2019 Acura RDX Earns Top Safety Pick Plus Rating From IIHS
The IIHS has named the 2019 Acura RDX a Top Safety Pick Plus after putting it through its full battery of testing. In order to get the Top Safety Pick Plus rating, a vehicle must fulfill the following requirements: earn Good ratings on roof strength, side impact, head restraints, moderate front overlap, and driver's side front small overlap impact; Acceptable or Good on the passenger's side small overlap impact; Advanced or Superior in the front crash prevention test; and offer an available headlight option that scores a Good rating.
Christine Hallquist: First transgender governor nominee picked
A former energy executive in Vermont has taken a major step towards becoming the first ever transgender governor of a US state.
Christine Hallquist defeated three other candidates, including a 14-year-old boy, to win the Democratic Party nomination on Tuesday.
She will now face the incumbent Republican Governor Phil Scott in the general election in November.
Her nomination came on a night of firsts for primary elections.
A former Somali refugee won her race in Minnesota, as did a celebrated teacher in Connecticut who could now become the state's first black Democrat in Congress.
Democrats are hoping for a "blue wave" in the midterm elections to regain control of at least one chamber of Congress.
Ms Hallquist's nomination comes in an election year already marked by record numbers of lesbian, gay and transgender candidates.
There are also a record number of female candidates in elections for governor and for the House of Representatives.
This year, 43 transgender candidates have run for political office at all levels in the US.
But Ms Hallquist is the first transgender person to win a major party nomination for state governor.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND BAHAMAS PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST 2018
GENERAL SITUATION: SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE PERSIST ACROSS THE BAHAMAS MAINTAINING BREEZY CONDITIONS OVER MOST OF THE ISLANDS WHILE A TROPICAL WAVE IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL ENHANCE POCKETS OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT EAST COAST BEACHES IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
WEATHER: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS, HOT AND HUMID WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
NORTHWEST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. MAINLY FAIR AND WARM WITH A FEW BRIEF PASSING SHOWERS TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 93°F 34°C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 77°F 25°C
HEAT INDEX 107°F 41°C
SUNRISE: 6:44AM
SUNSET: 7:42PM
MOONRISE: 11:01AM
MOONSET: 11:08PM
HIGH TIDE: 10:46AM 11:06PM
LOW TIDE: 5:02PM 5:27AM THUR
EXTENDED FORECAST: THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE BAHAMAS WITH GENTLE TO FRESH BREEZES THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION FIVE ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE
NEWS ITEM ON SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION FIVE ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 6AM WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST 2018.
… SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS OVER THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC…
AT 5:00AM EDT, THE CENTER OF SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION FIVE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 37.6°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 45.6° WEST OR ABOUT 1015 MILES WEST OF THE AZORES.
SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION FIVE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 5 MPH, AND THIS GENERAL MOTION WITH A SLIGHT INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TODAY. A FASTER NORTHEASTWARD MOTION IS FORECAST TO OCCUR ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO, AND THE SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A SUBTROPICAL STORM LATER TODAY.
Congratulations to Derak Dean who is in the process of becoming a Certified Dialysis Technician
Congratulations go out to Derak Dean who is in the process of becoming a Certified Dialysis Technician. Derak has successfully completed technical training in a Series Level 1 Dialysis System. The training was conducted by Fresenius Company in Dallas Texas.
Derak is currently a trainee technician at TCI Hospital and works under the supervision of Biomedical Engineers. He is scheduled to undergo additional overseas training in a Level 2 Dialysis System later this year, followed by a final certification examination in 2019. InterHealth Canada has funded the opportunity for professional advancement in an effort to build local capacity.
RESURFACING BLUE HILLS ROUNDABOUT
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning and in particular the Public Works Department, in collaboration with Herzog Caribbean Limited, would like to advise the general public that effective Friday August 17th, 2018 to Monday, August 20th, 2018, Herzog Caribbean Limited will be resurfacing Blue Hills Roundabout as part of the Road Development Phase II project.
Works will commence on Friday August 17th and Herzog will aim to have the roundabout reopened to the public in advance of the August 20th deadline.
During this time, detours will be required to avoid the active work zone. Traffic controllers and Police assistance will be stationed at various locations to help give necessary directions to motorists, thereby ensuring safe and efficient operations. Please thoroughly review the detour map (see attached) to better understand impacts to your daily commute.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning together with Herzog Caribbean Limited apologize in advance for disruptions caused by this work. It is the intention of both the Public Works Department and Herzog to expedite the schedule and minimize disruption to the public.
Houston Rockets sign 10-time NBA All Star Carmelo Anthony
Ten-time NBA All Star Carmelo Anthony has signed for Houston Rockets after agreeing a reported $2.4m deal with the franchise.
The 34-year-old was a free agent after scoring a career-low average of 16.2 points per game with Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
He was traded to Atlanta last month but the Hawks then released him.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist is USA Basketball's all-time leading Olympic scorer.
And he is one of just three players still playing who can boast career game averages of at least 24 points, six rebounds and three assists - Kevin Durant and LeBron James are the others.
Houston narrowly missed out on last season's NBA finals, losing the Western Conference finals 4-3 to eventual champions Golden State Warriors.
Spanish two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has announced he is to retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season.
The McLaren driver will end a career that began with a debut for Minardi at the Australian Grand Prix of 2001. Alonso, 37, who is competing in his 17th F1 season, won the 2005 and 2006 championships when racing for Renault.
"After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport it's time for me to make a change and move on," he said."I made this decision some months ago and it was a firm one. There are still several grands prix to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever," he added.
He joined Toyota's World Endurance Championship (WEC) programme this season with the aim of winning Le Mans, and has dovetailed it with F1.That victory provided him with the second part of motorsport's 'triple crown'. Twice a Monaco Grand Prix winner, he is only missing Indianapolis 500 success.
"I want to thank everyone at McLaren," he said. "My heart is with the team forever.
New Zealand to phase out plastic bags from next year
New Zealand is joining a growing list of countries attempting to get rid of single-use plastic shopping bags.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the decision on Friday, and said the ban was necessary to "safeguard New Zealand's clean, green reputation."
Retailers nationwide seemed to agree, and were quick to voice their support after the announcement, a stark contrast to the recent furor in neighboring Australia over a similar plastic bag ban.
There, plans by major retailers to phase out single-use plastic bags caused outrage, and even violence towards a checkout worker whose neck was grabbed by an angry customer, local media reported.
Facing public and media pressure, major Australian supermarket chain Coles announced last week it would give plastic bags away indefinitely for free. After this sparked more outrage from those concerned about the environment, Coles backtracked the following day, announcing customers would again have to pay a fee for plastic bags.
There haven't been many signs of resistance so far in New Zealand, said associate environment minister Eugenie Sage.
Still, they're not taking any risks. The process will begin with a consultation period, during which people can submit concerns and suggestions online.
"We're listening to New Zealanders who want us to take action on this problem," Ardern said in her statement. "We need to be far smarter in the way we manage waste and this is a good start."