Conservationists raise concerns over state of care for grizzly cubs transferred to BC zoo – Surrey Now-Leader

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Three orphaned grizzly cubs now on display at the privately-owned Greater Vancouver Zoo represent a disappearing opportunity for survival of a threatened species, says conservationists.

General manager of the zoo, Serge Lussier, said Wednesday, Theres two options for bears so young when the mother dies is euthanasia, or find an approved zoo.

The trio were found by Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers in Crowsnest Pass in April after their mother was killed by hunters.

They were sent for care away from the public at the Calgary Zoo, who ended up passing the responsibility to the Aldergrove zoo.

During that time, 104 signatories many B.C. and Alberta scientists or conservationists wrote a letter to the Alberta government, urging the rehabilitation and release of the cubs back into the wild, given that grizzly bears are a threatened species in Alberta, the letter reads.

More specifically, the age and health of these three cubs make them ideal candidates for the only grizzly cub rehabilitation program in North America, namely the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter in Smithers, B.C.

The Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources sent an email statement to the Star, confirming the Smithers rehabilitation program was ruled out because it is a pilot, and not considered operational.

Formal best management practices for the facility are in the process of being developed. These are critical to standardize facility construction, humane care and handling and proof of concept, the statement continued.

Co-founder of the shelter, rehabilitationist Angelika Langen, has successfully released 22 bears into the wild during the 13 years the program has been in operation.

Everyone says we are still in a pilot project and they are awaiting results, yet they dont give us the cubs to prove it, she remarked.

Of the three six-month-old grizzly cubs at Greater Vancouver Zoo two of them are female.

Our efforts to prove long-term [grizzly bear] survival and re-integration into the wild population would have made a big step forward with the females, said Langen, noting their reproduction capabilities.

READ MORE: Red Panda dies at Greater Vancouver Zoo

As it stands, in Alberta there are only 700 surviving grizzly bears, according to the Alberta Wilderness Association. This, compared to 15,000 most recently recorded in B.C. by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

Of 25 cubs government approved for the Northern Lights Wildlife project, only three were female, Langen emphasized.

B.C. bear researcher/biologist and letter signatory, Wayne McCrory, said the zoos one-acre enclosure is not nearly large enough to house the cubs for the rest of their lives.

Bears are not social animals. They are very solitary individuals and like to have their own space, said the grizzly bear researcher and biologist of 40 years.

Typically, they range over very large areas, and thats their freedom that is their home.

McCrory, also a director with the with the Valhalla Wilderness Committee, said that because the Calgary Zoo purposefully kept the cubs away from the public, they have a good chance of being rehabilitated and released back into Alberta wilderness.

READ MORE: Greater Vancouver Zoo animals suffer boredom and frustration, humane society says

Greater Vancouver Zoo animal care manager, Menita Prasad, maintained that because the cubs are human imprinted, it is not ideal for them to be released into wild.

McCrory with years of experience reducing human-bear conflict in Kananaskis Country, Alta. said the zoos mission of educating Metro Vancouvers public about the species is redundant, considering Grouse Mountain already takes care of that with their two captive grizzly bears.

Ultimately, the zoo stands to profit by increased attendance from these captive bears, McCrory said.

B.C. conservationist and director of Bears Matter, Barb Murray, along with other letter signatories, like McCrory, are in a race against time to see a bear rehabilitation expert examine the zoos new cubs to assess whether they are eligible for rehabilitation.

We are prepared to pay the expert to fly in, Murray said, Six months isnt that old.

Until we have a definitive answer from a bear expert it is a question mark we just cant answer. Let them be assessed now before their fate is sealed, she urged.

READ MORE: Giraffes death shocks Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove

The zoo in Aldergrove has previously been criticized for how it cares for its animals, particularly large species which have died in its care.

Lussier, the zoos general manager, insisted the triplets are adapting well to their new surroundings and are having fun discovering their new habitat.

We have the habitats, we have the experts, and were so proud to be a part of this, he said.

AldergroveConservation

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Conservationists raise concerns over state of care for grizzly cubs transferred to BC zoo - Surrey Now-Leader

Assisted dying referendum: why NZ’s law lacks necessary detail to make a fully informed decision – The Conversation AU

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When New Zealanders go to the polls in September, they will also be asked to vote in a referendum on assisted dying.

Parliament already passed the End of Life Choice Act in 2019, but the referendum will decide whether it comes into force.

We will be asked if we accept or decline the right of people to seek an assisted death, without the need for consultation with family and with no stand-down period other than a requirement of 48 hours to prepare the medication. The act would allow people to choose when they die and by what means, whether the medication is self-administered or given by suitably qualified clinicians.

This appears an ideal scenario, affirming the right to choose, but it is a deeply profound decision for the public to make. Many may be unaware of issues beyond the goal of ending suffering for people with life-limiting conditions.

My research shows an assisted death can have repercussions for many people those left behind or others struggling with a chronic disease. Experiences from countries where assisted dying has been legal for some time have highlighted these challenges.

Read more: One year of voluntary assisted dying in Victoria: 400 have registered, despite obstacles

In the Netherlands, assisted dying has been legal for 18 years. Over time, there have been notable slips in the criteria that have to be met. This includes the level of physical suffering, which is a subjective experience, and the requirement that people must be competent to agree to an assisted death at the point of administration. This may not be possible for people with dementia who have previously given written consent but can no longer consent at the point of death.

While the law hasnt changed, its interpretation has, and people with mental illness can now also request an assisted death. Data from the Netherlands show one in 30 people now die by euthanasia, compared to one in 90 when the law was introduced in 2002.

In the US, some medical insurance companies pay for an assisted death but not for palliative care. This removes any notion of choice and autonomy from the person.

In Canada, where assisted dying has been legal for four years, the number of people seeking medical help to die has risen significantly, with figures more than doubling year on year. This has exposed unexpected consequences, such as fear of judgement for leaving family members unsupported after an assisted death and stigmatisation of clinicians, whether or not they support people choosing the time of their death.

Read more: In places where it's legal, how many people are ending their lives using euthanasia?

To consider assisted dying legislation as an issue of individual autonomy denies that we are part of a much larger group with complex connections. This is particularly important when we consider Mori and Pasifika populations, whose voices are notably absent from the current act in New Zealand.

The act proposes people may seek assisted dying without any consultation with whnau (family), but the impact of an assisted death reaches far beyond relieving suffering for the individual. The ripple effects can fracture families and communities. As the act currently stands, it has the potential to cause greater harm than good.

We can already see this oversees, for example in Canada and Switzerland, where those who use assisted dying and their immediate family guard this information closely. This is likely happening because of stigma attached to dying in this way, even when it is legal.

The New Zealand legislation carries this risk. It includes restrictions on disclosure of the use of the law and on individuals being recorded as having died an assisted death, often for insurance purposes.

There is another significant issue to consider. One persons assisted death could influence the decisions of others and this contagion effect could play out in two ways.

Those who are not aware of the legislation but discover a friend or family member is accessing it may consider using it themselves. More concerning is people with chronic conditions may feel obliged to seek assisted dying, should they feel burdensome to their family.

There is a notable difference in the New Zealand population in how support for elders or unwell family members is provided. Mori and Pasifika people tend to care for their sick and elders while pkeh (New Zealanders of European descent) often rely on external support. Our research shows when one family member has an assisted death, others with a chronic illness can feel an expectation for them to consider it.

Such broader consequences of introducing assisted dying legislation are often hidden, but they must be addressed as New Zealand moves towards the referendum. The current binary positioning of the debate focuses on autonomy of the individual versus protecting the public, whereas the reality is that assisted dying is more than merely either of these opposing values. It has already been demonstrated that the effects of assisted dying legislation reach beyond the individual and, as such, must be considered as we enter this referendum. The act lacks the necessary detail to make a fully informed decision.

The idea that choice is being given to a popular vote is, in itself, problematic. It is suggestive of a government unwilling to take responsibility for the fallout, should the referendum produce a supportive vote.

We need to safeguard our families and communities from these social consequences of assisted dying legislation. Vulnerable populations have to remain safe from persuasion to die and there has to be a supportive framework for those left behind after an assisted death, so they can grieve without feeling stigmatised.

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Assisted dying referendum: why NZ's law lacks necessary detail to make a fully informed decision - The Conversation AU

GST: The increase Australia doesn’t have to have Monash Lens – Monash Lens

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Earlythis month, former Telstra boss David Thodey released a draft review of the NSW revenue system as it relates to federal funding. The review was commissioned by the NSW Treasurer, and the centrepiece of its recommendations was an increase in the GST.

The rationale is clear: It'sfar easier to raise the GST than undertake politically-difficult reforms to corporate taxation and incentives targeting renewable industries and R&D.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull devoted considerable time to a lower corporate tax regime, arguing Australias company tax was internationally uncompetitive. He was right tax competition is a global sport. The winners reap rivers of gold. The losers you and I merely pay more tax.

Read more: Australia needs a GST holiday

If Amazon shares hit US$5000, CEO Jeff Bezos becomes the worlds eighth-largest economy. And he owes it all to you. Because Amazon pays very little tax. Veteran investor Warren Buffet knew the tax code was slanted against income taxes versus capital gains when he discovered his secretary paid more tax than he did, leading to the "Buffet rule" upper and high-income earners should not pay less tax than lower-income workers.

That hasn't happened. Instead, corporations stash revenues in off-balance-sheet special purpose entities (SPEs), by using special tax jurisdictions and trusts located in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Ireland, among others.

In 2016, the EU Commission ordered Apple that pay 13 billion ($A19.2 billion) in taxes to Ireland on the basis that the EU arm of the company, headquartered in Ireland, had received "state aid"(that is, untaxed benefits), which is unlawful in the EU single market. Apple appealed the decision in 2019. I asked some G20 sherpas staff about SPE reform during the 2014 Brisbane G20 summit; they refused to even discuss it.

The Bush administration introduced a tax holiday for US firms in 2004, allowing multinational corporations to repatriate overseas earnings, but the scheme was abruptly abandoned once it was realised it raised little federal revenue. The Trump administration also bowed to the pressure of a corporate tax holiday, permitting Apple, Google and Amazon, among many others, to repatriate more than US$1 trillion held in foreign jurisdictions and SPEs. Nevertheless, the Trump tax repatriation still fell well short of the US$4 trillion the administration predicted.

... the GST is a lazy, regressive, blunt instrument that operates as a substitute for taxation reform across the spectrum, instead of reforming vested interests targeting financial and property speculation, as well as resources profits.

What did US corporations do with this windfall? In many cases, they undertook share buybacks, which boosted their stock prices, thus further enriching both investors and corporate executives with stock options. This does little to repair fiscal imbalances.

The bottom line is that there are only three ways to raise taxes: income, corporate and indirect. Corporations pay the least by far, and few governments have made serious inroads into increasing corporate contributions to the taxation base. Indeed, under Trump, business tax repatriation is a retrograde step, while Trumps tax cuts have also eroded the US fiscal base.

Despite myriad promises during successive G20 summits, one-third of Australian corporations pay zero tax. But at least we have stopped giving drug dealers a tax deduction.

Globally, slow or low growth in the post-COVID economy will result in cuts in government services and subsidies as taxation revenues decline. In the absence of stable economic growth, governments will be compelled to either print money, go further into debt, or raise taxes to maintain services provision.

The first two options are not long-term revenue strategies. Consequently, governments will rely on taxation to repair the fiscal damage wrought by the pandemic. As ABS data shows, Australian tax per capita has increased every year since the 2008 GFC, rising 4.4 per cent overall in 2018-19.

GST is frequently regarded as a regressive tax. It places considerable imposts upon low-income-earners, who are given little compensation and save little of their income; thus, virtually all their expenditures are taxed. For higher-income classes, the GST isn't a barrier to consumption, whereas a 10% tax added to replacing a house roof or to dental work represents a considerable financial burden. But even if Australia introduced a universal basic income (UBI), governments would immediately claw back at least 10% in consumption taxes.

Australia has high income taxes compared to the OECD average, but a relatively low GST rate. However, indirect taxes, excluding GST, exceed those of comparable countries on average (below).

The NSW Treasurers campaign to increase the GST is backed by a carefully-orchestrated PR campaign to soften the voters. Inevitably, this brought the usual suspects out of the wood rent-seekers.

Unsurprisingly, business campaigns for GST increases because it doesnt pay for it; the consumer does. More to the point, this takes the heat off corporate taxation as well.

States campaign for GST increases because indirect taxes give them a bigger share of the national tax cake. Moreover, the political damage associated with GST rate increases are borne predominantly by federal governments. The author of the 2008 tax review, former treasury secretary Ken Henry, also supports a higher GST rate.

GST increases are a distraction from the main game corporate and resources taxes.

My argument is that the GST is a lazy, regressive, blunt instrument that operates as a substitute for taxation reform across the spectrum, instead of reforming vested interests targeting financial and property speculation, as well as resources profits. The GST base could be expanded to hit, say, basic food or private school education, or this list. GST hikes allow governments to eschew carefully-targeted tax incentives directed at future key employment sectors, such as green jobs, carbon pricing, digital economy, and manufacturing and innovation R&D.

Here's what we should be doing:

The digital economy has proven notoriously difficult to tax. The rise of the gig economy is also hard to police. Workers may fall below the GST reporting threshold; the informal or "shadow"economy leads to regulatory avoidance, while workers use cash and cryptocurrencies. Unregulated digital services allow international labour to displace domestic workers across borders (I could pay offshore Indian graduates to grade papers but I dont). The EU shadow economy is valued at 2.4 trillion ($A3.89 trillion), while the global informal economy is estimated at nearly $US10 trillion bigger than Chinas GDP.

The French government has sought to deal with both corporate tax evasion and the digital economy by imposing a 3% tax on revenues. In 2020, Paris postponed the tax, as Trump threatened tariffs on French exports, due to allegations of harm to the US tech sector. Verdict: Its complicated.

Kevin Rudd tried, and failed, to implement a Resources Super Profits Tax (RSPT). An aggressive campaign waged by the resources industry 83% foreign-owned cost Rudd his job. The Gillard government implemented the tepid Mining Resources Rent Tax, which collected virtually no revenue until it was repealed by the Abbott government.

In contrast, the UK introduced a petroleum super profits tax in 1975, until the Cameron-Clegg government abandoned the tax in 2016. For 40 years, North Sea oil revenues funded everything from the NHS to mortgage tax relief. The UK deserves plaudits for reducing VAT to zero under COVID-19 for eBooks and online journals. It also charges no VAT on food, except for junk foods and alcohol.

Sensibly, Norway has locked oil and gas tax revenue into a sovereign wealth fund worth more than US$1 trillion. The Australian state and federal governments should be doing precisely this, with taxes on resources super profits, including iron ore, coal and gas.

If you're an investor on the domestic or foreign exchanges, you pay GST to your broker, but you can claim it back as an expense. Your broker pays zero GST on every trade. The ASX already collects a small levy on transactions, but this could easily be extended to a "Tobin tax", as the Australia Institute has argued, without imposing a significant burden on business.

State governments saw the writing on the wall in 2018-19, when property prices slumped, despite a pre-COVID recovery. Inflated real estate prices meant Victoria alone expected state coffers to swell by $6 billion annually. A substitute land tax would require an estimated $4000 impost on every household.

Inevitably, the states will transition to land taxes to avoid the peaks and troughs of real estate booms and busts. Moreover, land taxes guarantee revenue in perpetuity. But the longer the national cabinet delays reforms to the tax revenue base, the longer states will depend upon duties, licensing fees and royalties. Impoverished state revenues from a shrunken GST cake in a recessed post-COVID economy will place further financial pressure on essential services, such as health, social services and education.

As for negative gearing and the capital gains concession, neither major party wants to revisit this, given the ALPs reforms have twice been rejected in federal elections.

There's no such thing as a neutral tax policy; revenue-neutral tax changes, yes. But in the post-COVID environment, governments will be left with an unpalatable choice between either increasing income taxes, or boosting less conspicuous indirect taxes to fill budget black holes. Governments will inevitably choose the latter, as consumption taxes like GST are less easily understood, apply across the board, and slug everyone from students and pensioners, to tourists and the homeless. Except corporations and sole traders, which merely act as GST tax intermediaries.

Every single country bar Australia that has introduced a GST/VAT has increased the rate. Rates rose appreciably after 2008. In 2010, New Zealand raised its GST from 12.5%to 15%. Australias GST rate will exceed 10% by 2030, irrespective of the federal governments protestations to the contrary. With higher unemployment, combined with lower corporate and income tax revenues, indirect tax increases are a mathematical certainty.

The moral? Never stand between a state treasurer and a swag of GST revenue.

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GST: The increase Australia doesn't have to have Monash Lens - Monash Lens

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Down $0.23 Over Past 4 Hours, Fares the Worst Out of Top Cryptos to Start the Day; Came Into Today Down For the 2nd Day In A Row -…

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Bitcoin Cash 4 Hour Price Update

Updated July 15, 2020 11:19 AM GMT (07:19 AM EST)

Bitcoin Cash came into the current 4 hour candle up 0.31% ($0.7) from the open of the last 4 hour candle, marking the 2nd candle in a row it has gone up. On a relative basis, the last 4 hour candle were pretty good: Bitcoin Cash bested all 5 of the assets in the Top Cryptos class

Bitcoin Cash closed yesterday down 0.81% ($1.87); this denotes the 2nd day in a row a decrease has occurred. This move happened on lower volume, as yesterdays volume was down 48.37% from the day before and down 27.72% from the same day the week before. On a relative basis, Bitcoin Cash was the worst performer out of all 5 of the assets in the Top Cryptos asset class during yesterday. Lets take a look at the daily price chart of Bitcoin Cash.

Coming into today Bitcoin Cash is now close to its 20, 50 and 100 day averages, located at 229.89, 237.7 and 239.12 respectively, and thus may be at a key juncture along those timeframes. Also of note is that on a 30 day basis price appears to be forming a base which could the stage for it being a support/resistance level going forward. For another vantage point, consider that Bitcoin Cashs price has gone up 7 of the previous 14 trading days.

Behold! Here are the top tweets related to Bitcoin Cash:

ADA after having taken over Litecoin has now surpassed Bitcoin SV in the global crypto market and is now ranked at 6th position after Bitcoin Cash#ADA #cardanofoundation

Stablecoin Tether Is Now Circulating on the Bitcoin Cash Network$BCH for the win

Whether for Bitcoin Cash (#BCH) or any other cryptocurrency, growth is not a one way path trials and errors lead to winning..@BitcoinCash

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Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Down $0.23 Over Past 4 Hours, Fares the Worst Out of Top Cryptos to Start the Day; Came Into Today Down For the 2nd Day In A Row -...

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Up $0.72 in Last 4 Hours, Fares the Worst Out of Top Cryptos to Start the Day; Entered Today Down For the 2nd Day In A Row -…

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Bitcoin Cash 4 Hour Price Update

Updated July 15, 2020 07:19 PM GMT (03:19 PM EST)

Bitcoin Cash is down 0.58% ($1.31) since the last 4 hour candle, marking the 2nd candle in a row it has gone down. Those trading within the Top Cryptos asset class should know that Bitcoin Cash was the worst performer in the class during the last 4 hour candle.

Bitcoin Cash is down 0.81% ($1.87) since the previous day, marking the 2nd day in a row a decrease has occurred. This move happened on lower volume, as yesterdays volume was down 48.37% from the day before and down 27.72% from the same day the week before. Those trading within the Top Cryptos asset class should know that Bitcoin Cash was the worst performer in the class during the previous day. Below is a daily price chart of Bitcoin Cash.

Coming into today the current price of Bitcoin Cash is sitting close to its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages; moving average crosses often indicate a change in momentum, so this may be worth keeping an eye on. Price action traders in particular will want to note that the 30 day period appears to show price forming a base; this could indicate that a support/resistance level is developing. Or to view things another way, note that out of the past 10 days Bitcoin Cashs price has gone down 6 them.

For laughs, fights, or genuinely useful information, lets see what the most popular tweets pertaining to Bitcoin Cash for the past day were:

@escape1979uk @rogerkver @feeonline Roger Ver had nothing to do with the creation of Bitcoin Cash. Also Bitcoin Cash is alive and well. It may not be in price, but development is still very much active. BCH is coming up with more every day.

@deadalnix @JaEsf @im_uname @freeAgent85 Encouraging someone who dislikes the destruction of community cohesion to fork Bitcoin Cash is comically ironic. I believe it will lead to a forkMaybe try to convince enough people it is the best option, that will show ABC has very strong history of making good decisions.

@cryptorecruitr Sell your BTC and Buy Bitcoin Cash and XRP

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Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Up $0.72 in Last 4 Hours, Fares the Worst Out of Top Cryptos to Start the Day; Entered Today Down For the 2nd Day In A Row -...

The Crypto Daily Movers and Shakers July 12th, 2020 – FX Empire

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Bitcoin, BTC to USD, fell by 0.63% on Saturday. Reversing a 0.60% gain from Friday, Bitcoin ended the day at $9,246.3.

It was a bearish start to the day for Bitcoin. Bitcoin fell from an early morning intraday high $9,311.8 to a late morning intraday low $9,200.1 before finding support.

Steering clear of the first major support level at $9,193.6, Bitcoin moved back to a late high $9,263.0 before easing back.

The near-term bullish trend remained intact in spite of the early July pullback to sub-$9,000 levels. For the bears, Bitcoin would need to slide through the 62% FIB of $6,400 to form a near-term bearish trend.

Across the rest of the majors, it was a mixed day on Saturday.

Cardanos ADA (+5.67%), Tezos (+5.61%), and Trons TRX (+5.11%) led the way.

Binance Coin (+1.85%), Litecoin (+0.92%) Moneros XMR (+2.10%), Ripples XRP (+0.86%), and Stellars Lumen (+1.27%) also found support.

It was a bearish day for the rest of the majors, however.

Ethereum led the way down, with a loss of 0.87%.

Bitcoin Cash ABC (-0.48%), Bitcoin Cash SV (-0.21%), and EOS (-0.10%) saw relatively modest losses on the day.

In the current week, the crypto total market cap rose from a Monday low $254.55bn to a Wednesday high $274.58bn. At the time of writing, the total market cap stood at $267.71bn.

Bitcoins dominance fell from a Monday high 65.58% to a Thursday low 63.55%. At the time of writing, Bitcoins dominance stood at 63.79%.

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The Crypto Daily Movers and Shakers July 12th, 2020 - FX Empire

Bitcoin and Altcoins Trading Near Make-or-Break Levels – Cryptonews

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Bitcoin price made a couple of attempts to clear the USD 9,300 and USD 9,320 resistance levels. BTC failed to continue higher and recently declined by 1%. It is currently (08:30 UTC) approaching the USD 9,150 support, below which it could revisit USD 9,000.Similarly, most major altcoins are slowly declining and approaching key supports, including ethereum, XRP, litecoin, bitcoin cash, BNB, EOS, TRX, ADA, and XLM. ETH/USD is down 2% and it is trading below USD 240. XRP/USD is also declining and it seems like it could test the USD 0.192 support region.

Total market capitalization

In the past few sessions, bitcoin price struggled to continue higher above USD 9,300 and USD 9,320. BTC is currently trading below USD 9,200 and it is approaching the USD 9,150 support level. Any further losses may perhaps lead the price toward the USD 9,000 support. A bearish close below USD 9,000 could start a strong decline in the coming sessions.Conversely, a successful break above the USD 9,300 resistance level is likely to clear the path for a sustained upward move. The next major hurdle is near USD 9,500 and USD 9,550.

Ethereum price is down close to 2% and it is trading below the USD 240 level. The first major support is near the USD 235 level, below which there is a risk of more losses. The next support for ETH could be USD 230, followed by USD 228.On the upside, an initial resistance is near the USD 242 level. The main resistance is still near USD 245, above which the bulls might attempt to clear USD 250.

Bitcoin cash price dived 4% and it is gaining bearish momentum below the USD 230 level. BCH is likely to continue lower towards the USD 222 and USD 220 support levels. Any further losses might lead the price towards the USD 200 support. To start a fresh increase, the price must move back above USD 235.ADA is down 7% and it is trading below the USD 0.1250 support level. However, there are many supports near the USD 0.1200 level. As long as the price is above the USD 0.1200 level, the price is likely to start a fresh increase. On the upside, the bulls are likely to face hurdles near USD 0.1300 and USD 0.1320.XRP price failed to stay above the USD 0.202 and USD 0.200 support levels. XRP is declining and it is approaching the USD 0.195 level. The main support is near the USD 0.192 level, below which there is a risk of a sharp decline towards the USD 0.185 and USD 0.182 level. Conversely, a close above USD 0.202 could push the price higher in the near term.

In the past three sessions, many small-capitalization altcoins declined over 8%, including AMPL, NEXO, QNT, THETA, DOGE, BCD, CKB, SNX, REN, ATOM, BNT, and IOST. Conversely, AOA rallied close to 240% to surpass the USD 0.0125 level.

Overall, bitcoin price is slowly moving lower and trading below USD 9,300. It seems like BTC is preparing for the next significant move either above USD 9,300 or below USD 9,000._____

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Bitcoin and Altcoins Trading Near Make-or-Break Levels - Cryptonews

The Crypto Daily Movers and Shakers July 11th, 2020 – Yahoo Finance

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Bitcoin, BTC to USD, rose by 0.60% on Friday. Following a 2.32% slide on Thursday, Bitcoin ended the day at $9,304.6.

It was a bearish start to the day for Bitcoin. Bitcoin fell to an early morning intraday low $9,133.1 before finding support.

Finding support at the first major support level at $9,132.03, Bitcoin rallied to a late intraday high $9,324.6.

In spite of the late recovery, Bitcoin fell well short of the first major resistance level at $9,407.73.

The late recovery, however, saw Bitcoin wrap up the day in positive territory.

The near-term bullish trend remained intact in spite of the early July pullback to sub-$9,000 levels. For the bears, Bitcoin would need to slide through the 62% FIB of $6,400 to form a near-term bearish trend.

Across the rest of the majors, it was a mixed day on Friday.

Binance Coin (+2.73%), Bitcoin Cash ABC (+1.00%), Moneros XMR (+0.25%), and Tezos (+0.34%) bucked the trend on the day.

It was a bearish day for the rest of the majors.

Cardanos ADA led the way down, with a loss of 4.63%.

Bitcoin Cash SV (-2.00%), XRP (-1.69%) Stellars Lumen (-0.99%), and Trons TRX (-2.02%) also struggled.

EOS (-0.72%), Ethereum (-0.33%), and Litecoin (-0.02%) saw relatively modest losses on the day.

In the current week, the crypto total market cap rose from a Monday low $254.55bn to a Wednesday high $274.58bn. At the time of writing, the total market cap stood at $267.03bn.

Bitcoins dominance fell from a Monday high 65.58% to a Thursday low 63.55%. At the time of writing, Bitcoins dominance stood at 64.05%.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was down by 0.06% to $9,299.0. A mixed start to the day saw Bitcoin rise to an early morning high $9,311.8 before falling to a low $9,294.0.

Bitcoin left the major support and resistance levels untested early on.

Elsewhere, it was a mixed start to the day.

Bitcoin Cash SV (-0.19%), Ethereum (-0.02%), and Litecoin (-0.02%) joined Bitcoin in the red.

It was a bullish start for the rest of the majors, with Stellars Lumen up by 3.53% to lead the way.

Bitcoin would need to avoid a fall through the $9,254 pivot level to support a run at the first major resistance level at $9,375.6.

Support from the broader market would be needed, however, for Bitcoin to break out from Fridays high $9,324.6.

Barring an extended crypto rally, the first major resistance level would likely cap any upside.

In the event of a crypto breakout, Bitcoin should break out from the second major resistance level at $9,445.6 before any pullback.

Failure to avoid a fall through the $9,254 pivot level would bring the first major support level at $9,183.6 into play.

Barring another extended crypto sell-off, however, Bitcoin should avoid sub-$9,000 levels. The second major resistance level at $9,062.6 should limit any downside.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

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The Crypto Daily Movers and Shakers July 11th, 2020 - Yahoo Finance

ELECTION 2020: State Attorney’s race features opposing views | News | beacononlinenews.com – The West Volusia Beacon

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R.J. Larizza, the incumbent state attorney for the judicial circuit covering Volusia and three other counties, said he wants to continue reducing crime and offering services to help people with mental health or drug-abuse issues.

His challenger, longtime defense attorney Don Dempsey, on the other hand, said there are a number of problems with how Larizzas goals are implemented.

Chiefly, Dempsey said, he thinks the resources of the State Attorneys Office should be reallocated, with less energy devoted to getting people long sentences for victimless crimes.

The two will square off in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 3, with the winner holding the office for the next four years. All registered voters in Volusia County can vote in this race.

In separate interviews with The West Volusia Beacon, the candidates outlined their platforms and explained why they are running.

The State Attorneys Office is responsible for all criminal prosecution in the 7th Circuit. The state attorney administers and manages the agency, including supervising more than 200 employees.

Larizza said during his stint as state attorney, crime has gone down every year throughout the 7th Judicial Circuit, which includes Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties in addition to Volusia.

We have been very successful in my 12 years as state attorney in terms of the crime-reduction rate, Larizza said. I want to continue that trend.

But Dempsey sees the need for reform in the criminal-justice system. For instance, he said, Larizzas office is too quick to seek lengthy sentences, especially for first offenders and those convicted of minor or victimless crimes, such as drug possession.

A lot of people are getting lengthy prison sentences, Dempsey said. My complaint isnt with law enforcement, but once a case gets to the State Attorneys Office.

Dempsey said prosecutors are pressured to ask for longer sentences because it enhances the State Attorneys Offices conviction rate. Prosecutors, also, are encouraged not to drop cases, such as the cases of people who go through Veterans Court, a diversionary program to help veterans accused of relatively minor crimes.

More people should be cut a break so their lives are not destroyed, especially first-time offenders, Dempsey said. But prosecutors wont do it unless they get approval from their supervisor, and that goes against their stats on conviction rates.

Because judges are often bound by minimum-mandatory-sentencing laws, Dempsey said, change is up to the State Attorneys Office.

Prosecutors, basically, have sole discretion, Dempsey said.

Dempsey would like to see resources allocated differently; for example, to an economic-crimes bureau to investigate cases where the victims are elderly or where business people rip off their partners.

But Larizza said there is a fraud unit working economic crimes, and he intends to keep it. He also said his agency is training local police departments and works with them to deal with those kinds of crimes.

Larizza made no bones about being tough on hardened criminals, but he does believe in being compassionate when its appropriate, he said.

Sometimes good people make bad decisions, and sometimes the criminal-justice system lets them down, he said.

Dempsey, though, argues that the State Attorneys Office could do more to reduce the sentences of some people who have been convicted, especially older inmates who have been locked up for far longer than they should have been.

The State Attorneys Office needs some kind of Second Look system to review cases to see if some sentences can be lowered, Dempsey said.

Another of Larizzas focuses is on combating domestic violence.

One out of four murders in the circuit are domestic-related, and they are some of the most difficult cases to prosecute, he said. We are working with domestic-abuse councils in every county, and I have been funneling funding out of my budget to help them. Im trying to get more funding from the state for them.

Larizza said specific prosecutors are working with the councils to try to reduce incidents of domestic violence, with the ultimate goal of eventually reducing the number of homicides.

Dempsey didnt address domestic violence in his interview. Rather, he focused on ways to reform the system and be more compassionate, especially with first offenders and those serving lengthy prison sentences.

Its not being soft on crime; its reprioritizing, Dempsey said. Instead of spending resources on victimless crimes such as minor drug offenses, for example, why not spend more time and money on white-collar crimes against business owners and exploitation of the elderly crimes where there are real victims.

R.J. Larizza, 62, was first elected state attorney in 2008. Before that, he was in private practice in St. Augustine for six years, after spending six-and-a-half years as a prosecutor in Daytona Beach and St. Augustine.

He was a probation-and-parole officer for 13 years before becoming a prosecutor.

Larizza lives in St. Johns County with his wife and two children, and has five grandchildren.

Donald B. Dempsey Jr., 54, was a prosecutor for three years before opening a private law practice in DeLand 27 years ago, specializing in criminal defense.

He is married to County Judge Angela Dempsey, who has been transferred to hear civil cases so there is no conflict with his candidacy. (She will stay on the civil bench if he wins the election, Don Dempsey said.)

Don and Angela Dempsey have a 7-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter, and he has a 30-year-old son from a previous relationship. The Dempseys live near DeLand.

According to Florida law, heres what the Office of State Attorney is supposed to do: "The State Attorney or designee, shall appear in the circuit and county courts within the Seventh Judicial Circuit, and prosecute or defend, on behalf of the State, all suits, applications, or motions, civil or criminal, in which the State is a party, unless otherwise provided by law. We shall seek justice by fairly and diligently representing the interests of the people of the Seventh Judicial Circuit and the State of Florida."

The state attorney currently supervises 205 employees, including 78 attorneys, who work to accomplish this mission in the four counties of the 7th Judicial Circuit: Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns.

Non-attorney employees of the office include support staff, investigators and victim advocates, for example. The number of employees varies; currently, the State Attorneys Office is operating under a hiring freeze, due to the unknown budgetary effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The state attorneys annual salary is $169,554, plus a state benefits package, and the term of office is four years.

The race is a partisan one. Both R.J. Larizza and Don Dempsey are registered Republicans; however, Dempsey has opted to run with no party affiliation, or NPA.

I think criminal justice should be nonpartisan, Dempsey said. I dont think it should be a partisan issue. Nobody likes crime.

Had both men chosen to run as Republicans, the election would have been in a partisan primary, open to all voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 18. However, because they are running with different party affiliations, that pushes the vote to the general election Tuesday, Nov. 3.

All of Volusia County is within the 7th Circuit, so all registered voters in Volusia County may cast ballots in the race.

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ELECTION 2020: State Attorney's race features opposing views | News | beacononlinenews.com - The West Volusia Beacon

Guest View: Tired of the other two parties? – The Register-Guard

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"Exciting" and "exhilarating" were the words going through my head when I attended this past Libertarian National Convention.

The convention, in a normal setting, is worth looking forward to, but the recent events in the world made this one for the history books. The Libertarian Party was the very first party in history to nominate the presidential and vice presidential candidates via an online convention, using Zoom video conferencing.

I had the honor of presiding as the chair of the Oregon delegation, which consists of 14 other Oregon Libertarians. We connected in real time with over 1,000 other Libertarian delegates to the convention from across the country, and with the Oregon delegation by Slack, an online messaging tool. The convention is continuing in person next week in Orlando when we meet to ratify the nominations, elect party officers and edit and adopt our platform and bylaws.

While the mechanics of the convention were interesting enough, it was the result that was so exciting. The Libertarian Party is the third-largest party in the country and expects to be on the ballot in all 50 states again, as it has for the last three presidential elections. Our slogan is that we are the "Party of Principle" because we stand strongly on our principles, the primary one of which has been described as "Dont hurt people and dont take their stuff."

Libertarians strongly oppose any government interference into personal, family and business decisions. Essentially, we believe all Americans should be free to live their lives and pursue their interests as they see fit if they do no harm to another.

This year, we nominated Jo Jorgensen as the partys presidential candidate. She is a senior lecturer in psychology at Clemson University and was the Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee with Harry Browne in 1996. She wants to bring home our military and stop military aid to foreign governments, eliminate trade wars and tariffs, repeal arbitrary quotas on the number of people who can legally enter the U.S. to work, visit or reside, and slash federal spending, making government much smaller, and let you keep what you earn.

Her vice presidential running mate is Jeremy "Spike" Cohen. Cohen started a web design company in 1999 and retired from that three years ago to promote libertarian ideas full time. His aim is to make people more familiar with voluntary solutions and property rights.

Libertarians select their slate differently than the two major parties, in that the presidential nominee does not select her running mate: delegates do. We selected Cohen because he was the most articulate and had brought more new members to the party than the other candidates. He had been running with a satirical candidate so you may have seen him touting those goals online: a Waffle House on every corner and free cheesy bread. His candidacy is serious, though, and his positions include ending qualified immunity, demilitarizing the police, making officers pay for their own abuse settlements, reducing and eliminating sentencing for victimless crimes and ending the failed war on drugs.

If these ideas interest you, consider coming to the next meeting of the Lane County Libertarians. We meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Oregon Electric Station.

Carolyn Wade is the chair of the Lane County Libertarians and secretary of the Oregon Libertarian Party.

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Guest View: Tired of the other two parties? - The Register-Guard

US Court of International Trade Rules That President Trump’s Section 232 Tariff Increase on Steel Imports from Turkey Is Unlawful – Lexology

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On July 14, 2020, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled in Slip Opinion 20-98 that a proclamation President Donald Trump issued increasing Section 232 duties on steel imports from Turkey beyond those previously implemented under a prior proclamation violates statutorily-mandated procedures and the Constitutions guarantee of equal protection under law. Lead plaintiff Transpacific Steel LLC (Transpacific) argued that it should be refunded additional tariffs paid pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 9772 on certain imports of Turkish steel. This proclamation solely affected Turkish steel raising the duty rate from 25 percent to 50 percent and was issued well after the Section 232 national security investigation of steel imports had concluded and well after President Trump issued his initial Presidential Proclamation 9705 imposing a 25 percent tariff duty on steel products from several countries.

Transpacific argued that the statute requires the President to make a decision within 90 days of receipt of the Secretary of Commerces report and recommendation and to implement any chosen action within 15 days of that decision. The first proclamation was issued on March 8, 2018. The second proclamation was issued on August 10, 2018, which was outside of the statutory time period and was not the result of any formal Department of Commerce report. Attorneys for the U.S. government argued that Congress inten[ded] to confer continuing authority and flexibility on the President to counter the threat identified as confirmed by the language, long-standing congressional understanding, and the purpose of the statute . . . The three-judge panel agreed with the plaintiffs that the statutory language is clear and that Proclamation 9772 was issued far beyond this temporal window. The opinion notes that there is nothing in the statute to support the continuing authority to modify proclamations outside of the stated timelines and that the government offered no citation to the statute nor to the recent legislative history to support its theory that the President is permitted to modify his previous proclamation under the provisions of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. The CIT also found that, in addition to acting outside of the statutory time limitations, President Trump acted without a proper report and recommendation by the Secretary on the national security threat posed by imports of steel products from Turkey.

The plaintiffs also raised a Fifth Amendment equal protection challenge to Proclamation 9772, arguing that the second proclamation discriminates between similarly situated importers based on the origin of their imports without rational justification and that the government has offered no sensible reason for targeting imports from Turkey and that no reasonable rationale is apparent. While the ruling found that national security is a legitimate purpose, it concluded that [s]ingling out steel products from Turkey is not a rational means of addressing that concern. Section 232 does not ban the President from addressing concerns by focusing on particular exporters, but the decision to increase the tariffs on imported steel products from Turkey, and Turkey alone, without any justification, is arbitrary and irrational. As a result, the CIT determined, Proclamation 9772 denied the plaintiffs equal protection under law.

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US Court of International Trade Rules That President Trump's Section 232 Tariff Increase on Steel Imports from Turkey Is Unlawful - Lexology

Judge: Women can get abortion pill without doctor visits – WXII The Triad

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A federal judge agreed Monday to suspend a rule that requires women during the COVID-19 pandemic to visit a hospital, clinic or medical office to obtain an abortion pill.U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland concluded that the in-person requirements for patients seeking medication abortion care impose a substantial obstacle to abortion patients and are likely unconstitutional under the circumstances of the pandemic."Particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur, such infringement on the right to an abortion would constitute irreparable harm," the judge wrote in his 80-page decision.Chuang's ruling will allow healthcare providers to arrange for mifepristone to be mailed or delivered to patients during the public health emergency declared by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone to be used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, to end an early pregnancy or manage a miscarriage.By causing certain patients to decide between forgoing or substantially delaying abortion care, or risking exposure to COVID-19 for themselves, their children, and family members, the In-Person Requirements present a serious burden to many abortion patients, Chuang wrote.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other groups sued HHS and the FDA in May to challenge the rule.Plaintiffs attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union argued that the FDAs in-person requirements infringe on a womans constitutional rights to an abortion and violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.Government lawyers have argued that the requirements are necessary to ensure that patients safely use mifepristone.The judge said suspending the requirements aligns with public health guidance to eliminate unnecessary travel and in-person contact.Chuang granted the ACLUs request for a preliminary injunction on due process grounds. He noted that federal regulators have waived in-person requirements for many other drugs for the specific purpose of protecting public health.The groups lawsuit says mifepristone is the only one of more than 20,000 FDA-regulated drugs that patients must receive in person at a hospital, clinic, or medical office yet may self-administer, unsupervised, at a location of their choosing.The judge didnt set any geographic limitations on the injunction. Referring to the nature of the pandemic, he said that crafting relief that attempts to account for both the unpredictable changes and nuanced regional differences across 50 different states over an extended period of time is simply infeasible. More than 4 million people in the U.S. have used mifepristone and misoprostol to end an early pregnancy; the two-drug combination accounted for 39% of all U.S. abortions in 2017, the lawsuit says.The lawsuit says the FDA rule has particularly severe implications for low-income people and people of color, who comprise a disproportionate share of impacted patients and who are already suffering and dying from COVID-19 at substantially higher rates.In March, dozens of anti-abortion advocates signed a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar in which they called for halting abortion procedures during the pandemic. Their continued operation depletes sorely needed personal protective equipment and leads to complications that will further overwhelm already overextended emergency rooms, the letter said.

A federal judge agreed Monday to suspend a rule that requires women during the COVID-19 pandemic to visit a hospital, clinic or medical office to obtain an abortion pill.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland concluded that the in-person requirements for patients seeking medication abortion care impose a substantial obstacle to abortion patients and are likely unconstitutional under the circumstances of the pandemic.

"Particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur, such infringement on the right to an abortion would constitute irreparable harm," the judge wrote in his 80-page decision.

Chuang's ruling will allow healthcare providers to arrange for mifepristone to be mailed or delivered to patients during the public health emergency declared by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone to be used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, to end an early pregnancy or manage a miscarriage.

By causing certain patients to decide between forgoing or substantially delaying abortion care, or risking exposure to COVID-19 for themselves, their children, and family members, the In-Person Requirements present a serious burden to many abortion patients, Chuang wrote.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other groups sued HHS and the FDA in May to challenge the rule.

Plaintiffs attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union argued that the FDAs in-person requirements infringe on a womans constitutional rights to an abortion and violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.

Government lawyers have argued that the requirements are necessary to ensure that patients safely use mifepristone.

The judge said suspending the requirements aligns with public health guidance to eliminate unnecessary travel and in-person contact.

Chuang granted the ACLUs request for a preliminary injunction on due process grounds. He noted that federal regulators have waived in-person requirements for many other drugs for the specific purpose of protecting public health.

The groups lawsuit says mifepristone is the only one of more than 20,000 FDA-regulated drugs that patients must receive in person at a hospital, clinic, or medical office yet may self-administer, unsupervised, at a location of their choosing.

The judge didnt set any geographic limitations on the injunction. Referring to the nature of the pandemic, he said that crafting relief that attempts to account for both the unpredictable changes and nuanced regional differences across 50 different states over an extended period of time is simply infeasible.

More than 4 million people in the U.S. have used mifepristone and misoprostol to end an early pregnancy; the two-drug combination accounted for 39% of all U.S. abortions in 2017, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit says the FDA rule has particularly severe implications for low-income people and people of color, who comprise a disproportionate share of impacted patients and who are already suffering and dying from COVID-19 at substantially higher rates.

In March, dozens of anti-abortion advocates signed a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar in which they called for halting abortion procedures during the pandemic. Their continued operation depletes sorely needed personal protective equipment and leads to complications that will further overwhelm already overextended emergency rooms, the letter said.

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Judge: Women can get abortion pill without doctor visits - WXII The Triad

Kitsap judges: Law to help keep guns away from abusers violates the Fifth Amendment – Kitsap Sun

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Kitsap County judges have ruled a state law unconstitutional that requires those accused of domestic violence crimes to affirm they have surrendered their firearms, finding that the law meant to keep guns away from abusers forced defendants to testify against themselves.

The decision has statewide implications and at least one other countymay heedthe reasoning from judges in Kitsaps superior and district courts but municipal courts in the county are split on whether to continue enforcing the law.

Obviously the goal of the statute has, I think, very beneficial ends in mind, said Steve Lewis, a public defender who has led the opposition to how the order to surrender weapons law works. It wants to remove firearms from the hands of people accused of domestic violence. The mechanism it uses, though, clearly violates the Constitution, thats the problem.

Kitsap County courthouse(Photo: Kitsap Sun file)

Though the law has been in effect for years, it was amended in mid-2019 to make judges responsible for enforcement.

Judges can still forbid people accused of crimes not just domestic violence from possessing weapons while their case goes through the system, however, the law Kitsap judges found problematic was how those accused of domestic violence crimes prove they actually surrendered their weapons.

The judges decisions differ in findings as well as detail. Kitsap County Superior Courts February order, signed by two of the county's eight judges,Kevin Hull and Bill Houser, totaled three pages. Kitsap County District Courts order went to 154 pages, including attachments, along with 586 footnotes.

The two decisions, however, reach a common conclusion: The law violates protections in the U.S. and state constitutions, often known as the right to remain silent famously embedded in the Fifth Amendment.

The District Court ruling found the law which is in effect through the entire state has judges force defendants who may own guns into a cruel trilemma where they had to choose between three options.

First, they admit to breaking the law by actually surrendering their weapons because, after the order is signed, a person is instantly forbidden from touching a gun. There is no grace period."

Second, they could perjure themselves if they own guns and lie that they didnt have guns to surrender.

Third, they could be held in contempt of court if they refuse to do either when called inprove they followed the order.

There are no other choices, that is what this statute basically offers to defendants, its the cruel trilemma, Lewis said.

For the District Court case, in January Kitsap County sheriffs deputies went to an apartment off Fairgrounds Road after receiving reports of a domestic violence assault. A woman there said she and Zachary James Marshall, 24, had a child together and had been fighting, according to court documents. The latest argument took a turn and became physical, the woman said, and Marshall was arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor. Marshall pleaded not guilty and was issued the order to surrender his weapons or make a statement under oath.

This court declines to force Marshalls guilt from his own lips, Judge Jeff Jahns wrote in the decision. Three of the four judges found the law also violated the Fourth Amendment the prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures, but Judge Marilyn Paja dissented on that point.

Kitsap County Superior Court judges made a similar ruling in the 2019 violation of a no-contact order case of Nicholas James Kandow, 25. Deputies went to an apartment on McWilliams Road after receiving reports of a disturbance. A woman answered the door with a fresh black eye, a cut lip and blood on her shirt, according to court documents. The woman denied she had been assaulted but deputies found Kandow, who was prohibited from being near the woman, hiding in a closet. He pleaded guilty in February to a felony for violating the court order and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Though no onein Kitsap County is known to have been charged with possession of a firearm while trying to surrender it, Lewis said that is beside the point.

Sure you can tell them to take their guns to the sheriff and hope for the best, they probably will not be prosecuted, Lewis said. But (defense attorneys) are not allowed to advise clients to commit a crime, let alone a felony.

Chad Enright, Kitsap County prosecutor, said the purpose of the law is crucial to protect victims of domestic violence from further and greater violence but the law as written has problems.

Those days after being arrested, that is when the situation is particularly dangerous, and making sure people dont have access to firearms during that period of time is important, Enright said. But you still have to recognize people have the right to remain silent, and finding a way to both keep people safe and respect their rights can be difficult, and Im not sure this statute accomplishes that.

Superior Court handles all felonies in Kitsap County, in and outside of cities, but it gets trickier at the misdemeanor level. If a person is accused of a domestic violence misdemeanor outside of Kitsaps four cities such as in unincorporated areas like Silverdale, Kingston or Olalla their case would be heard in District Court.

The four municipal courts in Kitsap County are evenly split on whether to stop issuing the orders Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island will continue to issue the orders, Bremerton and Port Orchard will not creating a patchwork of enforcement.

Bremerton Municipal Court Judge James Docter said though the decision does not directly apply to him he is going to follow it, as Superior Court acts as an appellate court for his decisions.

If I were to rule differently than Superior Court that would get appealed and it would be overturned, Docter said. I feel I am virtually bound by that decision.

However, the same law applies to civil protection orders, which Docter said he would enforce, as the superior and district courts' decision only applies to criminal cases.

Bainbridge Island Municipal Court Judge Sara McCulloch will continue giving the order to surrender weapons on civil and criminal cases, despite the Superior Court ruling, saying the issue has not been raised before her.

The court has to rule on things that are raised before it, McCulloch said. And this has not been raised before me.

One way to get uniformity is to have the state Division II Court of Appeals rule on the matter, and Enright said the office has charged two people for violating the law, a crime called failure to file proof of surrender of firearms. Enright said if those cases go to trial, and the defendants are found guilty, the case could be appealed, which could lead to uniformity in how judges enforce the law.

Outside of Kitsap, its unknown how other counties and cities are following the law. Lewis said King County has a form where defendants can check a box saying they are invoking their Fifth Amendment rights, a process he said Kitsap cribbed to avoid confronting the constitutionality of the law.

However, Enright said in light of the Kitsap judges rulings, he learned Whatcom County officials are reconsidering how judges there enforce the law. A decision from an appeals court could get all judges on the same page, but Enright said a true fix will have to come from the Legislature.

The current situation is pretty untenable, Lewis said.

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Kitsap judges: Law to help keep guns away from abusers violates the Fifth Amendment - Kitsap Sun

Points of contention on police inquests in King County – Seattle Weekly

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Inquests frequently unfold against a backdrop of sadness and drama: Family members shock at the sudden loss of a loved one at the hands of the police, and police defending their actions. It can be insensitive and frustrating.

Recently, King County Executive Dow Constantine and the mayors of Kent, Auburn and Federal Way exchanged political fire over Constantines wanting to change the rules on how inquests would be processed.

Inquests are fact-finding hearings held by a 4-6 member jury. Under state law and county charter, an investigation is required for any death involving a member of law enforcement during the fulfillment of their job duties. The county believes that includes cities and the cities disagree.

In 2018, in response to complaints from family members of those who had died from being shot by city police officers, Constantine formed a citizens group to make recommendations on improving the process. After the release of his new rules, the cities filed a lawsuit to stop the rules from taking effect.

Constantine wanted the cities to withdraw their lawsuit and allow the six inquests that have been on hold since 2017 to be heard and bring the families closure. Some community members believe the inquest process has been unbalanced in favor of police, and some families likely believe the police acted beyond what was necessary or reasonable to resolve the situation without using lethal force. The cities responded by accusing Constantine of playing politics, exceeding his authority and trying to bully them. Renton has joined the lawsuit, and Seattle has withdrawn.

The public might ask: Why is this of interest? Dont both sides want the same thing a fact based conclusion?

Yes, and Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, along with Executive Constantine, all used the word accountability as one of their goals in a recent story on inquests. But it is what gets considered in that conclusion that is at issue. Anytime a police officer uses lethal force, there should be a public process to determine the facts of what happened.

The national tide of public opinion on racial justice and police use of force has undergone dramatic change in the past few months from what it was three years ago, prior to the public being able to see a cellphone video every night.

Constantines more regional view seeks accountability through the inquest format. In contrast, suburban police have political clout with mayors, city council members and community leaders in their home jurisdictions, and they view accountability as a local issue. Their word has always been taken over a suspect. The cities believe Constantine has created a contest between the deceaseds family and the police officers involved rather than focusing on facts. Actually, Constantine appears to be broadening what facts can be considered in the inquest conclusion as part of accountability.

While the county and cities disagree on several points, there are three that appear to be key points of contention.

The old system was limited to facts and circumstances surrounding the death. The new system expands the interpretation of facts to include questions about department policy and officer training.

Under the old system, the jurors were asked whether the officer feared for his or her life during the incident. Under the new system, jurors may be asked if the officers actions were consistent with department training and policies. Jurors would no longer be asked if the officer or officers feared for their lives.

Under the old system, involved officers could voluntarily testify or be subpoenaed to testify (officer maintains Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination). Under the new system, the lead investigator of the incident will testify and the chief law enforcement officer (or designee) will answer questions about training and policy. The involved officer can voluntarily testify, but not be subpoenaed. However, if the subpoenaed officer does not testify, the officer may not be represented by legal counsel.

On June 15, Constantine added a compromise on the last issue: An involved officer may voluntarily testify or be subpoenaed to testify (officer maintains Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination) and the officer may be represented by legal counsel throughout the proceeding, regardless of whether they testify.

Constantines view is of concern for the families and a desire to expand the facts that can be admitted for accountability and may benefit in a new era racial justice. Meanwhile, the cities want to protect their police officers, avoid court, or resolve training and policy questions in court and not at the inquest.

A city police officers training, and knowledge of city policy, is always key to any court cross-examination in a use of deadly force case. Whether the officer testifies and how well he or she handles the cross-examination are always crucial in the eyes of the jury. Also, an officer fearing for their life has always been the magic phrase to avoid criminal culpability.

Constantines inclusion in the inquest phase would provide a more thorough record and may determine what cases would go to court.

I spent 12 years as Mayor of Auburn, and 11 years in two management positions with King County. I argued for and against each side on different policies. This is not a case where settlement or compromise are possible. Cities question why they are even part of the inquest process and feel it should apply only to the King County Sheriff. The county is confident that Constantines authority is broad enough to withstand a citys legal challenge.

Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus makes a viable point: I believe a statewide process would be beneficial and equitable to everyone. Auburn is in a unique situation. We are part of two counties. I pray we would never utilize the process. It should be the same regardless of where an incident might occur.

The case is scheduled for July, and the court will need to decide less on the two sides political differences, and more on Constantines authority and whether they want criminal culpability to be a new part of the inquest process.

But the Legislature will meet in January and may meet in special session this August. Seattle withdrew from the case, believing the Legislature would be the best place to sort out the issues. While this battle may be just starting, both sides need to be aware of the message they are sending to minority constituent groups. Constantines effort is more reflective of current public opinion.

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.

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Points of contention on police inquests in King County - Seattle Weekly

Baze’s ‘Food Guide’ Wins 2020 NutraIngredients-USA Award for ‘Personalized Nutrition Initiative of the Year’ – PRNewswire

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BOSTON, July 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Industry-leading personalized nutrition start-up Baze announced today its selection by the 2020 NutraIngredients-USA Awardsfor 'Personalized Nutrition Initiative of the Year.' In its third year, the awards program celebrates innovation and cutting-edge research in healthy foods, supplements, and nutrition.

The Baze Food Guide offers foods and ready-to-eat meals that meet strict nutritional criteria set by the company's team of registered dietitians. In a new partnership with Performance Kitchen, Baze now offers nutrient-dense meal recommendations as well.

"We are honored to be recognized for the amazing work our team has done and truly believe this holistic approach will lead to even better results in achieving optimal nutrition. This further validates our perspective that there is a big opportunity for personalized nutrition brands to think more broadly and integrate supplements and food recommendations into a comprehensive offering for real and sustainable benefits to customers," said CEO Philipp Schulte.

Founded in 2014,Bazeis an industry leader in personalized dietary supplements, known for developing the personalized nutrition industry's first convenient, at-home and pain-free blood test for assessing micronutrient deficiencies. The Baze Food Guide will act as a convenient resource for consumers managing specific nutrient deficiencies and dietary restrictions, making nutrition simpler to adopt, adhere to, and understand.

Stephen Daniells, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of NutraIngredients-USA, commented: "Our judges were impressed with Baze's meaningful effort to personalize through food as well as supplements, which could further the cause of personalization inside the nutrition industry."

The NutraIngredients-USA Awards are organized by NutraIngredients-USA.com, with additional awards programs hosted in Asia and Europe each year. A panel of independent judges selects the annual award winners. NutraIngredients-USA.comis a key news source for the functional food and beverage and the dietary supplement industries.

About Baze

Founded by Philipp Schulte and Dr. Isam Haddad in 2014, Baze is the first blood-based, at-home nutritional testing kit offering high-quality subscription supplements and personalized food recommendations. Baze measures micronutrient levels regularly to ensure sustainable improvement in nutritional imbalances and overall health. Once Baze analyzes users' samples, the company delivers personalized, smart vitamin supplements and healthy, nutrient-dense food recommendations to customers based on their results.

Contact: [emailprotected]

SOURCE Baze

https://www.baze.com/

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Baze's 'Food Guide' Wins 2020 NutraIngredients-USA Award for 'Personalized Nutrition Initiative of the Year' - PRNewswire

Is takeaway food messing with your immunity? – The New Indian Express

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Express News Service

HYDERABAD: If we do catch Covid-19, our immune system is responsible for fighting it. Research shows improving nutrition helpssupport optimal immune function, says Soumya Kuthadi, a Hyderabadi who is an Australia-certified accredited practicing dietitian working in private practice and research in Melbourne, Australia.

Soumya (Insta: @NutritiousNudge) says, To put it simply, you cannot boost your immune system through diet, and no specific food or herbal supplement can prevent one from catching Coronavirus or cure one of it. However, she adds, Nutritionally, we can help support optimal immune function by choosing a healthy lifestyle.

Dr Janaki Badugu, consulting nutritionist, explains, Our body is divided into two immune systems- innate and acquired. Acquired is when we develop antibodies after an infection. In Covid-19, this is not possible since it is a novel virus and is not leaving any traces of it after leaving the body (this is the current knowledge).

On innate immunity, she says, This is naturally present. All the immune cells which form innate immunity come from body systems such as lymphatic system, mucosal cells, bone marrow, intestines, stomach acids etc. Therefore, it is important that all our organs are functioning well. Since these systems are built over a period of time and may undergo abuse, re-strengthening them with balanced nutrition, optimal exercise and timely sleep are of pivotal importance.

Using supplements to prevent contracting the virusAccording to Soumya, vitamin and mineral supplements are not recommended for the healthy general population, however, there are some exceptions. She says, Pregnant women, those deficient in certain nutrients (Vitamin D), people with chronic diseases and conditions and those who are on restrictive diets may need specific supplements.

To takeaway or not?Usually, takeaway foods are high in saturated fats, sugar, salt and calories and consuming these foods regularly would mean that youre preventing your immune system from functioning optimally, share Soumya. She adds, That being said, moderation is key. Therefore, limit it to one to two meals per week. Coming to safety, it is essential to ensure that the takeout place is following proper food safety and hygiene protocols.

Right way to wash fruits and vegetablesAs suggested by the WHO, before, handling them, wash your hands with soap and water. Then wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water, especially If you eat them raw.

Shop for groceries safelyWhen grocery shopping, keep at least one-meter distance from others and avoid touching your face. If possible sanitise the handles of the shopping trolleys or baskets before shopping. Once youre home, wash your hands thoroughly and also after handling it.

Homemade kadha, immunity boosterThe Kadha is ideal for everybody. There are no age restrictions. However, one must remember that the spices might cause heat in some people. So children or persons with heat bodies (vata) can reduce the spices quantity and then have it. Its advisable to have during monsoon and winters, again for the same reason of heat. A healthy adult can consume two cups a day. If the days are warm, one can change ingredients to fennel seeds and rose petals, fresh turmeric instead of cinnamon and cloves. We Gujaratis love this drink.

- Esha Hindocha, model, Hyderabad

(with input from Manju Latha Kalanidhi)

Tamanna S Mehditamanna@newindianexpress.com@tamannamehdi

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Is takeaway food messing with your immunity? - The New Indian Express

Trending Today Corona impact on Cat Nutritional Supplements Market Segmentation and Development Forecast till 2025 |Virbac, Foodscience corporation,…

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The global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market is carefully researched in the report while largely concentrating on top players and their business tactics, geographical expansion, market segments, competitive landscape, manufacturing, and pricing and cost structures. Each section of the research study is specially prepared to explore key aspects of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market. For instance, the market dynamics section digs deep into the drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market. With qualitative and quantitative analysis, we help you with thorough and comprehensive research on the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market. We have also focused on SWOT, PESTLE, and Porters Five Forces analyses of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market.

Leading players of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market are analyzed taking into account their market share, recent developments, new product launches, partnerships, mergers or acquisitions, and markets served. We also provide an exhaustive analysis of their product portfolios to explore the products and applications they concentrate on when operating in the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market. Furthermore, the report offers two separate market forecasts one for the production side and another for the consumption side of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market. It also provides useful recommendations for new as well as established players of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market.

Final Cat Nutritional Supplements Report will add the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on this Market.

Cat Nutritional Supplements Market competition by top manufacturers/Key player Profiled:Virbac, Foodscience corporation, Nestle Purina, Zoetis, Bayer, Vetoquinol, Ark Naturals, Nutramax Laboratories, NOW Foods, Manna Pro Products, Vetafarm, Blackmores, Nupro Supplements, Mavlab, Zesty Paws, Nuvetlabs

>>> Get Free Sample PDF (including COVID19 Impact Analysis, full TOC, Tables and Figures) of Cat Nutritional Supplements Market:

This Research delivers in-depth insights on the global Cat Nutritional Supplements market in its upcoming report titled, Global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market Report 2015-2026. According to this study, the global Cat Nutritional Supplements market is estimated to be valued at XX Million US$ in 2019 and is projected to reach XX Million US$ by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period. The report on Cat Nutritional Supplements market provides qualitative as well as quantitative analysis in terms of market dynamics, competition scenarios, opportunity analysis, market growth, industrial chain, etc.

This report studies the Cat Nutritional Supplements market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of players, countries, product types and end industries, this report analyzes the top players in global Cat Nutritional Supplements industry, and splits by product type and applications/end industries. This report also includes the impact of COVID-19 on the Cat Nutritional Supplements industry.

Global Cat Nutritional Supplements market: competitive landscape analysisThis report contains the major manufacturers analysis of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements industry. By understanding the operations of these manufacturers (sales volume, revenue, sales price and gross margin from 2015 to 2020), the reader can understand the strategies and collaborations that the manufacturers are focusing on combat competition in the market.

Global Cat Nutritional Supplements market: types and end industries analysisThe research report includes specific segments such as end industries and product types of Cat Nutritional Supplements. The report provides market size (sales volume and revenue) for each type and end industry from 2015 to 2020. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth.

Global Cat Nutritional Supplements market: regional analysisGeographically, this report is segmented into several key countries, with market size, growth rate, import and export of Cat Nutritional Supplements in these countries from 2015 to 2020, which covering United States, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain, Netherlands, China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia.

Segmentation by Product:

Skin CareEye & Dental CareHip & Joint CareBrain & Heart CareGeneral NutritionOther

Segmentation by Application:

SupermarketChain Pet Care StorePrivate Pet Care Shop (Veterinarian)Online StoreOthers

Competitive Analysis:

Global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of Cat Nutritional Supplements Market for Global, Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

Scope of the Report:The all-encompassing research weighs up on various aspects including but not limited to important industry definition, product applications, and product types. The pro-active approach towards analysis of investment feasibility, significant return on investment, supply chain management, import and export status, consumption volume and end-use offers more value to the overall statistics on the Cat Nutritional Supplements Market. All factors that help business owners identify the next leg for growth are presented through self-explanatory resources such as charts, tables, and graphic images.

The report offers in-depth assessment of the growth and other aspects of the Cat Nutritional Supplements market in important countries (regions), including:

North America(United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Australia)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

Our industry professionals are working reluctantly to understand, assemble and timely deliver assessment on impact of COVID-19 disaster on many corporations and their clients to help them in taking excellent business decisions. We acknowledge everyone who is doing their part in this financial and healthcare crisis.

For Customised Template PDF Report:https://www.reporthive.com/request_customization/2321807

Table of Contents

Report Overview:It includes major players of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market covered in the research study, research scope, and Market segments by type, market segments by application, years considered for the research study, and objectives of the report.

Global Growth Trends:This section focuses on industry trends where market drivers and top market trends are shed light upon. It also provides growth rates of key producers operating in the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market. Furthermore, it offers production and capacity analysis where marketing pricing trends, capacity, production, and production value of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market are discussed.

Market Share by Manufacturers:Here, the report provides details about revenue by manufacturers, production and capacity by manufacturers, price by manufacturers, expansion plans, mergers and acquisitions, and products, market entry dates, distribution, and market areas of key manufacturers.

Market Size by Type:This section concentrates on product type segments where production value market share, price, and production market share by product type are discussed.

Market Size by Application:Besides an overview of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market by application, it gives a study on the consumption in the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market by application.

Production by Region:Here, the production value growth rate, production growth rate, import and export, and key players of each regional market are provided.

Consumption by Region:This section provides information on the consumption in each regional market studied in the report. The consumption is discussed on the basis of country, application, and product type.

Company Profiles:Almost all leading players of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market are profiled in this section. The analysts have provided information about their recent developments in the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market, products, revenue, production, business, and company.

Market Forecast by Production:The production and production value forecasts included in this section are for the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market as well as for key regional markets.

Market Forecast by Consumption:The consumption and consumption value forecasts included in this section are for the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market as well as for key regional markets.

Value Chain and Sales Analysis:It deeply analyzes customers, distributors, sales channels, and value chain of the global Cat Nutritional Supplements Market.

Key Findings: This section gives a quick look at important findings of the research study.

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Trending Today Corona impact on Cat Nutritional Supplements Market Segmentation and Development Forecast till 2025 |Virbac, Foodscience corporation,...

CDBG- The "Gift" that continues to take – ECB Publishing

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This letter deals with government involvement in the housing sector. The federal government oversees the Community Development Block Grant or CDBG program, a part of which is used by local governments to rehabilitate or replace decrepit housing. Thats a noble goal, although its not a Constitutional function of the federal government.

Back in October 2011, I wrote about a CDBG project to replace a mobile home with a site-built home that had an initial projected cost of about $64,000 (and how my efforts to privately fund repairing the home were rejected). By the time all was said and done, the cost for that home was around $73,000, a 14% increase. Converting these amounts to 2020 dollars equates to $72,400 and $82,600 respectively.

Now in July 2020, the county is being asked to approve three change orders- in each case the original estimate to rehabilitate or replace a home has been insufficient for various reasons. The State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) is the state layer of this bureaucracy and caps each project at $75,000. Gone are the days of $72K or even $83K projects. The first has a total cost (with the $3,000 change order) of $109,981. The second is $137,524 (with $22,524 change order), and the third is $114,982 (with $13,900 change order).

If you take the time to read through the change orders, you see where some of this originates. For one home, there is a cost of $4,800 for 2 towel bars, a toilet paper holder, a shower bar, two 5 x 5 concrete pads, 9-1-1 addressing, and exterior paint.

Ron Paul said it in 2012 about government involvement in health care and I still agree with him- We dump it on the government, they create a bureaucracy, and the cost goes up.

Since so much time has passed, its worthwhile to note that according to the US Treasury as of October 2011 (in 2020 dollars) our national debt was only $17 trillion. The government overspends so much they have to publish this data in thousands of millions. As of June 2020, its now over $26 trillion, a 52% increase. For the partisan crowd, this is neither a democrat nor a republican issue as huge increases have happened under both Mr. Obama and Mr. Trump.

In my opinion, these United States as originally configured are in an unrecoverable downward financial (among other things) spiral. With so much reliance upon government, socialism is a path seen by too many as a solution, which opens up an entirely new box of problems.

Paul Henry

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CDBG- The "Gift" that continues to take - ECB Publishing

Baton Rouge Police investigating officer who used knee to restrain 17-year-old suspect – WDJT

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By Andy Rose, CNN

(CNN) -- The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating a traffic stop earlier this month that ended with an officer using his knee to restrain a 17-year-old boy.

The department says it was prompted by video shot by a bystander and posted to social media, appearing to show the suspect face-down on the street with an officer's knee over him as his hands are in the process of being restrained.

"We must make sure that we have conducted a process based solely on the law, and not on emotions," Chief Murphy Paul said at a Monday news conference. The chief says they can't reveal the 17-year-old's name or what led to the boy's restraint because he is a juvenile. "I just spoke to the family of the young man, and I can tell you they are upset," said Chief Paul.

The department released bodycam and dashcam video Tuesday -- showing portions from several angles of the July 6 incident -- after getting permission from a juvenile court judge. The apprehension followed a 54-minute police chase in which the juvenile was a passenger.

Internal Affairs Commander Sgt. Myron Daniels says a key factor in determining whether the officer's force was justified will be the exact placement of the officer's knee. "A knee on a back is used as a control method, but not on the neck. The neck is off-limits," Daniels said. "And as you can see, based on that, at no point was the subject, the juvenile's air restricted in any way."

But an attorney for the juvenile's family tells CNN affiliate WAFB they don't think the location of the officer's knee is the critical issue. "When you are on your knees with your hands up, you don't get much more submissive than that," said Ron Haley Monday night. "Why was he handled in such a rough manner? He was not armed. He was not posing a threat."

The two officers involved in the 17-year-old's restraint have not been identified, but Sgt. Daniels says they are both on paid administrative leave during the investigation. "I promise you as your chief of police that we will conduct a thorough investigation," Chief Paul said.

The-CNN-Wire & 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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Baton Rouge Police investigating officer who used knee to restrain 17-year-old suspect - WDJT

Speedrack breaks ground at its Quincy expansion – The Hillsdale Daily News

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Speedrack groundbreaking in Quincy

With construction already underway, Speedrack held a groundbreaking Tuesday for its $20 million expansion in Quincy. On hand Paul Jewell of Millwrights Local 1102, Eric Quist, Speedrack Executive Vice President, company owner Ron Ducharme, Quincy Council President Karen Hargreave, and Quincy Village Manager Brittany Butler. [Don Reid photo]

QUINCY Delayed from March by the COVID 19 close down, Speedrack held an official groundbreaking for its $20 million expansion to its Quincy plant Tuesday morning.

The 130,000 square foot addition to its current 375,000 sq.ft. plant will add up to 80 new employees to the already 250 working there.

Quincy operations manager Eric Quist said since opening in 2003 with 25 employees "we have significantly increased benefits, and have increased hourly wages by approximately 175%."

The company started 35 years ago and pioneered tubular storage systems. Its considers Amazon and Medline as two of its many major customers.

Speedrack is already hiring new employees for the expansion so they will be ready when the new addition opens in 2021.

The new expansion will allow increase of its powder coat paint lines, robotic welding, and production expansion. The decision was made to expand Quincy after it opened an additional facility in Litchfield in 2017 which employs 25.

Quist credited the family owned business of the Ron Ducharme for putting 100% of its profits back into the business. "They made the decision to stay even in these uncertain times."

The company thanked Quincy for continued support with local infrastructure at its 42 Cole Street location.

Village Council President Karen Hargreave noted it started in 2002 when the village approved use of the brownfield site for the company plant.

In March the Michigan Department of Transportation awarded the village of Quincy a state transportation economic development fund grant totaling $325,972 to reconstruct Church Street between Cole and Broughton Streets to all-season standards, make drainage improvements, and install curb and gutter. This allowed the company to expand loading docks.

With more on line sales and warehousing, the state found there is increased demand for its tubular warehouse racks and rack systems throughout the United States and Canada. The Quincy plant takes rolled steel then forms, welds and paints them for shelving components.

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Speedrack breaks ground at its Quincy expansion - The Hillsdale Daily News