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.              

  The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference applauds the Supreme Court’s decisions in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James Catholic School v. Biel. In both cases, the Court reaffirmed the religious liberties guaranteed in the United States’ Constitution. “These are incredibly important rulings for so many groups across the country,” said Eric Failing, the Executive Director of the PCC. “They take a big stand for religious liberty as a First Amendment freedom, which is continually being threatened. We are happy the Court has clearly recognized the importance of religious liberty to our nation.”

The Health Committee within the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved a resolution which condemns the free availability of pornography based on the public health hazard that it presents by harming children and families across the Commonwealth. “It’s a public awareness resolution,” said Chairman Matt Baker (R-Tioga). With the resolution, Pennsylvania joins nineteen other states that have passed or introduced a similar measure. “Most people understand pornography is bad, and child pornography is particularly bad,” continued Baker. The resolution cites that due to advances in technology, young children are now exposed to pornography at alarming rates, with as many as 27% of older millennials reporting that they first encountered explicit pornography before even reaching puberty. “As someone with two small daughters, I think that it’s something we owe a certain amount of time and effort to look at,” said Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-WestmorelandAllegheny). House Resolution 519 also encourages a three-pronged approach to confronting this issue with education, prevention and research and policy change at the community and social levels. Prior to the vote, Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) stated that her intent is to “make sure that families are aware of this issue, that it is a concern and it can become, if it not already is, a public health crisis.”

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.

On Tuesday, 9 July the full House Appropriations Committee marked up their Commerce-Justice-Science, Interior and Environment, and Energy and Water spending bills for fiscal year (FY) 2025. These bills collectively set the spending amounts for U.S. federal science agencies, including NASA, NOAA, NSF, USGS, EPA, the Department of Energy. Under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Congress established spending caps for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The Act allows only a 1% …

The post FY25 Appropriations overview part 1: House spending numbers mark weak support for science appeared first on The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy.

In this Bridge post, continued from our FY25 Appropriations Overview Part 1 blog, we’ll cover the House’s Interior-Environment, Energy-Water, and Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS) spending bills for fiscal year (FY) 2025—detailing relevant funding levels and sharing committee report highlights that impact the Earth and space sciences.   House Interior-Environment Appropriations bill and accompanying report.   United States Geological Survey (USGS) FY2024 President’s Budget Request FY2025 AGU Request FY2025 House …

The post FY25 Appropriations overview part 2: House spending numbers mark weak support for science appeared first on The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy.

The latest advances in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin and production technology are making it possible to design all-PE structures for even the most demanding applications.

Businesses are seeking innovative ways to reduce their environmental impact and invest in sustainability. A Gartner survey found that 87% of business leaders plan to increase their sustainability investment in the next two years. There is pressure from investors, supply chains, and consumers to make more sustainable decisions.

The 250ml Domino bottle includes a 75-mm-wide front face and customizable side panels.

Best practices at the highly automated Mountain View Foods plant in Denver preserve milk’s freshness and help Kroger develop innovative dairy-based products.

PMMI has welcomed Delkor Systems’ Patty Andersen as the 2023 chairperson of the Board, marking the first time a woman has held the position in the association’s history. 

Packaging option is a 100% paper-based alternative to shrink wrap for bundling beverage multi-packs. 

Ecopol’s recently completed production facility in Griffin, Georgia, successfully began operations in fourth quarter 2023 and is now serving customers across North America.

Jackson assumes this role after rising through a series of positions with increasing responsibility within Novolex and, before joining the company, broad experience in general operations and consulting. 

In his new role as Vice President, Marcus will focus on strategic business development, ensuring PulPac maintains its competitive edge while advancing its position as a leader in sustainable packaging solutions.

Sabri Demirel has just been appointed new managing director of Romaco North America. He succeeds Charles Ravalli, who retired in April 2019. 

Craig will be responsible for driving growth of the company’s business across its Healthcare and Industrial markets in North America, Europe and Asia.

This large-format quad-seal pouch is designed to meet the growing demand for recyclable packaging solutions for premium pet food, lawn and garden care, and dry foods for products up to 40 lbs.

The new products will be presented at Sappi’s booth (Hall 4A, Stand 306) at this year’s FACHPACK (September 24-26) in Nuremberg, Europe’s central meeting place for the packaging industry and its users.

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) today released its slate of packaging sessions as part of the PROCESS EXPO UNIVERSITY educational program taking place at Chicago's McCormick Place from September 15-18, 2015.

Psychotherapy: Three approaches evaluated- Institut national de la sant� et de la recherche m�dicale.

The Fox IV C9100 system marks an innovative shift in the industry, as customers were previously limited to black-and-white or pre-printed options that didn’t offer much precision or flexibility.

HERMA applicators are being used in a labeling solution that Gernep has just completed for the Sterzing dairy farm.

The inclusion of an all-new label liner rewinder further optimizes operations by keeping the waste liner material off the floor and winding it into a roll for easy disposal.

Epson ColorWorks on-demand color label printer with 6-axis robot delivers print-and-apply label application system.

The RF Dispensing System features big performance and is available in several configurations to best suit unique requirements.

Leverwood is laser focused on high-quality blades that offer the cleanest, most precise cuts.

Automation by Rockwell, an award-winning educational platform on sustainable packaging, and pouch filling and sealing equipment are among the many packaging innovations to be on display.

The new Chameleon bottle from Berry Agile Solutions features an outstanding construction that enables a base section with a special textured finish.

This cutting-edge machine is poised to attract pharmaceutical professionals and companies eager to enhance production efficiency and maintain compliance with stringent industry standards.

Learn more about how these companies are leading the charge when it comes to developing and offering innovative and sustainable cannabis packaging solutions.

Entering its 16th year, Converters Expo is once again bringing converters of paper, film, plastics, and nonwovens together with industry buyers, specialists and suppliers in what is sure to be one of the biggest industry events of the year. 

During the exhibition, attendees can view curated videos showcasing how Bradman Lake's equipment seamlessly integrates across different packaging processes.

HexcelPack’s Mini Packing Station can be used to dispense the company’s sustainable HexcelWrap cushioning paper.

While some groups say that fresh produce packaging is unnecessary and should be removed, British Apples & Pears Limited says the protective and shelf-life enhancing properties of packaging should be considered.

With over 15 years of experience in the manufacturing and operations sector, Ben brings a wealth of expertise to the new role.

Ossid, a ProMach brand, is a leading manufacturer of sustainable, efficient tray packaging, flow wrapping, thermoforming fill seal, industrial scale and labeling machinery for the food, e-commerce and medical device industries.

 Police Innovations LLC eliminates damage in transit with orbital wrapper.

Wrapper prevents loads from sliding off the pallet and adds protection from damage in transit.

Strapping systems can be a great solution for packaging temperature-sensitive products by providing load breathability, which is essential for maintaining cold temperatures in transit.

Manufactured through a process of Structural Foam Injection, the pallet boasts exceptional durability and reliability, making it an optimal choice for use within the industrial and automotive sectors.

The Preview Week event, Nov. 2-6, will kick-off with a webinar, Helpful Hints for Navigating PACK EXPO Connects, on Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. CT. It will provide tips and tricks for using the platform and offer Q&A with attendees to help them make the most out of their PACK EXPO Connects experience.

Regulatory legislation such as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has been the driving force behind food manufacturers and packagers taking a closer look at their conveyor systems to ensure compliance and hygienic standards are making the grade.

Attendees are invited to visit stand C100 to witness the renowned FT120 Flow Wrapper in action, now featuring the latest integrated sealing module designed for horizontal sealing.

Based on the company’s “Test Before You Invest” program, the center enables companies to test their products on inspection systems.

In this insightful article, Beth Zipko of Source Wurx makes the case that no element of private label products has improved more rapidly and dramatically than packaging, which has evolved from eyeroll-inducing to eye-catching. 

Richmond Fed Pres. parking is speaking and says:

• Fed is in position to respond appropriately regardless of how economy involves.
• US economy looks pretty good
• Labor market is resilient.
• From here, labor market mighty be fine or may continue to weaken.
• Inflation might be coming under control or might risk getting stuck above Fed 2% target.
• Feds focus may turn to upside inflation risks or to downside employment risks, depending on how economy develops.

The market is pricing a 65% chance of a 25 basis point cut in December. That is down over the last week or so (it was in the high 70%s last week).

US yields are higher but off their highest levels:

• 2-year 4.314%, +6.1 basis points
• 5-year 4.269%, +7.6 basis points
• 10-year 4.370%, +6.3 basis points
• 30 year 4.516%, +3.7 basis points

Gold has been trending higher for a while now as traders hopped on the risk/safety trade going into the US election. Also higher inflation fear may have conttibuted. Finally, technicals were a help.

Looking at the daily chart below, apart from a day or two in February, the price has traded above the 100-day MA (blue line on the chart below) for every other day of the 2024 year. That MA is still well below at $2534.81. The current price is at $2619.79. Getting below it would be needed to give the sellers more control from a longer-term perspective.

Drilling down to the hourly chart below, the price trend move to the upside has seen corrective moves this year. More specifically, the price has alternated from trending with the price trading above the 100 and 200-hour moving averages, to correcting when the price fell below those moving averages.

On October 31st the price moved back below its 100-hour moving average. On November 1, and again on November 6 and November 8, the price retested the 100-hour moving average (on upside corrective moves) and found willing sellers against that moving average level. The sellers stayed in control at least in the short term (see three red arrows on the chart below).

In trading today, the momentum has increased to the downside with the price moving from a high of around $2675, to a low of $2610.52. The price is currently trading at $2619 down -$64 or -2.38%.

What next?

Looking at the hourly chart, the price is approaching a swing area going back to September and October (see red numbered circles and yellow area on the chart below) that area comes between $2598 and $2604. Also in play is the 38.2% of the move up from the June 2024 low to the October 30 high. That level comes in at $2598.06.

Getting below the 38.2% retracement is the minimum retracement target that shows the seller's mean business. Absent that, and the correction is just a normal correction in a trending market.

Traders will be watching that area for short and medium-term clues today and going forward. A move below will have traders looking toward the 50% midpoint at $2538.70 area. Around that area is also the rising 100 day moving average at $2534.80 increasing the areas importance. Be aware.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – RaMona Alexander, vice president and general manager of WDBD, and Dan York, president and chief executive officer of Cox Media Group (CMG), were appointed to the NAB Television Board of Directors, and Rob Babin, senior vice president, head of radio for CMG, was appointed to the NAB Radio Board of Directors, effectively immediately. The appointments were made by NAB TV Board Chair Emily Barr and NAB Radio Board Chair Dave Santrella, respectively, in accordance with NAB bylaws.