Category Archives: Progress

As legislators returned to their hometowns without approving a state budget Thursday, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislators said they made progress during the 2017 session despite the unfinished business.

The largest remaining element is the two-year, $40 billion budget that legislators hope to negotiate before the end of the fiscal year on June 30. The enactment of the budget is the most important task of the legislature, and all sides agreed that they currently lack enough consensus to reach an agreement.

But Malloy looked back Thursday to opening day of the in early January, and said there was "real progress that has been accomplished'' over the past five months.

Those include pension restructuring in which the state avoided a huge "cliff'' with a potential balloon payment as large as $6 billion in a single year in 2032. That change marked the first time on a major policy issue this year that Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman broke a party-line tie to seal the deal in the evenly divided Senate.

Malloy also cited bail reform and the passage of a constitutional "lock box'' to ensure that transportation money cannot be diverted for other purposes - as has been done in the past. But Republicans blasted the idea as having a shiny lock on the front and holes in the back. As such, House Republican leader Themis Klarides of Derby said Thursday that the general public should reject the constitutional lock box at the ballot box in November 2018.

"The sources of revenue that go in can be manipulated,'' Klarides said. "That's not being truthful.''

But Malloy, who is not seeking reelection, is continuing to push his transportation agenda.

"A thriving economy demands a modern transportation network. Our cities need such a network to survive themselves. Protecting transportation dollars is an important and long overdue step in the right direction.''

On the high-profile issue of casinos, Malloy declined to say directly whether he would sign the so-called "sweetener'' bill that passed both chambers as part of a package to allow the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes to construct a $300 million East Windsor casino to compete with a nearly $1 billion full-scale casino under construction in Springfield.

Klarides supported the so-called "sweetener'' bill after plans for a Hartford boutique casino and slot machines in the off-track betting parlors in three cities were dropped.

"There were so many iterations on that table,'' Klarides said. "By the end of the day, the change in the OTB number and this other change were very reasonable.''

Those changes included increasing the number of off-track betting outlets to 24, up from the current 18, and establishing a regulatory framework for sports betting if that is legalized nationally.

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Despite Budget Stalemate, Malloy Touts Progress in Legislature - Hartford Courant

7 June 2017: The UN Secretary-General has issued the 2017 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) progress report, providing an overview of global progress towards the 17 SDGs on the basis of the latest available data related to the global SDG indicator framework. The report notes that tracking progress on the SDGs requires an unprecedented amount of data and statistics at all levels.

The report, titled Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (E/2017/66), was mandated by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which requests the UN Secretary-General in cooperation with the UN system to prepare an annual progress report to inform follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The report will be introduced at the beginning of 2017 session of the HLPF, on 10 July.

The SDG indicator framework upon which the report is based was developed by the UN Inter-Agency Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs). In March 2017, the 48th session of the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC) agreed on the framework, and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted it on 7 June 2017. The report is based on a selection of the global indicators for which data were available as of April 2017. For most indicators, the report notes, values represent global, regional and subregional aggregates calculated from data from national statistical systems, compiled by international agencies.

On SDG 1 (no poverty), the report notes that the global poverty rate has been halved since 2000, but more efforts are required to boost incomes, alleviate suffering and build resilience for individuals that still live in extreme poverty, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa. It also calls for social protection systems to be expanded and for risks to be mitigated for disaster-prone countries.

On SDG 2 (zero hunger), the report notes advances on combatting hunger and malnutrition since 2000. It calls for continued and focused efforts to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, especially in Asia and Africa, and for more investments in agriculture, including government spending and aid.

On SDG 3 (good health and well-being), the report concludes that impressive advancements have occurred on many health fronts, but progress must be accelerated, in particular in regions with the highest burden of disease. Based on available data from 2005 to 2015, it finds that about half of all countries (including almost all of the least developed countries) have fewer than one physician and fewer than three nurses or midwives per 1,000 people.

Advancing toward SDG 4 (quality education) will require increasing efforts, the report notes, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia and for vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities, indigenous people, refugee children and poor children in rural areas. It indicates that Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia account for over 70% of the global out-of-school population in primary and secondary education. It also shows that in all countries with data, children from the richest 20% of households achieved greater proficiency in reading at the end of their primary and lower secondary education than children from the poorest 20% of households.

On SDG 5 (gender equality), the report states that gender inequality persists worldwide, and achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will require legal frameworks to counter deeply rooted gender-based discrimination. It notes that female genital mutilation (FGM) has declined by 30% over the last three decades, while the average amount of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work is more than threefold higher for women than men.

On SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), over 90% of the worlds population used improved drinking water sources, the report finds, and over two thirds of the worlds population used improved sanitation facilities in 2015. In both cases, people without access live predominantly in rural areas. The report also indicates that more than two billion people globally are living in countries with excess water stress (defined as the ratio of total freshwater withdrawn to total renewable freshwater resources above a threshold of 25%).

The report calls for countries to embrace new technologies on a much wider scale, to achieve energy access for all.

Progress on SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) falls short of what is needed to achieve energy access for all and to meet targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency, according to the report. It calls for higher levels of financing and bolder policy commitments, and for countries to embrace new technologies on a much wider scale.

In its conclusions for SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), the report outlines that: the average annual growth rate of real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita worldwide was 1.6% from 2010 to 2015, compared to 0.9% in 2005-2009; global unemployment rate stood at 5.7% in 2016, with women more likely to be unemployed than men across all age groups; and child labor remains a serious concern, even though the number of children from five to 17 years of age who are working has declined, from 246 million in 2000 to 168 million in 2012.

On SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), the report states that the LDCs will need renewed investment to build infrastructure and ensure the doubling of industrys share of GDP in those countries by 2030, despite steady improvements in manufacturing output and employment. It also shows that official development assistance (ODA) for economic infrastructure in developing countries reached US$57 billion in 2015, an increase of 32% in real terms since 2010. The main recipient sectors were transport and energy, at US$19 billion each.

The report says progress has been mixed on SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). It calls for strengthening the voices of developing countries in decision-making fora of international economic and financial institutions, and remarks that the benefits of remittances from international migrant workers are reduced by the generally high cost of transfer.

On SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), the report concludes that the world has experienced unprecedented urban growth in recent decades, with 54% of the worlds population living in cities in 2015. It adds that better urban planning and management are needed to make the worlds urban spaces more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Global figures for SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) point to worsening trends, with domestic material consumption increasing from 1.51 kg to 1.73 kg per unit of GDP from 2000 to 2010, and the total of domestic material consumption also rising during the same period (from 48.7 billion tons to 71.1 billion tons). The report recommends adopting strong national frameworks for sustainable consumption and production (SCP) that are integrated into national and sectoral plans, and sustainable business practices, and to adhere to international norms on the management of hazardous chemicals and wastes.

On SDG 13 (climate action), the report indicates that as of 20 April 2017, seven developing countries had successfully completed and submitted the first iteration of their national adaptation plans. On disaster risk reduction (DRR), it reports that the number of deaths attributed to natural disasters continues to rise, despite progress in implementing DRR strategies, and strong efforts are needed to build resilience and limit climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

Among its observations on SDG 14 (life below water), the report states that global trends point to continued deterioration of coastal waters owing to pollution and eutrophication. In addition, the proportion of world marine fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels has declined from 90% in 1974 to 68.6% in 2013, but the trend has slowed and appears to have stabilized. The report finds that marine protected areas (MPAs) are important mechanisms for safeguarding ocean life, when effectively managed and well resourced.

On SDG 15 (life on land), the report concludes that the pace of forest loss has slowed and improvements continue to be made in managing forests sustainably and protecting areas for biodiversity. However, declining trends in land productivity, biodiversity loss and poaching and trafficking of wildlife remain serious concerns.

On SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), progress in promoting peace, justice, and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions remains uneven across and within regions, the report says. It shows an increase in violent conflicts in recent years, a slow decline in homicides, and better access to justice for more citizens around the world, adding that a few high-intensity armed conflicts are causing large numbers of civilian casualties.

On SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals), the report provides observations on finance, information and communications technology (ICT), capacity building, trade, systemic issues, and data, monitoring and accountability. It notes that in 2014, developing countries received US$338 million in financial support for statistics, which accounted for only 0.18% of total ODA. To meet the data requirements of the SDGs, the report says, developing countries will need an estimated US$1 billion in statistical support annually from domestic and donor sources.

The report emphasizes that the amount of data and statistics needed to track SDG progress poses a major challenge to national and international statistical systems, and notes that the global statistical community is working to modernize and strengthen statistical systems. [Publication: Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: Report of the Secretary-General] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on ECOSOC Adoption of SDG Indicator Framework] [HLPF 2017 Website]

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UN Secretary-General Issues Second SDG Progress Report - IISD Reporting Services

Could it be that the N.C. Legislature finally has seen the light when it comes to solar power?

I looked out the window Tuesday to check for flying pigs when I saw praise for a renewable energy bill from sources as disparate as Gov. Roy Cooper, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), The Environmental Defense Fund and Duke Energy. Less than 24 hours later, Competitive Energy Solutions for N.C. had passed the full House.

The devil may prove to be in the details of this 20-page bill, so dense with jargon that the average homeowner would find it nearly unintelligible. But if it lives up to its billing, House Bill 589 may indeed represent a major step forward in diversifying the states energy portfolio and offering customers more clean-energy options.

One of the bills sponsors is Rep. John Szoka, a Cumberland County Republican who has been working for years to legalize the sale of third-party solar. Szokas Energy Freedom Act, introduced in 2015 and supported by many Democrats and Republicans in the Guilford County delegation, would have made rooftop solar installations accessible to people of all income levels by allowing customers to lease the installations and buy power directly from solar-energy companies.

Szokas district includes Fort Bragg, which is working to meet renewable-energy goals set by the Department of Defense. HB 589 would reserve at least 100 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity for military installations and at least 250 megawatts for the University of North Carolina.

Residential customers could lease rooftop systems that provide solar power and reduce their electrical bills, and Duke would offer a rebate program for residential and commercial rooftop solar. The bill also encourages community solar programs and establishes a competitive bidding system for new solar construction.

This sounds like a lot of progress, but critics of the bill say it still puts too much power and control into the hands of Duke Energy, the states primary electric utility provider. Excess energy produced by rooftop solar could be sold back to the power company, but the customer might have to pay a fee for that service, says NC WARN, a nonprofit energy watchdog group.

NC WARN, which is battling Duke Energy for the right to sell power from a rooftop solar installation to Faith Community Church in Greensboro, wanted third-party sales of solar power instead of lease agreements. Community solar programs would be controlled by Duke, and the bill allows Duke, one of the largest electric power companies in the U.S., to compete with solar companies on building large-scale installations while offering less favorable contract terms, NC WARN says.

Still, its one of the first bills to emerge from the N.C. House that encourages the growth of renewable energy instead of trying to kill it outright.

In the past two sessions, legislators have targeted wind power with bills that would outlaw or place a moratorium on new wind farms. The Military Operations Protection Act introduced in March would halt the permitting of wind farms pending a study by the General Assembly to determine whether wind farms interfere with military operations. The Department of Defense already reviews such projects.

Former Rep. Mike Hager (R-Burke, Rutherford) filed bills in session after session to roll back the 2007 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, which requires Duke and other utilities to meet an annually increasing percentage of their energy needs through renewable-energy resources or energy-efficiency measures.

Between 2007 and 2013, this policy spurred $2.7 billion in renewable-energy investment and the creation of 36,885 clean-energy jobs, according to The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. The state now ranks second, behind California, for the total amount of utility-scale solar capacity.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, solar has created more than 9,500 jobs in the state, more than natural gas (2,181), coal (2,115) and oil generation of electric power (480) combined.

More than three-quarters of North Carolinians favor the REPS program, and more than half would like to increase the required percentage of energy produced by renewable sources, according to a 2017 poll conducted by Conservatives for Clean Energy. The poll also showed that a majority of North Carolinians 86.7 percent of Democrats, 82.3 percent of unaffiliated voters and 79.1 percent of Republicans would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports policies encouraging renewable-energy options.

Maybe GOP politicians are paying more attention to their constituents. Maybe this bill is just sweet enough to satisfy the big-energy special interests that long have influenced policy in the General Assembly.

Either way, this bill does represent progress.

Longtime advocate of renewable energy Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford) said that, although she had some concerns, this bill does a lot of good for renewable energy in the state.

As the numbers on investment and job growth demonstrate, what is good for renewable energy is good for the state.

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Susan Ladd: House bill marks progress for renewable energy - Greensboro News & Record (blog)

Giants position coaches spoke with the media Wednesday and gave updates on the 2017 Draft class:

Nobody knows a football player better than his position coach.

From the meeting room to the practice field, thats who they spend the most time with at the facility. And that goes double for rookies.

TE EVAN ENGRAM

Tight Ends Coach Kevin M. Gilbride: He shows, very much so, a willingness to block and to finish. Its not pads [in OTAs], so that will change things to an extent, but I dont see him backing down. He has a toughness and a willingness to go against anybody on our defense, and Im hoping thats how itll be throughout the course of the season.

He certainly has some development to go, but he has a good knack for [catching the ball] in the fact that he understands coverage. He understands how the leverage of the coverage is going to change how he needs to run his route. He came in with that, and its continued to progress from there.

DT DALVIN TOMLINSON

Defensive Line Coach Patrick Graham: I think any rookie, as they come into the league, they dont know anything about this league aside from the stuff they read in the media and see on TV. So I think its important for them just to stick with what theyve done just in terms of being a good football player up until this point. An organization in the NFL wanted them. To be humble there, listen to the players and listen to the coaches and just diligently work through the process. [Tomlinson is] a pretty even-keel guy. Hell be able to handle it. We will see how it plays out once the competition comes and the season comes.

You never know with anyone. This league is unique. The day-to-day grind is very unique. Guys will just have to experience it. We will see where it goes from there. We wanted him for a reason. Hes a good football player, and he comes from a good program. Hell just work through the process, and we will do our best to make sure we facilitate that as much as possible.

QB DAVIS WEBB

Quarterbacks Coach Frank Cignetti Jr.: The adjustments been great. Hes functioning, hes intelligent, he has the willingness to learn, and every day hes making progress. [The biggest challenge coming from his college system] is a couple things. Lets start with the fundamentals. The fundamentals of the footwork are totally different. Then you talk about the pass game reads. Not only is the scheme different, but the reads are different. Then youve got to look at the pass protection. We have multiple protections in the National Football League. Then lets talk about even being under center, taking a snap under center, and having a run game. So there are a lot of things, and hes done a great job learning it.

RB WAYNE GALLMAN

Running Backs Coach Craig Johnson: I think he brings a lot to the table, but hes like all young backs that I know. Most young backs have to figure out how [they are] going to be good in all three phases in the NFL early. Number one thing: As Im running the ball, how are my guys blocking so I can know my tempo and timing to hit the hole? Number two: What am I going to do in my pass protection to make sure I protect my quarterback? I have to do that. Thats a key asset to be able to get on the field, and certainly in the NFL game, the blitzes and the pressures and multiple, so that takes a lot of time. And then last but not least: Wheres my spacing in the passing game? Am I a check-down option? Am I a primary option? Where am I supposed to be? How does my quarterback want me to run this route? That is key.

Every rookie that I know that has come into this offense is kind of slow and overwhelmed early; thats just part of the process. And then you start seeing them play faster. You can see it. They go, Oh yeah, Ive got this now. Then when they feel good about it, well give them a little bit more.

DE AVERY MOSS

Defensive Line Coach Patrick Graham: Avery Moss, my buzzword is diligent. He is very diligent in working in the classroom and on the field. Hes a rookie, so hes learning to work through the system and work through the meeting time and the grind of the day-to-day in the NFL. I think on the field hes definitely shown why we wanted to get him, and I think well see how it plays out in the competition in training camp.

OT ADAM BISNOWATY

Offensive Line Coach Mike Solari: Its still early, but right now weve got him at right tackle. But again, hes a guy that has versatility. He could go to guard. He has played a little guard in his career, but obviously left tackle [mostly in college]. Right now we like him at right tackle. Were trying to get him as many reps as possible, just again, so when training camp comes, these young rookies are ready to compete.

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Coaches give latest updates on Giants rookies' progress - Giants.com (blog)

NBCSports.com

Teddy Bridgewater surprised coach with two weeks of progress ... NBCSports.com Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was gone for two weeks, and he's still recovering from his latest eye surgery. But he could easily see a difference in quarterback ... Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater making progressUPI.com all 16 news articles »

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Teddy Bridgewater surprised coach with two weeks of progress ... - NBCSports.com

FRISCO, Texas The Cowboys are in the middle of their third and final week of OTA practices here at The Star.

Next week, the team will be on the field for a three-day minicamp but it wont be a major difference in what is being seen from an outside perspective.

Inside the locker room, the players were asked a variety of questions by the media. Here are different quotes from the locker room session on Wednesday:

Dak Prescott on the overall rhythm of OTAs:

Prescott: Theyve been well. Weve had some days that have been great, some days that havent been. But its all about us just growing as a team. Well continue to do that and were headed in the right direction.

Dak Prescott on Jaylon Smiths development

Prescott: Ive definitely seen some improvement a lot of improvement. Look at him running some people say it doesnt look like anythings wrong with him. Hes a freak. Hes a freakish dude. Hes getting his abilities and his talents back, and hes going in the direction he needs to.

Sean Lee on Jaylon Smiths progress at linebacker:

Lee: What Ive found is every week hes gotten better and better. That is whats been amazing is every week since weve started back this spring, to watch him progress, to watch him progress, to watch him pick up things so quickly.

Jason Witten on the leadership of the offensive line:

Witten: The set the standard for our football team. These guys are some of the best at their position in the league. They come back and approach it like they do Tyron (Smith), Zack (Martin), Travis (Frederick) and you add some of the other guys that are mixing in with Chaz (Green) and Emmett (Cleary) and of course L.C. (Lael Collins) moving out (to right tackle). They do a great job.

Chaz Green on making the adjustments from tackle to guard:

Green: Its definitely different. Pass-pro, Im just l earning to set the hole. Youve got help on both sides so you dont have to drift as much. Run-blocking its different assignments. Just getting those calls down so I can get my footwork down so I can play fast and not think.

Lael Collins on back-to-back plays in which he tossed the defensive end to the ground at the end of Wednesdays team period:

Collins: Thats just a mindset. Anytime you get a chance to put a guy on the ground, thats what youre going to do. Thats my mindset on each and every play. But at the same time, it has to be controlled.

Byron Jones on having a completion for the other safety spot next to him:

Jones: Its not a distraction at all. This is why were here. Were here to compete to try to bring the best out of everybody.

Ezekiel Elliott on doing post-OTA film sessions with Dak and Dez:

Elliott: "I think its definitely a bonding thing. We are a close group, but you never can spend too much time together. Thats how you strengthen those bonds. Thats how you become better friends."

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Sound Off: La'el Dominating, Jaylon's Progress, Zeke's Extra Film Work & More - DallasCowboys.com

The search to expand upon the progress made by checkpoint inhibitors Keytruda and Opdivo and others has put the spotlight on several novel mechanisms. IDO inhibition appears poised to be the next advance after release of data at Asco showing a benefit when used in combination with the Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) drugs.

Leading the pack is Incyte's (NASDAQ:INCY) epacadostat, which had detailed phase I/II Keytruda combo data that support pivotal trials in three types of cancer. Incyte's combination-agnostic approach has also enabled it to confirm clinical benefit with Opdivo, showing responses in melanoma and head and neck cancers.

Building evidence

Epacadostat is not the only IDO inhibitor in the clinic. Newlink Genetics' (NASDAQ:NLNK) two assets, indoximod and the Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY)-partnered RG6078 had data at Asco, along with Danish group IO Biotech's IO102.

But Incyte's project so far has generated the richest body of evidence. Thanks to the adaptive design of the Echo-202/Keynote-037 trial with Keytruda, Incyte was able to present efficacy data in head and neck, non-small cell lung, renal cell, triple-negative breast and ovarian cancer, along with pooled safety data.

Breast and ovarian cancer do not look promising - in the former, 30 of 37 patients had progressed or died at a median follow-up of 20.8 weeks, while in ovarian cancer 26 of 34 patients had progressed or died at a median follow-up of 23 weeks. Objective response rates of 10% in breast cancer and 8% in ovarian, with no complete responses, are not very persuasive.

On the other hand, the signs have been strong enough in numerous other diseases to proceed into phase III (Incyte dramatically ups the immuno-oncology combo ante, April 3, 2017).

At Asco, Incyte also featured lung, urothelial, head and neck and kidney cancer (see table).

Ovarian out

With the other leading PD-1, Opdivo, also reporting disappointing data in ovarian cancer in combination with epacadostat, it is safe to say that in the absence of a signal in subgroups this indication might not be one where the IDO inhibitors will be used.

On the other hand, the Opdivo-epacadostat pairing also had data in head and neck cancer - cross-trial comparisons are tricky with small patient numbers, but Opdivo and Keytruda look pretty similar at this early stage of development (see table).

Moreover, the 58% partial response rate in a melanoma cohort in the Echo-204 trial yielded the best objective response rate seen at Asco - not surprising since the skin cancer is the most responsive to immunotherapy. And Incyte has announced plans to advance the Keytruda-epacadostat combination into phase III in melanoma.

Amid the advances for epacadostat, Newlink's two IDO inhibitors were trying to remain relevant. RG6078 was tested in a phase I dose escalation trial with Tecentriq in solid tumors in which 9% of patient showed a partial response and 24% had stable disease.

Indoximod was tested following treatment with Valeant's (NYSE:VRX) Provenge in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer - patients taking the IDO inhibitor had a median progression free survival of 10.3 months compared with 4.1 months for patients taking placebo.

IO Biotech, meanwhile, had a poster on its planned phase II trial of IO102 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in advanced, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

IDO inhibition shows promise, but the onrush of combination trials with PD-1 inhibitors means that it has to fight for attention (Immuno-oncology combinations surge as sector seeks the fairy dust, June 1, 2017).

Nonetheless, combining two checkpoint inhibitors remains an attractive choice, and medical meetings next year may very well show whether that attraction was worthwhile.

Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.

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Solid Progress For IDO Inhibitors | Seeking Alpha - Seeking Alpha

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Christian Hackenberg has plenty of critics, many of whom think the New York Jets second-year quarterback will never be an NFL starter.

And thats before the former Penn State starter has even played in a regular-season game.

Thats their opinions, Hackenberg said of the naysayers. I cant really speak for them, whoever it is.

Hackenberg was drafted in the second round last year, a pick some thought was a reach because of his struggles with the Nittany Lions in his last two seasons following a fabulous freshman campaign. He was widely considered a project who needed work on his mechanics, footwork and overall approach.

It didnt help that Hackenberg went 17 of 47 for 159 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his two preseason appearances last summer. And, even as the quarterbacks carousel spun with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith and Bryce Petty taking turns under center during the regular season, Hackenberg never saw the field.

I know what I can do, Hackenberg said. And I know what my coaching staff feels I can do, so Im just confident in my abilities. And when I get my opportunity to play, Im going to do that.

Sounds like a guy who knows he has lots to prove to everyone other than himself.

Im confident that I can play at this level, and play at a high level, he said. So, when I get my opportunity, Im going to take advantage of that.

Hackenberg is competing with Petty and veteran Josh McCown for the starting job in what the Jets have characterized as an open competition that might not be decided until sometime in training camp.

McCown is the early favorite to be under center in Week 1 at Buffalo on Sept. 10, having worked mostly with the starters during practices open to the media. But with New Yorks offseason purge of veteran stars, including wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, the franchises sights are firmly set on the future.

Hackenberg will get the chance to show whether he can be the quarterback to lead the Jets this season and perhaps beyond. At 6-foot-4 and a solid 228 pounds with a cannon arm, Hackenberg certainly looks the part.

I love the way he prepares and the way he competes, offensive coordinator John Morton said at the start of organized activities two weeks ago. Im talking about competing in the classroom, too. Guys have to learn to do that, and be a pro and be a student of the game and learn to take notes and those things. Hes doing those things.

On one play at practice, he can hit a receiver with a pretty back-shoulder toss in the end zone. But then, he can also have some ugly throws that could be interceptions.

Thats how it has been so far this offseason for Hackenberg. Some ups, some downs and even some progress while learning Mortons offense.

Im not going to say night and day, but definitely just being able to go through it, its been really good, Hackenberg said. I feel a lot better going in there, having a greater understanding of whats going on.

Hes no longer the wide-eyed rookie trying to navigate his way through the basics of life in the NFL. The plays on the field are also coming to him a lot easier, even compared to a few months ago.

I think were getting to a point where Im not even thinking about it, Hackenberg said, and Im feeling that right now.

Hackenberg has been a starting quarterback since high school, so sitting out all of last season a redshirt year took some getting used to. It was a humbling experience in which Hackenberg had to keep his ego in check.

I really cant change it, Hackenberg said. It was in the past. It is what it is. But I think if youre a negative person, you kind of think about it negatively and you say, `Dang, I wish I had a chance. I dont want to fill my mind with that type of negativity.

Id rather focus on the positives of it and take what I learned from it, the good from it. Thats how I kind of look at last year: I try and take the positives out of it and go from there.

Hackenberg has been working closely with new quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates, the two often seen chatting during practice. Theres still plenty of work to be done, of course, but Hackenberg could end up working his way onto the field during a game and silencing all of the doubters.

I think Ive grown in a lot of ways, he said. Its a long road, but I feel good where Im at right now.

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Jets' Hackenberg ignores critics, focuses on making progress - FOXSports.com

President Trump signs a letter of initiative Tuesday to privatize the nation's air traffic control system during an event staged to resemble an official signing ceremony.

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Donald Trump, you may have noticed, is not terribly good at being president. Nearly five months into his term, the White House seems stymied by its own ineptitude and a Congress that Trump has found more difficult to command than the underlings he bossed around for the past 40 years. Naturally that hasnt stopped him from continuing to make moribund promisesBloombergs Toluse Olorunnipa writes Monday morning that the administration reliably misses its self-imposed deadlines on just about everything it sets out to door shifting blame. On Monday, for instance, Trump attacked Democrats for stalling his nominations. Dems are taking forever to approve my people, including Ambassadors, he tweeted. They are nothing but OBSTRUCTIONISTS! For the most part, Democrats havent even been sent nominations to obstruct. The administration has yet to nominate candidates for hundreds of key positions, and as Politicos Seung Min Kim writes, the administration frequently takes weeks to formally submit the nominations of the candidates it does name:

And McAleenans nomination is far from alone in taking weeks to be sent to the Senate, where Republicans are growing impatient and bewildered with the Trump White Houses historic lag in filling administration posts.

[...]Its unclear exactly why the Trump White House has been so slow to officially submit some nominees paperwork, but it comes amid broader struggles by the new president to vet senior officials and staff his administration.

Of course, Trumps woes in office thus far arent purely the consequence of inexperience. The presidents inability to meet his own deadlines highlights his struggle adjusting to the pace of Washington, Olorunnipa writes.That's only partially truehis record thus far also highlights his craven dishonesty. Trump has, after all, spent many years jilting, shortchanging, and letting down parties ranging from contractors to his own wives. Relatedly, two recent stories suggest that the administration might be leaning more heavily on one of its favored strategies for overcoming its lack of progress: faking it.

On Monday, the Brookings Institutions Bruce Riedel reported that according to defense industry and congressional contacts, the $110 billion arms deal reportedly struck between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia is largely illusory. From Brookings:

According to Riedel, the Saudis and the Trump administration compiled a list of potential deals either considered or approved by the Obama administration and presented them as a new deal. Moreover, its unlikely that the Saudis could pay for a $110 billion deal any longer, due to low oil prices and the two-plus years old war in Yemen, he writes. What is coming soon is a billion-dollars deal for more munitions for the war in Yemen. The Royal Saudi Air Force needs more munitions to continue the air bombardment of the Arab worlds poorest country.

Also on Monday, the New York Times Julie Hirschfield Davis noted that Trumps unveiling of his plan to privatize the nations air traffic control had been staged to resemble signing ceremonies for actual legislation:

This kind of stagecraft and deception, of course, isnt new. But these charades are and will continue to be particularly useful for a shambolic administration that has few achievements thus far. Useful, that is, as long as the media covers his nonevents and empty pronouncements as though Trump isn't fundamentally a huckster.

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Trump's Solution to His Administration's Lack of Progress: Lying About It - Slate Magazine (blog)

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. Women in politics have made great advances in the past decade, yet there is a long way to go. For over 10 years, Nichola Gutgold, professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley, has continued her research and writing to revamp her 2006 book, Paving the Way for Madam President.

Still Paving the Way for Madam President (Lexington Books, 2017) provides a follow-up on the progress women have made in politics, specifically towards the U.S. presidency. Additionally, a section on Hillary Clintons race for the presidency in 2008 and 2016 have been included. Gutgold reviews the struggles women candidates face and what it will take to overcome these struggles.

The idea to write a book originally came to Gutgold in 1999 as she was completing her dissertation for her doctorate in speech communication at Penn State.

I discovered Elizabeth Dole in 1999, the same year she ran for president. Dole was involved in politics, as was her husband, who ran for president in 1996. I noticed she spoke at his convention and did not mention any of her own accomplishments; she just spoke of his masculine attributes. She knew what she had to say, she was a public speaker. I knew there was more to this story and I wanted to know who Elizabeth Dole was. When she ran for president, media headlines read, The first viable female bid. I thought this was wrong, I knew there were other female candidates in the past who should not be forgotten, which led to Paving the Way for Madam President.

Still Paving the Way for Madam President tells the stories of Margaret Chase Smith, Shirley Chisholm, Patricia Schroeder, Elizabeth Dole, Carol Moseley Braun and Hillary Clinton, six of the most acknowledged women who have run for president since 1964. Gutgold interviewed these women, or those close to them, for the majority of her research. She also conducted her research through tapes and video, and attended events such as the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Writing these books and making an impact have meant a lot to Gutgold. Though a woman has won a presidential nomination, she says the United States "is not there yet" with women in politics. From 1964 when Smith ran for president, to 2016 when Clinton ran for president, there are many of the same issues keeping women from winning the presidential race.

My goal for writing on this topic is to keep the conversation going. We have not had a woman president yet and women deserve to be in the history books, said Gutgold. I have a passion to amplify the voices of those who may not have been heard. I want to encourage people to be non-traditional, whatever that means.

Gutgold has published many books on the topic of women in politics, including:

Paving the Way for Madam President (Lexington, 2006)

Seen and Heard: The Women of Television News (Lexington, 2008)

Almost Madam President: Why Hillary Clinton won in 2008 (Lexington, 2009)

Gender and the American Presidency: Nine Presidential Women and the Barriers They Faced (Lexington, 2012)

The Rhetoric of Supreme Court Women (Lexington, 2012)

Women in the Academy: Learning from our Diverse Career Pathways (Lexington, 2012)

She has also written a childrens book, Madam President: Five Women Who Paved the Way.

Gutgold hopes to impact her students with her books and research.

My job as a professor is to help students achieve their ambitions. I am happy to interest students in research and to involve students in my research. I have taken students on interviews with me, I have started a research project for students at the Schreyer Honors College, and most recently I have been invited to present my research on women and the U.S. presidency to the students of the University of Zagreb in Croatia this fall, said Gutgold.

Gutgold dedicated Still Paving the Way for Madam President to her students, hoping that they can follow their path, even if it is still unpaved.

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Penn State professor analyzes women's progress in politics - Penn State News