Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course offered by Osher Center for Integrative Medicine – Vanderbilt University News

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Mindfulness is a way of learning to relate directly to whatever is happening in your life, a way of taking charge of your life, a way of doing something for yourself that no one else can do for youconsciously and systematically working with your own stress, illness and the challenges and demands of everyday life.

The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course schedule consists of one orientation class, eight weekly classes and one daylong retreat on a Saturday. This highly participatory, practical course includes guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices, gentle stretching and mindful yoga, group dialogue and discussions aimed at enhancing awareness in everyday life, and daily home assignments. Students also will receive a home practice manual and be sent occasional recordings.

The MBSR course is scheduled for Aug. 20Oct. 15.Attendance for the orientation session is mandatory and foundational for participation in the MBSR course. The deadline to register for the eight-week program is the Tuesday evening following the orientation session.

Learn more and register. >>

NOTE: If you are an individual living with chronic pain or anxiety, please be aware that the Osher Center for Integrative Health offers mindfulness classes that are specifically designed for your situation (please refer to the Living Well with Chronic Pain or Mindfulness Skills groups on our website).

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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course offered by Osher Center for Integrative Medicine - Vanderbilt University News

Impact of Covid-19 on Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging Market 2020 Analysis by Geographical Regions, Type and…

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Global Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging Market Forecast to 2027- COVID-19 Impact Analysis and Forecast

The report on the Global Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging Market contains details about market segmentation based on technology, product type, end-user industry, and regional analysis. The report provides a brief overview of the market for Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging and current and future market trends. The report considers 2017-2018 as historical years, 2019 as the base year, and provides an estimate for the forecast period of 2020-2027. The revenue estimations for this forecast period are determined through applications and types of the products available in the Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging market.

The report covers the Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging market with regards to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. It analyzes the impact of the pandemic on market growth and remuneration. The pandemic has changed the economic scenario of the world and has affected several sectors of the market. The report estimates the market for Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging according to the impact of COVID-19.

Get a sample copy of the report @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/2532

Key manufacturers and vendors are profiled extensively, including their product portfolios, production capacity, gross margins, revenues, and costing. Their market share is calculated in the regional analysis. The report also includes SWOT analysis, Porters Five Forces analysis, feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.

Major players profiled in the report include:

Canon Medical Systems, GE Healthcare, Koning Corporation, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Neusoft Medical Systems Corporation Limited, Siemens Healthineers, Hitachi Healthcare Systems, Neurologica Corporation, Shenzhen Anke High-Tech Co., Bracco Imaging SPA, and Koninklijke Philips NV, among others.

The report includes primary and subjective research with a comprehensive study examined and validated by industry professionals and experts. The report aims to provide a deeper understanding of the market and to gain fruitful investment information for further business expansions. The report covers the current market situation, growth opportunities, technological advancements, and government policies of the market.

Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging market segmentation based on Product Types:

Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging market segmentation by Applications:

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Furthermore, the report studies the factors impacting the growth of the market, restraints that might hamper the market growth, and limitations that would impact business expansion. The report also provides profiles of key competitive players and their strategies and operating procedures. The report further provides insights into the opportunities and threats that the industry may witness in the upcoming years, throughout the forecast period. The study also provides an insight into the growth in revenue, along with estimated CAGR through the forecast period.

Benefits of Global Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging Market Report:

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Impact of Covid-19 on Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography And Nuclear Medicine Imaging Market 2020 Analysis by Geographical Regions, Type and...

Guest column: The next great cure might be hiding in your medicine cabinet – The Mercury

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In the race against COVID-19, biopharmaceutical firms Regeneron and Sanofi have launched clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of their drug, Kevzara, in treating the virus' life-threatening immune complications.

Interestingly, Kevzara isn't new; it was initially approved by the FDA in 2017 as an anti-inflammatory treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

The launch of new trials for this drug provides hope that a treatment for COVID-19 -- and a host of other serious diseases -- might already be sitting behind your pharmacist's counter. But discovering fresh ways to utilize existing drugs requires policies that encourage researchers to look for them in the first place.

Scientists have been discovering new uses for old medicines for decades. These new uses are what researchers call a new "indication."

Recently, scientists have found that several colon-cancer drugs can slow the progress of macular degeneration -- an eye condition that gradually leads to blindness. Close to 11 million Americans suffer from macular degeneration. About half of all patients treated with the new indication can see well enough to drive after five years.

Moreover, Harvard Medical School researchers are exploring the use of a common vaccine for tuberculosis in treating type 1 diabetes, an affliction with which 1.25 million U.S. residents live.

These examples notwithstanding, the potential for discovering new indications for already-approved drugs remains mostly untapped. The FDA has approved more than 20,000 prescription drug products for marketing. Any could have powerful new therapeutic applications.

Thankfully, if these new indications are out there, there's a high likelihood that U.S. biopharmaceutical researchers will find them. That's because America's robust intellectual-property laws reward innovators who invest the time and resources needed to discover whether drugs can be put to new uses.

Right now, drug makers that find a new application for an existing drug can secure a "method-of-use" patent. This new patent recognizes that the indication is completely new and the company may have exclusive rights to sell the drug for that additional use once it secures FDA approval.

In this way, method-of-use patents create a financial incentive for drug companies to spend hundreds of millions of dollars exploring new indications. Without the ability to patent new methods of use, this follow-on drug development would be a money-losing endeavor.

Unfortunately, method-of-use patents are under scrutiny from some lawmakers in Washington. They claim that drug firms use these IP protections to "game" the system and force patients to pay more for new therapies.

Such assertions fail to take into account that method-of-use patents protect only the new use of the drug, not the drug itself.

Without these IP protections, some of the greatest examples of drug repurposing would have never been possible. That includes AZT -- the very first drug approved for AIDS. The medicine, created in the 1960s, was originally intended for cancer patients.

Years later, when researchers discovered AZT's potential for treating AIDS, the drug firm Burroughs-Wellcome secured a follow-on patent, enabling the company to invest the time and money required to turn AZT into an FDA-approved drug for AIDS.

The next breakthrough cure might be a drug that's already in medicine cabinets across the country. But we need robust IP protections to help these novel indications come to fruition.

Christopher Holman is a professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where his primary research focus lies at the intersection of intellectual property and biotechnology. He also serves as a senior scholar at the Center for the Protection of Intellectual Property at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University

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Guest column: The next great cure might be hiding in your medicine cabinet - The Mercury

INOVIO Receives Orphan Drug Designation From US FDA for DNA Medicine INO-3107 To Treat Rare Disease Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) -…

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PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug designation for INO-3107, its DNA medicine being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 trial for treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

RRP is a rare disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 infections. RRP causes noncancerous tumor growths leading to life-threatening airway obstructions and can progress to cancer in rare cases. Currently, the disease is incurable and is mostly treated by surgery to remove the tumor growths to temporarily restore the airway. The tumor almost always recurs and the surgery must be repeated, often multiple times a year. RRP can severely impact the quality of life for those living with the disease.

Orphan drug designation is intended to advance drug development for rare diseases. FDA grants orphan drug status to medicines intended for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of rare diseases or conditions. In the United States, an orphan disease is defined as a disease or condition with a prevalence of less than 200,000 patients in the United States annually. This orphan drug designation from the FDA qualifies INO-3107 for various development incentives, including a tax credit on expenditures incurred in clinical studies, a waiver of the New Drug Application (NDA) fee, research grant awarded by the FDA, and most importantly, 7 years of U.S. market exclusivity upon approval for the treatment of RRP.

Ami Shah Brown, Ph.D., MPH, INOVIO's Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, said, "Receiving FDA's orphan drug designation for INO-3107 is an important milestone in the development of INOVIO's DNA medicine for this rare disease and clearly underscores the importance of addressing the unmet medical need for this debilitating condition."

The open-label, multicenter INO-3107 Phase 1/2 trial is currently open to enrollment to recruit 63 subjects in the U.S. and will evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of INO-3107 in subjects with HPV 6 and/or 11-associated RRP who have required at least two surgical interventions per year for the past three years for the removal of associated papilloma(s). For this study, adult subjects will first undergo surgical removal of their papilloma(s) and then receive four doses of INO-3107, one every three weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint will be a doubling or more in the time between surgical interventions following the first dose of INO-3107 relative to the frequency prior to study therapy.

Last year, INOVIO published data from its pilot clinical study of INO-3106 (DNA medicine candidate targeting HPV 6-caused RRP) in the scientific journal Vaccines (MDPI). Study results demonstrated that INO-3106 generated immunogenicity and engagement and expansion of an HPV 6-specific cellular response, including cytotoxic T cells. The paper also showed that INOVIO's immunotherapy allowed two out of two patients who previously required approximately two surgeries per year for several years to manage this disease to delay the need for surgery to a robust degree; one patient was able to delay surgery for over a year and a half (584 days surgery-free) and a second remained surgery-free for over two and a half years (over 915 days surgery-free).

About RRP

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare disease (estimated at 15,000 active cases in the U.S.) that is characterized by the growth of tumors in the respiratory tract caused by the human papillomavirus. Although benign, papillomas can cause severe, even life-threatening airway obstruction and respiratory complications. A distinguishing aspect of this disease is the tendency for the papilloma to recur after surgical procedures to remove them. Left untreated, if RRP develops in the lungs, affected individuals can potentially experience recurrent pneumonia, chronic lung disease (bronchiectasis) and, ultimately, progressive pulmonary failure. In rare cases papillomas can become cancerous (malignant transformation) developing into squamous cell carcinoma. Additional symptoms of RRP can include hoarse voice, difficulty in sleeping and swallowing, and chronic coughing. RRP symptoms are usually more severe in children than in adults. In children, the disorder is most often diagnosed at or around the age of four years. In adults, the disorder occurs most often in the third or fourth decade.

About INOVIO's DNA Medicines Platform

INOVIO has 15 DNA medicine clinical programs currently in development focused on HPV-associated diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases, including coronaviruses associated with MERS and COVID-19 diseases being developed under grants from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the U.S. Department of Defense. DNA medicines are composed of optimized DNA plasmids, which are small circles of double-stranded DNA that are synthesized or reorganized by a computer sequencing technology and designed to produce a specific immune response in the body.

INOVIO's DNA medicines deliver optimized plasmids directly into cells intramuscularly or intradermally using INOVIO's proprietary hand-held smart device called CELLECTRA. The CELLECTRA device uses a brief electrical pulse to reversibly open small pores in the cell to allow the plasmids to enter, overcoming a key limitation of other DNA and other nucleic acid approaches, such as mRNA. Once inside the cell, the DNA plasmids enable the cell to produce the targeted antigen. The antigen is processed naturally in the cell and triggers the desired T cell and antibody-mediated immune responses. Administration with the CELLECTRA device ensures that the DNA medicine is efficiently delivered directly into the body's cells, where it can go to work to drive an immune response. INOVIO's DNA medicines do not interfere with or change in any way an individual's own DNA. The advantages of INOVIO's DNA medicine platform are how fast DNA medicines can be designed and manufactured; the stability of the products, which do not require freezing in storage and transport; and the robust immune response, safety profile, and tolerability that have been demonstrated in clinical trials.

With more than 2,000 patients receiving INOVIO investigational DNA medicines in more than 7,000 applications across a range of clinical trials, INOVIO has a strong track record of rapidly generating DNA medicine candidates with potential to meet urgent global health needs.

About INOVIO

INOVIO is a biotechnology company focused on rapidly bringing to market precisely designed DNA medicines to treat and protect people from infectious diseases, cancer, and diseases associated with HPV. INOVIO is the first and only company to have clinically demonstrated that a DNA medicine can be delivered directly into cells in the body via a proprietary smart device to produce a robust and tolerable immune response. Specifically, INOVIO's lead candidate VGX-3100, currently in Phase 3 trials for precancerous cervical dysplasia, destroyed and cleared high-risk HPV 16 and 18 in a Phase 2b clinical trial. High-risk HPV is responsible for 70% of cervical cancer, 91% of anal cancer, and 69% of vulvar cancer. Also in development are programs targeting HPV-related cancers and a rare HPV-related disease, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP); non-HPV-related cancers glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and prostate cancer; as well as externally funded infectious disease DNA vaccine development programs in Zika, Lassa fever, Ebola, HIV, and coronaviruses associated with MERS and COVID-19 diseases. Partners and collaborators include Advaccine, ApolloBio Corporation, AstraZeneca, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND)/Department of Defense (DOD), GeneOne Life Science/VGXI, HIV Vaccines Trial Network, International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC), National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Ology Bioservices, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Plumbline Life Sciences, Regeneron, Richter-Helm BioLogics, Roche/Genentech, University of Pennsylvania, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and The Wistar Institute. INOVIO also is a proud recipient of 2020 Women on Boards "W" designation recognizing companies with more than 20% women on their board of directors. For more information, visit http://www.inovio.com.

CONTACTS:

Media: Jeff Richardson, 267-440-4211, [emailprotected]Investors: Ben Matone, 484-362-0076, [emailprotected]

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to our business, including our plans to develop DNA medicines, our expectations regarding our research and development programs, including the planned initiation and conduct of preclinical studiesand clinical trials, and the availability and timing of data from those studies and trials. Actual events or results may differ from the expectations set forth herein as a result of a number of factors, including uncertainties inherent in pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, product development programs and commercialization activities and outcomes, the availability of funding to support continuing research and studies in an effort to prove safety and efficacy of electroporation technology as a delivery mechanism or develop viable DNA medicines, our ability to support our pipeline of DNA medicine products, the ability of our collaborators to attain development and commercial milestones for products we license and product sales that will enable us to receive future payments and royalties, the adequacy of our capital resources, the availability or potential availability of alternative therapies or treatments for the conditions targeted by us or our collaborators, including alternatives that may be more efficacious or cost effective than any therapy or treatment that we and our collaborators hope to develop, issues involving product liability, issues involving patents and whether they or licenses to them will provide us with meaningful protection from others using the covered technologies, whether such proprietary rights are enforceable or defensible or infringe or allegedly infringe on rights of others or can withstand claims of invalidity and whether we can finance or devote other significant resources that may be necessary to prosecute, protect or defend them, the level of corporate expenditures, assessments of our technology by potential corporate or other partners or collaborators, capital market conditions, the impact of government healthcare proposals andother factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 and other filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that any product candidate in our pipeline will be successfully developed, manufactured or commercialized, that final results of clinical trials will be supportive of regulatory approvals required to market products, or that any of the forward-looking information provided herein will be proven accurate. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE INOVIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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INOVIO Receives Orphan Drug Designation From US FDA for DNA Medicine INO-3107 To Treat Rare Disease Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) -...

YOUR VIEWS: Letters to the Editor, July 25 – Opinion – Utica Observer Dispatch

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SundayJul26,2020at3:45AM

Only one choice in November

There should be no guesswork left to this November's Presidential election.

If you are for illegal immigration, eliminating ICE, defunding police, abolishing borders, tearing down historical statues, not incarcerating rioters and looters, and support the legal requirement of Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing which Joe Biden does (this would end single-family zoning in suburbs), then you will vote Democrat.

The "radical left" is an embarrassment to America.

Don Laible, Ilion

Weve lost our way

We search to find answers for the source of our unprecedented national and global turmoil. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when our nation began its descent, but my belief is that Darwin's "Origin of Species" was the impetus.

There was opposition to God before Darwin but the theory of evolution is man's attempt to deny God's existence and to prove we don't need God.

At its core it is atheism. A century later we witness the result of removing God. We no longer have school prayer yet teaching evolution is mandated and taught as a fact, not theory (it isn't).

The mention of creationism sends evolutionists/liberals/atheists into a frenzy. We saw this in Holland Patent earlier this year.

Then came abortion and its rejection of the sanctity of life followed by same-sex marriage and its rejection of God's design for marriage -- one man, one woman. To its shame, the Roman Catholic Church endorses evolution as do most mainline Protestant churches.

This is blasphemy!

The past several generations in this country have grown up in a godless school system, a godless society and godless churches.

Our problem is godlessness and only repentance and seeking Jesus Christ is the solution.

Bob Morris, Utica

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YOUR VIEWS: Letters to the Editor, July 25 - Opinion - Utica Observer Dispatch

Five Ways Latin American Airlines Can Strengthen Through Bankruptcy – Forbes

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Airline demand drops have driven multiple Latin American airlines into bankruptcy. Used effectively, ... [+] this process could strengthen the region's aviation sector.

Two of the largest airlines in Latin America, Avianca and Latam, along with Mexicos AeroMexico, have filed for bankruptcy protection following the coronavirus outbreak. In the period from 2008-2012, most of the US airline capacity went through bankruptcy and the result was a few big mergers followed by years of record profitability for the industry. It also meant that many retired employees lost lucrative defined benefit pension plans and the consolidation produced efficiencies by eliminating excess capacity and reducing total industry headcount. Will Latin America see the same financial results from this current crisis?

The situation is obviously quite different. Worldwide airline demand has dropped to low levels, and the return of that traffic is uncertain both in terms of its timing and whether or not all traffic will even return at all. Latin American aviation has seen growth with low cost airlines, like the US and Europe, with carriers like Volaris in Mexico, Sky Airline in Chile, Azul in Brazil, and Viva Colombia. But as American, United, Delta, Northwest, Continental, and US Airways consolidated into three carriers and became financially much stronger, will the traditional players in Latin America be able to do the same and have success against the upstarts?

The answers to these two questions is uncertain, but if these carriers are aggressive the results should ultimately result in a stronger Latin American aviation sector. The five key things to do are:

Blue medical mask for protection against virus and other diseases. The graph shows how this virus ... [+] has damaged the economy and forced companies into bankruptcy.

Production cost is an airlines weight, and you cant win a race when youre overweight. Lower unit costs come from high productivity in all labor groups and physical assets, simplifying the operation, re-thinking distribution, and being realistic about the service to offer customers based on length of flight. Product features that can result in revenue premiums, because some customers will pay a higher ticket price, have to be made in proportion and should be evaluated as to whether offering such features is margin accretive. The growth of low cost carriers, just like in the rest of the world, shows that many customers want a low price over anything else. Larger, higher service airlines need to be able to offer low prices to those customers while still attracting higher paying passengers. The best way to thread this needle is with lower unit costs.

Every airline in the world is re-thinking their fleet plan given the dramatic change in demand and the recalibration of asset pricing in the OEM and aircraft lessor sectors. An airlines fleet determines not only where it can fly, but also how complicated its pilot training, maintenance, and support services will be. More complications always means higher costs for an airline. Using the flexibility that bankruptcy offers means that Latin carriers should be aggressive in re-structuring and simplifying their flown and ordered aircraft.

Ancillary revenue has become a critical component of airline revenue. Airlines have learned that by lowering base fares and charging separately for products that some choose but others avoid results in higher average unit revenue. Traditionally higher-service airlines dont need to go as far as airlines like RyanAir or Spirit but can create better pricing flexibility and attract a larger customer base when their revenue stream is more diversified. The realities of the coronavirus and the flexibility of bankruptcy restructuring gives Latin carriers a unique opportunity to change not only their unit costs, but also the robustness of their revenue engine.

ARTURO MERINO BENITEZ AIRPORT, SANTIAGO, CHILE - 2019/03/21: A LATAM Airlines Airbus 321 seen ... [+] landing at Santiago airport. (Photo by Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Traditional airlines charge high fares to less price elastic business passengers and use low fares, and discretionary traffic, to fill seats still available. More successful airlines have figured out how to make money on every customer, including those paying the lowest fares. I dont mean this in a true accounting sense, meaning comparing those fares to the marginal cost of an empty seat on a flight already scheduled. I mean that they actively recruit passengers of all price elastic bands, because they know that however the plane is filled, it will be profitable. This comes from low unit costs and aggressive ancillary revenue production.

In both the US and Europe, difficult environments resulted in airline restructuring that included mergers. Airline mergers are complicated, distracting, and dont always work. But consolidation also has produced stronger companies and better controlled industry capacity. Latin America can benefit from this idea also, and this means that while these airlines in bankruptcy need to focus on items one through four on this list first, they should also try to position themselves to take advantage of tactical merger opportunities as they emerge from their own restructuring.

Bankruptcy is often seen as a sign of failure and mismanagement. But external events, like the massive demand destruction caused by the coronavirus, can also quickly change the financial position of airlines that may not have been perfect, but were viable before this. In these cases, bankruptcy can be an opportunity to fix core issues that will result in a stronger company with more growth opportunity. The relative strength of carriers like Delta, United, and American in the years prior to Covid-19 is in part due to the changes and initiatives made possible by bankruptcy and consolidation. Traditional Latin American carriers can do this same thing, and in the process became more competitive with low cost carriers and other countries carriers, and provide more stable employment and better customer service. But only if they use the toolbox that bankruptcy offers them!

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Five Ways Latin American Airlines Can Strengthen Through Bankruptcy - Forbes

Kentucky Bankruptcies Dropped Last Quarter. It’s The Calm Before The Storm – WKMS

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The U.S. economy shrank by 33% from April to June, the worst quarterly plunge ever.

Yet, in Kentucky, bankruptcy filings actually dropped.

There were 34% fewer bankruptcy petitions from the first to the second quarter of 2020, according to new data from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The filings were also down more than a third when compared to the same period last year.

If that sounds like good news, experts warn the worst is yet to come. As the COVID-19 pandemic forces millions of Americans out of work and into debt, some Kentuckians are scraping by on unemployment insurance. Others might be waiting for their situation to bottom out before filing bankruptcy.

Weve got a tidal wave of bankruptcies coming, said Peter Brackney, a bankruptcy attorney in Lexington. The waters often recede before the wave comes in.

There are likely many reasons for the bankruptcy downturn. As the pandemic drags on for months longer than first anticipated, indebted consumers and business owners might be awaiting their financial nadir before petitioning a court for a discharge, or release from certain debts. Some debtors might be waiting for their employment situation to straighten out before entering bankruptcy proceedings. Others might be hoping for further relief from policymakers such as student loan debt forgiveness, considered a hail mary.

Some experts credited the governments emergency relief measures for mitigating the worst of the economic fallout. The centerpiece of the federal response was the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, which included the $669-billion Paycheck Protection Program, stimulus payments, forbearances on mortgages and student loans, and expanded unemployment benefits. A state moratorium on evictions has also staved off personal disaster for thousands of Kentuckians.

But relief measures arent expected to be permanent, and financial calamity continues to threaten those unable to make ends meet.

Steve Vidmer, a bankruptcy attorney in Murray, saw a clear lag in bankruptcy filings after Mattel closed its local Fisher-Price toys plant in 2002. Nearly 1,000 employees were laid off.

Here I assumed the floodgate was opened, Vidmer recalled. But it took a long time before people realized they might need to file for bankruptcy. Sometimes its not until months or years later that they realize theyre in a pickle they cant get out of.

Since April, bankruptcy filings are trending upward, if slowly. In April, there were 809 bankruptcy petitions filed in Kentucky; in June, there were 948.

Still, Junes filing total was 24% lower than June of last year. Meanwhile, theres some evidence consumer debts are getting worse. Americans will rack up an estimated $80 billion in new credit card debt in 2020, a roughly 8% increase, according to ananalysisfrom WalletHub.

The debt is there, but people havent paid the consequences yet, said Ed Flynn, a consultant with the American Bankruptcy Institute. After unemployment benefits expire and after foreclosures pick up again, he predicts bankruptcy filings will really go through the roof.

The typical debtor is not very high income, in Kentucky or anywhere else, Flynn said. It may take a year to really play out, but at some point, people are really going to feel the pain.

Graham Ambrose is an investigative reporter covering social services and youth issues. He is aReport for America Corpsmember. Contact him at gambrose@kycir.org.

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Kentucky Bankruptcies Dropped Last Quarter. It's The Calm Before The Storm - WKMS

NY congressman calls Remington bankruptcy filing ‘punch in the stomach’ – Olean Times Herald

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UTICA (TNS) U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, says he stands with the workers at Remington Arms following the announcement this week that the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy court for the Northern District of Alabama.

Remington Arms bankruptcy is a punch in the stomach for the hardworking men and women in our region, Brindisi said in a statement. This bankruptcy cannot be used as an excuse by the companys owners to gut union pensions, take away benefits that have been collectively bargained, or deny the safety rights of workers whove made the company profitable over the years.

He added, I have spoken with UMWA Local 717 representatives and have offered the full assistance of my office during this process. I stand with the workers in Ilion and their families whove dedicated their lives and made a living working at this plant.

As it stands, the Remington Outdoor Company is in talks with a number of parties and plans to solicit bids prior to a September auction, according to a statement distributed to Remington Arms employees in Ilion.

Republican Claudia Tenney, who is running against Brindisi for New Yorks 22nd Congressional District seat in the November election, also released a statement.

Remington Arms decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy is a sad day for the Mohawk Valley, its loyal and hard-working employees, and America, she said. As the oldest continuously operating firearms maker in the country, the Ilion plant is part of American history and woven into the fabric of this community.

I have worked hard to defend Remington and its workers and will not stop now, Tenney said. It has been an honor to work with and earn the support and trust of its employees and its union, UMWA 717, over many years. I will fight to see Remington survive this painful chapter and come away stronger.

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NY congressman calls Remington bankruptcy filing 'punch in the stomach' - Olean Times Herald

Neiman Marcus moves closer to its bankruptcy exit – The Dallas Morning News

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Neiman Marcus bankruptcy scaled a couple of milestones Thursday, and executives are getting a raise after all.

The Dallas-based luxury retailer is on schedule to have its business plan approved in September and emerge from Chapter 11 by early December.

That timetable was firmed up with the conditional approval Thursday of a lengthy set of documents that include Neiman Marcus business plan and a settlement in the dispute over the transfer of its Munich-based MyTheresa business.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones is expected to sign off on the plan next week, and he also approved big raises for CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck, seven additional top executives and as many as 239 key employees.

In approving the salaries, Jones overruled the bankruptcy courts trustee, who serves as a watchdog in such a case and who formally opposed the pay to stay compensation. The additional pay for the top executives is capped at $9.95 million, including $6 million for van Raemdonck.

Separately, $8.7 million in additional pay was approved for 239 employees, including senior vice presidents, vice presidents and other key employees.

Neiman Marcus creditors and lenders didnt oppose the pay increases. The parties that will bear the cost of this support it, Jones said, adding that he was approving the salaries to maximize the opportunity for success and retain the best and the brightest in an environment that we dont understand one day to the next.

The retention and performance-based compensation plan was filed several weeks ago, but Jones delayed it, asking for more context about what he said is a complicated case.

Three metrics that were put in place to justify the extra pay were met and exceeded, according to testimony during the Thursday hearing from Mark Weinsten, chief restructuring officer of Neiman Marcus Group.

The dispute over the transfer of MyTheresa to Neiman Marcus former shareholders Ares Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board was resolved with the creditors committee. Shares of MyTheresa will be returned to the pool of assets that will be used to help pay creditors. The total value of the settlement wasnt disclosed, but it includes 140 million shares of MyTheresa and $10 million in cash.

Neiman Marcus said late Thursday that it is pleased that a global settlement was reached regarding the MyTheresa claims.

An ongoing dispute could have held up its disclosure statement, which includes its business plan.

The settlement resulted in the approval of the disclosure statement and adds significant certainty to the restructuring process, and we continue to target early fall 2020 for emergence from bankruptcy, Neiman Marcus said in a statement.

Twitter: @MariaHalkias

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What’s the Deal? Bankruptcy Tips and News | Nexsen Pruet, PLLC – JD Supra

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In turbulent economic times, clients often ask us how they can find out whether a particular company or person is in bankruptcy. While we can run quick searches for this information, there are ways you can find this information on your own. If a quick Google search does not yield results, two resources maintained by the U.S. federal courts are the Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS) and Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). The first resource is free, and the second requires setting up an online account for payment of relatively small fees.

McVCIS is an automated, toll-free telephone system that allows callers to obtain bankruptcy case information by selecting menu options on any touch tone telephone. The McVCIS number in United States is 866-222-8029. A computer-generated voice guides callers through their choices in English or Spanish, ultimately providing the following case-specific information, when available:

In order to find information about a particular case using McVCIS, callers need to select the state in which they believe the debtor would have filed their bankruptcy petition. For an individual debtor, usually the filing is in the state in which the debtor currently resides. For a debtor that is an entity such as a corporation or limited liability company, the filing may occur in the state in which the company was organized or the state where the principal place of business is located. Do not assume that because a business has operations in your state they would have filed a bankruptcy petition there. Many companies are created under the laws of Delaware, and many maintain their headquarters in New York, leading to the multitude of bankruptcy filings in those forums, even for businesses with significant connections elsewhere.

In states where federal courts are divided into more than one district, McVCIS also requires you to select the district in which the bankruptcy case would have been filed. One way to determine the correct district is to use the Federal Court Finder search tool located online at https://www.uscourts.gov/federal-court-finder/search Simply type in the name of any city and state in the United States to retrieve a list of federal court offices in the district where the city is located.

After selecting the state (and district, if applicable) in which you want to search, McVCIS will prompt you to enter the name, social security or case number of the party whose case youre trying to find. Using a telephone keypad to spell out names can be tedious, but remember that you arent paying a fee for your search.

If McVCIS sounds too cumbersome or you dont know which state or district to search, PACER provides the public with a fee-based option to search for federal court records (including bankruptcy cases) using an internet connection. Once a PACER account is created, you can search a nationwide index of bankruptcy cases, eliminating the need to guess where a filing may have occurred. Copies of the actual court record and filings for every bankruptcy case in the United States are accessible 24 hours a day. If you want detailed information and to read documents filed in a debtors case, PACER is your go-to resource.

To create a PACER account for searching (not filing) purposes, visit https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account/pacer-case-search-only. Credit card information is required during registration for immediate access and billing. Fees are calculated based on the number of pages retrieved in each search, with a charge of $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per single document. If total charges in a calendar quarter are $30.00 or less, fees are waived for that period. For this reason, infrequent users often pay no fees at all. Documents filed in a case are retrieved in PDF format and can be downloaded to your computer for later review. Users have options to save links to specific cases of interest and to save frequent searches.

So, thats the deal with confirming whether someone has filed a bankruptcy case.

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What's the Deal? Bankruptcy Tips and News | Nexsen Pruet, PLLC - JD Supra

Mens Wearhouse Parent Said to Prepare Imminent Bankruptcy – Bloomberg

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A Men's Warehouse Inc. store in San Francisco, California.

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

Tailored Brands Inc., the owner of Mens Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank, is preparing a bankruptcy filing that would shutter 400 to 500 stores after the coronavirus lockdown kept Americas office workers at home and stifled demand for new suits.

The filing, which could come as soon as this weekend, will give the retailer a chance to cut its borrowings and close unprofitable locations, according to people familiar with the matter. The plan calls for asset-based lenders to provide the company with a loan to keep it operating through the court process, the people said. They asked not to be identified discussing a private matter.

The retailers shares dropped 12% to new lows on Friday to about $0.34 as of 10:00 a.m. in New York. Its term loan due 2025 trades at less than 20 cents on the dollar, according to Bloomberg data, while bonds due in 2022 were last quoted around 2 cents, according to Trace.

Tailored Brands said this week it was unlikely to make good on a July 1 missed bond payment and probably would file for bankruptcy during its third fiscal quarter, which starts Aug. 2. Term-loan lenders would see part of their holdings exchanged for equity in a reorganized company, with as much as half the $877 million loan reinstated as take-back paper, according to the people.

A representative for Houston-based Tailored Brands didnt return messages seeking comment. The company, which counted 19,300 employees in last years annual report, is getting advice from restructuring lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis and investment bank PJT Partners.

Tailored Brands would be the latest in a string of retailers that have sought court protection amid the pandemic. Lockdowns have drained revenue, pushing already-struggling companies like J.C. Penney & Co., J. Crew Group Inc. and Neiman Marcus Group Inc. into bankruptcy.

Like those three, Tailored Brands was in a tough spot before the outbreak. Sales have fallen every year since 2016 as Mens Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank contended with changing consumer tastes and e-commerce rivals.

The coronavirus made things worse by keeping office workers at home, all but eliminating the need for suits and ties. The outbreak also postponed events such as weddings and other celebrations, cutting into sales of formal wear.

Tailored Brands reopened just under half of its roughly 1,445 stores as of June 5, according to a June 10 statement. All of them, as well as e-commerce distribution centers in the U.S. and Canada, were temporarily closed in the first quarter.

Last week the company said Chief Financial Officer Jack Calandra will leave on July 31. His responsibilities will be divided between Chief Executive Officer Dinesh Lathi and Holly Etlin, a managing director at AlixPartners who was recently appointed chief restructuring officer.

(Updates with share price in the third paragraph.)

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

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Mens Wearhouse Parent Said to Prepare Imminent Bankruptcy - Bloomberg

This rural Mississippi hospital beat bankruptcy. Can it survive the pandemic? – Clarion Ledger

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Rural hospitals in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas were struggling before the pandemic. COVID-19 could push some of them over the financial cliff. Wochit

MAGEE As Gregg Gibbes walked through the doors of his new hospital in April 2019, he faced a frightening yet all-too-possible future: The facility he had been tasked with leading was at risk of shutting down and taking hundreds of jobs with it, and leaving Simpson County without an essential source of medical care.

Magee General Hospital, a nonprofit, 44-bed acute-care facility located midway between Jackson and Hattiesburg, had filed for bankruptcy eight months earlier in a bid by former owners to save the community facility from financial death. The hospital is an economic hub in the area, and an essential source of care both for elderly Simpson County residents who cant make the drive to Jackson and for victims of car accidents on U.S. 49 South.

Gibbes new job was to bring it back to life.

More: Rural hospitals in Mississippi were already on a cliff. Coronavirus could push them over.

Entering as the hospitals new CEO, he was part of a restructured board of directors and a shrewd plan to beat the bankruptcy through sharing staff with a critical-access hospital in Covington County 20 miles to the south.

Opened in 1935, and incorporated in 1942, Magee General Hospital faced bankruptcy in recent years, and pulled itself out of the debt, under the supervision of CEO Greg Gibbes and a Board of Directors, but currently functions with day-to-day cash on-hand during the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo: Sarah Warnock, Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting)

This May a little over a year after Gibbes first day at the hospital, and less than two years after the bankruptcy declaration in August 2018Magee General exited its bankruptcy, achieving a feat the likes of which youd be hard pressed to find another rural hospital completing successfully, said Gibbes, who is also CEO of Covington County Hospital.

But now a second storm is ravaging the land. After the pandemic forced Magee General to cut elective care, which six months ago accounted for two-thirds of its revenue, the hospital must confront a pandemic that has been the latest battle for survival for rural hospitals around the country.

To date, Magee General has received the lowest amount of coronavirus-related stimulus money of any acute-care facility in the state, according to the Mississippi Hospital Association and the Department of Health and Human Services.

There have been some days that you cross your fingers, and hope that nobody else declines, said Dr. George Gillespie, Magee Generals head physician.

To navigate Chapter 11 bankruptcy over the past two years, Magee General had to be guided out of a storm of uncompensated care costs, increasingly expensive equipment and shrinking elective care visits common challenges for rural hospitals in the South.

There was a lot to cover in those first few days and weeks, particularly meeting staff and learning their needs, Gibbes said. But I never second-guessed the decision to take over Magee General, nor have I ever second-guessed this hospitals great potential.

Learning to operate on lean budgets is a necessity for rural hospitals survival. Since 2014, five rural hospitals in the state have shut down. A study earlier this year by the Chartis Center for Rural Health named 41 more 64% of Mississippis remaining rural hospitals as either vulnerable or most vulnerable to closure.

Nearly two-thirds of the Mississippi hospitals classified as rural, including Magee General, didnt make a profit in 2017, according to data from the Center for Medicaid and Medicaid Services (CMS), compared to just over a third of urban hospitals.

More: UMMC lays off hundreds amid pandemic. Other hospitals struggling. Now what?

At the heart of rural hospitals financial struggles are uncompensated care costs amounting to hundreds of millions annually. Those woes could have been aided through Medicaid expansion, an option state lawmakers have rejected, despite Mississippi having some of the nations highest death rates for chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.

It was already a challenging time for hospitals before COVID, said Richard Roberson, vice president of Policy and State Advocacy for the Mississippi Hospital Association. Now we've gone from a challenging time to a critical juncture for hospitals in the state of Mississippi, particularly in your rural areas.

After the bankruptcy, we thought we would be able to breathe a little bit

Built during the Great Depression, Magee General Hospital now has 310 staffers, making it Simpson Countys third-largest employer behind Walmart and the Simpson County School District. It annually distributes over $31 million in wages, salaries and benefits, according to Hospital Association data, and has been a favored workplace for generations of residents in the small city.

Pam Wallace manages community relations for Magee General, a role in which she said shes become a go-to person for all kinds of tasks because like anybody in a small rural hospital knows, you wear many hats. One of those tasks is reporting the hospitals positive tests from the day prior to the state health department each morning.

Pam Wallace, an employee of Magee General Hospital in Magee for 20 years and head of Community Relations said of enduring bankruptcy, "When we have had rough times before we always worked together." Opened in 1935 and incorporated in 1942, Magee General Hospital faced bankruptcy in recent years, and pulled itself out of the debt, but currently functions with day-to-day cash on-hand during the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo: Sarah Warnock, Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting)

Wallace grew up in Magee and has worked at the hospital since 1997, when she took her first high school job there as a file clerk. Shes a third-generation employee: Her mother was an emergency room technician from 1975 to 2014, and her grandmother was a nursing aid. For Wallace, Magees staff are extended family.

I spend more time here than I do with my real family, she said. Our work environment is a family one, and we just come here to help our community.

While Magee General had faced its share of challenges through her years on staff, Wallace said the bankruptcy, which allowed the hospital to forego debt-service payments as it operated off of elective-care revenue, was particularly hard.

I had people come up to me at church, for example, saying, Oh I heard the hospital is filing bankruptcy and that you're not going to have a job tomorrow, she said. I never batted an eye.

Magee General's successful exit from bankruptcy, which Gibbes and the hospitals board credit to sharing staff with Covington County Hospital, was a victory, but the virus has dimmed what should have been a time of triumph.

After the bankruptcy, we thought we would be able to breathe a little bit, she said. Now, were working in a whole new world.

Coronavirus cases in Simpson County for a while remained low, with 230 cases recorded there as of July 1 a figure that placed its per-capita death and case rates well below the states average for many weeks.

And the viruss early days were quiet at Magee General, Gillespie said. The hospital had begun discussing how to prepare as early as January, and braced itself in March by suspending its radiology, surgery, sleep lab and other outpatient services and converting 30 inpatient rooms to a negative pressure environment for COVID-19 patients.

But its been a different situation since July began, when cases soared in Simpson County and around the state.

Magee General, which as an acute care facility typically sends patients in need of urgent care to Jackson or Hattiesburg, has filled its available beds with COVID patients. In recent days, the count of patients in its coronavirus isolation ward has hovered around 25 (its average daily patient census before the virus was 19).

The Magee, Miss., water tower stands not far from the parking lot at the main entrance to Magee General Hospital. The hospital was incorporated in 1942 and primarily serves Simpson County's rural population.(Photo: Sarah Warnock/Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting)

I have seen more COVID-positive people coming into the ER with symptoms over the last week or two than I have during the whole pandemic, Gillespie, the doctor, said in an interview during the last week of June.

'It's very devastating': COVID-19 ravages Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

Low staff numbers were an issue from the virus onset, Wallace said, particularly among the nursing staff, as some had departed during the bankruptcy in search of what they saw as more stable job opportunities.

"Our staff is tired, and everyone is doing double the work," she said.

The hospital struggled to acquire medical equipment in the virus early days amid a logjam for everyone competing to secure stock from the same national suppliers, Gibbes said. Now, the state has provided Magee General six ventilators, giving doctors extra time to find care in Jackson or Hattiesburg for sicker patients.

"If we happened to have more than one patient start to go south with respiratory difficulties, we can take care of that one patient, Gillespie said. But if another patient starts going down...we're limited in our resources.

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Even as it emerged from bankruptcy on May 29, Magee General was denied a financial lifeline that went to many other rural hospitals as the virus spread.

In April, rural hospitals around Mississippi received $317 million in CARES act rural distribution funds, money that salvaged many hospitals precarious cash-on-hand situations. By the end of May, hospitals statewide had lost $450 million in revenue for the fiscal year due to uncompensated care a figure that doesnt include another $81 million in COVID expenses since the pandemic began, Roberson said.

CARES funding hospitals received in April went towards plugging the drain of already lost revenue before the pandemic struck, he said.

But the federal government considers Magee General part of the Jackson metropolitan area, despite the fact that its almost an hours drive from the capital city. That decision made Magee ineligible for rural hospital funds.

A separate $350,000 CARES payment it received doubled its number of days cash-on-hand, which had wavered between eight and 10 days before the virus hit and elective care was cut. After that cash ran out, Magee was back to operating with single-digit days cash on hand.

How you die in rural Mississippi: The ER was closed. The ambulance wasn't close.

"I think most rural hospitals operate with at least four to five times the amount of cash on hand we did [before COVID-19]," Gibbes said. Our hospital depends on elective care...Weve had no choice but to be lean.

"Being lean involves careful decisions over the years around which equipment gets upgraded: Much of Magee Generals technology infrastructure is 10 years old or older and no longer supported by manufacturers, Gibbes said, and requires diligent maintenance.

A quarter of the 9,000 patients Magee Generals emergency department served last year were uninsured and nearly half its patients were on Medicare numbers nearly three times the national averages, according to census data.

If Mississippi accepted federal offers of Medicaid expansion, Gibbes estimated, Magee General could have $1 million more on hand each year.

"We do not have shareholders or dividends, Gibbes said. Every penny we earn gets reinvested in facilities, equipment and our people.

Opened in 1935 and incorporated in 1942, nonprofit Magee General Hospital faced bankruptcy in recent years, and pulled itself out of debt just to function with day-to-day cash on-hand during the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo: Sarah Warnock/Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting)

Gibbes and Bennett Hubbard, the chairman of the hospitals board of directors and a longtime nursing home executive in the town, see Magee Generals partnership with Covington County Hospital as the basis of its emergence from bankruptcy, and a potential way forward for other rural health providers. The two hospitals sharing of administrative staff has helped them keep costs low, and Magee General even upgraded facilities during the bankruptcy, expanding its emergency room last July with the help of donations.

"We wanted desperately to maintain a community hospital that works at a local level, Hubbard said.

More: Mississippi health experts, governor debunk 7 common COVID-19 myths

Gibbes agreed. I think that a lot of people will look at a rural hospital and say it's a matter of time, he said. But if you can be innovative, you can find a way to not just survive but to thrive.

For Magees nurses, doctors and other staff, he said, an ability to weather challenges has kept the hospital afloat, first through bankruptcy, and now through the virus. His staff agree if we can do this, anyone can, Wallace said and add that Gibbes leadership has been another key factor.

"Closing the hospital or losing the hospital in bankruptcy was never an option, Gibbes said. The hospital represents too much to the community to fail, not just in terms of health care but also in terms of economic development. Plain and simple, failure is not an option.

Pulitzer Center(Photo: Submitted/Special to Clarion Ledger)

The Poverty & the Pandemic is a continuing series from the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting and the Pulitzer Center that captures the stories of people and places hit hardest by the nations worst pandemic in a century.

James Finn is an investigative reporter for MCIR, a nonprofit news organization. Email him at James.Finn.MCIR@gmail.com.

Read or Share this story: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2020/07/29/rural-mississippi-hospital-beat-bankruptcy/5502449002/

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This rural Mississippi hospital beat bankruptcy. Can it survive the pandemic? - Clarion Ledger

Spiritual Forces May Be Behind the Difficulties You Face, Yet Cannot Explain – Benzinga

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JAMESBURG, N.J., Aug. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Author Stanley Beverly seeks to bring hope to the oppressed with The Body of Christ's Need for Bible-Based Deliverance Ministry ($13.49, paperback, 9781631298608; $6.99, e-book, 9781631298615).

Beverly does not seek to offer yet another gimmick or sensational scheme to his readers. Rather, he wants his Bible-based teaching on demonology and spiritual warfare to equip the warriors who are fighting every day, whether they realize it or not.

"My target audience are those who know something is terribly wrong in their [lives], but can't identify it.My target audience are those at the end of their rope, and nobody believes what [is] happening to [them]," said Beverly.

Stanley Beverly was delivered from witchcraft, mentored by Apostle William Brown and ordained by him as an elder in deliverance ministry in 1992. He has also studied under other teachers and pastors to obtain the Holy Spirit's deliverance over the past 22 years.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world's largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. The Body of Christ's Need for Bible-Based Deliverance Ministry is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

SOURCE Xulon Press

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Spiritual Forces May Be Behind the Difficulties You Face, Yet Cannot Explain - Benzinga

Finding the road to peace – The New Indian Express

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Children, all of us want peace and happiness. Yet, we often face sorrow, frustration and disappointment. Why do we not have peace and happiness? If we want to enjoy peace and happiness, we must first have a correct understanding of life. No matter how much money a rich man has, it will be of no use if he does not even know about his own wealth. Similarly, as long as we are unaware of our true nature, we will not be able to live in harmony with the world and discharge our dharma (duties in life) properly.

A group of travellers were walking to a distant village. After some time, they entered a forest. There was a pond nearby. Putting their belongings down on the bank, they went for a swim. When they returned, they saw that all their belongings were missing. Thieves had stolen everything. The travellers set out at once in hot pursuit of the thieves. On the way, they saw a man resting in the shade of tree; he was a mahatma (spiritually illumined soul). The travellers asked him if he had seen the thieves passing that way.

The mahatma said, Youre upset that your belongings have been stolen. Reflect for a moment. Are the thieves, who are instrumental in robbing your happiness, inside or outside you? Do you want to recover what you lost, or do you want to gain wealth that you can never lose? Think about it!Seeing the wisdom in the mahatmas words, the travellers became his disciples.

There is boundless wealth in each one of us. But because we are not aware of this, we roam around in search of happiness from objects of the world. Some struggle to gain wealth and power whereas others strive for name and fame. Both mistakenly believe that once they attain their ends, they will have peace and happiness. But happiness is not something one gains from objects.

In fact, desires stand in the way of true happiness. This happiness will reveal itself only when the mind stops hankering after one thing or the other. This understanding must become clear in our hearts. This is the first step to peace and happiness.

The Self is the source of eternal bliss and peace. Not realising this, some seek comfort in drink and drugs. By so doing, they not only ruin their own lives, they also hurt their families and society. Spirituality gives us an understanding of who and what we really are. This understanding makes us aware of our responsibilities, and we will then live in such a way as to benefit both ourselves and the world.

Happiness is not something one gains from objects. In fact, desires stand in the way of true happiness. This happiness will reveal itself only when the mind stops hankering after one thing or the other. This understanding must become clear in our hearts. This is the first step to peace and happiness.

(The writer is a world-renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian)

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Finding the road to peace - The New Indian Express

Cardinal Parolin to visit Ars and Lourdes in August – Vatican News

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The Vatican Secretary of State will pay a visit to Ars on the Feast of St John Vianney, and will celebrate Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption in Lourdes.

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis and Adelaide Patrignani

In early July, Father Patrice Chocholski, the Rector of the St John Vianney Shrine in Ars, confirmed the August 4th visit of the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

Cardinal Parolin accepted the invitation extended to him to celebrate Mass at 10:00 am and speak at a conference at 3:00 pm. The theme chosen for the conference is Pope Francis and the priest: walking with the People of God.

This is the Cardinals first trip outside Italy since the coronavirus lockdown began in early March.

In an interview with Vatican News, Fr Chocholski explains that Cardinal Parolins presence for this occasion comes just one year after Pope Francis wrote a letter to priests on the 160th anniversary of St John Vianneys death. In that letter, Fr Chocholski says Pope Francis encouraged us to be priests today through a different style. He continued saying that priests need to look to St John Vianney as an example of how to be configured with Christ. This, he said, is a source of inspiration.

Fr Chocholski looks forward to Cardinal Parolins visit and expect him to be a source of encouragement as well.

I am sure that the Secretary of State will encourage us once again, in the spirit of Pope Francis, to live the beauty of our mission today. The Holy Father, Pope Francis, wants us to live this beautiful mission we have received through the call of the Lord and the Church.

Cardinal Parolins conference will be live-streamed on the Shrines Facebook page, Fr Chocholski says.

Listen to our interview with Fr Patrice Chocholski

Also on Tuesday, Cardinal Parolin will dedicate a path within the Shrine to Cardinal Emile Biayenda, the late Archbishop of Brazzaville. The Archbishop died in 1977 and his cause for canonization is in progress. His connection with the Ars Shrine began when he was a student at the Catholic University of Lyon. He would often go to the Shrine to immerse himself in St John Vianneys spirituality. After returning to Congo, he would pay a visit to the Shrine each time his travels took him to France.

The inauguration of the path dedicated to this Christian, Bishop and Cardinal who was deeply inspired by the spirituality of St John Vianney demonstrates how the saints spirituality can still inspire today says Fr Chocholski.

Even in our century with our different cultures in the world, there is a way to live the deep spirituality of St John Vianney as a parish priest.

For the third time since his appointment as Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin will visit the Shrine in Lourdes. His first visit in February 2017 was in an official capacity representing Pope Francis on the World Day of the Sick. Almost a year later, he returned to Lourdes to speak at the International St Francis de Sales day, dedicated to Catholic media professionals.

His third visit will consist in the celebration of Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption, 15 August, which also takes place during the 147th National Pilgrimage organized by the Assumptionist Fathers.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions in place, the celebration will take place without the presence of the sick. However, the Mass those who are not able to be present can unite themselves spiritually and participate in the Mass via the internet.

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Cardinal Parolin to visit Ars and Lourdes in August - Vatican News

Lexington gym owner promotes mind, body and spiritual wellness – ABC 36 News – WTVQ

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) An expo Saturday morning focused on wellness of the mind, body and spirit for frontline workers and the Black community in Lexington.

The event was hosted by Ebony Cooper, owner of Fit & Fierce Studio, and the Kentucky Nurses Association.

Cooper says opening her gym was the start of her personal health journey, which she says she began after her dad died of brain cancer. Now, she says she wants to encourage everyone to start their own path to wellness.

Im just really big on community, says Cooper. I didnt have the support that I needed.

So she says events like the one Saturday are important to her. She says she wanted to show appreciation for frontline workers who often put others ahead of themselves.

We just wanted the opportunity just to give back and let them know that we see them, says Cooper. We appreciate the work that theyre doing and it doesnt go unnoticed.

In addition, the event also tackled the health disparities seen in the black community, which is something she says she struggled with.

Nutrition is very, very important, says Cooper. When i was growing up, everything was fried. We ate the same foods. Even as an adult, I made the same meals over and over again.

Arica Brandford has been a nurse for more than twenty years. She says a few factors that play into the disparities are lack of resources, such as education, transportation and healthy food in Black neighborhoods.

She says thats why its important to go to the source.

You have to have the initiative and the drive to want better and want more, says Brandford. The other thing thats really important is that you have individuals that come to you and provide mentorship, resources, so its a two-way street.

Brandford is a member of Fit & Fierce, where she says her wellness journey started four years ago. The two share a close bond, having both loss their fathers.

As a nurse, and as a person who is used to putting others first, she had to teach me to put myself first, says Brandford about Cooper.

Cooper says Fit & Fierce provides more than just exercise, but a place to start fresh.

It doesnt matter what your age is, says Cooper. It doesnt matter what your health situation is. Today is always a good day to start.

Brandford says the Kentucky Nurses Association hopes to partner with Fit & Fierce again in the near future.

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Lexington gym owner promotes mind, body and spiritual wellness - ABC 36 News - WTVQ

Indian players are rising to the occasion offering users familiarity of homegrown social networks – The Financial Express

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By Shriya Roy

The issue of data privacy has come to the fore again in recent times as social media giant Twitter saw a massive breach in which many accounts, including those of celebrities, got hacked. Closer home, privacy concerns led to the banning of Chinese social media apps like TikTok, adding to fears of user data being vulnerable.

This growing threat is now leading many to homegrown social media apps. As a result of which theres been a boom in their user base. GolBol, Indias leading homegrown social media network, has gained over one million users. Launched in December 2019, the aim of the platform was to help people make relevant and meaningful connections in the virtual world based on similar interests, ranging from faith and kinship to occupation. GolBol, which allows usersto share their experiences and thoughts, is available in Hindithe platform aims to encourage the active participation of Indian users. It sees over three million likes being generated each month and contains more than two million images, all of which are user-generated. We noted that despite cutting-edge technology, social media networks were not fulfilling their purpose of being inclusive and bringing people together. We were motivated by this to create a platform that allows meaningful engagement and connections between people, says Shanu Vivek, CEO, GolBol.

Another homegrown social media platform that focuses on privacy and aims to rival top players like Facebook is Elyments. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, in fact, unveiled the Elyments app in a virtual launch on July 5, urging Indians to adopt the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. It is available in 10 languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and English and helps users connect and converse with friends, share updates, network with like-minded people and make voice and video calls as well. User data security has been an issue with many social media applications, but Elyments creator, Sumeru Software Solutions, claims that data will not be shared without users consent. Plus, all its servers are hosted within the country. The app has also taken the cue from social networking giant Facebook and included features such as Feeds, Discover option, as well as alerts on its interface.

Another such player is Flik. The social networking app, however, offers a separate feature for dating unlike other traditional social media platforms. Much like Instagram and Facebook, users can also add live stories to share with friends. They can send instant chat requests and send unlimited images, videos, photos, documents, etc. Many users call it a hybrid version of social networking apps WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Then there is Rgyan, a socio-spiritual networking platform, built specifically for Indians. Users often call it a spiritual Instagram with a touch of Quora. At a time when social media sites hardly have any bar over the kind of content published on them, Rgyan stands out as a platform where only meaningful content is shared.

The app, which is available in both English and Hindi, allows users to share their thoughts through pictures, videos, text and GIFs. Content shared on Rgyan is centred around spirituality, health and wellness, motivational quotes and other topics. It also offers curated content on divinity, horoscope, spiritual and social matters, among others. There was a need for such a meaningful social platform where people could get knowledge, as well as share thoughts on various meaningful matters, says Debjit Patra, founder and chairman, Rgyan.

Apart from these, home-grown social media apps like Chingari, ShareChat and Roposo have also taken over the market after the ban on Chinese apps in India. With more and more Indian apps joining the bandwagon, its clear that the issue of data privacy is gaining more focus.

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Indian players are rising to the occasion offering users familiarity of homegrown social networks - The Financial Express

Rural Development Minister: Eid-Ul-Adha brings spiritual renewal – Loop News Trinidad and Tobago

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Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein, a devout member of the Muslim community, has extended Eid Mubarak greetings to his brothers and sisters ofthe faith.

Hosein said having completed fasting on the day of Arafah, Muslims are reminded that the most significant prayer is that performed on this day where Prophet Mohammed recited: There is nothing that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah, He is Alone and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things.

He said for Muslims who are not performing Hajj, fasting on the day of Arafah rewards forgiveness for two years.

The Minister further explained that Eid-Ul-Adha is the greater of both Eids with the 10-day fast being more significant than that which occurs during the month of Ramadan.

One of the primary reasons for this is because Eid Ul-Adha commemorates Prophet Abrahams unyielding commitment to his faith, through his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail. Before he could carry out the sacrifice, Allah recognized his act of devotion and intervened, providing a lamb as an offering to take Ismails place.

It also marks the end of the holy pilgrimage where billions of Muslims across the world would come together to give honour to the spirit of sacrifice.

Health precautions implemented to stem the spread of COVID-19 have unfortunately preventedthe annual pilgrimage making the Hajj impossible for many.

Notwithstanding this obstacle, my fellow brothers and sisters in Islam remain grateful for the opportunity to worship at our mosques in the company of our friends and families. Similar to last months Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, this sacred occasion teaches us that our sacrifices are always rewarded by Almighty Allah (swt).

Despite practitioners of Islam being unable to complete Hajj, Eid-Ul-Adha brought us both a physical and spiritual lesson in sacrifice. I truly believe that because of our discipline, sacrifice and faith in the Almighty, we were able to celebrate this observance in a more profound manner. COVID-19 has taught us that we as Muslims must continue to seek redemption, to forgive and be forgiven. It has also reminded us that every sacrifice that we make in our lives often leads to a greater reward.

Hosein said he has drawn closer to Allahover the past few months, with his appreaciation for his loved ones increasing exponentially. He said he also has a greater desire to continue helping those less fortunate in his community and his country by extension.

This experience has showed us the value of simple devotion, reminding us that sacrifice is a key aspect of not only spiritual development but also spiritual renewal.

On behalf of the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, I extend Eid-Ul-Adha greetings to ournational Muslim community at home and abroad, and wish for all citizens of our beloved nation peace, good health and prosperity for every day of your journey through life.

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Rural Development Minister: Eid-Ul-Adha brings spiritual renewal - Loop News Trinidad and Tobago

Cell and Gene Therapy Tools, and Reagents: Global Markets – PRNewswire

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NEW YORK, July 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Scope: The scope of this study encompasses an investigation of the markets cell and gene therapy tools such as GMP proteins, media, cell separation and activation reagents, viral and non-viral, cytokine release syndrome monitoring products, GMP antibodies, leukapheresis instrumentation, immunoassays (multiplex and singleplex) and bioreactors.The analyst examines each tool type, determines its current market status, examines its impact on future markets, and presents forecasts of growth over the next five years.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05938974/?utm_source=PRN

Technological issues, including the latest trends, are discussed. The analyst examined the industry on a worldwide basis, from both application and demand perspectives, in the major regions of the world.

Report Includes: - 77 data tables - An overview of the global market for immunoassay-based cell and gene therapy tools, and reagents within the life sciences industry - Analyses of the global market trends, with data corresponding to market size for 2017-2019, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2024 - Information about in vitro diagnostics (IVD), its background and importance of IVD testing - Discussion on prevalence of infectious disease, metabolic disorders and chronic ailments as drivers of immunoassay testing market - Description of recent technologies such as chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA), fluorescent immunoassays, multiplex assays and rapid diagnostic technologies - Evaluation of market potential for immunoassay-based cell and gene therapy tools and reagents, current market size and market forecast, and market share analysis of the leading players engaged - Patent review and new developments, R&D efforts, industrial changes with emphasis on recent investments, and current state of the immunoassay technology - Company profiles of the key market participants, including Bio-Rad Laboratories, Cytiva Life Sciences, Luminex Corp., Millipore Sigma, Thermo Fisher Scientific and STEMCELL Technologies

Reasons for Doing this Study: Gene and cell therapy are emerging as important tools to treat human health.Techniques such as CAR-T therapy have emerged as key ways of treating many different types of cancers.

The promise of gene therapy using technologies such as CRISPR is starting to be realized in clinical trials, and markets are scaling up to treat other diseases as well, particularly rare gene- based diseases.As these therapies are coming to the fore, a new market for tools to develop these therapies using standard methodologies is emerging.

This report will cover what those tools are, how they impact the larger life science tools market, and how they will evolve over the next five years.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05938974/?utm_source=PRN

About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Cell and Gene Therapy Tools, and Reagents: Global Markets - PRNewswire

FDA Announces New Protocol for the Development and Registration of Treatments for Preharvest Agricultural Water – Produce Blue Book

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For Immediate Release: July 30, 2020

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a new protocol for the development and registration of antimicrobial treatments for preharvest agricultural water, such as the water used in farm irrigation systems. The protocol was developed through a collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Companies can now use data developed under this protocol to support the EPA registration of products that can treat agricultural water against foodborne bacteria, which could provide farmers with a useful tool to help protect the safety of produce intended for consumers, like romaine lettuce and other leafy greens.

The announcement was made during a webinar on the FDAs 2020 Leafy Green STEC Action Plan.

This new protocol is a huge milestone for produce safety and for the Leafy Green Action Plan released by the FDA earlier this year. Working together, the FDA and EPA have supported the development of this protocol that may ultimately help farmers address contamination issues in their water sources and protect consumers from foodborne illness, said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas.

We must all work together to help ensure the safety of produce to consumers across the country. We will continue to work with our partners in industry, government and academia on this and other longer-term studies on the ecology of human pathogens in specific growing regions, and new efforts as part of the New Era of Smarter Food Safety Initiative.

Thanks to the strong partnership between EPA and the FDA, we can now unleash the innovation needed to develop treatment products for the agricultural water used to irrigate our nations leafy greens, said Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, assistant administrator of EPAs Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. We look forward to working with pesticide product manufacturers, innovators, and farmers on this important development that will help protect public health and our environment.

EPAs approval of this protocol allows for companies to develop data on the effectiveness of their products in inactivating foodborne bacteria, such as E. coli or Salmonella, in preharvest agricultural water. Companies may use the data developed to support registration of new treatment products, or amendments to current products labels, for use against microbial contamination in preharvest agricultural water.

Recent outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of romaine lettuce and other leafy greens have highlighted the need for a viable option for treating agricultural water against foodborne pathogens. While farmers are not required to treat their agricultural water, these treatments could be a valuable tool to help farmers protect the safety of their produce. There currently are no registered antimicrobial treatment products that are authorized for use on agricultural fields, or for treatment of irrigation water systems or ponds.

This protocol is an important step toward addressing this lack of available treatments for preharvest agricultural water.

Teams of FDA experts have been working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to help protect agricultural water from the many ways it can be contaminated in the environment or from unsanitary practices on a farm. This effort has included hundreds of farm visits over the past few years. In addition, the FDA intends to release a proposed rule in late 2020, to revise certain agricultural water requirements in the Produce Safety Rule and to address practical implementation challenges while protecting public health.

The development and approval of this treatment protocol is one of several steps the agency has taken or intends to take to help improve produce safety, such as through the Leafy Green Action Plan and through the New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative.

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

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FDA Announces New Protocol for the Development and Registration of Treatments for Preharvest Agricultural Water - Produce Blue Book