News Hub | News Direct

Lifestyle

Beverage: Coffee/Tea/Non-Alcoholic Beverage: Spirits/Beer/Wine Casino/Gaming Fashion Food/Cooking/Baking Health & Fitness Home Goods Hospitality Leisure Activities & Hobbies Parenting Pets Photography Seniors Travel & Tourism
Article thumbnail News Release

Jennifer Lang Financial Services To Help The Hardest-Hit Small Businesses Apply To Receive PPP Aid.

Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC

In a recent poll by the Coleman Report, 4 out of 5 SBA lenders polled say that over 75% of their borrowers have exhausted their PPP loans and 15% of lenders do not plan to participate in a 2nd draw program. For the next round of PPP, many small businesses will be seeking a lender for their first PPP loan or a new lender for their 2nd PPP loan. According to Jennifer Lang Financial Services, the new Bipartisan Emergency COVID Relief Act of 2020 will allow the hardest-hit small businesses to receive a second forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and other businesses to receive a first one. To prepare for the next stimulus package, business owners should consider gathering the requested documents, appropriately plan out their use of funds and submit swiftly. PPP funds are not endless and are expected to run out rapidly. Although the next round PPP application is not available yet, business owners can sign up now to apply, so that they are first in line for underwriting. Jennifer Financial Services has successfully helped guide business owners through the first round of the PPP program and is in an excellent position to help with this next round. They offer a streamlined application that will help small business owners calculate the allowable loan amount based on their payroll. They also have seasoned professionals on hand to help guide applicants through the PPP loan application process with participating banks and hedge fund partners. Small business owners seeking help applying for PPP loans can contact: https://www.jenniferlangfinancialservices.com/business-loans Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC. advises families and small business owners on their life insurance and safe retirement planning needs. They specialize in No-Market Risk Retirement Planning Strategies which include Annuities, IRA Conversions, 401K Rollovers, Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL), and Business Loans. Contact Details Jennifer Lang +1 877-487-8926 mail@jenniferlangfinancialservices.com Company Website https://www.jenniferlangfinancialservices.com

January 05, 2021 11:53 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

LAS VEGAS KISSED 2020 GOODBYE LIKE ONLY VEGAS COULD

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Vegas brought the phrase “out with the old, in with the new” to life, in a cathartic implosion of a giant 2020 sign that read “Super Epic Monumental Kiss 2020 Goodbye Blowout” right before midnight. It was the destination’s long-awaited livestreamed virtual New Year’s Eve celebration which included entertainment from Tao Group’s DJ Vice as well as fireworks. A video accompanying this announcement is available here: https://bit.ly/3o45I3G and images* and can be found here: https://bit.ly/38QIWpI In true Vegas style, the celebration of the new year continued with music and the reveal of a massive LED lit 2021 sign with the message “What Happens in 2021, Happens in Vegas” erupting with confetti, streamers and fireworks blasting more than 200 feet in the air. “Vegas is known as the ultimate New Year’s destination and we were thrilled to usher in 2021 with our friends from around the world,” said Steve Hill, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Although it was a virtual celebration, our desire to create a distinctive ‘Only Vegas’ moment, complete with fireworks and a resident DJ, conveys our enthusiasm for the year ahead. We look forward to welcoming visitors and encouraging them to create their own ‘Only Vegas’ moments in the new year.” Living up to the theme of the new year, Las Vegas enthusiasts can enter a “Kiss Off 2020 Sweepstakes” on www.VisitLasVegas.com for a chance to win one of four trips to the destination in 2021, as well as share what they are most looking forward to in the new year. Entries will be accepted through January 10, 2021. *Please use approved provided caption and credits for photos: Photo of the 2020 sign demo / 2021 reveal: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 31: Las Vegas Tells 2020 to “Kiss Off” with a virtual event featuring an exploding 2020 sign, a fireworks display and the reveal of a 2021 sign at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on December 31, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for LVCVA) Photo of DJ Vice: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 31: DJ Vice led Las Vegas’ virtual “Kiss Off” festivities, including an exploding 2020 sign, fireworks, and the reveal of a 2021 sign at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on December 31, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for LVCVA) ABOUT THE LVCVA The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center. With nearly 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 13 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.visitlasvegas.com. Contact Details Erin McCleskey, R&R Partners +1 702-228-0222 Erin.McCleskey@rrpartners.com Tracey Koblick, R&R Partners 1 732-642-2416 tracey.koblick@rrpartners.com Molly Castano, LVCVA 702.892.0711 mcastano@lvcva.com

January 01, 2021 04:47 AM Pacific Standard Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Staying on Top of Children’s Health During the Pandemic

YourUpdateTV

Your child’s care provider does many important things, like checking your baby’s development and giving immunizations. They can also help you watch over your baby’s health. Recently, Dr. Arethusa Kirk, Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss the important issue of pediatric health. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/qFe6qoBCuew The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted how Americans are accessing health care and, for parents or guardians of a new baby, it has created questions about how to safely ensure early development goals are met. In light of COVID-19 restrictions, UnitedHealthcare is raising awareness for the importance of vaccinations and well visits. While virtual visits and telehealth are care options to consider, check with your doctor about what qualifies, newborn and baby well visits and immunizations should be done in a clinical setting. Your baby should go to at least eight well-child visits before they are 15 months old and preparation is key for a more comfortable appointment. Knowing what will happen at each of these appointments can help you get ready. There may be special steps to take when you arrive for your appointment. Call your child’s care provider before your visit. And remember to practice social distancing, wash your hands often and wear a mask. If you are a UnitedHealthcare Community Plan member, you may have access to our Healthy First Steps program, which can help you find a care provider, schedule well-child visits, connect with educational and community resources and more. For more information, visit UHC.com/childrenswellness About Dr. Arethusa Kirk: Dr. Arethusa Stevens Kirk is the Chief Medical Officer for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Maryland where she directs clinical initiatives for member-centric care coordination, population health, and quality programs. Dr. Kirk has served as a National Health Service Corps Scholar and as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Total Health Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Baltimore City. She continues to practice as an Associate Physician of the Neurology and Development Inpatient Unit at Kennedy Krieger Institute and as a primary care physician. Prior to her career in medicine she served as a volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity in India and as a Health Education Coordinator in The Gambia West Africa for the U.S. Peace Corps. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 28, 2020 11:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

DESPITE ECONOMIC PRESSURES 2020 WAS YEAR OF GIVING

Donors Trust

As philanthropists prepare for year-end giving and nonprofit organizations prepare budgets and make final 2020 appeals, surprising trends in giving are becoming more apparent. Despite the pandemic, disruptions in daily life, and significant economic pressures, generosity in 2020 is proving to be much more significant than anticipated. “DonorsTrust is experiencing a 35% increase in grant volume, before accounting for the final two weeks of December, when it traditionally processes a flurry of new grant requests. In 2020, DonorsTrust accountholders will have requested more money out of their DAF accounts than they contributed into them,” explains Lawson Bader, CEO of DonorsTrust. “The legacy of 2020 will not be a year of malaise but instead one marked by generosity and philanthropic spirit.” Holidays and the end of the year are traditionally a time where nonprofit organizations raise significant funds for operations and programming while experiencing increased requests for help. The unpredictable economy and cancellation of many fundraising events or in-person meetings created uncertainty over how these nonprofits would end the year. However, what is clear now is that donor-advised funds (DAFs) are filling the void. “Not only have we observed a record number of donations in 2020, but donor-advised funds (DAFs) are playing an important role,” Bader says. “Money is simultaneously flowing out of funds as donors continue contributing to accounts, despite the roller-coaster that is the stock market and the troubled economy.” While much of the increased giving can be attributed to the desire to support nonprofits struggling with handicapped operations during this pandemic, tax incentives from the CARES Act, which created tax incentives to spur donations, are also encouraging more giving. DAFs are proving to be a key source of income for charities experiencing fundraising difficulties in 2020. The charitable vehicle is growing in popularity, with nearly one million Americans utilizing DAFs to centralize and simplify giving. Low new account minimums make them the great democratizers of philanthropy – available to all, not just the privileged few. If things stay on the current trajectory, DAFs are well-positioned to continue the increased levels of giving into 2021, explains Bader. “The only thing standing in the way of these continued increased trends of giving is political uncertainty. Often, changes in tax laws have a ‘cause and effect’ relationship with changes in giving. If changing political leadership in Washington interrupts these trends by limiting deductions or raising taxes – the trajectory could reverse much to the chagrin of those serving the most vulnerable in our society.” To learn more about how DAFs and DonorsTrust are making a difference, please visit http://www.donorstrust.org Established in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) public charity, DonorsTrust is a community of donors devoted to creating a better future. Our donors support charities they believe protect our Nation’s constitutional liberties and strengthen civil society through private institutions rather than with government programs. Our boutique size lets us offer our donors personal attention and advice that helps them achieve their philanthropic goals. We ensure that our donors’ intentions are protected and offer them a simple, effective and tax-advantaged way to give. Since inception, DonorsTrust has granted out over $1.3 billion to over 4,000 charities that protect our constitutional liberties and strengthen civil society without government funding. Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website https://www.donorstrust.org/

December 28, 2020 10:38 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Navigating Last-Minute Gifts with Stephanie Humphrey

YourUpdateTV

While things will be different this holiday season, gift-giving is still at the forefront of most consumers’ minds. Recently, Technology and Lifestyle Expert, Stephanie Humphrey, teamed with YourUpdateTV to share some great, last-minute gift ideas. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/c9Yg5EklXjk Hottest Gaming Gifts of 2020 Gaming is hotter than ever with the releases of the PS5 and XBOX Series X, along with much anticipated titles like Cyberpunk 2077 coming out just in time for the holidays. GameStop is the home for everything video games, accessories, and collectibles. Top picks include CyberPunk 2077, an open world, choose your own adventure game with amazing graphics, along with the XBOX Series X Shock Blue Wireless Controller and Cyberpunk FUNKO POP! collectibles. Find all of these and more at GameStop.com/GiftHub. For the family that games together, Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory is a rhythm action videogame that takes players on a musical journey through the wildly popular Kingdom Hearts series. Players will travel through iconic Disney Worlds and encounter beloved characters in their journey, and enjoy some of Kingdom Hearts’ most memorable songs, as well as classic songs from the Disney cinematic universe. For more, visit KingdomHearts.com. Practical Gift Giving One thing everyone needed more of this year? Reliable Wi-Fi. It’s not always easy to find an open Wi-Fi network these days, which is why the latest 5G mobile hotspot from the pioneers of the hotspot category, Inseego, are a great option. The 5G MiFi M2100 and M2000 on Verizon and T-Mobile turn a single 5G connection into your own private, secure W-Fi network, with broadband speeds that rival traditional home internet connections. They have an all-day battery and you can connect up to 32 devices at once, so your whole family can connect their new tablets and devices almost anywhere – perfect for working from home, homeschool or that next family road trip. For more, visit Inseego.com. Working-From-Anywhere Last-minute gifts are hard and everyone is looking to make a little travel happen in-between remote work. So, with no passport, currency exchange or new phone plan required for U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico is the perfect destination for remote work in the new year. An island filled with natural wonders for remote workers to explore safely in their downtime and switch up that scenery after they are finished with those work calls. With 31 internet providers and three 5G network, travelers can expect full connectivity whenever they need it. As you get ready to make travel plans next year, check out DiscoverPuertoRico.com. About Stephanie Humphrey: Technology and Lifestyle Expert Stephanie Humphrey is a former engineer who merges her passion for lifestyle media with in-depth tech expertise to show everyday people how empowering, enriching and fun technology can be. Stephanie is driven by the sole purpose of connecting people, particularly those underrepresented in technology, with the tech know-how to transform their worlds. Stephanie is currently a technology contributor for ABC Newswhere she works as part of the nationally-syndicated Strahan Sara & Keke team. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 22, 2020 10:15 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

Giving the Gift of Security This Holiday Season

YourUpdateTV

While everyone is busy getting ready for a holiday season during a global pandemic, scammers have been hard at work taking advantage of a year that has changed how people shop and spend time at home. Recently, Technology and Lifestyle Expert, Stephanie Humphrey, teamed with YourUpdateTV to share some ideas to help keep everyone safe and secure. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/e5hj0wW0DyQ Protect Your Passwords Scammers have really taken advantage of the shift in consumer habits this year as so much of our lives have gone on-line. More than half of Americans don’t feel prepared should they be the victim of a cyberattack. The most important thing consumers can do to protect themselves online is also the simplest and least expensive: Secure their passwords. Keeper uses the highest level of encryption available to protect passwords and personal information from being stolen by cybercriminals. Keeper eliminates the time and hassle that comes with forgetting, resetting and recovering passwords, providing users with one master password to remember. The service comes in monthly plans starting at $3 for unlimited password storage. Visit keepersecurity.com for more. Protecting Your Packages With the rise in online shopping, we’ve seen a rise in porch piracy, with 1.7 million packages stolen or lost each day in the United States. DeliverySafe is secure and simple to use and it solves a lot of problems and improves your life at home: it helps prevent porch piracy, it protects packages from rain, snow or heat, and it allows you to retrieve your grocery, package or subscription box deliveries at your convenience and around your schedule - not a delivery window.The insulated DeliverySafe sits on your porch or driveway and works with most major delivery companies. Simply provide them with a passcode that lets the driver store your package securely till you get home. Go to deliverysafe.com for more. Whole-Home Protection With everyone spending more time at home this year and holiday season, there’s no better time to make it a place that’s a safe haven. SimpliSafe provides whole-home protection against everything from intruders to fires, water damage and more. Give the gift of peace of mind with a SimpliSafe smart home security system, like The Essentials Kit, a six piece system that includes all of the basics to make life at home more comfortable and enjoyable. It’s easy DIY install and no-long term commitments make it a great gift for homeowners and renters alike. For more information and to start the whole-home protection process, visit simplisafe.com/stephaniehumphrey. Protect Your Tech (and the Environment) Another way to feel more secure is to protect the tech you do have. While you’re shopping for the latest tech for your loved ones, make sure they keep it protected as well and you can feel good about it. The new LifeProof WĀKE case is made with over 85% of ocean-based plastic, features a sleek wave design and comes in 4 different colors. But it doesn’t just look good, it does good. With every purchase or a LifeProof case, you get to choose a non-profit partner to receive a donation. Visit lifeproof.com for more! About Stephanie Humphrey: Technology and Lifestyle Expert Stephanie Humphrey is a former engineer who merges her passion for lifestyle media with in-depth tech expertise to show everyday people how empowering, enriching and fun technology can be. Stephanie is driven by the sole purpose of connecting people, particularly those underrepresented in technology, with the tech know-how to transform their worlds. Stephanie is currently a technology contributor for ABC Newswhere she works as part of the nationally-syndicated Strahan Sara & Keke team. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 22, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

New data release shows where hospitals are overwhelmed across America

Stacker

Hospitals across the country are on the verge of overflowing with nearly 700 hospitals at over 90% inpatient capacity, according to a new dataset released Dec. 7 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Meanwhile, 750 hospitals have exceeded 90% capacity in their intensive care units, where patients in critical condition are treated. Stacker created a report complete with data visualizations that can be found here. These numbers come as a third surge of COVID-19 outbreaks rages in nearly every state. When hospitals are overwhelmed, it becomes challenging for doctors and nurses to provide COVID-19 patients with the attention care they need and can lead to further loss of life. The new HHS dataset provides a granular picture of these grim national statistics, including counts of patients and hospital beds at the individual hospital level for more than 4,000 facilities across the country. These counts are reported by hospitals nearly every day, either sent directly to the HHS or sent to state public health departments and hospital networks that aggregate the data. Stacker used these counts to calculate three values for each hospital: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19: share of COVID-19 patients compared to all patients in the hospital Inpatient bed occupancy: how many standard care beds in the hospital are currently filled with patients ICU bed occupancy: how many intensive care beds are currently filled with patients HHS also reports hospitalization data at the state level. National insights (as of Dec. 13) include: The states with the highest rates of occupied beds are Maryland (79.8% of all beds occupied), Washington D.C. (80.0%), and Rhode Island (85.2%). States with the highest shares of their populations hospitalized with COVID-19 are Arizona (53 patients per 100,000 population), Pennsylvania (55 per 100K), and Nevada (67 per 100K). 19% of hospitals in the nation are facing critical staffing shortages, while 24% anticipate such a shortage within the next week. Staffing shortages are highest in Arkansas (33.6% of hospitals in the state), Wisconsin (35.6%), and North Dakota (42.0%). For more details on methodology or insights about your state, contact us at melanie@thestacker.com. With the overload of content across the web, it can be hard to wade through the fake, biased, or just plain boring stories. That’s why at Stacker we built a brand committed to combining objective expert analysis with rich editorial insights—delivering stories that help readers understand important topics in their neighborhood or around the world, in a format that’s enjoyable to consume. Contact Details Melanie Holohan +1 858-200-6450 melanie@thestacker.com

December 18, 2020 11:20 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Americans receive 12,000 pointless emails a year - and these are the phrases to avoid

SizzleDeck

Nearly three in every four emails sent is pointless or irrelevant – according to new research. If you’ve ever felt yourself drowning in emails or a slave to your inbox you may well relate to a new online survey of 2,002 Americans that found 73 percent of the emails people receive aren’t relevant or interesting to them-if they’re even opened at all. Respondents in the census-balanced survey from SizzleDeck estimated they receive 44 emails each day on average between work and personal accounts – and cited 32 of those emails typically aren’t worth paying attention to or require no action on their part. That equates to over 16,000 emails in a typical year with precisely 11,680 of them deemed a waste of time. The survey found more than half (54%) of Americans polled have real difficulty clearing their work email inbox. But while things get lost in the inbox, sending a text is still an effective way to get attention the average respondent checks their phone 18 times during the typical working day. Perhaps that’s why Americans are more than three times more likely to prefer to read text messages than open emails (48% v 14%). A spokesperson for SizzleDeck said: “This survey backs up what our instincts were telling us, most people have a tonne of unread emails, but hardly anyone has an unread text message. If you want to be sure your message gets read, send it by text.” Whether it’s texts or emails, our attention spans are dominated by our phones. In addition to the 18 phone sessions we have during our working hours, three-quarters of us admit checking our phones is the very first thing we do in the morning and the very last thing we do at night. When not on their phones, people tend to have better attention skills in-person than they do virtually. When asked how long it would take them to mentally check out during a presentation, the average for Zoom presentations was six slides. For in-person meetings, it takes seven slides before people will start to check out. And it’s not just the visuals but the words that really count. People have a low tolerance for work jargon, it seems. When asked what work phrases they hate the most, respondents said “per my last email” (32%), “we’re all in this together” (32%) and “blue sky thinking” (29%) rounded the top of the list. The spokesperson for SizzleDeck added: “In pure communication terms, we find that the key to getting people to read and respond to a message is to keep it simple, keep it short and avoid clichés. The clearest communicators write the same way the talk.” TOP WORST WORK JARGON 1. Per my last email 32% 2. We ’ re all in this together 32% 3. Blue sky thinking 29% 4. Did you get that thing I sent you? 28% 5. Let ’ s touch base 27% 6. Let ’ s circle back 23% 7. Can you get this to me EOD? 23% 8. Let ’ s table that 21% 9. Let ’ s get this offline 12% The census-balanced survey of 2,002 Americans was conducted online in November 2020. About SizzleDeck SizzleDeck is a software application that makes it easy for businesses to build, share and track phone-friendly landing pages. Contact Details Rick Maughan +1 929-359-2537 rickmaughan@hotmail.co.uk

December 17, 2020 08:14 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Holiday Gift-Giving Made Safe and Easy by Target

YourUpdateTV

2020 has been a year unlike any other, but that doesn't mean the holidays can't be special. Whether you’ll be celebrating with immediate family at home or toasting one another virtually, gift-giving is one way to keep the joy of the season alive and bring a smile to loved ones faces. A Video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/QZYyRq5ciuk So, this holiday, what should you be thinking about when purchasing those last-minute gifts for everyone on your list? And how do you do it safely and easily? With something for everyone on your list and contactless same-day pickup and delivery options, Target is the one-stop shop for all your last-minute gifting and holiday needs, making it easier and more reliable to shop, save and celebrate the joy of the season, with delivery in time for Christmas. Plus, when it comes to shopping for last-minute gifts, Target has you covered with everything from top toys, apparel and accessories for the whole family, beauty products, and home décor items that will help make your home cozy for the holidays. And with the clock ticking, Target’s same-day services, like Order Pickup, Drive Up and Same-Day Delivery with Shipt, make holiday shopping easier than ever. For more information, visit Target.com About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 16, 2020 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video
1 ... 267268269270271 ... 283