Category Archives: Progress

ELK GROVE (CBS13) Crews on Wednesday put out a grass fire in Elk Grove that forced evacuations and threatened structures, the Cosumnes Fire Department said.

(credit: Cosumnes Fire Department)

The fire was along Sheldon Road between Waterman Road and Bradshaw Road. The fire burned about 73 acres and was threatening around 20 structures, officials said.

The department said at around 5 p.m. that forward progress of the fire was stopped. No homes were damaged or destroyed but officials said some outbuildings were burned.

Cosumnes Fire said evacuations were coordinated with Elk Grove police for the area.

A photo (right) from the fire department shows an aerial view of the burn area.

Cosumnes Fire said the grass fire was upgraded to two alarms and multiple resources were on the scene.

At this time, it is unclear what started the fire.

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Forward Progress Stopped Of Grass Fire That Threatened Structures, Forced Evacuations In Elk Grove - CBS Sacramento

Last week the Guardian reported that an Irish subsidiary of the US tech giant Microsoft paid no corporation tax at all last year, on profits of $315bn (222bn). This is because Microsoft Round Island One, which collects licence fees for Microsoft software, is resident for tax purposes in Bermuda. Since Bermuda does not levy corporation tax, the only payout came in the form of bumper dividends for Microsoft shareholders, worth a total of $55bn.

Over recent decades, such shameless chicanery has become the way of the world. But at the weekend, G7 finance ministers took a first step towards dismantling this footloose, beggar-thy-neighbour version of capitalism, which has deprived treasuries of hundreds of billions of pounds in tax receipts. International corporate tax rules were designed a hundred years ago, to protect multinational companies from predatory governments and the threat of double taxation. But since the late 20th century, and particularly in the digital era, the power relationship has been inverted. In the age of high globalisation, multinational giants played pick and mix with tax jurisdictions, salted away profits offshore through baroque ownership structures, and used their power to play countries off against each other.

The deal to tackle global tax abuse by corporations, signed on Saturday in Cornwall, therefore signals a sea change which is of genuine significance. A minimum global corporation tax of at least 15%, as proposed, would establish a floor on what the US treasury secretary, Janet Yellen has described as a 30-year race to the bottom on corporate tax rates. It would also lead to real pressure on the worlds tax havens many of them overseas territories of the United Kingdom to follow suit. The second part of the deal is intended to reform the tax framework to more fairly reflect where companies such as Amazon, Google and Facebook do business and make their money, as well as where they are headquartered. This is also overdue. The economic realities of the digital age mean that the tech titans have been getting away with paying far too little for far too long.

The agreement will now go forward for discussion at the G20 summit in Venice next month. The devil will be in the eventual detail. The 15% minimum is not much above the low corporation tax rates currently set in countries such as Ireland and Switzerland, and falls a long way short of the 21% rate first pressed for by Joe Biden, the US president. Nevertheless, an important principle of cooperation between states has been established, restoring a sense of political control over the manoeuvres of the global business elite.

The sudden momentum for change came about through a combination of factors. The debts piled up by governments during the Covid pandemic, combined with a lockdown boom in profits for big tech companies, concentrated minds in Europe. In the US, Mr Biden is determined to access a greater stream of corporate revenue to help fund economic recovery and his $2.3tn American Jobs Plan. The prospects of reaching a consensus were also immeasurably improved by the disappearance of Donald Trump. As a result, the balance of power between multinational businesses and governments is shifting in the right direction. Hailing the deal on Saturday, the German finance minister Olaf Scholz said it was very good news for tax justice and solidarity, and bad news for tax havens. He was right, but there is a long way to go before global business is truly paying its fair share.

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The Guardian view on the G7 global tax deal: genuine progress - The Guardian

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It might seem impossible to squeeze in those things you need to do to get a professional leg up in these hectic times. But making headway neednt be time-consuming or difficult. Here are eight quick and easy ways to make progress in your career:

Time is a precious and nonrenewable commodity; it will continue to move forward, and you can never get wasted time back. Its far too easy to be busy but not productive, which leaves you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated that you didnt accomplish what you want to do. Protect your time by establishing boundaries, eliminating distractions, and prioritizing what matters most. Saying no to the people and things that dont support your goals will give you more time to say yes to those that do.

There is a plethora of knowledge in a variety of formats and timeframes available to consume. Reading books and articles, watching webinars, TED talks, and masterclasses, and listening to podcasts and audiobooks opens your world to new ideas and possibilities, keeps you current with trends in your industry (or the industry youd like to join), and gives you interesting fodder for chatting up your colleagues and clients. Work it into your daily routine by swapping a Netflix binge session for reading a few chapters or by giving up some scroll time to catch up on your favorite podcast.

Youve likely amassed a wealth of experience, insights, and understanding; put it to good use by helping others. Position yourself as a trusted thought leader by regularly sharing your wisdom in your area of expertise through social media, which amplifies your impact and reach. Provide value by serving, not selling, and focus on sharing real-world business experiences and leadership lessons learned.

Everyone has a unique story, but not everyone leverages its power to position them for success. Properly crafted, your career story helps differentiate you from your competitors, highlight your value, and draw others to you. It provides a common thread that weaves together your personal and professional experiences, as well as your transferable skills, making it easy for others to connect the dots. Make sure you take a few minutes to update your career story on your LinkedIn profile, omitting anything that doesnt support your goals and focus on selling your destiny, not your history.

One of the best (and counterintuitive) ways to get ahead in your career isnt about you at all. Far too often, we assume that everyone thinks, behaves, and communicates the same way we do. Worse, we make the mistake of focusing our sales pitches and communication about us rather than our intended audiences. By putting others first and adopting a service mindset, you can improve your communication and connection, establish trust, deepen relationships, and build business.

If you keep doing the same things, youll never grow. Get over your fear and jump out of your comfort zone. When you challenge yourself to try something that scares youleading a pitch to a new client, presenting your departments quarterly objectives, or asking your boss for more responsibilityyoull move beyond words to action. And when you successfully master that challenge, youll have a newfound confidence. Youll gain positive attention for your fearlessness and initiative. And your decision to take a leap of faith can be the catalyst for further growth.

In your quest to get ahead, dont underestimate the power of your relationships. Surround yourself with people who support and challenge you to be the best version of you and who can help you get there. Grab a small group and form an informal mastermind group where each member can introduce other people and companies and share their expertise and advice. Your environment always wins; make sure your inner circle includes the kind of people with whom youd like to emulate, learn, and collaborate.

Were constantly bombarded with messages of hard-charging executives who never sleep and entrepreneurs who proudly hustle 24/7. But we rarely hear the ugly aftermath of that go-go attitude: chronic stress, burnout, fizzled relationships, and disease. The truth is this: you cant pouror performfrom an empty cup. To make serious career progress, dont neglect your wellbeing. Self-care isnt selfish; you must build in time to recharge your mind, body, and spirit.

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8 Quick (And Easy) Ways To Make Career Progress When Youre Busy - Forbes

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight

6/4/2021

Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight

Progress Rail subsidiary ECM S.p.A. and INC S.p.A., a subsidiary of FININC S.p.A. group and a leader in the large infrastructure EPC sector in Italy, have signed the first turnkey project for modernizing the signaling system of a railway line in Albania. ProgressRailwill supply the entire signaling system, which includes computer-based interlocking, central post and ERTMS L1, and all trackside components for the 34.2 kilometers of track between Tirana Public Transport Terminal and the city of Durres, plus construction of approximately five kilometers of new railway line between Tirana and Rinas airport.

Alstomwill supply a total of 60 Flexity low-floor, zero-emission light -ail vehicles (LRVs) to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in Ontario, Canada, under a contract valued at over 275 million euros. The new streetcar order will be used to meet Torontos ridership demands and growth needs, according to an Alstom press release. To date, 204 streetcars have been delivered to the TTC.

Rototilt Inc. has named Shaun Davidson regional sales manager for western Canada. Davidson will cover the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, in addition to his existing clientele in the rail and OEM markets of North America.

The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) has announced its 2021 Undergraduate Scholarship Program, which this year will award one Presidents Scholarship in the amount of $6,000 and $4,000 runner-up scholarship. The deadline for submitting applications is June 28.

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Rail News - Rail supplier news from Progress Rail, Alstom, Rototilt and REMSA (June 4). For Railroad Career Professionals - Progressive Rail Roading

Exclusive rating recognizes Progress Accelerate as a state-of-the-art partner program

BEDFORD, Mass., June 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Progress(NASDAQ: PRGS), the leading provider of products to develop, deploy and manage high-impact business applications, today announced it has received a 5-Star rating from CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. This is Progress ninth 5-star rating and 12th year in the guide.

This annual guide provides a conclusive list of the most distinguished partner programs from leading technology companies that provide products and services through the IT channel. The 5-Star rating is awarded to an exclusive group of companies that offer solution providers the best programs, going above and beyond in their commitment to their partner communities.

As innovation continues to fuel the speed and intricacy of technology, solution providers need partners that can keep up with and support their developing business, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. CRNs 2021 Partner Program Guide gives insight into the strengths of each organizations program to recognize those that continually support and push positive change inside the IT channel.

The Progress Accelerate Partner Program provides a robust set of tools and resources to ensure Progress partners get all the support they need to succeed. It consists of three distinct levelsTitanium, Gold and Silveralong with six specialties, and offers a wide range of benefits including marketing tools and programs, training and enablement, sales account management and incentive programs.

Each year, CRN develops its Partner Program Guide to provide the channel community with a detailed look at the partner programs offered by IT manufacturers, software developers, service companies and distributors. Vendors are scored based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support and communication.

"We are honored to be included on this prestigious list of companies with stellar partner programs, said Gary Quinn, SVP, Core Field Operations, Progress. The Progress partner ecosystem nurtures tens of thousands of businesses and millions of users around the globe and is vital to our ongoing global growth strategy. Weve recognized the importance of our partners by creating a program that makes it easier for them to grow, compete and win.

Progress partner program, leadership and technology have previously been recognized by CRNs Mobility 100, Channel Chiefs, Women of the Channel, Tech Innovators and Partner Program Guides. The 2021 Partner Program Guide is featured in the April 2021 issue of CRN and online at http://www.CRN.com/PPG.

To learn more about the Progress Accelerate Partner Program, visit https://www.progress.com/partners.

Additional Resources

About ProgressProgress (NASDAQ: PRGS) provides the leading products to develop, deploy and manage high-impact business applications. Our comprehensive product stack is designed to make technology teams more productive, and we have a deep commitment to the developer community, both open source and commercial alike. With Progress, organizations can accelerate the creation and delivery of strategic business applications, automate the process by which apps are configured, deployed and scaled, and make critical data and content more accessible and secure leading to competitive differentiation and business success. Over 1,700 independent software vendors, 100,000+ enterprise customers, and a three-million-strong developer community rely on Progress to power their applications. Learn about Progress at http://www.progress.com or +1-800-477-6473.

Progress and Progress Accelerate are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the US and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Press Contact: Kim Baker Progress +1 781-280-4000 pr@progress.com

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Progress Honored with 9th 5-Star Rating in the 2021 CRN Partner Program Guide - GlobeNewswire

A new day of cooperation and collaboration between Democrats and Republicans promised by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch in January has begun. Or it hasnt.

It all depends on whom you ask in the chamber or in the governors office.

After the General Assemblys spring session concluded last week, Democrats who hold super-majorities in the House and Senate say they succeeded, for the most part, in carrying out a legislative agenda focused on children, working people, racial and ethnic equity and ethics reform.

They said they did it all in the middle of a worldwide pandemic that limited in-person meetings and contributed to an end-of-session frenzy of activity, and the new House speaker believes a new day has dawned.

I think its gone quite well, said Welch, D-Hillside, who was chosen by House members in January after longtime Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, suspended his campaign for another two-year term.

We wouldnt have accomplished the monumental things that we accomplished without collaboration and partnership, Welch said. This is a session we can be proud of.

More: Pritzker defends new Illinois budget pushed through by Dems with $1 billion in projects

Republicans, on the other hand, were able to work with Democrats on some issues. But on the big ones such as the budget Republicans said decisions reached were as partisan as ever and maybe even more so this year.

They noted that Democrats included money for a $1,200 legislative pay raise Republicans didnt want in a more than 3,000-page budget bill filed a day or less daybefore it passed the House and Senate with no Republican votes.

That was classic Mike Madigan, classic 65th and Pulaski style, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said, referring to the street address of Madigans 13th Ward office in Chicago, where he remains the committeeman.

Earlier: Cannabis legislation to diversify industry approved by Illinois Senate, heads to Pritzker

Republicans said they were left out of final negotiations on the budget, and they disagreed with the way Democrats handled the drawing of new legislative and Illinois Supreme Court maps.

They said the sun heralding a new day in Springfield hasnt begun to peek above the horizon. The result for everyday citizens, they said, has been overspending, massive pension debt, a less-than-favorable business climate and taxes that are higher than necessary.

At the end of the day, its the same process weve seen for years, said Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield.

These massive pieces of legislation get dropped at the last minute, in the waning hours of session, he said. Its not a very good way to have productive public policy when we have bills that are thousands of pages that no one really has the opportunity to review before theyre voted on.

Democrats hold a 73-45 majority in the House and a 41-18 majority in the Senate.

When the Democrats have such an advantage in the legislature with the super-majority, they really dont care to engage the Republicans a whole lot because they can just do it themselves with their own votes, Butler said.

In politics, unfortunately,rhetoric and promises are one thing, and the way people conduct themselves while in office seems to be often a different thing, he said.

Democrats, sometimes on a bipartisan basis, spearheaded a litany of bills now headed to the desk of Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat. Democrats say the legislation would enact a balanced budget, pay down debts, expand affordable housing, providemore families subsidies for child care, reduce the states backlog of bills and make the full, scheduled pension payment.

Democrats said legislation they passed to enact the $42.3 billion state budget, an essentially flat spending planfor the fiscal year to begin July 1, also would set more money aside for educating public school students, expand Medicaid services, boost social services and help businesses harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another bill would create more economic opportunity for women and minorities in Illinois legal cannabis industry, Democrats said.

The Medicaid expansion to cover more health services received wide bipartisan support. And Republicans contributed some votes to the cannabis legislation, which gives more latitude for existing dispensaries to relocate and attempts to give people from low-income, high-crime neighborhoods more opportunity to win state-awarded cannabis licenses.

Welch, 50, the states first Black speaker, succeeded the 79-year-old Madigan after Madigan presided over the House for all but two years between 1983 and 2021.

Welch said the House passed a responsible, balanced budget and moved our state … a little bit closer toward racial and gender equity, led by the most diverse leadership team this body has ever had.

Welch said he isnt being critical of Madigan, one of his political mentors, when he said he has been more accessible to Republican and Democratic members of the chamber than Madigan was.

I believe in a more collaborative approach, Welch said. I believe in democracy. I believe in giving people a voice in this process, and I think if you ask around on both sides of the aisle, they will tell you they had plenty of opportunity to shape what happened here in this last session.

But Butler said Welch, like Madigan, spent little time on the House floor, while Durkin spent much more of his days there.

We didnt see a lot of the speaker, which is straight out of Madigans playbook, Butler said. He stays in his office all day long and posts stuff on social media, but we rarely see him on the floor. … This business is about relationships, and if the speaker is not around to continue to build relationships, then it makes it difficult to be productive.

Welch said Butlers criticism isnt fair.

My days started very early, and they ended very late, he said. Being speaker of the House means youre basically the CEO of the chamber. It takes a lot of work, a lot of time, very intense, and so when Im on the floor, its for a specific purpose. But when Im not on the floor, Im doing the work of the House, keeping the trains on the tracks. And so I think that no matter who is the speaker, youre not going to find them on the floor very much just because of the nature of the job and responsibilities that it entails.

Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who has served in the House since 2001, said he had hopes for more collaboration with Democrats, but by the middle of the session, the process was noticeably more rocky, noticeably more partisan.

Lawmakers having to discuss issues and meet so often on Zoom rather than face to face and rarely spend free time together may have contributed to the situation, Brady said.

Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said: This is the most partisan spring session Ive experienced. Ive only been here for three sessions, but out of the three, this was the most partisan.

Welch pushed aside Republican criticisms regarding the state budget andmap-making, a process that must take place at least once every 10 years.

Though Republicans disagreed, Welch said lawmakers had a constitutional mandate to complete legislative maps by June 30.

Not meeting that deadline, the speaker said, would have thrown the process to a bipartisan commission that likely would have deadocked, triggering the drawing of a name out of a hat that would have given Republicans a 50-50 chance of being able to enact their own map.

Pritzker signed the map into law Friday. Its expected to be challenged in court before all members of the General Assembly are up for election in 2022.

Welch defended the Democrats use of American Community Survey estimates of population for the map, rather than decennial Census results, because the results arent expected until mid-August.

He and Pritzker faulted Republicans for not coming up with their own map proposal. Republicans said ACS data, the only information available, would be inaccurate, and they continued to call for creation of an independent map-drawing commission that both Welch and Pritzker supported in the past.

Read this: U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis puts pressure on Gov. JB Pritzker to veto legislative maps

The two men said an amendment to the state constitution would be required to create the commission, and though they supported an amendment, the legislature never agreed to put one on the ballot. And the men didnt support Republicans plan to create a commission through existing constitutional provisions or through a new law.

Regarding the budget, Welch said the end-of-session finalizing of details for the budget was unavoidable. He disagreed with calling the budget a last-minute endeavor, saying Republicans are pushing a false narrative.

The budget bill was filed the night before votes were taken May 31 in the House. The Senate passed the bill early on June 1.

Welch said lawmakers had plenty of time to go through it, and that was at the culmination of weeks and months of negotiations of what would go in there.

Republicans said they werent a real partner with Democrats on the budget. Welch pushed back.

We offered them an opportunity to be a partner in everything, he said. They chose what they wanted to be a part of. They helped us with ethics. We got ethics done. They helped us with cannabis. We got cannabis done. They helped us with affordable housing. We got affordable housing done. They helped us with Medicaid. We got Medicaid done.

They pushed away from the table on the budget. They pushed away from the table on redistricting. They cant pick and choose what they want to be a part of and then complain its the Democrats fault. They have to take some responsibility in their own decision-making.

Both Republicans and Democrats said they want to see even more ethics reforms passed beyond the bill headed to Pritzkers desk. the bill would bar elected officials from lobbying other units of government and put some rules in place to interrupt the revolving door of lawmakers leaving and then returning to lobby the General Assembly.

Butler said the dysfunction Republicans continue to see in the legislature may slow progress toward further ethics reforms.

We can continue to work on ethics and do it the right way over the summer, but I doubt that will happen, he said. The Illinois legislature seems incapable of doing it in a fashion that is collaborative and involves a lot of stakeholders when it comes to an issue like that.

Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, one of House Democrats budget negotiators, said he plans to work to give lawmakers and the public more time to sift through and evaluate future budget bills.

The current process has to change, he said, adding that many Democrats share Republicans frustration with voting on a final budget with 24 hours notice or less.

However, Ford said the public needs to consider Republicans motives when hearing their complaints about Welch.

The Republicans probably would never recognize change unless theres a change in party power, Ford said.

He said Republicans should be happy that the budget contains many things they like, including preservation of the Invest In Kids tax credit for donors wanting to assist children with scholarships to private schools, a $350 million boost in the school aid formula, and more money for hospitals.

The final budget didnt provide for eliminating all nine of the tax breaks that Pritzker wanted when he unveiled his budget proposal in February. The Invest in Kids credit was one of them.

Democrats were able to pass the budget without Republicans being forced to take tough votes on a budget that contained measures they didnt like, Ford said.

Madigan sometimes would force overtime sessions to pressure Republicans to contribute votes to the Democratic majority on controversial bills, Ford said.

Ford also gave credit to Welch for allowing changes in House rules that give Republicans more input. Republicans dont think enough has changed, but Ford said more progress will take time.

The state cannot afford for Welch to come in and tear down everything in place, Ford said. This is an incremental change. … It was a successful run for Speaker Welch.

Welch, Pritzker and other Democrats benefited from an unexpectedly swift upturn in the states economy and accompanying state tax revenues as COVID-19 cases declined and vaccines were deployed.

The state also will receive about $8.4 billion through the federal American Rescue Plan, with $1.5 million put to use in the fiscal 2022 budget, another $1 billion going toward capital projects in lawmakers districts, and almost $6 million yet to be appropriated.

Republicans complained that the $1 billion in projects apparently will be doled out by Democratic lawmakers. But Pritzker said the allocation of that money hasnt been completed. Republicans can influence where the money goes by contacting Democratic lawmakers, he said.

Related: Pritzker budget plan keeps spending flat, closes $900 million in 'corporate loopholes'

Republicans said the state has more than enough money to preserve the nine corporate tax breaks and help companies fuel the economic recovery.

But the breaks that were eliminated in the budget bill will save $655 million annually and begin to chip away at the states long-term structural deficit, Pritzker said.

Through the bill, the governor said Democrats acted responsibly when the Republicans wanted us to spend the one-time federal dollars to try to stick up for their benefactors, the wealthy corporations.

Even though the General Assembly continues to negotiate a clean-energy bill affecting Chicago-based Exelon and utilities throughout the state, Pritzker and Welch said the session was successful.

News: Downstate lawmakers, unions, nonprofit utilities wary of 'zero-carbon future' legislation

This is a testament to the fact that theres a real effort here to put Illinois in a great position going forward, Pritzker said.

Republicans, on the other hand, said Democratic control of state government will only perpetuate political scandals, and the redistricting fight was emblematic of whats at stake.

Durkin said citizens desperately want honesty in government. Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said Democrats No. 1 goal during the session was gerrymandered maps.

Their true priority this year was to maintain their political advantage, Demmer said. He said Democrats handling of redistricting was a demonstration that we continue to govern through a system of brinkmanship. Its inappropriate.

Contact Dean Olsen: dolsen@gannett.com; (217) 836-1068; twitter.com/DeanOlsenSJR.

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Promised 'new day' in Illinois House debatable in a session with plenty of disagreements - The State Journal-Register

Valedictorian Aaliyah Alvarez and Salutatorian Briana Chapa are both La Joya High School graduates pursuing degrees in the fine arts. Some say to keep the arts out of schools, but these two young women defy the odds with their artistic ambitions.

Aaliyah Alvarez

Alvarez will be attending the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Arizona. She admits that being valedictorian was not necessarily always a goal of hers, but her perseverance and dedication to her grades made that possible.

Its been great, Alvarez said. Im grateful for everything the school has offered me. They have encouraged me to try really hard. I didnt think Id be valedictorian, honestly. I always took AP classes and I always did my work. The conservatory Ill be attending isnt exactly a university, its kind of like a certification. The reason why Im choosing that is because its exactly what I want. I want to pursue music production.

Alvarez did exceedingly well in her classes but she enjoyed the artistic side of education more than anything.

Audio producers produce a lot of the music that you hear in movies, tv shows, even in songs, Alvarez said. I took as many music classes as I could, like choir and AP music theory.Teaching of the arts is becoming less and less of a priority, with many schools getting rid of their music and art classes. Students like Alvarez want to work hard to remind others that fine arts is just as important as general education courses.

Fine arts is important because not only is it a hobby for some people, but its time away from all the academics and the rigorous courses that they have in school. It allows students to find themselves and express themselves in ways that they probably couldnt with regular high school courses, Alvarez said.

Valedictorian Aaliyah Alvarez

Salutatorian Briana Chapa

Alvarez might be moving to Arizona, but she plans on representing the RGV while shes there.If people ask me where Im from, Id say its a really small town that not a lot of people know of, but it has a lot of potential because theres a lot of people with dreams, Alvarez said.

Whats sad is that sometimes we get discouraged by where were from. Its really up to you to go out and show that you can do it. People from wherever can achieve their dreams and goals.Although music/audio production is not a career path thats as well-known as others, its an interesting and rewarding one that Alvarez has a passion for.

My family is supportive of whatever I want to do, Alvarez said. If you can be valedictorian, Im pretty sure you can be whatever you want. Thats what they tell me. They know its not a very stable career, its very hard to get into and make a living out of but theyll try to provide me with whatever they can.

Becoming valedictorian was not an easy road, but Alvarez persevered till the very end.

Briana Chapa

Dont get discouraged, Alvarez said. Sometimes youre overwhelmed and you dont want to do it anymore, but its all about perseverance. Theres a lot of distractions, even at home. I have to look after my siblings, this entire year I had to take care of them because my mom had to work. But you just need to make time. Time management is very important during these times.Salutatorian Briana Chapa is planning to attend Bocconi University in Milan, Italy pursuing a degree in economics and management for arts, culture and communication. Chapa says her hard work is due to the goals and expectations that shes set for herself.

Its mainly a lot of my drive to achieve my future goals, Chapa said. One of mine is to travel abroad. I told myself, you want to give up, but you need this in order to do that. So Ill do it. I want to do a lot of things. First is to get accepted to my dream university in Milan. Hopefully in two weeks Ill know if Ive been accepted.

Chapa hopes to become well-rounded and versatile while at the university so that whatever career she chooses, she knows she is prepared for.

We wouldnt be here without the arts, Chapa said. I honestly believe theyre the most critical part of learning. We have movies, tv shows, media on its own is an art. Without it, I dont think thered be any entertainment which would make life really boring.

Ill be majoring in economics and management, Chapa said. I believe my degree actually covers law as well so I can get a little bit of everything. The purpose of my degree is to become versatile so I can go into any field, but my main goal is to have a job that allows me to travel.Chapa worked hard all throughout school so that she when she became salutatorian it was that much easier for her to go to her dream school and pick a career that allowed her to appreciate the arts and the world.

Take a lot of time to think about what career you want, Chapa said. Or at least a general idea so that way throughout high school you can explore the different pathways that they have so that way you can be ready for whatever career you choose. For me, I like baking, so I took my culinary classes. I like language, so I took English and Spanish. Just keep an open mind. I know the majority of us think Im just going to stay at home because Im safe here. The world is big, go out and enjoy it. Theres a lot to explore, more than just here.

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Defying the Odds Progress Times - Progresstimes - Progresstimes

Americans consumed on average 653 pounds of dairy products per person in 2019, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.

Its good to know Im above average, I guess? Everyone has an entire shelf for their cheeses in the fridge, right?

Americans like their cheese, butter, yogurt and ice cream. And with the innovation currently underway in the dairy industry for new food products and new ways to use dairy as a food ingredient, the U.S. dairy industry is poised to grow, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.

But we need a steady and reliable source of labor if its going to grow to meet the potential thats there.

In 2014, the National Milk Producers Federation commissioned a survey from Texas AgriLife Research at Texas A&M University, The Economic Impacts of Immigrant Labor on U.S. Dairy Farms. It found that immigrant labor makes up 51% of all dairy labor, and dairies that employ immigrant labor produce 79% of the total U.S. milk supply.

The survey also found that if the U.S. dairy industry lost its foreign-born workforce, it would nearly double the retail milk price and cost the total U.S. economy more than $32 billion and 208,208 jobs.

About 64% of those losses would occur in input supply sectors and services provided to U.S. dairy farms.

Imagine what the price of feed grains would do with fewer farms and fewer cows on the board.

The issue of labor and immigration reform came up while I was talking with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall on his recent trip to Kansas. He says labor is the biggest limiting factor for American agriculture. He hears from members who want to bring the next generation back to the family farm and expand, but they cant do so because theres a limited labor supply.

The NMPF agrees, and says now is the time for real reform in farm labor.

In an April 5 opinion editorial, NMPF CEO Jim Mulhern writes, Farmers and their workforce have proven time and again in the past year that they can rise to substantial challenges. Its time for Congress to do the same. If the pandemic showed anything, its that most of the milk in this country comes from farms that employ immigrant labor, he continues. These workers, many of whom are undocumented, kept food production going during the pandemic, he writes.

Its time we bring them out of the shadows and give them the legal recognition that they deserve, Mulhern writes.

A big first step happened in March when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, the only piece of ag labor legislation to pass that chamber in the past 35 years, according to NMPF. It doesnt go nearly far enough, but at least it was passed, and with the help of 30 Republicans.

And yet without the support of the Farm Bureau, which said there were flaws in the bill that the organization hopes are ironed out as the U.S. Senate debates it.

Ok, its not a perfect bill, but its a start and one weve waited 35 years to have. We all agree that fixing the broken ag labor system is critical to our competitiveness on the global stage, just not on how we accomplish that.

Mulhern has a good point. Throwing out a compromise legislation to hold out for a better deal does no one any good. No legislation is going to be perfect, but we need some movement on this issue.

Its important for Kansas dairy farmers, and those communities that rely on them as economic boosters. Its important for the growing dairy processing sector in our state.

And, its important for my little cheese habit.

The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association contributed to this opinion piece.

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Dairies need progress on ag labor reform - Farm Progress

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After being considered one of the worst defending teams across the major leagues last season, the New York Mets were determined to put those woes behind them and were looking to take a positive step forward this season, particularly in the outfield.

Looking to make a big splash in free agency last offseason, the front office targeted outfielder George Springer and were hopeful he could help fill the massive void in center field, unfortunately, their pursuit came up short as the three-time All-Star signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. As a result, management was forced to shift gears and ultimately acquired a pair of depth outfielders in Kevin Pillar and Albert Almora Jr.

Since the Mets failed to land an everyday center fielder this past winter, they werent able to move outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who posted a career-worst -4 OAA in center field last season, to left field this spring and have been forced to keep him in the middle of the field. While there was some optimism the universal designated hitter would return for a second straight campaign, putting that in place has been delayed until next season, causing veteran Dominic Smith to roam in left field once again.

Thanks to the universal DH spot, Smith was able to spend significantly more time in the infield during the 56-game shortened schedule, as he compiled 193.0 innings at first base. As for this season, the 25-year-old has only spent 31 2/3 innings on the right side of the infield and has primarily been positioned in left field, which is an area where his defense has been a major concern in the past.

Coming into the 2021 campaign, the former first-round pick had totaled 470 1/3 career innings in left field, generating a -9 OAA, -6 DRS, -3.4 RngR, -7.2 UZR and a -22.7 UZR/150.

Based on these concerning metrics, it wouldve made plenty of sense to have Smith split time between first base and the DH spot for a second consecutive season. But since that hasnt been an option in 2021, the Mets coaching staff has since focused on helping him improve his defense and theyve also been locating where in the outfield hes best positioned.

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

While the veteran outfielder is far from a finished product, hes surprisingly made significant strides in the right direction and hasnt become a liability in left field up to this point, which has certainly been a welcomed occurrence. After working tirelessly to improve his defense over the offseason and during this past spring, the left-hander is starting to see his hard work pay off through the first two months of the season, as hes near the top of the leaderboard in multiple different defensive categories.

After playing just 23 games in left field last season, Smith has witnessed his workload climb to 42 games and has compiled 319 2/3 innings during that span, producing a 2 DRS, 0.8 RngR, 1.1 UZR and an 8.1 UZR/150 all of which are career-highs.

Comparing these encouraging results to the rest of the majors, the former top prospect is currently tied for the fourth-most DRS, owns the fourth-highest UZR/150, is tied for the fifth-highest defensive WAR rating (-0.6) and has recorded the seventh-highest RngR and UZR among all left fielders whove earned at least 200.0 innings, according to FanGraphs.com.

Taking into account his previous defensive struggles, Smith and the Mets deserve a ton of credit for this remarkable year-to-year progression, especially since hes gained so much ground in such a short period of time. In most cases, it usually requires an entire 162-game schedule, and sometimes even more time than that, before a player begins witnessing significant improvements regarding their defense.

So how has Smith found a way to perform more effectively in left field this season?

Well, a major component of his progression has been where the team has positioned him before the start of each play. Since the Junipero Serra HS standout has historically struggled with his range in the outfield, the coaching staff has decided to move him closer to the foul line, which has made it much easier for him to track down balls when ranging to his right.

Here are Smiths starting points from this season:

In comparison, here are Smiths starting points from 2018-2020:

Unlike previous seasons, Smith hasnt been caught in no mans land nearly as much in 2021 and also hasnt needed to track down as many balls in the gap, allowing him to thrive in the left-field corner. In addition, this new positioning has also seemingly helped him perform more effectively on plays where hes needed to range towards the infield, which is something hes struggled with in the past.

But based on his -2 OAA, which is tied for fourth-worst among all qualified left fielders, its clear the California native still has some room to grow as the season progresses, particularly when ranging to his left. Having said that, theres no question the Mets are extremely pleased with the work hes already accomplished so far.

Since the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire this winter, all signs are pointing to the universal DH becoming a permanent part of the game moving forward, meaning this will likely be the final season Smith is required to serve as a full-time left fielder. Looking ahead to future seasons, the lefty slugger should be able to occupy first base regularly and could also occasionally rotate through the DH spot as well.

Even though Smith is far better suited to be positioned in the infield and is destined to make that transition in the future, positional flexibility has become an extremely valuable asset of this era, so his improved defense could entice the Mets to utilize him at multiple positions in 2022 and beyond.

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Dominic Smith Making Progress With Defense in Left Field This Season - metsmerizedonline.com

First, consider the good.

If you have followed the Knicks any longer than the last two weeks, its not hard to look at what the organization accomplished this season and consider it a rousing success.

With new faces in the front office, a proven coach in Tom Thibodeau and an assortment of low-cost additions, the Knicks shed decades of dysfunction and earned a playoff berth for the first time in eight years.

The Knicks jumped far above the expectations of anyone outside of their locker room, winning 41 games, earning the Eastern Conference's No. 4 seed and filling Madison Square Garden for three playoff games infused with hope and enthusiasm.

It ended in disappointment, though. All of that was dimmed by the abrupt ending, a five-game ouster at the hands of Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, who talked and taunted and backed up every bit of it in humbling the Knicks.

"I think you learn from each experience," Thibodeau said after it was over. "Atlanta really added some good pieces to complement Trae and I think that helped them. Every year, you analyzed the things you did well, the things you didnt do as well as youd like. You look at how you match up with the teams you start with the division, then you look at the conference, then you look at the league. Then you see where you might have opportunities, whether its through the draft or free agency or trades, your own player development. All four areas factor into it."

What do you see now? Is this a grittier version of the last Knicks team to dip a toe into the postseason, full of hope and belief until the veteran cast ran out of gas in Indiana? Or is it following the blueprint of what the Nets became, a hard-working, overachieving group in a major market that became a destination for stars?

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The image of the organization was shifted this season. Orlando coach Steve Clifford called the Knicks a team no one wanted to play. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich praised the accountability put in place by Thibodeau and laughed at anyone who didnt know it was inevitable that he would succeed. LeBron James praised them.

"Of course, I mean that's one of the reasons why I wanted to come here, because they had a great, great core," Derrick Rose said. "The guys there, the young nucleus, with me being my age, like who wouldn't want to come in, try to build on top of that? So I think there's a lot of people on this in a league that think the same thing. But like I said, it's all out of the players' hands. It's up to the people with us in the front office."

The problem for the Knicks is that while they earned the admiration of outsiders, bringing the stars on board is not quite as simple as it was for the Nets. When the Nets made the playoffs under Kenny Atkinson with their young core, it attracted Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, sweeping the star attractions of the free-agent market out from under the Knicks, who had cleared their cap to chase them and couldnt even get a sit-down with any of them.

The problem for the Knicks is that the upcoming free-agent market is nothing like that 2019 summer. Back then, it was Durant, Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and Khris Middleton. Now, if Leonard or Chris Paul dont opt out of their deals, the best of the class is 35-year-old Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, 33-year-old Mike Conley Jr. Kelly Oubre and, yes, Tim Hardaway Jr.

So the task facing Leon Rose and his front office is not as simple as lining up the Knicks' spending cash up to $60 million and waiting for the stars to sign on. The Knicks have not just the cap space but a pair of first-round picks (Nos. 19 and 21), as well as the No. 32 pick. And if there is one sure thing in Thibodeaus plans for the next step, it is not adding three rookies to the roster.

There certainly is a need for an upgrade in talent. Look at some of the teams that have been knocked out in the first round the Lakers, the Heat, the Celtics and Trail Blazers and give an honest look at their talent versus what the Knicks have on the roster.

Thibodeau surely knows it, too, dropping hints of what the Hawks added around Young. He pushed for the addition of Rose and Taj Gibson and lobbied for some of the shooters the Hawks signed last offseason.

"We need to get away," Thibodeau said. "Its a long year. They put a lot into it. Well take two, three weeks, get away to decompress, re-energize, and then well start talking about the plans for the summer and what we have to do next. The coaches will look at the season and generate new ideas.

"Our whole organization was terrific all season, the whole organization. Jim Dolan gave us everything we asked for. It was great to have the fans in the building at the end of the year. Were looking forward to next season."

Its not that far away. But there is a lot of work to do before it begins.

Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.

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Popper: Knicks made great progress and need to keep upgrading - Newsday