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Nuestro Studios Announces Worldwide Debut of ‘Bistec’ Podcast Series, a Cautionary Story of Faith, Patriotic Fanaticism and Surveillance in Dystopian Cuba

Nuestro Stories

Nuestro Studios, a division of Nuestro Stories, announced today the worldwide debut of the historical fiction podcast series ‘Bistec’, a universal, cautionary story of faith, patriotic fanaticism, and surveillance in Dystopian Cuba. The eight-part limited series is launching with two episodes per week on Mondays in English and Spanish and is now available on all major podcast platforms, including YouTube in Spanish, and English, iTunes, Spotify, Audible and more. A visual trailer for the audio series, which represents the next stage of what producers believe will become a feature film, can be viewed here. ‘Bistec’ is the riveting story of a longtime Cuban Revolutionary and what happens when one of the nation’s prominent dissidents moves into his neighborhood, exposing secrets, upending lives, and testing loyalties. Set during the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution in 2009, ‘Bistec’ unveils the contemporary world of Cuba’s enigmatic surveillance and snitches system, all within the framework of a compelling, emotional narrative filled with unexpected twists. “Even though Bistec is rooted in Cuba, it is the story of MILLIONS of people who have no rights to privacy, and whose lives and very souls are subject to the whims of a Totalitarian state,” said series creator, writer and director Manuel Ruiz-Barrera. “With Bistec, we’re giving a global audience an opportunity to peer behind the facade of Cuban society with a sonic experience that is deeply cultural, profound, and even compassionate.” Inspirations for ‘Bistec’ ‘Bistec’ was inspired by stories from Cuba’s widely despised but little known Comités de Defensa de la Revolución (CDR), the neighborhood government apparatus Fidel Castro cherished so much he branded “the vanguard of the Revolution.” Bistec also leans on events from the life of Micaela Ruiz, the late poet grandmother of writer Ruiz-Barrera, as well as the strange adventures he experienced during four documentary photography trips he made to Cuba in the early ‘90s. Prominent dissidents Amaury Pacheco del Monte, and his wife Iris Hernandez, co-founders of El Movimiento San Isidro, served as key story consultants and also play characters in the series. Producers and cast Adapted from a screenplay written 15 years ago by Ruiz-Barrera, and masterfully sound engineered and edited by Jaime Almiral, Jr, the series took 15 months to produce. In addition to Pacheco and Hernandez, the production was also anchored by Ernesto Fundora, who was an assistant director, associate producer, and story consultant, as well as Efrain Gonzalez, and Felix Montelara, who executive produced the series, and Elena Ruiz, who served as an associate producer. Bistec features a Who’s Who of actors, musicians, and producers with more than 60 novelas and 12 feature film credits between them. The production team leads includes Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Peruvians, Mexicans, and Colombians. Bistec talent represents every single generation of Cubans, including children of dissidents, TikTok influencer and hip-hop artist Jawndarko, and Venezuelan influencer and actress Laura Termini. The musical score of ‘Bistec’, ‘Canción de un Disidente’, was composed by nine-time EMMY-winning Maestro Alberto Bade, and features a beautiful performance by the University of Miami Orchestra. The Spanish and English-language cast of ‘Bistec’ includes Albertico Pujol and Roberto Escobar as Echauri Suarez, Adrian Mas and Rene Granado as Orlando Contreras, Vivian Ruiz and Mayte Vilan as Micaela Martinez, Mauricio Renteria and Rene Lavan as Colonel Ramiro Roca, Laura Termini as Hortensia, Amaury Pacheco Del Monte and Robert Ramos as Vizcaino “El Bizco”, Andy Barbosa as Vladimir Suarez, Omar Gonzalez and Michael Ferreiro as Orlandito Contreras, Iris Hernandez and Maggie Zafra as Cecilia, and Alejandra Cossio and Melissa Ann Hubiscsak as Marlene Presley. Bistec’s narrators were Ray Guiu, Gregg Weiner, and Scott Fortney. Additional voice actors include Frank Egusquiza, Teresa Rodriguez, Ramonín Veloz, Efrain Gonzalez, Cecilia “Ceci” Diaz Arguelle, Rick Najera, Julian Najera, Jeffrey Batista, Juan Camilo Jurado, Tanya Cecilia Diaz, Alex Hernandez, Naomi Ruiz, Briani Ruiz, Katherine Costa, Rameh Ali Echeverri, and Manuel Ruiz-Barrera. Additional music was produced and/or performed by Federico Colloca, Elimir Colloca, Leandro Tresero y Luthier, Bernardo Izaguirre, Alfredo Chacon, Odalys Salina, Humberto Casanova, Juan A. Diaz, Lianet Ulloa, Lazaro Fundora, Pavel de la Noval, and Bernardo Izaguirre. Additional executive producers include Armando Azarloza, Santiago Eljaiek, III, Lourdes Castillo and Angela Sustaita-Ruiz. The poster for Bistec was designed by Hiram Henriquez. Casting was led by Ana Braga Morfi. Media and marketing distribution are being handled by Brilla Media Ventures, and Audio Dice Network. The producers are grateful for the collaboration of the University of Miami School of Music, Ochenta Studio, Ralph Rivera, Celines Toribio, Katherine Costa, Robert Armband, and Piera Garibaldi. They are also grateful for the contributions of Iris Fraga, Pedro Fraga, Ravi Baichwal, Yolanda, and Jose Garcia, Michael Ortega, Sonia Diaz, and Cristy Clavijo-Kish. Bistec was recorded at South Point Productions, and Panoramik Audio. To learn more about Bistec or support the production for the film, follow @Bistec.Film on Instagram or visit our website at www.BistecFilm.com. Bistec is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BistecFilm. About Nuestro Stories Nuestro Stories is the flagship media brand of Brilla Media Ventures, and was founded with the premise of celebrating Latino heritage, history and origins every day. We provide engaging cultural content for multicultural marketers through our owned and operated platforms, Nuestro Stories, Nuestro Studios, and Brilla Latina. Our offerings also include programmatic advertising technology services for scalable media delivery, influencer marketing, creative studio services, and activations. Nuestro Stories is led by Angela Sustaita-Ruiz and Manuel Ruiz-Barrera, creators of Hispanicize, and trailblazers in the Hispanic media, social and influencer marketing industries, the Latino press release wire industry, and the first network of Hispanic print media companies online. Contact Details Rameh Echeverri +1 305-303-2322 bistec@brillamedia.com

July 09, 2024 01:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hive Digital Technologies Reports Strong Bitcoin Production and Expands Mining Capacity

HIVE Digital Technologies

Hive Digital Technologies Executive Chairman Frank Holmes joined Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss the company's unaudited production figures for June. The company reported mining 119 Bitcoin during the month, increasing its Bitcoin holdings by 2%, bringing the total to 2,496 Bitcoin on the balance sheet. Hive maintained an impressive average Bitcoin mining capacity of over 4.7 Exahash ("EH/s") in June. With a Bitcoin HODL value exceeding $140 million as of July 7, the company’s enterprise value appears very attractive compared to its peers. Holmes shared that the company has received confirmation that the remaining batch of its S21 orders are ready to ship and have been upgraded to S21 Pro models. This upgrade represents approximately 1,150 S21 Pro miners from Hive's original order placed in December. Additionally, the new purchase of 1,000 S21 Pro miners, announced in the May production report, are also ready to ship. With the deployment of these new machines, Hive Digital Technologies anticipates a significant boost in its total operational hashrate, expected to reach 5.5 EH/s once fully installed. The global fleet efficiency is projected to improve to 24.5 J/TH. The company plans to have these new machines installed and operational before the end of July. These advancements underscore Hive's commitment to expanding its mining capacity and optimizing its operations, positioning the company for continued growth and increased competitiveness in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency mining industry. Contact Details Proactive North America +1 604-688-8158 NA-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

July 09, 2024 11:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NASBP & SFAA Publish Bond Information Kit for State Broadband Offices & ISPs Participating in BEAD Program

SFAA

The National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) and The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) issued a first-of-its-kind Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Surety Bond Information Kit. The Kit includes bond forms to address the announcement of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce to accept surety bonds as an additional form of security in lieu of letters of credit (LOCs) for the BEAD Program. In November of 2023, NTIA issued a programmatic waiver to modify the requirement for LOCs as the sole means of security to secure the performance of recipients of BEAD grant funds to construct broadband infrastructure. After NTIA’s waiver announcement, NASBP and SFAA formed a surety working group to develop performance bond forms and model language to facilitate the use of surety bonds to meet BEAD Program security requirements. The surety working group developed two performance bond forms, model language for state broadband offices to insert into award agreements, and a sample letter template to confirm for state broadband offices the bond amount for which an internet service provider (ISP) or its construction contractor initially qualifies. Of the two bond forms, one addresses situations when the ISP can qualify for bonding and furnishes the bond directly to the state broadband office. The second bond form addresses situations where the contractor to the ISP building out the broadband system is better suited to qualify for bonding. “Broadband access is so crucial for communities to gain connections, information, and opportunities, especially in rural or underserved areas,” stated NASBP CEO Mark McCallum, “and permitting the use of surety bonds to protect federal and state funding of and investment in broadband infrastructure will ensure that these vital systems will be constructed and realized.” NASBP Director of Government Relations Larry LeClair added, “NASBP and SFAA over time have informed federal agencies responsible for rural broadband deployment of the time-tested benefits of surety bonds to safeguard broadband investments.” “After NTIA announced it would allow ISPs to furnish surety bonds as alternatives to LOCs, NASBP and SFAA then played an active role with the ISP community to educate it about the surety bond product,” related LeClair. “The additional security option instead of LOCs will benefit small internet service providers (ISPs) who were having difficulty securing LOCs,” said SFAA Vice President of Policy & General Counsel Julie Alleyne. “And most importantly, state broadband offices and taxpayers will have added protection because the surety company will only furnish a bond to those it believes can complete the work successfully based on the prequalification process. In comparison, a LOC issued by a bank and secured by deposited funds does not evaluate the contractor’s ability to perform the work,” continued Alleyne. As a hallmark of public procurement, surety bonds are widely used and accepted forms of performance security. They provide viable options for qualified companies that receive federal grant monies for the development of broadband infrastructure, and that wish to offer a form of security other than a bank LOC. The BEAD Program Surety Bond Information Kit is available to download here. The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all surety and fidelity industry segments. We promote the value of surety and fidelity bonding and its vital protections through advocacy, outreach, promotion, and education. The more than 425 member companies write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. SFAA is also licensed as a rating or advisory organization in all states, and state insurance departments have designated it as a statistical agent for reporting fidelity and surety experience. www.surety.org Founded in 1942, the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) is the association of and resource for surety bond producers and allied professionals. NASBP members specialize in providing surety bonds for construction contracts and other purposes to companies and individuals needing the assurance offered by surety bonds. www.nasbp.org Contact Details Peter Roth +1 703-401-0676 proth@surety.org Kathy Hoffman +1 240-200-1278 khoffman@nasbp.org Company Website https://surety.org/

July 09, 2024 11:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

B-Side Lounge: The Newest Music Venue Opens at Graton Resort & Casino

Graton Resort & Casino

Graton Resort & Casino is celebrating summer with the opening of its latest music venue, B-Side Lounge, on Thursday, July 11. Located within Bistro 101, this exciting new space will feature live entertainment, weekend DJs, Sunday brunch parties, and more. The opening line-up of live performances has something for everyone from country music to dance parties. Thursday, July 11 – NorCal native Tyler Rich kicks it off with crowd pleasing country Friday, July 12 – Official DJ of the Golden State Warriors DJ D-Sharp delivers non-stop beats Saturday, July 13 – Bay Area favorite DJ Shabazz spins the hottest tracks to keep the party jumping Sunday, July 14 – Recent American Idol sensation Kaeyra performs at a special brunch “B-Side Lounge is the new, go-to destination for entertainment,” said Lana Rivera, President of Graton Resort & Casino. "We've handpicked an incredible lineup of local and touring artists who bring their heart and soul to the stage, making every night at B-Side Lounge a special event." B-Side Lounge offers an electrifying atmosphere with a wide range of music, both old and new. The space features a glamorous full bar, premium lounge seating and a lively dance floor. The menu offers a selection of local craft beers on tap and specialty cocktails, as well as nonalcoholic drinks. Explore a variety of upcoming entertainment events at www.gratonresortcasino.com. *** About Graton Resort & Casino Graton Resort & Casino, located in Rohnert Park, California, is a premier destination for entertainment, dining and gaming in Northern California. Boasting a luxurious atmosphere and world-class amenities, Graton Resort & Casino offers guests an unparalleled experience with its diverse selection of restaurants, bars, gaming options and live entertainment venues. From thrilling gaming action to upscale dining and relaxing spa treatments, Graton Resort & Casino provides an all-encompassing retreat for visitors seeking excitement and relaxation. Resort access is limited to guests aged 21 or older. For more information, visit www.gratonresortcasino.com. ### Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Brianne Miller +1 650-575-7727 graton@landispr.com Company Website https://www.gratonresortcasino.com/

July 09, 2024 08:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Ryvid offers Power Controller Upgrade to boost performance of its Anthem and Outset Electric Motorcycles

Ryvid, Inc

Ryvid – the California-based Electric Motorcycle manufacturer – is offering customers the opportunity to transform their riding experience by ordering the Power Controller Upgrade by Accelerated Systems Inc for their Anthem or Outset Electric Motorcycles. New customers are able to configure their order for a new Ryvid Anthem or Outset to have the ASI Controller fitted at Ryvid’s Californian assembly facility. Alternatively, existing owners are able to install the ASI Controller to their Anthem as a DIY project or by requesting a visit from a Ryvid technician. Testing by Ryvid engineers found that the ASI Controller provided faster acceleration thanks to a significant increase in power and torque delivery. Peak torque at the wheel using the stock 4.7:1 final drive saw output rise from 250 ft-lb for the stock controller to 334 ft-lb using the Power Controller Upgrade by ASI. Similarly, peak horsepower jumped from 20hp to 27hp. And the best part: no negative effect to the battery range. In fact, the Power Controller Upgrade by ASI not only makes the Ryvid Anthem and Outset models more entertaining to ride, but also more highway capable thanks to the improved acceleration and torque. It's worth noting that, given the performance increase, the Power Controller Upgrade by ASI is recommended for experienced riders. However, both the Ryvid Anthem and Outset models retain their selectable riding modes, allowing riders to choose either Sport or Eco modes. When set to Eco, the power delivery is softened somewhat and regenerative braking is provided. In Sport mode, the rider can experience the full performance of the 72V air-cooled, brushless DC motor and removable 4.3kWh battery with integrated charger. In Sport mode, regenerative braking is stronger and can be further increased by a rider selected trigger. To create the “ultimate urban slayer,” the Power Controller Upgrade by ASI can be fitted to any new Ryvid Anthem or Outset ordered directly from the company website. As a limited time promotional offer, Outset orders placed before July 31, 2024 will receive the ASI Controller for free. New or current owners of the Ryvid Anthem can order the $800 controller via the website’s Shop tab at ryvid.com/collections/bike-accessories. For full disclosure: DIY installation is not for beginners. Owners will need to install the supplied secondary wiring harness to power the Power Controller Upgrade by ASI. It isn’t a simple plug 'n play installation but there is a video to guide owners at ryvid.com. Installation is estimated at approximately three hours. Alternatively, contact the Ryvid support team to request installation by a Ryvid technician for a service fee. Riders and media who have been able to experience and review the Ryvid Anthem with ASI Controller have all reported very positively on the available performance, elevating their positive impressions of the highly affordable electric motorcycle, which is available at $6,495 for the Anthem or $5,995 for the new Outset. AMERICAN BUILT The Ryvid Anthem Electric and Ryvid Outset Electric are available to order now from ryvid.com. The $6,495 Anthem is available for immediate delivery in a choice of five colors, while deliveries of the $5,995 Outset will begin in the Summer. It can be specified in either Sector Red or Vapor Grey. Please note, riders must have a motorcycle license to ride the Anthem or Outset. The Anthem and Outset share a rigid steel backbone frame, instrument display, removable 4.3kWh battery with integrated charger, 72V air-cooled, brushless DC motor, controller, and sealed belt drive. Both machines are capable of 75mph+ top speed and will provide up to 75 miles range*. The battery can be charged quickly from both 110V and 220V power supplies. Outset has an 33” seat height but its compliant suspension and narrow cushion mean it will comfortably accommodate a range of riders. The Anthem seat is adjustable from 31-34” to accommodate an even wider range of riders. Weighing just 313 and 315 lb, respectively, the Anthem and Outset share featherweight architecture and a low center of gravity. With the major components positioned at axle level, both bikes exhibit extraordinary handling characteristics, making them extremely easy to change direction at high speed or maneuver at low speed. Another benefit of electric power is the Ryvid Reverse Drive. At the push of a button when stopped, the rider is able to move the motorcycle backwards at walking speed to extricate it from perhaps a tight parking position or awkward slope. *Quoted range was established using the recognized Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule. Battery range may vary and can depend on conditions such as rider weight, cargo weight, speed, temperature, wind, tire pressure, terrain, incline, etc. ABOUT RYVID Ryvid is a cutting-edge manufacturing corporation in the high-growth field of Electric Light Vehicles. Founded by enthusiasts, engineered by innovators, and designed by aerospace industry gearheads, the Ryvid mission is to create more sustainable and enjoyable personal mobility. The company name was derived by merging Rhythm and Avid; elements of motion and emotion that define the experience of using our products. Ryvid produces revolutionary, lightweight, affordable electric motorcycles with a significantly lower carbon footprint than its competitors. With the same innovation applied to all models, Ryvid is poised to revolutionize urban commuting. Ryvid products are designed and assembled in California. For further information, please visit ryvid.com The Ryvid Anthem is available for delivery now at $6,495. The new Ryvid Outset is available at $5,995, with deliveries beginning Summer 2024. Contact Details Greg Emmerson greg@theidagency.com Company Website https://ryvid.com/

July 09, 2024 06:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Kevel launches Kai to boost performance optimization, relevance and revenue for retail media networks

Kevel

Kevel, the API-first ad serving company, is announcing its new branded AI feature set: Kai (Kevel Artificial Intelligence), a suite of AI and machine learning technologies that enable performance optimization and drives relevancy, profitability and revenue. Kai is available as part of the Retail Media Cloud TM, the ultimate SaaS platform for building retail media networks with ad serving that maximizes share of advertiser budgets. The new tools were developed and spearheaded by Kevel’s AI/ML research group, chaired by CTO Tim Ewald, Sr. Director of Research and W3C member Paul DeGrandis, Principal Data Scientist Richard Carter, PhD and Retail Media Cloud TM GM and Velocidi founder Paulo Cunha. The group has decades of combined experience in AI, which has led them to develop this powerhouse suite of AI features to power ad serving and audience segmentation for a premium retail media experience. With Kai, Kevel introduces two new features, Forecast and Custom Relevancy, alongside its existing AI Audience and DecisionAPI products. Kevel Forecast predicts inventory and campaign performance for existing and future campaigns using machine learning simulations to generate insights on both current and future ad flights. “Forecast is a first of its kind for retail media. Traditional forecasting tools look simply at historical data to predict future campaign performance, whereas Kevel Forecast uses machine learning algorithms to project future campaign performance when considering all contextual and user audience targeting and pacing parameters in conjunction with other running or future ads. This way, advertisers always know exactly what their future performance looks like and retailers can maximize their inventory yield,” Paulo Cunha, Retail Media Cloud GM at Kevel explains. Kevel’s Custom Relevancy allows for retailers to input their own AI/ML algorithms into Kevel Ad Server for custom targeting geared towards the individual performance of each network. Functioning as a unique ‘BYOM’ (bring your own model), Custom Relevancy helps retailers utilize their own advanced models to determine relevance as part of their ad stack in a safe and secure way. “Retailers know their customers better than anyone else, but struggle to influence their ad serving with the exceptional AI-driven optimization they use for promoting a customized user experience,” commented Tim Ewald, CTO at Kevel. “That all changes with Custom Relevancy, which allows customers to plug their own ML models into our ad decision process to dynamically adjust relevancy and improve ad serving a per-user basis." Kai encompasses not just new features like Forecast and Custom Relevancy, but existing features like ad decisioning and pacing. Kevel’s approach to pacing, delivery and decisioning leans into historical data, events, previous behavior, context of the experience, ads viewed, and relevancy scoring, plus trends and predictions to drive ad performance. “What excites me about KAI is that it's a set of features that showcases how machine learning can be used to deliver more value to our customers. We’ve developed these systems from original research using proprietary data sets, harnessing our many years of experience in ad serving,” stated Richard Carter, Principal Data Scientist. “We’ve been working closely with retail customers to prove where the most value sits and it’s in decisioning, relevancy and segmentation. KAI is just the start of many more innovative, unique features in our pipeline.” About Kevel Kevel powers world-class retail media networks with the Retail Media Cloud™. With the combination of Kevel Ad Server and Kevel Audience, multi-brand retailers, marketplaces, and ecommerce companies can launch limitless ad formats and unique targeting segments online and in-store, all with closed-loop attribution. Kevel believes that every digital retailer should have the capability to scale their own distinct ad platform, just like big tech players like Amazon. Customers like Edmunds, Delivery Hero, Leroy Merlin, Slickdeals, and other leading retailers and marketplaces all launched their own retail media network with Kevel. The company has garnered numerous accolades, most recently earning recognition as one of the leading 100 innovative tech start-ups driving the future of brand-to-consumer in 2023 and awarded the MarTech Breakthrough Award for best overall ad tech company in 2022. Learn more at www.kevel.com. Contact Details Kevel Jennifer Choo Director of Marketing +1 973-343-8819 jchoo@kevel.com

July 09, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

HomeSphere and RM Interiors Partner on Flooring Savings for Homebuilders

HomeSphere

HomeSphere, the leading platform connecting building product manufacturers to mid-market homebuilders, today announced its newest partnership with homebuilding industry service provider, RM Interiors. With this unique partnership, HomeSphere’s network of 2,700+ U.S. builders now have access to RM Interiors’ (RMI) turnkey program which includes sourcing and installation of vinyl plank, tile, carpet and more from the nation’s leading flooring manufacturers. "RM Interiors is one of the first HomeSphere partners to offer end-to-end purchasing and labor services,,” said HomeSphere President and CEO Greg Schwarzer. “RMI installs thousands of flooring units per month across the country in both new construction and renovation projects. Now, our builders can leverage their expertise to build more homes faster and improve margins.” RMI is a full-service residential flooring installation partner with local warehouses and field teams across U.S. markets. Because RMI offers products, labor, installation, and stages from local sites, HomeSphere builders will save valuable time and cost on a home’s most expensive line item. “Flooring is one of the most significant interior expenses on any construction project,” said RMI Director of Business Development Cole Bennett. “RMI’s system finds efficiencies by managing products, labor and installation under one brand and we look forward to extending those savings - and more - to HomeSphere builders.” About HomeSphere Established in 1999, HomeSphere connects local and regional homebuilders to exclusive rebate offerings. HomeSphere’s builder network constructs and closes more than 250,000 new homes and units per year, making it the largest homebuilding group in the country by volume. Using HomeSphere-HQ, HomeSphere’s award-winning rebate management platform, builders capture incentives on completed homes, discover new products for their future projects and develop key relationships with the 80-plus manufacturers in HomeSphere’s preferred partner network. For more information about HomeSphere’s products and solutions for homebuilders and manufacturers, visit www.homesphere.com. About RM Interiors RM Interiors is a national, full-service flooring installation company for builders, contractors, ownership groups, and property management professionals. Over the last decade, RMI has opened 18 locations and installed carpet, vinyl, and tile in hundreds of thousands of homes and apartments across the United States. For more information, visit www.rmiflooring.com/. Contact Details Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://www.homesphere.com/

July 09, 2024 07:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

You May Be Spending More On Property Taxes Than You Need To – Save On Taxes With Ownwell And Only Pay Out Of What You Save

Benzinga

By Anthony Termini, Benzinga Real estate analytics firm CoreLogic recently published a report that showed property taxes on the median single-family home in America have risen by more than 25% since 2019. During the same period, Federal Reserve data show that the average sales price of those homes rose by more than 33%. Do Higher Home Prices Justify Higher Property Tax Assessments? Higher home prices may lead many homeowners to conclude that their property tax increases are accurate and reasonable. However, property tax assessments aren’t appraisals intended to reveal a given property’s actual value. Tax assessments “aim to capture a measure of fair market value at a given point in time,” says Debbie Loesel, a Senior Tax Manager at the accounting firm Deloitte. That measure is expressed as a mill rate. Mill rates are determined by local governments as part of their annual budget process. The mill rate is set by dividing a city’s or county’s budget shortfall by an estimate of the value of real property in the jurisdiction and then dividing that number by 1,000. According to Colton Pace, co-founder of Ownwell, a company that helps homeowners lower their property tax bills, “a mill is one one-thousandth of a dollar, and in property tax terms is equal to $1.00 of tax for each $1,000 of assessment. 15 mills, therefore, is equal to $15 for every $1,000 of assessed value, or 1.5%.” Deloitte’s Loesel points out that the volume of property subject to assessment means that “jurisdictions generally rely on mass appraisal techniques.” Ownwell’s Pace suggests that this is where issues arise. He says that “the value that is put on an assessment notice is an opinion. They’re valuing millions of properties all at the same time. So there’s lots of room for errors.” What Can Homeowners Do To Lower Property Tax Bills? The first step in lowering a property tax bill is understanding the variables that go into it. Sales comparisons – the technique used by appraisers – are commonly used to assess the value of residential real estate. But this is not as straightforward as it may sound. Two homes next door to each other on the same street can still be significantly different. A typical tax assessment system won’t pick this up. “For example, you can get a discrepancy in assessments if you have an older home next to a new one,” says Ownwell’s Pace. The next step homeowners can take to lower their property tax is to work with a professional. Appealing an assessment should be based on more than just a disagreement with the bill. Hiring a local real estate attorney may help. But that process can be expensive. Firms like Ownwell can help decipher the complexity of an assessment and analyze a property to identify opportunities to reduce a tax bill without an up-front fee. Ownwell gets paid out of any tax savings its analysis finds, and its evaluations are extensive. In the states where it operates – California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Texas and Washington – Ownwell combines proprietary technology and deep local knowledge to build evidence that a reduction is warranted. The company understands the nuances that can affect a residential property tax bill in each state. Ownwell manages an end-to-end process that includes filing paperwork, talking with local assessors and even attending appeal board hearings. When this process results in a reduced tax, the company’s fee is a portion of the homeowner’s savings. The company has been successful in securing tax reductions for some 86% of the homeowners that use its service, and Ownwell notes that the average tax savings amount to about $1,150. More importantly, customers are not charged for any work unless the taxing authority provides signed documentation that the homeowner’s final property tax bill is actually reduced. If Ownwell’s analysis identifies any risk that a property tax bill could be increased, it won’t pursue an appeal. Pace points out that it is still important to review property taxes every year to ensure that the amount billed is accurate and fair. Registering on the company’s site takes about three minutes. Entering a property address will reveal any potential tax savings and creative ways to save on other costs of homeownership. Paces says this is ingrained into its process, “Ownwell's mission is to make the cost of real estate more clear and equitable.” To find potential exemptions, homeowners can check their county tax assessment website or enter their address for a free estimate at Ownwell.com. Featured photo by Public Co from Pixabay. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 09, 2024 08:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Disproportionate Rise In Pancreatic Cancer Among Young Women Highlights High Unmet Need To Find Safe, Effective Treatments – Is Hope On The Horizon?

Benzinga

By Anthony Termini, Benzinga In 2023, television personality Maria Menounos acknowledged that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Fortunately for Menounos, physicians detected the rare, less aggressive form of the disease when it was still in an early stage. Pancreatic cancer is one of the least survivable forms of the disease. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in America. Furthermore, Menounos’s case is part of a disturbing trend. Incidents of pancreatic cancer are increasing, with the number of cases in women under the age of 55 rising at a disproportionate rate compared to men. Pancreatic Cancer Is Difficult To Find And Painful To Treat When it is in the early stages, pancreatic cancer usually offers no clearly-identifiable symptoms. The types of screens suggested for breast cancer or colon cancer don’t exist for pancreatic cancer, and there is no single diagnostic test to detect it. According to Johns Hopkins University, a clear diagnosis typically emerges only after an extensive series of imaging scans, blood tests and biopsies. Since these tests are generally conducted only after symptoms are felt, an initial diagnosis often reveals that the cancer is in an advanced stage that has spread to other organs. As a result, most patients tend to get a relatively aggressive form of chemotherapy. The combination of drugs used can often result in severe side effects. However, that may change as a result of work being conducted in current clinical trials. A Novel Approach To Treat Pancreatic Cancer Holds Promise Rockville, Maryland-based Theriva Biologics (AMEX: TOVX) is currently in a phase 2b trial with patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Theriva is a leader in the development of oncolytic virus therapies – treating cancer with viruses that target tumors. Theriva’s lead therapy candidate is VCN-01, a highly differentiated oncolytic adenovirus that replicates and destroys cancer tissue. The trial is studying the use of VCN-01 in combination with two forms of chemotherapy drugs. Oncolytic virus therapies target specific genes or proteins involved in the disease process to block or alter their activity and ultimately halt or reverse disease progression. The goal is to help patients live longer with less severe side effects. Theriva’s trial results so far appear promising. “We believe VCN-01’s differentiated mechanism of action has the potential to address the urgent need for new treatment options for patients with PDAC by degrading the tumor matrix and increasing tumor access,” said Steven Shallcross, Theriva’s CEO. The company’s current clinical trial is studying a combination of VCN-01 with a drug that mimics some of the building blocks of RNA and DNA to disrupt a cancer cell’s ability to make proteins (Gemcitabine) and one that includes a human protein to stop cancer cells from dividing and multiplying (nab-Paclitaxel). The NIH notes that gemcitabine has been the standard first-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer for 15 years and is often used in combination with nab-paclitaxel as first-line treatment for pancreatic cancer. Theriva’s Shallcross noted that repeated systemic dosing of VCN-01 with this standard-of-care chemotherapy is feasible from a safety perspective. “We have shown that the combination has an acceptable safety profile, and can now focus on whether the repeated-dose VCN-01 regimen may lead to improved clinical outcomes for patients with PDAC and other solid cancers,” he said. Studying Pancreatic Cancer Offers Challenges, And The Need Is Large According to gastrointestinal oncologist Mridula Krishnan, MBBS, “Pancreatic cancer is not an easy cancer to study and, especially when it comes to gender-related studies, it’s very tough to find answers.” This is part of what makes Theriva’s work so important. The company believes that its oncolytic viruses are particularly well-positioned for use with other therapies to help pancreatic cancer patients achieve improved outcomes with fewer negative side effects. Mr. Shallcross noted that there is a “high unmet need” and that the company is continuing “to build a portfolio of potentially improved therapeutic combinations for PDAC patients.” According to DataBridge Market Research, that high unmet need is estimated to reach more than $6.2 billion by 2029. Theriva Biologics is also exploring the potential of VCN-01 as a possible candidate as part of other chemotherapy combinations to treat pediatric refractory retinoblastoma and adult ovarian cancer. Featured photo by PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 09, 2024 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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