CANTON A second phase in the ongoing, cross-jurisdictional drug trafficking investigation code-named Operation Drop was conducted Monday throughout St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties, resulting in 13 additional arrests of north country residents alleged to have facilitated area distribution of narcotics.

An 80-count county grand jury indictment against 44 people, including the 18 people initially arrested in May, was filed July 31 and unsealed in St. Lawrence County Court on Monday as part of Operation Drop. The 13 individuals arrested early Monday morning are in custody, and 24 additional people are still at large at the time of this report, according to the St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Office.

Since November 2019, Operation Drop has involved the coordinated resources and personnel of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Lawrence and Jefferson county sheriffs offices, drug task forces and district attorneys offices, U.S. Border Patrol and the Border Enforcement Security Task Force, state police, local police departments, New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the U.S. Postal Service.

We know that drug trafficking organizations and criminal street gangs continue their illicit activities despite the current health crisis around the country, Kevin M. Kelly, special agent in charge of the Buffalo Field Office of HSI, said during a news conference Monday afternoon. Its clear that these gangs and criminal organizations take no days off, and neither do we.

The joint investigation has employed covert surveillance aimed at rooting out heroin, fentanyl and cocaine dealers operating in St. Lawrence County and surrounding areas, as well as New Jersey-area traffickers, St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks J. Bigwarfe said.

Phase one arrests were made over the early morning hours of May 6, with investigators focused on filing major trafficking charges against New Jersey residents after executing eight search warrants simultaneously at different locations: two in Potsdam, two in Massena, one in Gouverneur, two in Ogdensburg and one in Watertown.

Nine of the 18 arrested in May are residents of New Jersey and believed to be affiliated with a Jersey City criminal organization, ST8 Drop, known to traffick crack cocaine, powder cocaine and heroine laced with fentanyl, and linked to members of the New Jersey Bloods. Seven of those New Jersey defendants were charged as major traffickers and are being held without bail in St. Lawrence County jail, Canton.

Phase two, Mr. Bigwarfe said, has focused more heavily on local residents allegedly facilitating out-of-state trafficking activity in the north country.

Included in the 80-count indictment are the 18 individuals arrested in May, as well as Delton Weller, 37, Massachusetts; Diamond Debarros, 20, New Jersey; and Llajesli Santiago, 23, New York City.

In varying degrees, the indictment charges 22 Northern New Yorkers with conspiracy, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal sale, criminal nuisance or some combination of those charges, all related to alleged ST8 Drop activity in the north country from as early as November 2019.

The indictment charges Massena residents Jessica Castle, 39; Matthew Douillet, 27; Dahtez Jones, 36; Rauchelle Laporte, 27; John Paul Maxwell, 32; Jordan Page, 26; Tori Paquin, 39; James Plourde, 27; Samuel Pruner, 42; Devin Riley, 25; Adriannah Sirles, 22; Corbey Terrance, 29; and Tia Thompson, 23, as well as Bradley Brooks, 36, Gouverneur; Pamela Cole, 39, Ogdensburg; Lester McGaw, 43, Ogdensburg; Brittany Miller, 28, Watertown; Matthew Parker, 33, Parishville; Jeremy Pitts, 25, Potsdam; Chad Wickwire, 36, Norfolk; Elizabeth Wickwire, 32, Norfolk; and Sean Young, 26, Ogdensburg.

According to the sheriffs office, the May 6 and subsequent searches have recovered a total of six pounds, 12 ounces of cocaine, with an estimated street value of more than $350,000; 279 grams of fentanyl, valued at about $56,000; 1,657 bags of heroin and 1,080 bags of fentanyl, all pre-packaged for distribution and valued at about $42,000; and $80,400 in U.S. currency.

Bringing a global investigative perspective to the case, Mr. Kelly said, broader involvement is being addressed by HSI personnel in Newark, with other federal and international government partners exploring narcotics production sources in other countries.

As investigators, were trained to push that investigation out, push it out of St. Lawrence County, out of the U.S. if need be, Mr. Kelly said.

St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary M. Pasqua affirmed his offices dedication to prosecuting individuals believed to be trafficking illicit drugs into the area and facilitating their distribution, and added that a simultaneous effort to address the demand that has brought them to St. Lawrence County is essential.

The only way we are going to truly eradicate the issue is by prosecuting those bringing the narcotics here and making sure no one steps up to fill that void because there are still individuals looking for a supply, Mr Pasqua said, adding that addiction services for those in need are vital to communities, too. If were able to do that, we can fight this at both ends.

Local, state and federal investigative partners, Mr. Kelly said, will continue an aggressive pursuit of these criminals.

Today we celebrate hard work, St. Lawrence County Undersheriff Sean P. OBrien said. Tomorrow, were back at it again.

View original post here:

More arrests in progress in connection with 'Operation Drop' - NNY360

MEDINA If you spend any time near the Erie Canal in summer, youll see your share of boats.

But the crowds that lined Canal Basin on Friday evening were anticipating something truly different from the typical traffic.

It appeared soon enough a hand-built example of 1700s Slavic boat design as the historic vessel Pilgrim cruised into view. Captain Sergey Sinelnik and his crew of friends and family had already sailed thousands of miles and they were passing through Orleans County as part of their continuing around-the-world voyage.

How do you say Hello in Russian? a man in the crowd asked.

Welcome to Medina! a woman called as the Pilgrim turned for a quick mooring.

Sinelnik, 46, is a lifelong adventurer, traveler and nautical enthusiast. He and the Pilgrim have been on the move for the past two years.

Theyre on their way west to Duluth.

Its my life, he said after the Pilgrim docked. Its my dream the Great Lakes ... Its my life, its my occupation, its my job.

One might call the Pilgrim and its journey a labor of devotion. Sinelnik, and his twin brother Alexander, have undertaken numerous adventures, whether traveling on an around-the-world expedition on Ural motorcycles, sailing clockwise around Australia, or traversing 1,000 km of the Sahara Desert on foot.

The Pilgrim is an exacting replica of an 18th century Russian sailing boat. It was constructed by Sinelnik and friends, featuring sweeping, graceful lines and Cyrillic placards bearing its name.

It took two years to raise the funds for the boat, followed by another two years for its construction.

Many people from other countries helped me build this boat, he said. Many people, many friends. About 100 people helped volunteers.

Sinelnik began the Pilgrims journey with his wife Marina and their sons Sviatoslav and Yaroslav. Theyve since returned to Russia but continue to provide support from their home the city of Petrozavodsk, about 350 miles northeast of St. Petersburg and roughly comparable to Buffalo in size.

They set out from Russia before crossing the Atlantic, making their way to Florida, and then moving along the Eastern seaboard.

Sinelnik and family traveled 10,000 miles, and Marina and their sons returned home after Baltimore.

Sviatoslav, 16, is now in college, Sinelnik said. Marinas afraid of water but was persuaded to go she was adept on the ocean and it was a valuable experience for their children.

They lived aboard for two years. Friends and family have rotated in and out as crew throughout.

Even with its mainmast removed temporarily for passage through the canal, the Pilgram created a unique vision as it approached for docking in Medina. One of Sinelniks crew wore a distinctive, striped Russian sailing shirt, and the boat flew both the Russian tricolor and the American flag.

Sinelnik and crew were on a schedule, so their stay was short. They talked briefly with some residents the Russians took photos of the Canal Basin and people took pictures of the boat before heading to Middleport, an ideally quiet location where they planned to stay the night.

Janet Slack and her granddaughter Lainey Powell, 4, had been attending the adjacent classic car show but walked down to get a better look.

Its really neat, Slack said. I wish I could read what it says on (the Cyrillic placards. I just was told they were going around the world.

Sinelnik said the receptions have been very friendly up the east cost and people have been very helpful.

As for the future?

Sinelnik and crew will try to head for Seattle, possibly having the Pilgrim hauled by truck over the mountains beforehand. Then they may make their way up to the Aleutians and maybe Kamchatka region of eastern Russia.

I will decide because have a small engine, he said. Its only 40 horses power too small for ice and the north ocean ... We will decide our way step-by-step.

And with the day about to fade, they set out for their next destination and their place to spend the night.

Those interested in following or supporting the journey can check Historic Boat Pilgrim on Facebook.

Read more here:

Pilgrim's progress: Russian adventurers stop by Medina on round-the-world voyage - The Daily News Online

DC prepares to tackle hotspots, but in Gunpowder River little is to be doneby Timothy B. Wheeler, BayJournal.com

Its been a slog, but efforts are making headway to rid the Anacostia River of long-banned toxic chemicals that make it unsafe to eat many locally caught fish.

After years of sampling and studies, District of Columbia officials have proposed tackling 11 hot spots of contamination in the lower Anacostia, which flows through DC before joining the Potomac River. The sediments in those places are laden with PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, a pernicious family of synthetic chemicals still making their way into fish more than four decades after being outlawed because of their risks to human health and wildlife.

We are making real progress, Tommy Wells, director of the districts Department of Energy and the Environment, said at a cleanup planning meeting in June. The departments early action plan, unveiled late last year, calls for a combination of dredging, capping, and treatment of the PCB-tainted sediments. The projected $30 million costs is nevertheless only a down payment on dealing with the full mixture of toxic wastes, pesticides, and other harmful substances fouling the river.

But officials hope that by addressing these hot spots, they can at least reduce the health risks from eating locally caught fish. After reviewing hundreds of comments on the plan, they intend to announce Sept. 30 how theyll proceed.

I have to temper my desire to have it all done yesterday, said Jim Foster, president, and CEO of the Anacostia Watershed Society. But it seems as if we are finally on a trajectory to get it done.

Elsewhere, theres far less getting done about the PCB contamination thats widespread throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. In the Gunpowder and Bird rivers north of Baltimore, Maryland regulators have concluded theres little they can do to reduce the PCBs that are responsible for fish consumption advisories there on channel catfish, carp, and white and yellow perch, among other species.

Anglers hoping to eat uncontaminated catch from those two linked rivers may have to wait for PCB levels to decline on their own, state officials said. But it could be a long wait for the persistent chemicals to break down naturally or become buried under cleaner sediment. In the Gunpowder, that could take 49 years, officials project; in the Bird, 93 years.

Theaux Le Gardeur, the Gunpowder Riverkeeper, finds that intolerable. In many cases, thats three generations of Marylanders subject to fish consumption advisories due to PCBs, he said. Le Gardeur runs a fly-fishing shop and fishing guide service that focuses on the Gunpowder.

On July 29, the riverkeeper filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency challenging the federal agencys approval of what Le Gardeur contends is an inadequate state study of what can be done about PCBs contaminating the rivers.

In the suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, he complains that the Maryland Department of the Environment didnt sample enough and didnt propose to do anything about the main source of PCBs contaminating fish the bottom sediments. EPA neglected its duty under the Clean Water Act by signing off on the states plan, the suit contends.

Still a widespread problem

The Anacostia and the pair of Baltimore County rivers illustrate the challenges Bay watershed communities face in dealing with problems posed by PCBs and other toxic contaminants.

While Bay watershed states, localities and federal agencies have focused on reducing water pollution from nutrients and sediment, theyve done much less to deal with PCBs, mercury, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and toxic metals in sediment, water, and fish.

According to the state-federal Chesapeake Bay Program, 82% of the Bay and tidal waters of its tributaries are considered either fully or partially impaired by toxic contaminants.

In 2014, all six watershed states, the district, and the EPA pledged to make the Bay and its rivers free of effects of toxic contaminants on living resources and human health. They agreed specifically to go after PCBs.

Once widely used as coolants or insulators in electrical equipment and other products, PCBs were banned by the EPA in 1979 amid research linking exposure to cancer and other health effects. They break down very slowly, however, so have continued to contaminate many waterways, where they tend to collect in bottom sediments.

PCB concentrations in water and sediment have declined some since being banned. But PCBs bioaccumulate, meaning that seemingly minuscule doses build up in the fatty tissue of fish when they ingest the chemicals. The contamination is passed up the food chain as predators, including humans, consume tainted fish.

PCBs are the basis for many of the fish consumption advisories in effect throughout the Bay and its tributaries. Anglers are urged to limit or even avoid eating much locally caught fish including, in some places, the highly prized striped bass.

Over the last two decades, the Bay watershed jurisdictions, under EPA supervision, have developed pollution-reduction strategies, known as total maximum daily loads, for eliminating PCB contamination in dozens of tidal waterways.

The District worked with Maryland, Virginia, and the EPA to develop a PCB-reduction strategy for its stretch of the Anacostia and Potomac in 2007. The plan unveiled by the district last December came after years of studies.

District officials say the measures theyre considering for dealing with hot spots in the lower Anacostia should reduce health risks from eating fish caught there by 90%. Some dredging is proposed, but in other areas, the district is weighing sequestering contaminated silt under a layer of clean sediment or treating it on the river bottom.

Upal Ghosh and Kevin Sowers, a pair of researchers at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, have shown that depositing activated carbon pellets on contaminated sediment can lock-up the PCBs and dramatically reduce whats getting into the water. Coating the pellets with certain naturally occurring bacteria can even speed up the normally slow breakdown of the chemicals from decades to months, according to Sowers.

Fresh sources of PCBs

But cleaning up legacy contamination in sediment wont be enough as long as more PCBs are getting into the river, as studies have shown, Ghosh said.

A 2019 report by the U.S. Geological Survey concluded that lower Beaverdam Creek is the dominant source of fresh PCBs to the lower Anacostia. A study that Ghosh and other researchers presented to the district earlier this year found dissolved PCB levels in the creek to be screaming high, as he put it up to 20 times the levels measured in the river.

In March, Maryland regulators reported finding elevated PCBs in both sediment and water in two stretches of the creek in Prince Georges County. One is by the Landover Metrorail Station, they said.

Sherry Lin, a spokesperson for the transit agency, said Metro has cooperated with MDE investigators. Metro conducts annual inspections of all rail station outfalls and has programs in place to detect and prevent stormwater contamination, she said.

The other PCB-laden stretch of the creek is near its confluence with the Anacostia, the MDE reported. It flows there through a metal recycling facility owned by Joseph Smith & Sons. The MDE said PCB levels in creek sediment spike rapidly at this location, indicating that there may be legacy contamination on land there.

State inspectors last year sampled a retention pond at the 16-acre scrapyard and found PCBs in the water, according to information supplied by the MDE.

Dale Mullen, a lawyer representing the company, said it is voluntarily cooperating with the state and has taken steps to address the situation, including building a new concrete wall to prevent runoff or seepage to the creek. The company is also installing a new stormwater treatment system capable of removing PCBs and other contaminants. In the meantime, he noted, all stormwater outfalls from the site have been closed for now.

The next steps in the investigation, MDE officials said, include checking storm drains for PCB-tainted sediment that may be flushed out when it rains as well as other possible sources of runoff and seepage from tainted soil.

Elsewhere, theres not been as much activity. Maryland has produced PCB-reduction strategies for 31 of its rivers. But nearly half of those, including the one for the Gunpowder and Bird rivers, dont identify any local sources of contamination to be remediated.

State officials say thats because water sampling and computer modeling indicates the vast majority of PCBs in those rivers come from other water bodies the Susquehanna River, in the case of the Gunpowder and Bird. PCBs from there are flowing into the Bay, they say, where currents and tides carry them into the tributaries.

To see meaningful progress, you would need to change whats flowing in from the Chesapeake, said Lee Currey, director of MDEs water and science administration. The agency is working on a strategy for reducing PCBs in the lower Susquehanna, including in the sediments built up behind the Conowingo Dam.

Problems on the Gunpowder

But Le Gardeur, the Gunpowder Riverkeeper, contends that the states PCB reduction strategy for the Gunpowder and Bird rivers doesnt address the major source: chemicals already in the sediments, which can get back into the water to be ingested by fish.

Le Gardeur argues that the state also overlooked potential local sources of PCBs, such as Aberdeen Proving Ground, where the Army tests munitions and at one time tested chemical warfare agents. The entire base is a federal Superfund site undergoing multiple cleanups as a legacy of past releases and the burial of hazardous and explosive materials.

In developing its strategy, the MDE said a review of its records didnt find any legacy PCB contamination in the areas of the proving ground that drain into the Gunpowder.

But a 2016 consultants report measured high levels of PCBs, along with other contaminants, in upper Canal Creek, which drains into the Gunpowder from the proving grounds Edgewood area. The Army is studying the feasibility of options for remediating the PCBs in Canal Creek, according to Bethani Crouch, a base spokesperson.

MDE spokesman Jay Apperson acknowledged the PCB contamination in Canal Creek and said it will be considered in any future revision to the rivers cleanup strategy.

Le Gardeur questioned why the MDE didnt consider dredging or treating contaminated sediments in the rivers, as was done in waters just south of the Gunpowder. From 2016 through 2018, Lockheed Martin Corp., which for decades has produced aircraft and aviation electronics on Middle River, removed PCB-laden sediment from two of its tributaries, Darkhead Cove and Cowpen Creek. The company also treated an undredged portion of the bottom with activated carbon to keep the chemicals there from getting back into the water.

The MDE has said it generally doesnt favor dredging because it could stir up contaminated sediments and harm aquatic life. In Middle River, Currey said the agency approved dredging and treatment of the bottom because it was a relatively small area with documented high levels of the chemicals.

Brady Locher, deputy director of Baltimore Countys Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability, said the county has worked diligently to address PCB contamination, which impairs Back River and Baltimore Harbor in addition to the Gunpowder and Bird.

The county partnered with state regulators and the UMBC researchers to assess PCB levels in fish tissue, aquatic insects, sediment and water in Back River. County officials are now looking to contract with an external laboratory capable of analyzing contaminant concentrations.

Because PCB remediation is so expensive, it is crucial that we base our actions on reliable and comprehensive monitoring results, Locher said.

The county is preparing to dredge more than 50 acres of the Bird River but to improve boater access, not remove PCBs. The MDE is reviewing the countys plan. Apperson said a study of dredging in Baltimore Harbor, where contamination is worse, indicated the activity would have only limited impact on fish tissue levels.

Meanwhile, the county should soon have more resources for combating PCBs. Officials expect to get more than $7.5 million from a federal class-action lawsuit against Monsanto Corp., which at one time made PCBs. The company agreed to pay a total of $550 million to settle water contamination claims by nearly 2,000 towns, cities, counties, and port districts. The District of Columbia is slated to get $52 million from that settlement to put toward cleaning up the Anacostia and Potomac rivers.

Le Gardeur said he didnt want to file a lawsuit, but felt he had little choice given the lack of action proposed for the Gunpowder and Bird rivers. He owns a fly-fishing shop and runs a fishing guide service that caters to anglers fishing the Gunpowder, he noted in the legal complaint, so the contamination directly affects his livelihood. Similar lawsuits alleging inadequate cleanup plans have on occasion led to revisions that strengthened them.

A spokesperson for EPAs mid-Atlantic regional office said the agency and the Justice Department are currently reviewing the riverkeepers lawsuit.

The tidal Gunpowder and Bird are used by boaters and swimmers, the riverkeeper noted. Theyre also popular for fishing and crabbing.

Bill Temmink, a local angler, said he doesnt eat what he catches in the Gunpowder, but he knows of a bunch of people who are out here three and four times a week and keep the fish.

Of the projected date when the MDE said the rivers fish should be free of PCB contamination, Temmink said, 50 years is a long time.

This article originally appeared on the BayJournal.com on August 5, 2020 and is republished with permission from Bay Journal Media

Read the original post:

PCB Cleanup Makes Uneven Progress - The Southern Maryland Chronicle

Severe Thunderstorm Forecast

Severe thunderstorms are producing widespread damaging winds across a part of the Midwest today as a derecho races eastward.

The complex of storms has knocked out power and caused tree damage from around Omaha, Nebraska, to central Iowa. Winds gusted up to 99 mph as these storms passed through Marshalltown, Iowa. Nearly 190,000 homes and businesses have lost power in Nebraska and Iowa, according to poweroutage.us.

The severe thunderstorms are expected to track eastward through the eastern half of Iowa to northern Illinois, far southern Wisconsin, northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan into the afternoon and early evening hours.

Tree damage, power outages and some structural damage will occur along the path of these thunderstorms, particularly in the purple-shaded areas of the map above. This includes the Chicago metro area by later this afternoon.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 7 p.m. CDT from eastern Iowa into southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center says this is a "particularly dangerous situation" and that wind gusts could top 80 mph in some locations.

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings

The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

Go here to read the rest:

Midwest Derecho in Progress: Widespread Damaging Winds Race Eastward - The Weather Channel

Almost a week after Tropical Storm Isaias ravaged the state, knocking out power that left more than 800,000 customers in the dark for days on end, Eversource has made significant progress and as of this morning had only about 87,500 customers remaining without electricity.

That number is an improvement over the 138,000 customers in the state that were without power Sunday afternoon.

We know how frustrated our customers who still dont have power are, and we have thousands of utility workers repairing the extensive damage across the state today who are relentless in their determination to restore power for all customers, Craig Hallstrom, Eversources president of regional electric operations, said in a statement. We hear our customers and community leaders, and we will not rest until this massive restoration effort is complete.

According to the most recent updates, power is expected to be restored to Andover, Coventry, South Windsor, and Tolland tonight at 6 p.m. and Windsor at 9 p.m.

For Tuesday, power is expected to be restored in Bolton, Hebron, and Stafford at 6 a.m.; Glastonbury and Somers at noon; Suffield at 6 p.m.; and Ellington at midnight.

Power restoration in East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Manchester, Vernon, and Windsor Locks is substantially completed, as just less than 1 percent of all customers in the respective municipalities are still without power.

Eversource spokesman Mitch Grossman said the vast majority of customers are expected to have power by midnight on Tuesday, clarifying that doesnt mean all customers will have power by then but most will.

Despite that, many customers have spoken out about their growing frustrations over the time it is taking Eversource to restore their power.

Both town and state officials alike have criticized the utility companys preparedness when it came to the storm, with Gov. Ned Lamont declaring an investigation will look into how Eversource and United Illuminating Co., the other major utility company in the state, have spent their money which comes from ratepayers over the past 10 years to prevent widespread power outages.

In response, Grossman said the utility was prepared for the storm based on the best information that was available at the time.

Storms often change, and this one did, as far as strength and track, causing extensive damage across the state, Grossman said.

He said Eversources major focus right now is restoring power to those without it, and any reviews or investigations will be conducted at a later date.

Grossman added that Eversource line and tree crews continue working around-the-clock to repair the extensive damage caused during Tropical Storm Isaias, with more than 2,300 line, tree, and support crews, from as far away as Canada, working in the state.

With primaries a day away, the Office of the Secretary of the State has been focusing on restoring power and connectivity to key points of elections infrastructure, the 748 polling places and the 169 town halls statewide.

Utility and telecommunication companies have been asked to prioritize power and connectivity to those locations.

As of noon on Sunday, there were less than 75 of the 748 polling places statewide that still required power restoration, and eight town halls still didnt have connectivity to the Central Voter Registration System.

Grossman said Eversource has been in contact with the Office of the Secretary of the State to ensure all polling places will have electricity for Tuesdays primary while simultaneously pushing for the remaining customers to have power restored as well.

In a statement, Secretary of State Denise Merrill said that nothing was more important than ensuring every voter is able to cast their ballot in the manner of their choosing.

In Connecticut voting goes on in the face of the October Snowstorm, Hurricane Sandy, and now Tropical Storm Isaias polls are open on Election Day and voters will be able to cast their ballots, she stated.

After 7 days, Eversource makes significant progress in power restoration

Almost a week after Tropical Storm Isaias ravaged the state, knocking out power that left more than 800,000 customers in the dark for days on end, Eversource has made significant progress and as of this morning had only about 87,500 customers remaining without electricity.

That number is an improvement over the 138,000 customers in the state that were without power Sunday afternoon.

We know how frustrated our customers who still dont have power are, and we have thousands of utility workers repairing the extensive damage across the state today who are relentless in their determination to restore power for all customers, Craig Hallstrom, Eversources president of regional electric operations, said in a statement. We hear our customers and community leaders, and we will not rest until this massive restoration effort is complete.

According to the most recent updates, power is expected to be restored to Andover, Coventry, South Windsor, and Tolland tonight at 6 p.m. and Windsor at 9 p.m.

For Tuesday, power is expected to be restored in Bolton, Hebron, and Stafford at 6 a.m.; Glastonbury and Somers at noon; Suffield at 6 p.m.; and Ellington at midnight.

Power restoration in East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Manchester, Vernon, and Windsor Locks is substantially completed, as just less than 1 percent of all customers in the respective municipalities are still without power.

Eversource spokesman Mitch Grossman said the vast majority of customers are expected to have power by midnight on Tuesday, clarifying that doesnt mean all customers will have power by then but most will.

Despite that, many customers have spoken out about their growing frustrations over the time it is taking Eversource to restore their power.

Both town and state officials alike have criticized the utility companys preparedness when it came to the storm, with Gov. Ned Lamont declaring an investigation will look into how Eversource and United Illuminating Co., the other major utility company in the state, have spent their money which comes from ratepayers over the past 10 years to prevent widespread power outages.

In response, Grossman said the utility was prepared for the storm based on the best information that was available at the time.

Storms often change, and this one did, as far as strength and track, causing extensive damage across the state, Grossman said.

He said Eversources major focus right now is restoring power to those without it, and any reviews or investigations will be conducted at a later date.

Grossman added that Eversource line and tree crews continue working around-the-clock to repair the extensive damage caused during Tropical Storm Isaias, with more than 2,300 line, tree, and support crews, from as far away as Canada, working in the state.

With primaries a day away, the Office of the Secretary of the State has been focusing on restoring power and connectivity to key points of elections infrastructure, the 748 polling places and the 169 town halls statewide.

Utility and telecommunication companies have been asked to prioritize power and connectivity to those locations.

As of noon on Sunday, there were less than 75 of the 748 polling places statewide that still required power restoration, and eight town halls still didnt have connectivity to the Central Voter Registration System.

Grossman said Eversource has been in contact with the Office of the Secretary of the State to ensure all polling places will have electricity for Tuesdays primary while simultaneously pushing for the remaining customers to have power restored as well.

In a statement, Secretary of State Denise Merrill said that nothing was more important than ensuring every voter is able to cast their ballot in the manner of their choosing.

In Connecticut voting goes on in the face of the October Snowstorm, Hurricane Sandy, and now Tropical Storm Isaias polls are open on Election Day and voters will be able to cast their ballots, she stated.

Follow this link:

Light in the darkness: After 7 days, Eversource makes significant progress in power restoration - Journal Inquirer

Development of the flagship Kakula Copper Mine continues to exceed expectations; with initial production well on track for third quarter of 2021

Definitive Feasibility Study for the Kakula Mine, and an updated Integrated Development Plan for multiple expansions of the entire Kamoa-Kakula mining licence, nearing completion

Mine development work at the Platreef PGMs-gold-nickel-copper mine now focused on preparing Shaft 1 for initial production; updated Definitive Feasibility Study and phased-development plan to be issued in September

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2020) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) today announced its financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company advancing its three mining projects in Southern Africa: the Kamoa-Kakula copper discovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); the Platreef palladium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold-rhodium discovery in South Africa; and the extensive upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-silver-lead-germanium mine, also in the DRC.

The company also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its wholly-owned Western Foreland exploration licences, adjacent to the Kamoa-Kakula mining licence. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

The Kamoa-Kakula Project, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining, has been independently ranked as the world's fourth-largest copper deposit by international mining consultant Wood Mackenzie. The project is approximately 25 kilometres west of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of Lubumbashi.

Ivanhoe sold a 49.5% share interest in Kamoa Holding Limited (Kamoa Holding) to Zijin Mining in December 2015 for an aggregate consideration of $412 million. In addition, Ivanhoe sold a 1% share interest in Kamoa Holding to privately-owned Crystal River for $8.32 million - which Crystal River will pay through a non-interest-bearing, 10-year promissory note. Since the conclusion of the Zijin transaction in December 2015, each shareholder has been required to fund expenditures at the Kamoa-Kakula Project in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest in Kamoa Holding.

A 5%, non-dilutable interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project was transferred to the DRC government on September 11, 2012, for no consideration, pursuant to the 2002 DRC mining code. Following the signing of an agreement with the DRC government in November 2016, in which an additional 15% interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project was transferred to the DRC government, Ivanhoe and Zijin Mining now each hold an indirect 39.6% interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project, Crystal River holds an indirect 0.8% interest and the DRC government holds a direct 20% interest. Kamoa Holding holds an 80% interest in the project.

At the end of June 2020, the Kamoa-Kakula Project reached 4,704,185 work hours free of a lost-time injury. The project continues to strive toward its workplace objective of zero harm to all employees and contractors.

The project had to adapt its activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance with new health guidelines from the DRC government reflecting the improving COVID-19 situation in the Lualaba Province, DRC, Kamoa-Kakula lowered its quarantine and lockdown measures from level 3 to level 2 on July 27th. This means that the mine's Congolese workforce have gone back to normal rotation. Most activities on site are proceeding as normal with some delays being experienced due to reduced staff numbers and skills on-site. Rigorous testing, physical distancing, wearing face masks, frequent hand washing and contact tracing measures are still in place to protect the safety and health of the workforce and community members. All expatriate employees are still required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival at Kamoa-Kakula.

As part of Kamoa-Kakula's COVID-19 readiness initiatives, the project has procured a polymerize chain reaction (PCR) device from German-based Bosch (similar device to the GeneXpert). The device arrived in July, with an initial supply of 500 tests. The device's capacity is 15 tests per 24-hour period.

PCR tests are used to directly detect the presence of an antigen, rather than the presence of the body's immune response, or antibodies. By detecting viral RNA, which will be present in the body before antibodies form or symptoms of the disease are present, the tests can tell whether or not someone has the virus very early on.

Early detection of potential cases based on symptoms and contact tracing is imperative. PCR tests will give the project's medical team a good indication of who is infected. This allows for fast isolation, and contact tracing of potential additional cases for quarantine.

The project has established a COVID-19 isolation facility at the Kamoa camp. Any suspected or symptomatic cases are moved to this facility, where they are isolated, treated and tested. Once the patient has recovered and is deemed no longer infectious, they can return to work only after an additional quarantine period determined by the project's medical staff. As the pandemic evolves, the medical team at Kamoa-Kakula is purposefully reviewing and updating its risk mitigation protocols.

Definitive Feasibility Study nearing completion for the Kakula Mine

An independent definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Kakula Mine is well advanced and is expected to be finalized shortly. At the same time, Ivanhoe expects to issue an updated Integrated Development Plan for the entire Kamoa-Kakula mining complex, which will include details on the planned expansion phases for the greater Kamoa-Kakula mining complex, incorporating updates for mineral resources, production rates and economic analysis.

A separate study for an on-site smelter has been completed in parallel to a feasibility level of detail and will be incorporated into the integrated Kamoa-Kakula PEA.

An expansion in initial plant capacity from 3.0 Mtpa to 3.8 Mtpa is planned, which requires increasing the underground mining crews in 2020 from 11 to 14 to ensure sufficient mining operations to feed the expanded plant throughput. This would have the benefit of producing a larger surface stockpile of ore before the scheduled commissioning of the processing plant, as well as accelerating the mine development schedule, providing the opportunity to bring forward the commencement of the second phase of development at Kakula. The second 3.8 Mtpa plant module will be primarily fed from the Kakula Mine at a planned full production mining rate of 6 Mtpa. It is envisaged that an additional 1.6 Mtpa will be sourced from the Kansoko Mine, or elsewhere, to maximize the full milling capacity of 7.6 Mtpa.

There are currently 10 mining crews (three owner crews and seven contractor crews) at Kakula and one mining crew at Kansoko. The project will continue to add additional crews over the next 12 months to further accelerate development. One crew is currently being trained at the Kamoa training centre.

Figure 1: Underground development completed to the end of July (in black) and scheduled development (green, brown, blue & black) until September 30, 2020. Shown are the 3%, 5% and 8% copper contours and the location where the northern and southern access drives are scheduled to join in Q4 2020.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_005full.jpg

Figure 2: The eastern portion of Kakula Mine representing less than half of the overall 13.3-kilometre-long Kakula Deposit overlain on southern Manhattan Island to give a sense of the enormous scale of the underground operations.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_006full.jpg

Figure 3: Aerial view of the Kakula Mine showing the tonnes and grade of the main pre-production stockpiles at the northern declines. The high-grade stockpile currently contains approximately 116,000 tonnes grading 6.08% copper, and the medium-grade stockpile currently contains approximately 325,000 tonnes grading 2.94% copper.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_007full.jpg

Figure 4: Geologist Kally Mbumba showing ultra-high-grade, chalcocite-rich ore at Kakula Mine. Chalcocite has the greatest percentage of copper of all the common sulphide-copper-bearing minerals almost 80% copper by weight.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_008full.jpg

Kakula crews are currently mining and stockpiling ore with an average grade between 3% and 8% copper. At the end of June 2020, Kakula's high-grade, pre-production ore stockpile contained 67,553 tonnes grading 5.90% copper, the medium-grade ore stockpiles, including satellite stockpiles at Kakula South and Kansoko, contained an additional 394,119 tonnes at 2.71% copper. This has been increased to a high-grade, pre-production ore stockpile containing approximately 116,000 tonnes grading 6.08% copper and medium-grade ore stockpiles containing an additional 446,000 tonnes at 2.73% copper at the end of July 2020. The high-grade stockpile is projected to significantly expand in the coming months as the majority of Kakula's underground development will be in mining zones grading +5% copper.

Basic engineering design and costing for the expansion from 3.8 Mtpa to 7.6 Mtpa is complete. The scope of facilities includes underground expansion at Kakula to reach an annual production rate of 6 Mtpa, the commencement of mining operations at Kansoko at a steady-state 1.6 Mtpa, a second 3.8 Mtpa concentrator module at Kakula as well as associated surface infrastructure to support the expansion at the various sites.

Figure 5: Ongoing construction of the flotation section of Kakula's 3.8 Mtpa processing plant.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_009full.jpg

Figure 6: Ongoing construction of the flotation section of Kakula's 3.8 Mtpa processing plant.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_010full.jpg

The current estimate of the project's initial capital costs is approximately $1.3 billion as of January 1, 2019, which assumes commissioning of the first processing plant module in Q3 2021 and includes expanded plant capacity and pre-production ore stockpiles.

The capital costs incurred by the Kamoa-Kakula joint venture in 2019 amounted to $309.1 million, of which $125.2 million was spent on the Kakula declines and mine development. A further capital cost of $242.7 million, that includes the costs allocated to the pre-production ore stockpiles, has been incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2020. Ivanhoe's share of the capital costs incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2020, was $120 million, representing its share of approximately 40% of the initial capital costs, plus its share of capital associated with the 20% carried interest owned by the Government of the DRC, which will be repaid through future cash flows from the project. Ivanhoe has budgeted $257 million for its proportionate funding of approximately 50% for the Kamoa-Kakula Project for the remainder of 2020. As of June 30, 2020, the joint venture had an estimated $750 million of capital costs remaining until initial production.

Ivanhoe expects that it will continue to have sufficient cash resources or financing options available to cover its proportionate share of the remaining initial capital costs.

More than 18.7 kilometres of underground development now completed as the project tracks towards first production in Q3 2021

A total of 17.1 kilometres of underground development was completed by the end of June 2020, which was 5.2 kilometres ahead of plan. A record of 1.87 kilometres development was achieved in May 2020. At the end of July 2020, more than 18.7 kilometres had been completed.

Mine access drives 1 and 2 (interconnected, parallel tunnels that will provide access to ore zones) continue to advance towards the southern portion of the orebody and are currently developing through the 3% - 5% copper zones. Development also is well advanced on the eastern perimeter drives, western perimeter drives and the room-and-pillar mining area.

Development along south access drives 1 and 2 is progressing well and has reached the 3% - 5% copper zones, with mining crews working to establish the connection of these drives with mine access drives 1 and 2 from the north side of the orebody, this is scheduled to occur in November 2020.

Engineering, procurement and construction advancing well

Project engineering and procurement activities are nearing completion with the focus currently on logistics and construction. The current primary construction focus that runs through the project's critical path is the construction of the processing plant and the electrical high-voltage infrastructure installation.

Construction of the underground rock handling system is complete with the first rock being conveyed to surface in June 2020.

The civil construction of Ventilation Shaft 2 is underway with fan delivery scheduled in September 2020; the system is expected to be operational before the end of the year. Reaming of Ventilation Shaft North East is expected to start shortly after the completion of the pilot hole. The fan is scheduled to be operational by Q1 2021. Additional material is being procured ahead of the relocation of Ventilation Fan 1 to the North West 1 location.

Figure 7: One of Kakula's high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) for the processing plant being offloaded at the port of Durban, South Africa, for transport to Kamoa-Kakula by truck.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_011full.jpg

Figure 8: Surveyor, Betty Kabey, scanning the East Spiral drive at the Kakula Mine.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 8, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_012full.jpg

The construction of the dams in the room-and-pillar mining area and the south ventilation shaft central transfer dam is underway; and both of these dams will be complete in Q3 2020.

Civil construction of the process plant is progressing, with over 16,000 cubic metres of concrete already poured. A number of work areas have been completed and handed over for the erection of steel and the installation of mechanical equipment. Steel fabrication in China is nearing completion with the bulk of the steel either delivered to site or being transported. Steel erection has started at the flotation and thickener areas. Fabrication of plate work and piping is well advanced with some material being transported to site.

Manufacture of all long-lead mechanical items is complete with the crushers, low entrainment flotation cells and concentrate filter already delivered to site. Final deliveries for the mills, high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR), flotation cells and thickeners are expected to arrive on-site before the end of August.

Figure 9: Underground pumping station and water dam at Kakula's 1,050 level. Construction of a second permanent underground water-handling system is progressing well and commissioning is expected this month. The new system will add 800 litres per second of underground pumping capacity, bringing the total installed capacity to 1,400 litres per second.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 9, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_013full.jpg

Figure 10: Mukalayi Masengo, Technician, installing bolts on steel support structures for the surface conveyor that will transport ore from the surface stockpiles to the processing plant.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 10, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_014full.jpg

The mine is receiving hydro-generated electrical power for the Kamoa 120kV overhead line via the 18MW mobile substation, which is connected to the national grid. The mobile substation was recently relocated to the Kakula Mine from the Kansoko Mine to increase transmission capacity to Kakula. Construction of the permanent 220-kilovolt overhead power line, the electrical switching substation (NRO substation) and the Kamoa Consumer Substation are underway. The objective is to energize the mine on 220kV grid power early in 2021.

All the newly built accommodation at the Kakula camp has been completed and is occupied. Construction of the kitchen, mess area and laundry will be completed shortly.

Ongoing upgrading work enables Mwadingusha hydropower station to supply clean, sustainable electricity

Ongoing upgrading work at the Mwadingusha hydropower plant in the DRC has significantly progressed. The two main activities remaining are the final installation of the turbines and the completion of the penstock replacement.

Current activities include the installation of the turbine cooling and electrical systems as well as the welding of the valve chambers in the penstocks. Delays were experienced due to some of the European engineers leaving site at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, however these engineers now are returning to site.

The progressive re-commissioning of the turbines is underway with three turbines expected to be in operation by December 2020 and the three remaining turbines in Q1 2021. The refurbished plant is projected to deliver approximately 72 megawatts (MW) of power to the national grid.

The work at Mwadingusha is being conducted by engineering firm STUCKY of Lausanne, Switzerland, under the direction of Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining, in conjunction with the DRC's state-owned power company, La Socit Nationale d'Electricit (SNEL SA).

The Kansoko Mine, Kakula Mine and Kamoa camp have been connected to the national hydroelectric power grid since the completion of a 20-kilometre long, 120-kilovolt, single-circuit power line between Kansoko and SNEL SA's high voltage national grid in September 2016. A 12-kilometres long, 120-kilovolts, dual-circuit power line between Kansoko and Kakula was completed in December 2017. The design of permanent, 11-kilovolt reticulation to the ventilation shafts and mine has started, which includes substations, overhead lines and surface cables.

Figure 11: The dam at the Mwadingusha hydropower station that will supply clean, sustainable electricity to the DRC national power grid.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 11, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_015full.jpg

Continued focus on enriching communities through sustainable development

The Kamoa-Kakula Sustainable Livelihoods Program is committed to sustainable development in the communities within the project's footprint. The main objective of the livelihoods program is to enhance food security and living standards of the people who reside within the project area. The program consists primarily of fish farming, poultry production, beekeeping and food crops; including the farming of maize (corn), vegetables and bananas. With the increase in development activities at the project, a significant number of employment opportunities have also been made available to residents of the local communities.

The Sustainable Livelihoods Program started in 2010 in an effort to strengthen food security and farming capacity in the host communities near Kamoa-Kakula by establishing an agricultural training garden and support for farmers at the community level. Today, approximately 350 community farmers are benefiting from the Sustainable Livelihoods Program, producing high-quality food for their families and selling the surplus for additional income.

Additional non-farming related activities for Q2 2020 included education and literacy programs, the continuation of a community brick-making program and the supply of fresh water to a number of local communities using solar powered boreholes.

Construction of resettlement houses for the second phase of the relocation program is underway. The survey for the final phase of relocation has been completed and crop compensation has commenced, with only five permanent structures being identified. The entire Kakula Mine area, including the tailings dam area, will be secured once these relocation phases are complete.

Figure 12: A farmer weeding in his vegetable nursery. The Livelihoods Program at Kamoa-Kakula has developed into a large-scale operation, with hundreds of beneficiaries raising fish; growing maize and vegetables; and selling poultry and honey.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 12, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_016full.jpg

Figure 13: Construction of a community clinic at the local village of Muvunda, a Kamoa-Kakula Livelihoods Program initiative.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 13, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_017full.jpg

2. Platreef Project 64%-owned by Ivanhoe MinesSouth Africa

The Platreef Project is owned by Ivanplats (Pty) Ltd (Ivanplats), which is 64%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines. A 26% interest is held by Ivanplats' historically-disadvantaged, broad-based, black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) partners, which include 20 local host communities with approximately 150,000 people, project employees and local entrepreneurs. Ivanplats reached Level 4 contributor status in its most recent verification assessment on the B-BBEE scorecard. A Japanese consortium of ITOCHU Corporation, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation; and Japan Gas Corporation, owns a 10% interest in Ivanplats, which it acquired in two tranches for a total investment of $290 million.

The Platreef Project hosts an underground deposit of thick, platinum-group metals, nickel, copper and gold mineralization on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex in Limpopo Province - approximately 280 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg and eight kilometres from the town of Mokopane.

On the Northern Limb, platinum-group metals mineralization is hosted primarily within the Platreef, a mineralized sequence that is traced more than 30 kilometres along strike. Ivanhoe's Platreef Project, within the Platreef's southern sector, is comprised of two contiguous properties: Turfspruit and Macalacaskop. Turfspruit, the northernmost property, is contiguous with, and along strike from, Anglo Platinum's Mogalakwena group of mining operations and properties.

Since 2007, Ivanhoe has focused its exploration and development activities on defining and advancing the down-dip extension of its original discovery at Platreef, now known as the Flatreef Deposit, which is amenable to highly mechanized, underground mining methods. The Flatreef area lies entirely on the Turfspruit and Macalacaskop properties, which form part of the company's mining right.

As part of the company-wide cost-cutting measures announced on April 27, 2020, Ivanhoe's board of directors allocated a reduced total budget for 2020 of $41.7 million for the Platreef Project, of which $23.4 million remains for the balance of the year. The sinking of Platreef's Shaft 1 has recently been completed, enabling Shaft 1 to be configured for permanent rock hoisting.

Health and safety at Platreef

At the end of Q2 2020, the Platreef Project reached a total of 119,686 lost-time, injury-free hours worked in accordance with South Africa's Mine Health and Safety Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The last lost-time injury (LTI) occurred on May 18, 2020. The Platreef Project has noted an 80% improvement in the total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) year on year with only one Recordable Injury for 2020.

In response to the country-wide lock down imposed by the South African Government due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Platreef temporarily suspended its shaft-sinking operations on March 26, 2020. During the suspension, the project kept a small workforce to keep the operation ready for when development resumed. Since April 21, 2020, following the announcement of amended regulations authorizing South African mines to operate at a workforce capacity of 50%, site activities resumed under strict mitigation controls.

One employee tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-July and was immediately placed in the project's quarantine facilities that have been set up in close proximity to the minesite. Contact tracing also was performed with direct contacts also being isolated.

Platreef phased development plan and update of Definitive Feasibility Study

Ivanhoe is investigating a phased development plan for the Platreef Project, targeting significantly lower initial capital, to accelerate first production by using Shaft 1 as the mine's initial production shaft. This plan will focus on initially targeting the development of mining zones accessible from Shaft 1 and maximizing the hoisting capacity of this shaft, followed by expansions to the production rate as outlined in the 2017 DFS.

Concurrently, Ivanhoe is updating the Platreef Project's DFS to take into account development schedule advancement since 2017 when the DFS was completed, updated costs and refreshed metal prices and foreign exchange assumptions. This update, together with the study on the phased development plan, is scheduled for completion in Q3 2020.

Shaft 1 successfully completed down to the final depth of 996 metres

Shaft 1 reached the top of the high-grade Flatreef Deposit (T1 mineralized zone) at a depth of 780.2 metres below surface in Q3 2018 and has since been extended to its final depth of 996 metres below surface. The thickness of the mineralized orebody (T1 and T2 mineralized zones) at Shaft 1 is 29 metres, with grades of platinum-group metals ranging up to 11 grams per tonne (g/t) 3PE (platinum, palladium and rhodium) plus gold, as well as significant quantities of nickel and copper. The 29-metre intersection yielded approximately 3,000 tonnes of ore, estimated to contain more than 400 ounces of platinum-group metals. The ore is stockpiled on surface for further metallurgical sampling.

Figure 14: Members of the Platreef team celebrate the completion of sinking Shaft 1 to a final depth of 996 metres below surface. Shaft 1's headframe is in the background.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 14, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_018full.jpg

Figure 15: Schematic section of the Platreef Mine, showing Flatreef's T1 and T2 thick, high-grade mineralized zones (red and dark orange), underground development work completed to date in shafts 1 and 2 (white) and planned development work (gray).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 15, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_019full.jpg

The 750, 850 and 950-metre-level station developments have been completed. The three development stations will provide initial, underground access to the high-grade orebody. Shaft 1 changeover detailed designs are nearing completion and will enable Shaft 1 to be configured for permanent rock hoisting.

Underground mining to incorporate highly-productive, mechanized methods

The mining zones in the current Platreef mine plan occur at depths ranging from approximately 700 metres to 1,200 metres below surface. When completed, Shaft 2 is expected to provide primary access to the mining zones; secondary access is expected to be via Shaft 1. During mine production, both shafts also are expected to serve as ventilation intakes. Three additional ventilation exhaust raises are planned to achieve steady-state production.

Planned mining methods will use highly-productive, mechanized methods, including long-hole stoping and drift-and-fill mining. Each method will utilize cemented backfill for maximum ore extraction. The ore will be hauled from the stopes to a series of internal ore passes and fed to the bottom of Shaft 2, where it will be crushed and hoisted to surface.

Figure 16: In June, Platreef's shaft-sinking team drilled the final round to a depth of 996 metres below surface.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 16, please visit:https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/61360_2569658254345a27_020full.jpg

Here is the original post:

Ivanhoe Issues Second Quarter Financial Results and Review of Mine Construction Progress and Exploration Activities - Yahoo Finance

Enrollment complete in the COMET Phase 3 long-term safety trial of AXS-05 in MDD; NDA filing on track for 4Q 2020

Results from three Phase 2 open-label efficacy trials of AXS-05 in TRD, antidepressant unresponsive MDD, and suicidal ideation, expected in 4Q 2020

MERIT Phase 2 placebo-controlled trial in TRD initiated; topline results expected in 1H 2021

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for the management of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announces continued progress toward NDA filing of AXS-05 in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), and the generation of new clinical data to further characterize the antidepressant profile of AXS-05 across a broad spectrum of patients with MDD.

Enrollment has been completed in the COMET (Clinical Outcomes with NMDA-based Depression Treatment) Phase 3open-label, long-term safety trial to support the planned NDA filing of AXS-05 in MDD. In addition, the required number of patients treated for 6 months has been reached. Filing of the NDA remains on track for the fourth quarter of 2020.

Axsome is also conducting three Phase 2 open-label efficacy sub-studies of the COMET trial which will evaluate the efficacy and safety of AXS-05 in three clinically pertinent MDD patient populations: the COMET-TRD trial in treatment resistant MDD (TRD), the COMET-AU trial in antidepressant unresponsive MDD, and the COMET-SI trial in MDD with suicidal ideation. Efficacy results from these studies are expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Further, Axsome has initiated the MERIT (Mechanistic Evaluation of Response in TRD) trial, a Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal study in patients with TRD. Results from the MERIT trial, which are expected in the first half of 2021, along with results from the COMET-TRD trial, which are expected in the fourth quarter of 2020, will provide clinically useful information with AXS-05 in this treatment resistant MDD population.

Depression Clinical Program Update

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) NDA

Treatment Resistant MDD (TRD)

Antidepressant Unresponsive MDD

MDD with Suicidal Ideation

About Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating, chronic, biologically-based disorder characterized by low mood, inability to feel pleasure, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, low energy, and other emotional and physical symptoms, and which impairs social, occupational, educational, or other important functioning. In severe cases, MDD can result in suicide. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 7.1% of U.S. adults, or approximately 17 million, experience MDD each year1. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease2. Nearly two thirds of diagnosed and treated patients do not experience adequate treatment response with currently available first-line therapy3, highlighting the need for additional therapies with new mechanisms of action. The majority of initial failures also fail second-line treatment. Patients diagnosed with MDD are defined as having treatment resistant depression (TRD) if they have failed to respond to two or more antidepressant therapies.

About AXS-05

AXS-05 is a novel, oral, patent-protected, investigational NMDA receptor antagonist with multimodal activity under development for the treatment of major depressive disorder, Alzheimers disease agitation, and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. AXS-05 consists of a proprietary formulation and dose of dextromethorphan and bupropion and utilizes Axsomes metabolic inhibition technology. The dextromethorphan component of AXS-05 is a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, also known as a glutamate receptor modulator, a sigma-1 receptor agonist, an inhibitor of the serotonin and norepinephrine transporters, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, and an inhibitor of microglial activation. The bupropion component of AXS-05 serves to increase the bioavailability of dextromethorphan, and is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. AXS-05 is covered by more than 42 issued U.S. and international patents which provide protection out to 2034. AXS-05 has been granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration Breakthrough Therapy designation for major depressive disorder, Fast Track designation for treatment resistant depression, and Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations for Alzheimers disease agitation. AXS-05 is not approved by the FDA.

About Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for the management of central nervous system (CNS) disorders for which there are limited treatment options. For the many people facing unsatisfactory treatments for CNS disorders, Axsome accelerates the invention and adoption of life-changing medicines. Axsomes core CNS product candidate portfolio includes five clinical-stage candidates, AXS-05, AXS-07, AXS-09, AXS-12, and AXS-14. AXS-05 is being developed for major depressive disorder (MDD), treatment resistant depression (TRD), Alzheimers disease (AD) agitation, and as treatment for smoking cessation. AXS-07 is being developed for the acute treatment of migraine. AXS-12 is being developed for the treatment of narcolepsy. AXS-14 is being developed for fibromyalgia. AXS-05, AXS-07, AXS-09, AXS-12, and AXS-14 are investigational drug products not approved by the FDA. For more information, please visit the Companys website at axsome.com. The Company may occasionally disseminate material, nonpublic information on the company website.

References

1. National Institute of Mental Health. (2017). Major Depression. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml.

2. World Health Organization. Fact Sheets: Depression, accessed October 9, 2018, http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression.

3. Rush AJ, et al. (2007) Am J. Psychiatry 163:11, pp. 1905-1917 (STAR*D Study).

Forward Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use terms such as predicts, believes, potential, continue, estimates, anticipates, expects, plans, intends, may, could, might, will, should or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. In particular, the Companys statements regarding trends and potential future results are examples of such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the success, timing and cost of our ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for our current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including our ability to fully fund our disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to our currently projected expenses), futility analyses and receipt of interim results, which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of our ongoing clinical trials, and the number or type of studies or nature of results necessary to support the filing of a new drug application (NDA) for any of our current product candidates; our ability to fund additional clinical trials to continue the advancement of our product candidates; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or other regulatory authority approval of, or other action with respect to, our product candidates (including, but not limited to, FDAs agreement with the Companys discontinuation of the bupropion treatment arm of the ADVANCE-1 study in accordance with the independent data monitoring committees recommendations); the potential for the MOMENTUM clinical trial to provide a basis for approval of AXS-07 for the acute treatment of migraine in adults with or without aura, pursuant to our special protocol assessment; the potential for the ASCEND clinical trial, combined with the GEMINI clinical trial results, to provide a basis for approval of AXS-05 for the treatment of major depressive disorder and accelerate its development timeline and commercial path to patients; the Companys ability to successfully defend its intellectual property or obtain the necessary licenses at a cost acceptable to the Company, if at all; the successful implementation of the Companys research and development programs and collaborations; the success of the Companys license agreements; the acceptance by the market of the Companys product candidates, if approved; the Companys anticipated capital requirements, including the Companys anticipated cash runway; unforeseen circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from or related to COVID-19; and other factors, including general economic conditions and regulatory developments, not within the Companys control. The factors discussed herein could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstance.

Axsome Contact: Mark JacobsonChief Operating OfficerAxsome Therapeutics, Inc.22 Cortlandt Street, 16th Floor New York, NY 10007Tel: 212-332-3243Email: mjacobson@axsome.com http://www.axsome.com

Here is the original post:

Axsome Therapeutics Announces Further Progress in AXS-05 Depression Clinical Program - GlobeNewswire

1. United States

The Navy welcomed its first Black female tactical jet pilot last month after Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle completed her final undergraduate flight. In the 1980s, Brenda Robinson became the first African American woman to serve as a Navy flight instructor and VIP transport pilot, but she did not fly fighter jets.

Lt. J.G. Madeline Swegle exits a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft following her final flight to complete the undergraduate Tactical Air (Strike) pilot training syllabus in Kingsville, Texas, on July 7, 2020.

In the years since, the Navy has often been criticized for its lack of diversity, especially among fighter units. A 2018 investigation found that of 1,404 Hornet pilots, only 26 were Black and 33 were female. The Navys Tactical Air (Strike) aviator program prepared Lieutenant Swegle to fly several tactical jets, including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.(CNN)

Conservationists are training ex-combatants to help preserve Colombias biodiversity. Researching the countrys wildlife was a challenge during the decadeslong civil war, but since the 2016 peace agreement, expeditions in former conflict zones have discovered more than 150 new animal and plant species. Experts say ex-guerrilla fighters, who once occupied the most remote parts of Colombias jungles, forests, mountains, and savannas, are uniquely prepared to aid scientists with ongoing conservation efforts.Wildlife geneticist Jaime Gngora visits Colombia several times a year to conduct workshops training former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in various conservation skills, including taking biodiversity inventories. The project isnt just helping scientists a recent survey of 10,000 former FARC members found that 84% were interested in terrestrial and river environmental restoration work now that the war has ended. This is a vital step to enable them to contribute to environmental projects, improve their livelihoods, and reincorporate into society, says Mr. Gngora. (Science, The Conversation)

Kick4Life Football Club became the worlds first top-tier soccer club to fund mens and womens teams equally, a decision the club hopes will inspire other leagues to step up on behalf of womens sports. Since Kick4Lifes womens team was founded in 2010, it has rapidly grown into a competitive soccer team while challenging gender stereotypes in Lesotho and beyond. When coach Puky Ramokoatsi joined as a player a decade ago, Kick4Life helped her rethink her own biases and overcome violence from her past, she says.The decision to match funding for the mens and womens teams is especially poignant as the pandemic has put a financial strain on global sports. These pressures are no reason to hold back, says co-founder Steve Fleming. Quite the opposite; the same crisis has given rise to an epidemic of gender-based violence here and elsewhere. The responsibility of football is to inspire positive change. (The Guardian)

The worlds largest urban rooftop farm, called Nature Urbaine, has started bearing fruit. On one day recently, young farmers atop Paris Expos Pavilion 6 picked 3,000 lettuces and 150 pints of strawberries from aeroponic growing towers plastic columns that are soil-free, use little water, and take up less space than traditional garden beds. The roof is the size of two soccer fields, but only a third has been planted. When its all in use, staff could harvest more than a ton of fruits and vegetables every day.Pascal Hardy, the engineer behind the garden, says his urban agriculture consultancy is fielding inquiries from around the world. [This farming method] is a clean, productive, and sustainable model of agriculture that can in time make a real contribution to the resilience social, economic, and also environmental of the kind of big cities where most of humanity now lives, said Mr. Hardy. And look, it really works. (The Guardian)

Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox.

Red kites are thriving in England after one of the worlds most successful reintroduction projects. The fork-tailed bird of prey was protected by royal decree throughout the Middle Ages, but became a target for taxidermists and egg collectors in the centuries that followed. In the 1980s, anyone wanting to see a red kite had to make a special pilgrimage to a handful of sites, said Jeff Knott, an operations director with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Today it is a daily sight for millions of people.

A red kite flies over a Leeds, England, cricket ground, May 31, 2015. Sightings of the once-rare bird are now common.

In July 1990, 13 raptors flown in from Spain took their maiden flight across England. Thirty years later, there are an estimated 1,800 breeding pairs across England, and red kites are regularly seen flying through most counties. The United Kingdom is now home to almost 10% of the global red kite population. (The Guardian)

Pakistan has met United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 to take urgent action to combat climate change a decade before the deadline. The early achievement shows that progress is possible even for countries with limited resources.Pakistan met the target well before 2030 through a series of environmental programs launched over the last decade. These include the Billion Tree Tsunami project, a nationwide reforestation effort started by Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2014, and the Clean Green Pakistan Index, which ranks cities and townships based on residents access to clean water and green spaces. Pakistan has consistently ranked in the top 10 countries most vulnerable to extreme weather caused by climate change. (VOSA)

See the article here:

Points of Progress: Urban rooftop farm bears fruit, and more - The Christian Science Monitor

Saying the Kansas City Chiefs had turned in a good practice on Sunday morning, head coach Andy Reid then met with reporters through a Zoom conference call first fielding a question about when injured second-year safety Juan Thornhill would be ready to play.

Well have to see how and when that hes there, replied Reid. He is doing well at this time. Once we get into that phase where were moving him around the trainers are moving him around a little bit more well be able to tell. But hes not ready obviously right now.

Reid said he would say the same thing about offensive lineman Martinas Rankin, who is on the preseason physically-unable-to-perform list with Thornhill.

Theyre all making good progress, said Reid. Its just a matter of when they can come back. As we ramp them up the trainers well see. But neither one is ready to go right now.

But with regard to Rankin, Reid appears to be unconcerned at least for now.

I thought Brett Veach did a nice job of bringing a couple of veteran guys, said the head coach. So weve got numbers there. Weve got some young guys [and] these couple of veteran guys that are added into the mix. So I think well be OK number-wise as we go forward.

Besides, Reid said, there are 14 padded practices yet to come (beginning this Friday) where the team will be able to evaluate how the line fits together.

You know how [offensive line coach] Andy Heck does, anyways: he rotates everybody. They all play the different positions inside and outside.

So Thornhills status remains up in the air and us we have come to expect from the Chiefs during Reids tenure, the precise makeup of the line may remain unknown until the team lines up for the first offensive snap against the Houston Texans on Thursday, September 10.

Read this article:

Chiefs Andy Reid: Thornhill, Rankin making good progress to return - Arrowhead Pride

Update

UNICEF continues to support governments with their back to school campaigns. So far, 21 countries in the East Asia and Pacific region have started the gradual reopening of schools. In Malaysia and Vietnam,UNICEF supports the implementation of safe school protocols in over 54,000 schools. At the same time, schools in 6 countries remain fully closed impacting more than 28 million children. In countries where schools are not fully open, UNICEF supports the continued learning of over 68 million distance learner.

Situation overview

17 of 27 countries in the East Asia and Pacific region with schools completely or partially closed due to COVID-19

78% (121m) of enrolled children (excluding China) currently not or only partially attending face-to-face learning in the region

128 days on average schools are currently expected to stay closed in countries in the region (excluding Pacific islands)

See the original post here:

UNICEF EAPRO COVID-19 Education Response: Snapshot of Gaps, Needs and Progress (05 August 2020) - World - ReliefWeb

The Texas fire in Saugus, which started about 2 p.m. Thursday, has grown to 130 acres but has not caused any structural damage and forward progress has been stopped as of 4:30 p.m., officials said.

John Clearwater, a public affairs officer with the Angeles National Forest, said the fire, which began near Texas and Bouquet canyons on forest land, is 10% contained with 115 firefighters on the scene.

The flames have been boxed in by fire retardant, Clearwater said.

The firefighters are being aided by seven helicopters and three air tankers. A 747 VLAT, or very large air tanker, was also en route from San Bernardino.

No cause for the fire has been determined, but an investigation is underway.

The fire burned up the hillside and grew quickly with winds behind it, Clearwater said. It has pushed into the hill country, and firefighters on scene are working hard to protect structures.

The fire grew quickly from early reports of three aces to 130 acres within two hours.

Most structures in danger are homes, though Clearwater said that structures in the forest might also include barns or sheds. He added that no power lines had been affected.

Read more here:

Saugus fire that grew to 130 acres has 'progress halted' - Los Angeles Times

Construction activities continue to progress on the Regional Connector Transit Project. As part of the Federal governments Coronavirus Guidance for America, transportation infrastructure is considered an Essential Critical Infrastructure. Metros contractors are following safety precautions during the pandemic, including implementing social distancing when applicable and the use of masks and other PPE.

The above video shows some of the construction work thats taken place in DTLA recently. As you can see, the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station for the project is being built underground, which means the existing aboveground station, currently served by the L Line (Gold), will eventually be demolished as we near completion of the project. This station work is being completed ahead of the upcoming L Line (Gold) closure + bus shuttle activity set to take place this fall. We will have more information on that in the coming weeks.

The Regional Connector is a pair of 1.9-mile rail transit tunnels under downtown Los Angeles that will tie together the A Line (Blue), E Line (Expo) and L Line (Gold) to provide faster trips to and through DTLA with fewer transfers for riders. The project is scheduled to open in 2022. You can view additional project updates hereand sign up for email notifications.

Like Loading...

Related

View post:

Progress continues on the Regional Connector Transit Project - metro.net

Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously said that Volatility is far from synonymous with risk. When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. As with many other companies Progress-Werk Oberkirch AG (ETR:PWO) makes use of debt. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?

Generally speaking, debt only becomes a real problem when a company cant easily pay it off, either by raising capital or with its own cash flow. In the worst case scenario, a company can go bankrupt if it cannot pay its creditors. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. The first step when considering a companys debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for Progress-Werk Oberkirch

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Progress-Werk Oberkirch had 119.7m of debt in June 2020, down from 145.3m, one year before. However, it also had 18.6m in cash, and so its net debt is 101.1m.

The latest balance sheet data shows that Progress-Werk Oberkirch had liabilities of 137.0m due within a year, and liabilities of 127.6m falling due after that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of 18.6m as well as receivables valued at 87.2m due within 12 months. So its liabilities total 158.9m more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

This deficit casts a shadow over the 52.2m company, like a colossus towering over mere mortals. So wed watch its balance sheet closely, without a doubt. After all, Progress-Werk Oberkirch would likely require a major re-capitalisation if it had to pay its creditors today.

In order to size up a companys debt relative to its earnings, we calculate its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) divided by its interest expense (its interest cover). This way, we consider both the absolute quantum of the debt, as well as the interest rates paid on it.

While Progress-Werk Oberkirchs debt to EBITDA ratio (2.9) suggests that it uses some debt, its interest cover is very weak, at 2.0, suggesting high leverage. In large part thats due to the companys significant depreciation and amortisation charges, which arguably mean its EBITDA is a very generous measure of earnings, and its debt may be more of a burden than it first appears. So shareholders should probably be aware that interest expenses appear to have really impacted the business lately. Even worse, Progress-Werk Oberkirch saw its EBIT tank 36% over the last 12 months. If earnings continue to follow that trajectory, paying off that debt load will be harder than convincing us to run a marathon in the rain. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Progress-Werk Oberkirch can strengthen its balance sheet over time. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

But our final consideration is also important, because a company cannot pay debt with paper profits; it needs cold hard cash. So we always check how much of that EBIT is translated into free cash flow. Over the last three years, Progress-Werk Oberkirch actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT. That sort of strong cash generation warms our hearts like a puppy in a bumblebee suit.

On the face of it, Progress-Werk Oberkirchs EBIT growth rate left us tentative about the stock, and its level of total liabilities was no more enticing than the one empty restaurant on the busiest night of the year. But on the bright side, its conversion of EBIT to free cash flow is a good sign, and makes us more optimistic. Were quite clear that we consider Progress-Werk Oberkirch to be really rather risky, as a result of its balance sheet health. For this reason were pretty cautious about the stock, and we think shareholders should keep a close eye on its liquidity. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Case in point: Weve spotted 4 warning signs for Progress-Werk Oberkirch you should be aware of, and 1 of them is significant.

When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that dont even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now.

PromotedIf youre looking to trade Progress-Werk Oberkirch, open an account with the lowest-cost* platform trusted by professionals, Interactive Brokers. Their clients from over 200 countries and territories trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds worldwide from a single integrated account.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.

Excerpt from:

Does Progress-Werk Oberkirch (ETR:PWO) Have A Healthy Balance Sheet? - Simply Wall St

TOPLINE

One day before a Friday deadline to reach a deal on the next round of stimulus legislation, top policymakers in Washington are facing deep divisions and making little progress on the package.

U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks to members of the press as Senate Minority ... [+] Leader Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) listens at the U.S. Capitol August 4, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Though it looks like the GOP may be willing to make some concessions, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Wednesday evening that the Trump Administration and top Democrats are still trillions of dollars apart on a deal.

That multi-trillion dollar gulfRepublicans want to keep the new bill under $1 trillion, while the Democratic plan is three times more expensivehas some leaders in the GOP expressing doubt over whether a deal will happen at all.

Even though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that well certainly be in next weekmeaning that the Senate will stay in session instead of leaving for a scheduled recessmost Senators are headed home anyway on Thursday to await news of a deal, Politico reported Thursday.

President Trump, who along with McConnell has been absent from the negotiating table, doubled down on his threat Wednesday to bypass Congress by using executive orders to address eviction protections, unemployment benefits, and a term-limited payroll tax cut suspension.

I feel optimistic that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but how long that tunnel is remains to be seen, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday evening.

5.4 million. Thats how many Americans will be unable to cover their basic expenses this month without the CARES Acts $600-per-week federal unemployment supplement, according to a new Morning Consult poll. The studys authors also emphasized that its unlikely that these payments discourage workers from returning to their jobs, and that slashing the paymentsa major priority for the GOPprobably wont boost overall employment numbers. It is unlikely the decrease in [unemployment insurance] benefit payments in August will drive an increase in employment, the study says.

A critical meeting between Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is scheduled for Thursday evening. The meeting could be the determining factor in whether the negotiators have a deal tomorrowthe deadline they imposed for themselves earlier this weekor not.

McConnell Says Senate Will Delay Recess To Negotiate, But Some GOP Leaders Dont Think A Deal Is Coming (Forbes)

Second Stimulus: Heres What It Looks Like It Will Include (Forbes)

McConnell: Im Prepared To Support A Coronavirus Stimulus Bill That Includes $600 Unemployment Checks (Forbes)

A New Small Business Relief ProposalEven Bigger Than The PPPCould Be Part Of The Next Stimulus Bill (Forbes)

See original here:

Stimulus Talks Drag OnWith Little ProgressAfter Another Week Of Lapsed Unemployment Benefits And Eviction Protections - Forbes

We are accustomed to the fact that Tesla's gigafactory projects are massive and get built very fast, but work at the Tesla Giga Austin in Texas might raise the bar even higher.

It seems that the company has contracted a high number of people and equipment to clear the plot and prepare the site for construction. Things are changing quickly on a large scale, despite there being some serious swamps that have to be reclaimed. It's probably not the best ground to build on, but after removing the topsoil and then building up layer by layer, it should be fine to build massive structures.

Here we have two new videos, first from Terafactory Texas (record on August 7) and the second from Jeff Roberts (recorded on August 6), which both revealed huge progress compared to just several days ago.

The work has to progress at such a quick pace if Tesla really wants to produce Semi and Cybertruck before the end of 2021.

Tesla Gigafactory 5 in Austin, Texas - summary:

See the original post:

Tesla Giga Austin Surprises With Fast Pace Of Progress: August 7, 2020 - InsideEVs

ROME Pope Francis has long advocated for a more incisive presence of women in positions of authority and leadership in the Vatican, and while some have complained about the pace at which changes are being made, the recent appointment of six women to the Vaticans chief financial office has jolted things into warp drive.

On Thursday, the Vatican announced that Francis had named two women each from Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom to his 15-member Council for the Economy.

He also named one Italian layman and replaced six of the original eight cardinals on the council, naming Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark as the only American, and leaving in place German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich as the bodys coordinator.

Established by the pope in 2014 with a 5-year term for members, the body oversees Vatican finances. The bodys statutes stipulate that the majority of members must be either cardinals or bishops, who are always male, however, until yesterday no woman has ever been named to the council.

Last year rumors went out that the Vatican was searching for a woman to take the place of Australian Cardinal George Pell, who at the time was jailed on charges of historical sexual abuse but who has since been acquitted, as head of the Vaticans Secretariat for the Economy. However, in November 2019 Francis appointed Jesuit Father Juan Antonio Guerrero to the post.

The appointment of six women to the Council of the Economy now marks one of the most significant moves Pope Francis has made in making good on his many affirmations of the importance of women and their input.

In his speech to the Roman Curia right before Christmas in December 2016, Francis said that of great importance in Vatican reform is an enhanced role for women and lay people in the life of the Church and their integration into roles of leadership in the dicasteries, with particular attention to multiculturalism.

In a speech to consultants of the Vatican office for Laity, Family and Life in November 2019, he stressed that the Church must not be afraid to include women in advisory positions, also in governance.

At the time, he stressed that women are not mere functionaries, but that their advice is very important.

In 2017 Pope Francis named Barbara Jatta, an Italian art historian, as head of the Vatican Museums. Earlier this year, he appointed Francesca Di Giovanni, who has long been on staff at the Vaticans Secretariat of State, as an undersecretary in that office.

Francis has also appointed two laywomen, Gabriella Gambino and Linda Ghisoni, as undersecretaries for the Vatican office for Laity, Family and Life.

Women named to the Council for the Economy include German Professor Charlotte Kreuter-Kirchhof, a professor of law at Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf and chairperson of the Hildegaris Association, an organization of Catholic women in Germany dedicated to assisting female students in need, and Marija Kolak, a mother of three who currently serves as president of The National Association of German Cooperative Banks.

Members from Spain include Maria Concepcion Osacar Garaicoechea, a founding partner of the Azora Group assent management company and is a trustee of the Official credit Institute Foundation and a member of the Governing Board of the Association of management progress. A mother of two, Osacar Garaicoechea has also held numerous positions with banks and other investment companies.

Also from Spain is Eva Castillo Sanz, who holds a degree in Law and Business Studies from the Pontifical University of Comillas in Madrid, and who sits on the board of directors for Spanish Bank Bankia S.A., and for the Zardoya Otis S.A. company developing equipment such as elevators, escalators and moving walkways.

She has held numerous other positions, including director of Merrill Lynch Private Banking for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and she also served as president of Merrill Lynch Spain and Portugal.

Ruth Mary Kelly, who served as the UK Secretary of State for Education from 2004-2008 before joining the HSBC Global Asset Management company as Global Head of Client Strategy is also a new member. Kelly is currently Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at St. Marys University, Twickenham in south-west London.

The last woman to be named to the council is also from Great Britain: Harvard-educated Lesile Jane Ferrar, who served as treasurer for Prince Charles from 2015-2017.

In addition, Italian layman Alberto Minali, who holds a degree in Political Economy from the Bocconi University in Verona and has held numerous positions at financial and insurance companies, has also been named to the council.

Aside from Tobin, new members of the hierarchy who were named include Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo of Budapest; Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Scherer of Sao Paolo; Canadian Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec; Swedish Cardinal Anders Aborelius of Stockholm; and Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi of LAquila.

While Francis has closed the door to womens priestly ordination and has punted on the question of women deacons, he has continued to speak out about the need for women in leadership, and has acknowledged the abuse of women religious at the hands of male clergy.

In a recent interview SomosCONFER, the official publication of the Conference of Spanish Religious, an umbrella organization for religious congregations in Spain, Brazilian Cardinal Braz de Aviz criticized what he said is a state of dominance that men often hold over women in the Catholic Church.

RELATED: Vatican official laments system of dominance, submission for women religious

In the interview, Braz de Aviz noted that, In many cases, the relationship between consecrated men and women represents a sick system of relations of submission and dominance that takes away the sense of freedom and joy, calling the dynamic, a misunderstood obedience.

In an interview published in the May edition of the Vatican newspapers monthly womens insert, Woman, Church, World, Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet said there is a dysfunctional relationship between men and women in the Church, and called for more women to be involved not only in positions of leadership, but also priestly formation.

RELATED: Female theologians back Ouellet: Seminaries need women involved in formation

The real danger, are men who do not have a balanced relationship with women. This is what we must radically change, he said, insisting that frequent exchanges with women help seminarians interact with them in a natural way, and to face the challenges represented by the presence of women.

This must be taught and learned from the beginning, not isolating priests who then find themselves brutally in reality, [because] then they can lose control, he said.

Follow Elise Ann Allen on Twitter:@eliseannallen

See the article here:

New appointees to Franciss financial powerhouse signal progress of women - Crux: Covering all things Catholic

Watch Now: Pete Carroll 'Open' to Josh Gordon Coming Back (2:40)

Safety might not be the only position getting a big-name addition in Seattle. Months after allowing star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to hit free agency, the Seahawks "appear to have moved on" from their 2019 trade acquisition, according to NFL Network's Mike Silver. And they've got two names on their radar as potential replacements, per Silver: Clay Matthews and Everson Griffen.

Reports have long indicated that Clowney, who remains unsigned, turned down a sizable offer from the Seahawks to stay in Seattle. Silver indicates that deal would have paid him more than $15 million in 2020 -- a sign that the former No. 1 overall pick hasn't dropped his initial asking price as much as anticipated. Upon hitting the open market, Clowney was reportedly seeking upwards of $20 million per season, though some believed that demand fell to between $17-18 million early in free agency.

Either way, as has been speculated before, the Seahawks don't appear anywhere close to reuniting with the defensive lineman, hence their reported interest in Matthews and Griffen.

Griffen, the longtime Minnesota Vikings starter, has reportedly been on Seattle's wish list since March. The 32-year-old four-time Pro Bowler hasn't ruled out a return to Minnesota but reportedly elected not to sign with any team until the NFL finalized COVID-19 protocols and permitted him to physically visit team facilities.

Matthews, meanwhile, has had a quiet market since the Los Angeles Rams released him in March. A six-time Pro Bowler best known for his days with the Green Bay Packers, the 34-year-old has more experience standing up as a pass rusher and has played a full season just once in the last four years. But he's also fresh off an eight-sack season and would instantly give the Seahawks' defense another experienced front-seven presence.

The Seahawks are estimated to have just under $10 million in salary cap space entering the 2020 season.

Read the rest here:

Seahawks targeting Clay Matthews, Everson Griffen after no progress on Jadeveon Clowney talks, per report - CBS Sports

The BLS Employment Report for July shows employmentrose by 1.8 million in July following a gain of 4.8million in June, and 2.7 million in May. The unemployment rate fell slightly to 10.2%.

Initial Reaction

The Bloomberg Econoday consensus jobs estimate was +1.677 million and the unemployment rate consensus was 10.5%.

The BLS said that errors that plagued the household survey since March was not as bad this month.

BLS Error Rate

For March through June, BLS published an estimate of what the unemploymentrate would have been had misclassified workers been included. Repeating thissame approach, the overall July unemployment rate would have been about 1percentage point higher than reported. However, this represents the upperbound of our estimate of misclassification and probably overstates the sizeof the misclassification error.

According to usual practice, the data from the household survey are acceptedas recorded. To maintain data integrity, no ad hoc actions are taken toreclassify survey responses.

Add 1 percentage to unemployment rate for a better estimate.

Job Revisions

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for May was revised up by 26,000, from +2,699,000 to +2,725,000, and the change for June was revised down by 9,000, from+4,800,000 to +4,791,000. With these revisions, employment in May and June combinedwas 17,000 higher than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additionalreports received from businesses and government agencies since the last publishedestimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)

BLS Jobs Statistics at a Glance

Part-Time Jobs

Don't try to make sense of those numbers as they never add up. I list them as reported.

BLS Employment Report Statement

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4.8 million in June, and the unemployment rate declined to 11.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. These improvements in the labor market reflected the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it. In June, employment in leisure and hospitality rose sharply. Notable job gains also occurred in retail trade, education and health services, other services, manufacturing, and professional and business services.

Unemployment Rate Seasonally Adjusted

The above Unemployment Rate Chart is from the BLS. Click on the link for an interactive chart.

Month-Over-Month Changes By Job Type

Hours and Wages

Average weekly hours of all private employees declined 0.1 hours to 34.5 hours. Average weekly hours of all private service-providing employees decline 0.1 hours to 33.5 hours. Average weekly hours of manufacturers rose 0.7 hours to at 39.7 hours.

Average Hourly Earnings of All Nonfarm Workers rose $0.07 to $29.39.

Year-over-year, wages rose from $28.05 to $29.39. That's a gain of 4.7%.

The month-to-month and especially year-over-year gains are very distorted because more higher-paid workers kept their jobs than lower-paid employees.

Average hourly earnings of Production and Supervisory Workers fell $0.11 to $24.63.

The decline is a good thing in that reflects more people returning to work.

Year-over-year, wages rose from $23.54 to $24.63. That's a gain of 4.6%.

For a discussion of income distribution, please see Whats Really Behind Gross Inequalities In Income Distribution?

Birth Death Model

Starting January 2014, I dropped the Birth/Death Model charts from this report.

For those who follow the numbers, I retain this caution: Do not subtract the reported Birth-Death number from the reported headline number. That approach is statistically invalid.

BLS Covid-19 Statement on the Birth-Death Model

The widespread disruption to labor markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact to the birth-death model have prompted BLS to both revisit research conducted in the aftermath of the Great Recession (2008-2009) and incorporate new ideas to account for changes in the number of business openings and closings. Two areas of research have been implemented to improve the accuracy of our birth-death model in the CES estimates. These adjustments will better reflect the net effect of the contribution of business births and deaths to the estimates. These two methodological changes are the following:

1: A portion of both reported zeros and returns from zero in the current month from the sample were used in estimation to better account for the fact that business births and deaths will not offset.

2: Current sample growth rates were included in the net birth-death forecasting model to better account for the changing relationships between business openings and closings.

BLS will determine on a monthly basis if the adjusted birth-death model described here continues to be necessary. We will disclose these changes each month in the Employment Situation news release. All months in the tables of net birth-death forecasts on this page include footnotes for any month in which a regressor was used to supplement the forecasts.

The Birth-Death model is essentially garbage but we likely will not find how distorted this is until the annual revisions next year.

Table 15 BLS Alternative Measures of Unemployment

Table A-15 is where one can find a better approximation of what the unemployment rate really is.

The official unemployment rate is 10.2%. However, if you start counting all the people who want a job but gave up, all the people with part-time jobs that want a full-time job, all the people who dropped off the unemployment rolls because their unemployment benefits ran out, etc., you get a closer picture of what the unemployment rate is. That number is in the last row labeled U-6.

U-6 is much higher at 16.5%. Both numbers would be way higher still, were it not for millions dropping out of the labor force over the past few years.

Some of those dropping out of the labor force retired because they wanted to retire. The rest is disability fraud, forced retirement, discouraged workers, and kids moving back home because they cannot find a job.

Strength is Relative

Its important to put the jobs numbers into proper perspective.

In the household survey, if you work as little as 1 hour a week, even selling trinkets on eBay, you are considered employed.

In the household survey, if you work three part-time jobs, 12 hours each, the BLS considers you a full-time employee.

In the payroll survey, three part-time jobs count as three jobs. The BLS attempts to factor this in, but they do not weed out duplicate Social Security numbers. The potential for double-counting jobs in the payroll survey is large.

Household Survey vs. Payroll Survey

The payroll survey (sometimes called the establishment survey) is the headline jobs number, generally released the first Friday of every month. It is based on employer reporting.

The household survey is a phone survey conducted by the BLS. It measures unemployment and many other factors.

If you work one hour, you are employed. If you dont have a job and fail to look for one, you are not considered unemployed, rather, you drop out of the labor force.

Looking for jobs on Monster does not count as looking for a job. You need an actual interview or send out a resume.

These distortions artificially lower the unemployment rate, artificially boost full-time employment, and artificially increase the payroll jobs report every month.

Seasonal Adjustments

The report this month is weaker than it looks. Huge seasonal adjustments were in play as were temporary Census jobs.

I discussed this yesterday evening in Seasonal Adjustments Likely to Boost Friday's Job Numbers

Recovery Will Take Years

Last month I notedThe Fed Promotes a Quickening that Takes Many Years

This report provides evidence. The recovery has slowed. Huge headwinds remain and the reopenings reversed in July.

The economy has added about 9.5 million jobs since the April lows.

However, jobs remain nearly 13 million jobs below the February 2020 peak. Millions of those jobs will not return.

Mish

More here:

The Jobs Recovery Is Not Yet Half-Way as Progress Slows - TheStreet

Taking a break from his controversial political efforts, Kanye West recently took to Twitter to offer a look into his creative mind. Being heavily active on the social media platform over the last few months, Ye posted an array of images accompanied by brief musings that highlight the weight of each image.

Sharing, inspirations, works in progress and unreleased YEEZY footwear designs, Kanye revealed just how many elements of the culture he currently has his hands in. Standing out amongst the string of tweets are the looks at early YEEZY footwear designs include a top-down image of circles made up of unreleased colorways, a closer look at a yellow-focused adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 model, progressive slip-on models and what Ye claims is an upcoming Derrick Rose sneaker.

Aside from sharing inspirations from Herzog & de Meuron and James Turrell, Ye also offered a look at some of his progressive architecture designs. Building on the contemporary nature of his ideas, the creative looks to now be focusing on underwater homes with boulder doors inspired by Indiana Jones. Riddled throughout the stream of images are color studies that often deal with iridescent tones and weathered workwear.

Rounding up the Twitter spree is a look at a giant YEEZY model inflatable that is coming soon, a look at a Japanese mecha model, wholesome image of Kanye and his mother during their time in China and a notable jacket from Virgil Ablohs Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2021 collection.

Catch Kanye Wests latest Twitter spree below.

In case you missed it, ENG and Onelove look to bring archive fashion to China.

Go here to see the original:

Kanye Shares Inspirations, Works in Progress and Unreleased YEEZY Footwear Designs - HYPEBEAST

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said negotiations on a new virus relief package are making progress, but the two sides remained at an impasse on major issues with their self-imposed Friday deadline for an agreement looming.

With no deal immediately in the offing, President Donald Trump said Thursday he is ready to sign orders extending enhanced unemployment benefits for the jobless and imposing a payroll tax holiday for employers and workers.

Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer are scheduled to meet again Thursday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows for another round of negotiations to try to bridge the gap between them on the cost and breadth of another stimulus plan.

We have been making some progress, proceeding in a positive way, Pelosi said at a news conference. Were not there yet.

With progress slow, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor accused the two Democrats of stonewalling in the talks.

But Pelosi faulted McConnell for waiting until last week -- after earlier rescue measures expired -- to make a counteroffer to the $3.5 trillion stimulus plan that the House passed in May.

The fact is, when they showed up last week, it was already too late to prevent a lapse of extra unemployment insurance benefits, Pelosi said.

Staff members from each team were working on various proposals ahead of the negotiating session among the four principals scheduled for 5 p.m. in Washington.

Neither side indicated it would walk away if an agreement cant be reached by Friday. But Mnuchin and Meadows said that unless some compromise can be found soon, more talks may be fruitless.

Our objective is to try to reach an understanding of the major issues by Friday, Mnuchin told reporters after Wednesdays meeting with Pelosi and Schumer. If we cant reach an agreement on the major issues, its going to be hard to complete a deal.

Meadows said the two sides are still trillions of dollars apart on a compromise.

Meadows also said the administration and Republicans have already given more ground than Democrats in talks. He said the administration has been looking at legal issues with the president using his executive authority to take steps, that also include extending a moratorium on evictions and forbearance on student loans.

The administration is looking at the possibility of using money from the $2 trillion stimulus passed in March that hasnt been spent to extend the supplemental unemployment benefits, according to a person familiar with the matter. But there are are potential legal hurdles to redirecting the money.

I dont think they know what theyre talking about, Pelosi said about the White House redirecting money.

She said she supported the president extending the eviction moratorium, though more money will be needed to help those behind on rent catch up.

The talks take on added urgency as time passes. The November general election is 89 days away and economic data show signs that the economy is still hobbling along. The Labor Department reported that applications for unemployment benefits fell more than expected, to the lowest since the pandemic started. But with claims still exceeding 1 million on a weekly basis, the job market has a long road to fully recovering.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby said negotiations were at an impasse right now.

Theres optimism and then theres pessimism, the Alabama Republican said. Sometimes theyre far apart and get close together on some things. We might not get a deal.

Meantime, McConnell is officially postponing the Senates scheduled August break, which was to begin on Friday. He said senators can return home, but will be called back if theres a vote on a relief bill. The House is on break, but lawmakers there have been told they could be recalled to Washington on 24 hours notice.

With assistance by Steven T. Dennis, Saleha Mohsin, and Skylar Woodhouse

(Updates with Trump preparing orders on stimulus in second paragraph)

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

Continue reading here:

Pelosi Cites Progress on Stimulus With Two Sides Still Far Apart - Bloomberg