Category: SOUTH JERSEY

Pedestrian Killed Walking On Williamstown Road Crossing AC Expressway Bridge

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP NJ (January 23, 2020)–An adult male pedestrian was walking on Williamstown Road crossing the Atlantic City Expressway bridge,

when he was struck by an unknown vehicle.

The vehicle that struck the pedestrian fled the scene towards Monroe Township.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away.

The accident occurred on 01/22/2020 at 10:34 Pm.

If anyone has any information about the accident, please contact Winslow Officer Rich Saunders, 609-567-0700 Ext. 1196 or Camden County Prosecutors Office Detective Rowand 856-225-8514.

The victim\’s name is being withheld until notification to his family.

PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BLOCKED IN NEW JERSEY

source

KE ANDREWS

New Jersey school districts were about to raise funds by raising property taxes, but the governor blocked it. The districts will have to find another way to compensate for the cuts that have taken place to state funding. When vetoing the bill, the governor made a statement that taxes on the wealthy should be raised to pay for schools, instead of asking middle-class taxpayers to pay more. Some districts have lost state aid, due to changes to the formula for school property tax funding.

CNBNEWS GRAPHIC FILES

If the measure would have passed without veto, it would have allowed school districts to exceed the two-percent cap on New Jersey property tax increases that were previously set. But Governor Murphy made it clear that he would not support the development of another way to exceed the cap, especially when it increases the burden of property tax and harms voters. The current school funding formula for the state tells voters how much every district should be spending, how much comes from the state, and how much should be generated from property taxes.

The funding formula has been in overhaul mode for years, and those changes have been controversial. The goal of the changes has been to shift state aid away from overfunded districts and to districts that are not funded as well. But at the same time, hundreds of millions more are being put into schools every year, and every district should get 100 percent of what is owed to them. There are 172 districts that will lose state aid, because they have been getting more than the current formula states that they need.

For the last seven years, there have been other districts that are losing money and not receiving enough funding. Programs reductions, budget cuts, and layoffs are part of the future for those districts, if changes to the distribution of state education funds are not made. By exceeding the two-percent property tax cap, these schools could get more funding and reduce their chances of ongoing financial problems. There would have been 40 districts that qualified for the changes. Still, the governor vetoed the bill and strongly suggested that districts find another way to address the issues. The goal is to avoid increasing how much families pay in property taxes, and it is a decision that should be taken seriously.

The governor continues to propose raising the tax on wealthy people, but defenders of the original bill argue that none of the money from an increase on wealthy people’s taxes would actually go to the districts that need the funding. According to the New Jersey School Board Association, the governor is also mistaking the bill’s actual effects. That Association states that the bill was thought out carefully, and would have helped school districts without causing the significant and unrestricted increases in property taxes the governor implied.

KE Andrews: Property Tax Consultants

Pennsylvania ranks 37th best in new economic outlook analysis

The Center Square

Pennsylvania finished 37th

in a study

by the website Rich States, Poor States that examined the 50 states’ economic outlooks based on 15 weighted policy measures.

The economic outlook ranking for Pennsylvania examined such variables as top marginal personal income tax rate (6.95) and top marginal corporate income tax rate (16.88). Other measures examined include property and sales tax burdens, existence of estate or inheritance taxes, debt service as a percentage of tax revenue, and the number of public employees per 10,000 people.

RichStatesPoorStates.org

also ranked states based on their economic performances from 2007 to 2017. In that assessment, Pennsylvania ranked 33rd.

The state’s cumulative gross domestic product from 2007 to 2017, its overall loss of population to other states between 2008 and 2017, and nonagricultural job growth from 2007 to 2017 determined how it fared in the economic performance ranking.

—

State Rankings on Economic Outlook and Performance

State

2019 Economic Performance Ranking

2019 Economic Outlook Ranking

Top Marginal Personal Income Tax Rate

Top Marginal Corporate Tax Rate

Utah

5

1

4.95%

4.95%

Idaho

11

2

6.93%

6.93%

North Dakota

3

3

2.9%

4.31%

Nevada

24

4

4.95%

4.95%

Indiana

32

5

5.25%

5.75%

North Carolina

9

6

5.25%

2.5%

Tennessee

6

7

0%

6.5%

Florida

13

8

0%

5.5%

South Dakota

12

9

0%

0%

Arizona

22

10

4.54%

4.9%

Wyoming

45

11

0%

0%

Michigan

42

12

6.65%

8%

Oklahoma

20

13

5%

6%

Virginia

27

14

5.75%

7.62%

Texas

2

15

0%

2.62%

New Hampshire

19

16

0%

7.7%

Colorado

4

17

4.63%

4.63%

Georgia

10

18

5.75%

6.38%

Mississippi

48

19

5%

5%

Wisconsin

34

20

7.65%

7.9%

Alabama

35

21

4.15%

6.03%

Missouri

37

22

6.4%

6.59%

Arkansas

30

23

6.9%

6.5%

Ohio

38

24

7.5%

3.67%

Iowa

29

25

5.37%

11.64%

Louisiana

39

26

3.78%

6.32%

Kansas

40

27

5.7%

7%

Massachusetts

15

28

5.05%

8%

South Carolina

8

29

7%

5%

New Mexico

47

30

4.9%

5.9%

Alaska

43

31

0%

9.4%

Kentucky

25

32

0%

6.5%

Nebraska

14

33

6.84%

7.81%

Maryland

28

34

8.95%

8.25%

West Virginia

41

35

6.5%

6.5%

Delaware

26

36

7.85%

11.74%

Pennsylvania

33

37

6.95%

16.88%

Montana

16

38

6.9%

6.75%

Washington

1

39

0%

6.75%

Minnesota

21

40

9.85%

9.8%

Connecticut

50

41

6.99%

7.5%

Rhode Island

44

42

5.99%

7%

Maine

36

43

7.15%

8.93%

Oregon

7

44

10.66%

11.65%

Hawaii

23

45

11%

6.4%

New Jersey

49

46

11.75%

11.5%

California

18

47

13.3%

8.84%

Illinois

46

48

4.95%

9.5%

Vermont

31

49

8.75%

8.5%

New York

17

50

12.7%

17.23%

Source:

RichStatesPoorStates.org

/ American Legislative Exchange Council

published here with permission of The Center Square

LEGAL SPORTSBOOKS IN INDIANA TO JOIN NJ

AT THE MOVIES WITH ODDS ON 92ND ACADEMY AWARDS

LAS VEGAS) — Sportsbooks in Indiana have joined New Jersey as the only states offering movie buffs the opportunity to join their favorite actors, actresses, and directors as big winners from the 92nd Academy Awards. A year after New Jersey’s retail and online sportsbooks broke new ground in the United States by offering legal betting on the Academy Awards for the first time, both Indiana and New Jersey will be offering odds on the Oscars, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 9.

To prepare for the movie industry’s star-studded night, PlayUSA has created a complete rundown of the Oscars at

www.playusa.com/sports-betting/oscars

, including odds on every major category, a pick sheet, what sites are accepting bets, and analysis on the races.

“Oscars betting was a hit in its first year in New Jersey, and we suspect that interest will only grow,” said Jessica Welman, betting analyst for

PlayUSA.com

and

PlayIndiana.com

, as well as a movie historian who earned a master’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Indiana University Bloomington and a bachelor’s in Cinema-TV Critical Studies from the University of Southern California. “We saw last year that bettors were less motivated by the favorites and more interested in backing their favorite films and movie stars. This year\’s field of nominees has star power in front of and behind the camera, so that should help drive interest.”

New Jersey sportsbooks accepted an estimated $1 million in bets in the first year that it was offered, according to PlayUSA. Now that the Indiana Gaming Commission has authorized betting on the Oscars at the state’s sportsbooks, which happened on Wednesday, Hoosier State bettors will have the same chance.

The Indiana operations of FanDuel and DraftKings are expected to be the first in Indiana to offer odds in the state, but more will likely follow.

“It is exciting that Indiana has opened the doors to Oscars betting,” Welman said. “The Academy Awards will likely only generate a fraction of the bets of the NFL’s big game, but the interest should still be significant. For Indiana bettors, it will make a fun and new way to enjoy the Oscars.”

DraftKings in New Jersey became the first sportsbook to post the Oscars, followed by FOX Bet, and more are expected soon. DraftKings New Jersey is offering odds on all 24 categories at the Academy Awards. In 2019, most books limited action to the six major Oscars categories, including best picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress.

“The top categories will undoubtedly draw the most interest,” Welman said. “This year, in particular, is shaping up to be a controversial one. Again, critics can point to a lack of diversity in nominations and some films, such as Joker, have received polarizing audience reactions. But instead of fighting with friends about a movie\’s merits, New Jersey movie buffs can quietly put their money where their mouth is.”

The four major acting categories all feature prohibitive favorites. Joaquin Phoenix (-1,667), for Joker, and Renee Zellweger (-1,000), for Judy, are the clear frontrunners for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively. Brad Pitt (-1,000), for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Laura Dern (-1,000), for Marriage Story, are the favorites for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Sam Mendes (-134), for 1917, and Bong Joon Hoo (+225), for Parasite, are leading a tight race for Best Director.

The closest major race appears to be for Best Picture, led by Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (+160) and 1917 (+200).

“Best Picture seems like a two-horse race between the two Golden Globe picture winners, 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Welman said. “While no one is arguing that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is Quentin Tarantino\’s best film, the Academy is typically concerned with ensuring deserving nominees get rewarded. This could be the Academy’s last chance to give Tarantino the top prize, and that often carries a lot of weight.”

For more information and analysis on regulated online gaming in Indiana, visit

PlayIndiana.com/news

. For more Oscars information, visit

www.playusa.com/sports-betting/oscars

.

About the

PlayUSA.com

Network:

The

PlayUSA.com

Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states,

PlayUSA.com

and its state-focused branches (including

PlayNJ.com

and

PlayIndiana.com

) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

Big Game Specials Announced for North Beach Atlantic City

Atlantic City, N.J. (January 21, 2020) –

North Beach Atlantic City announced today Big Game specials to be offered amongst the entertainment district of Atlantic City that fans will not want to miss.

It’s that time of year again when two of the best professional football teams go head-to-head to battle it out for ultimate bragging rights on Sunday, February 2, and let’s not forget those jaw-dropping commercials in between. The question is where will you be watching the Big Game?

Four of the North Beach Atlantic City partners are offering up special events, promotions and menus for fans in the region including:

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City:

The Big Game will be shown in three different locations on the property including the Lobby Bar, Hard Rock Cafe Center Bar and the Hard Rock Sportsbook Bar, where $5 domestic draft beers and $8 well drinks will be offered.

Wild Card Reward Members can cash in on the card program by attending a special event set to take place in Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. to watch the Big Game on large screens. Guests will enjoy stadium style food and beverage and get the opportunity to meet NFL Greats like former Philadelphia Eagles tight end

Brent Celek

and linebacker

Seth Joyner

, former Buffalo Bills running back

Thurman Thomas

and former New York Giants wide receiver

Amani Toomer

. Each guest will receive an official game day hat.

Hard Rock Casino Online will be offering Square Pools, the classic sports bar type of contest that should be familiar to players including 10X10 grids of 100 squares to choose from.

All squares will be available on a first come first serve basis.

Once game starts, contests are locked and numbers 0-9 will be randomly generated across each axis’ row/column.

Up to 5 winners based on each team score in the corresponding period (1st quarter, 1st half, 3rd quarter, Final score and Final score in Reverse).

A player may win multiple times based on the numbers they have.

All winners will be identified, and any prizes won will be credited manually.

Players will also be able to pick a square from the kiosk screen at Sportsbook.

Hard Rock Casino Online will also be offering Big Game Bingo, which follows traditional bingo mechanics (mark 5 in a row = BINGO).

Each player will be issued a unique 5X5 sheet with a total of 25 events that can occur during the Superbowl.

As events occur, they are updated in the system so that players can mark their sheets and view a list of events that have already occurred.

Players must “claim” a bingo, they are not automatically notified of a win, therefore they must manually mark their bingo sheets.

Ocean Casino Resort:

Topgolf Swing Suite, dubbed the “new Sunday Funday spot” in Atlantic City, has 22 screens, melt-in-your-mouth food and drink specials, plus virtual games like football, golf, carnival classics, and zombie dodgeball to have fun with the squad come halftime.

Gastropub, Villain + Saint, located in the heart of the casino, will be serving out-of-the box creations including Korean Fried Chicken Wings and a wagyu Chef’s Burger. There is even a chance to win some Big Game giveaway prizes!

William Hill Sportsbook at Ocean has the biggest screens in Atlantic City to watch the biggest game of the season! The Sportsbook features a 7,500-square-foot integrated experience with a center bar to drink and dine. Place your bet any time before the game at William Hill Sportsbook or at the den, which will also be streaming the game live!

For a more intimate setting to take in the Big Game, visit High Water Wine Bar overlooking the William Hill Sportsbook. This tucked away wine bar offers 42 wines by the glass and 8 wines on tap and features a perfect aerial view of the William Hill Sportsbook.

Resorts Casino Hotel

:

DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts will have $4 Imported and Domestic Beers plus special promotions all day long.

Bar One will have $10 Miller Lite Pitchers and $25 buckets of Coors Light or Miller Lite Bottles.

Gallagher’s Burger Bar will offer $2 Bud Light and Shock Top Drafts, $3 Heineken, Heineken Light and Michelob Ultra Bottles and $4 Everyday IPA Drafts.

Landshark Bar and Grill has $20 Buckets of Miller Lite and Coors Light Bottles.

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall

:

Watch the Big Game on 8 large screen TVs.

Enjoy an award-winning gastropub menu with 40 plus beers on tap.

A free half time buffet will be offered with $3 Miller Lite pints and $8 pitchers.

Miller Lite swag giveaways all night long.

North Beach Atlantic City

With a new energy, brand-new eateries and a beautiful Boardwalk overlooking the pristine Atlantic Ocean, North Beach Atlantic City has developed into the city’s cultural epicenter and entertainment district of Atlantic City. Over the last year, the opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Ocean Resort Casino and Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall has pumped new life into this northern section of the Boardwalk, adding to the excitement already established by Resorts Casino & Hotel, Steel Pier and the Absecon Lighthouse. For more information, visit

atlanticcitynorthbeach.com

or follow along on social media through #NorthBeachAC.

Mind, Body, and Bubbly Wellness Event Returns with Double the Attendees and Vendors

Unwind and Shop Local at Philly PR Girl’s Third Annual Wellness and Beauty Fair

PHILADELPHIA, PA (January 2020)

– Returning for the third year in a row,

Philly PR Girl

is hosting their annual

Mind, Body, and Bubbly

wellness fair, a special day of connection and self-care! Attendees can experience the best of Philadelphia’s beauty and wellness communities on

April 19, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

, with an additional

VIP hour from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

, at

Location 215

, this year’s stunning location once again. With our exclusive VIP hour, more interactive vendors, a wellness speaker, and so much more, Mind, Body, and Bubbly 2020 will give attendees a day of rejuvenation they won’t forget.

Mind, Body, and Bubbly’s marketplace

will show attendees Philly’s

top wellness and beauty brands

in a fun and relaxed setting in Location 215, a state-of-the–art studio that opened in Spring 2020. This large, bright, airy, and centrally located studio and event space in the Spring Arts district hosted MBB 2019. Sample treats, try interactive services, and get to know the movers and shakers turning Philadelphia into a full-blown wellness destination. Guests will receive a

complimentary bubbly libation

before both attendees and vendors get to know each other in the intimate space.

A vendor table at MBB 2019.

Each year, MBB honors a charity that supports women in the Philadelphia area. For 2020, we are proud to be collecting purses and women\’s toiletries and beauty products for

Purses Full of Hope

. The purses go to women in shelters that may have been affected by domestic abuse, homelessness, substance abuse and other traumatic situations. These women often flee their homes with no belongings and are not only in need of various personal hygiene products but of something that can empower them and remind them of their resilience when they arrive at a shelter. These purses are often handed to these women upon their arrival to offer them the basic tools they need.

Returning this year is the

special VIP hour

for attendees who want to turn MBB 2020 into a mini-retreat. A light yoga and meditation class titled

Breathe in Before the Bubbly

will be held from

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The yoga class and meditation will set a positive vibe for the rest of the day with breathing and setting intentions. Afterwards, VIP guests will have an exclusive half hour to explore the marketplace and get first dibs on the incredible local businesses and interactive services it will feature. VIP guests will also receive a goody bag filled with amazing items hand-picked by the MBB team.

Guests enjoying the Bootcamp and Marketplace at MBB 2019.

To add to the marketplace, Mind, Body, and Bubbly is seeking vendors in the health, wellness, and beauty industries who can provide an uplifting and positive experience to participants. This is a great opportunity to showcase your brand while mingling with attendees and expanding your audience. This year, MBB is doubling the space in Location215 from one to two rooms for the marketplace. This will be perfect to accommodate the increasing number of attendees of the event with an expected attendance of 200 guests. In order to become a vendor at MBB 2020, please complete and submit the Vendor Form

here

. The cost to reserve a table is $160 through March 1.

“Philly PR Girl is beyond excited for the third installment of Mind, Body, and Bubbly,”

says Kate Marlys

, owner of Philly PR Girl. “We wanted to bring back the inclusive, good-vibes experience for this annual event and make it the best one yet! We’re especially looking forward to partnering with Location 215 once again, because they believe in our vision for the growth of MBB.”

Does your business align with the values of this event? Do you believe wellness should be approachable and accessible for people of all backgrounds? Consider supporting this event as a sponsor. This wellness fair is the perfect chance to showcase your products to the event attendees, including social media influencers, lifestyle bloggers, and health, wellness, and beauty enthusiasts, as well as residents from in and around the Philadelphia area! In order to become a sponsor for MBB, please complete and submit the Sponsorship Form

here

by March 31.

Tickets to Mind, Body, and Bubbly are

available for purchase here

. Limited VIP tickets are available for $45 per person. Early Bird tickets are $20 per person, and the ticket price increases to $30 per person on March 2. Don’t wait to get your tickets to engage with the top wellness and beauty brands in Philadelphia!

Follow Mind, Body, and Bubbly on

Instagram

and

Facebook

to stay in the loop and be the first to know of updates! Follow Location 215 on

Instagram

,

Facebook

, and

LinkedIn

.

For media inquiries and/or interview requests, please contact

molly@phillyprgirl.com

.

About Philly PR Girl:

Philly PR Girl is a full-time public relations firm for event planning, social media management, marketing, and promotions. Our company was built on the foundation of networking and relationship-building. Owner Kate Marlys has planned, facilitated and attended hundreds of networking events, resulting in a strong and dynamic network of contacts in digital, print, TV, and radio throughout the United States.

###

The Philly PR Girl team that made the event happen!

HRC Scores New Jersey Companies’ LGBTQ-Inclusive Workplace Policies

WASHINGTON  DC (January, 2020)—

America’s leading companies and law firms are stepping up in record numbers to adopt increasingly forward-looking policies and practices to meet the needs of their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workers in the U.S. and abroad, according to the

2020

Corporate Equality Index

(CEI) released today by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.

In the most rigorous assessment of LGBTQ-inclusive workplace policies and practices to date, a record of more than 680 companies have been designated a

Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality

by the HRC Foundation for their efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results, earning them a 100 percent rating.

Top-scoring companies include 23 in New Jersey.

In total, 1059 companies and law firms were officially rated in the new CEI, up from 1028 in last year’s survey. The report also unofficially rated 122 Fortune 500 companies, which have yet to respond to an invitation to participate in the CEI survey assessing their LGBTQ policies and practices.

The average score for companies and law firms based in New Jersey is 86 percent. Of the 46 companies ranked, 23 earned 100 points, 31 earned 90 points and above, and 38 earned 80 points and above.

For the first time, HRC this year is giving special recognition to the 11 companies that earned top marks on all three of HRC’s workplace equality assessments: the CEI, as well as

Equidad MX

and

Equidad CL

. HRC’s groundbreaking Equidad program recognizes Latin American companies and U.S. multinational companies for their work in Mexico and Chile.

“These companies know that protecting their LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do — it is also the best business decision. In addition, many of these leaders are also advocating for the LGBTQ community and equality under the law in the public square,” said

HRC President Alphonso David

. “From supporting LGBTQ civil rights protections in the U.S. through HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act, to featuring transgender and non-binary people in an ad in Argentina, to advocating for marriage equality in Taiwan — businesses understand their LGBTQ employees and customers deserve to be seen, valued and respected not only at work, but in every aspect of daily life.”

Employer

Headquarters Location

State

2020 CEI Rating

ADP

Roseland

NJ

100

American Express Global Business Travel

Jersey City

NJ

100

BASF Corp.

Florham Park

NJ

100

Bayer U.S. LLC

Whippany

NJ

100

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Franklin Lakes

NJ

100

Celgene Corp.

Summit

NJ

100

Day Pitney LLP

Parsippany

NJ

100

Dun & Bradstreet Corp., The

Short Hills

NJ

100

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Newark

NJ

100

Johnson & Johnson

New Brunswick

NJ

100

Mathematica Policy Research

Princeton

NJ

100

Merck

Kenilworth

NJ

100

Nestle Health Science

Bridgewater

NJ

100

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.

East Hanover

NJ

100

Pearson Inc.

Hoboken

NJ

100

Prudential Financial Inc.

Newark

NJ

100

Quest Diagnostics Inc.

Secaucus

NJ

100

Samsung Electronics America Inc.

Ridgefield Park

NJ

100

Sanofi

Bridgewater

NJ

100

Subaru of America Inc.

Cherry Hill

NJ

100

TD Bank, N.A.

Cherry Hill

NJ

100

Unilever

Englewood Cliffs

NJ

100

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc.

Parsippany

NJ

100

Avis Budget Group Inc.

Parsippany

NJ

95

Novo Nordisk Inc.

Plainsboro

NJ

95

Aero OpCo LLC

Lyndhurst

NJ

90

Ascena Retail Group Inc.

Mahwah

NJ

90

Mars Inc.

Mt. Olive

NJ

90

Realogy Holdings Corp.

Madison

NJ

90

Wipro Ltd.

East Brunswick

NJ

90

Campbell Soup Co.

Camden

NJ

85

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Hoboken

NJ

85

Public Service Enterprise Group

Newark

NJ

85

Burlington Stores Inc.

Burlington

NJ

80

Conduent Inc.

Florham Park

NJ

80

Firmenich Inc.

Plainsboro

NJ

80

Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC

Jersey City

NJ

80

McCarter & English LLP

Newark

NJ

80

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

Teaneck

NJ

70

NRG Energy Inc.

Princeton

NJ

65

Honeywell International Inc.

Morris Plains

NJ

60

Newell Brands Inc.

Hoboken

NJ

60

Selective Insurance Group

Branchville

NJ

40

Software House International

Somerset

NJ

30

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

Union

NJ

20

PBF Energy

Parsippany

NJ

20

More than 260 top businesses — including 191 that earned top scores on the CEI — are also

corporate supporters on the Equality Act

, critically important bipartisan legislation that would finally add clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to our nation\’s civil rights laws. While the Supreme Court decides whether LGBTQ people are protected by federal employment non-discrimination law, these companies are holding the line for their employees and their families.

Other key findings revealed in the 2020 CEI:

The more than 680 companies who earned a 100 on the CEI represent 12.4 million employees nationally, 11.9 million globally and earn a combined estimate of $12.9 trillion in revenue.

Eighty-three companies participated in the CEI for the first time in 2020 with 36 debuting at a score of 100 — including Etsy Inc., Peloton Interactive Inc. and Stop & Shop, and Warner Music Group.

Of all Fortune 500 companies, 93% have sexual orientaiton in their U.S. non-discrimination policy, and 91% have gender identity.

The average CEI score for all Fortune 500 companies increased from 67 to 71 in the past year — with actively participating Fortune 500 companies having an average score of 90, up from 88 last year.

Over the last several years, CEI-rated companies have dramatically expanded their support for transgender workers. This year 89% percent of companies participating in the CEI offer at least one health care policy that is inclusive of their transgender workers, and 85% percent met stringent criteria that requires all blanket exclusions of medically-necessary care for transgender workers be removed from all health policies the company offers — up from 73% last year.

The CEI rates companies and top law firms on detailed criteria in four broad categories:

Non-discrimination policies

Employment benefits

Supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility including public commitment to LGBTQ equality

Responsible citizenship

The full report is available online at

www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America\’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Alumna Makes $250,000 Gift to Establish Endowment for Childhood Studies

By Tom McLaughlin

Rutgers University–Camden

will continue to be a global leader at the forefront of research and initiatives focused on improving the lives, opportunities, and understanding of children, thanks to a $250,000 gift from alumna Nancy Shuman to establish the Nancy Seagrave Shuman Endowment for Childhood Studies.

Shuman, a 1968 graduate of the Rutgers–Camden

College of Arts and Sciences

(CCAS) with a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, established the fund to ensure that various initiatives within Rutgers–Camden’s

Department of Childhood Studies

will receive ongoing support in perpetuity.

“The well-being of children is deeply important to me,” says the Allentown, Pa., resident. “I hope that my gift provides increased momentum for the Department of Childhood Studies and related programs at Rutgers–Camden to help make a difference in the lives of children in the Camden community, the Greater Delaware Valley region, and beyond.”

Howard Marchitello, dean of the

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

at Rutgers–Camden, praises Shuman for her continued support of Rutgers–Camden’s Department of Childhood Studies and its students. He notes that, because of her generosity, the students’ work will, in turn, be dedicated to ensuring the general well-being of students in Camden City and the greater South Jersey region.

“This act of generosity will reach countless beneficiaries for many years to come,” says Marchitello. “The College of Arts and Sciences is deeply moved by Ms. Shuman’s support and faith in our faculty and students, and in the vision of our Department of Childhood Studies.”

After earning a state scholarship, Shuman was drawn to Rutgers–Camden for the medical technology degree that it offered at that time. She remembers that she was among only three students in the inaugural cohort of the major and the intensive coursework was largely the same as for pre-medicine.

After completing three years of the four-year degree, she served a 12-month internship at the former West Jersey Hospital in Voorhees.

Upon graduating from Rutgers–Camden, Shuman continued working as a medical technologist in the blood bank at West Jersey Hospital.

She and her husband, Clyde, later settled in Allentown, where he and a partner founded Precision Medical, a global leader in respiratory devices.

Shuman has been a generous benefactor to Rutgers–Camden over the years, previously contributing to the CCAS Dean’s Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Center for Children and Childhood Studies Gift Fund.

Rutgers–Camden’s Department of Childhood Studies focuses on putting the issues, concepts, and debates that surround the study of children and childhoods at the center of its research and teaching missions.

Nancy and Clyde Shuman

Through a multidisciplinary approach, childhood studies aims both to theorize and historicize the figure of the child and to situate the study of children and childhoods within contemporary cultural and global contexts.

The curriculum in the department spans several disciplines in scope and purpose, and provides students with a strong background in both humanistic and social science perspectives on children and their representations. This approach prepares students for careers in many areas, including academics, public policy, social services, youth programming, and education.

Rutgers–Camden launched the nation’s first Ph.D. program in childhood studies in 2007. The program provides an advanced theoretical and methodological study of children and childhood. It prepares scholars capable of innovative research in this interdisciplinary field, as well as policy leaders with new perspectives in child-related social practice.

Differences Between Motorized and Non-Motorized Whitewater Rafting Trips in the Grand Canyon

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 22, 2020)–In this day and age, we live most of our lives following our usual routines. We get up early, prepare for the day ahead, head on to school or work, take some few breaks, get to work again, before we finally go home and drag ourselves to bed so we can rest and prepare to do the same routine the following day. Of course, leading a healthy life is necessary but don’t you think following a strict routine could be monotonous and boring at some point?

This is why we seek adventure. We try to find ways to do unique and once-in-a-lifetime experiences to tick off that bucket list. We feel a different sense of accomplishment if we’re able to do something out of the box, something that we once thought of as unachievable.

If you’re prepared to take the big leap of experiencing the adventure outdoors, one of the many little thrillers to get you started is the white water rafting. This is a kind of water sport where you get to dodge whirlpools and rocks while rushing down a wild rapid river on board a rubber boat. And if isn’t enough of an adventure, imagine wearing only a life jacket and no seatbelts. Now that is thrilling!

The

Grand Canyon

is one of the best places to experience white water rafting. If you’re planning for an adventure at the canyon, it’s best that you learn all the basic things necessary about water rafting.

First thing to learn is the

boat type for the rafting

. There are several types you can consider: non-motorized rafts like the oar rafts, dories, and paddle raps, and the motorized rafts. A lot of people see themselves paddling thru the 225-mile whitewater rapids of the Grand Canyon. However, this can be quite tiring especially it is common to see upstream winds in the water. Thus oar trips are better options. This will give you ample intimacy and pace of the rapids, without the strain. It’s been noted that guests have successfully manned their whitewater adventures using oar rafts with the careful instructions of professional guides.

The downside also of oar trips (as well as the other non-motorized rafts) is that it can be tough for people. The whole trip takes about 13 days; plus the hiking in and out of the canyon along the way, may cause physical strain to some.

Motorized trips therefore are more convenient options. Guests can enjoy a full canyon trip in just seven days. Most motorized rafts run on 30 horsepower, averaging about 8 mph. That’s a far cry from the 4mph average speed you get when taking the non-motorized options.

Another consideration you need to note are the canyon trip terms. A full canyon trip runs between 188 and 280 river miles. This trip allows you to experience the most amazing side hikes and the biggest rapids in the river. The upper canyon trip, on the other hand, runs about 87-89 miles. You need to be physically prepared for this trip since this will involve intense hiking

out of the Grand Canyon. Trails are rocky and steep and offers very little shade along the way. This is ideal only for the experienced hikers.

The cost is also one thing to check out for a Grand Canyon whitewater rafting adventure. Depending on the type of trip you want, you have several options to consider: from the transportation to lodging, and even the cost of the camping gears. The final cost will generally vary. It is always wise to do your research before you book for that Grand Canyon adventure.

Impact Of Climate Change on Humans and Forests

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 22, 2020)–Eight is coming down to seven, with half the planet already having been destroyed. How long do you think the earth can sustain the weight of negativity? With the current conditions, probably not for long. While life ebbs out of people, authorities are still abstracted of the fact that earth is on the verge of annihilation. The conniving deeds of humans have paved half the way to oblivion, while the foundation to the other half has already been laid.

Glaciers are melting into the rivers of a dark future where an evolutionary reversal is bound to happen. With the world having already stepped into an unforgettable age of greed and savagery, more is undoubtedly taking form. Do any of you know for certain every little event that is pushing the world towards a collapse? The answer would be a straight-out \’NO\’ since more than half of what is happening around us stays unrevealed.

Levels of Climate Change Impact

A rise in temperature all across the globe.

Destruction of several resources affect the growth of crops, production of food, and further leads to the outbreak of diseases.

Death of flora and fauna.

Impacts on Forests

While the impeachment and potential world war updates took over the television screens and front pages of every newspaper, brutally trivialized natural disasters burnt the green face of the earth. The Amazon rainforest wildfires and the Australian bushfires were warnings from the substrates of an imminent cataclysm. It is only when the fire consumes one of us that we get cautious and move stealthily towards a secure future. But this time the planet isn\’t giving humans another chance to live through the disaster and beyond. Sighs of exhaustion have already taken the form of floods, meltdowns and forest fires, which if not addressed with concern at the earliest, can take down the entire planet.

Changes in temperature, weather, and rainfall are just a few factors that affect the productivity and growth of forests. A surge in the levels of carbon dioxide can also harm the prolific trees and animal inhabitants.

The growing season gets prolonged with the warming temperatures, and this would further lead to the shift of geographic ranges of some tree species. Local or regional species could also be at risk if the conditions in the present habitats are unfavorable for growth. Make sure that you clear all the unwanted overgrown trees and plant new ones, as the earth pleads for it. A

tree company

can help you uproot the trees and free your plots of the redundant greenery.

Chances for floods, droughts and excessive precipitation is likely to increase with the changing climatic conditions. The availability of water can also get affected by the alter in the timing of snowmelt. With the increasing temperatures, droughts are likely to be more adverse than it was in the past. They can impose a huge risk since dry shrubs and trees are potential detonators of wildfires.

Impacts on Human Beings

With the rise in temperatures, dehydration within humans will also increase. Deaths resulting from such adverse climatic conditions would be countless and can keep on rising until obliteration occurs. Humans are likely to be afflicted with sunstrokes and diseases related to the cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular systems if they are exposed to extreme heat. Populations in the northern latitudes could get severely affected by the excessive heat.

Athletes, outdoor workers, and homeless people spend most of their time in the sunlight, and the heat could ebb all their energy and gradually lead to death. People with certain medical conditions, pregnant women, children, and older adults could be more vulnerable to the heat. People from urban areas could get affected more by the heat waves since rural areas have recorded relatively lower temperatures in the past years.

Conclusion

Earth is rolling down the slope towards destruction; there is no denial. All living beings, from humans to animals to trees, are going to be affected by the changing climatic conditions. Reversal of catastrophes isn\’t possible, so take immediate necessary steps to stop it before the deluges subdue the whole planet.