Category Archives: Progress

Philadelphia, PA, April 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Pennexx (OTC: PNNX), has produced a new shareholder promotional video that explains the benefits of its https://yoursocialoffers.com (YSO) platform that can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f38xFyFkt14.

Pennexx is also proud to announce they have completed their initial financials and will be reporting a profit for the first quarter.

Pennexx can now issue digital debit cards and will be sending personalized plastic cards to consumers in the near future. These cards represent a fantastic way for consumers to benefit from the YSO platform. The debit cards allow YSO to provide innovative universal rewards and offers to be saved directly on the consumers card at participating merchants.

The company has begun the redesign of the YSO website, increasing the usability and value for consumers. Pennexx believes this website is a tremendous evolution in the nature of the platform and one that will increase the company's success.

Vincent Risalvato, CEO, says, Our audit team has done a fantastic job, and we believe our auditors, Assurance Dimensions PCAOB, will be able to complete the audit by the end of May.

Pennexx has begun the process of preparing to upload its financials to EDGAR. The financials will become readily available on the financials tab at OTC Markets https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/PNNX. Many analysts and shareholders depend on EDGAR data for their decision-making process.

For More Information

Pennexx will do their best to openly and publicly answer your questions and concerns via social media on Twitter https://twitter.com/pennexx @pennexx, or you may email info@pennexx.net.

You may also follow them on Twitter;

Mr. Risalvato (@vrisalvato) https://twitter.com/vrisalvato,

Joe Candito (@jcandito) https://twitter.com/jcandito, and

Ms. Sunny Sweet (@sunnysweettweet) https://twitter.com/sunnysweettweet.

About Pennexx Foods Inc.

About Pennexx Foods Inc. (PNNX: OTCMKTS US). Pennexx, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a holding company within the Software/Internet Industry focused on social media, prepaid debit cards, artificial intelligence, targeted marketing, and consumer rewards.

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About YourSocialOffers.com (YSO)

YSO, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pennexx. YSO is our proprietary technology that greatly reduces (if not eliminates) our client companies cash outlays for advertising. YSO provides digital word-of-mouth recommendations from a person to their followers and friends on social media. Word-of-mouth referrals are the best type of referrals. It's not a paid social media advertisement. Our merchants reach new customers through social media without a dollar spent on getting their message out. The merchant only pays for advertising when it works by discounting their products or services when a customer accepts the offers that they share. Their objective is to ask: "Why pay for advertising unless it actually works?"

Safe Harbor Act: This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report.

For additional information, you may also visit our website at https://yoursocialoffers.com or https://pennexx.net or call 866-928-6409. Please follow us on Twitter @Pennexx.

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Pennexx Has Produced a New Promotional Video, is Providing its Shareholders Progress Updates Regarding Its First Quarter Profits, Debit Cards, Website...

While many gamers have a favorite platform to play on, we dont play games on just one. My TV stand is crowded with many different consoles and we have PC and our mobile apps as well. Xbox is proud to announce that Halo: Infinite will be supporting not just multiplayer cross-play, but cross-progression as well. The game will be released later this year. You will be able to play with friends on either PC or Xbox consoles, but now, your progress will follow you across those platforms.

On Xbox Wire, they said:

We have been working closely with the PC community to ensure that Halo: Infinite offers a premier PC experience, including highly desired features such as support for ultrawide and super ultrawide screens, triple keybinds, a wide variety of advanced graphics options and more. We want to make sure that Halo is serving the PC community. Were also using the cloud to make console gaming accessible on even more PCs. While not meant to replace native PC gaming, Xbox Cloud Gaming allows Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play over 100 console games on a wide range of computers, from lower-spec, entry-level machines to older devices that otherwise couldnt handle games that require more power.

The first Halo was released in 2001 called Halo: Combat Evolved. Halo has become one of the largest gaming franchises of all time.

Are you excited about the new cross-progression for Halo: Infinite? Leave us a comment.

Source: Xbox Wire Twitter

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Halo: Infinite Will Get Cross-Progress Between Xbox And PC - LRM Online

As nearly 100 people gathered at Manufacturers Village in East Orange for the unveiling of the citys Black Lives Matter mural Sunday, Malcolm Rolling, the projects lead artist, spoke to the crowd about the magnitude of the moment.

I (want) to talk about the liberation of African people and thats normally my theme, when we talk about why we do art, public art and why we put Black faces up everywhere, Rolling said. This is something special.

The mural, nearly 9,000 square feet in size, made its grand debut just a few days after the conclusion of the trial for Derek Chauvin, a Minnesota police officer who was found guilty on all counts of killing George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. The case has reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter movement. The guilty verdict, although an outlier, was seen as a sign of hope and validation for many in the Black community a rare occasion in which a U.S. police officer had been convicted of killing an unarmed Black man.

Nearly two dozen artists, all professionals, turned an empty parking lot on Glenwood Avenue into their canvas, creating one of the more elaborate depictions of the public arts project that has blossomed nationwide. Each letter, a unique painting in and of itself.

Rolling painted the letter M in the word matters. His design is characterized by a deeply personal display of extravagant cherry blossoms drawn inside.

Manufacturers Village Artists unveil 9,000 Square-Foot Black Lives Matter Mural at Manufacturers Village in East Orange, N.J. The letter 'M; was painted by lead artist Malcolm Rolling April, 25, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Really, its an altar for those who have passed, Rolling said. When we hold vigils, we put flowers and candles down to give praise to those who passed (away) and thats what this is. I chose cherry blossoms because its our state flower.

The unveiling ceremony attended by public officials, the citys police chief and other members of the community was jubilant, a celebration of the East Orange arts community and of what many called progress as a society.

I know I was (watching) CNN everyday, watching that trial... East Orange Mayor Ted Green said. Although...we got justice, we still have a long way to go.

But even as the fight for social justice wages on, there is still positivity in predominately Black communities, like East Orange, a sense that change can happen when people come together, many at the event said.

Manufacturers Village Artists unveil 9,000 Square-Foot Black Lives Matter Mural at Manufacturers Village in East Orange, N.J. April, 25, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The only reason why I make things, why I paint things, is to be able to see joy on Black peoples faces, including myself, said muralist, Sunah Nash.

On the local police departments involvement in Sundays festivities, Rolling said it was a good start to mending the relationship between police officers and the Black community, but he said there was more work to be done.

I grew up in East Orange at a time when the police were very integral in the development of the youth, Rolling said. They used to fund programming, fund football programs, boxing, karate...they did a lot of stuff with the policing budget that other cities didnt.

The space for the project was provided by the Hubert-Seabury family, which owns the property at Manufacturers Village. Project artists were compensated for their work through crowdfunding donations.

For more information about the mural and to learn more about the artists, click here.

Manufacturers Village Artists unveil 9,000 Square-Foot Black Lives Matter Mural at Manufacturers Village in East Orange, N.J. April, 25, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supportingNJ.comwith a voluntary subscription.

Tennyson Donya may be reached at tcoleman@njadvancemedia.com.

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Massive Black Lives Matter mural is a symbol of hope and progress, artists say - NJ.com

When the Cincinnati Reds ended a seven-year playoff drought last season, they relied on the strength of their pitching staff. It carried the teams struggling offense.

Through the first month of the 2021 season, the pitching staff has been much more of a mixed bag.

The Reds have a third-highest ERA (4.73) in the Majors, with a large split between the starting rotation (4.07) and the bullpen (5.57). The rotation rates in the middle of the pack and the bullpen had its notable struggles. The Reds have issued more walks than any team other than the Chicago Cubs, and they rank in the top-10 in strikeouts.

[ Series Wrap: What we learned about the Cincinnati Reds' offense in wins over Dodgers]

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo (58) is visited at the mound by catcher Tucker Barnhart (16) and pitching coach Derek Johnson in the third inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. The Diamondbacks led 3-2 after five innings. (Photo: Sam Greene)

The rocky start wasnt a surprise to pitching coach Derek Johnson. In fact, he predicted it. He knew the staff would have to scrap in the first few weeks because of injuries.

I feel kind of like I had a little bit of a crystal ball there because it happened in a lot of ways, Johnson said. Ive seen some good things, some things that I think we can draw from. I think some guys are taking some small steps toward good progress. Obviously, we have taken a couple of lumps too, which I thought was going to happen and it did.

Were probably about exactly where we should be, maybe exactly where I thought we would be. Again, still hopeful for what we have yet to come.

The Reds were down two starters at the beginning of the season, Sonny Gray and Michael Lorenzen, and had three relievers who barely had enough time to make the Opening Day roster after injuries (Tejay Antone, Lucas Sims and Amir Garrett).

[ How Sonny Gray predicted his impressive start before Reds loss to Dodgers]

Then the club had a lot of pitchers in new roles. Trevor Bauer and Anthony DeSclafani were gone, so it meant Jeff Hoffman needed to step up in the rotation. Closer Raisel Iglesias and reliever Archie Bradley were jettisoned to lower player payroll in the offseason, so it meant more inexperienced arms in the bullpen.

So, what does Johnsons crystal ball look like for the rest of the season?

This is going to be one of those years where theres going to be sort of a constant feel, he said. Were going to be working with guys as hard as we possibly can pretty much every day. Not that you dont do that during a normal season, but I do think that you end up getting guys right and you sort of leave them alone for a while, let them kind of do their thing.

This one feels to me a little bit like the boy clogging the holes in the dam. There is just going to be anotherhole in the dam that were going to have to plug.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) is visited at the mound by pitching coach Derek Johnson and catcher Tyler Stephenson in the third inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, April 16, 2021. The Reds led 7-1 after the third inning. (Photo: Sam Greene)

Johnson likes the potential of the staff. Its just a lot of pitchers who are a work-in-progress. Hoffman frequently talks about the incremental changes hes making with Johnson between his starts. Jos De Len racks up strikeouts, but hes been inconsistent. Lefty Cionel Prez, who was sent down to the alternate site last week, has an electric arm, but hes walked too many batters.

Theyre working at it, Johnson said. I think theyre open for anything that can help them be better. I just think its going to be a process and its going to take a while.

Some of the drills that Hoffman does in his bullpen sessions includepitching without a glove. Sometimes, he will hold a baseball in each hand. Its designed to help him synchronize his delivery.

Lucas Sims was throwing a pitch in a side session Monday where Johnson stood in front of him until ducking out of the way at the last second.

There are other things that I have done for a long time and I do feel like they work and they're a little bit out there, Johnson said. I can't name any of those off the top of my head simply because I've been doing this for a long time and I've got a lot of weird drills.

Its a different team and a different type of staff from last year. There might be some growing pains, but some guys have seen progress throughout the first month. Tyler Mahle and Wade Miley have been key to the teams success. Tejay Antone looks like a star and Sims has been excellent.

The key will be developing pitchersthroughout the season, even if it involvesweird drills.

Jeff happens to be a kid who likes it, who needs it, Johnson said. It helps him understand maybe a little bit better and helps him feel it a little bit faster. If we can do that just a little bit faster, get that pitcher there a little bit faster, then I'll stand on my head in front of them if I have to. That's just the way it's got to be.

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Derek Johnson on the Cincinnati Reds' pitching staff: 'It's going to be a process' - The Cincinnati Enquirer

Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), a high-ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee, said in an interview that Biden struck the right notes.

The president came out of the gates saying that he was open to discussing cost and scope and the definition of infrastructure, Graves said. Hearing those words was great, it was exactly what I wanted to hear.

But Graves said that follow-up is the most important thing, a lesson he learned from negotiations over Biden's Covid bill.

Lets talk through what truly is infrastructure, and what the federal government can do better than what theyre doing today, he said. That echoes what is becoming a party line stance, that Biden's definition of infrastructure is far too expansive and needs to stick to things like roads and bridges.

According to Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), chairman of the House committee's rail panel, Biden emphasized in the meeting that he is open to adjusting both the funding source and size of the package, in a nod to Republicans.

The president made it clear that hes willing to discuss all of this. Hes really trying to negotiate Republicans, I think, were surprised at this posture, Payne told reporters after the meeting, describing Biden as much more flexible than I was.

The willingness to flex included the tax hikes targeted as a funding source.

Hes not necessarily considering a lower [corporate] tax rate but hes willing to discuss it I think hes willing to look at a bit of a smaller package, Payne said.

Biden promised attendees that he would send staff to their offices as soon as Tuesday to keep talking through the details, according to Graves.

Biden also talked in the meeting about how existing funding mechanisms like the gas tax, which fuels a significant portion of transportation-focused spending, are inadequate.

The White House has swatted down suggestions that he wants to increase the gas tax. An administration official said Biden brought up the gas tax to make the point that even raising it wouldnt make a dent in the cost of the countrys infrastructure needs.

A Democratic aide with knowledge of the meeting said Republicans didnt just come in with a no. there was a willingness to see how we could get this done. The aide said Biden tried to appeal to Republicans by focusing on global competitiveness.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki rejected the argument that the negotiations are simply a token effort earlier Monday.

You dont use the president of the United States time, multiple times over, including two bipartisan infrastructure meetings hes already had or the meeting today, if he did not want to authentically hear from the members attending about their ideas, about how to move forward this package in a bipartisan manner, Psaki said.

But with Republicans remaining queasy both about the broad definition of infrastructure and using corporate tax hikes as a funding source, it's clear that so far Biden's outreach isn't breaking through.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that Democrats are embarking on an Orwellian campaign to convince everybody that any government policy whatsoever can be labeled infrastructure.'"

The White House also released a set of fact sheets on Monday, rating the existing infrastructure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and highlighting how Bidens plan would help each. The fact sheets use grades from the American Society of Civil Engineers infrastructure report card, and cite statistics from a wide range of sectors, including transportation infrastructure, broadband, drinking water and housing.

Julia Arciga contributed to this report.

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Biden woos GOP with sweet infrastructure words, but is it progress? - POLITICO

A 1-year-old boy who was shot on Lake Shore Drive last week continues to make slow but steady progress and has started to move his extremities, his doctor said Monday.

Kayden Swann remained on a ventilator at Lurie Childrens Hospital, but Dr. Marcelo Malakooti said his medical staff is hopeful that the toddler may be taken off the machine at some point in the future.

The entire Pediatric Intensive Care Unit team, including nursing, social work, family services, respiratory therapists, physicians, and surgeons have provided the best care and support for Kayden and his entire family, Malakooti said in a statement.

Though Kaydens initial prognosis seemed grim, his health has gradually improved since the April 6 shooting. Doctors removed Kayden from a medically-induced coma Saturday.

Kayden was shot in the temple while he rode in the back seat of a car on Lake Shore Drive during an apparent road rage incident. The driver of an SUV shot at the car Kayden was traveling in while both vehicles traveled north, Cook County prosecutors said. The altercation started when the SUV tried to merge near Soldier Field and nearly struck the car Kayden was riding in, prosecutors said.

Contrary to initial police reports, there was no evidence, that Jushawn Brown the driver in the car Kayden was in fired his weapon or displayed it during the incident, prosecutors said.

After Kayden was shot, a bystander rushed him to Northwestern Hospital before he was transferred to Lurie.

Brown, 43, is out on bond for a felony gun charge in connection with the shooting.

Brown, of Englewood, is in a relationship with Kaydens grandmother, prosecutors said.

The driver of the SUV has not been taken into custody.

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Toddler shot on Lake Shore Drive making slow but steady progress, moving extremities: doctor - Chicago Sun-Times

Video: Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey joins Chicago Tonight in discussion. (Produced by Quinn Myers)

Chicago high school teachers wont report for in-person work Wednesday unless theres adequate movement toward a reopening agreement between their representatives and Chicago Public Schools leadership.

The Chicago Teachers Unions House of Delegates on Sunday evening voted to keep high school staffers out of schools beginning Wednesday as the union continues negotiating with CPS over how to safely reopen those schools.

Our rank-and-file members told the leadership of the CTU in no uncertain terms that were not simply reopening schools without more progress at the bargaining table and without a return agreement in high school, CTU President Jesse Sharkey said Monday morning. What that means is it that on Wednesday, high school teachers will not be going into the buildings without that agreement.

While elementary school students and some special education students have returned to their classrooms this year, high schoolers have continued learning remotely since last spring when COVID-19 forced a districtwide suspension of in-person learning.

READ:CPS Targeting April 19 as High School Reopening Date

CPS has set April 19 as its target date for high school students to return for in-person learning and district leaders have said its their top priority to get these kids back into their classrooms. High school teachers are set to report Monday. But if a reopening agreement isnt close by Wednesday, those teachers will either work outside of their school buildings or from home on Wednesday.

On Monday afternoon, CPS announced that 3,640 out of approximately 4,300 high school teachers who were expected to resume in-person work Monday had shown up. Thats a little over 84%.

Both union and CPS leaders had expressed hope that this round of negotiations would go more smoothly than the elementary school reopening discussion, which nearly led to a teachers strike earlier this year.

Bargaining continued over the weekend, but according to the CTU, issues remain over accommodations to let teachers work remotely, student schedules, remote work and vaccine availability for students and their families.

Union leaders asked CPS last week to push back that April 19 return date by one week to allow for more time to learn about coronavirus variants and current transmission rates. District leadership rejected that request and pointed to their elementary schools, which they said have shown that safe in-person learning is possible right now.

Sharkey said the vote Sunday was the only authorization needed for Wednesdays potential action. He said the union may schedule another meeting later this week in order to evaluate where were at with bargaining and discuss potential next steps.

If CPS threatens to lock teachers out of their Google education suites effectively preventing them from teaching remotely that could lead to more consequences, Sharkey said.

CPS spokesman Michael Passman said the district had productive discussions over the weekend with the CTU, and the two sides have a general alignment on scheduling and safety protocols to keep students and employees healthy.

Tens of thousands of high school students and their families are counting on us to open high school classrooms in one week, and we are firmly committed to making that happen, Passman said in a statement Monday. We hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition for our high school students and families.

Contact Matt Masterson:@ByMattMasterson |[emailprotected]| (773) 509-5431

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CTU Threatens Wednesday Action If There Isn't Progress Toward High School Reopening Deal - WTTW News

Facts, not fear: We're tracking the latest coronavirus numbers and vaccination efforts across the San Antonio area.

BEXAR COUNTY, Texas We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic as well as the vaccine efforts in San Antonio and across Texas.

Vaccine Progress in Bexar County

Across Bexar County, more than 955,000 vaccine doses have been administered, as of April 12.

DSHS defines "population" as residents who are 16 years of age or older; in Bexar County, this represents more than 1.55 million people. The CDC states that "when a high percentage of the community is immune to a disease (through vaccination and/or prior illness)," that community will have reached herd immunity, "making the spread of this disease from person to person unlikely."

100,298vaccines were administered last week in Bexar County; a total of 955,501vaccine doses have been administered in the county since vaccination efforts began 17 weeks ago.

Across Texas, 5.721 million residents are fully vaccinated. In total, the state has administered 14.497 million vaccine doses, as of April 12. Texas is one of seven states with less than 20% of its population fully vaccinated, as of April 11:

Latest Coronavirus Numbers

Here are the latest numbers reported by Bexar County and state officials:

Bexar County (data as of Monday, April 12):

Metro Health reports new data at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Texas (data as of Monday, April 12):

More county case information is available through theTexas Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Bexar County COVID-19 Trends

This week's update of the Warning Signs and Progress Indicators for Bexar County saw Bexar County holding steady at the low-risk level. The positivity rate rose slightly to 2.4% after holding steady at 2.1% for two straight weeks.

The county's seven-day moving average of daily COVID-19 cases increased from 198 at the end of last week to 232 on Monday.

The number of COVID-19 patients receiving treatments at area hospitals continued its uptick Monday after jumping above 200 in nearly a month Friday. 217 patients are hospitalized, while 28 patients are on ventilators and 79 are in intensive care.

Just seven days ago, 176 patients were hospitalized.

Latest Coronavirus Headlines

Coronavirus symptoms

The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

Experts determined there was consistent evidence these conditions increase a person's risk, regardless of age:

Human coronaviruses are usually spread...

Help stop the spread of coronavirus

Find a Testing Location

City officials recommend getting a COVID-19 test if you experience fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

Here's a Testing Sites Locatorto help you find the testing location closest to you in San Antonio.

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Vaccine Progress: Nearly one quarter of Bexar County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 - KENS5.com

U.S. President Joe Bidens diverse slate of judicial nominees reflects progress in the legal industry in embracing women, minorities, and people with nontraditional backgrounds in leadership roles.

Read on for a quick primer on who the nominees are, and what you need to know.

Bidens first 11 nominees for federal district and appeals courts signify a stark departure from former U.S. President Donald Trumps 221 judicial appointees, who were mostly white, relatively young, and male.1

In contrast, Biden has nominated nine women, including three Black women, and two men to fill court vacancies. If confirmed, some of his nominees would mark historical firsts: the first Muslim to serve as a federal district judge, the first Asian-American woman to join the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the first woman of color to sit on the federal bench in Maryland, according to the White House. The nominees also bring a variety of legal experience, including public defense.2

Nominated for: U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Current role: U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia

Notable professional experience: Former criminal and civil appellate attorney; former assistant federal public defender; former assistant counsel at the Sentencing Commission

Nominated for: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Current role: Partner at Perkins Coie LLP in Chicago

Expertise: Trial and appellate counsel in complex patent and trade secret disputes

Nominated for: Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Current role: Partner at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP in Washington, D.C.

Expertise: Complex civil litigation, white-collar criminal defense and investigations

Notable professional experience: Former staff attorney at the Federal Defender Program in the Northern District of Illinois

Nominated for: U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Current role: U.S. magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Notable professional experience: Federal public defender

Nominated for:U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Current role: Judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Notable professional experience: Chief counsel for privacy and information policy and privacy counsel for Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont

Nominated for: U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Current role: County counsel for the acting county administrator for Bergen County, New Jersey

Notable professional experience: Former U.S. attorney prosecuting homicides, other violent crimes, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking and former deputy chief of the Appellate

Nominated for: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Current role: Associate judge on the Superior Court for the District of Columbia

Notable professional experience: Former U.S. attorney prosecuting homicides, other violent crimes, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking and former deputy chief of the Appellate

Nominated for: U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Current role: U.S. magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Notable professional experience: Assistant U.S. attorney and an Army judge advocate general for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Nominated for: U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Current role: Partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in Denver

Expertise: Complex litigation and government investigations

Nominated for: U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico

Current role: Partner at McGraw & Strickland LLC in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Expertise:Civil rights and criminal defense cases in state and federal courts in New Mexico

Notable professional experience:President of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association from 2017-2019

Nominated for: Superior Court of the District of Columbia

Current role: Administrative judge for the D.C. Rental Housing Commission

Notable professional experience: Indigent criminal defense

The 11 nominations are just the first of a series to fill 68 court openings and another 26 expected to become vacant later this year, according to The New York Times.3

If this first round of nominees sets the tone for the others, Bidens appointments could help energize efforts toward more diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.

Learn more about the importance of diversity in the legal profession.

Legility is a legal services company providing data hosting and management, technology-enabled services, consulting, flexible legal talent, and managed review services to in-house law departments and law firms. Legility is not, and none of its affiliates are, a law firm and does not provide legal advice as part of its services and nothing contained herein should be construed as such.

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Diversity Progress on the Bench: US President Biden's Judicial Nominees - JD Supra

Natalie Dean Hawkins has been tapped to lead Moore County Partners in Progress, the countys economic development arm. She will succeed outgoing executive director Pat Corso who is stepping down in May.

Hawkins has served as the assistant village manager of Pinehurst since 2005. In that role she oversaw development of the villages 2019 comprehensive long range plan, oversaw preparation of the annual strategic operating plan which includes a five-year financial forecast and capital improvement plan, coordinated the villages 2020 library needs assessment, and served as the downtown manager, and directed external communications and marketing.

If you look at Natalie and what she has accomplished. She also stood out for her versatility and enthusiasm in her interview and her recommendations on things going forward, said John May, chairman of the Partners in Progress board.

He noted Hawkins was the unanimous selection of both Partners executive committee and its executive search committee from an applicant pool of four very well-qualified candidates.

All four of whom are here in Moore County and all would have made a very good executive director. They were a good group of people and that it speaks well to the talent we have here in the area, said May.

Pat Corso and his predecessor Ray Ogden were also both longtime residents of Moore County prior to assuming the top leadership post at Partners in Progress.

They were familiar with the area. We believe that is an invaluable attribute when you talk about economic development. We felt it was important to have that talent and we believe Natalie will be as good as shes proven to be, May said. Pat did an excellent job as did Ray before him. She has big shoes to fill but we are confident that she will be able to do so.

Hawkins grew up in Charleston, SC, and later lived near Asheville. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a degree in business and a masters in accounting.

A resident of Moore County for 26 years, she initially began her relationship with the village as an auditor working with Dixon Hughes Goodman. She was recruited by former Village Manager Andy Wilkison to step into the finance director position.

Three years later she was promoted to assistant village manager. During her tenure, the village has achieved substantial improvements in resident satisfaction ratings and received several of the nations highest awards for performance management, financial reporting and budgeting, and use of technology.

Hawkins said she sees the leadership role at Partners in Progress as an opportunity to have a broader impact on improving the quality of life across the entire area.

This role is about creating economic prosperity. I can see some great things on the horizon and I want to help facilitate that, said Hawkins. It is about creating communities. That is what I see this job as, having an impact that will help define the future of Moore County.

In particular, she noted her recent experience developing the village of Pinehursts comprehensive long range plan included a lot of forethought into land use and infrastructure and looking at where development -- both commercial and residential interests -- should go in the future. Similar development pressure and planning needs are being seen across much of southern Moore County.

Hawkins said she is also very aware of Partners in Progress boards priorities which include development of the proposed business incubator hub in Carthage, and ongoing work to further development the golf cluster and medical cluster opportunities identified in the organizations strategic plan. Hawkins credits Corsos leadership for providing a solid vision that shell be able to build upon.

He laid the foundation for where economic development fits in and what we need to focus on in the near term horizon she said. He is leaving big shoes to fill.

Hawkins said she enjoys working with elected officials and industry leaders, finding common interest, building consensus and solving issues.

They all have different perspectives and we can learn so much from those different perspectives, she added. For instance you have northern Moore County which is very different from southern Moore County, but there are common interests and we need to make sure we are all aligned. I see that as a great opportunity to move the county forward.

Outgoing Executive Director Pat Corso described Hawkins as someone who is immensely well-qualified for her new position.

When you look at her skill set, her education and her practical and functional experience. Economic development is community development. And when you look at the community, she is the best candidate to deal with what is coming at us down the road.

She is so good at what she does...she exudes confidence and that is backed up by competence, Corso said.

He noted Partners executive board had not sought to recruit from outside of the community because they believed it was crucial to hire someone who knows us intimately and understands what makes Moore County unique.

I think we are lucky and we are fortunate that she accepted this job. I could not be more proud to have somebody like Natalie as a successor.

Hawkins lives in Pinehurst with her husband, Scott, who is a mortgage broker with Wells Fargo. Her daughter is a senior at the N.C. School of Science and Math and plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill; her son recently graduated from Appalachian State University and is starting his career in the GIS field in Colorado; and Hawkins has helped raise two stepdaughters.

Her last day with the village of Pinehurst is Friday, May 7. Hawkins will assume her role at Partners in Progress the following week, which allows for a short transitional time before Corsos pending departure.

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Hawkins Named Executive Director for Partners in Progress - Southern Pines Pilot