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In the latest chapter of the tussle between Disney and the state of Florida, the newly appointed board for a special tax district encompassing Walt Disney World sued the company in Orlando on Monday to try to regain control over expansion at the theme park complex.

The districts complaint involves a pair of contracts that Disney World struck with a prior board that Disney controlled. The agreements adopted at public forums lock in a comprehensive plan for growth on Disneys 25,000-acre property near Orlando, including the possible construction of a fifth theme park and 14,000 additional hotel rooms.

These agreements reek of a back room deal, the districts new board said in its 188-page lawsuit filed in state court. Out of haste or ignorance, Disneys deals violate basic principles of Florida constitutional, statutory and common law. As a result, they are null and void not even worth the paper they were printed on.

Disney declined to comment.

The lawsuit, which had been expected, is the latest volley in a 14-month dispute between Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Disney World, the states largest tax payer and the nations largest single-site employer. Last week, after the new board voted to nullify the development agreements, Disney sued Mr. DeSantis and the new board members, claiming a targeted campaign of government retaliation. Disney filed its lawsuit in federal court in Tallahassee.

The conflict started in March 2022, when Disney joined other companies in criticizing a contentious state education law that, among other things, prohibits classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for young students. (Opponents labeled it Dont Say Gay.) Mr. DeSantis and his Republican allies in the Florida Legislature immediately started to attack Disney as a woke company and began efforts to restrict its long-held autonomy in the state.

At the center of the fight is a 56-year-old special tax district that includes Disney World. The district effectively turned the property into its own county, giving Disney unusual control over fire protection, policing, waste management, road maintenance, bond issuance and, crucially, the planning of real estate development.

In February, lawmakers stripped control of the districts five-member board from Disney and handed it to the governor. When Mr. DeSantiss appointees reported for duty, however, they were incensed to discover that the outgoing board had approved certain development agreements, limiting the new boards power for decades to come.

Disney has repeatedly described the agreements as appropriate and struck in public meetings advertised in The Orlando Sentinel. Florida lawyers who are not affiliated with Disney and experts on development contracts in Florida have said that Disney acted legally.

In its lawsuit on Monday, the new board said otherwise, contending that the agreements were illegal. The board said that the notifications in The Sentinel, for instance, did not fully inform the public or other property owners of the purposes or contents of the development agreement.

Notably, the new board members are trying to wrest back control over a growth plan that was already cleared by the DeSantis administration.

But that was before Disney concerned that a new, politicized board could interfere with the growth plan took the additional step of locking in the approvals.

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Disney Sued by Florida for Control of Theme Park's Expansion - The New York Times

The appeal comes in his message ahead of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated annually on 3 May, in line with a 1993 UN General Assembly resolution.

The focus this year is on the connection between press freedom and overall human rights.

Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice. It gives all of us the facts we need to shape opinions and speak truth to power. But in every corner of the world, freedom of the press is under attack, Mr. Guterres said.

The Secretary-General is away from New York and a video of his message was played during a ceremony in the General Assembly Hall to commemorate the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day.

Prominent journalists and the heads of media and human rights organizations from around the world are attending the event, sharing their experiences and opinions in several panels on subjects such as multilateralism and freedom of expression.

Delivering opening remarks, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UN cultural agency UNESCO, which advocates for the protection of journalists, said 2022 was the deadliest year for the profession.

Last year, 86 journalists were killed, mainly outside war zones. Oftentimes, they were at home with their family, she said. Hundreds more were attacked or imprisoned.

She said the level of impunity for these crimes sends a chilling message because the security of journalists is not a matter just for journalists or international organizations. It is a matter for society as a whole.

Furthermore, reporters are also coming under attack in cyberspace. A 2021 report revealed that three out of four women journalists have been the victim of online harassment, prompting UNESCO to issue recommendations for digital platforms to step up protection.

Ms. Azoulay noted that these challenges are happening at the exact moment when journalists are needed more than ever, as the advent of the digital era has changed the entire information landscape.

Although the Internet has opened new channels for information and expression, it has also provided fertile ground for those seeking to sow disinformation and conspiracy theories.

We find ourselves at a new crossroads, she said. Our current path is leading us away from informed public debates. Away from the very notion of a shared reality on which it depends. A path towards ever more polarization.

She called for greater action to ensure that information can remain a public good, noting thatUNESCO is supporting some 20 countries to develop educational policies in media and information literacy in the digital era.

The agency also organized a major global conference in Paris in February to discuss draft global guidelines for regulating digital platforms, which will be published later this year.

In his keynote address, A.G. Sulzberger, Chairman and Publisher of The New York Times, voiced concern over how threats to press freedom globally ultimately impact multilateralism.

Without journalists to provide news and information that people can depend on, I fear we will continue to see the unraveling of civic bonds, the erosion of democratic norms, and the weakening of the trust in institutions and in each other that is so essential to the global order, he said.

Mr. Sulzberger reflected on how the media landscape has evolved since 1993 - a period of optimism characterized by the apparent end of Cold War divisions, the emergence of fledgling democracies, and technological advancements in information and connectivity. News organizations also enjoyed historic financial strength and seemed well positioned to inform the public.

He said the moment was short-lived as the same technology that allowed journalists to reach people everywhere also forced many thousands of newspapers to close, and digital outlets that emerged were unable to fill the void, particularly in providing critical local and investigative reporting.

The Internet also unleashed the avalanche of misinformation, propaganda, punditry and clickbait that now overwhelms our information ecosystem, often drowning out credible journalism and accelerating the decline in societal trust, he said.

Mr. Sulzberger warned that erosion of the free press is almost always followed by democratic erosion.

And sure enough, this period of weakness for the press has coincided with destabilized democracies and emboldened autocracies. And when democracy erodes, you can be sure that the free press will be the first target, he said.

All over the world autocrats and those who aspire to join their ranks have used censorship, media repression, and attacks on journalists to consolidate power. That's because gaining control of information is essential to gaining control of everything else, he added.

He provided examples from across the globe, including Russia, where journalists who dare to even acknowledge the war in Ukraine face long prison terms.

He also highlighted the case of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Yekaterinburg last month for alleged spying, saying the former Times journalist remains in Russian custody for sham charges and should be released.

Mr. Sulzberger told UN Member States that countering the worldwide assault on the press will only be solved if they take action.

For nations with a strong tradition of a free press, including the United States, this means leaders standing up to secure legal protections for independent reporters and their sources, he said.

For nations where reporting the truth remains perilous, this means the international community must make clear that we'll call out and punish the crackdowns and attacks against journalists no matter where they occur.

He further emphasized the need to address the challenges facing the press, including developing clear financial models for sustaining independent journalism.

We still need a commitment from the digital giants to elevate independent journalism and ensure it stands apart from untrustworthy information on their platforms, he added. And we still need more of the public to value independent journalism enough to support it with their time, their money and their trust.

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Freedom of the press under attack worldwide - UN News

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Arexvy (respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted) for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in individuals 60 years of age and older. This is the first RSV vaccine for older adults to be approved anywhere in the world.

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, said: Today marks a turning point in our effort to reduce the significant burden of RSV. Arexvy is the first approved RSV vaccine for older adults, expanding GSKs industry-leading vaccine portfolio, which protects millions of people from infectious diseases each year. Our focus now is to ensure eligible older adults in the US can access the vaccine as quickly as possible and to progress regulatory review in other countries.

RSV is a common, contagious virus that can lead to potentially serious respiratory illness. It causes approximately 177,000 hospitalisations and an estimated 14,000 deaths in the US in adults aged 65 years and older each year.1,2,3 Older adults, including those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and chronic heart and lung disease, are at increased risk of severe RSV illness and drive the majority of RSV hospitalisations.4

John Kennedy, MD, President, American Medical Group Association (AMGA)added: For decades, AMGA and the healthcare community at large have been active in finding ways to increase adult immunisations. As a result, we are pleased that we can now add a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine to providers options for patient care. With this vaccine, Americans over the age of 60, and particularly those with underlying health conditions like COPD, asthma, or congestive heart failure, will have a vaccine to help protect against potentially serious outcomes from RSV.

The US FDA approval is based on GSKs landmark positive pivotal AReSVi-006 (Adult Respiratory Syncytial Virus) phase III trial data. In the trial, the vaccine showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall efficacy of 82.6% (96.95% CI, 57.994.1, 7 of 12,466 vs 40 of 12,494) against RSV-LRTD in adults aged 60 years and older, meeting the primary endpoint. In addition, efficacy was 94.6% (95% CI, 65.999.9, 1 of 4,937 vs 18 of 4,861) in older adults with at least one underlying medical condition of interest, such as certain cardiorespiratory and endocrine-metabolic conditions. Efficacy against severe RSV-LRTD, defined as an RSV-associated LRTD episode preventing normal, everyday activities, was 94.1% (95% CI, 62.499.9, 1 of 12,466 vs 17 of 12,494).

The vaccine was generally well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile. The most frequently observed solicited adverse events were injection site pain, fatigue, myalgia, headache, and arthralgia. These were generally mild to moderate and transient.

In June 2023, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will make recommendations on the appropriate use of the vaccine in the US. The vaccine will be available for older adults before the 2023/24 RSV season, which typically starts ahead of the winter months.

In April 2023, the European Medicines Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion recommending the vaccine for the prevention of LRTD caused by RSV in adults aged 60 years and older. A final European regulatory decision is anticipated in the coming months, while regulatory reviews are ongoing in Japan and several other countries.

About Arexvy (respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted)

Respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted, contains a recombinant subunit prefusion RSV F glycoprotein antigen (RSVPreF3) combined with GSKs proprietary AS01E adjuvant.

In the US, Arexvy is indicated for the prevention of RSV-LRTD in individuals 60 years of age and older. GSKs RSV older adult vaccine is not currently approved anywhere outside the US. The proposed trade name remains subject to regulatory approval outside the US.

A clinical trial that aims to expand the population who may benefit from RSV vaccination into adults aged 50-59, including participants with underlying comorbidities, is fully recruited. Results are expected in 2023, together with additional results from the AReSVi-006 phase III efficacy trial and the AReSVi-004 immunogenicity trial. These trials continue to evaluate an annual revaccination schedule and protection/immunogenicity over multiple seasons following one dose of the RSV vaccine. Results from two additional influenza vaccine co-administration trials are also expected before the June 2023 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting.

The GSK proprietary AS01 adjuvant system contains QS-21 STIMULON adjuvant licensed from Antigenics Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Agenus Inc.

Please see the full US Prescribing Information: https://gskpro.com/content/dam/global/hcpportal/en_US/Prescribing_Information/Arexvy/pdf/AREXVY.PDF

About RSV in adults

RSV is a common contagious virus affecting the lungs and breathing passages. Older adults are at high risk for severe disease due in part to age-related decline in immunity, and older adults with underlying conditions are at even greater risk for severe disease. RSV can exacerbate conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and chronic heart failure and can lead to severe outcomes, such as pneumonia, hospitalisation, and death. Each year, approximately 177,000 adults 65 years and older are hospitalised in the US due to RSV; an estimated 14,000 cases result in death.3 For adults 60 and older, data suggest an increased risk for severe RSV infection that can lead to hospitalisation.5,6 Adults with underlying conditions are more likely to seek medical services and have higher hospitalisation rates than adults without these conditions.

About GSK

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com/company.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include but are not limited to those described under Item 3.D 'Risk factors in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2022, GSKs Q1 Results for 2023 and any impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV Transmission. Accessed March 2023. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html

[2] National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Older Adults: A Hidden Annual Epidemic. 2016. Accessed March 2023. Available at: https://www.nfid.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/rsv-report.pdf

[3] Falsey AR, et al. N Engl J Med 2005; 352:1749-1759 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa043951. Accessed March 2023.

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV in Older Adults and Adults with Chronic Medical Conditions. Accessed March 2023. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html

[5] Tseng HF, Sy LS, Ackerson B, et al. Severe morbidity and short- and mid- to long-term mortality in older adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus infection. J Infect Dis. 2020;222(8):1298-1310. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaa361.

[6] Belongia EA, King JP, Kieke BA, et al. Clinical features, severity, and incidence of RSV illness during 12 consecutive seasons in a community cohort of adults 60 years old. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018;5(12):ofy316. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofy316.

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US FDA approves GSKs Arexvy, the worlds first respiratory ... - GSK

Cambridge head coach Mark Bonner was frustrated after his side missed the chance to keep their fate in their own hands on the final day of the League One campaign.

The 1-0 defeat to Burton left Bonners side needing both MK Dons and Morecambe to drop points on the last day to have any chance of staying up.

We wanted to go into Sunday with it in our control and it isnt, Bonner said.

We have to respond and win our game firstly and hope other things go for us. Tonight is disappointing because of the opportunity we had to put it in our own hands.

But if we are being honest six weeks ago we would have taken being in it on the last day.

Burtons Mark Helm scored the only goal with a deflected effort and Bonner felt his side contributed to their own downfall.

He added: Their goal came off our own poor play and there are a few teams in the league you dont want to go behind to and they are certainly one of them.

Burton had a few good chances and will say they should have killed the game off, but they didnt so we were always in the game.

Striker Sam Smith thought he had equalised late on with a header saved by Burton goalkeeper Jordan Amissah, with Bonner unsure whether the ball had crossed the line.

Either that is the best save Ive ever seen or the ball has crossed the line, Bonner said.

I dont know which but everyone was celebrating as if it had (crossed the line). Tough to see on the video and the replays but the shape of it looked like it had.

With safety already secured Albion boss Dino Maamria was a happy man as his side reached a season-high 14th spot going into the final game.

I thought it was a very good performance throughout, Maamria said.

We played some good football and got the balance right. We controlled the middle of the park. We scored one and could easily have got two or three.

Maamria praised goalkeeper Amissah, making his first start since January, but reserved his top praise for match-winner Helm, who is finishing the season in really good form having joined from Burnley in January.

He added: Jordi deserved his start. Although he hasnt played, he has been a huge part of what we have been doing and getting that clean sheet is testament to him.

John Brayford and Sam Hughes were superb at the back but what about Mark Helm? What a performance that is. He is a top, top player. He showed what he is capable of, and he is getting better and better.

All in all, lots of positives tonight. We are getting better and better all the time.

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Mark Bonner disappointed as Cambridge lose control of their ... - Kalkine Media

Known to many as both the best hometown in the Army and the intellectual center of the Army, Fort Leavenworth is famous for being the home of the U.S. Armys Combined Arms Center, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, also known as the CGSC, and many other prestigious tenants. While possibly lesser-known than some of the other notable tenants at Fort Leavenworth, the installations own Sherman Army Airfield is no less significant.

As a joint-use facility, the airfield is an important feature to civilians and military alike. Unfortunately, after the historic 2019 Missouri River flood, the airfield was devastated. In response, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District has been working to make repairs and design mitigation measures to prevent future flood damage to the airfield.

History

Flooding in this area happens every few years, with several memorable years being 1951, 1993 and 2011. During the 2019 flood, floodwaters breached the levee and completely submerged the entire airfield. Mark Martinez, an office engineer at the Fort Leavenworth resident office, remembers the flood vividly.

When the flood waters subsided, there were snakes in the rafters of the hangar, he said.

There are still high-water marks visible on the walls of the hanger, a remaining sign of the devastating damage. At that time, the pumps at the airfield did not have the capacity to clear the amount of water that had come in. This forced Public Works to take the only way forward.

The only way they could get rid of the water was to cut the levee and let the water flow out after the water had dropped down, Billy Summers, airfield manager, said. That was the only option they had.

Project Scope

Contract work on the airfield has included demolition, levee repairs, water control structures and more. Val Guillen, a project engineer at the site, outlined the scope of the job.

The work includes repairs to civil infrastructure damage within the airfield and surrounding levee system at Fort Leavenworth that occurred as a result of [the flood], he said.

The main focus of the project, though, has been the design and construction of two pump stations.

These new pumps its a lot more power [than the old ones], Guillen said.

The pumps function through sensory control. When flood waters begin to rise, the initial phase will simply use gravity to let the water flow back into the river. Once the water rises to the initial sensor, a lead pump will kick in, followed by two secondary pumps if floodwaters continue to increase.

Impact

The 2019 flood not only impacted military use of the airfield, which includes Chinook helicopters, prison transfers and medical emergencies, but the local communitys use as well. The airfields main clients are distinguished visitors that fly into Fort Leavenworth to visit the CGSC, as well as major companies that have business in downtown Leavenworth, Kansas. It is important to the installation to be able to continue to provide the airfield as a service to these visitors, Guillen explained.

Even beyond military, commercial and recreational use, the need for flood prevention on the airfield reaches everyone who lives and works on Fort Leavenworth. Located near the airfield are the water wells which provide potable water for the whole installation. During the 2019 flood, those wells were submerged, preventing Fort Leavenworth from supplying their own water like usual.

When those pumps were underwater, we couldnt get our potable drinking water or flushing water or any other kind of water, said Travis Schuler, a construction control representative for the project.

The installation had to buy water from the City of Leavenworth, Kansas, costing the installation additional money. Not being able to sustain themselves was a major concern, the project team explained.

Additionally, the airfield is a noteworthy piece of U.S. Army heritage. It is home to one of the only two flying clubs left on U.S. Army installations nationwide. These clubs give retirees and other eligible members the opportunity to get their pilot licenses and instrument ratings. The public are also able to keep aircraft there.

The team has high hopes for the future of the airfield and envision that one day the flying club might get a better office inside the hangar and that updates to the landing strip and runway will improve the overall experience for those who use the airfield.

The original contract work on the project is nearly finished. The new pumps are in the final stages of testing. The contractor for this project is Radmacher Brothers Excavating Company Inc. They were awarded the contract in September2020.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of calendar year 2023.

Original post:
Stopping the Breach: Kansas City District Engineers work to prevent ... - nwk.usace.army.mil