) Shares Sold by Banque Cantonale VaudoiseExtra funding announced to help families access safe credit ahead of ChristmasHowever, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt”. Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Mr Assad’s brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant, who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the UN official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali for the first time. Mr Jalali stayed in Syria when Mr Assad fled and has sought to project normalcy since. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Mr Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a UN official said some government services had been paralysed as worried state employees stayed at home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt,” said Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonised by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Mr Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. “I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” In a video shared on a rebel messaging channel, Mr al-Sharaa said: “You will see there are skills” among the rebels. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Mr Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Mr Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Mr Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets.
My Turn: At junction of left brainers, right brainers, and no-brainersFlexmerce.com Launches Cutting-Edge Solution to Automate Back Market and Refurbed Invoicing 11-22-2024 07:44 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Automate Back Market and Refurbed Invoicing Flexmerce is proud to announce the launch of its revolutionary invoicing automation service tailored specifically for sellers on Back Market and Refurbed. This innovative solution is set to transform how marketplace sellers manage their transactions, reduce marketplace fees, and maximize profits. With the rapid growth of marketplaces like Back Market and Refurbed, sellers face the challenge of managing invoicing efficiently while ensuring compliance with platform-specific requirements. Flexmerce.com addresses this issue head-on by offering a seamless tool to automate Back Market invoicing and automate Refurbed invoicing, saving sellers valuable time and reducing human errors. "Our goal is to empower sellers with the tools they need to succeed in the competitive marketplace landscape," said Shoaib Hussain, CEO of Flexmerce.com. "By automating invoicing, we're enabling sellers to focus on scaling their businesses while we handle the administrative complexities." Key Benefits of Flexmerce.com's Solution: * Streamlined Invoicing: Automates invoicing processes on Back Market and Refurbed, eliminating manual data entry. * Maximized Backbox Returns: Sellers can get more Backbox on Back Market by ensuring accurate invoicing, preventing revenue loss. * Reduced Marketplace Fees: By optimizing transaction management, sellers can minimize unnecessary costs tied to invoicing errors. * Compliance Made Easy: Adheres to marketplace-specific invoicing rules, ensuring smooth operations and avoiding penalties. The service is already receiving praise from beta users, who report significant reductions in administrative workload and improved financial accuracy. One seller shared, "Flexmerce.com has been a game-changer for our business on Back Market. The automation not only saved us hours of work but also helped us avoid costly mistakes. " Automating invoicing with Flexmerce boosts your brand reputation and improves marketplace insight scores. This strengthens your standing, increasing your chances of receiving higher BuyBox or BackBox rates as marketplaces recognize your top-notch reputation. To explore the full range of services, visit the Flexmerce services page [ https://flexmerce.com/services ]. Sellers can also use the Savings Calculator [ https://flexmerce.com/calculateSavings ] to see how much they can save by automating invoicing with Flexmerce. For more information about its mission to support marketplace sellers, visit Flexmerce.com [ https://flexmerce.com/ ]. Flexmerce.com's solution is designed to be user-friendly and integrates seamlessly with Back Market and Refurbed platforms. By adopting this technology, sellers can unlock new levels of efficiency and profitability in their marketplace operations. This announcement marks a significant milestone for Flexmerce.com as it continues its mission to support marketplace sellers with innovative, cost-saving tools. Media Contact Company Name: Flexmerce Contact Person: Shoaib Hussain Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=flexmercecom-launches-cuttingedge-solution-to-automate-back-market-and-refurbed-invoicing ] Phone: +44 333 789 0702 City: London Country: United Kingdom Website: https://flexmerce.com/ This release was published on openPR.
Oaktree Capital Group sells $30.4 million in CBL & Associates stockMayor Brandon Johnson on Monday blamed his office’s handling of harassment complaints against his former communications director on what he described as a flawed disciplinary process he inherited at City Hall. In his first remarks to reporters since the Tribune reported on Ronnie Reese’s alleged behavior last week, the mayor said he did not know about the allegations against Reese until his office received a Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of Reese’s City Hall personnel file. And Johnson said his administration has no tolerance for the kind of harassment, sexism, racism or other abusive behavior several employees in his administration allege Reese engaged in while running the mayor’s press office. He deflected questions on how the documents also show frustration over how his chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, suggested “peace circles” in response to concerns over Reese’s behavior, and did not say how often such remedies are considered. “The information that was disclosed as it relates to the FOIA request was the first that we’re hearing of those allegations,” Johnson said when asked about Pacione-Zayas’s response to the complaints. “There is a process that has been established long before I got here, that we inherited. And in this particular instance, it’s very clear that the system that I inherited established a process that did not provide full disclosure of everything that was in that personnel file until there was a FOIA request.” The Tribune requested a FOIA for Reese’s personnel file on Oct. 25 after City Hall moved to dismiss him. Johnson’s office released records last week of three internal complaints against Reese that alleged behavior ranging from unwanted physical contact to making disparaging comments about marginalized groups and intimidation tactics. Johnson on Monday also acknowledged the slow pace for two of Reese’s ex-employees to get off the city’s Do Not Hire list — a change made official last week, after the Tribune’s reporting on Reese’s personnel file. But the mayor’s assistant corporation counsel, Jeffrey Levine, defended how the city has managed the list, which is traditionally reserved for ex-employees accused of serious crimes and misconduct. “The Department of Human Resources has a detailed and comprehensive policy that governs placement on the Do Not Hire list, that governs removal from that list, that governs a process whereby new information can be provided and received and considered and whereby appeals can be made from decisions of the city,” Levine told reporters. “And that process and that policy is currently playing itself out, and I think it is comprehensive and covers a variety of situations.” Former press office staffers Dora Meza and Azhley Rodriguez were given notice Friday that they were removed from the Do Not Hire list, according to letters sent by DHR. They were two of Reese’s employees who were fired in August 2023 after complaining about how Reese and Johnson senior adviser Jason Lee treated them, and had been banned from future city employment ever since . In Monday statements to the Tribune, Meza and Rodriguez said they were relieved but demanded reforms on how the list will be utilized in the future. “Finally. It’s been long overdue,” Rodriguez wrote. “I hope the city reconsiders their procedure when placing people on the ineligible for rehire. Nobody should have to go through the unfair treatment my colleagues and I did and then be further punished with the DNH. It’s not right.” Then-mayoral aide Ronnie Reese, left, watches as Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson greets people at MacArthur’s Restaurant in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on April 23, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Josué Ortiz, another ex-staffer of Reese’s, was placed on the Do Not Hire list at the same time but successfully petitioned to be removed this April. Another press aide, Summer Hoagland-Abernathy, said she was fired at the same time and did not receive the official letter stating she won her appeal to be removed until December 2023. In a phone interview Monday, Hoagland-Abernathy said she remains unemployed since being fired and that being stuck on the Do Not Hire list for several months “really wrecked my confidence.” “We have been talking about Ronnie’s misogynistic behavior since probably the spring or summer that he came on,” Hoagland-Abernathy said. “The mayor’s office needs to be a little bit more aware and/or willing to bring justice to the people that are being discriminated against within the office.” Asked Monday why that first batch of complaints against Reese in 2023 — which the Tribune reported on in January — was not enough to take action against him, the mayor said “Every single employee has constant review.” “Every employee does. There are regular check-ins that happen to gain a better understanding of what’s working in departments and what’s not working in departments,” Johnson said. Members of City Council are also itching to reign in use of the Do Not Hire list. Johnson’s appointed Ethics Committee chair, Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, told the Tribune on Monday he plans to hold a hearing early next year on the process of getting on the list and whether changes need to be made. Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, who hired Ortiz in his aldermanic office after he got off the Do Not Hire list, called for an audit of all remaining ex-employees on the list. “It’s unfortunate that it took the cover-up of the actions of Ronnie Reese to get to this point. ... Given the fact that it was abused, we need to put some guardrails around this,” Villegas said. As for whether Johnson believes the accusations against Reese, who was a longtime friend of the mayor’s and served as press secretary of his 2023 mayoral campaign and for the Chicago Teachers Union, the mayor repeated that he could not comment on personnel matters. “There are allegations that have been brought to an individual,” Johnson said. “I’m not in a position and nor will I succumb to litigating anything that is ongoing publicly. What I can say is this: I can speak for Brandon Johnson that I do not tolerate antisemitic, misogynistic, sexist, racist, xenophobia, anti-Blackness, anti-immigrant behavior. I don’t. That’s not how I was raised.” Johnson’s reaction to the ongoing fallout over Reese came the same day he presided over a mandatory public hearing on his 2025 budget plan — one that remains in flux and is sure to change before a final City Council vote. Most recently, the mayor’s team has been pushing aldermen to accept a property tax hike between $60 million and $70 million, a source close to the mayor said. The mayor first floated a $300 million property tax hike in late October but lowered that amount to $150 million after a unanimous vote by aldermen. Meanwhile, the budget gap Johnson and aldermen must close has widened since his last proposal. Pressure from aldermen has already led Budget Committee Chair Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, to say Johnson’s proposed $10.6 million liquor tax is off the table. Johnson also promised to re-add 162 vacant positions tied to the federal consent decree to the Police Department after pushback from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, a move aldermen estimate will cost over $10 million. An unexpected Springfield switch-up to taxes on prepaid phones will cost the city another $37 million, according to Budget Director Annette Guzman. The mayor on Monday again rejected workforce cuts such as layoffs as a potential budget-balancer. He praised two revenue-raising ideas proposed by aldermen — a tax on hemp products and changes to the city’s grocery bag tax — but declined to share a full recommendation. “The people of Chicago don’t want cuts to services. I can tell you that emphatically,” Johnson said, a line he has returned to repeatedly this fall as budget negotiations have dragged on.