Category Archives: Progress

For the first time in a long time, Dr. Stacy L. Smith is feeling optimistic. The director of the University of Southern Californias Annenberg Inclusion Initiative has been studying the gender and race breakdown of Hollywoods top-grossing directors since 2007, and finally has some good news to report. For the first time since her work began, Smith has seen sustained progress for women and people of color working behind the camera.

Over the 15 years of the study, which analyzed 1,542 directors, only 5.4 percent were women. In 2020, that percentage rose to 15 percent and in 2021, it stood at 12.7 percent. Despite that recent drop, and despite the fact that the proportion is nowhere close to reflecting the American population, which is 51 percent female, Smith is encouraged that the numbers have stayed in the double digits for a sustained period of time.

I think that the people that are running these large companies that are largely responsible for about 90 percent of the market share are finally starting to diversify, Smith said in a phone interview. And were not only seeing this with gender, were also seeing big gains with race/ethnicity in the second year of the pandemic. Despite the uncertainty around the box office, there seems to be a concerted effort to correct the biases of the past.

The news comes the day after The Power of the Dog director Jane Campion made history, becoming the first woman to be nominated twice in the best director category for the Academy Awards. (She was previously nominated in 1994 for The Piano.)

When it comes to underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, which includes Black and Latino filmmakers, the percentage of directors reached a 15-year high: 27.3 percent. The group with the least amount of traction directing features are women of color, who still make up only 2 percent of the total.

When Hollywood thinks of a woman director, theyre thinking of a Caucasian woman, and when they think of a person of color directing, theyre thinking about a male, Smith said, pointing to the fact that female directors of color earn the highest reviews according to Metacritic yet most often are given lower production budgets and fewer marketing dollars from their studio beneficiaries.

To address this disparity head on, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative is starting a $25,000 scholarship program for a woman of color during her senior year at an American film school. In addition to the financial aid, the winning student will be advised by a group of Hollywood executives and talent, including Donna Langley, the chairman of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, and Jennifer Salke, the head of Amazon Studios, among others.

The study also examined original films being created at the streaming companies and found the percentages to be much closer to parity. Amazon, in particular, had a strong showing in 2020 and 2021, with women accounting for 15 of its 40 directors (37.5 percent), and 13 of its 40 directors (32.5 percent) coming from underrepresented groups. Disney+ landed second with 29 percent female directors and 29 percent directors of color. HBO Maxs numbers topped out at 19.5 percent for female directors and 31.7 percent for underrepresented groups, while Netflix was in fourth place with female filmmakers making up 18.1 percent its slate and directors from underrepresented groups, 26.3 percent.

These are data-driven companies, Smith said. Streaming gives them access to data and decision-making with viewers in mind in a way that the box office has been more elusive.

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Study Finds Sustained Progress for Female Directors and Filmmakers of Color - The New York Times

DETROIT A rare win in Philadelphia Wednesday put the Detroit Red Wings in a positive frame of mind Thursday during a spirited practice.

We had fun, we played with the puck, we didnt (make many) mistakes, Filip Zadina said of the 6-3 victory at Wells Fargo Center. We just got to keep playing like that. If youre thinking positive and everybody is playing the right way, everything is way easier. If we keep doing like that, well be fine and well be winning those games we need.

Just got to keep going and having fun, because if youre having fun, were playing good hockey as a team.

The Red Wings and Flyers meet again Saturday at Little Caesars Arena (noon, Bally Sports Detroit), after Detroit won for only the second time in 16 games at Philadelphia since the 1997 Stanley Cup Final.

The Red Wings are far out of a playoff position, but they feel good about their progress. They havent gained traction, winning back-to-back games only once in the past two months. But they are .500 in points percentage (21-21-6), and after 48 games they are nine points ahead of last seasons pace, 20 points better than they were at this stage two years ago.

I think weve done a decent job here over some really tough years of fighting through frustration and trying to keep our heads focused on moving towards a better tomorrow, when theres not much light at the end of the tunnel, which two years ago there wasnt, coach Jeff Blashill said. Last year I thought there was a little bit more. Its hard. This year, I think our guys are recognizing an avenue of us being a better team.

Between an influx of talent and just kind of growing as a group in terms of what it takes to win, thats part of the learning process and I think were learning it. Weve taken very few steps backwards. Weve just got to try to keep taking as many steps forward as we can.

The immediate impact high-end draft picks Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond have made has boosted the rebuild, accelerated the optimism.

I think when you add really good pieces, whether it be young or veteran players, youre excited as a player because you know your teams better, Blashill said. We added (Nick Leddy) in the trade, we signed (Pius Suter), our guys felt that our team would be better. But certainly, when you add into your lineup rookies that have the impact that Seids and Lucas have had, youre excited about that.

With a young player, that means theyve got an opportunity to be part of a core, not just right now but moving forward. I would say theres a level of excitement within our players, certainly within our staff and with the fan base. Right now, we sit at .500.We dont want to be a .500 team ultimately. We want to be a really good team, so all of us have to work to continue to get better, including those young players. We have to grow. If you just stay status quo, the future isnt brighter. If you keep growing and getting better, the future can be brighter.

Hronek in COVID protocol

Defenseman Filip Hronek will be out a minimum of five days in COVID protocol, Blashill said. He will miss at least two games.

Troy Stecher has practiced a couple of times in a contact jersey while Leddy skated again Thursday in a non-contact jersey. Blashill said their status for Saturday will be determined after Fridays practice. If neither is ready, a defenseman will be recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Coming out of the All-Star break we knew that there was potential for different people to potentially get COVID, Blashill said. For multiple reasons, one because we were going to test. That didnt happen in Fils case. He tested and was negative and then he didnt feel great last night and ended up testing today again and was positive.

It is what it is. I think were all getting back closer to normal but understanding that this is still part of it.

More: Moritz Seider displays flashes of dominance vs. Flyers

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Red Wings pleased with progress: Got to keep going and having fun - MLive.com

Los Angeles County firefighters battled a brush fire near Whittier on Thursday that burned three homes, destroying two of them.

The Sycamore fire near the 4800 block of Cinco View Drive burned 7 acres, said Craig Little, a spokesman for the L.A. County Fire Department.

One person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening burns, Little said.

The blaze destroyed two homes and damaged a third, according to the Fire Department.

An L.A. County Fire helicopter makes a drop of water on a brush fire in Whittier on Thursday.

(Raul Roa / Times Community News)

Inspector Sean Ferguson, a Fire Department spokesman, said that the fire was 20% contained and that crews had halted its forward progress. More than 200 firefighters were on scene.

Firefighters faced hot and dry conditions as they battled the blaze.

The temperature was 82 degrees Thursday afternoon with 5-mph winds from the west, 10-mph gusts and 18% humidity, according to the National Weather Service.

Crews were expected to remain at the scene overnight mopping up the fire with hose lines around the nearby homes, Little said.

Earlier in the day, unseasonable heat wave and gusty Santa Ana winds fueled a brush fire that forced thousands of people to flee an affluent Orange County coastal community, stoking fears that dangerous blazes could become more common in dry winter months.

The Emerald fire broke out around 4 a.m. in the wilderness area between Laguna Beach and the community of Emerald Bay near Coast Highway. Thick clouds of smoke blanketed the entire beachside town as residents from Irvine Cove and Emerald Bay, two exclusive gated communities with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, packed up their cars and fled in the dark.

We no longer have a fire season. We have a fire year, Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy said. This is supposed to be the middle of winter, and were anticipating 80- to 90-degree weather. Even though the hillsides are green, it doesnt take but low humidity and wind to cause fires to occur.

If this is any sign of whats to come throughout the rest of the winter and spring, were in for a long year, he added.

February is traditionally the wettest month in California, but has not brought any rain to the region so far, said Samantha Connolly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego.

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2 homes destroyed as firefighters halt Whittier-area brush fire - Los Angeles Times

In November 2014, California voters approved Proposition 1: The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act. The $7.5 billion bond dedicated $2.7 billion for the public benefits of new water-storage projects. Some ask, Why have no new reservoirs been built in the seven years since? Rest assured, there are projects in the works. All recently passed a key milestone and are moving forward.

Any large-scale water storage project is complex and requires a high degree of planning, engineering, coordination and significant financing. The California Water Commission has actively overseen the proposed projects over the past six years to help ensure they meet statutory requirements, progress at the rate dictated by the bond legislation and meet the public benefits promised to voters.

Proposition 1, Chapter 8 designated the commission as the agency to administer the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). Investing in defined public benefits is a new approach to state financing of water storage projects. Under Proposition 1, public benefits fall into five categories: water quality improvement, flood control, emergency response, recreation and ecosystem improvement. To qualify for the program, applicants must show that their project would advance the long-term objectives of restoring ecological health and improving water management for beneficial uses of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the crossroads of major water project operations and important habitat for endangered fish species.

In the two years after voters passed Proposition 1, the Commission drafted, adopted and approved regulations through a transparent public process. In 2017, local water districts submitted 12 applications for the Proposition 1 funding. Commission staff and state agency experts reviewed each submission. In July 2018, the commission decided the maximum eligible amount of bond funding that would be made available to fund the public benefits of eight proposed projects. They include a proposed reservoir in Glenn and Colusa counties that would hold water piped to it from the Sacramento River and several groundwater banks in Southern California.

Proposition 1 set a single deadline for the water storage program: By Jan. 1, 2022, all project proponents must havecompleted feasibility studies, released a draft version of their environmental documents for public review, provided documentation of commitments for at least75% of the non-public benefit funding, and have the commission find that their project is feasible. Seven of the projects came before the commission in 2021. All were found feasible and remain eligible to continue in the program.

In November 2020, one applicant withdrew from the program. The commission redistributed a portion of the funding that project would have been eligible for among the remaining seven projects in the form of a 2.5% inflation adjustment. With an additional $64 million still available with the withdrawal of an original applicant, the commission reviewed potential new projects, two of which completed the screening process in 2021. In addition, the commission has awarded early funding totaling $116 million to help project proponents complete environmental documents and permits.

At this point, there are a total of seven projects moving forward with Proposition 1 funding that would provide 2.77 million acre-feet of water storage and significant public benefits. Under Proposition 1, before any project can receive its final award of funding, proponents must submit to the commission completed environmental documents, permits, non-public benefit cost-share contracts, and contracts with state agencies for the administration of public benefits.The commission remains ready to award final funding as soon as these requirements are met.

Each of the seven projects is different and is proceeding at different speeds. Some projects may be finished and operating within two years. Others will take longer. Most likely to finish first is a south Sacramento County groundwater storage project called Harvest Water. Managed by the Sacramento County Regional Sanitation District, the project would use highly-treated wastewater to replace groundwater as a source of water to irrigate farmland and habitat, thus preserving groundwater. The Harvest Water Program hopes to come before the commission for final funding later this year.

Things are getting done. Progress is being made. The commission is carrying out the voters intent. We are anxious to fund the projects once the statutory requirements have been met, and we look forward to seeing these projects deliver the public benefits associated with new water-storage capacity so vitally needed in our state.

Teresa Alvarado is chair and Matthew Swanson is vice-chair of the California Water Commission.

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Opinion: Voter-approved California water projects are making progress - The Mercury News

ORANGE The towns community development director provided the Selectboard with an update Wednesday on plans for the South Main Street Job Creation Corridor, saying tremendous strides have been made in the promotion of economic and commercial development since the project was envisioned eight years ago.

Alec Wade delivered a PowerPoint presentation at the virtual meeting to illustrate the progress of the endeavor aimed at growing business, developing housing, generating jobs and maximizing residents quality of life.

Since 2020 alone, the Planning Boards permit process has actually been able to approve 371,000 feet of commercial development, he explained. This is really pivotal in that it shifts the tax base beyond its original residential structure and introduces new commercial structure.

Wade said 219,000 square feet, or roughly 59%, of this approved new growth is new construction. The remaining 41%, he said, is often the reuse or revitalization of otherwise vacant spaces. His office anticipates this activity to create 210 new jobs in the next three years and as many as 400 in the next five.

It shows the growth and progress that Orange is going through, Wade said.

He explained that since 2014, the Planning Board and Community Development Office has rezoned 194 acres surrounding Exit 15 on Route 2 as industrial and commercial, allowing for greater commercial growth. In 2020, 185 acres near Exit 14 were placed into general commercial zoning. This, Wade said, primes the pump for future growth. The 2014 rezoning specifically paved the way for industrial and commercial growth and utility extension.

Wade mentioned his office has worked with the Isenberg Real Estate Advisors from the University of Massachusetts Amhersts Isenberg School of Management to conduct a feasibility study.

In our case, theyve been evaluating the availability of utilities, the capacity of water and sewer and in evaluating our building and construction requirements to consider what type of development could occur, he said.

Wade explained the area has access to the towns water system and power lines that already exist there. It is also close to Route 2 and downtown Orange which is located along the primary corridor and zoning code allows for industrial and mixed-use development.

Wade worked with the Economic Development Industrial Corporation in 2021 and developed a concept for sewer access to the site. He referred to electric, water and sewer as the true trifecta. He told Selectboard members his office has met with a private property owner, who has been receptive to allowing for access in exchange for a conservation easement, though no formal negotiations have begun.

Wade noted the U.S. Economic Development Administration is offering COVID-19 relief grants funded, in part, by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. He said his office intends to apply for design and construction money by March 1, because the grant program opportunity closes at the end of that month. He mentioned the town would likely hear back about the grant in the late fall or early winter. To obtain this grant, he said, his office requires partnership with the Orange Municipal Airport, the EDIC, federal and state agencies, and the Orange citizenry.

To the citizens of Orange, we hear you. You say to us that you need reduced tax rates, that you need commercial growth to alleviate the burden on you as a residential property owner. This project is our proposal to make that happen. We at the Office of Community Development strongly feel this brings the opportunity for growth that will alleviate your burden as a taxpayer, Wade said. Industrial land is at an all-time premium and very much needed. I think its very eloquent and almost poetic that a town like Orange, (which) has such a rich industrial and manufacturing heritage, now has the opportunity to capitalize on its existing land use and provide future growth into industry and manufacturing.

Once Wades presentation was finished, Selectboard Chair Jane Peirce thanked the community development director and said the project is so exciting.

Wade mentioned predecessor Kevin Kennedy envisioned the South Main Street Job Creation Corridor in 2014 and started a rezoning project with the Planning Board in 2016.

Denise Andrews, a former state representative from Orange, was listening in on the virtual meeting and chimed in to state her support for the project and send good energy for good progress.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.

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South Main Street Job Creation Corridor making progress in Orange - The Recorder

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO),Buti Manamela, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training of the Republic of South Africa, Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of South Africa,Dr Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health of South Africa and Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation and Urban Policy of Belgium today visit a number of public and private sector partners that are collaborating to develop and build WHOs global mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa.

For most of 2021, limited global vaccine supply led to huge disparities in COVID-19 vaccine access, leaving billions of people especially in low- and middle-income countries unprotected against serious disease and death from COVID-19. Low levels of vaccine coverage also provided the ideal conditions for new variants to develop. While supply has now increased, access to any new formulations of COVID-19 vaccines tailored specifically to new variants will likely also be inequitable because manufacturing capacity remains limited to only a small handful of companies and countries.

Covid-19 has demonstrated the importance of investments in science, technology and innovation. Therefore preparing for future pandemics is key and so the WHO mRNA global hub is a critical building block to ensure that South Africa and the whole continent has the production capacity that is essential for equitable vaccine rollout, said Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of South Africa. The mRNA technology is not only for COVID-19, we hope it can be adapted to help us in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, which is why were investing heavily, alongside international partners, in this initiative.

Based on the vision of the Governments of South Africa and France for diversifying vaccine manufacturing and specifically accelerating vaccine production in Africa, a consortium including the Medicines Patent Pool, Biovac, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, South Africas Department of Science and Innovation, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), a network of universities and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are driving forward the initiative.

The central aim is to develop a training facility where mRNA technology is developed to the scale required for mass production of vaccines and then for that full package of technology to be transferrable to multiple recipients in low- and middle-income countries.

Were not out of the woods yet and we are likely to be hit by new COVID-19 variants and a fifth wave that coincides with our winter season, which would compound our flu and cold season.However, we can reduce the impact by ensuring most people are vaccinated,especially the most vulnerable groups," said the South African Health Minister, Dr JoePhaahla.The new hub is not just for South Africa, it provides a one stop shop for low- and middle-income countries across the world to benefit from the technology transferred, along with the know how, so they can also produce mRNA vaccines, which is critical if we are to end vaccine inequity.

Last week, Afrigen, which is part of WHOs mRNA consortium, gained international plaudits as it announced it had developed its own version of an mRNA shot, based on the publicly available data on the composition of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which will be tested in the coming months.

This virus shows how interconnected we all are and I am proud that Belgium and other EU countries are now collaborating to build vaccine capacity everywhere, said Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation and Urban Policy of Belgium. Going forward we need more sharing of licenses, technology transfer and know-how so that in this pandemic and future ones as we can roll vaccines out quickly and equitably to the whole global population.

The mRNA global hub is designed to serve low- and middle-income countries and will empower countries to not only be able to make their own mRNA vaccines but ultimately to have the choice of which vaccines they want to make. Manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries are therefore encouraged to express their own interest so they can receive training, technology transfer and any necessary licenses. WHO and partners will bring in the production know-how, quality control and necessary licenses to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients.

"The pandemic has highlighted the need for increased local production of vaccines globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. "The WHO mRNA global hub is a major step in that direction, by sharing technology and building on the capacity and scientific expertise that already exists in South Africa.

The global hubs will act as training facilities where technology is established at industrial scale and clinical development performed. WHO will compliment this activity and assist other countries in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries to strengthen biomanufacturing capacity as well as regulatory capacity.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director of World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, said: The mRNA hubs provide an unprecedented opportunity for capacity development, putting Africa on the path to self-reliance. This initiative will enable the continent to better protect against outbreaks, control the COVID-19 pandemic and develop new vaccines, accelerating the elimination of deadly diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. We are opening the door to better health and wellbeing for our people.

At Medicines Patent Pool, we are thrilled to be able to offer the mRNA hub our expertise on intellectual property management andvoluntarylicensing. It is impressive howworkingin partnership and in a very short time, we have established the firm base from which thisnew technology can be shared across low- and middle-income countries,"saidCharles Gore, Executive Director, Medicines Patent Pool. "The South African government and partners have shown extraordinary commitment, and of course this has only been made possible thanks to our funders,who through rapidly mobilizing resources havedemonstratedsuch strong supportfor theproject.

The visit will also include the Centre for Epidemic Response & Innovation, which is at the heart of South Africas world-class viral genomics surveillance programme, meetings with civil society groups and visits to vaccination centres in Cape Town.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Media opportunities

Press conference: On 11 February at 4pm (South Africa time), a press conference will be held at the Biomedical Research Institute based at Stellenbosch University's Tygerburg Medical Campus. Members of the media can join onsite and participate remotely by using at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqf-CrqTgsGtcV6d5KRUY-2PntmDaIclEJ

Pool pics/video sharing link:https://who.canto.global/v/mRNAhub

For media attendance at the press conference, please RSVP with Veronica Mohapeloa at +27 (0) 83 400 5750 and [emailprotected], or Thabang Setlhare at +27 (0) 72 659 9690 and [emailprotected]

The press conference can also be watched online athttps://youtu.be/EFfuzDQwQzQ

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South Africa's mRNA hub progress is foundation for self-reliance - World Health Organization

Expedia Group is still very much caught up in making over the company. Is it working? Company officials are basically telling Wall Street trust us, we think this is going to be good.

Dennis Schaal

Expedia Group, in releasing its fourth quarter earnings Thursday, saw plenty of cause for optimism, but as far as quantifying its progress in terms of its two-year-old restructuring and rebuilding drive, the message was youll have to wait until the travel industry reverts to a semblance of normal to quantify the progress.

While rival Airbnb, which reports fourth quarter earnings next week, basks in its brand awareness and proclivity in attracting bookers directly, Expedia Groups selling and marketing expense line in the fourth quarter was 45.8 percent of revenue. Selling and marketing expense climbed 106 percent to more than $1 billion.

Commenting on Expedia Groups push to render its marketing efforts more efficient, CEO Peter Kern said during a call with analysts: So the short answer is, we made a huge amount of progress, as I said, in terms of tools, in terms of data, in terms of insights, in terms of being able to test and learn across a much broader swath of our enterprise. But being able to quantify really how much better it is in basis points or something that would give you a projectable marketing efficiency is still very challenging.

For the past two years, Expedia Group has been reorganizing the internal workings of the company, combining brand teams that previously may have worked at cross-purposes, shedding brands that werent core to the company, and trying to consolidate its tech stack. The company entered 2022 with 10,000 fewer employees than at the end of 2019.

The company is currently revamping all of its loyalty programs, and intends to unify them into one plan. Kern said he thought that work would take most of 2022, and that 2023 would be the year where the company sees the first financial benefit.

So I think we feel good about the technical progress the teams are making about the way theyve plotted out their course of learning and testing, Kern said. And theres no question it will inure to our benefit. But being able to identify a single thing or a single win or how to quantify it is really hard to do at this moment. So I think you have to wait for the collective good to roll through our P&L (profit and loss statement), and hopefully, youll see it as things develop.

In a Skift interview following the call with financial analysts, Kern pointed to a service platform, which includes voice chat, and enables people to self-service as an example of some of the behind the scenes progress the company is making. We have been essentially training it with skills across the entire company to serve traveler problems, supplier problems, all kinds of things, he said.

Kern said it while it makes the company more efficient, more importantly travelers appreciate it and have a better experience.

Expedia Groups revenue in the fourth quarter still tracked considerably lower than in the comparable period in pre-pandemic 2019. Its revenue mark of around $2.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, was 17 percent lower than the same period two years ago. However, that $2.3 billion stood 148 percent higher than the fourth quarter of 2020.

Expedia Groups lodging revenue in the fourth quarter climbed 116 percent year over year to $1.7 billion.

Expedia Group recorded $276 million in net income in the fourth quarter of 2021, reversing a $412 million loss a year earlier. The company said that was driven by room night growth and, to a lesser degree an increase in average daily rates.

For full year 2021, Expedia Group narrowed its year over year loss by 90 percent to $269 million in the red. Revenue for the year grew 65 percent to $8.6 billion.

Selling and marketing expense climbed 106 percent to more than $1 billion. Selling and marketing expense was 45.8 percent of revenue.

While we experienced yet another significant travel disruption from Covid this quarter, we were pleased to see thatthe impact was less severe and of shorter duration than previous waves, Kern said in a statement as part of the fourth quarter earnings announcement. Notably, the travel industry and traveling public prove more resilient with each passing wave, and we continue to expect a solid overall recovery in 2022, barring a change in the trajectory of the virus.

Expedia Group Chief Financial Officer Eric Hart said the companys vacation rental brand Vrbo is showing strength compared with 2019 and 2021, and it continues to win share, as well without providing specifics. He said the hotel recovery has lagged Vrbos trajectory.

But Kern said Vrbo is not seeing a trend toward long-term stays that others namely Airbnb are seeing. He said if people have more flexibility and can spend more days on vacation, then that would be terrific and a tailwind, but that hasnt benefited Vrbo to date.

In the Skift interview after the analyst call, Kern said Vrbo was never in the business of by and large of offering two-night stays. So its vacation rental brand, which is geared primarily toward families and other groups in resort areas, is indeed seeing stays getting elongated, but not to the extent that it is seeing a surge of bookings for 30-day stays or longer.

Kern said Expedia Group is committed to continuing the restructuring process, and making the company more efficient so it can better stimulate and capture demand, and wont engage in mergers and acquisitions activity just because there are good deals out there.

Were going to buy things that fit our long-term strategy to drive where were trying to drive it if we buy it, he said.

Update: The story has been updated to add some information from CEO Kern about a new service platform for travelers and suppliers that Expedia is introducing across the company, and about trends at its Vrbo unit.

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Expedia: Youll Have to Wait Longer to See Hard Data on Our Rebuild Progress - Skift

Cincinnati tight end C.J. Uzomah tried to send a message that he wouldnt miss the Super Bowl by taking the brace off his left knee and tossing it behind him onto the Bengals logo during a pep rally.

His coach said Wednesday hes optimistic about Uzomahs progress even as the Bengals kept the tight end out of practice.

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Zac Taylor says Uzomah likely will work at practice Thursday with the Bengals taking advantage of having three days of work left to see where the veteran is. Uzomah played only nine snaps in the AFC championship game before hurting his knee. He caught 49 passes for 493 yards and five touchdowns in the best season of his career, and he has 13 catches for 135 yards this postseason.

"Again, optimistic with where hes at," Taylor said. "Team has handled it really well. We try to keep our scheduling as consistent as possible. And you know, so were midway through our first day here, and our guys have handled it really well."

Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah reacts during the Super Bowl LVI Opening Night Fan Rally, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

PRINCES RETURN

Isaiah Prince has no regrets about the difficult decision he made last season.

Opting out because of the coronavirus pandemic still wasnt easy for the Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle.

"Of course, I was very hurt," Prince said. "I believe that was probably one of the most trying times in my life. Looking back at my career, I dont think Ive ever really missed a game, a practice not in college.

"So for me, missing my first season (with the Bengals), that was kind of devastating for me."

Prince was drafted by Miami in the sixth round in 2019 out of Ohio State and played in four games, including two starts, as a rookie. He was waived late that season and claimed by Cincinnati a day later.

The 6-foot-7, 305-pound offensive lineman was considered a potential depth piece to help protect then-rookie quarterback Joe Burrow. But the pandemic caused Prince to reassess things at home, and he decided to not play in his first year with the Bengals.

"Being at home while I opted out, just watching, I mean, Im human," he said. "There were times I was wondering, you know, how am I going to get back in? But I stayed faithful and kept believing in myself."

Prince, whose Bengals teammate Josh Tupou also opted out, went back to school during the year away from football and finished his undergraduate degree at Ohio State. He used boxing to help him train and also worked out at LeCharles Bentleys O-Line Performance facility in Arizona.

Prince returned to the Bengals this season, made the roster out of training camp and took over as the starting right tackle when Riley Reiff was lost for the season with an ankle injury in December. And now Prince is preparing to start in the Super Bowl.

"Those times definitely helped prepare me for this moment and staying focused regardless of whats going on around me," Prince said. "I think that was a very challenging time in my life, but I still had to wake up every day and stay focused on the things that really needed my attention. That definitely plays a key part in right now with everything thats going on, is just staying focused and controlling what you can control."

NINE ON NINE

Carson Palmer is hopeful that the Bengals have enough to beat the Rams on Sunday.

Palmer was the top overall pick by the Bengals in 2003 and led the franchise to two AFC North titles in eight seasons. Cincinnati granted his trade request to the Raiders in 2011.

Palmer has been a longtime fan of Joe Burrow. Palmers brother, Jordan, worked with Burrow throughout the draft process in 2020 before the Bengals made him the top pick and gave him the same jersey number as Palmers.

"I love everything about him. Hes so level-headed," Palmer said. "You cant stop thinking about that playoff game (against Tennessee) where he got sacked nine times. Its a demoralizing feeling getting sacked that many times. It takes a toll emotionally on you, but you never felt that watching him play. He was cool. He was calm.

"Theres a great belief and energy. And that magic. Hopefully theres enough magic to get past this team of All-Pros and all stars."

Palmer says the biggest key to the game will be for Burrow to get the ball out quickly to be able to beat the Rams pass rush.

"Theyve been so creative with moving (JaMarr) Chase around and finding ways to get him the ball," Palmer said between appearances on Radio Row Wednesday. "Joe (Burrow) just cant sit back there. He has to get the ball out of his hand so that Aaron (Donald) and Von (Miller) cant go to work."

BIG PAYDAY FOR BIG-MAN SCORES

For a guy considered one of the best left tackles in NFL history, Anthony Munoz had excellent hands.

The nine-time All-Pro and first-ballot Hall of Famer had seven catches, including four touchdowns in his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Munoz would love to see a big man score a touchdown in the Super Bowl because Hydroxycut is giving away $100,000 to a fan if an offensive or defensive lineman finds the end zone. It happened 13 times in the regular season.

"Its good that theyre trying to recognize the big man, so hopefully one of our big men on the Bengals will score a touchdown and somebody can win a lot of money," Munoz said on the AP Pro Football Podcast.

Munoz credits former Bengals coach Sam Wyche for installing plays that called his number as a receiver.

"Playing offense for Sam was so much fun," Munoz said. "You never knew what to expect, but it was great, solid stuff, very innovative."

Three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowl guard Mark Schlereth said he never scored a TD at any level of football in his career. Hes rooting for a jumbo-sized score Sunday.

"I have the joy of scoring as an offense, but never individually scoring," Schlereth said. "As an offensive lineman, you dont get that very often but to have 13 this year, it does happen. A hundred grand would be a nice, little treat."

NEW HEALTH PARTNERSHIP

Hall of Fame Health is partnering with the Off the Field NFL Wives Association to promote health care services for former players and families.

Hall of Fame Heath was launched two years ago during Super Bowl week in Miami to bring world-class health care solutions and services to the football community. Wednesdays announcement increases the focus to wives, children and family members of former players.

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"This may be the most important relationship we will ever form," said Jeremy Hogue, CEO of Hall of Fame Health. "These are strong women, and like most women across the country, they typically make the decisions regarding health care in their homes. They ensure their husbands get the care they need and their kids get the care they need."

The Off the Field NFL Wives Association was founded 16 years ago.

Excerpt from:

Bengals' Zac Taylor optimistic on progress of injured C.J. Uzomah - Fox News

The current farm bill expires in 2023, leading those on Capitol Hill to begin its work of oversight of the 2018 Farm Bill. During hearings in early February, Robert Bonnie, undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, as well as Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux and Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Crosby each offered their insight into what has worked well and opportunities to improve conservation programs as well as other tenets of the current farm bill.

In his opening statement to Bonnie, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Glenn GT Thompson, R-Pa., says in his opinion the committee is a bit behind in our oversight responsibilities and will need to get up to speed on these issues quickly if we are going to complete a farm bill on time next year.

In addition to concerns about funds to target climate practices, Thompson called on Bonnie to help in the discussion on both Title 1 traditional commodity programs and crop insurance as both are under Bonnies FPAC mission area.

Here are five things we heard that piqued our interest in the debate moving forward.

Build Back Better tried to double conservation funding. Thompson criticized the stalled Build Back Better bills attempt to double funding for farm bill conservation programs without any oversight hearings on whether those farm bill conservation programs need changes. Some lawmakers voiced concerns with the Biden administrations laser focus on climate-related ag practices while touting the importance of programs like Conservation Security Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, and Conservation Reserve Program for growers. Many bipartisan members of the committee echoed the position held by many of those in agriculture that there are no one-size-fits-all policies when it comes to conservation, so the programs need to allow for local tailoring.

CRP seen as working lands. Although the Conservation Reserve Program has typically been considered an idling lands program, Ducheneaux says he believes changes made to allow for emergency CRP grazing and even baling of those resources allows for producers to stockpile that forage in drought-stricken areas. Hay in the stack is like money in the bank, Ducheneaux says. Stockpiling forage that still considers key primary nesting periods for specific wildlife allows the program to better position itself to offer feed resources when needed and move beyond just idled land.

In the last farm bill, Congress reduced rental rates for CRP and capped acres at 25 million acres for 2021, with incremental increases in that cap to 27 million by FY23. Prior to last year CRP enrollments were down, which led FSA to increase rental rates for its grassland CRP rates by $15 per acre in 1,300 counties and also added a climate-smart practice incentive for CRP general and continuous signups to encourage additional enrollment.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., questioned how these changes are impacting young farmers vying for land. Ducheneaux says CRP does have some limits built into the program to encourage enrollment in the most highly erodible lands. In addition, only 25% of land in a county can qualify for CRP, leaving 75% of potential land available for production. He says there are opportunities to provide transition incentive programs within CRP to help make that transfer of land to the next generation, he says.

Public private crop insurance partnership crucial. Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., reiterated that she consistently hears the federal crop insurance program works well and the program does not need changes. Bonnie says maintaining the public private partnership is critically important and remains vital to producers managing risk. Even with the increase in disaster ad hoc assistance in recent years, USDA has linked participation with crop insurance to incentivize producers to utilize those programs.

As we look at the future of crop insurance, weve developed a lot of programs, and well continue to look for ways and gaps in coverage where we can create new products and new opportunities in that partnership, Bonnie says. The last farm bill offered whole farm insurance and micro-farm insurance policies to expand on traditional offerings.

USDA recently rolled out a Post Application Coverage Endorsement PACE in certain states for corn farmers who split apply nitrogen. Bonnie says this is one of many ways the public private partnership is coming together to create new products that create incentives that in this case also offer environmental and economic benefits.

Climate-smart pilot projects offer crucial insight. USDA announced $1 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds to offer grants to pilot projects of varying sizes to work directly with producers and the private sector on establishing climate-smart commodities. Bonnie says this area is ripe for improvement in building on funding offered through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program to partner together private dollars with taxpayer dollars.

Bonnie says with this pilot program USDA hopes to provide learning and create a conversation on incentives, measurement and verification of climate-smart practices that eventually will provide new revenue streams for farmers. Despite questions on whether CCC funds can be directed by USDA without Congressional direction, Bonnie defended the action because it supports ag markets similar to the way CCC funds were used during the pandemic and trade war.

Staffing levels still low at USDA. Many members questioned the USDA officials about staff on the ground that interface with producers. Bonnie was quick to note, We need more people at NRCS and FSA, he says.

Cosby says NRCS has an aggressive hiring strategy and has been able to hire 3,000 employees in the last two years. Theyre working closely with state conservationists to fill the remaining 700 needed staff positions. Bonnie adds when looking towards the next farm bill, NRCS will need more boots on the ground to provide sound technical insight as well as outreach to small, medium and historically-underserved farmers.

No need to create a climate title. Committee Republicans emphasized that the conservation title must not be repurposed as a climate title when the farm bill is reauthorized in 2023, and the many practices and actions encouraged in other farm bill titles that improve overall farm sustainability cannot be forgotten. House Agriculture Committee Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee Chairman, Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., vowed the title would remain the conservation title, although she praised the ability for Congress to focus dollars that offer climate-smart benefits and ensure farmers stay on the land through economic sustainability within that title.

Read more:

Farm bill oversight begins - Farm Progress

The Williamstown Theatre Festival has released a progress report on its ongoing efforts to respond to allegations of racism, dangerous working conditions, equity shortcomings, and more. The claims were raised by an alumni group featured in a Los Angeles Times expos in September. The following month, then-artistic director Mandy Greenfield abruptly resigned and Jenny Gersten, who served as artistic director from 2010-2014, returned in an interim capacity. WAMC spoke with Gersten about what WTF has identified in its new report, as well as her reaction to continuing criticism from the alumni group whose letter to leadership sparked the reckoning.

GERSTEN: The report that we released last week is the result of, I would say, two years of conversations that have been happening at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. So as much as it's true it is in part in response to some of the more recent, you know, information that's come to light or certain allegations that were brought up. it was really part of a full staff effort to sort of respond to the times because they're, you know, they're changing.

WAMC: So let's dial in some of the specifics. What initiatives are underway that the report identifies?

Well, one of the things we did back in 2021, was that we changed the structure of what was formerly our apprentice program into a learning program. Last year was specifically in partnership with Black Theatre United, a company that started during 2020 in response to some of the racial reckoning, Black Lives Matter movement that was going on in a big way that year. Black Theatre United partnered with Williamstown Theatre Festival to create a BIPOC theatre makers program for 10 learners in residence at the festival. And it combined some pedagogy or academic learning, some experiential learning, mentorship with members of Black Theatre United, and other meaningful ways of engagement at the theatre festival. So, when we once had, you know, people applying to become apprentices at the festival, we're now interested in changing it so that it has more of an educational component and more of a structure with limitations to how many hours they're spent doing any labor at the festival.

One theme in the criticism lodged at the festival concerned a culture where employees felt that it was either uncomfortable or unclear on who they could report concerns about labor conditions or equity issues to within the organization. Has the report addressed those concerns?

Yeah, in several ways. I mean, one of the things we did was we have just hired a woman named Danielle King, who is going to be the producer of shows and of organizational culture, really thinking about people and culture at the senior level of the organization, so that there is someone on staff. We also started working with a third-party HR firm back in 2021. So we had a full time consultant in HR working with us, as well as someone BIPOC available to BIPOC members of the festival, if there were HR-type issues that we needed, that needed to be addressed, but more personally. And I'm just trying to think of- A lot of the reporting structure, just in terms of anonymous reporting, those, the report also makes room for ways to make it available without, with- And keep anonymity.

Back in November, when WAMC reported on your return to the festival when Mandy Greenfield departed, the WTF, Williamstown?! Collective, the group of alumni who wrote the much publicized letter to the festival concerning a lot of these criticisms, offered a statement back to us citing their concern that I'm going to quote here the only public and concrete step at the festival was made is to rehire a former artistic director who presided over the same toxic institutional practices. When you hear a sentiment like that, where there's concern that you were attached to the festival at what they have described as the height of many of these concerns- Do you have a response to that?

I mean, I think- I understand where they're coming from. You know, I think our awareness of how, of that kind of toxicity, at least for me, personally, has really evolved over time. So I think, the way I thought about the culture back then when I worked at the theatre festival versus how I understand it now, and partly because of the WTF Collectives ability to sort of raise these concerns, and partly because our whole industry is changing. And the generations of young people today who are standing up for what they think is fair and correct behavior by an employer are just- They've shifted, and I think it's important to be responsive to them and understand where they're coming from. So I think that's what we're doing now. It's, you know, it's hard to hear it, Josh, but it's, on the other hand, we all need to change.

Looking back at your first tenure at the festival, do you have any regrets about how you conducted yourself as its leader?

[pause]

I don't. I actually, I'm really proud of my time at Williamstown, in both eras that I worked there. I mean, I understand where you're coming from with that, but, uh- But that's not how I, thats not how I look back on it.

Looking forward, what comes next from the report? When are we going to see more action taken by the festival?

Well, again, I think we're just at- The reason that we're releasing this as a progress report as opposed to sort of a document of, that sort of finite, is we're saying, this is an organic process, we're going to keep learning as we make these changes, and implement these new ideas and put them into practice. We're going to see where the pinch points are when we try these new efforts and work together to address the new potential complications that arise out of it. But I think we intend to release a progress report at least once a year, as well as making small amendments throughout the time that it lives on our website so that we can be held continue to be held accountable. So that it has, that we're constantly being responsive to what we learn.

Jenny, are there any questions about the report I haven't thought to ask you that you think it's important for folks to understand?

Its a great question. I think the question, Josh, is, maybe, how does this change the Williamstown Theatre Festival that I know and love, because I'm reading a lot about anti-oppression and anti-racism, but there probably are some listeners out there who think, you know, I loved my Williamstown Theatre Festival the way it was, and I never understood that these were real problems because I, you know, I love the shows and it's important to me that the theatre festival continue to exist and thrive in the Berkshires. And so I think that's going to all happen too. I don't think this report changes what we do culturally, to contribute to the life of the arts in the Berkshires. It just makes us more responsible humans.

Link:

Williamstown Theatre Festival issues a progress report on efforts to address allegations of racism, poor labor conditions - WAMC