Jake Fraley has a pair of home runs in Cactus League play this spring. (Getty)

A lot has changed in the six days since we last checked in on the Mariners prospects. Obviously baseball, like the rest of the country, has taken a backseat to the COVID-19 pandemic, and theres no telling when MLB or any of the other major sports leagues will be back.

Part 1: What the Mariners top 4 prospects are doing in spring training

Before everything came to a standstill, we looked at what the Mariners top four prospects (as ranked by MLB.com) had done in 2020 Cactus League play and promised to do the same at a later date with the other prospects that are in Seattles top 10 and have seen time in major league spring training action. So thats what were going to do.

At the end of the post, well also identify a few other young standouts for the Mariners who either arent in the top 10 or no longer fit the definition of prospect.

Cactus League stats: Three appearances, 6.2 innings, 10 strikeouts, two earned runs, three walks, four hits, 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, .160 average against.

Notable highlight: Dunn struck out three over 1.2 innings against the Angels on March 4, including a punchout of Albert Pujols where he fooled the three-time MVP with a breaking ball that broke out of the zone.

A quick word: He had a couple of mechanical adjustments to make, Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Dunn before his first Cactus League start. When I saw him in January I thought it looked a little bit better; it looks way better now. Just trying to be more consistent on-line, hes kind of always fighting mechanically to get the ball to the glove side consistently. So far its looked pretty good this spring. I like where hes at right now, the balls coming out really good, hes got a lot of confidence, hes carrying himself really well around here.

2020 outlook: For a while during the offseason, the fifth spot in the Mariners initial five-man starting rotation appeared to be Dunns to lose. Then the Ms added Taijuan Walker as spring training began, which seemed to nudge the 24-year-old Dunn back to Triple-A, a level he skipped on his way to making four starts as a September call-up from Double-A in 2019. As Mariners insider Shannon Drayer put it, Dunn would have the chance to force the issue with his appearances in the spring, and you have to think what he did in his three Cactus League games were at least a step in the right direction. Considering command was an issue in his MLB outings last year, almost assuredly due to jitters in his first promotion to the big leagues, his 1.05 WHIP this spring is a welcome sight. The 10 strikeouts in just under seven innings are also quite impressive. It doesnt look like the 2016 Mets first-round pick is planning to spend much of his 2020 season in the minors, and hell be the first man up should an opportunity arise in Seattles rotation.

Cactus League stats: Eight games, 16 plate appearances, .188 average, .625 OPS, one home run, one double, three RBIs, no walks, five strikeouts.

Notable highlight: This is why hes the metaphorical lead singer of the Beef Boys group from the 2019 Double-A Arkansas Travelers team.

A quick word: If 2020 is his chance to play in the big leagues whether that is midseason or late season, we are going to let that happen because we think the development of our young core of players is the single most important thing we are doing, Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said of Raleigh in December.

2020 outlook: Raleigh, a 23-year-old backstop who Seattle selected in the third round in 2018, is believed to be the Mariners catcher of the future. If that comes to fruition, hell have some time to settle into that role as the Ms have a pair of catchers in their prime years currently on their MLB roster in Tom Murphy (turns 29 next month) and Austin Nola (30). The switch-hitting Raleigh has the makeup of a baseball lifer, and his combination of skills behind the plate and power in the batters box could take him a long way. The Cactus League homer was a nice appetizer, but the rest of his spring numbers signal that hell need some extra seasoning in the minors before assuming his place on the MLB roster.

Cactus League stats: 10 games, 30 plate appearances, .231 average, .838 OPS, two home runs, two doubles, four RBIs, three walks, eight strikeouts, one stolen base.

Notable highlight: Dude pulled a 101-mph fastball for a home run.

A quick word: I know hes got some very high goals set for himself, Servais said. Jake is very, very serious. Theres no question how seriously he takes his game. The biggest thing for him and these guys who are so driven like that is to relax a little bit and smile once and awhile.

2020 outlook: Fraley will likely be in the starting outfield whenever the MLB season begins. The ongoing injury problems for Mitch Haniger have opened the door, and the 24 year old will get the chance to show if he can hit consistently against major league pitching. He was a star in 2019 Mariners spring training after coming to the team from the Rays in the trade that sent Mike Zunino to Tampa Bay, and his numbers have been strong this spring as well. Theres no question that Fraley is a great athlete who can cover ground in the outfield, has some pop in his bat (19 homers combined between Double-A and Triple-A in 2019) and can make things happen on the base paths (22 stolen bases in 2019). When the Mariners brass talk about giving the kids a chance to play in 2020 to get reps against MLB competition, Fraley is the exact kind of player theyre talking about.

Cactus League stats: 11 games, 32 plate appearances, .172 average, .733 OPS, three home runs, seven RBIs, three walks, seven strikeouts.

Notable highlight: How does an oppo-taco grand salami sound? (Honestly a salami taco might be worth trying. I mean, taco pizza is available all over the place and personally Im a big fan of a dish know as Mexican lasagna, so I have to believe a salami taco could be yet another success in Mexican-Italian fusion. Theres something for you adventurous cooks to try out while were all shut in at home.)

A quick word: He has power. He controls the strike zone in a different way than people look at. Kyle makes very good decisions on what to swing at, Dipoto said in January. There are empty swings, hes gonna come up empty, and thats part of the trade-off for getting the kind of power he has particularly his power to the opposite field. When you hit the ball as far Kyle Lewis hits it to right-center field, you have to allow the ball to travel deeper in the zone. As a result, you are gonna run a higher strikeout rate more often than not.

2020 outlook: The Mariners are going to take a good, long look at Lewis, who was Seattles initial first-round pick under Dipoto in 2016 and who will turn 25 around midseason. He took the big leagues by storm in 2019, becoming the second player in history to homer in each of his first three MLB games and finishing with six home runs in 18 games after joining the team as a September call-up. He had 75 plate appearances in his time with the Ms, which means every 12.5 times he stepped to the plate, the ball left the yard. Hes kept it up this spring as his three homers lead the team. But as the quote from Dipoto states and .172 average from spring training bears out, Lewis prodigious power does come with a drawback. Hell get all the chances he needs to figure out how to put that power to use in MLB action this year, likely figuring in as Seattles regular left fielder.

J.P. Crawford, shortstop: The key return in the Mariners trade that sent Jean Segura to Philadelphia prior to the 2019 season, Crawford had a few spurts of strong play in 93 games with Seattle last year. He had one of the shiniest web gems of the entire MLB season and at times looked like a prototypical No. 2 hitter. His glove and arm have continued to dazzle this spring, and the bat has been one of the best in camp for Seattle, as he is hitting .400 with a .989 OPS and five RBIs. And watching him run the bases for a triple, something hes done twice in Cactus League play, is about as fun as it gets.

Justus Sheffield, starting pitcher: Sheffield is still considered a prospect, ranking 13th on the Mariners list from MLB.com, but hes appeared in each of the last two MLB seasons and comes into 2020 as one of Seattles expected starting pitchers. Hes been a big bright spot this spring, holding opponents to two runs scored while maintaining a 0.63 WHIP in eight innings over three appearances. Hes also struck out a staggering 12 batters and walked none, and he turned heads by suddenly switching to a two-seam fastball and ditching his four-seamer to great success.

Tim Lopes, utility player: Theres been a lot of talk about the Mariners opting to use a utility player as their fourth outfielder after Braden Bishop was optioned to Triple-A, and Lopes seems like the top candidate if that ends up being the case. He is primarily a second baseman and only played the outfield once in eight seasons in the minors, but he was sent to the outfield 35 times and appeared at second only three times in his 41 games with the Mariners in 2019. The important thing, however, is that he has been hitting the cover off the ball this spring, almost assuredly playing himself into an opening day roster spot. He leads the team with a .440 average, 11 hits and five doubles in 11 games, and hes driven in seven runs, scored five and even has a pair of stolen bases and hasnt been caught stealing, either.

Follow 710Sports.coms Brent Stecker on Twitter.

Drayer: Ms choosing to stick together despite seasons delay Top Ms pitching prospect Logan Gilbert shines again in 2nd spring start Who have been the Mariners most impressive young hitters this spring?

Continued here:

Checking In: Progress of Mariners top prospects in spring training, part 2 - MyNorthwest.com

By Karen Balice-GregoryCommunity Columnist

SundayMar15,2020at2:59PM

There are not very many things that stop me in my tracks but this week something did. In the process of carrying out a fun and relaxing day out of town with one of my great nieces, we were literally plowed from behind by a huge truck on a busy road during rush hour. The driver in front of us was trying to get into the turn lane and I was patiently waiting behind her. It was a major jolt that neither of us saw coming. In all the years that Ive been driving there have been a few misses and a couple of bad weather slides but only one big one prior to this and that happened 50 years ago.

When something like this happens, the reaction to it is relative to all the details, ages, circumstances and perspectives. It took both of us a minute or two just to download what had just taken place. In the next minute, after you check each other out for injuries, you have to make a move both physically and mentally to determine what to do next. Can you safely get out of the way? Is your vehicle even drivable? Why didnt the airbags deploy? Is the guy that caused this going to stop or drive away? Why does my head hurt, it didnt hit anything? I waited for traffic to clear and then pulled into a roadside business followed closely by the driver behind me. He was on his phone the minute I looked back in the mirror and I assumed he was contacting the police.

It took quite a while for him to get out of his truck to talk to us and all the while I was more calm than I ever thought Id be under the circumstances. Unlike some other brushes Id had on the road, this time I was more relieved that nothing worse happened. When the other driver finally approached me and saw the damage he had done he said, One minute I looked down (I suspect at his phone) and the next minute, there you were. He didnt apologize, didnt ask if wed been hurt and had no comment about the obliteration of my car.

It wasnt long before the police showed up to take our statements. I gave my story to the officer and when I asked him whether or not hed be ticketed, he stated that he couldnt share that information with me without the other drivers permission. (Lesson No. 2: insist on permission; Lesson No.1: get the other drivers information.) Miraculously, my car was drivable, had operational brake lights and there was just enough daylight to get home. Im still waiting for the report, dealing with insurance, anxious to find out how much this is going to cost me and if it can even be repaired.

Its a relief that I can handle an emergency so calmly but oh, all those little things piling up now thats a work in progress!

Karen Balice-Gregory is a trustee of the Ionia Public Schools Board of Education and can be contacted at kgregory@ioniaschools.org or c/o Ionia Sentinel-Standard, 114 N. Depot St., Ionia, MI 48846.

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Karen Balice-Gregory: A work in progress - The Daily Telegram

MINSK, 16 March (BelTA) The possibility of importing American oil to Belarus is being worked on, BelTA learned from Aleksandr Tishchenko, Press Secretary of the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim.

Asked about the possibility of importing oil from the USA to Belarus, the spokesman noted the possibility had not been ruled out and work on it is in progress. The format is being worked on, he said. According to the source, work on the negotiation positions is in progress. Speaking about the resumption of oil deliveries from Baltic ports to Belarus by pipeline, the official noted they continue working on it. A working group is being set up in order to fully take care of the matter, he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo visited Belarus on 1 February. After talks with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko the diplomat said that the USA stands ready to deliver 100% of the energy resources Belarus needs at competitive prices.

An international expert seminar took place at premises of the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (BISR) on 4 March. The seminar gathered representatives of Latvian and Lithuanian railway administrations, oil transshipment and logistics companies, port administrations, and diplomats. The Belarusian side was represented by top officials and experts of the state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim, Belarusian Railways, and the Association of European Business.

An agreement was reached that specialists will determine an optimal way to resume the operation of the pipeline system that will allow delivering oil from Baltic ports to Belarus. A working group will be set up soon to take care of the technical aspect of the matter and the legal one. Technical information will be used to prepare an agreement and push the project to the intergovernmental level.

See the rest here:

Work in progress on oil import from USA to Belarus - Belarus News (BelTA)

If you think just because Bungie is no longer working with Activision that Destiny 2 is free of problems, guess again as a new update caused more headaches. The company released an update without any warning to the community that essentially updated the stat tracking function on emblems. Basically, they were trying to make it easier for players to track their progress with a better menu. However, the drawback that no one saw coming until they looked at their stats is that it completely erased progress and achievements from players who had taken on some of the toughest challenges in the game. The community was enraged and showed their distaste on Reddit. The devs followed it up with an explanation in their weekly blog.

When designing this system, our overall goal is to provide players more ways and options to show off their accomplishments. Our first selection of stats were determined by prioritizing stats that represented a skill that could be improved week-over-week or Season-over-Season and be an accomplishment that players would want to display that was meaningful to other players. Because of that, some stats that couldn't be completed or improved any longer weren't included.

We believe in these requirements in principle, but strictly applying them retroactively unfairly removed your ability to show off accomplishments that you could flaunt in Seasons prior. It was a change made with good intention, but was the wrong way to roll out a new system. We've identified some stats that can be added back in a future patch, and wanted to share them with you. We are currently planning to add these stat trackers back in an update later in the Season.

If we were a dev working on Destiny 2 right now, we'd be looking for a way to either reinstate those achievements or open them back up for people to do immediately. Especially since we all seem to have extra time on our hands during the coronavirus outbreak. We'll see if the company makes any more changes to restore those to the players or at least gives them a chance to get them back.

Gavin has been a lifelong geek who can chat with you about comics, television, video games, and even pro wrestling. He can also teach you how to play Star Trek chess, be your Mercy on Overwatch, recommend random cool music, and goes rogue in D&D. He also enjoys standup comedy, Let's Play videos and trying new games, along with hundreds of other geeky things that can't be covered in a single paragraph. Follow @TheGavinSheehan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vero, for random pictures and musings.

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New "Destiny 2" Updates Erased Years Of Progress For Players - Bleeding Cool News

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Nathaniel Frank, Cornell University

(THE CONVERSATION) According to family lore, my father suspected I was gay when I was six because I liked cars with windshield wipers in the rear. (As a shrink, hes always had a penchant for looking under the hood, so to speak.)

There were other clues too. I used to prance around the yard flitting my wrists and waving my arms, chirping in a high-pitched, affected manner: Im a boy! My father would gently take me aside, crinkle his nose and shake his head, saying, Try not to do that thing with your wrists. At other times he asked if my flamboyant declarations that I was a boy reflected some worry that I actually wasnt.

The truth was, I wasnt worried about whether I really was a boy, nor did I want to be a girl. The truth was, I was just being me.

I thought about this painful part of my childhood when Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the presidential race earlier this month. Watching an openly gay candidate advance this far toward the presidency was thrilling for many LGBTQ Americans, including me. Yet I also winced at key moments in his campaign, such as when he struggled poignantly to voice his feelings.

Indeed, at certain moments, hearing Buttigiegs words was excruciating for me both because of the personal resonance of his struggle and because of what it says about where the country is on LGBTQ equality.

Calibrating his words

When Buttigieg was asked by The New York Times editorial board why he didnt embody the anger many Americans feel about the state of the nation, he insisted that his presidential bid was propelled by a level of passion, and added that some people are given more room to be emotive than others.

Pressed on what he meant, he explained that he was sometimes asked to have more of a flourish in displaying my emotions, and it is precisely because I feel very strongly about lots of things that I have learned to master how I might feel about anything and channel that into action. He concluded by saying he is mindful as the new guy that maybe waving my arms is not the best way to convey what I care about.

Most LGBTQ people will find this language familiar, if incomplete. We are used to carefully calibrating how much of a flourish we give off when we express ourselves. Weve spent our lives learning, by necessity, to master our passions and channel them into action that feels safer than acting on them directly. Weve become experts at communicating in code and at decoding communication.

So I did a double take at some of Buttigiegs remarks. What did he mean when he said that, as the new guy, waving his arms may not be the best way to communicate his passions?

Being the new guy isnt particularly relevant to whether waving his arms is an effective way to communicate. But being the gay guy is. If LGBTQ folks have learned that its dangerous to move our bodies in certain ways, that danger is surely magnified for political candidates seeking the support of tens of millions of Americans.

Stigma and discrimination still hurt

Its not clear exactly why little gay boys may be prone to exaggerated performances of effeminacy, why young lesbians may be more likely to be tomboys or why some feel a persistent sense of being a different gender than the one assigned at birth.

What is clear is that, while these identities and behaviors are not harmful themselves, the way family, peers, colleagues and service providers react to them can have a profound impact on the well-being of those who dont conform to expected norms.

Although Americans believe that anti-LGBTQ discrimination has significantly waned in recent years, research shows that its not just political candidates who continue to feel they have to hide their true selves to reach their full potential, as even the openly gay presidential candidate apparently did.

In December, the What We Know Project, a research initiative I oversee at Cornell University, released one of the largest-ever analyses of research on the impact of discrimination on LGBTQ well-being. We identified hundreds of studies that linked anti-LGBTQ discrimination to mental and physical health harms, including depression, anxiety, PTSD and suicidal behavior.

Research also shows that the behavior of family and society can make LGBTQ individuals feel less safe in coming out. Studies show that rejecting behaviors by parents shaming, ostracism and efforts to straighten out atypical youth can increase the likelihood of psychological distress, low self-esteem and the risky behavior that can lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

The damage remained consistent whether the discrimination was actual or perceived, meaning just the fear of being stigmatized or mistreated has a measurable effect. This may help explain why so many sexual and gender minorities strive, at great cost, to repress their true selves.

As a researcher I try to stay dispassionate about the data, but it hit me hard as I watched statistics pile up about the pain I quickly recognized as my own.

Emotional repression

Such repression has its own consequences, as Buttigieg has eloquently described, in a speech last April before an audience of LGBTQ supporters, when he characterized the closet as a kind of war that nearly ended his life.

A 2009 study found that lesbian, gay and bisexual people held their emotions inside when bracing for stigma, leading to a greater likelihood of psychological distress. The authors concluded that suppression may serve a self-protective function in that it prevents retaliation from perpetrators.

Another study, from 2016, identified repressing anger as a common coping mechanism for gay men and lesbians in anticipation of harassment and the need to conceal their identity.

Yet another study looked at the links between gender expression among lesbian, gay and bisexual people and mental health, and found that having a nontraditional gender expression was correlated with greater psychological distress and greater social anxiety.

All this is consistent with the wider body of stigma research, which suggests that large numbers of LGBTQ people remain closeted because, if you perceive a penalty for being honest about who you are, youre more likely to conceal that and such concealment has health consequences.

As Buttigiegs struggle to express himself and mine and millions of others remind us, too many LGBTQ people still feel that they must, but simultaneously cant, wave their arms to truly be seen.

[Like what youve read? Want more? Sign up for The Conversations daily newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/pete-buttigiegs-coded-language-shows-the-limits-and-promise-of-lgbtq-progress-133336.

Link:

Pete Buttigieg's coded language shows the limits and promise of LGBTQ progress - The Wilton Bulletin

While South Korea has reported a significant number of COVID19 cases, Southern Golds area of operations are currently not materially impacted.

Southern Gold Ltd () is continuing to advance its drilling campaign at the Beopseongpo Project in South Korea, with the Hand of Faith target being the primary focus at this stage.

Diamond drill hole BPDD011 has just been completed for 202.4 metres and the rig has now moved to the next drill site with BPDD012 just commenced.

Hole BPDD011 intersected the target structure, including a deeper intersection of what has been tentatively identified as intermediate sulphidation epithermal veining.

Drilling is progressing at a rate of about 20-25 metres per day and with excellent recovery (>95%).

The drill program is about 1200 metres and will take 4-6 weeks to complete.

A second rig is also in the process of being mobilised to Beopseongpo and is expected on site targeting the Spider Zone with drilling to commence in 2-3 weeks.

This comes several months earlier than originally scheduled and reflects excellent work on the part of the Korean team in terms of securing site access approvals and logistical arrangements with the drilling contractor.

First pass field reconnaissance has identified a new project area called Geum-Mar, which means Golden Horse in Korean.

The new project area is a historical road metal quarry that is now abandoned however it has extensive limonite-kaolinite alteration, possibly associated with a rhyolite dyke intrusive, and extensive quartz veining.

Sulphide mineralisation has been identified in the area from hand specimen.

The area has now been covered by Southern Gold tenement applications and assay results from surface sampling are expected in about 2-3 weeks.

While South Korea has reported a significant number of COVID19 cases, these are largely contained within a small area of the country.

Steps taken by the government have had some impact on activities in the major cities and travel in or out of the affected area, however, Southern Golds area of operations are currently not materially impacted.

Travel and social protocols have been established by Southern Gold for South Korean based staff, particularly in terms of city-based activities. Field operations to this point have not been impacted.

Southern Gold Managing Director, Mr Simon Mitchell: I am very proud of the progress made by the Southern Gold Korean team on several fronts.

Notwithstanding the COVID19 virus issue, the team has been operating very effectively on the ground with good drilling progress at the Hand of Faith target at Beopseongpo, with a further drill rig to commence drilling the Spider Zone shortly and our project generation team uncovering a new and exciting area called Golden Horse, or Geum-Mar in Korean.

This is just the start of what should be a very exciting 2020 as we ramp things up in country.

We await with interest assay results from Geum-Mar in the coming weeks and from the drilling a little later.

However, with 2 rigs going we expect regular market updates as results come in over the coming months.

More:

Southern Gold continues to progress drilling at Beopseongpo; confirms new project discovery - Proactive Investors Australia

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Gilead Sciences and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals are both making progress in developing treatments for coronavirus, according to a report published Monday by Leerink Research. But the stocks were off more than 4% in afternoon trading, a sign that investors remain skeptical.

Early indications are that Gileads (ticker: GILD) antiviral drug Remdesivir, originally developed to treat Ebola virus, is the most promising treatment for severe cases of coronavirus, analyst Geoffrey Porges writes.

Gilead is moving ahead with two pivotal studies in China, with 233 patients enrolled in a higher risk group with severe pneumonia and 63 patients enrolled in a less severe pneumonia group, as of March 6. The treatment course is five days or 10 days by IV infusion, he writes, and it seems likely that investigators have seen early indications of whether patients are responding.

Porges also notes that early reports from Chinese social media and specialists in the field suggest a more positive clinical course is being seen in patients who receive the drug versus a placebo. And thats consistent with Gileads actions in starting similar trials in South Korea and the U.S. There are now five or six large randomized trials of Remdesivir around the world, he notes, which is highly consistent with positive expectations for the medicine.

Gileads antiviral isnt the only medicine on the market to treat the coronavirus. Anecdotal reports are that Abbvies (ABBV) Kaletra may be effective, along with medicines such as Actemra, made by Roche (RHHBY), Olumiant, made by Eli Lilly (LLY), and other antivirals and anti-infectives, according to Porges.

Regeneron (REGN) is also developing preventive medicines and therapeutic antibodies.

Regeneron believes they have a solid probability of success, Porges writes, and its confidence will likely increase as the company tests various antibodies and scales up manufacturing, with human clinical trials ideally starting by late summer.

Regeneron has three or four treatment strategies in the works, including an antibody cocktail that could work against different viral proteins identified from its VelocImmune mouse technology, according to Porges. Thats the same approach Regeneron successfully used to develop an Ebola vaccine and drug candidates to treat other viruses, such as MERS, Dengue and Zika. The approach could work for both preventing coronavirus-related diseases and in treating the infection.

One problem could be that antibody treatments may exacerbate the bodys inflammatory response, potentially causing more harm, even as the drug attacks the virus itself.

But if the approach works, Regeneron has the scale to go from initial investigation to human testing quite rapidly. While that can take 12 to 24 months for other drugmakers, it may only be a few weeks at Regeneron, Porges writes. Even with that scale, however, Regenerons capacity would be hundreds of thousands of doses a month, not the millions that might be needed.

What does this mean for the stocks? Gilead has already gained 16% this year, partly on hopes that its coronavirus drug will lift revenue and profit. But RBC analysts downgraded the stock from a top pick rating to Outperform on Monday. We remain less convinced about the potential for success and/or monetization of remdesivir in coronavirus, they wrote, though they see upside coming from Gileads other drugs on the market and in development, and view the stock as a defensive play in the current volatile market.

At nearly 12 times estimated 2020 earnings, though, they see less dramatic a disconnect to fair value. Their price target is $86.

Regenerons coronavirus efforts may not lift the stock either. The company doesnt expect to make a profit from its efforts to prevent or treat Covid-19 (the disease caused by coronavirus), Porges writes. Shares of Regeneron have gained 28% this year.

But some analysts still see upside. Canaccord Genuity upgraded the stock to a Buy with a $550 price target in late February, making a case for Regenerons major product, Eylea, irrespective of coronavirus treatments.

Write to Daren Fonda at daren.fonda@barrons.com

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Two Companies Are Making Progress on Coronavirus Treatments. The Stocks Arent Responding. - Barron's

JEFFERSON Jefferson Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) worked hard to bring a record three new businesses to the city last year and in 2020, the organization is looking to formulate a comprehensive plan to improve several aspects of the city, beyond economic development, JEDCO President Bob Avery said.

With 2019 now firmly in the rear view, the effects of JEDCOs new businesses Huddle House/CEFCO, Pore Technology and Queen Wood Products are now easier to see.

The combined businesses brought an estimated 80 new jobs to the city and additional property and sales tax.

I spoke with the mayor a few weeks back and he had received the sales tax information back from the state, Avery said. He was comparing January 2020 to January 2019 and it was significantly increased. We also have the new businesses built on land inside inside city limits, which created additional property tax, in addition to the jobs.

Avery said 2019 was a landmark year for JEDCO, managing to secure three new businesses in Jefferson, and all three building new facilities.

Three in a year for a town this size is pretty good, Avery said.

Now, the organization is setting its sights on a strategic, comprehensive plan project that will outline the citys future.

In late 2019, JEDCO met with Texas A&M Universitys Director of Texas Target Communities John Cooper Jr., an university organization made up of students and faculty that partners with rural cities, to discuss joining together to create a strategic comprehensive plan for the city for years to come.

JEDCO is again speaking with Cooper via telephone conference this week in an open to the public meeting.

After that, we have another private organization that we wanted to meet with to discuss them possibly assisting us with the comprehensive plan, Avery said. After that, since we have the councils blessing, hopefully we can move forward with creating that plan.

Avery said once an organization is selected to assist the city with its plan, community members will be asked to join in to offer their input.

This has got to be a community effort, he said. JEDCO is just a catalyst in the deal.

Cooper said the A&M program uses students and faculty to study the rural city/county they are partnering with, then help build a task force of community members to create a comprehensive plan for the area, with the goal of creating a sustainable community.

Tourism is big here in Jefferson and I recognize the value of timber in a place like this, Cooper said, who grew up in Jefferson. Id love for Jefferson/Marion County to be ushering in the next big thing in the timber industry.

JEDCO members also agreed they needed to work to take advantage of tourism in the citys prime location, nestled between two major lakes in East Texas, Lake O The Pines and Caddo Lake.

Cooper said the universitys Texas Target Communities program could help the city develop everything from its tourism industry, timber industry, apply for grants and much more.

The universitys program would first work to build a task force of community members, then begin building a comprehensive plan.

Cooper said the task force would ideally be made up of community members that are often not in the spotlight.

We dont want to make things political and we want to maintain objectivity, he said. We want to get people who are interested and caring when it comes to the community. There are some people that like to contribute in different ways. We try to get a feel for the area. We do a fair amount of reconnaissance work on the front end of the project to get the task force and we dont want the usual suspects. We want a good mix of voices that represent the community as a whole. Ive learned even the most everyday people can make great decisions.

Cooper said the organization will then take that comprehensive plan and tailor a plan specific for the city, based on its budget.

The total project and partnership could last between 18 months to 2 years, and cost no more than $50,000, Cooper said. The payment could be broken down into installments.

Cooper also encouraged the JEDCO members to check out the work and comprehensive plans from other Texas communities that have partnered with the universitys organization, including recently in Nolanville.

We need to have the city and county buy in to this project, he said.

Avery said the organization will help JEDCO and the city plan for the citys future, rather than responding as things happen or come up.

Instead of reacting, we want to determine what direction the city is going, he said. This organization helps you determine your goals and then helps you move towards those goals, while having the resources of the whole A&M system.

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Progress Industry: With successful 2019 in rear view, JEDCO looks to forming comprehensive city plan in 2020 - Marshall News Messenger

Based on a recent global study of more than 400 brands, Lippincott has uncovered how winning brands leverage meaning to outperform the competition. Meaning is defined as coming from two sources: 1. Connection - the kind that drives personal value and 2. Progress - the kind that drives action. The global creative consultancy has defined [see full report here] what it takes to become a Go-to brand.

Building Brands in a Harsh New World

Creating brands these days is cheap and easy. There are few barriers to entry and reaching your target audience is no longer a daunting challenge. Good customer reviews can catapult a little-known brand to the top of your browser. But creating a winning brand is a different story in a world where 80% of product searches start on Amazon or Google. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Even successful brands today with satisfied customers are being intermediated, says Simon Glynn, Chief Strategy Officer of Lippincott.

The Juice is Worth the Squeeze

Shifts in markets, technology and society are making it tougher than ever to build a winning brand. But it also makes the prize more worthwhile. Becoming a Go-to Brand means you are sought after, cared about, consulted with, and are happy to be seen with by your customers. The juice is worth the squeeze. For example, Southwest Airlines, a Go-to Brand for many of its customers, receives 6x fewer customer complaints according to USDOT for the same operational performance (lost bags or delayed flights) than some of its biggest competitors.

Defining Connection and Progress

Meaning is made up of connection and progress. Each element is defined by two factors:

Connection

1. Be true to me this means you understand the customer as an individual and share their values and aspirations.

2. Show you care this means you instinctively on creating value for the customer and have their interests at heart.

Progress

1. Works like magic this means you manage expectations of how things should work and put the customer in control. Its about designing elegant solutions to achieve the most effective outcome with minimal effort.

2. Advance my world this means you are committed to solve the big problems that your customers face. It allows you to connect meaningfully with others who have the same quest.

Breaking Down the Quadrants

Lippincott has created a matrix based on brand performance using the metrics of connection and progress.

Brand Classification by Quadrant

Go-to Brands are located in the top right of the matrix. They outperform their competition in both connection and progress. The average revenue growth for Go-to Brands in the United States is 11%, compared to just 2% for Transactional Brands. Thats over a 5.5x increase. Go-to Brands in the U.S. include Amazon, Harley Davidson, Samsung, Spotify and Southwest Airlines. One of the younger Go-to Brands is Marcus by Goldman Sachs. The financial brand has quickly established itself as a Go-to Brand for its customers. In just its first three years, theyve accumulated $50 billion in deposits by helping its customers achieve progress in their savings and their debts. Marcus has thoughtfully designed its service model. Using fee free pricing and transparent conditions that support rather than undermine the customers financial objectives.

Comfort Brands occupy the top left of the matrix. These are brands that connect with customers, but they fall short on driving progress. They win the affection of the customer, but they are exposed to disruption. Customers value them and feel attached to them, but they fall short on helping them do things they otherwise couldnt. The research identified U.S. examples such as Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, Netflix and Patagonia.

Enabling Brands occupy the bottom right of the matrix. They help customers progress, but that dont connect and, as a result, fail to earn our loyalty. We appreciate that they help us do new things, but we often dont love them. This creates a vulnerable position for many tech brands. The research identified U.S. examples such as Facebook, Uber and YouTube.

Transactional Brands occupy the bottom left of the matrix. They underperform on both connection and progress. Because they lack distinction on both fronts, they are in danger of becoming a commodity due to their lack of meaning.

Three Takeaways from the Research

1. More than Marketing - the authority of a Go-to Brand comes less from what it does and more from how it does it. This requires the brand to be managed pervasively within the organization, not just from a marketing perspective. How can you help your customers with what they are struggling to achieve? And, how can you respond in a way thats purposeful and distinctive to drive a deeper connection?

2. Pursue Relentless Innovation evolve from product features to focusing on the lives of your customer. Finding ways to help your customers do things they couldnt do before. Observe how consumers are managing with the products and services they have today, and to look for the non-consumption and the hacks that provide clues to needs that are badly met.

3. Level-Up depending where are you in the Matrix, you have different challenges.

Connection and Progress Chart

Comfort brands need to find ways to aid in the progress of customers. Enabling brands need to connect and show that they care. Transactional brands need to level up by improving both connection and progress. The good news is that if youre currently a Go-to Brand for your target customers, the opportunities are richer than ever before. You have their permission to create and capture more and more value. If you arent a Go-to-Brand, then competition is tougher than ever not just from traditional competitors, but also from digital disruptors and others in your emerging ecosystems. In the words of the research report, Winning customers appreciation has never mattered so much.

Follow this link:

Are You Leveraging Connection And Progress To Become A Go-To Brand Like Amazon, Harley-Davidson And Southwest? - Forbes

The Democratic presidential primary has consolidated into a showdown between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). One of the key issues on which the Democratic candidates are running is health care.

While the progressive gold standard seems to be a single-payer system, theres a break within the party, with some preferring a more moderate approach to reform. Both Biden and Sanders have presented health care plans that would greatly expand the role of the federal government, and increase government spending by billions to trillions of dollars over a decade.

The Medicare for All plan put forth by Sanders is estimated to cost more than $32 trillion over a decade, while Bidens plan is estimated to cost approximately $750 billion.

The Daily Wire recently spoke with health care policy expert Avik Roy about Medicare for All and the Biden plan, as well as what more conservative, free market solutions would look like. Roy is the co-founder and president of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), which conducts original research on expanding economic opportunity to those who least have it, according to the organizations official website.

In parts one and two of this interview, which you can read here and here, Roy discussed what Medicare for All really means, the flaws of such a system, the dangers of the moderate counterpoint, and what a conservative solution could look like.

In part three of this interview, Roy discusses hospital monopolization, the real progress conservatives have made on health care legislation, the pressure faced by elected officials to retain the status quo, and more.

DW: Is there a reason that hospitals have been able to consolidate in the way that they have, and how can we break those up?

ROY: The short answer is that both at the state level and at the federal level, the people who have the authority to regulate, to block mergers that create regional monopolies, havent been able to do so, for one reason or another. Thats been the first-order problem. The second-order problem is even in the occasional situation where the Federal Trade Commission or related state entities have brought lawsuits, a lot of times the courts have sided with the hospital. They said, Oh well, youre a nonprofit hospital, therefore you must be doing the right thing. Nonprofits can do no wrong. Youre not like the greedy for-profit people. And thats completely wrong. Just because you are tax-exempt does not mean you cant be greedy.

Nonprofit in that sense is a bit of a misnomer. So-called nonprofit hospitals are among the most rapacious practitioners of monopoly power in the hospital sector. These are huge problems. Every year that these regional monopolies gain more power, they become harder to reign in because the more power they have, the more ability they have to influence their local politicians to do whatever they want. This has become an increasing threat to the living standards of America, the fact that hospitals are charging 8% more for the same stuff that they were doing last year simply because they have the power to do so. Theyre just charging more every year. At a certain point, it becomes unsustainable. In fact, it already is.

If you actually look at the share of Americans income that they send to the IRS, and the share of Americans income that they send to the hospital industry, they send more of their income to the hospital industry than they do to the IRS on average. That is catastrophic. So, that cant continue. Were starting to see, on both the Left and the Right, constructive proposals to try to reign in hospital monopolies.

DW: What are the most prominent roadblocks to the implementation of your plan?

ROY: Well, first lets talk about the progress. Theres actually been enormous progress in terms of developing legislation that reflects these principles. Last year, Bruce Westerman, a congressman from Arkansas, introduced the Fair Care Act of 2019, which is health reform bill thats based on all of the principles I just described. A new version of that bill is forthcoming in the next several weeks or months that will build on the Fair Care Act of 2019, and potentially attract broader support. So, theres real progress. Theres actually a bill now thats online, that people can look at and critique and read and think about and add ideas to. That process has led to this second version of the bill that will be coming out in the next couple of months.

Thats the good news. The good news is that theres a lot progress being made in turning these ideas into actual legislation that members of Congress can support and advance. As you would expect, the monopolies and crony capitalists who benefit from the current system are going to fight hard at any attempt to curtail their revenue streams. And of course people on the progressive Left are going to oppose plans like this because they strengthen and expand the role of private sector innovation in solving the problems of affordability and access to care and coverage. Those would be the two groups that you could expect to not like this approach but theres a lot about this approach that otherwise is pretty attractive.

Its going to be appealing to a broad segment of the public. In order to pass health reform, its really important to remember, we can all throw up on a blackboard our dream system of what we think the health care system should look like, but at the end of the day, if you want to pass reform in Congress, you have to get 60 votes in the Senate. To get 60 votes in the Senate, its not going to be an ideological fantasy of what the health care system should look like. You have to have a reform that has enough public support that it can attract 60 votes in the Senate, and that means attracting some Democrats. Not all, but some.

The approach that weve designed is meant to do that. Its meant to say, This represents a gradual evolution of the system. It does deploy the private sector to do it, but it also achieves goals that moderate Democrats should appreciate, which is more people will be able to afford their health insurance, and there will be fewer people who will be uninsured.

DW: Republicans dont seem to be unifying around and really heavily promoting an alternative to whats being offered by the other side. Why do you think that is? Is it pressure from monopolistic organizations?

ROY: Theres obviously partisan pressure to do partisan things, particularly if youre running for president in the Democratic primary, or running for Congress in the Democratic primary. Youre going to want to do things that enable you to win that primary, so thats going to be a more partisan ideological approach. The same is often true, obviously, in Republican primaries. The other piece of it, as you suggested, is that if you want to get elected, its easier to get elected if you dont offend the powerful industry interests that otherwise could run a lot of ads claiming youre a bad guy or bad gal.

So, dont make waves, dont really disrupt the status quo in terms of the crony capitalists, and that increases your chances of winning. The formula is to talk big, but not really actually do a lot to tackle hospital monopolies or other monopolies of crony capitalists, because if you really mean it, then youre going to have those industry components and sectors against you. Thats what happened with Bernie. If Bernie had been the nominee, he would have elicited a lot of opposition from the industries that make a lot more money under the status quo than they would under Bernies plan, in theory.

Thats kind of the dynamic right now, but after the election, well see. If Trump wins, then there are going to be more Democrats willing to come to the table and say, Okay, we didnt succeed in getting a Democratic president, but I still want to do work on health reforms. Lets work together. If Biden or some Democrat wins, and theyre approach fails to get through Congress, that could also elicit more interest in a bipartisan approach. So, the more partisan approaches have to fail for people to be willing to come to the table. Thats kind of whats happened with Republicans.

Repeal and Replace failed, so theres much more interest in what Im describing in terms of a more gradual evolution to a better system. Similarly, I think the Medicare for All and public option type approaches have to fail for there to be more interest in a bipartisan approach.

DW: Is there anything that we havent touched on in this interview that you would want our readership to know about this particular issue?

ROY: Yeah, I would say that we havent really talked about what the Trump administration has already done, and what Republicans in the Senate are already trying to do to address some of these issues.

We talked about the Fair Care Act of Bruce Westerman, which is, I think, the most wide-ranging and ambitious and important attempt to achieve free market health reform, but its also worth nothing that there are things on a more incremental level that both the White House and the Senate are trying to do that would be helpful. The Trump administration has been trying to do a lot of work on price transparency. That could do a lot to benefit patients and businesses that are trying to keep their healthcare costs down.

The Senate Finance Committee has been doing some important work in trying to reduce Medicare spending on drugs in ways that I think are really constructive. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee the Senate health committee led by Senator Lamar Alexander is trying to do some good work to combat anti-competitive practices by hospital monopolies and others.

So, those are not the total solution, they wouldnt on their own achieve free market health care, but theyre important reforms that your readers should be aware of and, in my view, get behind.

Id like to thank Avik Roy for taking the time to speak about such an important issue. For more information, you can follow him on Twitter or visit the FREOPP website here.

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INTERVIEW (Part III): Health Care Policy Expert Talks About Free Market Options, Cronyism, Monopolies, And Progress Already Being Made - The Daily...

Dear Jackson Progress-Argus reader,

This is a challenging time in our communities. The coronavirus outbreak directly or indirectly affects everyone in some way, including here at the Jackson Progress-Argus.

Our staff is working tirelessly to provide you with updates on the virus, information on local businesses and organizations that might be affected, and possible changes to your daily routine.

This is an inconvenient and uncomfortable time for us all; however, I want you to know we are a partner in our community and with you and your family during this difficult time.

We are publishing coronavirus updates online throughout the day at https://myjpa.com/coronavirus/. Bookmark this page on your mobile phone, laptop, or tablet to keep this important information accessible.

Between our local coverage of Jackson and Butts County, the statewide coverage provided by our sister newspapers across Georgia, and national and world-wide coverage by our news partner CNN, we will keep you informed and connected to the key information.

Thank you for being a member of our community and your continued readership over the years.

Executive Editor, Jackson Progress-Argus

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Message from the Jackson Progress-Argus editor concerning coronavirus outbreak - jacksonprogress-argus

Reading time: 3 mins 30 secs

The traditional career path has changed. To remain relevant and appeal to top talent, organisations and their L&D departments have to adapt.

As the more linear approach to careers is being replaced by interest-based and lateral career moves, employers have to break their obsession with specific skills or experience.

Instead, they should start recognising that innate curiosity and well-rounded, diverse, career paths can have a more significant impact, compared to a proven track record in one discipline or skillset.

Going forward, employers looking to establish mutual commitment to perpetual learning will outperform the sector by offering a work environment that is challenging yet nurturing.

In the context of a skills crisis, organisations are going to have to work harder not just on talent recruitment, but on retention too. There needs to be an opportunity for people to use their skills and abilities in a supportive, rewarding, and above all, meaningful environment.

Ultimately, organisations will need to focus on how personal learning and development is offered as a priority.

Digital dexterity takes prominence

Digital transformation is a term that has been circulated for some time now but continues to mean quite different things to different people.

Previously it was an initiative for organisations looking to gain a competitive edge over their peers, but in todays landscape, for any progressive company, it has become interwoven into the core foundations of the business.

Forward-thinking L&D teams will shift their training strategy from what have you done? to what could you do?

As part of this, digital dexterity will become a priority from now on, and the future workplace will require more emphasis on the mindset persona requiring employees to be comfortable with ambiguity, committed to matching the pace of change and to continuously learn.

Forward-thinking L&D teams will recognise the need to break the obsession with experience that many employers have, and will shift their talent and training strategy from what have you done? to what could you do?.

To sustain competitiveness in a digital age, organisations need to be prepared to build up their workforce by investing and developing their technical skills. Its important this investment is personal everyone is different and will require different training.

For instance, the current workforce easily accommodates younger workers for whom working with technology is a second nature, but we need to make sure those who arent as accustomed to digital devices also have the opportunity to thrive and are equally engaged in the workplace.

Build rather than buy talent

The clichd war for talent has been with us for years, but the challenge will take a different turn now. Hiring for the skills needed today will prove to be an expensive game. Offering salary premiums for rare skills that are in-demand for relatively short periods of time is unlikely to prove a winning strategy.

Instead, organisations need to make bold decisions to integrate digital dexterity competencies with skill-specific learning programmes.

The programmes that are combined with deliberate, experienced-based role rotations will enable employers to address their talent pipeline challenges and do so in a manner that is sustainable and creates engagement across the organisation.

Putting talent management procedures in place will become paramount. Skills are scarce and competition is fierce, meaning that organisations will need to set training priorities that nurture employees and will see them excel not only for their own benefit but for the benefit of the business.

In fact, findings show that firms are more likely to improve levels of staff retention if they increase their investment in training, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Invest in today for a better tomorrow

Talent today is better informed than ever before and employers need to be prepared to offer opportunities that stimulate, develop and motivate staff. To continue to thrive, organisations will have to provide staff with a more personalised employee experience such as training on a case-by-case basis.

In turn, this will provide an environment where the employer cares about employee learning and development, creating a platform for individuals to be the very best versions of themselves and contribute at work in a more meaningful and successful manner.

Now, an engaged workforce should be an organisations most important asset, and ensuring the workforce has the skills they need to succeed is key to this engagement.

About the author

Jason Fowler is L&D director at Fujitsu UK&I

Link:

How L&D can provide a platform for individuals to learn and progress in the workplace - Training Journal

BLOOMINGTON As Indiana celebrated its 20th win Wednesday night after dispatching Nebraska 89-64 in the Big Ten Tournament, there was a thought the Hoosiers had done enough to secure their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2016.

It would turn out to be the final Big Ten contest of the season. Late Thursday morning, the Big Ten announced it was cancelling the tournament. Later Thursday, the NCAA announced it was cancelling all of its postseason events as well, due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

It was another season of progress for Indiana coach Archie Miller, whose teams have gone from 16 to 19 to 20 wins in three seasons. In finishing 20-12, IU had some high moments, including an 80-64 win over ACC champion Florida State in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and an upset of Big Ten tri-champion Michigan State 67-63 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

But there also was a midseason four-game losing streak, two more losses to rival Purdue and blown second-half leads in home losses to Arkansas, Maryland and Wisconsin. Consistency was an issue for the Hoosiers throughout the season, especially on the road, where IU was 2-8 and lost four of those games by 15 or more points.

Indiana finished tied for 10th out of 14 teams in the rough-and-tumble Big Ten and went below .500 in league games (10-11) even with the win over Nebraska on Wednesday night. Still, given the strength of the Big Ten, Miller believed IU did enough to make the tournament. He may get his chance to find out, as reports circulated Friday the NCAA may consider doing a selection show to reveal the 68 teams that would have made this years field.

When you hear your name being called Sunday night, its life changing. Dreams are coming true, Miller said in a podcast with Stadium.coms Jeff Goodman on Friday. You have yourself in a situation where you can go and really recreate your narrative around your career as a player, you can recreate the image of your own program, one win, one run in the tournament.

It changes things and just to be in it in Year 3, which we were going to be, its a step in the right direction. Were continuing to climb the ladder, and momentum is building in recruiting.

IU will lose a pair of seniors, guard Devonte Green and forward DeRon Davis, unless an NCAA measure is passed that would give winter sports participants the option of another year of eligibility. Even then, Green and Davis may decide on their own to finish their college careers and play professionally.

The 6-foot-3 Green had a hand in some of IUs biggest wins, scoring a career-high 30 points against FSU and helping IU snap a four-game losing streak with 27 points against Iowa. He finished second on the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game, first in 3-pointers made (59) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (.358).

Davis started the season slowly but came on toward the end, scoring a career-high 18 points and tying an IU record by going 9-of-9 from the floor at Michigan.

They were going to realize that they were going to be the first senior class to not be called, as a four-year player at Indiana, that they didnt make the tournament, Miller said on the podcast. Think about that. That was their motivation, and I told those two guys, Hey, look, in my book, were in the tournament. We made it.

IU is expected to return all five of its starters including freshman forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, who earned Big Ten all-freshman and third team honors in leading IU in scoring (13.5 ppg), rebounding (8.4 rpg) and blocked shots (59). The 6-9, 245-pound Jackson-Davis has made every indication he intends to return for his sophomore year to improve his perimeter game and right hand to enhance his NBA draft stock.

Guard Al Durham (9.8 ppg, a team-high 38.3% from 3-point range) also is expected back for his senior year after starting all 32 games as junior, as is junior forward Justin Smith (10.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg), who is IUs most versatile defender. Sophomore point guard Rob Phinisee struggled with injuries early in the season but should improve as a junior after finishing the year averaging 7.3 points with a team-high 93 assists.

Center Joey Brunk (6.8 ppg., 5.2 rpg) tailed off somewhat after a strong start, but the Butler transfer provided leadership in the locker room while adapting to his first year playing in the Big Ten.

Off the bench, sophomore forward Race Thompson (3.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg), freshman forward Jerome Hunter (3.8 ppg, 19 3-pointers) and freshman guard Armaan Franklin (3.7 ppg, 41 assists) all developed in bench roles. Franklin scored a game-high 13 points and took three charges in IUs final win against Nebraska.

The last three or four weeks, his role really hasnt diminished in our eyes, but his minutes have gone down, Miller said Wednesday. He stays with it. Hes a great kid. Hes an unbelievable teammate.

Indiana already has three incoming freshmen signed for the 2020-21 season to bolster depth in the backcourt and on the wings, 6-4 shooting guard Anthony Leal (Bloomington South), 6-4 guard Trey Galloway (The Culver Academies) and 6-6 swingman Jordan Geronimo (Newark, N.J.). A fourth player, 6-3 point guard Khristian Lander (Evansville Reitz), could decide to reclassify from the 2021 to 2020 class. A five-star recruit, Lander is a scoring point guard with dynamic speed with the ball in his hands. He could potentially push Phinisee for playing time next season, or it could give Miller the option to explore more three-guard lineups, with Lander, Phinisee and Durham on the floor at the same time.

As a team, IU improved its 3-point percentage (from 31.2% last season to 32.6% in 2019-20) but still had issues taking care of and passing the basketball, finishing last in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (414-404). As a result, IU was prone to long scoring droughts at times. The Hoosiers, bolstered by their season-ending 89-point performance against Nebraksa, finished the year eighth in the league in scoring at 71.4 points per game.

The IU womens team also enjoyed a successful year in head coach Teri Morens sixth season. The Hoosiers finished No. 20 in the AP womens basketball poll, going 24-8 with a program-record for wins.

IU will lose senior forward Brenna Wise but will return a strong squad led by junior All-Big Ten point guard Ali Patberg, a national player of the year candidate who led IU in scoring (15.6 ppg) and assists (168).

The highlight of the season for IU was a 71-57 win over current No. 1 South Carolina (32-1) at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Nov. 28. In a statement, Moren said it was heartbreaking for the womens season to end before taking part in the NCAA Tournament, but the team is understanding and sympathetic to everyone effected by the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19.

This is one of the most special teams Ive ever had the pleasure of coaching, Moren said. We have accomplished so much that we have never been able to do before, and I cant wait for the future of Indiana womens basketball.

See the rest here:

IU shows slight progress in third year under Miller - The Herald Bulletin

Foxconn Technology Group was awarded a record-shattering volume of tax credits amid pledges to build a $10 billion high-tech complex in Mount Pleasant that could eventually employ up to 13,000 people.

The project, announced in 2017, has been slow to develop, to say the least. Among other signs:

The latest jobs report from 2018 showed just over 100 jobs eligible for tax credits (2019 figures arent out yet).

A timeline attached to the state credit application called for $2.1 billion in construction spending at the end of 2019. Foxconn has so far awarded about $370 million in contracts.

The company has abandoned plans to build the latest "Generation 10.5" screens as originally promised in favor of a "Generation 6" plant.

U.S. Rep.Gwen Moore, D-Wisconsin, is getting impatient.

"(President Donald) Trump promised 13,000 new jobs to the people of #Wisconsin," she tweeted Feb. 14, 2020. "3 years later, were still waiting"

Moore raises Trumps role in the process, while also implying those 13,000 jobs are overdue. We checked out both elements of her claim.

Trump front and center for Foxconn

Trump has played a high-profile role throughout the Foxconn project.

After a series of media reports raised the specter Foxconn might scale back or even suspend its Wisconsin plans, Trump spoke with then-CEO and Chairman Terry Gou. The company then announced in February 2019 it was still building a liquid crystal display manufacturing plant in Wisconsin.

Trump had also been present for the groundbreaking in June 2018, where he said this:

"Moments ago we broke ground on a plant that will provide jobs for much more than 13,000 Wisconsin workers," the president said. "Really something."

He tweeted the same day that the plant "will provide jobs for up to 15,000 Wisconsin Workers."

Its fair for Moore to summarize this as promising 13,000 jobs, since Trump made these claims without attribution or qualification.

Timeline is hard to pin down

Moores "still waiting" claim doesnt fare so well.

Her phrasing implies the jobs should have been here three years ago, or at the very least should by now.

That was never the promise.

A memorandum of understanding between Foxconn and the state in July 2017 said the company "agrees to create up to 13,000 jobs with an estimated average salary of $53,875 over a period of up to six years."

The formal agreement signed in November 2017 moved that up a bit, saying Foxconn agrees "to the best of their ability, to projected employment of 13,000 jobs of hourly and salaried personnel of Wisconsin payroll between 2018 and the end of 2022." It goes on to note the headcount is subject to timely construction and "business needs."

When it comes to qualifying to get the tax credits, the timeline is a bit looser than that.

Foxconn would need 13,000 jobs by 2022 to get the maximum available tax credits from the state, according to a credit disbursement schedule attached to the agreement. But that document also shows a minimum number of jobs needed to get some level of state credits, and that requires 5,200 jobs by 2022. That minimum threshold tops out at 10,400 in 2027, so Foxconn could get some level of incentives each year without ever reaching 13,000 jobs.

The actual jobs count for Foxconn isnt currently available. The company is required to report jobs for the prior year to the state by each April 1, and they have not yet reported 2019 figures. For 2018, Foxconn reported 189 jobs at the end of the year, of which 113 were deemed eligible for tax credits by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

The company declined to provide a specific jobs number to PolitiFact Wisconsin, simply noting that Foxconn has so far "invested millions of dollars in Wisconsin while hiring hundreds of hardworking Foxconn employees."

For maximum tax credits, Foxconn had to have 1,040 employees at the end of 2018 and 2,080 at the end of 2019.

Our ruling

Moore said Trump promised 13,000 new jobs, and "were still waiting" three years later.

Shes right that Trump referred to the jobs figure in what could reasonably be called a promise. But shes off base with the impatient tone that implies those jobs are somehow overdue.

The earliest date that could be seen as a deadline for 13,000 jobs is 2022, since Foxconn said in the state agreement it would seek to hire that many in that timeframe. While Foxconns progress has been slow, its not fair to claim we should be at 13,000 jobs by now.

We rate Moores claim Half True.

Excerpt from:

Foxconn progress is slow, but Gwen Moore is wrong expecting 13000 jobs already - PolitiFact

It wasnt always smooth sailing for Vanessa Velez and Danny Panzella.The Ditmas Park couple started dating again a few years ago and very quickly they felt tension. Vanessa was helping Danny raise his son, now 9 years old.

I would take my wine, go off to my room, said Vanessa, And just stay to myself.

We were suffering from PTSDfrom our previous relationships, said Danny. We brought that into ourrelationship.

Vanessa was struggling withinfertility and felt she had trouble getting through to Danny.

It made it really difficult for me to talk to Danny. He didnt understand what I was feeling.

The two had been trying traditional couples therapy for months but they had yet to make progress. And then a friend suggested they try MDMA, a psychedelic drug more commonly known as ecstasy or molly.

I was definitely scared, I was afraid, said Vanessa. All those things your parents instill like dont do drugs, something can happen to you.

A lot of time in western medicine, youre treating a symptom. You have a headache and we give you a pill to treat the headache, said Rebecca Kronman, a therapist in downtown Brooklyn.With psychedelics, we can get more curious about whats causing the headache.

Kronman is the founder of Plant Parenthood, a community and online resource for parents interested in psychedelic therapy.It may not remain at the fringe for long, there are nearly 200 clinical trials, some happening in New York City, that are studying the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.

My patients have experienced anythingfrom decrease in anxiety, decrease in symptoms of depression, ability to lovethemselves and care for themselves better.

Vanessa and Danny decided to givepsychedelics a try.

It was amazing!It was life changing, said Danny. A mushroom trip is like, years of therapy packaged into one night.

LSD, MDMA and psilocybin are classified as Schedule 1 drugs, which according to the DEA means they are not currently accepted for medical treatment in the United States.Having these drugs could land you in jail. Kronman cautions her patients there are risks.

Psychedelics are not for everyone, said Kronman. Ill never make a recommendation to someone, partially because I cant. Its not legal.

Kronman says she has seenthese drugs help patients understand the causes of their behaviors but that thehard work comes after the trip is over.

I like to work with people pretty soon after they have their experience, said Kronman.There is so much to unpack.

Danny agrees.He says they do not use psychedelics as often now, but says the benefits have been worth the risk.

If our trips are helping us become more understandingpeople then that helps us become better parents, said Danny.

I dont have this anxiety over not being able to have a baby, said Vanessa.I love him as my child.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse told NBC New York that MDMA and psilocybin are not yet approved for therapy, but have been granted breakthrough therapy designations by the FDA and could be developed into medications in the future.

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With No Progress in Therapy, NYC Couple Turns to Psychedelics for Help - NBC New York

Martin Luther King III, Opinion contributor Published 3:16 p.m. ET March 12, 2020 | Updated 5:27 p.m. ET March 12, 2020

On March 7, 1965, some600 civil rights activistsmarchedinSelma, Alabama, demanding an end to racial discrimination. The demonstration wasled by now-Rep.John Lewis and Hosea Williams,who worked withmy father, Martin Luther King Jr.

As the peaceful and nonviolent protesters crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were met with tear gas and billy clubs. This dark day in Americas history is remembered as"Bloody Sunday."

Last week, just twodays shy of the 55-yearanniversary of Bloody Sunday,Alabama executedNathaniel Woods, a black man, for a crime he indisputably did not commit. Though he was convicted for the tragic deaths of threeBirmingham police officersin 2004, he never had a fair trial, and the real gunman statedthat Woods wascompletely innocent. Despite these alarming truths and many pleas to reconsider the decision, Woods was put to death.

Nathaniel Woods, 43, was executed on March 5, 2020.(Photo: Alabama Department of Corrections via AP)

It would seem to me, at this point in time, that we would have learned more from the past. There is no doubt that in many ways we havemade progress, but we also cannot deny the horrific phenomenons that still plague our nationthe broken justice system that favors white men, institutionalized racism across all levels of societyand the immoral brutalities facing communities of color. This is especially true in Alabama, where I was born, and across the South.

The decisions surroundingWoods'execution made a mockery of justice and constitutional guarantees. Itsunfathomable that Gov.Kay Ivey and the U.S.Supreme Court would not budge. Putting anyone to death, especially when there is any inkling of a chance that they areinnocent, is fundamentally wrong.

Growing up traveling the nation with my father to fight the same injustices in the 1950s and 1960s, it feels incredibly chilling to still be witness to such utter inhumanity and racial violence today. It sometimes feels like this nation hasforgotten all about itshistory.

Martin Luther King III speaks at the UN(Photo: Jonah Bryson)

Its sad to know that Woods' story is not unique. Black women and men are still being, for all intents and purposes, lynchedto this day, and many of the incidentsgo unnoticed. How we choose to approach this atrocious and un-American reality is up to us whether we stand up for justice, or whether we remain silent.

Its easy to feel pessimistic or even hopeless at times, especially in cases like Woods'. Or it might feel safer to simply stay out of it. Either way, whenever these doubts arise I am reminded of my fathers words.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy," he wrote in hisbook "Strength to Love."

In a 1968 speech, dadalso sharedthat "on some positions, cowardice asks the question, is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? Conscience asks the question, is it right?There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.

Woodscannot be brought back, but in his honor in his memory we can choose to rise against these injustices and demand a system that is fair and humane for everyone,whether black or white, old or young, rich or poor,Latin Americanor Asian Americanor Native American.

Were no longer on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. Were in 2020 now, and its time for justice to finally prevail.

Martin Luther KingIII is a human rights leader and the eldest son of Dr. Martin Luther KingJr. and Coretta Scott King. He served as the fourthpresident of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and has worked with communities and heads of stateonsix continents, including in South Africa, India, Israel and Palestine, Australia, and the United States with Presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.

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MLK III: Alabama execution shows we haven't come far since 'Bloody Sunday,' King march - USA TODAY

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With a full day of painting underway, Cinderella Castle is looking more colorful and vibrant than ever (well, at least since the cake castle). You can check out all of the newly-applied layers of royal blue and pink in the photos below. Work is expected to finish on the castle by the end of Summer, but given the rapid progress theyre making, were sure to see a full transformation much, much sooner.

Heres a look at the castle as you walk up Main Street and into the hub.

Theyve moved on to the latticed clock tower turret as well. Still no sign of whether theyll keep this pattern with the re-painting.

The glossy sheen of the new blue turrets has somewhat toned down since yesterday, giving it a more realistic look and feel.

Are you looking forward to seeing the new castle look? Let us know in the comments!

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PHOTOS: Latest Progress on Cinderella Castle Makeover at the Magic Kingdom (3/12/20) - wdwnt.com

Long, strong and unique those are three factors that make a good password, according to the Better Business Bureau.

On Monday, which marks National Password Day, the bureau is calling on people to take a minute and change their passwords for all their primary online accounts, such as banking, social media and shopping sites.

In an era with data breaches, ransomware attacks and sextortion emails, strong passwords are more important than ever, said Karla Laird, manager of public relations with BBB serving Mainland BC.

Creating strong passwords and changing them at least twice per year is one simple but effective strategy to protect your personal information and accounts from being compromised.

According to findings published in the latest MidYear QuickView Data Breach Report, the first six months of 2019 saw more than 3,800 publicly disclosed breaches, exposing 4.1 billion compromised records globally.

Phishing emails and compromised passwords were the top reasons for exposure.

ALSO READ: B.C. warns of phone scam offering to sell fake COVID-19 testing

For the strongest password protection, the bureau recommends these tips:

Avoid the obvious: Do not use your childrens names, pets names, notable dates or any information that can be traced back to someone or something important to you. Hackers often look through your information to try and find patterns. Use between eight to 12 characters and a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.

ALSO READ: Young B.C. family expected new puppy to arrive at airport, got scam instead

Do not use the same password for multiple accounts. Choose a new and unique password for each account you have. While it may be difficult to remember multiple passwords, the alternative could mean devastating financial losses and identity theft.

Find a reliable password manager. They can help to keep track of and manage your passwords. Consider investing in a trustworthy password manager that is compatible across devices. Reputable password management apps also recommend strong and unique passwords, provide encryption to securely store any passwords you create, and typically require two-factor authentication.

Use your fingerprint to secure mobile devices. Some devices also facilitate eye scanning. These methods are some of the best ways to protect your information because they use body parts that are unique to you and cannot be duplicated or altered in any way.

Implement two factor authentication. This can involve the use of a PIN and a password and a series of security questions. It can also include the use of a security key. The only way to access the account is to have both pieces of the puzzle to unlock the code. If one piece is wrong, you cannot access the account.

Maintain your virtual health. The same principle behind tossing out your old toothbrush and changing your underwear should apply to changing your passwords. Change them often, keep them private and do not share them with anyone. The longer passwords stay unchanged, the greater the chances of it being compromised and deciphered by a hacker.

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When was the last time you changed your important passwords? - Chilliwack Progress

PADUCAH It will ultimately be a group decision whether to stay the course with AQS QuiltWeek in Paducah or to cancel this year's event. For now, it's set to go on as usual.

That's according to the city of Paducah. The city on Wednesday said the group that will make that decision is made up of city leaders, the American Quilter's Society and all community partners involved in the event.

Karla Lawrence has been the owner of Shandies in downtown Paducah for nine years.

"Anytime we have the quilt show or any major activity or convention, you know, it does bring more people in here," Lawrence said.

Employees have been disinfecting everything from tables to credit card machines more frequently. Lawrence said business would take a hard hit if QuiltWeek was canceled.

Lawrence said she understands that not having the Quiltweek would mean more empty seats at the table. But, she said people's health comes before business.

"I'm not as interested in, you know, making money as I am making sure that the public is safe. That's more important to me," Lawrence said.

City Manager Jim Arndt said the city is keeping an eye on the progress of the virus, before it makes a decision about QuiltWeek. He said lots of factors come into play, and leaders don't want to jeopardize the event prematurely.

"The virus, continuing to make progress throughout our nation," Arndt said. "And we'll take into account that as we continue to move forward each day, each week, as we go into the spring."

Lawrence said having the event will help businesses. But, she hopes the city does what's best for the public's health.

Local 6 reached out to AQS QuiltWeek Executive Show Director Bonnie Browning. She said AQS is still monitoring the progress of the virus. But vendors, flights, and hotel reservations are being taken into consideration.

Arndt said he will be speaking with the American Quilter's Society on Friday to discuss the concerns with the virus and the plans for QuiltWeek.

See the rest here:

QuiltWeek still on; city and AQS monitoring progress of coronavirus - WPSD Local 6

An indicating progress bar visually indicates the current level of progress of a task

A progress element can contain a bar visually indicating progress

A progress bar can contain a text value indicating current progress

A progress element can contain a label

A progress bar can show activity

A progress bar can show a success state

Everything worked, your file is all ready.

A progress bar can show a warning state

Your file didn't meet the minimum resolution requirements.

A progress bar can show an error state

A progress bar can be disabled

A progress bar can have its colors inverted

A progress bar can show progress of an element

A progress bar can vary in size

Some small sizes may not be able to fit an inlined label

Can have different colors:

These colors can also be inverted for improved contrast on dark backgrounds

A progress bar can be initialized with metadata

$('#example1').progress();

A progress bar can be initialized with a Javascript settings object

$('#example2').progress({ percent: 22 });

A progress bar can keep track of the current value as a ratio of a total value. This is useful for tracking the progress of a series of events with a known quantity, for example "uploading 1 of 20" photos.

Each call to increment will increase the value by 1, or the value specified as the second parameter

$('#example3') .progress('increment') ;

$('#example3') .progress({ total: 3 }) ;

A progress bar can keep track of the current value as a ratio of a total value. This is useful for tracking the progress of a series of events with a known quantity, for example "uploading 1 of 20" photos.

Each call to increment will increase the value by 1, or the value specified as the second parameter

In addition you can pass in templates text for each state available to your progress bar which will automatically be updated when your progress bar reaches that state

$('#example4') .progress('increment') ;

You can pass in templates text for each state available to your progress bar which will automatically be updated when your progress bar reaches that state

You can use label setting to change progress bar labels between two preset messages. In addition you can customize the messages themselves by specifying the templated text in text. Templated strings will replace three values on render

$('#example5') .progress('increment') ;

$('#example5') .progress({ text: { active : 'Adding {value} of {total} photos', success : '{total} Photos Uploaded!' } }) ;

You can also adjust text labels to help strings appear translated

$('#example6') .progress('increment') ;

$('#example6') .progress({ label: 'ratio', text: { ratio: '{value} de {total}' } }) ;

All the following behaviors can be called using the syntax:

$('.your.element') .progress('behavior name', argumentOne, argumentTwo) ;

Progress bar will automatically poll for the last progress value after completing an animation, so that animation easing continues to work smoothly, even if update events occur much more frequently than UI updates.

Waiting for you to press button

$('.rapid.example .ui.button') .on('click', function() { var $progress = $('.rapid.example .ui.progress'), $button = $(this), updateEvent ; // restart to zero clearInterval(window.fakeProgress) $progress.progress('reset'); // updates every 10ms until complete window.fakeProgress = setInterval(function() { $progress.progress('increment'); $button.text( $progress.progress('get value') ); // stop incrementing when complete if($progress.progress('is complete')) { clearInterval(window.fakeProgress) } }, 10); }) ; $('.rapid.example .ui.progress') .progress({ duration : 200, total : 200, text : { active: '{value} of {total} done' } }) ;

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Progress | Semantic UI