The Senate unanimously adopted Bill 1425 on Monday, March 29, a month after the House approved the bill. A Burgum spokesperson declined to comment on the bill or whether the Republican governor would sign it.

The proposal sets a target for the State Investment Board to designate up to 10% of tax revenue going to the voter-approved Legacy Fund to create loans suitable for cities, counties and businesses in North Dakota. Another allocation of up to 10% would be intended to invest in stocks and other stocks of companies based in North Dakota.

The Legacy Fund, which derives from 30% of state oil and gas tax revenues, currently holds nearly $ 8.2 billion. Currently, only about 1% of the Legacy fund is invested in a North Dakota business loan program. Most of the rest of the money goes to investments in companies based out of state.

The idea of ​​investing more in the locally fledgling fund gained momentum last year, with Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread, a member of the investment board, lending his support to the cause.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, said the plan would provide much-needed capital to communities for infrastructure projects, while promoting emerging businesses in the state. Godfread said the legislation would help North Dakota achieve “the self-investing multiplier.”

Nathe notes that her bill only sets targets for investing up to one-fifth of the fund in the state and that the investment board may never reach that level.

Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner R-Dickinson said the Legislature was taking “a small step” in investing the Legacy Fund in the state by passing the bill on Monday.

The board has already taken steps to direct more investment in the state, said Dave Hunter, director and chief investment officer of the State Retirement & Investment Office. Hunter said the board’s goal was to invest 5% of the Legacy Fund’s incoming income in a program through the Bank of North Dakota that provides low-interest loans to businesses in the State.

The board is also working on hiring one or two investment managers to oversee a new investment program in the state, Hunter said. This program would target 3% of the fund towards North Dakota-centric investments, but details are still being worked out. Hunter said the shift to more investment in the state will take a long time.

The bill adopted on Monday is one of the three main proposals concerning the Heritage Fund. The Senate will soon consider a massive collage package and the legislation which distributes the profits of the Legacy fund in the years to come.

It is spookier than a haunted house – and much more expensive!

A ghost town of mansions in Missouri that was supposed to become a $ 1.6 billion resort community went viral on social media this week.

Spooky footage shows large abandoned ruined mansions among overgrown plants at the Indian Ridge Resort in Branson – more than a decade after the housing market slump, TikTok user @ carriejernigan1 posted this weekend.

“Have you ever seen a housing estate full of abandoned mansions?” ” she asks in the video, which had garnered more than 2.1 million “likes” on Thursday.

“It was supposed to be a $ 1.6 billion resort community. It was going to have one of the largest water parks in the country, golf courses, hotels, conference centers and shops, ”she said.

“But instead, it turned into a ghost town when the 2008 housing crisis hit. Five people ended up in federal prison. And 13 years later, the houses are right there. “

The developers wanted the resort to have a marina, a 390-room hotel, a museum and the world’s second-largest indoor water park, a local resort. KYTV-TV declared in 2017.

But after those involved in the project were sent to jail – including two who lied to get development loans – it was never completed.

Watchers this week called the once swanky homes “spooky” and “nightmarish.”

“I want to go but it looks haunted,” said one TikTok user.

“I’ve been there and it’s one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had,” said a second observer.

Another confessed simply: “I’m scared.

NEW YORK (WABC) – For the first time in decades, workers at Hunts Point Produce Market are on strike over a wage dispute.

Workers want a $ 1 an hour increase and more health care support.

They say the market has billions of dollars in sales and received more than $ 15 million in repayable PPP loans during the coronavirus pandemic.

“They don’t treat us fairly. They don’t think we are essential. We are essential. We have been here since the start of the pandemic. We have been here risking our lives and coming here to work for these people,” he added. said the worker.

Market operators have stated that they have taken a number of measures to ensure that secure access is maintained.

Management went on to say that they were disappointed that the union moved away from the bargaining table and chose to focus on termination instead.

READ ALSO | Protesters ask hotel worker involved in iPhone dispute to apologize

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Regulatory news:

Getlink (Paris: GET):

Given the current restrictions and in accordance with the measures adopted by the Government to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the combined general meeting of shareholders of Getlink, scheduled for April 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., will be held behind closed doors, without the physical presence of its shareholders or any other person authorized to attend.

Getlink has taken measures to facilitate remote voting, so that shareholders can vote without being present at the general meeting via remote voting solutions (postal or proxy voting) and online via the secure voting platform VOTACCESS.

In order to promote shareholder dialogue, to which Getlink attaches particular importance, an exceptional mechanism will be put in place to broadcast the meeting live and a recording will be set up on the company’s website.

Following the separation of the functions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the gradual rotation of its members, the Board of Directors will propose to the general meeting that Yann Leriche, Chief Executive Officer, and Mark Cornwall, representing British contract employees, be appointed to the Board of Directors, following the end of the term of Peter Levene and the retirement of Tim Yeo¹ for having now over 12 years in office.

The Board of Directors is delighted with this development and the enrichment of employee representation on the Board. Jacques Gounon, Chairman of the Board of Directors warmly thanks Tim Yeo and Peter Levene for their valuable contributions to the work of the Board of Directors in preparing for Brexit and in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Board exercised its responsibility by ensuring the safety of customers and employees, by implementing measures to control operating costs and by optimizing capital expenditure. Getlink did not seek any government guaranteed loans, government guarantees, or tax deferrals. A solidarity contribution to the collective effort of employees on leave, it was accompanied by a reduction in attendance fees and the remuneration of corporate officers and directors, as well as members of the executive committee and key executives.

The story continues

Confident in its long-term prospects, Getlink confirms its return commitment for the shareholder and will propose to the general meeting to be held on April 28, 2021 to vote for the distribution of a dividend of € 0.05 per share entitled to the dividend.

Notice of meeting of April 7, 2021² includes the detailed agenda and draft resolutions, as well as the main methods of participation and voting at this meeting. The opinion and reports of the Board of Directors, including that on the draft resolutions, as well as the other preparatory documents and information relating to this meeting, can be consulted on the aforementioned website, made available or communicated to the shareholders. in accordance with the conditions and deadlines provided for by the applicable legal and regulatory provisions. Shareholders are invited to regularly consult the section dedicated to the general meeting on the website www.getlinkgroup.com, in order to have access to the most recent information about the meeting.

*************************

Yann Leriche, 47, graduated from the École Polytechnique (1997), then from the École des Ponts et Chaussées, the College of Engineers and ESCP Europe, began his career in the public sector, first as a master work on road infrastructure, then in the construction and operation of public transport networks. After a long experience at Bombardier Transport where he became head of the “Guided Light Transit” transport systems department, Yann Leriche joined the Transdev group in 2008. First CEO of Transamo, he then became CEO of the German subsidiary Transdev SZ then deputy director of transit. activities in North America in 2012. In 2014, he was appointed Group Chief Performance Officer and member of the executive committee. From 2017 to 2020, he was CEO of Transdev North America, in charge of the group’s American and Canadian operations (17,000 employees, US $ 1.4 billion in revenue and serving more than 100 cities and urban areas with seven different means of transport) and was also in charge of the worldwide development of Transdev’s autonomous vehicle activities. Yann Leriche joined Getlink SE as Chief Executive Officer in July 2020.

Marc Cornouailles, 53, joined the Group in 1993, after having participated for five years in the construction of the tunnel (Norwest Holst), on the construction of the overbridge one. He then joined Balfour Beatty as an overhead line fitter on the installation of the catenary system. At the end of the catenary system, he then joined Eurotunnel as catenary technician before being appointed catenary group leader in 2009. During this time, he was appointed representative of the works council (a role in addition to the head of group) then elected chief representative of the works council. in 2003. He has also played an active role in the European works council, in close collaboration with his French colleagues for 18 years.

¹ These changes will take effect at the end of the general meeting of April 28, 2021.
² BALO April 7, 2021

See the source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210407005741/en/

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A federal grand jury in Massachusetts has issued further charges against 11 parents and seven college officials involved in the vast college admissions scandal, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling.

The accused persons are Gamal Abdelaziz, Diane Blake, Todd Blake, Mossimo Giannulli, Elisabeth Kimmell, Lori Loughlin, William McGlashan, Jr., Marci Palatella, John Wilson, Homayoun Zadeh and Robert Zangrillo.

The new indictments allege the parents conspired to bribe University of Southern California employees to help admit their children to the program.

Giannulli is Loughlin’s husband. The Washington Post reports that the couple’s two daughters no longer attend USC.

“In exchange for bribes, university employees allegedly designated the children of the accused as sports recruits – with little or no consideration for their athletic ability – or as members of other privileged admission categories.” , said a statement from Lelling’s office.

Authorities also said Wilson, of Lynnfield, Mass., Was charged with two counts of substantial bribery of federal programs as part of his efforts to bribe Harvard University and Stanford University employees. to guarantee the admission of his children to schools.

In addition, Joey Chen, McGlashan, Wilson and Zangrillo face charges of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud “in connection with the scheme previously accused of using bribery and other forms of fraud to obtain falsified standardized test results and admission to elite colleges and universities as so-called sports recruits or members of other preferred admission categories.

“The defendants, who were all arrested in March 2019, had previously been charged with conspiring with William ‘Rick’ Singer and others, to bribe the administrators of the SAT and ACT exams to allow a candidate to pass secretly. entrance exams for their children, or to correct children’s answers after they have passed the exams, ”the statement said.

Lelling’s office also announced new charges against seven university sports officials and “other people previously indicted” in the scandal, including Gordon Ernst, Donna Heinel, Jorge Salcedo, Mikaela Sanford, Jovan Vavic, Niki Williams and William Ferguson. They are charged with conspiracy to commit postal and electronic fraud and postal and electronic fraud of honest services.

“In addition… Ernst, Heinel and Salcedo face new charges of conspiring to bribe federal programs by soliciting and accepting bribes to facilitate the admission of students into the universities where they worked: Georgetown University, the University of Southern California and The University of California at Los Angeles, ”Lelling’s office said. “Ernst is also charged with substantial counts of bribery of federal programs and money laundering.”

In a separate statement, Lelling said: “Today’s charges are the result of an ongoing investigation into the nationwide college admissions case. Our goal from the start has been to hold the accused fully accountable for the corruption of the university admissions process through cheating, bribery and fraud. The indictments that replace them will allow this effort to continue.

Several people indicted in the scandal pleaded guilty in the case and were sentenced including actress Felicity Huffman.

Zoë Presley was walking in the woods near her home outside of Portland when she came across a leaf hanging from a single strand of spider silk, twirling gently in the air.

“It created a feeling of connection to the natural world which I personally found to be truly peaceful and grounded and charming,” Presley said. “It’s a different kind of wonder than one might experience standing at the edge of the cliff on the Oregon coast or being on top of the mountain – it’s the wonder of the connection. “

This is exactly the kind of connection that she helps others discover. Presley is a specialist psychologist and licensed professional counselor, as well as a practicing forest therapist – a thriving field helping people find healing in natural landscapes.

Forest therapy is based on the Japanese concept of shinrin yoku, or forest bath, in which a person enters a natural space with the specific intention of improving their emotional well-being.

“Forest baths, forest therapy, these are intentional practices. And healing is much more likely to happen when we access our will to be touched by something bigger than ourselves, ”Presley said.

The people of Oregon have long appreciated the blessings of nature, and in recent years hiking and camping have only grown in popularity. But while going out for leisure alone can have positive effects on our well-being, Presley said it takes specific intention to access deeper healing in nature.

It requires a completely different approach to how we exist in natural spaces, she said. She recommends that people try to reframe their outdoor experience away from exercise, and instead carry a specific intention to connect with nature. Slowing down is a good first step, as is putting away all electronic devices. Moving quietly in the natural space allows the senses to awaken, capturing the sounds, images and smells of the environment.

Once the body has adapted to nature, that deeper connection can finally happen, she said – although that also requires paying close attention to your internal environment.

“Healing often happens in subtle ways,” Presley said. “We might just notice a change in the way our body feels or a subtle change in our mood. And if we don’t pay attention to these subtle changes, we might not even realize that healing is happening. “

These experiences are deeply personal and can vary greatly from person to person. The Association of Nature and Forest Guides and Therapy Programs, which certifies forest therapists, warns that there is no prescription for what a person “should” receive as a result. The goal is to have a deeper connection with nature and to see what emerges from within.

Having a licensed professional counselor like Presley as a guide is helpful for those with particularly intense emotional experiences. She recounted one session where a military veteran burst into tears when he was finally able to relax, and another where a woman began to release pent-up grief among the trees.

There has been growing evidence of the overwhelmingly positive impact of nature on our mental and physical health, not only helping to fight obesity, heart disease and depression, but also reducing the risk of all of Diabetes To myopia. A 2019 study published in the natural science journal Scientific Reports showed that spend at least two hours in nature each week has improved overall health and well-being.

Presley said spending time in nature doesn’t necessarily mean going on long hikes or finding great views in scenic spots. People can connect with nature by walking around their neighborhood, sitting in their backyard, or even spending time with their houseplants.

The point is not to overwhelm you with an awesome experience, but to learn to feel a more subtle form of awe.

“It’s the fear of simplicity. It’s the awe of simple beauty, ”Presley said. “I think these kinds of experiences are just as powerful as the amazing experiences we also have in the natural world.”

As Oregonians and people around the world continue to navigate difficult and traumatic times for many, it is more important than ever to have a source of healing on hand, she said. We just need to learn how to access this healing for ourselves and for those around us.

“I think some of the most profound healing experiences are where we just have a change in the way we think about something,” Presley said. “Something that we ourselves didn’t think was possible to feel, do or experience all of a sudden becomes very real and very possible, and it can have a ripple effect on so many areas of life. .

6 PLACES AROUND PORTLAND TO FIND HEALING IN NATURE

These are familiar natural landscapes in and around the Portland area. Some are favorite hiking trails and popular attractions, and all are great places for forest bathing. As you explore, try to keep an open mind, free from any expectations. The healing offered by nature is often subtle, so watch out for little nudges and go with your instincts.

TRYON STREAM

Head to Southwest Portland Tryon Creek State Natural Area, where miles of crisscrossing trails lead over beautiful streams. Let your mind calm down as you walk and let yourself dissolve in the forest. In early spring, discover the Ruth Pennington Trillium Trail, where small trillium flowers still bloom.

HOYT ARBORETUM

With 12 miles of trails along 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from six continents, the Hoyt Aboretum in Portland is a perfect place for forest swimming. Find a tree that calls you and spend time with it. Try to put your hands on its trunk, smell the wood, and look around at the different plants and animals around it.

JAPANESE GARDEN OF PORTLAND

Organized as a place of mediating communion with nature, the Portland Japanese Garden is designed to offer healing, with carefully manicured gardens, calm ponds, and resident wildlife. The landscaping is a nice sight, but there is more than it looks. Find a quiet place to sit in the garden and close your eyes, allowing your other senses to come to life.

OXBOW REGIONAL PARK

Old growth forest along the Sandy River at Oxbow Regional Park outside of Troutdale is a nice place to fall into nature. The rainforest is alive even in winter, when bright spring moss covers everything in sight. As you walk, observe the abundance of life all around you and feel that you are part of this ecosystem.

MARQUAM NATURAL PARK

Marquam Natural Park in southwest Portland is a great place for walking meditation, with many loop trails that cut through a forested canyon. Located next to the OHSU, the park is actively used as a place of healing. Leave the stresses of your daily life behind and feel open as you walk, allowing the natural landscape to soak up your soul.

TUALATIN RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

For those who like to commune with animals and plants, places like the Tualatin River National Wildlife Reserve south of Tigard are an essential resource. Home to wintering waterfowl as well as other birds, mammals, reptiles and fish, the refuge is always bustling. Activating all of your senses can be overwhelming, so pick a place that calls out to you and stay still. From there, you can witness all the interconnected cogs of the ecosystem.

–Jamie Hale; [email protected]; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB