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CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 2, 2024-- Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL) and Fairmount Holdings, Inc. today announced the successful closure of their transaction where Accel has acquired the owner of the FanDuel Sportsbook & Racetrack, for total consideration of approximately 3.45 million shares of Accel Class A-1 common stock. The strategic transaction adds a promising single site racetrack and future casino to extend Accel’s convenience gaming expertise to a larger and more concentrated form factor – an adjacency in locals gaming that is complementary to Accel’s steadily growing, route-based footprint. During the year ended December 31, 2023, Fairmount generated $29 million of revenue and modest Adjusted EBITDA from the site’s existing sportsbook, racetrack and 3 OTB locations. Accel plans to invest $85-95 million to fund Phase I and then Phase II casino construction and modest track investments. Accel’s five-year forecast suggests an Adjusted EBITDA potential of $20 to $25 million and over 75% free cash flow conversion – pointing to a compelling cash flow return on capital. The asset will be the cornerstone in a local gaming platform that builds on Accel’s capabilities and strengths as a leading route-based operator. “We are excited to close the acquisition of Fairmount and eager to refresh and revitalize an iconic racing and gaming asset. Our plan and timeline are ambitious and achievable, and we look forward to welcoming investors and visitors to our Phase I casino opening in Q2, 2025,” said Andy Rubenstein, Accel co-founder, President, CEO and Director. Mark, Phelan, Accel’s President of U.S. Gaming added “Over the past few months, our team has been hard at work. We’ve hired a Casino General Manager, received approvals from both the Illinois Gaming Board and Illinois Racing Board and finalized design and development plans for the first phase of the casino.” Compelling Strategic Rationale The transaction has been approved by Accel’s Board of Directors, the Board of Directors and shareholders of Fairmount Holdings. Wells Fargo acted as exclusive financial advisor and Lewis Rice LLC acted as legal counsel to Fairmount Holdings in connection with the transaction. About Accel Accel is a leading distributed gaming operator in the United States and a preferred partner for local business owners in the markets it serves. Accel offers turnkey full-service gaming solutions to authorized non-casino locations such as bars, restaurants, convenience stores, truck stops, and fraternal and veteran establishments across the country. Accel installs, maintains, operates and services gaming terminals and related equipment for its location partners as well as redemption devices, stand-alone ATMs and amusement devices, including jukeboxes, dartboards, pool tables, and other entertainment related equipment. Accel also designs and manufactures gaming terminals and related equipment. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, any statements regarding the proposed acquisition, including statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, investment and expansion plans, projected future results and market opportunities, as well as our estimates of number of gaming terminals, locations, revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and capital expenditures, our ability to generate returns on capital and improve our trading multiple. The words “predict,” “estimated,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would,” “continue,” and similar expressions or the negatives thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our current reasonable expectations, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, Accel regarding Fairmount, the acquisition or its anticipated effects or benefits, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or Fairmount’s actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the forward-looking statements, and you should be aware that results and events could differ materially and adversely from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors including, but not limited to: Accel’s ability to integrate Fairmount’s operations with Accel’s own, to complete the casino development on a timely basis and within budget, and to operate the race track and casino businesses successfully; Accel’s ability to operate in existing markets or expand into new jurisdictions; Accel’s ability to offer new and innovative products and services that fulfill the needs of location partners and create strong and sustained player appeal; Accel’s dependence on relationships with key manufacturers, developers and third parties to obtain gaming terminals, amusement machines, and related supplies, programs, and technologies for its business on acceptable terms; the negative impact on Accel’s future results of operations by the slow growth in demand for gaming terminals and by the slow growth of new gaming jurisdictions; Accel’s heavy dependency on its ability to win, maintain and renew contracts with location partners; unfavorable macroeconomic conditions or decreased discretionary spending due to other factors such as interest rate volatility, persistent inflation, actual or perceived instability in the U.S. and global banking systems, high fuel rates, recessions, epidemics or other public health issues, terrorist activity or threat thereof, civil unrest or other macroeconomic or political uncertainties, that could adversely affect Accel’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial conditions, Accel’s ability to integrate, develop and operate FanDuel Sportsbook & Racetrack and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in documents filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, forward-looking statements, including any projections or analysis, should not be viewed as factual and should not be relied upon as an accurate prediction of future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on Accel. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,2023 filed by Accel with the SEC on February 28, 2024 (the "Form 10-K"), as well as Accel’s other filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, we do not undertake publicly to update or revise these statements, even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed in this or other press releases or future quarterly reports, or company statements will not be realized. In addition, the inclusion of any statement in this press release does not constitute an admission by us that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. In addition, the industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K, as well as Accel’s other filings with the SEC. These and other factors could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in this press release. Non-GAAP Financial Information This press release includes certain financial information not prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”), including Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, and Net Debt. EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Net Debt are non-GAAP financial measures and are key metrics used to monitor ongoing core operations. Management of Accel believes such non-GAAP financial measures enhance the understanding of Accel’s underlying drivers of profitability and trends in Accel’s business and facilitates company-to-company and period-to-period comparisons, because these non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effects of certain non-cash items, represents certain nonrecurring items that are unrelated to core performance, or excludes non-core operations. Management of Accel also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are used by investors, analysts and other interested parties as measures of financial performance. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241202466306/en/ CONTACT: Investors Mathew Ellis Chief Financial Officer Accel Entertainment, Inc. 630-972-2235ir@accelentertainment.comMedia Eric Bonach H/Advisors Abernathy 212-371-5999eric.bonach@h-advisors.global KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CASINO/GAMING GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT SOURCE: Accel Entertainment, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/02/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/02/2024 04:32 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241202466306/en
NEW YORK, Dec. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of ASP Isotopes Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPI) between October 30, 2024 and November 26, 2024, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 3, 2025. SO WHAT: If you purchased ASP Isotopes securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the ASP Isotopes class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=32062 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 3, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) ASP Isotopes overstated the potential effectiveness of its enrichment technology; (2) ASP Isotopes overstated the development potential of its high assay low-enriched uranium facility; (3) ASP Isotopes overstated the Company’s nuclear fuels operating segment results; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about the ASP Isotope’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the ASP Isotopes class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=32062 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.comWith sales in full swing, there are still plenty of terrific deals to take advantage of. It’s the perfect time to shop for expensive electronics, including TV’s. Until Cyber Monday, you’ll be able to snag a high-end TV at a nice discount. Several top brands are offering on their best models. We’re seeing fantastic discounts on Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense TVs. Whether you want a big-screen TV or something smaller for casual viewing, there are many options to consider getting during this sale event. The cool thing about this smart TV is that it features an Art mode you can enable, which displays modern and classic art pieces whenever you’re not watching. The color volume is fantastic, the matte film reduces light glare and the frame is customizable with multiple color bezel options. 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The Chemours Company Announces Completion of Euro denominated Term Loan RepricingWith Black Friday sales in full swing, there are still plenty of terrific deals to take advantage of. It’s the perfect time to shop for expensive electronics, including TV’s. Until Cyber Monday, you’ll be able to snag a high-end TV at a nice discount. Several top brands are offering huge deals on their best models. We’re seeing fantastic discounts on Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense TVs. Whether you want a big-screen TV or something smaller for casual viewing, there are many options to consider getting during this sale event. Last updated on Nov. 30, 2024, at 2 a.m. ET. In this article: Samsung 55-Inch Class QLED 4K The Frame Series Smart TV , LG 77-Inch Class OLED B4 Series Smart TV and Hisense U6 Series 65-Inches ULED 4K Smart TV . The cool thing about this smart TV is that it features an Art mode you can enable, which displays modern and classic art pieces whenever you’re not watching. The color volume is fantastic, the matte film reduces light glare and the frame is customizable with multiple color bezel options. If you’re looking for an affordable 4K smart TV, this 65-inch LED model won’t disappoint. Motion Xcelerator reduces blur and lag, and object tracking delivers impressive 3D surround sound. It supports HDR and Mega Contrast to minimize the difference between light and dark areas. This Roku TV offers a sharp 4K resolution and supports HDR10+ technology, which enhances color, contrast and brightness. The home screen is customizable with shortcuts to your favorite apps, and the voice remote lets you effortlessly search for paid and free content. Are you looking for a solid TV for casual viewing? This 40-inch Amazon Fire TV has plenty to offer. The Fire TV platform provides quick access to live TV, video games and music, and the remote has a dedicated Alexa button for launching apps, searching for content and controlling smart devices on your network. This TV boasts Quantum Dot technology for reproducing stunning visuals and bright colors. When mounted, its AirSlim design allows it to blend seamlessly with your wall. The advanced processor automatically transforms non-UHD content into 4K and improves sound. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better TV for your home entertainment hub than this 77-inch LG smart TV. OLED technology produces accurate colors and deep blacks, and the a8 AI processor automatically fine-tunes the picture quality based on what you’re watching. Plus, it features NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium and VRR for improved gaming. This high-end smart TV boasts advanced OLED HDR+ technology, which enhances image brightness and clarity. Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite produce excellent sound quality, and the 144-hertz refresh rate delivers ultrasmooth motion for gaming and live sports. Plus, the smart Tizen OS offers streaming and gaming access. If you want a cheap smart TV for a smaller room in your home, this 42-inch Insignia Fire TV is the one for you. It’s a full HD TV with a 1080p resolution and a built-in Fire TV interface for streaming content from apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+. The Alexa voice remote makes it easy to find your favorite movies. This Hisense 65-inch TV features advanced Mini-LED technology for reproducing dark blacks and vibrant colors. Dolby Vision delivers superior picture quality, and the dedicated game mode provides a variable refresh rate for smooth gaming. The voice remote is convenient for finding content, and the smart TV interface is intuitive. If you have the space in your home for this massive TV, you’ll love the cinematic experience it offers. QLED technology delivers dazzling visuals and rich colors, and HDR Pro+ boosts contrast, brightness and clarity no matter what you watch. It has an integrated Google TV interface and is compatible with Alexa. Amazon Fire TV 43-Inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV 38% OFF Amazon Fire TV 65-Inch Omni QLED Series 4K UHD Smart TV 25% OFF Amazon Fire TV 50-Inch Omni Series 4K UHD Smart TV 31% OFF Sony 75-Inch 4K Ultra HD Google TV Bravia TV 28% OFF Samsung 55-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80D Series Quantum HDR+ Smart TV 33% OFF LG 86-Inch Class UHD Smart TV 23% OFF LG 55-Inch Class QNED85T Series LED Smart TV 13% OFF Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Rock Island continued its early season success with an 83-46 victory over the Chicago-based Bowen Boilermakers early Saturday afternoon on Day 2 of the Rock Island Thanksgiving Tournament. The Rocks shot 75 percent from the field in the first half and their defense caused 17 turnovers in a well-rounded performance. “We came out and I felt like we did do what we needed to do,” Rock Island head coach Marc Polite said. “We got off to a slow start, but once we settled down, we were able to get some distance.” Bowen is part of the Chicago Public Blue South Conference and finished last season second in the conference with a 21-11 record. However, the Boilermakers have now started the season 0-3. The Rocks pressured the Boilermakers early and often, forcing Bowen to cough up the ball 14 times in the first half with typical Rock Island fullcourt press. The stifling Rocks’ defense did not allow much breathing room for any Bowen offensive player. The Boilermakers solely relied on senior Rae’Qwon Rogers, who scored 17 of Bowen’s 27 first half points, mostly on one-on-one isolation play. Rogers only had two points after halftime. People are also reading... “Bowen is a tough cover,” Polite said. "Whenever a team like them has five guards that they can put on the floor that can dribble and are aggressive with the ball, it really tests our defensive principles. I thought we made some good adjustments after they got rolling in the first quarter.” Bowen took a narrow two-point lead (11-9) with just over four minutes left. The Rocks then turned up the intensity on the defensive side of the ball, ending the quarter on a 13-5 run. Rock Island also shot the ball at a blistering pace in the first quarter, nailing nine of their first 13 attempts, including three-point plays by juniors Avian Thomas and Lawson Zulu. “I felt like we came out strong,” Thomas said. “It was a little sloppy in the beginning, but we came together as a group and stuck with each other and still believed in each other throughout the game.” Thomas had 15 points, with Zulu leading all Rocks with 17 points. The Rocks continued their offensive dominance in the second quarter, ending the first half by converting their last nine shots. Eight of those were either transition layups on Bowen turnovers, or layups in the half-court offense off beautiful assists. “We finally got into a rhythm,” Polite said. “We are a rhythm-based team, and I thought we strung together some possessions that we were indicative of what we were trying to do on the offensive end. I felt like we had two or three stretches where we had some great offensive rhythm and moved the ball around.” “I feel like our aggressiveness leads to our offense,” Thomas added. "When we are hitting wide open shots, we are a tough team to beat.” The Rocks were comfortably ahead at halftime, leading 49-27, and ended the half on a 19-7 run. “That is a big testament to our offense,” Polite said. "I thought we moved the ball well. We have guys who are ball-tough. With teams like Bowen and Dyatt on Friday, they really get after you, and we have to be tough and strong with the basketball.” Rock Island had an amusing moment halfway through the third quarter. Senior Jae’Vion “Juice” Clark-Pugh split the Boilermaker defenders with a monstrous one-handed dunk. The problem was that the ball popped straight up, and Clark-Pugh used his off-hand to dunk the ball again while still hanging on the rim. “I did not think ‘Juice’ was going to grab the ball and put it back in,” Thomas said. “If he had let go, I think the ball would have gone in. But that made us all laugh, and that is what he brings to the team. He is an energetic, big, fun guy and we love him.” “Juice is an athletic kid,” Polite said of that moment. “I thought he played his best game thus far. He played a really complete game. I thought he finished well and played good defense and rebounded the ball well. For us to be successful this year, we are going to need some games like this from him.” Clark-Pugh had 15 points, with all his baskets coming from around the rim. It was not all good news for the Rocks. In the late stages of the third quarter, Rocks’ glue guy and senior Isaiss Duarte went for a layup, with the Rocks up 68-27. Duarte fell hard on his right wrist and was in obvious pain. He immediately went to the locker room with the Rock Island trainer and did not return. “Duarte has to get an X-ray and figure out what is going on,” Polite said. “I think initially, it maybe felt a little bit worse than what it was, but we are hoping to get positive.” Duarte had seven points before leaving with the injury. “’Zay’ is our energy guy,” Thomas said. “He brings in that defense and tenacity, and we are going to miss him. Hopefully, we can have him back by next week, and I think Deven Marshall is going to come in and fill that role. He has been playing really well in this tournament.” The Rocks closed the tournament with a game against Rockridge (2-1) on Saturday night. Details were not available at press time. A full story will be published on Monday. The Rockets fell in a hard-fought, defensive mid-afternoon game against Dyatt, 54-43 on Saturday. “We are a next-man-up. That has always been our philosophy,” Polite said. “We have other guys whare are going to have to step in to contribute and cover some of his stuff. Duarte does so much for us.” Thomas is greatly anticipating Saturday night’s game. “Rockridge is a tough opponent,” Thomas said. "If we play together as a team and throw the first punch like we have been doing over the past three games, we can get out early and run away with this game.” Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Inconsistent rainfall across much of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri did not inhibit overall strong soybean production based on the 2024 Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies trials. For top soybean honors in the three-state area, a Winterset, Iowa, plot hit 85.6 bu./acre, FIRST reports showed. Soybeans emerged well with excellent soil conditions at planting in Winterset, said Randy Meinsma, a FIRST manager who oversees plots in southern and central Iowa. “The plot received some good rains in June, July and August, which helped plants grow to 30 to 43 inches with very tight pod sets, filled well,” Meinsma said. “Plants matured and shelling was easy. This area like others had a quick dry down which made pods dry and caused a slight head shatter. There was no weed pressure, and the plants stood strong with very little lodging.” The Iowa South Region did quite well at nearly 80 bu./acre average, Meinsma said. The area arrived at that bountiful mark with Washington (81.2 bu./acre) and Oakland (81.7 bu./acre) plots close behind Winterset’s top mark and Cambria averaging 61.8 bu./acre, he said. The Iowa South Central Region averaged about 80 bu./acre, a spike from a 66.52 average yield over 21 years, FIRST reported. That came from the 80.6 bu./acre yield in Central City, 72.2 at Hamlin and 78.1 bu./acre in Victor. The Slater plot had issues that caused it to not be included in the regional bushels per acre report. “The plot had a very wet start and ponding was seen in the area which affected emergence. Then the plot was mistakenly sprayed with Enlist and damaged the Xtendflex soybeans,” Meinsma said. The Iowa North Central Region report showed Moorland at 67.8 bu./acre, Laurens hit 62.1 bu./acre, Iowa Falls produced 56 bu./acre, and Waterloo knocked at the door of 50, with a 49.7 bu./acre average. The North Iowa Region had the low-end of soybean yield averages with a 63.5 bu./acre. Area plots showed a 68.1 bu./acre average in LuVerne, 52.8 in New Hampton and 69.8 in Osage, area FIRST manager Corey Rozenboom said. Britt was marked a loss because of excessive rain with poor stands, he said. Frequent rainfall in April and May delayed planting there, then planting done in mid-May was followed by storms that left soil saturated for weeks. More rain in June exacerbated the situation. It was the most water the field had ever sustained, Rozenboom reported. Sioux Center brought top yields of 74 bu./acre average in the Iowa Northwest Region, FIRST area manager Nick Hoffman said. Other plots included Kingsley at 66.2 bu./acre average, Hartley at 52.3 bu./acre and Webb at 65.5 bu./acre. The region averaged 64.5 bu./acre, Hoffman said. The Webb site had good emergence and stronger stands despite heavy early spring rainfall, Hoffman said. The Hartley plot challenges included unprecedented rainfall, saturated soils, thin stands and washed or crushed sections spread out through the fields, he said. Illinois In Illinois, FIRST manager Jason Beyers reported Winnebago as the north central region leader at 78.6 bu./acre. Janesville and Monroe plots were close at 67.3 bu./acre and 70.8 bu./acre, Beyers said. Winnebago was planted with an excellent soil situation on May 16, he said. “Emergence during stand counts looked good considering the little rain this plot received until then. Rainfall picked up in mid-July to early September when it began to taper off,” Beyers said. “During harvest, there was no sign of disease and beans stood tall. The pods were full resulting in a wonderful yield.” Plot farmer Eric Swanson told Beyers it was “the best yield he’s had on that land.” Beyers marked the Lanark plot in the area as a loss because of an herbicide misapplication. The Illinois South Region featured Belleville at 58.3 bu./acre, Nashville at 77 bu./acre, Flora at 62.4 bu./acre and Effingham at 68.3 bu./acre, just shy of the area 66.5 bu./acre average, FIRST area manager Klint Tucker reported. Tucker said Nashville experienced perfect seedbed conditions with a mid-May planting. “Plant heights were normal to above normal. No lodging was witnessed in the trial, even though some varieties were very tall,” he said. “Yields were excellent. A great location with a great cooperator.” The Illinois South Central Region report showed numbers going up with Forysthe at 82.7 bu./acre, Tuscola at 75 bu./acre, and Williamsville and Virden at 74.8 and 73.2 bu./acre, respectively, area FIRST manager Nathan Roux reported. “The (Forysthe) plot was planted in ideal soil conditions and had almost perfect emergence — nearly every seed planted came up. Good vegetative growth and an excellent reproductive cycle happened here,” Roux said. “An extremely gorgeous plot!” Further north, FIRST Field Manager Nathan Roux noted a mixed result at the Henry plot. Despite an herbicide misapplication, surviving plants performed well and had strong yields, he said. Henry hit an 85.4 bu./acre average, although the spot did not get included in the regional summary because of the herbicide damage, he said. “This location was planted later and had good emergence,” he said. For the north-central Illinois region, the Henry plot was followed by Macomb with 77.6 bu./acre, Gridley’s 75.5 bu./acre and Dwight at 60 bu./acre, Roux said. The Illinois Northern Region showed yield at Dixon with an 82.1 bu./acre average, Seneca at 78 bu./acre, Thomson at 75 bu./acre and Malta averaged 69.5. Missouri Two FIRST plots in the Missouri Northern Region, Greentop and St. Joseph, were rejected from inclusion. A spraying mistake damaged Xtendflex seed soybeans in the Greentop plot, FIRST Regional Field Manager Bill Schelp said. “Plants were short with no lodging at harvest. This trial location and these soil types are not a garden spot — especially when not receiving rainfall,” Schelp said in his report. “Yet it is uniform and representative of many tough Missouri acres being farmed. This specific site rotation has provided tough, real-world Missouri data for years.” The St. Joseph plot was a new field for the FIRST soybean tests. It had a 59.08 bu./acre historical yield in seven previous years. “The plot was planted in a tilled seedbed and had even emergence. ... Height observations did vary from one end of the trial to the other,” Schelp said. “Unfortunately, the hot and dry weather in mid- and late-season exaggerated slight soil differences across the trial area.” Test results were rejected because yield variability led to no significant differences in yield among varieties. The two remaining plots were Cairo and Trenton. Cairo hit a 64.9 bu./acre average and Trenton harvested 71.1 bu./acre average. “It rained when the crop needed it. It was an especially dry fall that dried grain quickly. Great trial,” Schelp said. Elsewhere in Missouri, New Franklin brought in a 73.9 bu./acre average, which contrasted the 55 bu./acre average in the Central East at Concordia, he said. Full results can be found online at first seedtests.com/reports/soybeans .U.N. talks aimed at halting the degradation and desertification of vast swathes of land started in Saudi Arabia on Monday after scientists fired a stark warning over unsustainable farming and deforestation. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called it a "moonshot moment": a 12-day meeting for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), looking to protect and restore land and respond to drought amid the onslaught of climate change. The last such meeting, or "Conference of the Parties" (COP) to the convention, held in Ivory Coast in 2022, produced a commitment to "accelerating the restoration of one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030". But the UNCCD, which brings together 196 countries and the European Union, now says 1.5 billion hectares (3.7 billion acres) must be restored by decade's end to combat crises including escalating droughts. A day before the COP16 talks in Saudi Arabia, home to one of the world's biggest deserts, a new U.N. report warned that forest loss and degraded soils were reducing resilience to climate change and biodiversity loss. "If we fail to acknowledge the pivotal role of land and take appropriate action, the consequences will ripple through every aspect of life and extend well into the future," UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said in the report. Land degradation disrupts ecosystems and makes land less productive for agriculture, leading to food shortages and spurring migration. Land is considered degraded when its productivity has been harmed by human activities like pollution or deforestation. Desertification is an extreme form of degradation. Activists accused Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, of trying to water down calls to phase out fossil fuels at last month's COP29 U.N. climate talks in Azerbaijan. However, desertification is a perennial issue for the arid kingdom. "We are a desert country. We are exposed to the harshest mode of land degradation, which is desertification," deputy environment minister Osama Faqeeha told AFP. Saudi Arabia is aiming to restore 40 million hectares of degraded land, Faqeeha told AFP, without specifying a timeline. He said Riyadh anticipated restoring "several million hectares of land" by 2030. So far 240,000 hectares have been recovered using measures including a ban on illegal logging and expanding the number of national parks from 19 in 2016 to more than 500, Faqeeha said. Other ways to restore land include planting trees, crop rotation, managing grazing and restoring wetlands. "We found ourselves caught in a vicious cycle that we must break," UNCCD executive secretary Ibrahim Thiaw told the conference in Riyadh. "We can only achieve this if we move beyond the silos that hinder our collective action and if we adopt a holistic approach that recognizes the constant interaction between desertification, biodiversity loss, and the acceleration of climate change." Thousands of delegates have registered to attend the December 2-13 COP16 talks in Riyadh, including "close to 100" government ministers, Thiaw said. The event comes at a parlous time for the COP environmental meetings, which bring together the signatories to various treaties to try to strike new agreements. Last week the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan came to a contentious end, as a pledge of $300 billion to help poorer countries transition to cleaner energy was slammed as too low by developing nations. On Sunday in Busan, South Korea, deeply divided negotiators missed a deadline to reach a landmark global treaty to curb plastic pollution. And last month, talks in Colombia -- also called COP16 -- ended without a roadmap to ramp up funding for species protection. They will resume in Rome in February. Matthew Archer, assistant professor in the Department of Society Studies at Maastricht University and author of "Unsustainable: Measurement, Reporting and the Limits of Corporate Sustainability", was dismissive of the Saudi meeting. It is part of the "COP charade (that) is totally incapable of facilitating the kind of political action that might sufficiently address the socioecological crises we are facing", he told AFP. "I wouldn't hold my breath for COP16 to yield a tenable solution to desertification," added Archer.
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Daily Post Nigeria LaLiga: I’m angry – Raphinha slams Barça after 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Sport LaLiga: I’m angry – Raphinha slams Barça after 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas Published on November 30, 2024 By John Owen Nwachukwu Barcelona star Raphinha has slammed the team following their 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas on Saturday. Raphinha said that despite his goal, Barcelona needed to perform better and keep their levels up. The home side were on the receiving end in the 49th minute when Sandro Ramirez scored for the visitors. Raphinha responded for Barca in the 61st minute, scoring with a brilliant long-range effort Las Palmas hit Barça on the counter again, making it 2-1 in the 67th minute through Fabio Silva. Raphinha said via Fabrizio Romano on Twitter: “We’ve been doing poorly. We’re lowering the level of what we were doing. “There are many things we are doing wrong. We have to turn things around on Tuesday. I’m angry, I don’t care much about my goal.” Related Topics: barca LaLiga Las Palmas Raphinha Don't Miss NNL: Gombe United players undergo medical test ahead of new season You may like LaLiga: Hansi Flick explains why Barça lost 2-1 to Las Palmas LaLiga: Ancelotti hints at new positions for Vinicius Jr, Mbappe LaLiga: Real Madrid president, Perez in showdown talks with Ancelotti over poor form LaLiga: Sadiq demands more playing time at Real Sociedad LaLiga: People don’t speak of him – Mbappe names very important Real Madrid player LaLiga: He’s in an extraordinary form – Ancelotti glad to have striker back to Real Madrid squad Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdCLEMSON, S.C. (TNS) — “Here is the reality,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders in his analysis of Donald Trump’s strong electoral victory and support from some traditional Democrats: “The working class of this country is angry, and they have reason to be angry. We are living in an economy today where the people on top are doing phenomenally well while 60 percent of our people are living paycheck to paycheck.” Household data spanning 2019-22 support Sanders’ argument. The Federal Reserve found substantial increases in average net worth for all income levels except the poorest 20% of families (though the Fed doesn’t adjust these figures for how much of the accompanying federal debt we’ll each bear). In any case, according to the senator, greed was the main culprit. I think a fair portion of the blame lies with misplaced generosity. Greed is ever-present in human affairs, but those years included something unique: Massive government efforts to soften the blows of COVID-19. Paradoxically, this helped the rich get richer and contributed to the 2024 political climate. The government’s stimulus program — much of which ended up as generous but perhaps unintended taxpayer gifts to the wealthy — and Fed interest rate cuts led to rising real estate prices and substantial gains in stock market values. More dollars in the economy meant each dollar was worth less as inflation took off. Higher-income households are less damaged by inflation than working-class people who spend most of their income on goods and services. Meanwhile, contrary to plans, federal programs disproportionately transferred billions to owners and managers of businesses across the nation rather than to hourly workers. On top of that, a lot of COVID-relief money, paid for in no small part by current or future working-class taxpayers, simply got wasted. A review of the situation by Cecilia Rouse, Brookings Institution president and chair of the Council of Economic Advisors from 2021-23, offers a revealing and disturbing analysis. Rouse focuses on both the disastrous effects of the pandemic and assessing the massive $4.5 billion in stimulus packages delivered by the Trump and Biden administrations. Though just four years ago, it bears mentioning that as President Joe Biden took office, some 460,000 Americans had been killed by the pandemic. Before the pandemic’s end, 1.2 million U.S. lives would be taken. The economy’s shutdown brought a devastating disruption to daily life. Rouse points out that in April 2020, “the number of Americans living under stay-at-home orders reached more than 300 million.” Weekly claims for unemployment compensation rose from a typical level of 207,000 in March 2020 to 6,137,000 in April. Stimulus poured in, we learned to better protect ourselves and things quickly started improving. Employment recovered in record time. The nation dealt with one of the most severe, but thankfully short, disruptions in modern times. But given the damaging bout with inflation that followed, was the stimulus too large? Was the waste, fraud and abuse too much? Did working class people get a fair share? Or was the system tilted so that higher-income people gained too much? Rouse examines two specific programs. The $800 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provided forgivable loans to small businesses and nonprofits to retain workers, meet payroll and insurance costs, and keep the doors open. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program provided larger loans payable over 30 years. Some 1 million firms received PPP loans and 3.9 million obtained EIDL loans. Researchers show that two-thirds of the PPP’s forgivable loans went to business owners and shareholders, not to employees or wage earners. The General Accountability Office indicates that fraud totaled $64 billion out of the $800 billion. Estimates of fraud under the EIDL program indicate that $136 billion was siphoned off. Other research indicates that PPP loans cost between $169,000 and $256,000 for each job saved, more than twice the annual wage of the workers effected. With owners and executives at the top siphoning off money, protecting workers was neither simple nor affordable. Let us hope that our nation never faces another tragic pandemic. But if it does, let us also hope that our government doesn’t take actions that enable the rich to get richer while the poor get poorer in more ways than one. Should working-class voters be angry about greed, or at those who enabled it? (Bruce Yandle is a distinguished adjunct fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, dean emeritus of Clemson University’s College of Business & Behavioral Science, and former executive director of the Federal Trade Commission.)