Author: theparknews

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The nation’s biggest battleground state is becoming, at least for now, one of the nation’s most obscure.Florida has historically been considered a crucial state for candidates seeking the White House, resulting in large candidate rallies, alternative events and huge amounts of national funding to fund campaign ads across the state’s 10 expensive media markets.But for the first time in recent political memory, Florida has become a relative afterthought in the presidential election of 2024. While Democrats here are trying to maintain momentum and voter enthusiasm, nearly every measurable factor indicates Florida is not a realistic advantage for…

Famed Mexican-American singer Linda Ronstadt has denounced Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s “hatred” as he prepares to host a rally at a hall named after her in Tucson, Arizona.”Donald Trump will be holding a rally on Thursday in a rented auditorium in my hometown of Tucson. I would love to ignore this sad fact, but the building has my name on it so I have to say something,” the 78-year-old multiple Grammy Award winner said in a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday evening.”It is sad to see a former president stage a hate show in Tucson, a city with…

The JMU men’s basketball 2024-25 schedule has been released, and it’s… awesome. The Dukes’ non-conference schedule features a number of intriguing mid-tier league opponents (Ohio and George Mason come to mind), one power conference opponent (Wake Forest), and a host of other gameplay that perhaps only basketball fanatics would be excited about. This isn’t unusual for the JMU men’s basketball schedule these days, as it’s hard to schedule quality opponents when playing in a mid-tier/small league, but it will come across as disappointing to some JMU fans. Still, the schedule won’t stop the excitement from the 2024-25 season. JMU has…

Inspired by her neighbors, a Kennewick resident started working in banking in the 1990s. Now, 30 years later, she’s built a career in banking and giving back to her community through both her banking work and her work with nonprofits.Kathy Ruggles recently celebrated 18 years with Washington Trust Bank, where she serves as vice president and branch manager of the Kennewick Financial Center branch. “I think the reason I love banking so much is because I have a passion for helping people,” Ruggles said. Starting from scratchWhen Ruggles started in banking, she had no experience in the industry. “A neighbor…

Four Richland companies have been named to the annual list of the nation’s 5,000 fastest-growing companies, according to the latest issue of the business magazine Inc.The list ranks companies based on three-year annual revenue growth.Leading the Tri-Cities companies is Richland-based Epic Trust Financial Group, a financial services firm founded in 2020. According to Inc., the firm was ranked 1,755th and boasted revenue growth of 299% over three years. This is the third consecutive year the firm has appeared on the list. The majority of Epic Trust’s partners and staff now operate as Guardian Financial Group. The ownership group is made…

Unidentified gunmen carried out an execution-style killing, shooting dead seven members of a family, including three children, at their home in rural South Africa, police said Thursday.A five-year-old boy was killed in a shooting at a home in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal late on Wednesday, police said, and the oldest victim was a woman around 55 years old.The motive for the attack, which took place in the High Flats area, about 50 miles northwest of the coastal city of Durban, is still unknown. “Police are convinced this was an execution. It was a planned murder,” provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla…

Civil defense forces and others carry out search and rescue efforts after Israeli forces attacked a school where families were taking shelter in the Nuseira refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images, hide caption Toggle caption Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images NUSERAT REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip — A United Nations agency providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip said an Israeli airstrike hit a school that was sheltering families in central Gaza, killing six staff members. It was the fifth time the Al-Jawni school has come under attack since the…

Marketing is a key component of a financial institution’s business strategy. Marketing drives customer acquisition and retention, promotes high-margin products, builds brand equity, facilitates cross-selling and up-selling, improves customer experience, expands market reach, enables data-driven decision-making, and reduces risk. All of these elements contribute to generating revenue and ensuring the long-term profitability of the financial institution. So marketing isn’t a cost, it’s an investment that can pay off big time by generating profits for your bank or credit union. However, as a bank marketing professional, it’s up to you to prove that your efforts are generating profits or you run…

Luxury small ship cruise line Aqua Expeditions, named #1 Best River Cruise for the second consecutive year in Travel + Leisure magazine’s 2024 World’s Best Awards, has announced it will expand to East Africa with a new expedition ship. This is big news for travellers seeking unique luxury experiences in East Africa. Known for its luxury river cruises along the Amazon and Mekong rivers and luxury yachts in the Galapagos Islands, Aqua Expeditions will now explore the stunning landscapes and wildlife of the Seychelles Islands and Zanzibar, Tanzania, in its signature luxury. “It has long been a dream of mine…

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