130-24 : Final Contract Adjustment - Tourmaline Oil Corp. (TOU & FOU) - Special Cash Dividend

Students to receive OSHA HAZWOPER and Microbial Warrior Certification in one session. 

BluSky Restoration Contractors announces new partnership with the Aresty Institute of Executive Education.

Lever360 has emerged to deliver innovation by combining the educational prowess of Restoration Technical Institute (RTI) with the comprehensive run-your-business system of iRestore, renowned for its restoration management software.

First Onsite Property Restoration to co-host a Live Burn and Education Seminar!

A new Restoration Industry Management degree program is set to shape the future of the restoration industry by addressing the critical need for skilled professionals and preparing the next generation of leaders.

Transform every carpet into a vibrant, fresh space your clients can be proud of. This guide walks you through the steps to deliver professional-quality carpet cleaning results—every single time.

Learn how to effectively plan and execute mobilization efforts for hurricane CAT responses. This step-by-step guide covers everything from organizing logistics and securing financing to gathering equipment and managing labor.

Learn how to structure your day for maximum efficiency and safety with our step-by-step guide. From morning briefings and safety meetings to fieldwork and end-of-day debriefings, discover the key strategies to keep operations smooth and your team informed during a hurricane CAT response.

In the aftermath of a hurricane, communities face a number of challenges. This step-by-step guide, powered by KnowHow, walks restoration teams through a hurricane CAT response.

In this video, ProjectorCentral editor Rob Sabin takes a close look at the Da-Lite SightLine cable-drop screen system.

Donald L. Hunter, que ha servido en el consejo durante 20 años, no respondió a los intentos de contactarlo.

The post Guía electoral: Hay un candidato que busca un escaño para “Ward D” del concejo municipal de Farmville appeared first on Charlottesville Tomorrow.

Daniel E. Dwyer, que ha servido en el consejo durante 10 años, no respondió a los intentos de contactarlo.

The post Guía electoral: Hay un candidato que busca un escaño para el concejo municipal de Farmville elegido por todos los residentes appeared first on Charlottesville Tomorrow.

Los votantes tendrán la oportunidad de proponer candidatos por escrito, si así lo desean.

The post Guía electoral: No hay candidatos para el escaño abierto para el concejo municipal de Stanardsville appeared first on Charlottesville Tomorrow.

El candidato no respondió a los intentos de contactarlo.

The post Guía electoral: El concejal actual es el único candidato para el distrito de Stanardsville del consejo de supervisores del condado de Greene appeared first on Charlottesville Tomorrow.

Ninguno respondió a los intentos de contactarlos.

The post Guía electoral: Tres candidatos buscan dos escaños para el consejo municipal de Mineral appeared first on Charlottesville Tomorrow.

The winner won't be called until all the provisional votes are counted.

The post Just 2 votes separate two mayoral candidates who have different views on the Town of Scottsville’s growth appeared first on Charlottesville Tomorrow.

A national report on local news calls Charlottesville Tomorrow one of 12 "bright spots" in a beleaguered ecosystem.

The post Our supporters have built up a ‘bright spot’ in local news appeared first on Charlottesville Tomorrow.

02-2014 : Montréal Exchange Derivatives Education Initiative Continues to Grow

04-2014 : Montréal Exchange brings options trading to university campuses across Canada

01-2017 : MX Brings OptionsPlay to Canada's Derivatives Market

Today’s PCC Podcast features a review of yesterday’s PA House Committee meeting on the bill to prevent biological males from participating as females in sports across our state. We also have the first two installments of “Capitol Insight. “ https://fb.watch/7b_n1kgQBS/  

We talked with Jay DeFruscio, the Chief Operating Officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools, about the huge benefit provided by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. Here are three of the postings we shared on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/o9mfCwioL8PfuHa8/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/8Hbz7PVfKdKSFrWM/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/d83WFnKC8ZZ4oQAi/?mibextid=WC7FNe    

Our series on Maternal & Early Childhood Issues continues today with a look at the extensive work being done by the Community Based Services segment of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. https://fb.watch/bHhrh-1oe7/

There was a lot going on this week at the PA Capitol and work continues to try to get a budget in place by the Sunday deadline. Here are some highlights from the week as posted on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1aqPW3tYtMySPUcY/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/iPW4XyHKBf3oNVpA/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/MRTAq999kpMtkhv9/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/7ZdipDQTXzD21sM1/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/HMNCDYPoBPLBkMHn/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2R5HH7NwBWVfMptZ/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/EhG7jnpXiU6wgbM9/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/ZpTH7M8RmkWASUTD/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/s2DhksEQn8eiyWhR/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/RwnUBVxxYpHCEds3/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/HGy8LvPkMrWfaUSQ/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/GZB94RZN77WXGCkq/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/8dkx16UsiGUsi7y1/?mibextid=WC7FNe

The PA House and Senate were both in session this past week at the PA Capitol in Harrisburg. Here are a few highlights that were posted on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/kpVrbTF41UPcBL54/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/uik5nA16bt1GWLqq/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QazY1igbzN39gMnp/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/xErRDMW4up3xqnUd/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/BTANcczmJ8tWi1nF/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Gir5L55U3Jmbjwbe/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jkV5K1hAcJqWgv8R/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Qyo2YZxaYrJzf5wh/?mibextid=WC7FNe    

The PA House and Senate were both in session this week in Harrisburg. Here are a few highlights, as posted on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/XacBkpVDrM8KK2wk/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/43GWBfQD9Ug8vQrn/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/pVnfMZ3LweFitSdt/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/XJ3jW2v9GmqTdYoH/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/kzUokt3YHpaa1AvD/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QH6Gs5ErWZecLbtX/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/oE5iuzdYKwQpNqBs/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/V14dd8txoWRGF477/?mibextid=WC7FNe  

It was a week of long days and late nights at the PA Capitol in Harrisburg. The House and Senate passed a $47.6-billiion budget Thursday night and the Governor quickly signed it. Here are some of the highlights from the week as we posted on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jB4x3LorzSqsLGGH/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/e6znUQoeEmS8bEVb/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/xRefuvWNigC7J8Yr/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/3XkX2ARAsyAwBKq4/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/7UMepHi21UzpeVFP/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/xWuE2TTU16vzTbGr/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/VhN9DPhZXAQfNshK/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/TjJfE13g46cUwRSt/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/zSvyP6CHK366W8hp/?mibextid=WC7FNe    

There were actually a few things happening this past week at the PA Capitol, including a committee meeting. Here are the postings we featured on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/AzvyoRbqGz9T9eUb/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/ZuZMKFaYECxAHEb4/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/64FEnHSzn7y465JV/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/iHxcnGq66i1m4mtY/?mibextid=WC7FNe

In January Brian Lynch founded the South Central PA Chapter of the Young Catholic Professionals. We talked with Brian about the group. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/kwRbNff8kzdAxMAv/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/8NpLfyUb7crA35JB/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/7twzgWxPv2LaUsab/?mibextid=WC7FNe  

It was a very light week for activity inside the PA Capitol in Harrisburg. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2twZhe3eUW5ZJvvj/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/WYgvZG5kRNGm5doS/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qK1GmVTnFY4xtKu1/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/DAmTVrp7ytqHbrYM/?mibextid=WC7FNe  

The PA House and Senate were both in session this past week at the PA Capitol. Here are the highlights as we posted them on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/91gte3oN22z3gcvd/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/36rT8WAJXtqMrdDR/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Mipw7kCWijArooH3/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jmdqNWHwEFRMbsej/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jmdqNWHwEFRMbsej/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/8a8QBvQ6KecfTUNp/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/sDwrwx4tiJfEw4qx/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/sDwrwx4tiJfEw4qx/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/hWRi35AmpYPNWqMH/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1RCQUhW2Tkq3kuyN/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1RCQUhW2Tkq3kuyN/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/H5sgwM6UTcTyqekr/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QwZ9hNGA6rr9V1gz/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/3dCRP1MuPDNskLA1/?mibextid=WC7FNe  

From the USCCB – June 4, 2018 – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The case involves a Christian baker named Jack Phillips who declined in 2012 to create a custom wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony. State officials sought to compel Phillips to create such cakes under Colorado’s public accommodations law. The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Phillips under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., of Philadelphia, Chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, and Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued the following joint statement: “Today’s decision confirms that people of faith should not suffer discrimination on account of their deeply held religious beliefs, but instead should be respected by government officials. This extends to creative professionals, such as Jack Phillips, who seek to serve the Lord in every aspect of their daily lives. In a pluralistic society like ours, true tolerance allows people with different viewpoints to be free to live out their beliefs, even if those beliefs are unpopular with the government.” The USCCB filed an amicus curiae brief supporting Masterpiece Cakeshop, which can be found here: http://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/16-111-tsac-USCCB.pdf.        

You will never guess where you can find a wide selection of biblical quotations when you visit Harrisburg. Well, yeah, the bible. But I’m talking a building. It’s the State Capitol of all places–hard to believe in this day and age where there is always someone looking to be offended. PA Rep. Kathy Rapp, a Republican out of the northwestern part of the state, put out a nice booklet that is complete with the verses and the scenes that accompany those verses. Many are in the Governor’s reception room, House chambers and Senate chambers. Rapp stated in the first page of her book “Pennsylvania’s history and heritage is rooted in religious significance. From William Penn’s own vision and statement of establishing a Holy Experiment, to the first laws proposed by the General Assembly, to the first section of the first Constitution, the Charter of Privileges, entitled the freedom of conscience, our founders based their way of life on religious convictions. There are verses from the Old Testament, including Isaiah 42:1,4,7,10 “Behold my servant whom I uphold to pen the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. Sing unto the Lord a new song ye that go down to the sea.” There are also several from the New Testament and the Gospels, like Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake.” No, this would not happen today. Not with the hyper-politically correct world we live in. In fact, it’s kind of surprising no one has fought to take it down. Maybe they have and I don’t know it. For example… There’s a case involving Lehigh County and the cross on its county seal that was added in 1944. It was fine then, but of course it had to offend somebody eventually. Yep. It did. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation—how they came across the symbol is beyond me—joined four Lehigh County residents and filed a lawsuit. According to the Morning Call, they argued “the seal was a violation of their first amendment rights.” U.S. District Judge Edward G. Smith agreed with the folks who were offended. He ruled in September that Lehigh Co. would have to change it on flags, cars or other property but could keep it on older documents. The County appealed to the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which is waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to act on a similar case before it makes a ruling.  

PA Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) is praising a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals which will uphold the traditional practice of having a session-opening prayer. “We are pleased that the Third Circuit has found that our prayer complies with the United States Constitution,” Turzai said, “and has issued a precedent setting decision entirely in the House’s favor. As a result, we expect the House to be able to resume its tradition of welcoming guest chaplains as it has in the past.” In 2016 a group of atheists and other non-believers sued the House, claiming their exclusion as guest chaplains violated the Constitution. The plaintiffs also challenged the presiding officer’s traditional request to rise for the prayer and the pledge to the flag. Last year, a federal judge in Harrisburg ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and limited the practice to member-led prayers. But the House appealed. Late last month a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit ruled in the House’s favor on all counts. “By a 2-1 vote the panel held the House’s prayer practices were constitutional because they fit within the long history of legislative prayer in this country,” Turzai said. “The majority explained that ‘only theistic prayer can satisfy the historical purpose of appealing for divine guidance in lawmaking.’” Turzai said the panel ruled 3-0 that it is constitutional and not coercive to request that guests stand for the prayer and the pledge.              

Both the House and Senate were in session this week in Harrisburg. The PA Catholic Conference saw a number of bills passed that we support. That included–in the House– a package of 8 bills to combat human trafficking and a bill to assure that clergy members would not be prevented from visiting long-term care facilities during any future government emergencies.  There were also 3 pro-life bills that passed the House Health Committee. Here are the postings that we made this week as these events occurred. Lawmakers are back at the Capitol today! Just underway…this joint public hearing by the Education and Human Services Committees on mental health services provided to PA’s secondary students in the wake of the pandemic and resulting shutdown. @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems pic.twitter.com/sypuExY2TR — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 24, 2021 Rep. Curt Sonney and Rep. Stephen Kinsey ask Sherri Smith of the PA Dept. of Education about the issue of ‘chronic absenteeism’ over the past year or so. Smith says some students thrived on remote learning while others had problems with it. @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems pic.twitter.com/5ol4gjyxgT — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 24, 2021 Many lawmakers and just as many interested/frustrated residents attend this public hearing on issues facing unemployment compensation in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers have also been sharing their frustrations with the system for several months. @PaHouseDems @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/tW8QCHHGFf — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 24, 2021 The PA House Transportation Committee unanimously passes SB 445 by Sen. Bob Mensch that will provide for contributions to breast cancer research during vehicle registration. The vote was welcomed by members of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems pic.twitter.com/yIFS7myHYj — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 24, 2021 It’s not often you get total consensus with PA lawmakers and residents on any issue. Maybe ever. But that’s the case with the answering of unemployment claims over the past several months. The House Labor & Industry Comm. is hearing from state officials. @PaHouseDems @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/ccFU47ALbC — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 24, 2021 PA House Transportation Comm. debates, then passes Senate Bill 114 by Sen. Lisa Boscola. It would require drivers to make reasonable efforts to clear snow and ice from their cars & trucks before driving. The bill had passed the senate last session. @SenLisaBoscola @PaSenateDems pic.twitter.com/SzeH1hrm9B — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 24, 2021 Today in PA House: the second reading for eight bills designed to combat human trafficking. While no vote was taken, it paves the way for a final vote as early as tomorrow. The PCC supports these bills in our continued efforts to fight human trafficking. @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems pic.twitter.com/QoeA29Jswm — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 24, 2021 Just underway at the PA Capitol….House Health Committee is discussing and and then voting on three pro-life bills. @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems pic.twitter.com/tPw8QNFari — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 Rep. Kate Klunk is giving comments on her HB 1500–the Down Syndrome Protection Act. It would protect an unborn child from being aborted solely on the basis of a diagnosis of Down syndrome. House Health Comm. will vote on it after member comments. @RepKateKlunk @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/3TXpMa9YFy — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 HB 1500 passes along party lines. @PaHouseDems @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/1fFsvhFhdu — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 Rep. Frank Ryan’s addresses the PA House Health Committee on his HB 118, which would give parents the option of burial or cremation after the death of their unborn baby. @FrankRyanCPA @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/fZbUluEd02 — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 Rep. Stephanie Borowicz talks about her HB 904, the Fetal Heartbeat Bill, which would prohibit an abortion once a heartbeat is detected in the unborn baby. A vote is pending in the PA House Health Committee. @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/8mwEcZtz32 — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 PA House Health Committee passes HB 118. On party lines. @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/ZHBSIfY7FJ — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 PA House Judiciary Comm. has passed HB 1095. It calls for a life sentence for anyone convicted of 3rd-degree murder of an unborn child who has been convicted of murder, voluntary manslaughter, murder of an unborn child or voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child. @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/IJquQHkI2g — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 PA House Judiciary Comm. debates HB 659, which removes requirement for law-abiding individuals to obtain a concealed handgun permit before being allowed to carry concealed for self-defense. Sponsor Rep. Aaron Bernstine answers questions about the bill. @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems pic.twitter.com/iBkQ8A4qlI — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 PA House Judiciary Comm. debates HB 659, which removes requirement for law-abiding individuals to obtain a concealed handgun permit before being allowed to carry concealed for self-defense. Sponsor Rep. Aaron Bernstine answers questions about the bill. @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems pic.twitter.com/iBkQ8A4qlI — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 BEST PART OF THE WEEK HERE!! Great to see members of the Bishop Guilfoyle girls basketball team at the Capitol today!! State champions, by the way. Great job ladies!! ??? @BishopGuilfoyle @BG_LadyHoops pic.twitter.com/tiNaHM4go3 — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 The PA House Judiciary Comm. passes HB 1095. It would add the murder of someone’s unborn child to the offenses that are considered in order for a convicted defendant to be sentenced to life imprisonment. Rep. Rob Kauffman answered a question about his bill. @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/2BxP71pRCB — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 Extensive debate this afternoon on the PA House floor on HB 1144, which would create separate regulations for the conventional oil and gas industry and the unconventional type, aka fracking. Rep. Kathy Rapp speaks in support by answering some of the criticism. @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/KrJ2xm7lQ1 — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 The PA House is now passing a package of bills designed to fight human trafficking. The PCC supports these measures. They include HB 246, which prohibits evidence based on the victim’s past sexual history. Rep. Natalie Mihalek spoke on her bill. @PaHouseDems @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/I9B7dwALpr — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 The PA House also passes HB 1130 by Rep. Craig Williams, which would require convicted human traffickers to register as sex offenders. Rep. Williams talked about his bill @PaHouseDems @PAHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/gYotE5myKH — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) May 25, 2021 The PA House has completed the passage of bills […]

There will be a shift at the helm of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference beginning June 1, 2018. Eric A. Failing, PCC’s current social concerns director, will assume the role upon the retirement of Robert J. O’Hara, Jr. after his 21 years as executive director. Prior to joining the PCC staff as social concerns director, Failing was vice president of sales, marketing and development for Pennsylvania Legislative Services. In his year since joining the PCC team, he has spearheaded efforts to pass bills that would ban the practice of abortion for a Down syndrome diagnosis in the womb, expand services to the poor, address the crisis of drug addiction, and other issues. When he announced his plans to retire in March, O’Hara told CatholicPhilly.com that he counts programs that benefit Catholic school families, namely expanding the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC), among his proudest accomplishments.  He has also worked tirelessly to promote social concerns, access to health care for the poor, pro-life issues and the ability of religious organizations to operate according to their beliefs without government interference. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference was established in 1960 to give witness to spiritual values in public affairs and to provide an agency for corporate Catholic service to the statewide community. It serves as the public affairs agency of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania. Its mission is to formulate positions on public policy issues, officially represent the Church before state government, and to foster a public understanding of the Church’s teaching and concern about morality, health, welfare, human rights, education and the common good. The PCC gets involved with a wide variety of issues that span across the political spectrum. Visit www.pacatholic.org for the latest news and legislative updates, to lend your voice to advancing the Church’s position in the State Capitol through the PA Catholic Advocacy Network. Congratulations, Eric Failing, on your new job, and Bob O’Hara upon your retirement. Godspeed to you both!

Religious News Service reporter Bobby Ross, Jr. recently asked this question, “When adoption agencies can turn away gay prospective parents, what happens to the kids?” With conflicts between religious based adoption and foster care agencies and government non-discrimination regulations playing out across the country including the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, this is an important question. In March, the City of Philadelphia issued an urgent call for 300 new foster parents to provide loving homes for some of the over 6,000 kids in Philadelphia foster care. That same month, the City abruptly barred Catholic Social Services, one of the city’s top-rated foster agencies, from placing children with foster families. This decision makes it exponentially harder for hundreds of children in need of foster care to find homes. Foster homes are sitting empty, even as the city begs for more families to help in its foster care crisis. Catholic Social Services and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been serving children throughout Philadelphia for over a century. Their Catholic mission drives them to find loving homes for all children in their care, regardless of the child’s race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. Catholic Social Services currently serves over 100 children in foster homes. No family or individual has ever complained that the agency’s Catholic mission prevented them from fostering or adopting a child. Sharonell Fulton from Overbrook Farms has been a foster parent for over 25 years. She has opened her home to over 40 children, including two children currently in her care. She strives to provide a loving, stable home and treat each child as if they were her own. To do that, Fulton relies on Catholic Social Services’ help, including around-the-clock support and access to information and resources. “What justice is there in taking stable, loving homes away from children?” Fulton said in a statement to CatholicPhilly.com. “If the city cuts off Catholic Social Services from foster care, foster moms like me won’t have the help and support they need to care for the special-needs kids.” By freezing and threatening to cancel its foster care contract with the CSS, the city is “taking away this help and causing harm and heartache to countless families like mine,” Fulton said. The children will suffer if parents like Fulton do not have the support they need. In May, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court in Philadelphia on behalf of archdiocesan Catholic Social Services (CSS), Sharonell Fulton and two other women caregivers associated with the archdiocesan agency. They asked the court to halt the city’s harmful policy. A hearing is expected later this year.

Catholic adoption agencies across the state have been curtailing or stopping their work altogether as a result of a policy by the Wolf Administration that would take away a lot of their power to decide who would be the best parents for adoption. PA Rep. Dave Zimmerman (R-Lancaster) says there is still hope that a religious exemption will be granted by lawmakers for organizations. “A number of us in the House actually held up the budget because of a religious exemption, related to the Foster care and adoption,” Zimmerman told me in his Lancaster district office. Despite their determined efforts the Governor held firm and it was kept out. “They took the religious exemption out, which means an adoption agency would have to work with any type of family arrangements, whether it’s a man and wife, or an LGBT couple. They would have to work with all of those.” Zimmerman and several of his colleagues would like to see the exemption established. They have an agreement from House and Senate leadership to run bills in the fall to make that happen. “This is just one area. So the question is ‘what’s next?’” Zimmerman said. “I believe that our country and our state were established on religious liberty, religious freedom. We need to have these religious exemptions available to business and family throughout our state. It’s very important.” Zimmerman said another issue that drew debate in the last session was the compulsory age for education. The current law requires children between the ages of eight and 17 to be in school. But new regulations installed in one of the budget codes would expand that from six to 18. Zimmerman was one of the lawmakers who opposed the change. “There are a lot of issues with that,” he said. “Some children are just not ready at six. What about someone who graduates early? What about—in our district—the Plain community that gets work permits at 15?  None of that has been really addressed at this point, so there are some real concerns about the compulsory age.” The age change was something that was being pushed by the Governor, Zimmerman said. Even though it was placed in the budget, he says there will be an effort in the fall to get the change modified. ‘I also look at it as a liberties issue,” Zimmerman added. “The parents can probably make a better decision on their children than government.” Zimmerman remains very committed to pro-life issues. He voted for the Down Syndrome Protection Act and has signed on as a co-sponsor to Rep. Stephanie Borowicz’s (R-Centre, Clinton) “heartbeat” abortion bill, which he hopes to see introduced in the fall.

Senior Research Associate Stephen Hoskins CREA The issues facing a growing silver population are gaining ground. Singapore’s baby boomers are now exiting the workforce. Would those approaching retirement have enough resources to maintain their current standard of living? Would future policy changes in healthcare, housing and pension impact their retirement adequacy? Facing a rapidly ageing population, Singapore is presented with urgent policy challenges. Yet there is very little data on the economic, health and family circumstances of older Singaporeans. In response, the Centre for Research on the Economics of Ageing, or CREA, at the Singapore Management University has been collecting monthly data on a panel of Singaporeans aged between 50 and 70 years, resulting in the Singapore Life Panel®, or SLP. SMU’s Prof Bryce Hool and Prof Rhema Vaithianathan detail the methodology by which the SLP was constructed, in a published paper titled High-Frequency Internet Survey of a Probability Sample of Older Singaporeans: The Singapore Life Panel®. In this podcast, Stephen Hoskins, Senior Research Associate at CREA introduces the SLP and how it yields rich and remarkable insights to Singapore’s ageing situation. Additional Info High-frequency Internet survey of a probability sample of older Singaporeans: The Singapore Life Panel - by Rhema Vaithianathan, Bryce Hool, Michael D. Hurd, Susann Rohwedder

Associate Professor of Accounting Holly Yang from SMU’s School of Accountancy has researched on the role of individual managers in corporate disclosure and determinants of firms’ voluntary disclosure decisions. Together with co-author Associate Prof Young Jun Cho, she is currently working on publishing a paper on Institutional Cross Ownership of Peer Firms and Investment Sensitivity to Stock Price. In this podcast, she discuss how cross-ownership of industry peers helps institutional investors better acquire industry insights and produce private information, thus allowing managers to incorporate this information in their investment decisions.

The rise of new technologies is changing the way companies raise funds. Along with increased popularity of crowdfunding in recent years, a new form of funding has emerged – that is, the use of Initial Coin Offerings, or ICOs. In 2017, companies in the United States raised over $4 billion through ICOs; in 2018, more than $21 billion has been raised. ICOs generate many challenges for securities regulators, and also give rise to other issues including corporate governance, data protection, anti-money laundering and insolvency. Assistant Professor Aurelio Gurrea-Martínez from the SMU School of Law has conducted legal research on financial regulation. In this podcast, he shares his recent comparative and interdisciplinary study which addresses the issue of ICOs and makes recommendations to regulators and policy makers in a way that aims to promote innovation and firms’ access to finance without harming investor protection, market integrity and the stability of the financial system.

Assistant Prof Yeo Su Lin – Death is a part of life. However, people often feel awkward and ill at ease when faced with the opportunity for communication at the end of life. While talking about death and dying may not be comfortable for some, research has shown that having these conversations within families and communities, and with our healthcare provider can help prepare us emotionally for our deaths and that of others, and better ensure that we will receive the care and treatment that we prefer at the end of life. Yeo Su Lin is an Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication at SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Her research focuses on corporate reputation, crisis management and health communication. In this podcast, she discusses a recent nationwide study which was conducted to better understand end-of-life communication and sentiments towards palliative care in Singapore.

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in improving the quality of care for the elderly, be it enhancing aged care patient experience, developing home-care for an ageing population, or automating clinical processes. Associate Professor Tan Hwee Pink from SMU’s School of Information Systems, together with his team, have extensive ground experience in developing and deploying senior-centric technologies, from previous research projects at SMU. They are now collaborating with NTUC Healthcare Co-operative Ltd, a key provider of community programmes for seniors in Singapore, to use smart technology to enhance the operational efficiency and productivity of NTUC Healthcare’s centres. In this podcast, he discusses the type of technologies deployed in the project with NTUC Healthcare, the preliminary results achieved, and the challenges faced.

Building on research conducted in 2018 on the clear and positive link between high levels of psychological safety and a strong teamwork culture, Richard Smith, Professor of Strategic Management and Deputy Dean (Programmes) at the SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business, has now dug deeper by focusing on diversity. How does closing the gender gap within organisations in Asian countries impact overall company performance? Are employees more productive, or less, with a sense of belonging to the workplace? In this podcast, Professor Smith discusses the key findings of his research conducted in collaboration with consultancy group Great Place to Work Institute Singapore. The rigorous study, one of the largest in Asia to highlight gender differences, surveyed over 400,000 employees from more than 800 organisations located across eight countries in the Asia Pacific.

Global warming and climate change have created an unprecedented global interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially in energy production. Biomass, or organic matter, which is a renewable energy source that can replace fossil fuels in energy production is gaining popularity. Consequently, commercialising agricultural residues as biomass is gaining momentum in many countries. In a pioneering study, Onur Boyabatli, Associate Professor of Operations Management and DBS Sustainability Fellow at SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business, together with Assistant Professor of Operations Management Buket Avci, and PhD student Li Bin, studied the economic and environmental implications of biomass commercialisation in agricultural processing industries. In this podcast, Associate Professor Boyabatli shares his insights into this trending subject and the policy implications of their research findings.

11/14/2024 - 9:30 PM - Venue: Applebeess South

11/14/2024 - 12:00 PM - Venue: Assistance League of Pueblo