business news report

Protests in Iran over lady’s loss of life attain key oil trade – Enterprise Information

Employees on the website of a significant complicated of refineries essential for Iran’s huge offshore pure fuel area protested Monday over the loss of life of a 22-year-old lady, on-line movies appeared to point out.

The demonstrations at Asaluyeh mark the primary time the unrest surrounding the loss of life of Mahsa Amini threatened the coffers of Iran’s long-sanctioned theocratic authorities — its oil and fuel trade.

Whereas it stays unclear if different employees will observe, the protests come as demonstrations rage on in cities, cities and villages throughout Iran over the Sept. 16 loss of life of Amini after her arrest by the nation’s morality police in Tehran. Early on Monday, the sound of obvious gunshots and explosions echoed by means of the streets of a metropolis in western Iran, whereas safety forces reportedly killed one man in a close-by village, activists mentioned.

Iran’s authorities insists Amini was not mistreated, however her household says her physique confirmed bruises and different indicators of beating. Subsequent movies have proven safety forces beating and shoving feminine protesters, together with girls who’ve torn off their necessary scarf, or hijab.

From the capital, Tehran, and elsewhere, on-line movies have emerged regardless of authorities disrupting the web. Movies on Monday confirmed college and highschool college students demonstrating and chanting, with some girls and women marching by means of the streets with out headscarves because the protests proceed right into a fourth week. The demonstrations characterize one of many largest challenges to Iran’s theocracy because the 2009 Inexperienced Motion protests.

On-line movies analyzed by The Related Press confirmed dozens of employees gathered on the refineries in Asuluyeh, some 925 kilometers (575 miles) south of Tehran, on the Persian Gulf. The huge complicated takes in pure fuel from the huge offshore pure fuel area that Iran shares with Qatar.

In a single video, the gathered employees — some with their faces coated — chant “shameless” and “loss of life to the dictator.” The chants have been options throughout protests coping with Amini’s loss of life.

“That is the bloody yr Seyyed Ali shall be overthrown,” the protesters chanted, refusing to make use of the title ayatollah to check with Iran’s Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei. An ayatollah is a high-ranking Shiite cleric.

Others present them gathered across the huge community of tanks and industrial options, in addition to on a close-by roadway. The small print within the movies correspond with every and to identified options of the power in contrast towards satellite tv for pc images taken Sunday.

Iran didn’t acknowledge any disruption on the facility, although the semiofficial Tasnim information company described the incident as a wage dispute. Iran is among the world’s prime pure fuel suppliers, simply after the US and Russia.

The violence early Monday in western Iran occurred in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran’s Kurdistan province, in addition to within the village of Salas Babajani close to the border with Iraq, in keeping with a Kurdish group known as the Hengaw Group for Human Rights. Amini was Kurdish and her loss of life has been felt significantly in Iran’s Kurdish area, the place demonstrations started Sept. 17 at her funeral there.

Hengaw posted footage it described as smoke rising in a single neighborhood in Sanandaj, with what gave the impression of fast rifle fireplace echoing by means of the night time sky. The shouts of individuals could possibly be heard.

There was no rapid phrase if folks had been harm within the violence. Hengaw later posted a video on-line of what seemed to be collected shell casings from rifles and shotguns, in addition to spent tear fuel canisters.

Authorities supplied no rapid clarification in regards to the violence early Monday in Sanandaj, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of Tehran. Esmail Zarei Kousha, the governor of Iran’s Kurdistan province, alleged with out offering proof that unknown teams “plotted to kill younger folks on the streets” on Saturday, the semiofficial Fars information company reported Monday.

Kousha additionally accused these unnamed teams that day of capturing a younger man within the head and killing him — an assault that activists have roundly blamed on Iranian safety forces. They are saying Iranian forces opened fireplace after the person honked his automotive horn at them. Honking has change into one of many methods activists have been expressing civil disobedience — an motion that has seen riot police in different movies smashing the windshields of passing automobiles.

Within the village of Salas Babajani, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Sanandaj, Iranian safety forces repeatedly shot a 22-year-old man protesting there who later died of his wounds, Hengaw mentioned. It mentioned others had been wounded within the capturing.

It stays unclear how many individuals have been killed within the demonstrations or by the safety drive crackdown focusing on them. State tv final recommended at the least 41 folks had been killed within the demonstrations as of Sept. 24. Within the over two weeks since, there’s been no replace from Iran’s authorities.

An Oslo-based group, Iran Human Rights, estimates at the least 185 folks have been killed. This consists of an estimated 90 folks killed by safety forces within the japanese Iranian metropolis of Zahedan amid demonstrations towards a police officer accused of rape in a separate case. Iranian authorities have described the Zahedan violence as involving unnamed separatists, with out offering particulars or proof.

In the meantime, a jail riot has struck town of Rasht, killing a number of inmates there, a prosecutor reportedly mentioned. It wasn’t instantly clear if the riot at Lakan Jail was linked to the continuing protests, although Rasht has seen heavy demonstrations in current weeks since Amini’s loss of life.

The semiofficial Mehr information company quoted Gilan provincial prosecutor Mehdi Fallah Miri as saying, “some prisoners died due to their wounds because the electrical energy was reduce (on the jail) due to the injury.” He additionally alleged prisoners refused to permit authorities entry to these wounded.

Miri described the riot as breaking out in a wing of a jail housing loss of life penalty inmates.

How one can shed weight quick and straightforward

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Do you marvel how one can shed weight quick and straightforward with out the headache of counting energy day in and day trip?

As you navigate a more healthy way of life you’ll undoubtedly discover that dropping pounds and staying match is way simpler when you could have the right motivation and instruments to take action, which is why I needed to look by way of Amazon and assist define one of the best well being merchandise for folks attempting to dwell a more healthy way of life.

Discovering one of the best merchandise in your weight reduction journey may be difficult as a result of there are such a lot of totally different folks and merchandise on the market simply attempting to make a fast buck off of your weight reduction struggles… impolite!

Though I am unable to let you know that these merchandise will make dropping pounds simpleI do in actual fact imagine that these 10 weight reduction/well being merchandise might help in making your life a bit simpler whereas attempting to form up!

Here’s a record of my favourite High 10 weight reduction merchandise that may help in weight reduction for girls. All obtainable on Amazon!

1. Goli Apple Cider Gummies

It is apparent that apple cider vinegar for weight reduction has been in an upward pattern for the previous few years, and rightly so! Apple cider vinegar does in actual fact have many well being advantages, together with weight reduction which is why I might advocate attempting so as to add it to your each day weight loss program. Even should you aren’t attempting to shed weight, apple cider vinegar has many different well being advantages as properly. One in all which is that it will possibly assist decrease your blood sugar and assist diabetes with blood sugar management (try my publish about diabetes administration). Apple cider vinegar may also help in lowering irritation which is a large consider wholesome pores and skin cells, and preserving you look youthful…everyone knows that everybody desires to look youthful (do not lie!)

Sadly, the bodily act of consuming apple cider vinegar every single day shouldn’t be beneficial as it’s extremely acidic and may hurt your esophagus and abdomen lining over time. So how can we make the most of apple cider vinegar for weight reduction you would possibly ask? Gummies after all! These Goli apple cider vinegar gummies are really one of the best as a result of they provide the identical advantages as a full shot of apple cider vinegar with simply two items and are additionally gluten-free and vegan pleasant if that occurs to be your weight loss program of alternative.

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2. Natural Protein Powder

Do not for a minute suppose that protein powder is just for males! Women can rock it too, and for my fellow health gals, this Natural protein powder actually is one of the best. The explanation I like to recommend this model over the entire different ones, is that it’s a full protein supply to assist construct muscle tissue, but additionally comprises low internet carbs, and is barely decrease calorie than its competitors. Though I do not essentially really feel its essential to chop energy should you partake in excessive affect exercises each day as your physique wants the additional gasoline, I do like this product for almost all of girls that simply need the additional protein enhance with out too many added carbs .

Plus added bonus, it’s kind of cheaper than a few of the different protein powders available on the market and tastes higher too!

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3. Dragon Match: Finest Ladies’s Compression Leggings

The wrestle is actual for girls looking for one of the best exercise leggings that are not too tight, too free or trip up whenever you attempt to run . The Dragon Match excessive waist leggings are nice as a result of they do not bunch up whenever you transfer round an excessive amount of, they’re tremendous comfy, and one of the best a part of all… they’ve pockets! Though I am a sucker for my Fabletics leggings, these come very shut by way of consolation and magnificence and are bit extra funds pleasant as you do not want an costly subscription to purchase them. That is why I’m deeming these as one of the best girls’s compression leggings to purchase now on amazon!

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4. POM Fantastic Pomegranate Juice

I love pomegranate seeds! However the issue with them is that they’re fairly dear for the tiny quantity of seeds that you just really get from every pomegranate, and shopping for them in a bundle with simply the seeds is hard too as a result of they do not keep good for very lengthy after they’re already extracted from the fruit. That is why I like to recommend simply shopping for POM Fantastic Pomegranate juice As a substitute, you continue to get the entire similar well being advantages from the fruit however in a a lot easier kind.

Pomegranate juice is arguably the most effective varieties of juice for weight reduction as a result of it is rather filling, and will simply exchange different sugary meals that you just might need indulged in as a substitute if it weren’t for the deliciousness that’s pomegranate juice. Plus it is filled with antioxidants, varied nutritional vitamins and minerals, in addition to potassium which suggests it’s excellent for an after-workout refreshment to assist exchange the vitamins that you could have misplaced from perspiration.

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5. Booty Bands Resistance Bands

Should you love at residence exercises, than resistance bands are a should! They make an in any other case easy Pilates exercise session extraordinarily harder and far more useful for muscle firming and total calorie expenditure. The Booty Bands Resistance Bands on amazon are the right, enjoyable, little addition to your own home health club as a result of they arrive in these cute pastel colours, and have three totally different resistance ranges to suit the wants of each lady at each power degree. Weight reduction for girls made simple … and enjoyable!

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6. Nicewell Digital Meals Scale

Should you’re caught in a weight-reduction plan yo-yo, and really feel such as you simply maintain dropping pounds solely to achieve it proper again you would possibly have to step it up and really begin counting energy a bit bit extra exactly. Though I actually HATE calorie counting, it really is important for sure folks, and never all people has the meals or vitamin information to make sound choices in terms of calorie consumption. For these of you with comparable issues, you would possibly profit from a digital meals scale.

The Nicewell Digital Meals Scale on Amazon, is nice as a result of it’s gentle weight, simple to retailer when not in use, and in addition a very nice worth! It is battery operated so no have to discover a plug, which makes it nice to take with you on the go, and the battery life is lengthy sufficient that you just hopefully will not want to alter them by the point you attain your weight reduction purpose anyway ️

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7. Gxmmat Train Mat

The Gxmmat train mat is ideal to suit the invoice for your entire exercise wants, bigger than a conventional yoga mat, this exercise mat is ideal for a full physique HIIT routine, varied totally different stretches, and every other kind of ground exercises that you just would possibly partake in. It is available in each black and pink (I like the pink!), it is gentle weight and is tremendous simple to roll up right into a compact place for storage as properly.

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8. Clicilen Exercise High for Ladies

Full Disclosure I’ll have a slight obsession with cute exercise garments… however I can justify it with the truth that in accordance with Healthline.com, a survey confirmed that 9 out of 10 girls mentioned that they really feel far more motivated to exercise when wearing comfy, stylish athleticwear than after they’re not. That is a adequate motive for me anyway ️

The Clicilen Exercise Tank is a good piece of athleticwear as a result of in contrast to most exercise tanks, it’s really an extended size and will not trip up your stomach as you progress round. It is also tight becoming on the bust however not too tight across the waist so it must be flattering on most physique sorts, even should you aren’t stick skinny!

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9. KIND Mini Bars

Snacking is straightforward when you could have these scrumptious little bars of pleasure! KIND mini bars are the right on the go snack to throw in your automotive, purse or wherever else you stash meals They’re tremendous scrumptious, a bit bit candy, and little bit salty for an excellent steadiness of taste and one of the best half is… they’re below 100 energy! In addition they make for a very easy but wholesome breakfast within the morning if you do not have time to arrange something fancy.

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10. Conscious Consuming Workbook

For some folks, an unhealthy relationship with meals is the offender behind weight acquire and for that, I might advocate the Conscious Consuming Workbook, obtainable on Amazon for a very nice worth proper now. You may look forward to finding conscious consuming workouts, actionable recommendation and tons of useful data to information you in direction of a wholesome mindset.

Additionally, should you’re actually severe about gaining a more healthy mindset in direction of weight reduction and physique picture, obtain my FREE Wholesome Mindset Guidelines for a neater, and extra organized method to mindfulness.

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Some airport web sites go offline; trigger being investigated – Enterprise Information

Airport web sites assault

The Related Press – | Story: 389764

The web sites for some main US airports went down early Monday in an obvious coordinated denial-of-service assault, though officers mentioned flights weren’t affected.

The assaults adopted a name by a shadowy group of pro-Russian hackers that calls itself Killnet for coordinated denial-of-service assaults on the targets. The group revealed a goal record on its Telegram channel.

“We seen this morning that the exterior web site was down, and our IT and safety persons are within the technique of investigating,” mentioned Andrew Gobeil, a spokesman for Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Worldwide Airport. “There was no impression on operations.”

Parts of the public-facing aspect of the Los Angeles Worldwide Airport web site had been additionally disrupted, spokeswoman Victoria Spilabotte mentioned. “No inside airport methods had been compromised and there have been no operational disruptions.”

Spilabotte mentioned the airport notified the FBI and the Transportation Safety Administration, and the airport’s information-technology staff was working to revive all providers and examine the trigger.

A number of different airports reported issues connecting to their web sites and seemed to be functioning very slowly, together with Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport web site, which was included on Killnet’s goal record.

The Chicago Division of Aviation mentioned in a press release that web sites for O’Hare and Halfway Airport went offline early Monday however that no airport operations had been affected.

Final week, a bunch of hackers claimed duty for cyberattacks in opposition to state authorities web sites throughout the nation.

What’s the finest medical health insurance? particular person medical health insurance quote

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What’s the finest medical health insurance?

Let’s face it, medical health insurance is a complicated subject. No one appears to grasp it, however but many individuals see the worth in having it.

What’s the finest medical health insurance to have and what options of a medical health insurance plan are most essential? Quite common inquiries to have, and as an insurance coverage agent I come throughout a lot of these questions fairly continuously.

When discovering a quote for medical health insurance, whether or not or not it’s for a gaggle or simply your self as a person, its at all times a good suggestion to make observe of key elements to the plan. Watch out to not fall sufferer to the value scheme and solely take into account the month-to-month value of the plan, as a result of there are a lot of different components that might find yourself costing you some huge cash down the street should you aren’t on an excellent insurance coverage plan.

So, let’s check out the highest 5 most essential issues to contemplate when purchasing for medical health insurance.

1.Deductibles

Deductibles looks as if a scary phrase for those who do not perceive it, however what it actually boils all the way down to is what you want to pay to the insurance coverage firm earlier than they’ll begin chipping in to your medical health insurance bills. Watch out not to decide on a plan just because it has a decrease premium if the deductible is extraordinarily excessive.

For instanceyou are taking out a coverage with a low month-to-month premium, however the deductible is $8,000 a 12 months, if for any purpose you purchase a health care provider’s invoice of something lower than that, you can be liable for your complete invoice, although you have been paying month-to-month premiums to the insurance coverage firm already.

Well being plans with low deductibles are far more fascinating and can make for an insurance coverage you’ll be able to really use, which is absolutely why we get insurance coverage within the first place proper?

If you happen to’re really on the lookout for a person medical health insurance quote with low deductibles for catastrophic incidents and $0 deductibles for easy outpatient and routine visits (which is phenomenal!) Click on Right here for a quote and I’ll personally discover you the perfect protection for you and your loved ones.

FREE QUOTES

2. Most Out of Pocket Expense

The out of pocket expense in a medical health insurance plan is one other extraordinarily essential issue to contemplate when buying a medical health insurance plan. What does max out of pocket expense imply? It pertains to what you, because the affected person, will probably be liable for paying general in a given 12 months.

If you buy a plan that has a complete out of pocket expense of $12,000, that implies that it doesn’t matter what occurs or how a lot cash in claims you find yourself taking out, you can be liable for $12,000.

That looks as if some huge cash proper? Which is why you will need to take into account a medical health insurance plan that has minimal out of pocket bills within the occasion one thing catastrophic does occur and you find yourself having to make full use of that plan.

A very cool function of this particular person well being plan, is that their is a dwelling life insurance coverage profit and AD&D protection constructed proper into the plan which finally ends up overlaying a big portion of the deductible in addition to contributing to the out of pocket expense. All of that are constructed straight into the plan and already included within the month-to-month premium.

Be taught extra about this plan right here!

3. Community of Suppliers

Most individuals have heard the phrases PPO and HMO however do not really know what they imply. It is crucial that when you are buying round for medical health insurance, you select one that’s going to learn you probably the most, and most often that’s going to be a PPO.

What’s HMO Insurance coverage?

HMO’s are very restricted by way of which suppliers you’ll be able to and can’t see, and are additionally solely good for native medical doctors and hospitals. If you find yourself touring outdoors of your given community space, you’ll not be coated in any respect… which suggests your insurance coverage is nugatory.

You additionally want to grasp that though chances are you’ll discover a hospital that’s inside your HMO community, a few of the medical doctors, anesthesiologists’, gynecologists’ and so forth… might not be part of your community and with out you even figuring out this info, they’ll give you care however then the invoice will replicate it.

What’s PPO Insurance coverage?

PPO insurance coverage however is insurance coverage that can be utilized in any physician or hospital no matter whether or not they’re in or out of community. Discovering an insurance coverage plan that has a nationwide PPO, is good since that is going to be your finest guess when visiting any physician or hospital.

PPO insurance coverage can be nice since you do not want referrals so as to see a specialist. If you happen to get up sooner or later with a pores and skin lesion and you already know it must be seen and handled by a dermatologist, relatively than being required to spend the money and time to first see a major care doctor for the referral, you’ll be able to go straight to the dermatologist of your selection.

GET A QUOTE HERE FOR THE BEST PPO HEALTH COVERAGE PLAN

4. Discover a Plan that Matches Your Present Wants

Everybody’s wants are totally different, so one insurance coverage plan is not going to be the suitable match for everybody. Make sure you are selecting a plan that may be personalized to suit your wants particularly and goes to give you the results you want and your loved ones.

Finances in fact is a big issue, you want to have the ability to afford your month-to-month premium so as to hold the plan in drive, however you additionally must be positive you are not paying for issues you do not essentially need or want, or excluding issues which are of worth to you.

One instance could be a plan which incorporates in-built life insurance coverage advantages. If you happen to do not at the moment have life insurance coverage this is likely to be an excellent choice so that you can embrace in your plan; nevertheless, if you have already got a very nice life insurance coverage coverage that covers you utterly chances are you’ll wish to choose out of this inclusion.

One other instance could be if you’re self employed, or personal your individual small enterprise, staff compensation advantages is likely to be essential to contemplate. Plans with on the job safety can be found on the person personal market and might generally be a life saver for the self insured. You’ll be able to try these plans with in-built revenue protectors and staff compensation-like advantages HERE.

5. Discover an Agent you’ll be able to Belief

The market is saturated with insurance coverage brokers and brokers on the market attempting to realize your enterprise however watch out you’re solely working with somebody that really cares and has your finest curiosity at coronary heart.

As a licensed agent, I discover it most satisfying once I might help somebody navigate this complicated factor known as medical health insurance protection and put them in the perfect place, no matter whether or not it’s a product that I’ve entry to or not.

I work carefully with specialists within the medical health insurance discipline to make sure every shopper I characterize goes to be placed on the perfect, most inexpensive plans and choices that match their particular wants. Saving folks cash for higher, extra complete well being protection is what I do, so attain out for a free quote in the present day and even should you simply have questions on your present protection and I am right here to assist!

Can You Prevent Telehealth Fraud?

Can You Prevent Telehealth Fraud?

Telemedicine has continued to thrive in a post-pandemic world, but with the expansion of services comes the expansion of fraud.

We can help you stay on top of the latest news that affects your everyday life. Subscribe to stay up to date. (To subscribe to our blog ).

The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has warned healthcare entities to use ‘heightened scrutiny’ when entering telemedicine arrangements that have suspect characteristics of a fraud scheme.

The OIG has stated that a common characteristic of fraudulent schemes is the use of kickbacks to recruit and award healthcare practitioners.

The OIG further warns that enforcement is continuing. The OIG and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have investigated many fraud cases involving telemedicine companies.

In their investigations and cases, healthcare practitioners, telemedicine companies, and other participants have been held civilly, criminally, and administratively liable for their participation.

Some of the violations include:

  1. Violations of the federal anti-kickback statute,
  2. Submitting claims in violation of the False Claims Act, and/or
  3. Violations of other federal criminal laws.

Often, these cases involve a healthcare practitioner ordering or prescribing items or services for purported patients that were never examined or meaningfully assessed to determine medical necessity.

What should you watch out for?

Healthcare practitioners should be on the lookout for suspect characteristics, including, but not limited to:

  • Patients identified or recruited by the telemedicine company,
  • Insufficient contact or information from the purported patient to assess medical necessity,
  • Compensation from the telemedicine company based on the volume of items or services ordered or prescribed,
  • Telemedicine companies that only provide items and services to federal healthcare program beneficiaries,
  • Telemedicine companies that only furnish one product or a single class of product that might restrict treatment options, and
  • Telemedicine companies that don’t expect practitioners to follow up with patients or provide follow-up contact information.

Why does this matter for you?

Healthcare entities that engage with fraudulent telemedicine companies can face criminal, civil, or administrative liability, based on the situation.

It is essential to vet your vendors well. If you need help vetting vendors, contact Rickard & Associates today.

If you have questions or need help with your healthcare contract or your termination clause, contact Rickard & Associates today.

We know you’re busy. Subscribe to our blog to get updates and news sent directly to your inbox!

We publish vital information on health law topics and news every Wednesday and Friday. To get this important information delivered directly to your mailbox, subscribe today!

Do you need help updating your Business Associate Agreement or negotiating contracts with third-party vendors? We can help. To contact us about your Business Associate Agreement, your vendor contracts or your other legal needs, call us today.

The post Can You Prevent Telehealth Fraud? appeared first on Rickard & Associates.

Gay Water launches to support LGBTQ2S+ people

In a sea of ​​canned cocktails, Gay Water wants to stand out.

Launching Thursday is a brightly colored canned vodka and soda beverage that proudly displays who it’s for, instead of backing off from support for the LGBTQ2S+ community as other companies have done in recent months. In other words, where Bud Light has buckled under pressure as bigotry grows against the LGBTQ2S+ community, Gay Water’s creator Spencer Hoddeson wants his new boozy brand to be the antithesis of that.

“The key issue that Bud Light tapped into was the fact that they didn’t understand their core audience and know enough about them,” Hoddeson, a gay man, told CNN about the controversy that began when the Anheuser-Busch beer brand sent influencer Dylan Mulvaney a can of beer. “They just went silent and I think in 2023, you have to be communicating because people communicate themselves if they’re not hearing from you.”

Gay Water, however, is out and proud. The canned cocktail is named after a colloquialism given to the popular mixed drink (vodka and soda) ordered at bars by the gay community. It’s also one of the few openly queer-owned alcohol brands, which Hoddeson said sparked him to create because he wanted more representation in the category.

“We’re creating a brand that creates representation, particularly in spaces where representation is lacking like liquor stores, bars, restaurants and grocery stores,” he said. “Putting a product with the word gay in the title is a representation of itself,” which he hopes reclaims the word from the negativity it’s sometimes associated with.

He thought of creating Gay Water about a year ago while on a vacation with his friend who had got a job within the beverage industry. The two chatted about the limited number of gay people within it, and with Hoddeson burnt out from his traditional day job in tech, started the canned cocktail.

Big online

Hoddeson built up a strong social media following on TikTok and Instagram during Covid-19 and is using some of the money from that (as well as from friends and family) to help fund Gay Water. He worked together with a queer designer creating the colorful packaging, which pulls inspiration from ’90s Nickelodeon shows and pop art.

“I wanted to build something that is queer and part of the community, but it isn’t necessarily the rainbows and unicorns that you see all around with pride,” he said. “Gay is an umbrella term and the idea behind the brand is to be as inclusive as possible, which means we want allies, we want straight people to be part of this community we’re building.”

For now, Gay Water is sold largely online (with a few retailers) and comes in four sugar-free flavors — watermelon, lime, peach and grapefruit — at launch. Six-packs with a single flavor cost $18.25 and 12-packs with a variety of flavors cost $36.50.

Although spiked seltzers have cooled off with drinkers, spirit-based drinks, like High Noon, have grown in popularity. And despite the hundreds of brands on shelves (after all, a canned vodka soda isn’t something unique anymore), Hoddeson said it’s “exactly the right time” to join the space.

“When I look at a lot of brands entering the market right now, what they’re missing is the idea of ​​who their audience is and who their community will be rather than what their product is,” he said.

Canned cocktail boom

Sales of premixed cocktails including surged about 36% last year, making it a $2.2 billion industry according to figures from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

Gay Water might not have the deep pockets compared to its competitors, like White Claw, but “even at small scale, companies of many sizes are having success making spirit-based seltzers and premixed cocktails,” Bryan Roth, an analyst for Feel Goods Company and editor of the alcohol beverage newsletter, Sightlines+, told CNN.

“There’s lots of space in the spirit-based seltzer category in which Gay Water can play, especially if the brand can offer a cultural or emotional connection that will feel more exciting than the prospect of another pineapple-flavoured vodka seltzer from national or international corporations,” Roth said. “It’s a top-heavy category where niches can be carved out in a fashion similar to craft beer.”

Of course, other drinks use the word “gay,” too, including Gay Beer and So Gay Rosé, Hoddeson noted, which are also trying to reach the queer community and offer them an alternative in the straight-dominated space.

Hoddeon said there’s a lot of “straight-coded brands that try to reach the audience and that’s what Bud Light did. There’s clearly a desire for folks to have queer customers they just don’t know the right way to go about it.”

Hundreds of thousands are without power as tornado-spawning storms batter the Southeast and Ohio Valley

Severe tornado-spawning storms battered the Southeast and Ohio Valley, knocking out power to more than 615,000 homes and businesses across multiple states.


Stormy sky and rain. apocalypse like(Getty Images/iStockphoto/Evgeny555)

(CNN) — Severe tornado-spawning storms battered the Southeast and Ohio Valley, knocking out power to more than 615,000 homes and businesses across multiple states.

A possible twister damaged dozens of homes in Bargersville, Indiana, on Sunday as thunderstorms moved through the state, threatening hail and damaging winds. As they shifted through the rubble, Bargersville residents were warned to prepare to be without power for the next two days.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are likely across the Mid-Atlantic states Monday, bringing damaging wind gusts and large hail, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

Already, thunderstorms have walloped parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and parts of the Ohio Valley Sunday, knocking out power and leaving behind destruction.

Much of the power outages Sunday night were in Georgia, where more than 150,000 customers were in the dark, according to poweroutage.us.

“We are seeing large amounts of damage across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. In areas that are the most heavily affected, our team is working to navigate the damage and get the lights back on for customers,” Georgia Power tweeted.

The storms came as more than 50 million people from Arizona to Louisiana on Sunday sweltered under a heat wave that was expected to spread and continue through the beginning of the July 4 holiday week.

The heat alerts include much of Texas as well as parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service.

The extreme heat in Texas contributed to at least two deaths Friday at the remote Big Bend National Park, where temperatures reached 119 degrees.

At least 75 homes near Indianapolis were damaged

In Bargersville, a severe storm cut a path of destruction roughly 3 miles long, Bargersville Fire Chief Eric Funkhouser said.

One of the Bargersville Fire houses “witnessed the tornado going just north of the fire house” around 4:15 pm then reports began rolling in of homes collapsing and damage throughout the area, Funkhouser said.

At least 75 homes were left with moderate to severe damage “from the tornado being on the ground,” Funkhouser said, adding that the storm “took down the apartment complex that was under construction.”

No serious injuries were reported as of Sunday evening, according to the fire chief.

“This is the second tornado to hit Johnson County in the last three months,” Funkhouser said. “It’s amazing to have two tornadoes to come through, that were on the ground for that amount of time in Johnson County and for us to be able to hopefully – once we get through this – find out there were only minor injuries.”

Videos posted on social media showed a funnel-shaped cloud ripping through buildings as debris flew around it. Several houses could later be seen with their roofs ripped off.

“Given the photos and videos that we’ve seen, it’s virtually certain it was a tornado. We will be sending a survey team to make a final determination tomorrow,” National Weather Service Indianapolis Meteorologist Joseph Nield told CNN on Sunday.

Bargersville is about 17 miles south of Indianapolis and is located in Johnson County.

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What Does the End of the Public Health Emergency Mean?

The national Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 ends on May 11, 2023.

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The end of the public health emergency brings a variety of changes to the healthcare system.

Most of the remaining federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements will end for federal workers, contractors and foreign air travelers.

The government is also lifting requirements for Head Start educators and healthcare workers.

Free COVID-19 vaccines and tests will no longer be provided and will now be covered under traditional health insurance.

The end of the PHE also means that many of the waivers who were in place will no longer exist. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) waived many requirements during the pandemic to allow for flexibility, including Stark Law waivers, 1135 waivers, and telehealth coverage changes.

However, HHS announced that many of the telehealth flexibilities will remain in place for some time.

It is essential for you to make sure that your healthcare practice is compliant with all regulations, especially those who were waived during the PHE.

It is likely that they will face increased scrutiny in future government audits.

We recommend that you review your compliance plan and make sure it is up to date. Now is also a good time to perform an audit with your healthcare attorney.

If you need help with your compliance plan or audit, we can help. Contact Rickard & Associates today.

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