Podcasts about ICAP

Jon Cohen, senior correspondent with Science, reports on how countries that suffer high rates of HIV/AIDS are coping now that USAID funding has dried up, and how local governments, especially in places like Lesotho, are attempting to figure out solutions. Plus, Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, Columbia University professor of epidemiology and medicine and director of ICAP, a global health center at the school of public health, discusses ICAP's work in implementing PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief) in sub-Saharan Africa, and discusses the future of PEPFAR under the Trump administration.

Nations that once relied on USAID funding to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS have been impacted by President Trump's cuts to the program. On Today's Show:Jon Cohen, senior correspondent with Science, reports on how countries that suffer high rates of HIV/AIDS are coping now that USAID funding has dried up, and how local governments, especially in places like Lesotho, are attempting to figure out solutions. Plus, Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, director of ICAP at Columbia University, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, executive vice president of Columbia Global, and lead of the New York City Preparedness & Response Institute, discusses ICAP's HIV/AIDS treatment under the Trump administration.

The federal Technology Modernization Fund has had a bumpy relationship with congressional appropriators since its creation in 2017, and now the Trump administration wants to sidestep the appropriations process entirely to replenish the fund on an annual basis with unused money transferred from agencies. The White House on Friday quietly issued an in-depth appendix of its budget request for fiscal 2026, and executive agencies followed suit, publishing their annual budget justification documents. The General Services Administration, which houses the TMF program and disburses its funds, revealed in its 2026 justification that the Trump administration did not request any “new discretionary appropriated funding for the TMF” in 2026, instead proposing a new model for how it could pull money from other agencies, up to $100 million, to re-up the fund each fiscal year. “President's FY 2026 budget request includes a governmentwide general provision that will allow GSA, with approval of OMB, to collect unobligated balances of expired discretionary funds from other agencies and bring that funding into the TMF,” the justification explains. “To further strengthen the TMF's ability to help agencies kickstart or accelerate their urgent modernization efforts, GSA and OMB are committed to exploring alternative funding mechanisms.” Historically, the sitting administration has called on Congress to fund the TMF on an annual basis, with varying degrees of success. Pentagon procurement officials who are looking to up their expertise in buying cutting-edge tech for the U.S. military can now apply to join the 2026 Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program fellowship cohort, Defense Innovation Unit officials announced Tuesday. Next year will mark the fourth iteration of the educational ICAP initiative, which DIU runs in partnership with the Defense Acquisition University. This fellowship is designed to provide DOD's leading procurement professionals with hands-on experience and virtual training to help them more effectively buy in-demand commercial technologies from non-traditional military contractors. DIU's Deputy Director for Commercial Operations Liz Young McNally told DefenseScoop during a panel at the Special Competitive Studies Project's AI+ Expo. “We have other acquisition officers from across the department who can apply to the year-long fellowship with DIU — to learn our process, how we work with industry, and then bring that back to wherever they're going. And [the next ICAP application] just opened today.”If tapped for the fellowship, personnel will get a chance to work on a variety of real-world, military service-aligned projects alongside a DIU contracting officer, project team and commercial solution providers. The fellows will also gain in-depth instruction on a flexible contracting mechanism designed for rapid prototyping and acquisition of commercial tech, known as other transaction (OT) authority.

With so many issues stemming from President Trump's executive orders now before the Supreme Court, it's tough to know where to begin. So Andrew and Mary start this week with the arguments heard last Thursday from Mary's ICAP team on the courts issuing national injunctions in several birthright citizenship cases. They recap Thursday's highlights and note the Justices' interest in getting to the merits of the birthright issue. Then, they talk through two SCOTUS decisions from Friday and Monday: one on the Trump administration using the Alien Enemies Act to ‘extract' Venezuelan migrants, and the other on their attempt to revoke the protected status of Venezuelans. Last up, Andrew and Mary turn to the specifics of a few of the immigration removal cases, as hearings continue and the lack of due process continues to be challenged.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

Stephen Miller's got some ideas. So this week, Mary and Andrew start with a focus on his recent acknowledgement that the White House is considering suspending habeas corpus altogether for migrants. They talk about what that means, and the reality that it lacks any legal sniff test, which the Supreme Court agrees with. Then, they highlight what happens when due process works, after the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts student who was detained by ICE over an opinion piece she wrote for the student newspaper. Next up, a significant decision from Judge Susan Illston out of California, putting a temporary hold on reducing the federal workforce. Mary and Andrew note what she held, including that the administration needs to follow procedure and get congressional buy in. And lastly, they preview the Supreme Court argument Mary's ICAP team is bringing this Thursday on birthright citizenship- not on the merits per se, but on the issue of national injunctions. And a quick eye pop on Trump's decision to swap out Ed Martin as the US Attorney for DC with yet another Fox News host, Jeanine Pirro.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

I sit down with my first billionaire guest, Lord Michael Spencer, regarded as the city's most successful entrepreneur, in this pulsating episode, we discuss his childhood in Ethiopia, the cut and thrust of setting up ICAP the uber successful voice brokering firm, what are the steadfast rules he sticks to in business, we also dive into his impressive collection, why he buys art, which artists he would love to own, his world famous ICAP Charity Days, we dip into politics and much much more....recorded in front of a fabulous Francis Bacon, download, it's a masterpiece!Thank you to Lord Michael for being a wonderfully entertaining guest!Photo copyright owned by Michael SpencerProduced by Martin LumsdenMusic by Robin Katz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When market volatility erupts, understanding the mechanics behind price movements becomes crucial. In this illuminating conversation with Jay Hatfield of Infrastructure Capital, we dive deep into the surprising dynamics of the recent market sell-off and subsequent recovery following Trump's tariff announcements.The discussion begins with what Hatfield calls "the small cap tariff problem" – the counterintuitive underperformance of small cap stocks despite their lower exposure to international tariffs. Rather than fundamental concerns, this divergence stems from technical factors: small caps are high beta assets that naturally experience greater volatility during market disruptions. It's a powerful reminder that market commentary often follows price action rather than leads it, creating what Hatfield describes as "momentum market commentary."Most provocatively, Hatfield challenges the conventional wisdom around tariffs and inflation. Unlike the stagflationary environment of the 1970s when oil prices rose 1200%, today's economic landscape features falling oil prices (down 20% year-to-date) combined with one-time tariff impacts. "Tariffs are one-time price increases, not inflation," Hatfield emphasizes, arguing that the Federal Reserve fundamentally misunderstands this distinction, keeping rates unnecessarily high based on a flawed framework that ignores money supply dynamics.Looking forward, Hatfield remains constructive on markets with an S&P target range of 5,000 to 6,000 in the near term and 6,600 by year-end. He sees earnings season as a stabilizing force that will replace fear with factual corporate data. For investors navigating this landscape, his Infrastructure Capital ETFs offer different strategies for varying risk appetites – from value-focused small caps (SCAP) to high-yield fixed income (PFFA and BNDS) and covered call strategies (ICAP).Ready to look beyond the headlines and understand what's really driving markets? This conversation provides the framework you need to separate market noise from investment opportunity during periods of policy uncertainty. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It's social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world's first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today:

A review of the week's major US international tax-related news. In this edition:  US House Budget Committee approves FY'25 Budget Resolution in first step to budget reconciliation legislation – President Trump signs country-by-country reciprocal trade and tariffs memorandum – OECD updates main documentation package for MNEs participating in ICAP risk assessments.

The flood of memos issued by newly minted Attorney General Pam Bondi in her first days was dizzying, so hosts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord zero in on several that have significant implications for national security and criminal law enforcement. Next, they give a rundown of litigation happening across the country, as courtrooms become the first defense in challenging some of President Trump's questionable orders. And last up, Andrew and Mary talk through a few legal battles brewing over sanctuary cities and detail Mary and ICAP's latest case aiming to protect places of worship as safe havens from immigration enforcement. And btw, the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams just went poof-- they dissect that too.Further reading: Here is Just Security's Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions.HERE is the DOJ memo dropping the corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams without prejudice.And here is the statement from the American Bar Association that Andrew and Mary spoke about: The ABA supports the rule of law.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

A week into the second iteration of Donald Trump's White House, hosts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord take stock of the abrupt and unrelenting changes to our federal government. Andrew points to security details yanked and security clearances revoked as blatant retaliation against Trump's perceived foes. Mary highlights several judges who are pushing back against blanket pardons for J6 convictions. Then, they turn to Trump's executive action on birthright citizenship, reviewing several challenges already in motion, including a case brought by Mary and her ICAP team. And before wrapping up, our two resident career litigators look at the withering independence of the Justice Department from the White House, and how all roads lead through the DOJ.Further reading: Here is the New York Times' piece on Kash Patel that Andrew mentioned in this episode: F.B.I. Pick Pushed False and Misleading Claims About Trump InvestigationsWant to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

What are the secrets behind skyrocketing sales in the fintech world? Join us for a thrilling conversation with James and Richard from Humble Technology as they unlock the mysteries of scaling sales in the ever-evolving fintech landscape. You'll hear firsthand from James about his incredible journey from a successful project at ICAP to launching Humble Technology and learn how a world-class product and strategy are just the beginning. Richard, with his vast experience in financial services and consulting, sheds light on a crucial yet often neglected aspect of fintech success: a robust sales engine. Together, they introduce us to the MEDDPICC methodology, a cornerstone of their approach that deciphers why deals triumph or falter.Navigate the complex terrain of B2B sales with the MEDDPICC framework as your compass. Discover how this strategic tool ensures sales teams stay sharp and pipelines remain robust, especially when venturing into unfamiliar markets. We explore the stark contrasts between B2B and B2C sales and why MEDDPICC is your go-to for intricate, long-cycle enterprise deals. Facing the challenge of entering new markets with low brand recognition? James and Richard offer insights into aligning sales efforts with strategic goals to fuel growth and success, proving that with the right approach, even the toughest markets can be conquered. Tune in and transform your sales strategy with the invaluable wisdom of our guests.Thank you for tuning into our podcast about global trends in the FinTech industry.Check out our podcast channel.Learn more about The Connector. Follow us on LinkedIn.CheersKoen Vanderhoydonkkoen.vanderhoydonk@jointheconnector.com#FinTech #RegTech #Scaleup #WealthTech

Fidel Castro and his fellow motivated guerilla soldiers provide the backdrop for this special broadcast of the Global Research News Hour which explores my journey through the Jewel of the Caribbean today to learn what I can about how the people are coping with the determination to live separate from the grip of the US or any other foreign power, democratically, to provide their science, their music and their arts to each other and provide their unique lessons to a troubled world. My guide for most of the journey will be the Calixto Garcia Brigade, a non-profit project based in Canada in partnership with the Cuban Institute for the Friendship of the People, or ICAP.

Tara Cronin from Killarney is involved with the Irish mental health charity ICAP in London. The charity was one of the beneficiaries from the sale of one of Rory Gallagher's guitars at an auction last week. Tara also attended the auction, and spoke to Jerry.

In this episode of the Tongue Experts podcast, Lisa Paladino interviews Dr. Sharon Smart, and Dr. Ray Tseng. Dr. Sharon Smart and Dr. Ray Tseng, board members of ICAP and CIREAS, discuss the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and evidence-based practices for treating tongue and oral ties. They emphasize the need for rigorous research and advocate for educating professionals about ttethered oral tissues. Both highlight the evolving field and encourage listeners to join ICAP and CIREAS to stay informed and support advancements in care.To learn more (and join) ICAP, click here: https://icapprofessionals.com/Dr. Ray Tseng is a pediatric dentist and owner of the NC Tongue Tie Center in Cary, North Carolina. He holds a DDS and PhD from The Ohio State University and completed post-doctoral research and pediatric specialty training at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Tseng has focused on tethered oral tissues (TOTs) for six years, conducting research and practice to build a strong evidence base in this field. He serves on the board of ICAP and chairs its scientific affairs committee, while also holding adjunct faculty positions at UNC and Curtin University.Dr. Sharon Smart is a teaching and research academic at Curtin University, specializing in pediatric feeding disorders and tongue-tie. She is actively involved with ASTOT and serves as Vice Chair of ICAP, where she co-chairs CIREAS. Dr. Smart has collaborated on ICAP's Position Statement and Practice Guidelines for Ankylofrenula Management, offering evidence-based recommendations for healthcare professionals worldwide.Special thanks to our sponsor for their support of the podcast. You can check out Light Scalpel here: LightScalpel.comMore From Tongue Tie Experts:To learn more, download freebies, and for the links mentioned in the episode, including our popular course, Understanding Milk Supply for Medical and Birth Professionals, click here: www.tonguetieexperts.net/LinksUse code PODCAST15 for 15% off all of our offerings.A gentle disclaimer. Please do not consider anything discussed on this podcast, by myself or any guest of the podcast, to be medical advice. The information is provided for educational purposes only and does not take the place of your own medical or lactation provider.Mentioned in this episode:Light Scalpel Ad LinkLight Scalpel Ad LinkLight Scalpel Ad Link

A review of this week's major US international tax-related news. In this edition:  US Treasury issues proposed regulations on CAMT, extends penalty relief for failure to pay estimated CAMT – Treasury and IRS officials to evaluate narrowing scope of future anti-partnership basis-shifting guidance – Official offers international regulatory update – OECD releases standardized ICAP template for tax administration outcome letters – OECD to address incentives that undermine BEPS Pillar Two GloBE rules.

We're back! This time with Nic Freschi, Senior Associate at Gable Associates and all around PJM wizard. Nic is a friend and OG member of the DERTF. Almost a year ago, Nic's models began predicting the ~10x increase in PJM capacity prices we saw in the recent auction. How did he know?In this ep, we go deep on every acronym you could ever imagine: ELCC, ORDC, PCM, LSERO, UCAP, ICAP, and so much more. Tune in to learn how ELCCs work, how prices clear in the PJM auction, if renewables can ever proliferate in capacity markets, the future of PJM, whether private traders or public bureaucrats should have their hands on the “ELCC dials”, comparing and contrasting ERCOT to PJM, James getting PJM-pilled, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

Send us a Text Message.Do you want to learn the insider tips to mastering Amazon ads that would help you increase your ROI? Learn how to effectively apply the ICAP Marketing Funnel to maximize the impact of your Amazon ads! This comprehensive video breaks down the ICAP funnel, highlighting Impressions, Clicks, Add-to-Carts, and Purchases. Explore practical methods to boost conversions, decrease advertising expenses, and elevate your click-through rate. Whether you're new to Amazon or looking to optimize your existing strategies, these actionable tips will help you grow your brand and achieve better results. Watch now to unlock the full potential of your Amazon ads!Watch now and see how you can achieve better results with these proven techniques. Link to the video: https://youtu.be/0SYKU7i8GOs#AmazonAds #ICAPFunnel #AmazonMarketingTips #AmazonSales #AmazonOptimizationVisit https://myamazonguy.com/ICAP to get more insights on how to get high CTR and conversions to your Amazon listing→ Want us to solve your amazon account problem? Visit https://myamazonguy.com for expert assistance→ Use Data Dive with code MAG for exclusive savings!↳ https://2.datadive.tools/subscription/subscribe?ref=otkxnwu&coupon=MAG-------------------------------------------------Join My Amazon Guy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Follow us:Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Please subscribe to the podcast at: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Packaging Improvement00:30 - Identifying Opportunities and Brand Analytics01:00 - Growing Your Brand and Acquiring New Customers01:30 - ICAP Marketing Funnel Explained02:00 - Practical Tip for Improving Clickthrough Rate02:30 - Enhancing Product Presentation and Keyword Strategy03:00 - Four Phases of SEO and Ranking ProductsSupport the Show.

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A monthly review of US international tax-related developments. In this edition: US House Republicans eye budget reconciliation legislation in 2025 – US Supreme Court upholds Section 965 mandatory repatriation tax – IRS finalizes regs on reporting / payment of stock repurchase excise tax – IRS releases final digital asset broker reporting regulations, transition relief for certain brokers – IRS addresses certain related-party partnership basis-transactions – IRS extends penalty relief for failure to pay estimated CAMT to installment due August 2024 – US officials comment on pending CAMT guidance – IRS clarifies changes to 2023 QI agreement in new FAQs – US suspends key provisions of US-Russia tax treaty and protocol – OECD/G20 IF releases documents on Pillar One Amount B and Pillar Two – OECD updates FAQs for MNEs participating in ICAP risk assessments.

Guest: Michelle Armour, MS, CCC-SLP - Michelle joins us for this one-hour podcast to discuss an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP). She draws upon her experience to review the evolution and structure of ICAPs. She explains how to incorporate the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia in an ICAP setting. Michelle discusses useful outcome measurements and resources. For SLPs considering an ICAP, you won't want to miss this episode!

In 2022, Georgetown University Law Center's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and Stafford Rosenbaum filed a lawsuit against ten Wisconsin fraudulent electors, Kenneth Chesebro, and James Troupis for their efforts to subvert the 2020 election. Earlier this year, ICAP reached two settlements with the defendants, which resulted in thousands of pages of text messages, emails, and other correspondence being turned over, providing new insight into how exactly the fake electors scheme was developed and implemented in Wisconsin and across the country. Lawfare Associate Editor for Communications Anna Hickey sat down with ICAP Executive Director Mary McCord to discuss the settlements reached with the Wisconsin fraudulent electors, what new information was revealed in the thousands of pages of documents turned over, and whether the recent criminal charges filed against Kenneth Chesebro, James Troupis, and Mike Roman revealed any new information.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/c/trumptrials.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A review of the week's major US international tax-related news. In this edition: US IRS officials discuss pending CAMT, stock buy-back regs – BEPS Pillar One Amount B package to be finalized soon – OECD releases updated FAQs on ICAP program.

Soreide Law Group has filed a FINRA arbitration on behalf of the customers who lost money in ICap Equity, LLC and it's affiliated Funds. Soreide Law Group City: Pompano Beach Address: 2401 East Atlantic Boulevard Website: https://www.securitieslawyer.com/

In May 2021, we turned our attention to an investor dilemma – Should we view wine as a proper asset class? And how should we think about the wine industry, unmodernised for so long, but ripe for change! A disrupter emerged in 1997, in the shape of Bordeaux Index, set up by Michael Spencer and Gary Boom. In this conversation we learn about the shifting sands of supply and demand. We discuss global climate impact and some of its advantages for the wine industry. We discuss wealth creation and the continued thirst for luxury wines, champagnes and whiskies. Gary also explains where new and exciting wines are emerging, why he's re-assessed the emerging English opportunity set, and how they're embracing digital transformation via their new LiveTrade platform (which was rebranded & expanded this year). Gary discusses the impact of their technology in helping bring liquidity and transparency to wine trading - reflecting on his previous life at ICAP - and why increasing numbers of investors are building portfolios in the wine & spirits world. We then assess the key question; where might there be money to be made in this fast-evolving market? And aside from the investment implications, who doesn't like to sample lovely wine?! No one wants to finish their lives observing wistfully, as Ernest Hemingway once did, that “my only regret in life is that I didn't drink more wine!” NOTE - This episode was recorded in late 2023, prior to the re-launch of their LiveTrade product in early 2024. The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, Bremont Watches and IFM Investors. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

A review of the week's major US international tax-related news. In this edition: US House of Representatives passes tax package; Senate action unclear – IRS expects to finalize two sets of Section 367 proposed regulations in first half of 2024 – Senate Finance Committee again approves IRS Chief Counsel nomination – OECD releases first statistics on ICAP.

On the road again, well just for the day.  Listen as Katie Oshita meets with Dr Jimmy Chan in Vancouver BC to discuss his journey into tongue tie, ICAP and all things lactation and oral tethers.   When to release a tie is just as important as if to release the tie.  Tongue ties aren't just a problem in the US, but worldwide ankyloglossia is a growing issue and field.  Hear more with Katie Oshita and Dr Jimmy Chan.Podcast Guest: Dr. Jimmy Chan is a graduate of the University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry.  Dr. Chan has an keen interest in the high-tech aspects of dentistry to improve and enhance the well-being of his patients. Dr. Chan holds Fellowship status in both the Academy of Laser Dentistry and the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry.Dr. Chan is a co-founder and current board member of ICAP (International Consortiumof Oral Ankylofrenula Professionals) and a past board member of IATP (InternationalAffiliation of Tongue Tie Professionals). He is an active member of the Academy ofBreastfeeding Medicine, American Academy of Periodontology, Academy of LaserDentistry, Chinese Canadian Dental Society of British Columbia and Canadian Dental Association.Dr. Chan has cared for patients in his family dental practice in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver for over 25 years. He collaborates extensively with lactation consultants, midwifes and manual therapists in his community to improve the lives of breastfeeding dyads. He gives back to his alma mater by volunteering annually for the UBC Alumni Association.Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine.  Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs.  Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply.  Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

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For more information about the bankruptcy cases of iCap and affiliated debtors see https://investorlawyers.org/icap-investor-alert/. According to that website some of the iCap bankrupt companies were previously known as Altius Development, and this is a list of the iCap affiliated entities that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy:725 Broadway, LLCiCap @ UW, LLCiCap Broadway LLCiCap Campbell Way LLCiCap Enterprises, Inc.iCap Equity LLCiCap Funding LLCiCap Holding 5 LLCiCap Holding 6 LLCiCap Holding LLCiCap Investments, LLCiCap Management LLCiCap Northwest Opportunity Fund, LLCiCap Pacific Development LLCiCap Pacific Income 4 Fund LLCiCap Pacific Income 5 Fund, LLCiCap Pacific Northwest Opportunity and Income FundiCap Pacific NW ManagementiCap Realty LLCiCap Vault 1, LLCiCap Vault Management, LLCiCap Vault, LLCSenza Kenmore, LLCUW 17TH AVE, LLCVault Holding I, LLCVault Holding, LLCVH 1121 14th, LLCVH 2nd Street Office, LLCVH Pioneer Village LLCVH Senior Care LLCVH Willows Townhomes, LLC

Sandra Lawrence, Author & Community Champion, shared the story behind her title with us on October 4, 2023.Sandra was raised in a loving family with her brother and parents in West Philly. She is a Deaconess, Drama director, and choir member, at Vine Memorial Baptist Church.Sandra began her professional career as an educator. Early on she recognized that our children bring many social service issues to the classroom that greatly impact their success in life. She left the field of education and entered the social services. Sandra retired from Philadelphia Corporation for Aging in 2018 where she was employed as the Interfaith Outreach Coordinator.Sandra is the founder and CEO of ICAP, Inc (Intergenerational Community Alliances & Programs) a non-profit as part of her mission work assigned by God. She provides workshops and motivational speaking on select topics. She is a board member to FUNTIMES Magazine. She has been blessed to parent her son, Rasheen who is a strong Black man with Christian values and lifestyle.Sandra was co-founder of The Black Adoption Consortium, Inc , agency from 1991-2000. (She retired from the agency to become a Caregiver for her father and then mother.)Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-to-watch-r/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Joining Carol in the studio today is Sabrina Cunliffe, Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Grant Manager, with Oregon General. Find out how Oregon General has tackled some challenging cultural issues and is starting to see great results with their strategy for implementing the DIF grant through their Inclusive Career Advancement Program.   Listen Here   Full Transcript:   {Music} Speaker1: Manager Minute brought to you by the VRTAC for Quality Management, Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host Carol Pankow.   Carol: Welcome to the Manager Minute. Joining me in the studio today is Sabrina Cunliffe Disability Innovation Fund, Inclusive Career Advancement Program Manager, or DIF grant manager for short with Oregon General. So Sabrina, how are things going in Oregon?   Sabrina: Oh gosh. Oregon has five seasons, fall, winter, spring, summer and fire season. So it is currently fire season. It looks like a little post-apocalyptic nightmare outside right now, but other than that, we're doing really well.   Carol: I'm sorry to hear that, though. There's been a lot of the wildfires this year that have been so devastating.   Sabrina: Absolutely.   Carol: Well, I'm really glad you're here today. And I just want to take a couple of minutes to give our listeners a little bit of background on the Disability Innovation Fund grants. And so in this particular round, grant activities are geared to support innovative activities aimed at improving outcomes of individuals with disabilities and the Career the Advancement Initiative model demonstration. And these were funded in FY 2021 were intended to identify and demonstrate practices that are supported by evidence to assist eligible individuals with disabilities, including previously served VR participants in employment who reenter the program to do kind of four of the following things to advance in high demand, high quality careers like science, technology, engineering and math, or those Stem careers, to enter career pathways in industry driven sectors through pre apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships and industry recognized apprenticeship programs, to improve and maximize their competitive integrated employment outcomes, economic self-sufficiency, independence and inclusion in society, and to reduce the reliance on public benefits like SSI and SSDI and or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Now I remember reading the application and kind of the notice and all of that, and there was really actually some disturbing data that provided the base for RSA and why this particular area was chosen to fund. And they were looking at the program year 2019, RSA 911 data, and it said things like this, like approximately 80% of the participants were earning less than 17 bucks an hour. And in fact, participants who exited the program in competitive integrated employment reported a median wage of 12 bucks an hour and median hours at 30 hours a week. And the ten most common occupations that were reported by one third of the participants who exited in CIE were stock clerks and order fillers, customer service reps, janitors, laborers, stack material movers, retail salespersons, cashiers, food prep survey, including fast food production workers and dishwashers. It's that whole food, filth, kind of the flowers thing I used to call it. And I know they probably were focusing on career pathways because RSA had also done a competition back in 2015 and they awarded for career pathways for individuals with Disabilities projects under a demonstration training program. And furthermore, Congress made career pathways a necessary, if not foundational, part of WIOAs workforce reform. And so you put all of this together just to put a little under our belt, I just wanted people to have a little bit of a base. Like, what on earth are they picking and why are they doing this? So let's dig in and learn more about you in the project. So can you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and what your journey was getting to VR?   Sabrina: Sure, Carol. I started out going to college, majoring in business, working in the corporate world, doing that sort of thing, did that for several years, and then life sort of caught up with me. And I had children and my second child was born with cerebral palsy. And when that happens, it kind of changes your whole view on the world and you start to find out about disability in a way that you never really knew, and you really dig into the systems that exist and see what's available for your people in the world. And what I saw was, you know, the long trajectory of my son's life. And I decided, hey, you know what? I'm going to leave the corporate gig behind. I'm going to go back to graduate school, study disability awareness, study disability services ended up leading to rehab counseling, became a rehab counselor in the state of Oregon in 2009 and then was a branch manager starting in 2013. And then just about a year and a half ago, signed up to take on this innovation grant so that I can maybe change the system from the inside out a little bit was really what happened for me and why VR is so important and critical?   Carol: I love your story because we all come with these different stories and how we got involved in this field and some people fall into it a variety of different ways. But I really like your journey and I think it'll give our listeners a great perspective as they hear you because it's super fun, your passion and and all of that. So can you give us some facts too, about Oregon General? Like how many staff and customers do you have?   Sabrina: Yeah, so we have approximately 275 employees in Oregon that work for Oregon General, and we serve roughly 10,000 customers annually. I would say it used to be a lot more pre-pandemic than it is now or working through that. And we serve customers across 13 individual VR branch offices. So there's 13 branches, 20 offices throughout the state. Oregon has four very distinct economies that are geologically diverse and geographically diverse. We have that Oregon, Portland metro area, and then we have very much rural eastern Oregon and we have the coast and then the southern Willamette Valley and southern Oregon regions. So it's sort of like working in four different states all at the same time in a lot of ways.   Carol: I didn't realize that about Oregon. I was thinking about it. I knew you had some sort of rural nature, but really thinking about those four different distinct areas, that does always pose a big challenge, I'm sure, with both staffing and just as far as getting service provision.   Sabrina: Right, running a statewide program and trying to make it locally based and locally run and locally honored can have its own special challenges for sure.   Carol: Absolutely. So what prompted Oregon General to apply for this grant?   Sabrina: So you may or may not know that Oregon had probably the worst, if not the second worst. We might have been the second worst as far as data in that RSA911 that they based these grants on for measurable skill gains and credential attainment just in the tank, really. And it's something that that we knew that we needed to change for WIOA 2014. And we just never really got with the program in changing the culture of VR to really talk about optimal level of employment and to fully bring post-secondary education into the fold to get those credentials and those Measurable Skill Gains that we needed. And in Oregon, we have this beautiful, robust, existing career pathway system within Oregon's community colleges with hundreds of different career pathways nationally recognized that VR was completely under utilizing. And so what a great opportunity for us to partner with Oregon community colleges and change the culture of Oregon VR, really to see post-secondary education as a gateway to optimal level of employment that we needed to be focusing on.   Carol: Well, the only place to go is up then, from where you were. No. You know, when you start kind of in the basement, you're like, all right...  Well, we're climbing out of it. Good on you. So can you give us a big overview of the project? I know you have these different arms of things you wanted to do.   Sabrina: So ICAP - Inclusive Career Advancement Program is what we named our grant, and it supports a minimum of 500 people with disabilities, including those from marginalized communities. So 45% from black, indigenous, people of color communities in Oregon to help them choose a career pathway of interest, access post-secondary education, participate in that training or the internships in those high demand career fields. Obtain the credentials in their career field that's chosen, and then to also help them gain the employment upon completion of their program and we're doing that through installing a career coach in 16 of the community colleges across Oregon. So in one FTE position at the college, that's the boots on the ground person to be that conduit between the counselor and the community college. And the difference between this mean you might see navigators with Department of Labor or with all sorts of other different programs. But what's different about ICAP is that that career coach is specifically trained around people with disabilities, the specific needs of people with disabilities, really looking at the intersectionality of race and disability, of poverty and disability and all of those things that often people with disabilities don't have success or as much success with those other navigators because very specific disability barriers are lost on them. And so huge emphasis on that. We have four core partners. It's Oregon VR, it's the main grantee, and then we have Portland Community College, which is a Subawardee that manages all of the individual sub grants with each individual community college. And then we have Oregon Commission for the Blind because we wanted the Oregon Commission for the Blind to have their participants be able to participate in our program as well. We have two of them already, which is fantastic. And then Cornell University or the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, there are evaluation partner and also our training and provider for this grant.   Carol: I'm so glad that you partnered too, with your blind agency. Sometimes we've got states where you know you're both there, but it's not always good communication between you, so that is great.   Sabrina: And then we just have the GEPRAs. I just wanted to touch on those real quick so people know what we're measuring. We're 500 people is the target of those 45% need to be from black, indigenous and people of color communities. So that'd be 225. We need to have 375 of those that start finish and of those 375 that get a credential, we need another 75% of those to actually get competitive, integrated employment within the span of the grants timeframe. And then 75 Percent of those people to get hourly wage gains, 50% of those to get employer provided medical benefits. 65% of those also need to increase the hours that they worked from whenever they came in to whenever they left. And then we need to also track if anybody got a promotion or any additional responsibilities or anything like that between when they get the job and when the grant ends. And then also reporting about whether or not they are receiving less or no public benefits with 35% hopefully having their competitive integrated employment be their primary source of support.   Carol: So you're going big or going...   Sabrina: Big or go home. Exactly.   Carol: That's right. So what are you seeing as the biggest challenges?   Sabrina: Oh, gosh. When we decided to do this innovation grant, we could have gone two ways. We could have had ICAP be separate and apart and ran it completely independently of the larger program. And we decided not to do that. We decided to fully integrate it into the existing program. All ICAP participants must be VR participants. All VR counselors can work with ICAP participants, no specialization of any kind. So we needed to completely train the entire staff about this cultural shift, about what it means to have optimal level of employment, to teach them how to write post-secondary ed plans that work, how to do the comprehensive assessment in a way that we're really, truly looking at interest, ability, skills, resources, priorities, concerns all through an informed choice lens and making optimal level of employment happen. And not just for lack of a better term, McJobbing people left and right and hiring job developers and punting and seeing how it goes for folks. And so that is our innovation for our grant. It doesn't sound like much, but it's huge for us to be able to do that work. And so, of course, the first challenge we have is the amount of time it takes for someone to become a participant. It's not like we could just sign them up for ICAP. They had to go get in line at VR, and in Oregon, Sometimes that can take up to three months. By the time they get asked, call the office, ask for an intake, meet with the counselor, found eligible for our services. And when you're working with particularly youth and students that are going from high school and potentially entering a career pathway, they might decide that they want to start a career pathway two weeks beforehand. And so our system and the career pathway system had to really say, we need to look at this, right? We're starting to really pay attention as an agency to figure out what several other states are doing. Some states are finding people eligible within three days or 17 days. And we're looking at all of those different ways in which we can change that. That's a larger process that's going to have to happen. But what the ICAP Grant did was really shine a light on it and gave us some really cool data of something that everybody knew but that nobody had really codified in writing and reported to the RSA. And so here we are. That challenge has been identified and it's definitely something that we're going to have to address. We've, of course made lots of little shortcut solutions in there to address the ICAP grant. But as far as the larger program, it's kind of front and center. Now that particular issue. The second biggest challenge that we have is that while we thought we had a great post-secondary ed policy, what we found out that it was really how to rule people out, not how to rule people in policy, and it created an exorbitant amount of red tape for counselors. No counselor wanted to do it because it was an extra three hours worth of work with a participant. Right. Who would want to go through all these checklists and make sure all of these things are in place and fight these fights with the financial aid offices and do all of this stuff that was required in our policy that just seemed like we're going to figure out every way to not support post-secondary ed. So one of the first things that we did was identify that and we completely rewrote our post-secondary ed policy, took out all of the language that you shall and you must and made it seem very inclusive. And you know what? Tell us what you want to do. Let's figure out what supports you need so that you can be successful. We're going to do that and we're going to remove all that paperwork piece for the VRC to be able to feel confident in doing that. And we also had these things with every branch manager, had to approve every plan that a counselor wrote for any post-secondary ed that was removed completely. And it's given autonomy and trust to the counselor to make these judgments that they need to make in their jobs. And so that just came out a week and a half ago, though. So we haven't seen the impact of it yet completely. But one of the most exciting challenges and solutions that we've had to date, what's great, we have Cornell University on doing our and training. We've probably done over 50 trainings in the last year and a half, really looking at the discernment for appropriate use of training through an what does that mean for someone and how do we write those plans? Just creating fake plans, really. I have plans, samples that are like for IB CAPPY so counselors know how to reflect the services and the plan. They know how to write them effectively. They know how to really understand. And their decision making and how to have those critical thinking moments and how to have the conversations with the client that are more appropriate when you have a lot of counselors that have been discouraged for years from doing this work. It can be kind of scary as they learn these new steps and when people kind of make decisions out of fear, they do it either with, Oh, you can do whatever you want and there's no accountability. That's probably half the VRCs, and the other half is, No, you can't do this because I need to have control over this and make sure that I can control the outcome, right? So finding that middle ground, empowering clients, empowering VRCs to do the work has been absolutely huge. We'll be ongoing for the duration of the program and then lack of equitable workflow for coaches. So we were silly kind of when we designed this in the beginning and we didn't realize that there are 17 community colleges in Oregon, but they are vastly different in their capacity. And so we started out with everybody is going to serve, you know, the same amount of participants in the grant and what we found out, that's not going to work because Portland Community College, you know, has seven campuses within the Portland metro area and has 30 different VRCs that are referring to the program. We're out in eastern Oregon. There's two VRCs and one community college with only 14 career pathways, right? So we couldn't expect the same result from rural schools as we have from metro schools. And so really not looking at it through an equality lens, but an equitable lens for our performance measures through each of the individual community colleges is something that we're doing when we start serving students at the beginning of this year. And hopefully that will give our numbers more meaning and have people feel more respected in where they're at and what they can actually do.   Carol: Well, I love that you're digging into these very tough challenges, and I know things like our policies and procedures, words do matter. I mean, it sets a tone for your counselors. And we've seen this with lots of states. When we do TA work, you know, people will be like, thou shalt not, you know, and everything that the customer has to do and we will not pay for this or do this. And you have to prove yourself and all of that. When you flip all those words around, it does send a message, even if it's subliminally to those people that are reading it can just see that in other states you see this cultural shift happening because you're looking at this more positively. You're focusing more on like a person's strengths instead of all the reasons they can't do something. I think digging in and all your kind of warts, so to speak.   Sabrina: Yeah. And to watch someone go from having a process driven agency to a people driven agency just warms my heart. It just feels really good.   Carol: See, that's all you West Coast folks, because Joe Xavier started the charge with that because he's like, We're not going to let the paperwork get in the way of the people. Like we got to remember the people are here first. And so you're picking up on that, too. And you also have created new acronyms with the IBCAPPY or whatever. That is very cool. So obviously you've got all these things, you're digging in and you're doing this stuff, but how like I know you said you wanted everybody in the organization to be able to do this, so you didn't keep this all separate. But structurally, organizationally, I'm sure people are sitting out there thinking, okay, Sabrina, there's you, do you have a team of people? Like, how are you structurally carrying this off?   Sabrina: When you look at our key personnel for the grant, I left my cushy branch manager job and took a limited duration job to do this. Not much of a pay raise at all, but I believed in it so much. That's how I got here. And then I have a communication specialist. That's Jen Munson. She sort of runs all of the communication and all of the outreach activities. Really in lots of communications we have organizationally is a community of practices, so local community of practices and statewide community of practices. And so she makes sure that those are happening. And then I have a data analyst and their job is to extract all of that 911 data for ICAP participants to work really well with Cornell and their evaluation team, making sure that they get the data that they need. And then just giving us kind of a daily update on all of the data that's happening and where we need to be focusing so that we can stay really data informed as we move forward and continue to innovate the grant. So there's three FTEs with the grant and then there's a project manager for 0.2 or 0.3 FTE. I have a project manager that is worth their weight in gold. They write our huge project plan, develop all of our buckets, tell us all of the different work that needs to be happening in those buckets. By when mean don't wake up a single day without knowing exactly what I need to do that day and why and how it needs to happen and when it needs to be done by. So it creates a very proactive approach to managing the grant through this project management lens that we have. And then of course, we have our deputy director who's overseeing the entire grant at 0.2 FTE of her salary is dedicated to this grant for the duration of the grant. So that is how we're structured internally. And then of course, we meet with branch managers, get an ICAP FaceTime with me for an hour once a month, and there are multiple opportunities to our communication system on the side that we're able to distribute information and keep people up to date on what's happening.   Carol: So you do not have an army, I mean like you're really literally talking about 3.5 FTEs?   Sabrina: Yes   Carol: And you're making miracles happen, like you're changing the world with three and a half people. You know, I know sometimes states think like, oh, we don't have enough people, We can't do the thing, We need this and that. But like, you are making it happen with a really minimal staff investment. But it is shifting all this thinking and shifting the ways that the agency is operating. That is very interesting.   Sabrina: Yeah, it has the love, though, of the entire exec team of Oregon VR. We couldn't do it, just the three of us. If Keith and Heather and all of the other people that do all of the instrumental things that are happening in VR, if there was infighting about the direction that we needed to go culturally, it'd be a much different situation. But we are united in our thinking and our belief system about where our agency needs to go. And so I think we get a lot of free labor actually from whether it's our youth manager or policy manager, our business and operations manager, probably not a single person in VR that hasn't helped us in some level or another. Also, so don't want to make it sound like just the three of us pulled this off.   Carol: Yeah, you do have a really good exec team because Keith is great, like Keith and Heather. I know those guys and they're very invested. And especially as you talk about like wanting to change the culture and making significant impact, like go big or go home. I love that. I love that. So I know you said some of the activities, you know, you were out you did like 50 trainings and all of that. What are some of those other activities like specifically you're carrying out? Because I'm sure people are thinking like, oh, my gosh, you have this huge project. And when you were listing like all of the kind of the metrics that you want to accomplish, it sounded like this massive word problem. So if we were in Chicago leaving on the train and then we hit New York, you know, like how many people are on the train now, all of that. But gosh, like, how do you start this?   Sabrina: So the interesting thing about a DIF grant is that you find out you're getting the grant and then two days later you get this money, right? And don't know about you. But in state government around here, it takes about six months to write a position description, get it approved, post the position, get the positions, go through the hiring process, and then start dates and then onboarding. And so while the grant started in October of what, 21 is that it? 22?   Carol: Yeah.   Sabrina: Yeah. I wasn't hired until the next end of April. And so there was a large chunk of time where there was a whole bunch of work happening on the background when people could, when they weren't trying to run Oregon General at the same time, but also trying to get the people hired to do the work. And then we also needed to hire all of the career coaches at all of the community colleges and the infrastructure within Portland Community College to manage those career coaches. And so all of that took the first 9 to 10 months of the grant where we weren't really drawing down hardly any funds, and it made the people who monitored the drawdowns very nervous. And so that clock starting immediately, just be aware of that, right? It might be a five year innovation fund grant, but you're really not going to start to serve the participants. And we were lucky we were able to start serving them at the end of year one probably had about 19 or 20 participants then, but lots of DIF grants even struggled even more than we did with getting those people hired and into those positions. And then we created a framework, is really was the first thing that I did whenever I came was say, okay, this is the framework document, this is what we're doing, this is how we're going to structure our community of practices. This is how we're going to communicate with each other. This is how we're going to get everyone on the same page. This is how we're going to delineate workflow between what's a VRCs responsibility, what's a career coach's responsibility, what's everyone else's responsibility? And really talk about that. Educate all of the VRCs on what career pathways are, how to access them, how to contact them, develop the referral processes that needed to be developed for those, we needed to update some policies we're doing that. We'll continue to do that and then develop statewide community of practices in addition to the local community of practices and calendaring. All of those sorts of things is really how you get started is just map it out, sit down and go, okay, this is where we want to be. Work backwards from there. Get your project manager in, create your work buckets and get to work.   Carol: You made such a good point. I think people don't realize that. So for our listeners, you know, as you're thinking about the DIF and people that have been part of one, they'll realize we've heard it over and over, man, that first year. It does not go like you think because it takes forever for every state government, you know, to get rolling with getting those positions hired and all of that. So you've got that pile of money sitting there and then you're going, Oh my gosh. I mean, we're just trying to get the people on board and get rolling. So that is good advice. Just to remind people, it takes, takes a bit to get going. So I know you are starting to already see some initial results. What are you seeing?   Sabrina: Let's see. We have about 140 students enrolled now. Ten folks have already received their career pathway certificate, which is fantastic, which means they're in the looking for a job stage. We're about two months behind on the reports that we get from the community college. So actually, there might be people out there that have a job. I just can't tell you that for sure because I don't have it in writing yet. About 58% of our ICAP students are youth, which is fantastic, and 37% of those youth population are from the BIPOC community. And so what we're noticing is that we have a lot more success if we focus on youth and career pathways than if we are looking to people who are needing to change careers for whatever reason. We need to find out more about that. But as far as our referral process is concerned, really working with our youth partners to pull this off I think is going to be instrumental that we didn't realize we needed such an emphasis on when we started. We have ICAP students are enrolled in 75 different unique educational pathways. Right now, 75 we have 58% of the VRCs in the state have at least one ICAP participant. We have that much penetration with VR staff, which warms my heart because we were worried about that. But we'd love it to be 70 by the end of this. So if you were to combine all the college credits that our ICAP students are currently taking, they're currently taking over 4000 college credits, according to my little data analyst told me this morning. So they're doing it.   Carol: Good stuff. That's good stuff that's happening. I love to hear it. So now that's the happy news. What are some of these speed bumps that you've hit along the way?   Sabrina: The biggest one is that in our $18 million grant, 2.3 million of that is supposed to be spent on client service dollars, right? Tuition fees, books and supplies. And what we're finding is there are so many comparable benefits out there. And how we're structured with comparable benefits in VR doesn't do anybody any favors. And so when we're getting their Pell Grants or their Oregon Opportunity grants or their SNAP grants, there's so many. When Oregon is the last payer that US spending that $2.3 million and doing it within regional and policy has been really, really challenging. And so that'll be interesting to see how it is that we can maybe change that or shift that or find ways to braid services more effectively with all of these other different grant opportunities because they're the last pair to they're just less cumbersome than VR is in order to do that. And just some more of that ancient thinking on the part of VR as we only pay after we've made sure everybody else is paid right, What might that look like if we were a little less stringent? And then of course, our big, big giant speed bumps were around Measurable Skill Gain Credential Attainment. The nuts and bolts of that we found out, is really how we were capturing that data in our aware program. And the translation is, is we weren't. And so hence the...   Carol: Reason you were in the basement.   Sabrina: Right? So we had to completely look at how we had those screens developed on our educational goal screen in Orca. And like so many late nights of Heather and I watching videos from Missouri General on how they did it right and looking at that and then rebuilding that entire part of our Orca system, Orca meaning AWARE system so that we could capture that data and have it be accurate because it's not that Oregon wasn't doing MSGs and credential attainment. We just never wrote it down. And so we had to train staff about what those are. We had to create procedures and have those in place for how to do the data entry. And we actually had to build the infrastructure back so that it would actually report correctly on our 911 reports. So that was a huge undertaking of I'll sleep when I'm dead kind of activities that needed to happen to pull this off.   Carol: Holy cow. I like it when you get you did your voice as your stringent voice. Oh my gosh. So I know you also have had you are not shy for all our listeners. I mean, Sabrina and I had chatted a little bit ago and super cracked up because you are definitely one to say what's on your mind. And so I know you made some interesting observations since you started leading this project. What are some of your ideas you thought should change?   Sabrina: Oh, that's the if you could change the world, Sabrina, what would it be question? Oh, this is just Sabrina talking, not saying anything. But if I could, we all know how poverty and disability go hand in hand. Same outcome results since the 80s. What's going on? Where's the juggernaut? Guys, we have the ability to fix this and it all comes down to post-secondary ed and our unmet need problem that we have, how we take their Pell grants and we skim right off the top and we do tuition fees, books and supplies off of their Pell grant. If nationally, we could find a way to take that Pell grant and let them use that for poverty based stuff housing, food, all their disability related stuff that we can't pay for or that they don't know how to report. Just let them have their Pell grants to live on and. We covered tuition fees, books and supplies. In addition to that, it would be life altering and life changing to the poverty cycle. We continue to find people with disabilities in in America, but that can only change with big time people that have, you know, some sort of sway in how it is that Pell Grants are administered and approved. And think under the Department of Ed, they could really work together in a great way to recognize participants in a different way. With Pell Grants, let us do the tuition fees, books and supplies, allow those Pell Grants to serve the people from their poverty lens. Huge opportunity there. That I think would really take a lot of fear. And the struggle I mean, you know, it a person with a disability doesn't have the option of working three hours in the evening while going to school full time. It takes them 2.5 hours to get dressed in the morning. It takes them another three hours to work with their adaptive equipment to write that paper. It's not apples to apples. It doesn't need to be apples to apples. And we have an opportunity to recognize that. And change the unmet need calculations for VR or change how Pell Grants are interpreted by VR. That's my biggest dream. It would change so many lives.   Carol: That is excellent. I know one of my colleagues, DJ Ralston, does a lot of training around disability and poverty and how it goes hand in hand, and I think we don't talk about it enough in VR. It's like we somehow think all of that's superfluous, like it's out to the side and but it's so intricately intertwined with the person because if you don't have food and you don't have a house, how are you...   Sabrina: You're not going to go to school.   Carol: How are you going to school and where are you plugging in your laptop? You know, you can only be at Starbucks so long in a day.   Sabrina: Or if you're  housing is tied to those benefits that are tied to a poverty cycle.   Carol: Yeah.   Sabrina: Yeah. No , can't do it. Yeah, So much fear around that.   Carol: Do you have any other thoughts on changing the world?   Sabrina: I have so many thoughts on changing the world, but that's the one that. That's the one that I probably have the okay to talk about.   Carol: Yeah. We don't want to get you off the grant now. So one of the other things that's interesting is that the DIF grants are a discretionary grant. So when we get our VR or 110 dollars, it's a VR formula grant. What kind of challenges have you faced in managing this discretionary grant versus, you know, the typical VR funding?   Sabrina: I would say it's constantly managing and balancing the funds and the report writing requirements of the grant. I don't think anybody knew what that was all about. Whenever we signed up to do this, it's pretty heavy. We have, you know, monthly reports that we need to write, monthly calls with that we need to attend quarterly, meetings with other DIF people that we need to attend. And then twice a year we had an end of year report, annual performance report, that are giant documents. We are held accountable for every penny. Don't lose a penny, Pull down the money, spend the money, Why aren't you spending it fast enough? But make sure it's applicable, make sure it's reasonable. Make sure it's necessary. Make sure you prove it to us. Then all of those things are. But are you serving the people? How many people are you serving? It's this dichotomy of crazyville that kind of gets me going around pulling down the funds, spending the money, managing the budget, re managing the budget because you're just guessing when you say how much this is going to cost, you have no idea that the entire workforce is going to receive a 6.5% wage increase next year and another 6.5% wage increase after that. And you didn't write that into your grant and you don't know that travel is going to be exorbitant with inflation, all sorts of things that you have to constantly rebalance the funds and you have to write down absolutely everything you do with a DIF grant. So you have to say what you're going to do and then go do it and say what you're doing while you're doing it, and then say how you could have done it better and then say what you might do better in the future in this continuous cycle across 15 to 20 different work buckets and work plans that you have in place? Yeah. For every minute that you spend doing something, you spend another minute and a half writing about it, it feels like.   Carol: So yeah, I'm glad we brought this up because I know it's just the stark reality of it. And so I think folks sometimes get into the DIF grant and they don't understand this about, you know, you have line items in a budget and now we're going to go outside of this and we want to move money, but we got to get okay, you know, and all of these things because it's very different than the VR grant. So I think it's better for people to at least understand that going in that there is going to be this component. So if you're able to build in, you know, someone that can help assist with some of this stuff as you're doing the project, which is the really cool stuff, you know, that you're trying to get done. But you have to remember there is this sort of a little bit of an administrative burden. And it's not just even a little bit, you know, it's kind of a, a lot bit, but it is sort of the price we pay to have these funds to do these cool different things.   Sabrina: Totally worth it. But yeah, go in with your eyes wide open. And if you don't have somebody that's done grant management or you have somebody that's strong in project management, think about the person that you need in that role to be able to pull that off for sure.   Carol: Yeah, good advice. Good advice. So of course we talk about the bummer things, but let's talk about something like what is like one of the coolest things that has happened to date. Do you have a fun story or something really cool? We want to leave people with like a happy thing.   Sabrina: Want to share two things because two things came to mind. The first thing that comes to mind is part of our initiative is to either develop or enhance existing career pathways in Oregon for people with disabilities. So make them more accessible, make them more anything that they could be to be working for the people that we serve. And so one of the things that they've done out in eastern Oregon is create this drone program. You know, those drones that go up in the air and fly over stuff. And so what that's done is it's allowed for people that want to work in agricultural fields and want to work with cattle, want to watch crops, want to work for an elk hunting operation, those sorts of things. They can now, without a lot of physical mobility, be able to run a drone, go check on their crops, go check on their cattle and their herds, run hunting programs and all sorts of things through this program that teaches people how to run these drones and how to work for companies that have these drones all over eastern Oregon, which I think is really cool. And we're having several people that have disabilities sign up for those programs in a way that because of this program, we're able to develop that and make that possible for them. So that feels really good.   Carol: That is very cool.   Sabrina: Yeah. But one of the cooler things that sort of hits me in the feels is just when an ICAP participant walks up to you and says, Before I had my career coach, I didn't have anyone. But with career coaches that understand my disability, I have gone from a 1.6 GPA to a 4.0 GPA, and I'm the first person in my family to ever go to college. Right? Those just, yup. that's why we all get up every day and we do this work and we keep plugging away at it and we try and make the world a little bit better for people. And so that's really what excites me. And it happens not just once, not just twice, but all the time.   Carol: That makes my heart happy. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. Because we've thought about those navigators, other places we've had, but not here. Like what your spin on this has been super interesting. I love it.   Sabrina: What happens if that career coach understands disability, understands that unique lens? Gives grace. Just somebody that goes in and talks to the Accommodations office at the local community college on behalf of a student that can even troubleshoot it with a professor if it's not working out right, somebody that's physically there that they can just walk into their office and sit down and go, Hey, this is really hard. It's great. Those coaches, they're amazing.   Carol: That's great. So what are your next steps?   Sabrina: Next steps, Right. We're going to continue with our messaging. We really need to target in to get up to that 45% BIPOC number. With our recruiting strategies, there's not a lot of black indigenous people of color in Oregon. It's pretty low, 14.4% of the overall population. So that 45% is a big ask for us and they don't have a lot of warm, happy feelings about accessing VR in general or our larger human services offices that we're all located in. So that's a big deal. We are going to be onboarding three additional community colleges to start serving students this fall. We started out with the core ten. Now we're adding three more. So that's a big deal. We're going to continue to draw down those funds as quickly as we can, find new and inventive ways to braid funding more effectively so that we can use those client service dollars. And then really, the big thing on my mind that I worry about is figuring out a way for this to be sustainable. How do we get to retain those coaches long term in Oregon? We're going to prove that they matter and that they make a difference. How do we keep them? So that's on my to dos.   Carol: Well, I'm fully confident you're going to do it. All of it, because you are a get up and go kind of gal. So I so appreciate the work you're doing in Oregon. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with us and share so our listeners can get a little glimpse into what's going on in Oregon. I think it's fun and that you guys have been willing to like you expose all your dirty laundry like where we were. You know, we're in the basement, we're going up. It's going to be so good for the people in your state. And I'm really excited. I hope you'll come back towards that last year when you have really fun results to share.   Sabrina: I hope so. I do hope so. That'd be great. I'd love to come back. Thank you, Carol, so much for inviting me. It's been fun. Thanks.   Carol: Have a great day.   Sabrina: Hey, you, too.   {Music} Speaker1: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time, brought to you by the VR TAC for Quality Management. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!

I'll be sharing with you some of my personal experiences and insights on how you can use the search query performance report to grow your business on Amazon.I'll start by explaining how pre-sorted data on Amazon can be used to implement keyword research and gain market share using the ICAP marketing funnel. By tracking the Impressions, Clicks, Add to Carts, and Purchases, you can gain insights into what's working and what's not in your Amazon business.I'll also show you an example of how I was able to triple my market share from 2.75% to 7.5% in just seven weeks by implementing keyword research and using the ICAP marketing funnel. This resulted in a significant increase in clicks and product purchases, with one out of five people who clicked on the product purchasing it.I'll emphasize the importance of tracking your keyword research success rates and defending important keywords on Amazon. I'll show you how you can use the search query performance report to defend important keywords and gain market share on Amazon.Overall, this is perfect for any Amazon seller looking to grow their business and gain market share. So, grab a notebook and pen and get ready to take some notes!

Hour 1 * Guest: Casey Whalen, North Idaho Exposed – CaseyWhalen.substack.com * United States prepares to target dissenting Americans in Culture War – Marxist networks are fomenting the end game for nationalists and Christians. * Casey directly asks FBI Agent Brynn Gunnerson: What Is White Nationalism? * We learn: from Task Force Butler in which three reports have been published one public the other two are private and sent to prosecutors across the country. * Project Blacklisted discusses the players in Patriot Front! * Project Husky discusses how to prosecute NSC-131. * Marxist networks have been established in the Inland NW under the guise of non-profits (PPP) 501 c3 status and essentially donating monies between networks. * Local Marxist organizations fostering fellows to create campaigns in communities.  Hosting websites with reporting forms (re: hate incidents) which is then sent up the chain to the Montana Human Rights Network – MHRN, SPLC, IREHR, ICAP, etc. * Archives of the  Simulcast of the Sheriff Mack show and Liberty RoundTable Live can be found in Video at BrightEON.tv and Audio at LovingLiberty.net Hour 2 * Guest: Catherine Engelbrecht, founder and president of True The Vote – TrueTheVote.org * Election Intelligence – Trust But Verify! – TAKE ACTION: Stop Election Fraud – Foreign And Domestic! * Hunter Biden Charged By DOJ – Federal prosecutors give Hunter Biden sweetheart deal for tax, gun crimes that will keep him out of jail. * Join us in demanding an end to foreign technological interference in US elections. We have published a petition on – StopCCPElectionFraud.com By signing our petition, you are sending a clear message to our leaders that we, the people, will not stand idly by while our republic is compromised. * GOP Embraces Voting by Mail – Trump has said that until Republicans gain power and can change the law, they have ‘no choice' but to support voting by mail – Shame On The Donald! * The effort, called Bank Your Vote, further calls for Republicans to take advantage of ‘ballot harvesting' where it is legal, a practice that allows a third party to collect voters' completed ballots. ‘To win close elections, we need to close the gap on pre-Election Day voting,' Ronna McDaniel, the RNC chair, said in a rollout video for the program. * ‘Mail-in ballots, by the way, will always be dishonest,' Trump said. * Kari Lake, has also thawed on mail balloting. ‘While you know how I feel about mail-in ballots, if this is the game we have to play, if we've got to work in their rigged system, we'll work in their rigged system,' Ms. Lake said in late May. * Lila Rose, the founder of Live Action and a prominent leader in the pro-life movement, told Fox News that Trump's recent comments on abortion are “disqualifying. * Rose accused the former president of “backsliding” in his commitment to the pro-life cause, citing Trump's criticism of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis'  six-week abortion ban. * Doctors' group claims chemicals, body mutilations are ‘medically necessary' – AMA jumps in fight on the side of transgender ideologies – WND.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loving-liberty/support

On this week's episode of The Untethered Podcast, Jessica Altemara and Dr. Ray Tseng join Hallie to discuss the significance of offering both holistic and evidence-based care to families facing difficulties with the functional impacts of tethered oral tissues (e.g., tongue tie, lip tie, buccal tie). They delve into the role of social-emotional support in guiding families through their tongue-tie journey, using the Three Pillars Approach. Hot topics including the importance of continuity of care, research data collection, collaborative efforts, and professional development are also discussed. About Jessica: Jessica, a mother of four, has been devoted to supporting families facing oral restrictions since her own experience with a tongue-tied baby in 2005. With her background as a La Leche League Leader, doula, and IBCLC-certified practitioner, she established a successful private practice. Jessica's advocacy extends nationwide, where she has collaborated with various practices to introduce the integrative Three Pillar Approach. About Dr. Ray Tseng: Dr. Ray has been practicing pediatric dentistry for 11 years and diagnosing and treating lip and tongue ties in infants and children for 5 years. He started the NC Tongue Tie Center, focused on research and clinical practice and is on the board of directors for the International Consortium for Ankylofrenula Professionals (ICAP), an international society for tongue-tie clinicians, health professionals, and researchers. He has created an evidence-based practice and treatment protocol, produced clinical evidence related to lip and tongue ties, and continues to collaborate with other ankyloglossia and tongue tie health professionals.This episode is definitely packed with a wealth of knowledge. Dr. Ray and Jessica are inviting all of you to join the movement with ICAP, an international organization of tongue-tie professionals whose vision is to promote best practices for the assessment, diagnosis and integrative treatment of restricted oral tissuesIf this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag @halliebulkin For more episodes visit www.untetheredpodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this latest instalment in our Young People in Sustainability series, we talk with with Chen Zhibin, senior manager at Adelphi and ICAP, the International Carbon Action Partnership. Zhibin has also engaged in carbon market policy research and corporate carbon asset management at the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) and at Sino-Carbon Investment. He is also a member of the expert pool of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Zhibin participated in the system design and management of China's national carbon market and carbon trading pilots, and provided carbon emission management consulting services for major companies. In this episode we'll explore: Opportunities to work in the carbon market Relevant academic and work background Zhibin's work at the early team at Sino-Carbon Investment His work at Adelphi in Berlin, and the work style in Germany, including at the German Federal Ministry of the Environment A day in the life of a senior carbon market manager Recent major industry events and changes in the carbon markets

Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs FOUR gun control bills into law | Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey Zephyr of Montana | Anti-hate groups worry domestic extremists will be training Arizona police under new rule | A chance to see her bee business take off | Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Red Rocks and on HBO Max documentary Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs four gun control bills into lawGOVERNMENTBY: SARA WILSON - APRIL 28, 2023 11:54 AMThe Governor, surrounded by gun-control advocates at a bill signing ceremony said, “Coloradans deserve to be safe in our communities, in our schools, our grocery stores, nightclubs and everywhere in between,” The new laws raise the minimum age to buy a gun to 21, impose a three-day waiting period for gun purchases, expand the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law and make it easier for gun violence survivors to sue the gun industry.Under Senate Bill 23-170, district attorneys, educators, mental health professionals and other medical providers will be able to petition a judge to confiscate guns from a potentially dangerous person. Previously, only law enforcement and family members had that power under the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law, also known as the red flag law, which was created in 2019.The expansion aims to increase utilization of the process and extend the petition authority to people who interact with an at-risk person regularly. It is a recognition that some law enforcement officials have been reluctant to use the red flag law when potentially appropriate due to concerns over the Second Amendment.Senate Bill 23-169 raises the age to purchase any gun to 21 years old. Previously, the age restriction was 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun. There are exceptions for members of law enforcement and the military.House Bill 23-1219 imposes a three-day waiting period for people to get a gun after they pay for it. Bill sponsors said that the delayed access to firearms will provide a cooling-off period for people in crisis who might harm themselves or others.Cities will be able to establish longer waiting periods if they choose. If the purchaser's background check takes longer than three days — which it rarely does — they would still need to wait until the background check clears to get their gun.Finally, Senate Bill 23-168 removes a state protection for gun and ammunition dealers and manufactures against lawsuits. Previously, plaintiffs had to pay the legal fees for defendants in dismissed cases involving gun sellers. That is no longer the case.The law makes the gun industry susceptible to lawsuits under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, said, “​​We finally, after 23 years of waiting, can open up Colorado courtrooms to gun violence victims and survivors seeking justice,” Less than an hour after the bill signing, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners leader Taylor Rhodes announced on Twitter that the group had already filed lawsuits challenging the minimum age requirement and waiting period laws. He said they are seeking plaintiffs who could establish standing against the other two new laws.Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would outlaw unserialized firearms, also known as ghost guns. Another firearm bill that would have banned semi-automatic weapons in the state died in its first committee hearing last week.The Legislature adjourns on May 8.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey ZephyrDemocratic state Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada led over 75 Colorado elected officials - including two Republicans - in sending a letter to Montana lawmakers condemning the removal of Rep. Zooey Zephyr and calling for her to be allowed back in the Montana House chamber.In the letter, Rep. Titone said the removal was an attempt to erase trans people amid growing violence against them and an increase in anti-trans laws being passed in state legislatures.Titone said “As elected officials, it is our responsibility to act with integrity and defend our democracy, and we are deeply concerned with erosion of democratic norms we see proliferating in statehouses across the country. Regardless of your personal stance on these issues, she is still a colleague and a duly elected and sworn representative of the people of Montana. Her voice is no less important than yours.”The letter was joined by two Republican lawmakers, state Reps. Ron Weinberg of Loveland and Rick Taggart of Grand Junction.On Tuesday, Montana House Republicans posted a notice announcing they would take up disciplinary measures against Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender representative, after she said that legislators who voted for a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors would have blood on their hands, in reference to suicide rates among trans youth. The Montana House voted along party lines Wednesday to bar Zephyr from entering the House floor or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session, only allowing her to participate in votes via Zoom.Rep. Titone made history in 2018 when she was elected the first openly transgender state legislator in Colorado. As chair of the Colorado Legislative LGBTQ caucus, she's worked alongside members of the House and Senate to expand and protect LGBTQ rights in the state.In the letter, Titone applauded Zephyr for her efforts in the Montana Legislature, saying that she has “placed a spotlight of truth on the very real damage anti-trans legislation could have on Montanans who are already struggling with discrimination and growing fear of physical harm.”The Montana state legislative session ends on May 10, and Zephyr is unlikely to be reinstated before the end of the session. Aside from state Rep. Brianna Titone, here are the elected officials from Colorado who signed Titone's letter to the Members of the Montana House of Representatives:Statewide officials:Colorado Secretary of State Jena GriswoldColorado State Treasurer Dave YoungColorado state senators and representatives:House Speaker Julie McCluskieSenate President Steve FenbergHouse Majority Leader Monica DuranSenate Majority Leader Dominick MorenoRep. Ruby DicksonRep. Jenny WillfordRep. David OrtizRep. Kyle BrownRep. Sheila Lieder Rep. Cathy KippRep. Lindsey DaughertyRep. Steven WoodrowRep. Mary YoungRep. Barbara McLachlanRep. Meg FroelichRep. Lorena GarciaRep. Steph VigilRep. Jennifer Lea ParentiRep. Michael J. WeissmanRep. Mandy LindsayRep. Junie Joseph Rep. Karen McCormickRep. Said SharbiniRep. Elizabeth VelascoRep. Regina EnglishRep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez Rep. Elisabeth Epps Sen. Lisa A CutterRep. Tammy StoryRep. Naquetta RicksRep. Dafna Michaelson JenetRep. Andrew Boesenecker Rep. Iman JodehRep. Emily SirotaRep. Shannon BirdRep. Marc SnyderRep. Meghan LukensRep. Jennifer BaconRep. Chris deGruy KennedySen. Janet Buckner Sen. Julie GonzalesSen. Nick HinrichsenSen. Janice MarchmanRep. Eliza Hamrick Rep. Matthew MartinezRep. Ron Weinberg Sen. Rhonda FieldsSen. Faith WinterRep. Javier MabreyRep. Judy AmabileRep. William LindstedtSen. Rachel ZenzingerRep. Leslie HerodRep. Bob MarshallRep. Rick TaggartRep. Tisha MauroSen. Sonya Jaquez LewisSen. Chris HansenSen. Dylan RobertsSen. Jeff BridgesRep. Alex ValdezSen. Jessie DanielsonSen. Tony ExumLocal government:Castle Pines City Councilman Roger D. HudsonBroomfield Mayor Guyleen CastriottaArvada City Councilmember Randy MoormanArvada City Councilmember Lauren SimpsonErie Trustee Emily BaerErie Trustee Daniel HobackErie Mayor Justin BrooksBoulder County Commissioner Ashley StolzmannGreeley City Councilor Tommy ButlerGreeley City Councilor Member Deborah L DeBoutezBoulder Mayor Aaron BrockettDouglas County Commissioner Abe LaydonARIZONA MIRROR: Anti-hate groups worry about Arizona law enforcement trainingBY: ISAAC STONE SIMONELLI/AZCIR - MONDAY MAY 1, 2023 11:32 AMWarnings issued by high-profile civil rights and advocacy groups to Arizona's governor and attorney general failed to stop a rule change that effectively lowers the bar for extremist organizations attempting to radicalize law enforcement officers through government-funded training.Letters sent in March by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center warned the rule creates a loophole that could be exploited by domestic extremist groups.The contentious rule change, as first reported by AZCIR in 2022, shifted the responsibility of continuing education training oversight from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to local law enforcement heads. In their letters, the groups cited an increase in extremist and conspiratorial rhetoric espoused by Arizona public officials, specifically, publicly elected sheriffs. “We are deeply concerned by the possibility that this amended rule will open the door for Arizona peace officers to receive training from adherents of the ‘constitutional sheriffs' movement and other actors who urge local law enforcement to assume authorities beyond those allowed by law,” wrote Mary McCord, the executive director of Georgetown University Law Center's ICAP, a nonpartisan institute focused on constitutional rights and protecting democratic processes.McCord warned that such taxpayer-funded trainings “would place residents at risk of improper activity by county peace officers” and pose a particular threat to brown and Black communities, “who are at the greatest risk of harm from abuses by law enforcement.”The letters cited previous reporting about so-called “constitutional sheriff” groups, which include the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The group is part of a national movement built on the idea that a local sheriff's power supersedes that of higher government entities including the U.S. president and the U.S. Supreme Court, and that sheriffs have a duty to nullify laws they interpret as unconstitutional.The civil rights and advocacy organizations highlighted numerous connections between the CSPOA and a variety of hate groups, with the NAACP denouncing some CSPOA members as “prominent antisemites, QAnon conspiracists, white nationalists and neo-confederates.”Sarah Kader, community manager for ADL Arizona, a state-level branch of a national organization that combats hate groups in the U.S., wrote “If the revised rule goes into effect, we fear that domestic extremists, based on their previous actions, will rush to take advantage of the opportunity,” Rachel Goldwasser, a senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, warned that the rule change could be used as a blueprint for creating workarounds allowing extremist organizations to train law enforcement in other states.Neither the governor, Democrat Katie Hobbs nor the attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes, directly addressed concerns about neo-confederates and other domestic extremists running law enforcement trainings.ADL confirmed it did not receive a response from Gov. Hobbs' office until after the rule change took effect, though a spokesperson indicated the group had “every reason to believe that the Governor's office understands the concerns we have raised in our letters and is taking them seriously.” In their letters, ADL, SPLC and the NAACP all expressed concerns that more than half of Arizona sheriffs are at least partially aligned with the constitutional sheriff movement—connections AZCIR highlighted in its 2022 reporting.Rachel Goldwasser of SPLC said “Arizona has a large extremist presence in the Legislature, sheriffs' offices and among the public, unfortunately. They'll exploit any opportunity for these extremists to spread their ideology.”Three of the four letters also issued a warning about Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who has known ties to CSPOA and is the frontman for Protect America Now, another so-called “constitutional sheriff” organization.Lamb, who announced a bid for the U.S. Senate in April, has developed a national presence by appearing on a slew of fringe right-wing news networks and podcasts, including those espousing QAnon conspiracies. Lamb did not respond to a request for comment.Sarah Kader of ADL said “In recent years, extreme ideologies have been mainstreamed and normalized at an alarming pace. This is due in large part to the growing number of elected officials and other high-profile individuals who traffic in conspiracies and hate.”This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.DENVER WESTWORD: How Hard Can it Bee? ZzzzzzBee Here Now: Capella Ranch Has a Honey of an IdeaCATIE CHESHIRE APRIL 25, 2023 6:53AMIn countries like Germany and Slovenia, inhaling the aerosol created by bees in an apiary, or collection of beehives, is an authorized treatment for respiratory diseases. But in the United States, there are only three places that offer the experience: one in Georgia, one in Michigan, and Capella Ranch in Lafayette Colorado, which just opened for its second season.Carolyn Peterson, who owns the ranch with her family said “I'm going to be out here all summer, talking to people and enjoying them and hearing their stories. They're going to come stressed out, and then they're going to leave relaxed.”Capella Ranch currently has sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats, Nubian goats, ducks, chickens, a few turkeys and, of course, bees, the first of which arrived in 2018. To create their bee therapy Shangri-la, the Petersons started by building two cedar huts shaped like irregular pentagons. The cedar contributes to the aroma in the huts, although its durability in the Colorado weather is its chief asset here. The slanted roof of the hut concentrates the aerosol so people can breathe it in while they're lying flat. “Everyone comes out with a different experience,” Carolyn says. “They get in there. They lie down. They take in the whole thing, and then they just sort of concentrate on the humming of the bees.”When bees make honey, there's a lot of water in it at first, so the insects work to reduce the moisture content by flapping their wings. As it evaporates, the moisture is carried into the air to form an aerosol that people find therapeutic.The bees also create an electromagnetic field with their vibration, which is at a frequency that's calming to the human parasympathetic nervous system - a network of nerves that helps relax the body. Some people can feel the field, but most notice the smell first. Underneath the scent of cedar, there is the aromatic tang of the bees at work. Almost like the smell of a newborn baby, but with an extra oomph.“That is all the pollen, nectars, amino acids and essential oils that the bees are bringing in to make the honey,” Carolyn says. “It's just kind of an odd smell, and it's supposed to be very good to breathe in.”In Slovenia, the bee experience has been used to calm firefighters after hard jobs, children who have behavioral problems at school, and parents of those children, who might need some relaxation as well. The Petersons note that they aren't medical professionals, so they don't consider their huts medicinal.“If it happens to help, great,” Carolyn says. “It's relaxing. It's thirty minutes of nobody bugging you.”One person who says the bee huts have helped is Marsha Ruggeri, who lives in Lafayette. She went to Capella Ranch four times during its inaugural season.She first came with a friend who'd bought a deal on Groupon. After struggling with heightened asthma symptoms the past two years — which she attributes to wildfires and air pollution — Ruggeri was excited to learn of a potential way to alleviate her symptoms.And, it worked!“I'm not saying it was a panacea,” she says. “It felt like I was actually doing something that wasn't an inhaler or medication and I was regaining some control over how my body was reacting to all this shit in the air.”On Ruggeri's third visit, she experienced the electromagnetic field produced by the bees.“I was laying on my side, and then all of a sudden, I could feel it,” she says. “It really deserves more than one treatment. It's kind of like people who go for acupuncture, and they're like, ‘Well, it didn't do anything for me.' You really need to try it more than once.”Along with the eight hives in the huts, there are six to eight more near a special pond on the ranch where the bees drink. Last summer, over a hundred people came to Capella Ranch to check out the bees; a TikTok Charlie made announcing that the huts were open has gained about 20,000 views.One of those visitors, a reiki and yoga teacher from Fort Collins named Yarmey, found Capella Ranch on Instagram. “I'm really interested in energy and grounding and our connection to nature,” she says. Reiki is a practice of directing energy to help facilitate healing.After her first visit, Yarmey came back a second time, when she says she was really able to share a meditative space with the bees, reveling in their presence in a way that humans rarely get to do with other species.“When else in your life do you get to share space with a million other beings who all are very clear about their purpose and their path and what they need to be doing? Everything felt a little slower, more grounded.”The huts are now open for a second season; anyone is welcome except those allergic to bee or wasp stings. A thirty-minute session is $35; an hour runs $60. CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEKDENVER POST: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, with Angel Olsen - this Thursday and Friday night at Red Rocks.By JOHN WENZEL | jwenzel@denverpost.com | The Denver PostApril 28, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.Jason Isbell's voice can be a strapping, mournful thing, muscular and dripping with vulnerability as he chronicles his life in song. And on this day, it's still waking up.“This time of year I drink my black coffee cold so I can get it down quicker,” the 44-year-old singer-songwriter said over the phone from his Nashville porch on Monday. “I've spent so many years working late at night that it makes it hard for me to get on with normal life. It's tough, you know? But I think it's tough no matter how you do it.”Isbell's family and acclaimed music career test his resolve while giving him motivation to stay sober and productive. He has won a quartet of Grammy Awards since 2018 — about a decade after getting kicked out of his former alt-country band, Drive-By Truckers, for drinking and drugs In the HBO Max documentary “Music Box: Jason Isbell — Running with Our Eyes Closed,” which was released on April 7, we're afforded a close-up on his life as he records the album “Reunions” with his band, the 400 Unit. His intimate musical and romantic partnership with wife Amanda Shires (who is an acclaimed solo artist herself), his love of his daughter Mercy Rose, his past divorce, and the shock of the pandemic are all there in vivid cross-section.“If you're a recording artist or entertainer with any kind of success, you don't want to spend too much time looking back,” said Isbell, who was born in Green Hill, Ala., to a 17-year-old mother. “It's a self-centered way of living. But one thing I was surprised by watching the (documentary) is that I'd forgotten how hard those old days were, growing up where I did and having addiction issues. It was nice to see but painful to watch, that all of this was real and really happened to me, even if it's long in the rearview.”Isbell will headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre May 3 and 4 with the 400 Unit, on tour for their new album “Weathervanes,” to be released June 9. The lead single “Death Wish” has already been covered by Jack White and featured on “American Idol.” Isbell's melodies channel Americana, folk, country, and rock and roll. His lyrics are cutting, urgent, and full of visceral metaphors. On “Death Wish,” he sings:“I wanted action, she wanted answers / Sunrise with the dealers and the dancers / It takes a whole lot of medicine to feel like a little kid.”Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit With Angel Olsen, Two shows, May 3 and 4, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Tickets at axs.com, and I think Adam may have an extra still, too. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Denver Post, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs FOUR gun control bills into law | Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey Zephyr of Montana | Anti-hate groups worry domestic extremists will be training Arizona police under new rule | A chance to see her bee business take off | Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Red Rocks and on HBO Max documentary Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs four gun control bills into lawGOVERNMENTBY: SARA WILSON - APRIL 28, 2023 11:54 AMThe Governor, surrounded by gun-control advocates at a bill signing ceremony said, “Coloradans deserve to be safe in our communities, in our schools, our grocery stores, nightclubs and everywhere in between,” The new laws raise the minimum age to buy a gun to 21, impose a three-day waiting period for gun purchases, expand the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law and make it easier for gun violence survivors to sue the gun industry.Under Senate Bill 23-170, district attorneys, educators, mental health professionals and other medical providers will be able to petition a judge to confiscate guns from a potentially dangerous person. Previously, only law enforcement and family members had that power under the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law, also known as the red flag law, which was created in 2019.The expansion aims to increase utilization of the process and extend the petition authority to people who interact with an at-risk person regularly. It is a recognition that some law enforcement officials have been reluctant to use the red flag law when potentially appropriate due to concerns over the Second Amendment.Senate Bill 23-169 raises the age to purchase any gun to 21 years old. Previously, the age restriction was 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun. There are exceptions for members of law enforcement and the military.House Bill 23-1219 imposes a three-day waiting period for people to get a gun after they pay for it. Bill sponsors said that the delayed access to firearms will provide a cooling-off period for people in crisis who might harm themselves or others.Cities will be able to establish longer waiting periods if they choose. If the purchaser's background check takes longer than three days — which it rarely does — they would still need to wait until the background check clears to get their gun.Finally, Senate Bill 23-168 removes a state protection for gun and ammunition dealers and manufactures against lawsuits. Previously, plaintiffs had to pay the legal fees for defendants in dismissed cases involving gun sellers. That is no longer the case.The law makes the gun industry susceptible to lawsuits under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, said, “​​We finally, after 23 years of waiting, can open up Colorado courtrooms to gun violence victims and survivors seeking justice,” Less than an hour after the bill signing, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners leader Taylor Rhodes announced on Twitter that the group had already filed lawsuits challenging the minimum age requirement and waiting period laws. He said they are seeking plaintiffs who could establish standing against the other two new laws.Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would outlaw unserialized firearms, also known as ghost guns. Another firearm bill that would have banned semi-automatic weapons in the state died in its first committee hearing last week.The Legislature adjourns on May 8.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey ZephyrDemocratic state Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada led over 75 Colorado elected officials - including two Republicans - in sending a letter to Montana lawmakers condemning the removal of Rep. Zooey Zephyr and calling for her to be allowed back in the Montana House chamber.In the letter, Rep. Titone said the removal was an attempt to erase trans people amid growing violence against them and an increase in anti-trans laws being passed in state legislatures.Titone said “As elected officials, it is our responsibility to act with integrity and defend our democracy, and we are deeply concerned with erosion of democratic norms we see proliferating in statehouses across the country. Regardless of your personal stance on these issues, she is still a colleague and a duly elected and sworn representative of the people of Montana. Her voice is no less important than yours.”The letter was joined by two Republican lawmakers, state Reps. Ron Weinberg of Loveland and Rick Taggart of Grand Junction.On Tuesday, Montana House Republicans posted a notice announcing they would take up disciplinary measures against Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender representative, after she said that legislators who voted for a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors would have blood on their hands, in reference to suicide rates among trans youth. The Montana House voted along party lines Wednesday to bar Zephyr from entering the House floor or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session, only allowing her to participate in votes via Zoom.Rep. Titone made history in 2018 when she was elected the first openly transgender state legislator in Colorado. As chair of the Colorado Legislative LGBTQ caucus, she's worked alongside members of the House and Senate to expand and protect LGBTQ rights in the state.In the letter, Titone applauded Zephyr for her efforts in the Montana Legislature, saying that she has “placed a spotlight of truth on the very real damage anti-trans legislation could have on Montanans who are already struggling with discrimination and growing fear of physical harm.”The Montana state legislative session ends on May 10, and Zephyr is unlikely to be reinstated before the end of the session. Aside from state Rep. Brianna Titone, here are the elected officials from Colorado who signed Titone's letter to the Members of the Montana House of Representatives:Statewide officials:Colorado Secretary of State Jena GriswoldColorado State Treasurer Dave YoungColorado state senators and representatives:House Speaker Julie McCluskieSenate President Steve FenbergHouse Majority Leader Monica DuranSenate Majority Leader Dominick MorenoRep. Ruby DicksonRep. Jenny WillfordRep. David OrtizRep. Kyle BrownRep. Sheila Lieder Rep. Cathy KippRep. Lindsey DaughertyRep. Steven WoodrowRep. Mary YoungRep. Barbara McLachlanRep. Meg FroelichRep. Lorena GarciaRep. Steph VigilRep. Jennifer Lea ParentiRep. Michael J. WeissmanRep. Mandy LindsayRep. Junie Joseph Rep. Karen McCormickRep. Said SharbiniRep. Elizabeth VelascoRep. Regina EnglishRep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez Rep. Elisabeth Epps Sen. Lisa A CutterRep. Tammy StoryRep. Naquetta RicksRep. Dafna Michaelson JenetRep. Andrew Boesenecker Rep. Iman JodehRep. Emily SirotaRep. Shannon BirdRep. Marc SnyderRep. Meghan LukensRep. Jennifer BaconRep. Chris deGruy KennedySen. Janet Buckner Sen. Julie GonzalesSen. Nick HinrichsenSen. Janice MarchmanRep. Eliza Hamrick Rep. Matthew MartinezRep. Ron Weinberg Sen. Rhonda FieldsSen. Faith WinterRep. Javier MabreyRep. Judy AmabileRep. William LindstedtSen. Rachel ZenzingerRep. Leslie HerodRep. Bob MarshallRep. Rick TaggartRep. Tisha MauroSen. Sonya Jaquez LewisSen. Chris HansenSen. Dylan RobertsSen. Jeff BridgesRep. Alex ValdezSen. Jessie DanielsonSen. Tony ExumLocal government:Castle Pines City Councilman Roger D. HudsonBroomfield Mayor Guyleen CastriottaArvada City Councilmember Randy MoormanArvada City Councilmember Lauren SimpsonErie Trustee Emily BaerErie Trustee Daniel HobackErie Mayor Justin BrooksBoulder County Commissioner Ashley StolzmannGreeley City Councilor Tommy ButlerGreeley City Councilor Member Deborah L DeBoutezBoulder Mayor Aaron BrockettDouglas County Commissioner Abe LaydonARIZONA MIRROR: Anti-hate groups worry about Arizona law enforcement trainingBY: ISAAC STONE SIMONELLI/AZCIR - MONDAY MAY 1, 2023 11:32 AMWarnings issued by high-profile civil rights and advocacy groups to Arizona's governor and attorney general failed to stop a rule change that effectively lowers the bar for extremist organizations attempting to radicalize law enforcement officers through government-funded training.Letters sent in March by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center warned the rule creates a loophole that could be exploited by domestic extremist groups.The contentious rule change, as first reported by AZCIR in 2022, shifted the responsibility of continuing education training oversight from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to local law enforcement heads. In their letters, the groups cited an increase in extremist and conspiratorial rhetoric espoused by Arizona public officials, specifically, publicly elected sheriffs. “We are deeply concerned by the possibility that this amended rule will open the door for Arizona peace officers to receive training from adherents of the ‘constitutional sheriffs' movement and other actors who urge local law enforcement to assume authorities beyond those allowed by law,” wrote Mary McCord, the executive director of Georgetown University Law Center's ICAP, a nonpartisan institute focused on constitutional rights and protecting democratic processes.McCord warned that such taxpayer-funded trainings “would place residents at risk of improper activity by county peace officers” and pose a particular threat to brown and Black communities, “who are at the greatest risk of harm from abuses by law enforcement.”The letters cited previous reporting about so-called “constitutional sheriff” groups, which include the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The group is part of a national movement built on the idea that a local sheriff's power supersedes that of higher government entities including the U.S. president and the U.S. Supreme Court, and that sheriffs have a duty to nullify laws they interpret as unconstitutional.The civil rights and advocacy organizations highlighted numerous connections between the CSPOA and a variety of hate groups, with the NAACP denouncing some CSPOA members as “prominent antisemites, QAnon conspiracists, white nationalists and neo-confederates.”Sarah Kader, community manager for ADL Arizona, a state-level branch of a national organization that combats hate groups in the U.S., wrote “If the revised rule goes into effect, we fear that domestic extremists, based on their previous actions, will rush to take advantage of the opportunity,” Rachel Goldwasser, a senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, warned that the rule change could be used as a blueprint for creating workarounds allowing extremist organizations to train law enforcement in other states.Neither the governor, Democrat Katie Hobbs nor the attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes, directly addressed concerns about neo-confederates and other domestic extremists running law enforcement trainings.ADL confirmed it did not receive a response from Gov. Hobbs' office until after the rule change took effect, though a spokesperson indicated the group had “every reason to believe that the Governor's office understands the concerns we have raised in our letters and is taking them seriously.” In their letters, ADL, SPLC and the NAACP all expressed concerns that more than half of Arizona sheriffs are at least partially aligned with the constitutional sheriff movement—connections AZCIR highlighted in its 2022 reporting.Rachel Goldwasser of SPLC said “Arizona has a large extremist presence in the Legislature, sheriffs' offices and among the public, unfortunately. They'll exploit any opportunity for these extremists to spread their ideology.”Three of the four letters also issued a warning about Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who has known ties to CSPOA and is the frontman for Protect America Now, another so-called “constitutional sheriff” organization.Lamb, who announced a bid for the U.S. Senate in April, has developed a national presence by appearing on a slew of fringe right-wing news networks and podcasts, including those espousing QAnon conspiracies. Lamb did not respond to a request for comment.Sarah Kader of ADL said “In recent years, extreme ideologies have been mainstreamed and normalized at an alarming pace. This is due in large part to the growing number of elected officials and other high-profile individuals who traffic in conspiracies and hate.”This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.DENVER WESTWORD: How Hard Can it Bee? ZzzzzzBee Here Now: Capella Ranch Has a Honey of an IdeaCATIE CHESHIRE APRIL 25, 2023 6:53AMIn countries like Germany and Slovenia, inhaling the aerosol created by bees in an apiary, or collection of beehives, is an authorized treatment for respiratory diseases. But in the United States, there are only three places that offer the experience: one in Georgia, one in Michigan, and Capella Ranch in Lafayette Colorado, which just opened for its second season.Carolyn Peterson, who owns the ranch with her family said “I'm going to be out here all summer, talking to people and enjoying them and hearing their stories. They're going to come stressed out, and then they're going to leave relaxed.”Capella Ranch currently has sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats, Nubian goats, ducks, chickens, a few turkeys and, of course, bees, the first of which arrived in 2018. To create their bee therapy Shangri-la, the Petersons started by building two cedar huts shaped like irregular pentagons. The cedar contributes to the aroma in the huts, although its durability in the Colorado weather is its chief asset here. The slanted roof of the hut concentrates the aerosol so people can breathe it in while they're lying flat. “Everyone comes out with a different experience,” Carolyn says. “They get in there. They lie down. They take in the whole thing, and then they just sort of concentrate on the humming of the bees.”When bees make honey, there's a lot of water in it at first, so the insects work to reduce the moisture content by flapping their wings. As it evaporates, the moisture is carried into the air to form an aerosol that people find therapeutic.The bees also create an electromagnetic field with their vibration, which is at a frequency that's calming to the human parasympathetic nervous system - a network of nerves that helps relax the body. Some people can feel the field, but most notice the smell first. Underneath the scent of cedar, there is the aromatic tang of the bees at work. Almost like the smell of a newborn baby, but with an extra oomph.“That is all the pollen, nectars, amino acids and essential oils that the bees are bringing in to make the honey,” Carolyn says. “It's just kind of an odd smell, and it's supposed to be very good to breathe in.”In Slovenia, the bee experience has been used to calm firefighters after hard jobs, children who have behavioral problems at school, and parents of those children, who might need some relaxation as well. The Petersons note that they aren't medical professionals, so they don't consider their huts medicinal.“If it happens to help, great,” Carolyn says. “It's relaxing. It's thirty minutes of nobody bugging you.”One person who says the bee huts have helped is Marsha Ruggeri, who lives in Lafayette. She went to Capella Ranch four times during its inaugural season.She first came with a friend who'd bought a deal on Groupon. After struggling with heightened asthma symptoms the past two years — which she attributes to wildfires and air pollution — Ruggeri was excited to learn of a potential way to alleviate her symptoms.And, it worked!“I'm not saying it was a panacea,” she says. “It felt like I was actually doing something that wasn't an inhaler or medication and I was regaining some control over how my body was reacting to all this shit in the air.”On Ruggeri's third visit, she experienced the electromagnetic field produced by the bees.“I was laying on my side, and then all of a sudden, I could feel it,” she says. “It really deserves more than one treatment. It's kind of like people who go for acupuncture, and they're like, ‘Well, it didn't do anything for me.' You really need to try it more than once.”Along with the eight hives in the huts, there are six to eight more near a special pond on the ranch where the bees drink. Last summer, over a hundred people came to Capella Ranch to check out the bees; a TikTok Charlie made announcing that the huts were open has gained about 20,000 views.One of those visitors, a reiki and yoga teacher from Fort Collins named Yarmey, found Capella Ranch on Instagram. “I'm really interested in energy and grounding and our connection to nature,” she says. Reiki is a practice of directing energy to help facilitate healing.After her first visit, Yarmey came back a second time, when she says she was really able to share a meditative space with the bees, reveling in their presence in a way that humans rarely get to do with other species.“When else in your life do you get to share space with a million other beings who all are very clear about their purpose and their path and what they need to be doing? Everything felt a little slower, more grounded.”The huts are now open for a second season; anyone is welcome except those allergic to bee or wasp stings. A thirty-minute session is $35; an hour runs $60. CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEKDENVER POST: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, with Angel Olsen - this Thursday and Friday night at Red Rocks.By JOHN WENZEL | jwenzel@denverpost.com | The Denver PostApril 28, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.Jason Isbell's voice can be a strapping, mournful thing, muscular and dripping with vulnerability as he chronicles his life in song. And on this day, it's still waking up.“This time of year I drink my black coffee cold so I can get it down quicker,” the 44-year-old singer-songwriter said over the phone from his Nashville porch on Monday. “I've spent so many years working late at night that it makes it hard for me to get on with normal life. It's tough, you know? But I think it's tough no matter how you do it.”Isbell's family and acclaimed music career test his resolve while giving him motivation to stay sober and productive. He has won a quartet of Grammy Awards since 2018 — about a decade after getting kicked out of his former alt-country band, Drive-By Truckers, for drinking and drugs In the HBO Max documentary “Music Box: Jason Isbell — Running with Our Eyes Closed,” which was released on April 7, we're afforded a close-up on his life as he records the album “Reunions” with his band, the 400 Unit. His intimate musical and romantic partnership with wife Amanda Shires (who is an acclaimed solo artist herself), his love of his daughter Mercy Rose, his past divorce, and the shock of the pandemic are all there in vivid cross-section.“If you're a recording artist or entertainer with any kind of success, you don't want to spend too much time looking back,” said Isbell, who was born in Green Hill, Ala., to a 17-year-old mother. “It's a self-centered way of living. But one thing I was surprised by watching the (documentary) is that I'd forgotten how hard those old days were, growing up where I did and having addiction issues. It was nice to see but painful to watch, that all of this was real and really happened to me, even if it's long in the rearview.”Isbell will headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre May 3 and 4 with the 400 Unit, on tour for their new album “Weathervanes,” to be released June 9. The lead single “Death Wish” has already been covered by Jack White and featured on “American Idol.” Isbell's melodies channel Americana, folk, country, and rock and roll. His lyrics are cutting, urgent, and full of visceral metaphors. On “Death Wish,” he sings:“I wanted action, she wanted answers / Sunrise with the dealers and the dancers / It takes a whole lot of medicine to feel like a little kid.”Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit With Angel Olsen, Two shows, May 3 and 4, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Tickets at axs.com, and I think Adam may have an extra still, too. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Denver Post, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Simon Forster and Duncan Trenholme of TP ICAP join the show. In this episode we discuss:  - TP ICAP's journey in the crypto / blockchain space.  - The market structure for institutional cryptoasset trading.  - The future of tokenization and the types of assets that are likely to be represented on chain.  - The regulatory landscape and how this will shape the pace of building in the industry.    To learn more about TP ICAP and their strategy visit:  www.tpicap.com/digitalassets

Struggling to rank your Amazon products on the first page? Do you want to know the latest updates on Amazon's SEO algorithm? Then you're in the right place! In this video, I'm going to reveal the A10 algorithm, the latest Amazon SEO algorithm update, and discuss how it affects your product's ranking.The A10 algorithm factors in several key metrics to determine a product's SEO ranking, including seller authority, impressions, sales internal, reviews, PPC sales, off-site sales, 180-day sales, conversion rate, CTR, and organic sales. Each of these metrics plays a crucial role in determining your product's visibility on Amazon's search engine.Seller authority is an essential factor that determines a seller's credibility on Amazon. This includes the number of sales on the total account and how long the account has been around for. Impressions, on the other hand, refer to the number of times a product is viewed, including both SEO and PPC. This means that if you don't advertise, you may have fewer impressions, which could negatively affect your SEO.Remember, SEO is not set it and forget it. It is a continuously optimized thing, and you need to be on top of it if you want your products to rank higher on Amazon's search engine. If you want to learn more about Amazon SEO, check out our website or contact us today to see how we can help you with your Amazon marketing needs.Don't miss out on this valuable information on Amazon's latest SEO algorithm update. Watch this video and stay ahead of the competition!00:00 [SEO Update] Amazon Algorithm 2023 Patch Notes to Rank Your Product to the Top of Page 100:20 A9 Algorithm mistakenly identified as A1001:16 Click-through rate (CTR) as the most notable gainer02:38 A high-converting new product may not necessarily require a lot of reviews to be successful03:50 An ethical and cost-effective way to generate reviews04:54 A trend of less favor towards the "Legacy" players06:32 Brand story and A+ Content as two important sections on Amazon product listings that can impact SEO07:53 One Spanish keyword will index in under 48 hours09:30 Free SEO Guide myamazonguy.com/seo11:19 CTR is more important now because there's a heightened significance in being searchable and findable on Amazon12:43 Updating main image can increase CTR by 3x14:43 Many people underestimate the significance of traffic on Amazon15:56 Algorithm is currently favoring CTR more than it has in the past17:12 Visit myamazonguy.com/hack for tips on improving your Amazon product's main image20:02 Go to myamazonguy.com/icap for another use case using the ICAP marketing funnel20:16 By updating the keyword on a specific ASIN to "Sage candles for cleansing houseSupport the show