Digital Asset DirectHo-Ho-Holiday Gifts
News Media Group, Inc.
Contact Details News Media Group, Inc. Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/
December 09, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
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Digital Asset Direct
News ReleaseFuture of School Files Counterclaims Against Stride, Inc. for Breaching Agreement to Donate $2.3 Million
Future of School
Future of School, Inc., a national nonprofit that seeks to advance innovative K-12 and blended learning programs, recently filed counterclaims in a lawsuit filed against it by Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN). The counterclaims allege that Stride, a publicly traded education company, reneged on its agreement to donate $2.3 million to Future of School after it repeatedly and publicly announced its financial support of the charity. Stride publicized the pledged donations in multiple public filings, including its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, as well as in filings with the SEC and IRS. Future of School was founded in 2015. Before it transitioned to a public charity, it was a private foundation originally formed by Stride itself. From 2016 to 2021, Future of School awarded more than $2.3 million in higher education scholarships and provided more than $430,000 in grants to individual educators to support and recognize educators for their innovative blended and online programs. Future of School also created a remote learning relief fund during the pandemic to assist educators. Through robust outreach, creative grant-making programs, a national Podcast series, and rewarding students who forge new learning pathways with scholarships, Future of School has impacted thousands of students and teachers across America. In June of 2021, Stride’s CEO James Rhyu agreed to donate $3.5 million in unrestricted funds over a five-year period. At Stride’s request, Future of School and Stride executed a signed agreement formalizing the commitment to donate the funds. And in 2021, Stride donated the first $1.2 million. According to the counterclaims, in mid-2022, as Stride’s stock price experienced significant volatility, the company unilaterally informed Future of School that it would no longer be honoring its obligation. The counterclaims further allege that Stride failed to follow through on $2.3 million in promised donations, causing considerable harm to the nonprofit, as the funds were intended by Stride to allow Future of School to complete its transition from private foundation to public charity. After Future of School identified Stride’s breach of the agreement and demanded that it honor its commitment to donate the funds, Stride ceased communicating and instead filed a lawsuit. Since Stride failed to provide the money it promised, Future of School has been forced to cut its staff and vital programs that have served students, educators, and parents across the country since 2016. On the other hand, Stride has continued to reap the benefits of its former partnership with Future of School through ongoing publicity, even after reneging on its charitable pledge. The counterclaims state that “Stride made significant efforts to portray itself as an ESG-focused corporation and consistently reported on its donation commitment to Future of School, bringing the company significant positive publicity, both in the eyes of the general public and institutional investors.” Nevertheless, Stride sued Future of School to try to get a court to declare that the agreement to donate the funds is not enforceable. Future of School is a national public charity mobilizing change in American K–12 education from a one-size-fits-all system to one that ensures all students reach their unbounded potential no matter where their learning takes place. More information is available at www.futureof.school. A copy of the counterclaims and other documents related to the lawsuit can be downloaded here and at LawsuitPressRelease.com. Contact Details David PR Group John P. David +1 305-724-3903 john@lawsuitpressrelease.com
December 09, 2022 08:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
News ReleaseAnnouncing the 2022-2023 Class of AAJA-SF Bay Area’s Rising With the Tides Fellowship
Comcast California
Comcast, NBC Bay Area and the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA-SF Bay Area) are proud to announce the fellows and editorial coach who have been selected for the 2022-2023 Rising With the Tides ( RWTT ) program. This year’s program will fund stories by three talented young Bay Area journalists — Kate Selig, Kori Suzuki and Junyao Yang — who will share portraits of the region’s Asian American population and the issues that the community faces. Selig is a Stanford undergraduate student and the news editor of The Stanford Daily. Her RWTT -supported story will focus on the effort to preserve Cantonese language programs at higher education institutions in the Bay Area. Suzuki is an audio and visual journalist and a student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. For RWTT, Suzuki will trace the history of Japanese American recreational basketball leagues in the Bay Area and will follow one East Bay program through its current season. Yang is also a student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, and her RWTT -supported story examines the unique challenges faced by Chinese immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence. Selig, Suzuki and Yang will receive guidance during their reporting from this year’s RWTT editorial coach, Karishma Mehrotra. She is a Fulbright fellow and her work has appeared on Radiolab, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Indian Express, Scroll.in and Bloomberg Businessweek. Mehrotra has reported across beats, usually focused on forward-looking issues: technology, urbanization and climate. RWTT launched in 2020 as an effort with Comcast to support journalists who were facing career and financial insecurity during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Past RWTT grant recipients have had their stories published in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, NBC Bay Area and Wired. They also participated in AAJA-SF Bay Area’s sold-out live storytelling fundraiser, Hella Asian, held at KQED’s headquarters. All fellows will participate in a story showcase at the project’s end in early spring 2023. The RWTT fellowship is a part of AAJA-SF Bay Area’s mission to support AAPI journalists and storytelling, diversity in newsrooms and to ensure fair and accurate coverage of communities of color. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Adriana Arvizo +1 925-200-1919 Adriana_Arvizo@comcast.com
December 07, 2022 12:07 PM Pacific Standard Time
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News ReleaseMinuteman Press Franchise in Bloomington, MN Celebrates 15 Years in Business
Minuteman Press International Inc
Bill and Karen Grewe have owned their Minuteman Press franchise in Bloomington, Minnesota since July of 2007. As they celebrate 15 years in business, Bill shares keys to success, lessons learned, high-demand products and services, and many more insights and reflections. Minuteman Press in Bloomington is located at 8742 Lyndale Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55420. Congrats on 15 years in business! What does this milestone mean to you and what are 3 keys to your success and longevity? Bill Grewe: It means we’ve thrived over other competitors in the area, and we lasted longer than the average small business. Most recently, we survived the Covid-19 crisis, and we start to see a return to normalcy. Further, our retirement plans include continuing to work in our shop for the foreseeable future. We still enjoy it! Key 1: Our customer focus requires us to authorize staff to solve ‘the problem.’ We back the good faith decisions made in our absence. We prioritize discussions about how to solve issues when we are available. We emphasize that the customer is not always right, but we all make mistakes. Even so, there is no need to place blame. We look for win-win solutions. Key 2: Prioritize the quote. It is not the least expensive print company that gets the job; it is the most responsive. Sure, we accommodate ‘commodity-focused’ customers. We also price aggressively on three tiers: retail, print brokers, and non-profits. We also have two of our five employees, who generate estimates for us. Key 3: Value your team members. Our payroll is excessive, and that is intentional. We pay for talent, and that inspires loyalty. When Covid forced us to reduce hours and pay, our staff supported us. We share the successes and struggles, and we look for opportunities together. What are some of the key ways you’ve grown your business? Bill Grewe: One of the hardest lessons we learned was ‘cold calling.’ We waited too long to start following the advice received at training. (What can we say, introverts find it difficult.) A business coach encouraged us to experiment with a variety of ideas. So, we ventured outside the ‘comfort zone.’ As the business expanded, we found a salesman to perform this task for us. Early on, we remembered an important lesson from Minuteman Press International (MPI), “When someone asks you if you can ‘print this’, the answer is always ‘Yes.’” Since our small print shop simply did not have the resources to produce every job, we figured out how to find “central facilities” to fill the gaps. (Hint: We asked our MPI friends, searched the internet for trade only printers, and checked the vendor catalog.) Before FLEX offered a feature to request reviews, we employed a vendor to perform the service on our behalf. Now, we use functionality built in to automatically make this request when invoices are sent. The benefit of our finding this functionality early is that we are working to maintain a 5.0 rating, not trying to earn it. Our Google rating is one of the most often mentioned ways that new customers find us. What are the high-demand products and services that have really been helpful for your clients? Bill Grewe: EDDM offers one landscaping customer the opportunity to replace the 20% customer loss experienced year-over-year. On a routine basis several times each year, we use a central facility to produce 30,000 postcards. Our customer chooses the carrier routes they want to prospect. Then, we batch the postcards and deliver them to various post offices in the area. Wide format is a place where our central facility strategy permits us to offer signs for graduates. Our graphic designer offered to produce artwork for a school-themed graduation sign, and word quickly spread. Several other schools participated, and parents even paid in advance our third year providing this service to our community. One private school decided to pay for all the signs ahead of time and resell them. We print so many envelopes, regular and window. We moved our envelope printing off our digital toner machines onto an inkjet envelope printer, and we assigned the task to our graphic designer. This freed up our other machines for other work. We still have discriminating customers, who demand precise color. So, when our team cannot match color digitally, we work with an area pressman, who works out of his garage. How would you best describe your community? Bill Grewe: Bloomington is the 5th largest city in Minnesota with more jobs per capita than either Minneapolis or St. Paul, the two largest cities. Businesses range in size from the smallest to large, multi-national corporations. From a business perspective, the opportunities are abundant. Why do you think printing remains so vital to businesses today? Bill Grewe: Print provides tangible marketing messages that you can set aside for a convenient read. Where people skim their emails followed by the quick delete, they store and share meaningful documents. What was your background before franchising and why did you choose Minuteman Press? Bill Grewe: Neither of us comes from a print background. Karen worked in a day care center, then provided home day care. I worked for the revenue department for 20 years before looking for something new. An advertisement caught my attention, and the rest is history. What has the support from Minuteman Press International been like for you? Bill Grewe: After learning volumes of new information during training, I spent the first year figuring out what it all meant. Remember when I said we waited too long to start following all the advice we received from Minuteman Press International? I was so wrapped up in trying to understand it all, I missed the ‘do this’ advice that helped our business start growing. The FLEX software is a significant advancement over previous versions, which underscores Minuteman Press International’s commitment to improvement. Its integration with the website and increased functionality allows us to accept orders and payments online. Much of our business remains either an email or phone conversation, but the day is coming when current customers can reorder previously delivered projects with the click of a portal button. We should not miss an opportunity to thank the most important local support provided by Minuteman Press International, our field representative Kate. When Bill, our salesman, retired in July this year, Kate was on the job helping train Pete with updated advice from the franchisor, using FLEX, etc. What are the biggest personal and professional rewards of owning your business? Bill Grewe: For us, our franchise provides a sense of security. While there are income fluctuations, the business provides a steady income. Furthermore, it is part of our retirement plan. (We enjoy working with our staff.) What advice would you give to other business owners or people looking to own a business? Bill Grewe: For people looking to own a business, your first responsibility is to build your market share. Your employees depend on their paycheck. This means you must separate yourself from the day-to-day operations and focus on how to increase income. Our franchise focuses on building a relationship with customers. This starts with listening long enough to hear the vision, ask questions to clarify the intent, and suggest options that deliver the right product on schedule. It involves managing expectations and avoiding unrealistic promises. Sometimes the best thing to tell your customer is, ‘We simply cannot meet that deadline.’ Otherwise, you risk delivering a product that advertises failure. It’s better to overdeliver. For more information on Minuteman Press in Bloomington, MN, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/mn/bloomington/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and see Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com
December 07, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
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News Release'Tis the Season-ally Inspired Holiday Menus at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
500NewsWire
Charlotte, NC ( 500NewsWire ) -- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill introduces new holiday lunch and dinner menus just in time to make any celebration a memorable one this holiday season. From hand-cut wood-fire grilled NY Strip, and certified Duroc pork chop with cognac cream sauce, to Bananas Foster Bread Pudding for dessert, Firebirds’ limited time scratch-made menus are available now through January 3. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is known for its signature hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood hand-fileted in-house and seared over locally sourced hickory, oak, or pecan wood on Firebirds’ exposed wood-fired grill. Firebirds’ seasonal Lunch Menu includes suggested wine pairings, and features: NY Strip (10oz.) BLT butter / choice of side Suggested wine pairing: Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon Parmesan Crusted Mahi Coal-roasted tomato-basil sauce / “loaded “ember-grilled corn / fresh asparagus Suggested wine pairing: Decoy Chardonnay Lump Crab Cakes Bold remoulade / wonton slaw / seasoned steak fries Suggested wine pairing: Firebirds Private Label Chardonnay Guests can enhance their entrées by adding: Lump Crab Cake Lobster Mac & Cheese Dessert Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Vanilla bean ice cream / spiced pecans / crispy cinnamon-sugar tortilla Firebirds’ seasonal Dinner Menu includes suggested wine pairings, and features: NY Strip (14oz.) BLT butter / choice of side Suggested wine pairing: Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon Tomahawk Prime Pork Chop Wood-grilled, certified Duroc pork chop / cognac cream sauce / red wine-poached apples / green chile mac & cheese Suggested wine pairing: Acrobat Pinot Noir Parmesan Crusted Mahi Coal-roasted tomato-basil sauce / “loaded “ember-grilled corn / fresh asparagus Suggested wine pairing: Decoy Chardonnay Lump Crab Cakes Bold remoulade / wonton slaw / seasoned steak fries Suggested wine pairing: Firebirds Private Label Chardonnay Guests can enhance their entrees by adding: Lump Crab Cake Lobster Mac & Cheese Dessert Bananas Foster Bread Pudding Vanilla bean ice cream / spiced pecans / crispy cinnamon-sugar tortilla Many of the restaurant’s dishes are created using fresh seasonal ingredients. Gluten-sensitive menu items, such as Grilled Tenderloin Salad, Wood Grilled Salmon, and Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, are also available. Firebirds offers catering, online ordering for ToGo and delivery options. In addition, Firebirds is offering a holiday gift card promotion. For every $100 in gift cards purchased in-store or online, guests will receive $20 in “bonus cards.” This special offer is available now through December 31st and “bonus cards” are valid for redemption from January 1 through February 9, 2023. For more information visit firebirdsrestaurants.com/gift-cards/. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill’s FIREBAR® offers an impressive array of seasonal cocktails, craft beer, bourbon, after-dinner drinks, Firebirds’ private label wine, hand crafted mocktails and more. Popular specialties include Wine Down Mondays, and happy hour in the FIREBAR® and on the Patio every Monday through Friday from 4PM – 7PM. Happy Hour times vary. Visit FirebirdsRestaurants.com to make a reservation, order ToGo online, or register to become a member of Firebirds’ Inner Circle and be the first to hear about upcoming events, promotions, new menu items and exclusive offers. Members receive a gift for joining and a gift for their birthday. About Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, a polished casual American restaurant, is an energetic twist on the traditional grill featuring a boldly flavored menu in a stylish, fire-centric atmosphere. Signature menu items include hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood hand-fileted in-house and seared over locally sourced hickory, oak, or pecan wood on Firebirds’ exposed wood-fired grill. Complementing its inviting dining room, a patio with seasonal comforts and the award-winning FIREBAR® are additional gathering spaces inside the restaurant. Firebirds has been named one of ten ‘Breakout Brands’ by Nation’s Restaurant News, and the 2022 Diners’ Choice Winner awarded by OpenTable. Firebirds supports sustainability efforts and partners with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, having surpassed $3 million raised for childhood cancer research through the sale of fresh-squeezed lemonade. To become a member of Firebirds Inner Circle, order ToGo online or to make a reservation visit firebirdsrestaurants.com. Contact Details Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Lesley Gamwell +1 404-309-6915 lgamwell@rountreegroup.com Company Website https://firebirdsrestaurants.com/
December 07, 2022 08:59 AM Eastern Standard Time
Digital Asset DirectHoliday Cheer gift ideas with Chassie Post
News Media Group, Inc.
Contact Details Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/
December 07, 2022 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
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News ReleaseTurn family moments into cherished memories
YourUpdateTV
This holiday season, whether you’re looking for gifts for your children, grandkids, friends or yourself, Nintendo Switch has gifts for all ages — and incredible games and experiences the entire family can enjoy. With Nintendo’s vast library of games, there is a game for everyone on the Nintendo Switch system. This includes fun multiplayer titles that the whole family can play together, in addition to incredible games and experiences you can only find on Nintendo Switch. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/wWekFk-Mcik With the Nintendo Switch family of systems, everyone has the choice of a system that best fits their needs and play styles. The Nintendo Switch system can be played on the TV, in Tabletop mode or taken on the go for portable play. The Nintendo Switch Lite system is a dedicated handheld gaming system great for those who love playing in handheld mode. The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model system is similar in overall size to the Nintendo Switch system, but features a larger, vibrant 7-inch OLED screen with vivid colors and crisp contrast. Here are some of the Nintendo Switch games people are talking about this year: The Splatoon 3 game is the newest addition to the Splatoon series, where players splash vivid ink everywhere using colorful, over-the-top weapons. The battlegrounds include new and returning stages for heated multiplayer Turf War* battles, where two teams attempt to cover the most ground with their ink color in three-minutes. Players can also pick a side and battle it out in three-team Splatfests**, compete for rankings in thrilling Anarchy Battles or swim solo in the new single-player Story Mode, “Return of the Mammalians.” Gameplay is fun for both parents and kids, who can play together across multiple Nintendo Switch systems or online including co-op modes like Salmon Run*. Families can get moving together with the Nintendo Switch Sports game, as they team up to play Soccer, Volleyball, Bowling, Tennis, Badminton, and Chambara (swordplay) using Joy-Con controllers. Plus, in late November, Nintendo released a new update that adds Golf to the lineup. Controls are intuitive, so it’s easy to jump in and get started. With controlled motions you can curve your bowling ball, add spin to a tennis shot or even use a Joy-Con with the included Leg Strap accessory to kick the ball in Soccer. Family and friends can join in on the fun on the same system (additional accessories may be required; sold separately) or online**. In Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet embark on a new, open-world Pokémon adventure through the rich and expansive Paldea region. Weave freely through three grand stories: Take on Gyms in Victory Road, battle Titan Pokémon in Path of Legends and challenge Team Star in Starfall Street. Ride a form-changing Legendary Pokémon to traverse the land, seas and skies of the Paldea Region. Parents that grew up with the original Pokémon games can now experience the game in a whole new way with the little trainers in their family. Plus, several Nintendo Switch games and DLC*** are sure to bring family fun this holiday, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Just Dance 2023 Edition, Sonic Frontiers in addition to a library of classic Nintendo 64 titles available for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members. For more information, visit https://www.nintendo.com/store/holiday-gifts/. *Additional games, systems and/or Nintendo Switch Online membership required for multiplayer mode. Nintendo Switch Online membership and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online. Games, systems and Nintendo Switch Online memberships sold separately. **Any Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online ***Full version of game required to use DLC for that game. Sold separately. About Lilliana Vasquez: Emmy-winning host and TV personality Lilliana Vazquez is a trailblazing interviewer, style expert, and producer. With roles in front of and behind the camera, she's built an inspiring career watched by millions across numerous platforms. At barely five feet tall, Vazquez brings a larger than life presence to everything she does - her upbeat personality and approachable style combined with her natural ability to connect with audiences have made her a household name. Most recently, Vazquez was the host of E! Entertainment's daily morning shows E! News and Pop of the Morning, the first and only Latina to hold the role in the show's 30 year history. Previously, Vazquez was a contributor on TODAY where she shared her experiences and expertise covering the latest in technology, business, travel, entertainment, and lifestyle. She currently contributes to select programs like CBS Mornings and Amazon Live, while focusing on her newest role as a founding partner at Curated Productions. For more exclusive content and access to Lilliana's world, be sure to check out The LV Guide. About Nintendo: Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, has created franchises that have become household names worldwide, including Mario ™, Donkey Kong ™, The Legend of Zelda ™, Metroid ™, Pokémon ™, Animal Crossing ™, Pikmin ™ and Splatoon ™, through its integrated hardware and software products. Nintendo aims to deliver unique, intuitive entertainment experiences for everyone, manufacturing and marketing video game devices such as the Nintendo Switch ™ family of systems, developing and operating applications for smart devices, and collaborating with partners on a range of other entertainment initiatives like visual content and theme parks. Nintendo has sold more than 5.4 billion video games and over 800 million hardware units globally. From the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System ™ more than 30 years ago, through today and into the future, Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Americas. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at https://www.nintendo.com/. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com
December 01, 2022 01:10 PM Eastern Standard Time
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News ReleaseSara Wingate Bako Honored by University of South Carolina College of HRSM with 2022 Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the College Award
YourUpdateTV
Sara Wingate Bako earned her degree in retailing from the University of South Carolina in 2004. Today she serves as president of London Times, a division of Maggy London Group. Four University of South Carolina alumni have been recognized by the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management for their leadership and accomplishments in their field. The College of HRSM Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the College Awards are presented annually and celebrate industry professionals, organizations and friends of the college who are making an impact on the industry or who are helping to advance the College of HRSM’s education excellence. Congratulations to Sara Wingate Bako, 2022 College of HRSM Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the College award winner. Sara Wingate Bako earned her degree in retailing from the University of South Carolina in 2004. Today she serves as president of London Times, a division of Maggy London Group – a women’s designer apparel brand specializing in dresses. Throughout her distinguished career, Bako has remained engaged with her alma mater – providing mentorship and career development opportunities for students and serving on the Industry Advisory Board for the Department of Retailing. Career Highlights Prior to joining Maggy London in 2022, Bako spearheaded the launch and oversaw management of three brands; Cupio, Cupio Blush, and Adyson Parker. Bako has held numerous executive positions with companies such as Takeout Inc., HMS Productions, and NYC Alliance. Her retailing career started in 2005 in the executive training program with Macy’s where she went on to become a buyer before moving to New York City to pursue wholesale and merchandising. She is a member of two exclusive leadership groups, Chief and the Women in Retail Leadership Circle. HRSM Distinguished Friend of the College Award: Contemporary Services Corporation Established in 1967, Contemporary Services Corporation, CSC is the world leader in crowd management and event security. CSC’s esteemed clientele base includes more than 180 stadiums, arenas, and theaters, over 110 universities and scholastic institutions, nearly 50 convention centers, and numerous clients within the professional ranks of MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, and NASCAR. CSC has also provided services for the world’s most prestigious special events, including Collegiate Bowl Games, NCAA Final Four Tournaments, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Kentucky Derby, 32 Super Bowls, 10 Olympic Games, 5 Presidential Inaugurations, 4 Papal Visits, and 2 FIFA World Cups. CSC operates 49 branch locations throughout the United States and Canada and has a long-standing partnership with the University of South Carolina. Numerous South Carolina graduates are currently working in various managerial positions with CSC. CSC provides South Carolina students with unique opportunities to gain event experience at the largest sporting events, including the Super Bowl, MLB All-Star Events, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, Players Championship, Presidents Cup, Kentucky Derby and many more. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com
December 01, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
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News ReleaseHong Kong Baptist University-led research facilitates more efficient hybrid rice breeding with pioneering female sterility technique
Hong Kong Baptist University
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 1 December 2022 - Research led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) involving the use of a pioneering female sterility technique has led to a breakthrough in the production of hybrid rice seeds. Compared to the commonly used “three-line” male sterility technique in hybrid rice seeds production, the novel approach enhances the efficiency of hybrid rice production by eliminating rice seeds that have been produced due to the self-pollination of the “restorer line”. The novel technique enables fully automatic harvesting of hybrid seeds by machines, which can substantially reduce harvesting costs. A research team led by Professor Zhang Jianhua, Chair Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU explores female sterility technique for hybrid rice breeding. The research results have recently been published in Cell Research, a top-ranking international scientific journal. Male sterility technique incurs high harvesting costs Self-pollinating plants are known to maintain their genome homozygosity, and as a result, their offspring can have the same features over generations. Heterosis, which refers to the increased rate of growth due to genome heterozygosity as a result of the hybridisation of distant parents, is difficult to exploit with self-pollinating plants. In nature, rice is usually bred using self-pollination. However, over the past few decades, scientists – following pioneering work by Professor Yuan Longping, the “Father of Hybrid Rice” – have developed hybrid rice breeding techniques by exploiting sterile male genes, and these techniques can produce hybrid seeds with the normally self-pollinating rice plants in large quantities. China and other countries around the world have extensively used the male sterility technique to produce hybrid rice seeds, and it has led to a substantial increase in rice yields. The male sterility technique first breeds cultivars, i.e. plant varieties, of the “male-sterile line” of rice as pollen receivers. Rice cultivars from the “restorer line” with normal fertility act as pollen donors, and they are grown close to the “male-sterile line” to facilitate pollen transfer for hybridisation. However, self-pollinating seeds can also be produced by the “restorer line”, and they must be removed manually to avoid mixing them up with the hybrid seeds before mechanical harvest, resulting in high harvesting costs. In theory, using sterile female rice as the “restorer line” is ideal because it cannot produce any self-pollinated seeds. However, this approach has not been adopted because the germplasm of sterile female rice remains extremely rare in nature and sterile female plants find it difficult to self-reproduce. TFS1 mutation exhibits female sterility After nearly a decade of ongoing study, a research team led by Professor Zhang Jianhua, Chair Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU, has managed to identify a “spontaneous thermo-sensitive female sterility 1” (TFS1) gene mutation in an elite rice cultivar during paddy field production. This genetic mutation exhibits female sterility under regular or high temperature conditions (i.e. above 25°C), and fertility is partly resumed under low temperature conditions (i.e. 23°C). It does not have any defects in terms of its vegetative growth. The team observed that rice with the TFS1 gene mutation can produce healthy pollen with normal male fertility. Rice with normal fertility can produce normal seeds after receiving pollen from rice with the TFS1 gene mutation. Further investigations revealed that under regular or high temperature conditions, after pollen has landed on the stigma of rice with the TFS1 gene mutation, pollen tubes that have grown from the pollen cannot enter the embryo sac. The embryos therefore fail to develop and seeds cannot be produced. But under low temperature conditions, the ability to fertilise and develop embryos is partially recovered. Following genetic analysis using gene cloning and molecular techniques, the team found that the female sterility mutation is created by a point mutation in the genic region of Argonaute7 (AGO7), a member of the Argonaute (AGO) protein complex that is responsible for the production of many small interfering RNAs, namely tasiR-ARFs. The downstream regulation of these tasiR-ARFs regulates the pollen tube entrance into the embryo sac, but it failed under regular or high temperature conditions in the rice with TFS1 mutation, and hence double fertilisations cannot be achieved. No need to remove “restorer lines” before harvest To evaluate the potential of using TFS1 as a genetic tool for hybrid rice production, the team conducted field trials in Hong Kong and Hunan Province in mainland China. The TFS1 gene mutation was introduced into three cultivars of rice by introgression and genome editing to create the germplasms with thermo-sensitive female sterility. They acted as the “restorer lines” for pollen donation. Another three cultivars of rice with male sterility were used as the “male-sterile lines”. The team planted the “restorer lines” separately next to the “male-sterile lines” as in traditional hybrid breeding, or randomly mixed them on the farm when planting. In both planting arrangements, more than 30% of the panicles of the “male-sterile lines” in Hong Kong, and 40% in Hunan Province produced hybrid seeds. The proportion of seed sets is similar to the hybrid production yields using existing “restorer lines”, but the hybrid rice seeds can be harvested without the removal of the “restorer lines”. Great commercial potential with reduced harvesting costs Professor Zhang said: “Nowadays, producing hybrid rice seeds is still a labour-intensive process in agriculture. Female sterility, if it can be introduced into a ‘restorer line’ as a pure pollen donor, has great potential to reduce the cost, because the male and female parents of hybrid rice can be grown and harvested together by machines without worrying about seed purity. “Our research findings provide a suitable trait for fully mechanised hybrid rice breeding, and our genetic tool has shown great promise for commercial applications. To maximise rice yields, we need further large-scale field trials to improve the receptibility between female and male-sterile lines.” Apart from researchers from HKBU, the research team included scientists from the Hunan Agricultural University, the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the University of California at Davis, and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation in Japan. Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office Winnie Shum +852 3411 5262 hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk
December 01, 2022 05:16 AM Eastern Standard Time
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