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After months of muted negotiations, Philadelphia reached a deal for a new three-year contract with the city’s police union. The contract promises pay increases for officers and brings in some of the reforms defenders long awaited after a year of historic protests against aggressive police.

City police are working under a one-year extended contract promulgated by Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration at the height of the local COVID crisis.

The new agreement, written by a three-member arbitration panel, marks the first long-term deal since the 2020 social justice protests that put the PPD in a national spotlight on its use of force, and disciplinary policy critics say protect officers in charge of problems.

Some advocates hoped to bring these issues to the bargaining table. Instead, under the new contract, which runs through 2024, agents will receive a combined pay and benefits increase of $ 133 million over the next three years, while Kenney walked away with less than what he was trying to achieve on the reforms.

Officers will see a salary increase of 2.75% for the first year, followed by increases of 3.5% for the following two years. There is also a one-time bonus of $ 1,500 per officer after the agreement is ratified. Pension and health benefits would remain largely unchanged, but the deal increases paid parental leave to four weeks and adds Juneteenth as a public holiday for city workers.

During negotiations, the Kenney administration also sought to force officers to live in the city throughout their tenure, ending an earlier union deal that allows officers to leave after 5 years in the force. This does not happen; the exclusion also remains intact under the new agreement.

The administration has touted some victories. The new contract includes an increase in penalties for certain disciplinary offenses and sets out several procedural changes aimed at making disciplinary officers more objective.

“We believe the reforms… will help improve police-community relations, while helping to keep us all safe,” Kenney said Tuesday. “Although the award rendered by the arbitration board does not include everything we hoped for on this front, we believe it is a fair and positive step in the right direction.”

The contract also includes what Kenney has trumpeted as a blanket ban on officers fraternizing with hate groups – a known event in recent years – although it is not clear whether this tongue has teeth.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, which represents approximately 6,000 uniformed officers, depicts the agreement as a victory that “100% protected” the rights of officers in disciplinary and grievance processes.

“Overall we took a few hits in areas, which we expected, and the city took a few hits in areas, which I know they were expecting,” the president said. from FOP, John McNesby, to WHYY News and Billy Penn. “I think it’s a fair deal for both parties.”

There are three changes to the Philadelphia Police Disciplinary Rules:

• an increase in the strength of sentences for several offenses
• an increase in the length of time certain sanctions remain on an officer’s file
• the addition of some new offenses to the books

However, the arbitration panel declined a number of the city’s recommendations for increased penalties.

“It is important that the code is not too harsh and therefore the panel refuses to make any changes sought by the city, including removing the range of sanctions from reprimand to dismissal for a number of charges, “the panel wrote in the letter announcing the contract.

It is unclear how one of the more notable new offenses – the ban on fraternizing with “hate groups” – would be enforced.

The amendment does not specify any specific group by name. On the contrary, it broadly prohibits an agent from knowingly associating with groups advocating criminal action against a group of people, or any group that “compromises” an agent’s credibility.

A first violation could result in a 10-day suspension, a second violation resulting in automatic dismissal.

Asked how officials would designate a hate group on those terms, Rich Lazer, deputy mayor of work for Philly, said it would be decided in discussions between the PPD and city prosecutors.

The agreement will bring a significant change to the Police Investigation Commission, the department’s internal committee that reviews evidence and rules on disciplinary cases.

At present, the panel consists of a captain, a lieutenant and a base officer. Under the new arrangement, the board will include at least one civilian member and exclude any officer of the same rank as the offender from the panel.

For the first time, the contract also allows unsworn witnesses and even lawyers to present evidence to the commission.

These changes are grossly insufficient for some advocates who have criticized redundant layers of the disciplinary process – which may include internal affairs inquiries, a use of force review board, police board of inquiry and arbitration. additional union, even after officers face disciplinary charges or dismissal.

In fact, the new agreement creates another review board – a board, according to the Kenney administration, designed to make it harder to rehire really problematic officers.

The new contract creates a “Police Termination Arbitration Committee” which would see the city and the FOP appoint an equal number of trained arbitrators to review officer terminations – at least 40% of whom will be people who identify as women, people of color or some other “under-represented group”.

Kenney also said the new deal will help the city finally transition the old Police Advisory Board, a long-standing civilian oversight board, to the more powerful Civilian Police Oversight Board. This independent group, described in legislation passed by city council last year, would be granted subpoena power to independently investigate allegations of police misconduct. The group is still in the process of hiring and appointing new commissioners.

PAC Executive Director Anthony Erace praised the elements of the new deal, but expressed concern over wording indicating that any commission activity that is “negotiated” can only take place. with the written consent of the FOP.

“I’m worried because for the FOP everything is subject to negotiation,” Erace said. “The idea that a reform-oriented watchdog agency would need the consent of the FOP to do its job is outside the spirit of reform. “

In one case, the panel rejected a request to require more mandatory rotations for officers in distressed police units because the requirement already existed – and the ministry simply never implemented the changes.

Under the 2014-2017 police contract, the union agreed to regular staff rotations between narcotics officers and internal affairs staff. This reform stems in part from widespread corruption scandals that have emerged within specialist units, such as narcotics, dating back to the 1970s. Former Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey asked for rotational powers make these units less insular and, in theory, less prone to corruption.

But that change was never implemented, the panel wrote. And rather than demanding a new rotation program for specialized units, the arbitration panel instead chose to give the city and the FOP another chance to voluntarily implement the rotation system agreed in the previous contract. .

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said she would work with department heads to try to make sure the changes happen this time around.

There was little public indication that the FOP intended to change rotation policies. Its tweeted opinion on the new deal informs its members that all existing “transfer protections” would be maintained.

Overall, FOP president McNesby predicted that the disciplinary changes outlined in the new contract would have a limited impact on its members.

“These are basically the same structures that we had before. There’s a little more civilian involvement now, ”McNesby said. “Avoid trouble. I mean, that’s basically it. If you get into the disciplinary process, you’re looking for trouble and we don’t want it. “

LOS ANGELES–(COMMERCIAL THREAD) – LPC Ventures, the venture capital arm of national real estate firm Lincoln Property Company, today announced that it has joined the Series C funding round for Measurabl, the leading ESG data management firm. most widely adopted in the world for commercial real estate. The investment is part of the company’s $ 50 million funding cycle designed to support the growth of the business.

This commitment marks another strategic investment by LPC Ventures in an innovative startup, designed to provide tenants with direct access to the latest innovations in property management operations. LPC Ventures invests in cutting-edge technology that benefits clients and partners, expanding innovation initiatives in the properties that Lincoln Property Company develops and manages.

“LPC is delighted to continue to support Measurab as a leader in ESG data analysis and to continue to devote our efforts to strengthening our clients and our own ESG efforts,” said David Binswanger, Senior Executive Vice President by LPC.

Measurab, the industry standard platform for measuring, managing and reporting real estate ESG performance, serves subscribers in 80 countries and 11 billion square feet of real estate owned and occupied by businesses. The latest round of funding will allow the company to invest in new product lines including data, professional services and improving its platform to meet ESG regulations, decarbonization, climate risks and transition and capital market activities.

“LPC has advocated for ESG and integrated it into its real estate platform early and aggressively,” said Matt Ellis, Founder and CEO of Measurabl. “As a result, we were very aligned with Measurab’s vision from the start. The fact that Measurabl has already been deployed in a number of LPC managed properties made developing our relationship on the investment side an obvious next step. I look forward to working with LPC to advance ESG best practices and drive action in our industry.

Lincoln Property Company, one of the largest and most diverse real estate companies in the United States, serves a growing customer base in all of the country’s major markets, as well as in Europe and Mexico. The company is committed to achieving ESG success at all levels of the organization, recognizing that its decisions have long-term impacts on building occupants and the communities in which LPC operates.

“This investment represents an alignment of our business philosophy and market forecast,” said Abbey Ehman, sustainability manager for LPC West. “We are committed to measuring, monitoring and improving our performance against ESG criteria and believe that Measurabl is the perfect tool to better calibrate our processes. Data transparency will be crucial for meaningful climate action, and we expect Measurab to continue to gain market share and bring more solutions to the market. ”

A 2021 survey of commercial real estate professionals conducted by Measurab found that 81% of real estate leaders believe ESG is crucial in making important business decisions. However, only 63% of these executives are “moderately to significantly confident” in their ability to collect the ESG data needed to make informed business decisions, according to the survey.

The latest round of funding brings Measurabl’s total raised capital to $ 85 million. It was led by Energy Impact Partners, a leading investor in large-scale energy transformation and decarbonization technologies.

LPC Ventures joined other participants including Starwood Capital, real estate services companies Colliers and Cushman & Wakefield, as well as regular investors S&P Global, Sway Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, Constellation Technology Ventures and Building Ventures.

LPC Ventures offers a full range of technology services for clients with complex innovation goals. The division includes an investment arm, a capital formation group, real estate advisory and strategy teams, focusing on areas such as data platforms, healthcare, business models of innovative operating and sustainable development software. Its portfolio includes more than ten innovative companies.

About Lincoln Property Company

Lincoln Property Company, founded in 1965 by its Chairman Mack Pogue, is a private real estate company involved in real estate investing, development, property management and leasing worldwide. Lincoln has offices in all major markets in the United States and throughout Europe. Lincoln’s cumulative development efforts have produced over 143 million square feet of retail space and over 216,000 multi-family residential units. Lincoln Property Company is one of the largest office owners and managers in the United States. Go to www.lpcwest.com for more information.

About Mesurabl

Measurabl is the world’s most widely adopted ESG software for commercial real estate. Over 11 billion square feet of commercial properties valued at over US $ 1,000 billion in 80 countries use Measurabl to measure, manage and report environmental, social and governance performance. ESG data is used to exceed tenant expectations, comply with government regulations and access capital markets. Learn more at http://www.measurabl.com.

Some companies and government workers remain “on the defensive” on trade, with the UK having spent nearly 50 years in the European Union, the Secretary for International Trade said.

In a speech on Tuesday, Liz Truss explained how the UK’s post-Brexit business strategy will increasingly be to attempt to secure business with eastern growth markets in India and elsewhere.

“In order to get these opportunities, we have to let go of some of our outdated assumptions and attitudes,” she added.

When asked to expand on her comment afterwards, Ms Truss said: ‘We have been in the EU for 50 years and it is only natural that, whether they are companies, people employed by the government and others, there are certain ideas that have been shared and promulgated and are still present in certain circles.

“What I want to do is go from the defensive mindset that says ‘what are we losing’ to the offensive mindset that says ‘this is what we can win’.

“Sometimes there can be a lack of self-confidence. “

Speaking to the Policy Exchange think tank, the International Trade Secretary said Britain had a choice between seizing opportunities in growing markets or staying “in our comfort zone”.

Ms Truss said “protectionism” would not protect living standards and that trade was needed to curb rising inflation “through the power of economic openness”.

When asked where the government draws the line between trade and human rights in relation to China, she said the country is “a very important trading partner”.

But the cabinet minister said trade with China must be “reliable, stable and in accordance with international rules.”

“I explained how important it is that the trade we do underpin our values ​​of free enterprise and democracy,” added Truss.

The Department of International Trade’s International Trade Outlook report, released on Tuesday, found that “the global economic center of gravity is moving away from Europe” and heading towards the Indo-Pacific.

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By 2030, three of the world’s four largest economies will be in the Indo-Pacific region, the report predicts, with the region expected to account for 56% of global GDP growth and 44% of global demand growth. import over the next 30 years. years.

At the same time, global demand for UK digital and financial services is expected to double over the next decade, with demand for digital services expected to increase by 117%, the department said.

Ms Truss said: “We are building a global network of next-generation trade agreements that are advanced in services and digital trade, and forging closer economic ties with markets in East Asia and Asia. -Peaceful.”

ALPENA – Alpena Public Schools have closed Alpena High School due to a threat.

The district issued the following statement around 5 p.m. Friday:

“Early Thursday morning, three separate and independent events took place on the Alpena High School campus shortly before school started. Unfortunately, these events have been the subject of wild speculation and rumors on social media. This document aims to clarify what really happened.

The first isolated event involved a medical emergency on an APS bus for which an ambulance was dispatched. DPA officers responded as a precaution due to an unknown medical issue.

A second event involved a student in the hallway not following directions from school staff causing disruption to the school environment. As this event escalated and rose to the level of a potential risk to the safety of students and staff, our APS APD Liaison Officer was called in to help minimize the risk. Despite the rumor that a Taser had been used, only minor interventions took place. This incident was not linked to any other event.

A third event involved a small group of students carrying flags and memorabilia in support of another student involved in an argument on social media. The actions of this group caused a substantial disruption of the school day by creating a climate of intimidation. As directed by AHS administrators, the students removed their flags and memorabilia.

Throughout the day, the administration met with many parties to further investigate this event and determine the intent behind the students’ actions. The ramifications of the actions of a few students have had a negative impact on the entire student body, staff and community. As the investigation continued, students were held accountable for their choices in accordance with the Alpena High School Code of Conduct. Alpena Public Schools have made it clear that this type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

After the end of the school day, the behaviors continued on social networks, exacerbating an already tense climate. Late Thursday evening, the Alpena Police Department was made aware of a potential threat of violence against the school. Working with the DPA, the APS administration determined that the best action to keep our students and staff safe was to close the school on Friday. As an added precaution, the administration worked with the DPA, the Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police to increase the police presence in each of our school buildings that were in session.

After a thorough investigation that lasted most of the day on Friday, APS is happy to share that APD has finally determined that there is no real threat to the school. It was discovered that the information that led to the shutdown of AHS was due to the dissemination of erroneous information based on assumptions from an individual no longer living in the community of Alpena. This individual had social media connections to many members of our school community, resulting in a rapid and wide spread of a perceived threat.

Students from Alpena High School will return to campus on Monday. Support for students and staff will be put in place to respond to and deal with these events appropriately. High school students and families should check the AHS Weekly Parents Update for detailed information.

We are confident that our students and our community will come together and progress in a positive and productive way as a result of these events.

As with any situation of this nature, it is our responsibility to provide accurate and appropriate information to parents and our community in a timely manner. We appreciate the patience of the community as we strive to fulfill this responsibility. Alpena Public Schools are grateful for the continued partnership with the Alpena Police Department, Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police for their role in supporting our district and community.

Check back for updates.

Robert hinckle, Senior Vice President of Client Services at Cpsi (NASDAQ: CPSI), made a large insider sale on September 8, according to a new SEC filing.

What happened: On Wednesday, a Form 4 filed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission showed that Hinckle had sold 6,000 shares of Cpsi priced at $ 35.12 per share. The total transaction was $ 210,720.

Following the transaction, Hinckle still owns 41,000 shares of the company, valued at $ 1,494,040.

Cpsi the shares are trading up 1.36% to $ 36.44 as of this writing on Friday morning.

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The importance of insider trading

Insider trading should not be used primarily in making an investment decision, but an insider trading can be a big factor in the decision to invest.

In legal terms, an “insider” refers to any shareholder who owns at least 10% of a company. This can include senior executives and large hedge funds. These insiders are required to notify the public of their transactions via a Form 4, which must be filed within two business days of the transaction.

When a company insider makes a new purchase, it indicates that they expect the stock to rise.

Insider selling, on the other hand, can be done for a variety of reasons and doesn’t necessarily mean the seller thinks the stock is going to go down.

Important transaction codes

Investors prefer to focus on transactions that take place in the open market, shown in Table I of Form 4 filing. A P in box 3 indicates a purchase, while S indicates a sale. Transaction code VS indicates the conversion of an option, and the transaction code A indicates that the insider may have been forced to sell shares in order to receive compensation that was promised to him when he was hired by the company.

Check out Cpsi’s full list of insider trading.

Strategic investment positions MaxCap for continued strong growth

Extends Apollo’s Reach to Australasian Markets

NEW YORK and MELBOURNE, Australia, September 7, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO), (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Apollo”) today announced that clients managed by its subsidiaries have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire up to 50% of the capital of MaxCap Group (“MaxCap” or the “Company”), a leading financier and fund manager of Australasian commercial real estate (“CRE”) .

Founded in 2007, MaxCap is ranked n ° 1 in CRE debt^* in the Australian market and is headquartered in Melbourne. After the transaction closes, MaxCap co-founders Wayne Lasky and Brae Sokolski will continue to run the company and retain the remaining stakes.

The strategic investment will align MaxCap with one of the world’s leading asset managers and allow the company to continue its rapid growth in Australia and New Zealand. The transaction is expected to strengthen MaxCap’s access to capital and strengthen its ability to create and deliver innovative lending solutions for borrowers alongside Apollo’s leading lending platform. MaxCap hopes to generate significant investment opportunities for its clients and today has a futures pipeline of over A $ 6 billion. Since its founding, the company has a strong track record of performing in more than 450 investments totaling over AU $ 11 billion.

For Apollo and its clients, the investment extends the company’s reach in Australasia – an attractive market with significant growth in lending opportunities. Currently, Apollo is the originator of commercial real estate debt and equity solutions across North America, Europe and Asia, and through this transaction, it plans to increase its activity in Australasia.

Wayne Lasky, Co-Founder and Managing Director of MaxCap, said, “We are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality and the broadest range of investment opportunities. This transaction is a key aspect of delivering on our promise to create lasting value for them. We look forward to achieving this by leveraging Apollo’s vast industrial expertise, coupled with the momentous firepower they bring to the table. This will further enable us to deliver compelling solutions for each sector of commercial real estate at every stage of the real estate lifecycle, and we are delighted to partner with such a respected global manager.

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Mr. Lasky highlighted how MaxCap has created a market leading platform and built a high quality Australasian team. “This partnership is a watershed moment and a key part of our team’s long-term strategic plan. We now look forward to the next phase of MaxCap’s growth and delivering more customer value with a partner who shares our vision and strategy, ”he said.

Apollo Co-Chairman Scott Kleinman said: “Australia presents significant long-term opportunities for Apollo and we are delighted to strategically partner with MaxCap, a leader in non-bank mortgage lending with an excellent reputation. This is an exciting opportunity to expand our origination capabilities, support the strong leadership team, and leverage our highly complementary platforms and expertise. “

Philip Mintz, Senior Partner, Real Estate at Apollo, said: “MaxCap is an industry leader and we are delighted to provide capital and strategic support to help accelerate their business and grow our business in Australia. The company’s strong origination track record, market positioning in Australia and New Zealand, and performance have made it a partner of choice for investors and borrowers. Together, we see significant opportunities ahead as the non-bank mortgage market continues to grow in the region. “

Mr. Mintz noted that the Apollo funds’ investment in MaxCap was the latest expansion to its investment origination platforms. It follows a recently announced transaction with Foundation Home Loans, a specialist mortgage lender in the United Kingdom, as well as a strategic agreement with Victory Park Capital in the United States to invest in asset-backed credit facilities for emerging companies. Apollo’s strategy of creating, purchasing and partnering with proprietary origination platforms enhances the company’s ability to seek and structure investments for its insurance and institutional clients.

^*Global ranking of real estate debt PERE 2021

About the MaxCap Group
MaxCap is recognized as one of Australia’s leading Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment managers with an unmatched track record of performance on 450 investments over AU $ 11.0 billion, offering full capital and interests since its inception.

With funds currently under management and advice in excess of AU $ 4 billion (as of June 30, 2021), we operate a quality institutional platform recognized as best in class and are the preferred investment manager of many of the largest institutional LPs in Australia and the world. , family offices and high net worth investors. We provide our loyal investors with access to the best CRE investment opportunities in debt and equity and pride ourselves on our reputation as a market leader in long-term value creation. For more information, please visit www.maxcapgroup.com.au.

About Apollo
Apollo is a high growth global alternative asset manager. We seek to provide our clients with excess return at every step of the risk-return spectrum, from investment grade to private equity, by focusing on three business strategies: yield, hybrid and opportunistic. Through our investing activity on our fully integrated platform, we meet the retirement income and financial performance needs of our clients, and we deliver innovative capital solutions to businesses. Our patient, creative and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, the companies we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact on, to expand opportunities and drive positive results. As of June 30, 2021, Apollo had approximately $ 472 billion in assets under management. For more information, please visit www.apollo.com.

Apollo Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, without limitation, discussions related to Apollo’s expectations regarding its business performance, liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements in the discussion and analysis. These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as on the assumptions made by management and on the information currently available to it. When used in this press release, the words “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that these expectations will prove to be correct. These statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Apollo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2021, and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q. filed with the SEC on May 10, 2021, as these factors may be updated from time to time in Apollo’s periodic files with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www. sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other caveats included in this press release and other documents. Apollo makes no commitment to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. This press release does not constitute an offer from any Apollo Fund.

Apollo Contacts

For investors:

Noah gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
Global management of Apollo, Inc.
(212) 822-0540
[email protected]

For the media:

Jeanne Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Global management of Apollo, Inc.
(212) 822-0491
[email protected]

MaxCap contacts

Fidelma ryan
Marketing director
MaxCap Group
+61 414 462 515
[email protected]

Marjorie johnston
Wordmakers
+61 0407 329 430

The experimentation and implementation of new technologies cannot deprive applicants of their right to legal assistance. This is the message from former President of the Canadian Bar Association Bradley Regehr to Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino and Justice Minister David Lametti in a letter expressing concern that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is preventing lawyers to effectively represent their clients.

The CBA Immigration Law Section wrote to IRCC earlier this year expressing concerns about the exclusion of lawyers. IRCC responded that because of the pandemic, it is prioritizing the rapid implementation of new digital tools considered “minimum viable products” that are designed to evolve.

As Regehr writes, “a platform which does not integrate representatives and creates obstacles to access to justice should not be seen as a minimum viable product”. The CBA is pleased to see new digital products replacing obsolete systems, which will no doubt improve the efficiency of case processing, but IRCC “should not prevent lawyers from representing their clients at crucial stages of their claims. ‘immigration “.

“For example,” the letter from the CBA read, “the pathways from temporary to permanent residence introduced during the pandemic require that an application for permanent residence be submitted by the applicant – not the representative. – via an online portal. While the CBA supports recognizing the contributions of essential workers and recent international graduates, it notes that the quota of 40,000 applications for English-speaking international graduates was met in just over 24 hours. Which meant that applicants had to submit their applications under intense time pressure.

Legal representatives could only advise on the form and content of claims, but were unable to submit claims on behalf of their clients and ensure that everything was in order. “If a client mistakenly uploaded a document or did not upload a required form to the portal, IRCC could deny their request,” the letter said. These are devastating consequences for a claimant.

Other recent digital platforms that have denied access to lawyers included the new digital permanent resident admission tool. Additionally, individuals can apply for citizenship online, but representatives are forced to use the much slower paper application. “Without access to online portals and without the ability to submit requests, representatives cannot adequately support their clients. Some may choose to represent themselves, which will reduce their chances of success, ”the CBA letter states.

IRCC’s response to the CBA Immigration Law Section that representatives can advise clients even if they are not authorized to create digital portal accounts and submit online applications on behalf of of their customers is inadequate.

The same is true of IRCC’s suggestion that screen sharing technologies can help legal advisers assist clients in real time. “Some clients, such as essential workers who work 24 hours a day, use a lawyer because they do not have the time to carefully upload the application documents to an electronic portal. Others may have difficulty navigating the required technology.

Immigration applicants have the right to legal representation, and IRCC’s digital portals and platforms must reflect this right. “While we understand that IRCC intends to create a role for representatives in its new tools, claimants and their representatives are harmed when the initial version of a new tool excludes lawyers,” said Regehr.

IRCC should immediately allow representatives to access existing platforms and portals, and create new ones with built-in lawyer access from the start. Only then will these portals and platforms be considered minimum viable products.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – More police officers in Ohio may soon be wearing body cameras after Governor Mike DeWine announced a $ 5 million state grant.

DeWine’s office said funds would be directed to local police departments for the purchase of body cameras and associated expenses.

The state has started accepting applications for the police services grant money Tuesday. Departments have until October 8 to apply. Agencies that did not receive a grant this year will have the opportunity to reapply next year to be part of a second allocation of $ 5 million.

DeWine’s office estimates that two-thirds of state police departments do not equip officers with body cameras. The state said the grant program could help small police departments that can’t afford cameras for officers.

“Body cameras are beneficial to law enforcement officers and the public as they act as impartial eyes on events as they unfold, but most law enforcement agencies in the ‘Ohio don’t have one because they can’t afford it,’ DeWine said in a statement. “One of my top priorities has always been to ensure our law enforcement officers have the tools they need to better serve the public, and this new grant program will help remove the associated financial barriers. body-worn cameras and will contribute to a safer Ohio. ”

The Association of Heads of Large Cities, a group of police chiefs in major US cities have called for the universal use of body-worn cameras. The group called on Congress to provide funding to local agencies to support body-worn cameras.

In July, Columbus area state representative Dontavius ​​Jarrells introduced legislation in Ohio House to require officers to have body-worn cameras. The legislation would also limit when an officer could keep a body camera turned off.

This bill has not yet been the subject of a committee hearing.

The bill, which Jarrells calls “Andre’s Law,” was in response to the December 2020 incident involving Andre Hill. Hill was shot and killed by Adam Coy, a now discharged member of the Columbus Police Division who faces murder charges. Coy only turned on his body-worn camera after turning Hill.

In order to diversify its portfolio in the space of daily rewards, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce CM, commonly known as CIBC, is preparing to acquire Wholesale company CostcoCOST’s existing portfolio of Canadian co-branded credit cards. Costco’s credit card portfolio in Canada has over $ 3 billion in its outstanding balances. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

CIBC shares edged up after the acquisition was announced, sparking investor optimism about the deal.

Capital One Financial Corporation COF, the current issuer of the Costco-branded credit card in Canada, is entering into an alliance with the retail giant.
Mastercard will remain the exclusive payment network for the Costco co-branded credit card in Canada and will also be accepted at Costco warehouses nationwide.

CIBC and Costco have also signed a long-term agreement that makes the first exclusive issuer of the new Costco Mastercard cards in Canada. The transaction is expected to close in early 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. Subsequently, the bank will begin issuing the new CIBC Costco Mastercard to the reformed wallet and accept new applications, both online and at Costco Canada warehouses.

The new CIBC Costco Mastercard will offer great rewards for purchases at all Canadian Costco warehouses and on Costco.ca. That aside, it will serve as a Costco membership card. It can be used in stores around the world that accept Mastercard. Current Capital One Costco Mastercard holders can continue to use their card until they receive their new CIBC Costco Mastercard. Cash back coupons will be mailed to eligible cardholders in January 2022.

The deal comes as no surprise, as CIBC CEO Victor Dodig said during the company’s August 2021 earnings call, which the lender intended to invest in non-travel cards to exploit increased consumer spending at the end of the pandemic. This acquisition will allow the Toronto bank to expand its credit portfolio and attract customers from Costco’s large membership base to its Canadian retail banking franchise. This will likely increase its market share in the payments space.

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Pierre Riel, Senior National Executive Vice President, Costco Canada, said, “Our CIBC members and clients expect us to provide them with payment options that meet their needs. With enhanced offerings, such as cutting-edge digital capabilities, robust features, and bigger rewards, our members will have even more ways to get the most out of their membership. “

Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Group Head, Personal and Commercial Banking at CIBC, said: “This investment builds on the positive momentum we have established as we execute our strategy, build deep and lasting relationships with our clients. customers and develop our business. . We look forward to welcoming Costco members to CIBC, and we are committed to providing a great customer experience and getting more out of their business through our expert advice and industry-leading solutions as we bring them to life. let’s help achieve their ambitions. “

Shares of this company currently Zacks Rank # 3 (Hold) have risen 36% so far this year on the NYSE, outperforming the industry’s 15.4% rise. You can see The full list of Zacks # 1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks today here.

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Canadian Imperial has grown in the United States through strategic acquisitions since it purchased Chicago-based PrivateBancorp Inc. in 2017. In the same year, the company acquired Geneva Advisors while in 2019 it acquired took over Cleary Gull and Lowenhaupt Global Advisors. In June 2021, it purchased a minority stake in Chicago-based Loop Capital in order to further expand its presence in US capital markets.

The aforementioned agreements as well as its organic growth efforts continue to support Canadian Imperial’s finances, which are currently under the weight of lower rates. In addition, the company faces stiff competition from other Canadian banks, including The Toronto-Dominion Bank TD, Bank of Montreal and the Royal Bank of Canada among others.

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By Don Thompson, The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Bad law enforcement officers could lose their badges permanently under a bill introduced by California lawmakers on Friday, a year after a similar measure died in the final hours of the legislative session.

California remains one of four states with no way to withdraw its officer certification despite nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis that prompted reform efforts.

The State Assembly on a 46-18 vote approved what has become this legislative session’s marquee criminal justice reform measure, sending a watered-down version back to the Senate for a final vote before the adjournment of the legislature for the year on September 10.

“This is not an anti-police bill. This is a liability bill. Without any responsibility, we lose the integrity of the badge and the link with the community is severed, ”said Democratic MP Akilah Weber, who brought the bill to the Assembly.

The amended bill, she said, “provides due process for officers, provides necessary community representation and ensures that good officers are not decertified.”

Law enforcement agencies and those opposed to the bill agreed that the state needed a way to weed out bad officers.

But they objected that Democratic Senator Steven Bradford’s bill is flawed because it relies on a nine-member disciplinary board with just two police representatives and seven members with either professional or personal backgrounds related to police accountability. .

“It is extremely unfair,” said Republican MP Kelly Seyarto, one of those from the two parties speaking in the opposition. “None of the 46 other states has a similar makeup. … None of them are so unbalanced.

The measure recently received support from “More Than a Vote,” the advocacy group created by NBA star LeBron James and other black athletes.

The group urged members of the Assembly to pass the bill “so that a badge can no longer be used as a shield against liability. So that black communities can breathe.

The bill sparked an at times emotional debate, with Democratic Congressman Freddie Rodriguez saying he couldn’t back it for fear it would prompt officers, including his son, a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, to ” to question oneself ”, to freeze when they have to act. , and be injured or killed.

“I, too, as an African American father of African American sons, am also concerned that they come home every night,” Democratic Congressman Reggie Jones-Sawyer replied. “There are enough protections here to make sure that (the officers) don’t get trapped,” he added.

Under the bill, the state would create a new compulsory state license, or certification, which could then be revoked so officers cannot simply move to another police department.

The Police Decertification Bill would give the State Commission on Standards and Training of Peace Officers the power to revoke officers’ eligibility for serious misconduct – including excessive use of law enforcement. force, sexual assault, intimidation of witnesses, making a false arrest or report, or participating in a law enforcement gang. .

Officers could also lose their certification for “displaying bias” based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or mental disability, among other criteria.

Republican Assembly Member Tom Lackey, a former California Highway Patrol officer, was among the opponents who said the definition of wrongdoing is too broad and too vague.

Bradford relaxed some of his bill’s requirements after criticism from law enforcement and other lawmakers.

He first proposed that four of the members of the advisory board have a background related to “police misconduct” before changing the wording to “police liability”. And instead of requiring two members to be victims or family members, the bill now requires careful thought to include those representatives.

Another Assembly amendment requires a two-thirds vote to withdraw an officer’s certification, and that officials must have clear and convincing evidence of wrongdoing.

The measure would have initially obliged the commission to adopt the recommendation of the advisory council. It now demands that the commission “consider” the recommendation of the advisory board and refer any action against an officer to a newly created peace officer accountability division for due process.

Additional Assembly changes allow the commission to suspend an officer’s license as a lesser alternative to decertification of the officer; clarify what constitutes serious misconduct; require 40 hours of decertification training for board members; and make it clear that officers retain their constitutional rights, including freedom of expression.

Bradford and other supporters said his bill was not biased against officers as the 18-member commission is mostly made up of law enforcement professionals.

The division would now review officer investigations conducted by local law enforcement agencies under the amended bill, although it could still choose to conduct its own investigations.

The same bill places new limits on police immunity from prosecution for civil rights abuses, although Bradford has had to drastically cut that part of his bill in response to concerns voiced by fellow Democrats.

It would only end what Bradford has called “three of the most egregious immunities commonly invoked by law enforcement” – tampering with arrests, failing to provide medical care or injuring a prisoner.

The League of California Cities was among the opponents, arguing that the bill “would eliminate the federal doctrine of qualified immunity and create a largely impractical peace officer decertification process.”

“I was heartbroken last year that this bill could not be passed by this body in the same year that millions more people protested than at any time in American history. Democrat MP Isaac Bryan said. “It’s a stain on this body. It is a stain that we can remove today.

The same California commission once had the option to revoke agent certification until the legislature removed that power in 2003. This left it up to local law enforcement agencies to decide whether agents should be terminated, but they could often just get jobs in different police departments.

Other states that do not have a statewide decertification process are Hawaii, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.