With National Homeless Animals Day approaching and over 85 million U.S. pet-owning households projected to spend $72 billion this year, the personal finance website WalletHub today released an in-depth report on 2018’s Most Pet-Friendly Cities as well as accompanying videos.
In order to determine where Americans’ animal companions can enjoy the best quality of life without breaking the bank, WalletHub compared the creature-friendliness of the 100 largest cities across 24 key metrics. The data set ranges from minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to pet businesses per capita to walkability.
Most Pet-Friendly Cities
Least Pet-Friendly Cities
1
Scottsdale, AZ
91
Fresno, CA
2
Orlando, FL
92
Charlotte, NC
3
San Diego, CA
93
Newark, NJ
4
Austin, TX
94
Norfolk, VA
5
Phoenix, AZ
95
Mesa, AZ
6
Tampa, FL
96
Baltimore, MD
7
Cincinnati, OH
97
Laredo, TX
8
Seattle, WA
98
Fort Wayne, IN
9
Las Vegas, NV
99
Buffalo, NY
10
Irvine, CA
100
Honolulu, HI
Key Stats
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/most-pet-friendly-cities/5562/
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U.S. Poultry Gains New Market Access in Morocco
(Washington, DC, August 7, 2018) – U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the government of Morocco has agreed to allow commercial imports of U.S. poultry meat and products into Morocco for the first time.
“The Trump Administration continues to prioritize the opening of new markets for U.S. agricultural products. This new access to the Moroccan market is an important step in ensuring that American farmers and ranchers can continue to expand their exports,” said Ambassador Lighthizer. “I welcome Morocco’s agreement to allow imports of U.S. poultry meat and products and the economic opportunities that will be afforded to U.S. producers.”
“Opening new markets for American poultry and other agricultural products is a top priority. I am convinced that when the Moroccan people get a taste of U.S. poultry, they're going to want more of it,” said Secretary Perdue. “The products that will be imported into Morocco are safe, wholesome, and very delicious. This is also a good harbinger of the kind of relationship that can be developed. We hope there are other things we can cooperate on as USDA works to expand markets around the globe.”
The United States is the world’s second largest poultry exporter, with global sales of poultry meat and products of $4.3 billion last year. In May 2018, U.S. exports of agricultural products exceeded $12 billion (latest data available). Initial estimates indicate that Morocco would be a $10 million market, with additional growth over time. Morocco had prohibited imports of U.S. poultry. Officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture worked with the Moroccan government to provide assurances on the safety of U.S. poultry.
More details on requirements for exporting to Morocco are available from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Export Library at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/exporting-products/export-library-requirements-by-country/Morocco.
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BMC Racing Team Scorches Prologue in St. George with
1-2-3 Finish for Hot Start at Tour of Utah
American Tejay van Garderen Claims Larry H. Miller Dealerships Leader’s Jersey
ST. GEORGE, UTAH (Aug. 6, 2018) – American Tejay van Garderen was the fastest man in St. George with a time of 6 minutes and 27 seconds, leading a BMC Racing Team sweep of the podium in Monday’s Prologue at the 2018 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.
“I love Utah, I have a long history here. This was my first professional victory in 2011 in the TT (Time Trial) at the Tour of Utah,” said van Garderen, who comes off one rest week after racing the Tour de France. He will wear the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Leader’s jersey on Tuesday.
“I just came here to have some fun, keep the body rolling. I told myself if there is a chance for a result, I'll take it and today was a great opportunity for that,” added van Garderen. In 2011, he finished fourth in the opening Prologue, which was held in Park City. Later that week he won the ITT on Stage 3 in Tooele, Utah.
Reigning U.S. Pro Individual Time Trial champion Joe Rosskopf finished four seconds back in second place. Tom Bohli (SUI), who sat in the hot seat for most of the day, finished in third, six seconds off the pace.
“It was a really, really brutal prologue. I was hoping I could win it today. But then as Joey beat me, my second reaction was 'Yeah, it's Joey'. First of all I like that guy, he's a good mate and it's BMC. (It’s) good for us and good for him,” said Bohli, who is a two-time U23 silver medalist in the time trial and a world champion on the track. “As Tejay beat us, winning the Prologue today, showed that he is in really good shape and he can go for the win. It gives us good confidence.”
Surrounded by inspiring views of the Red Hills Desert Garden at Pioneer Park on the northern cliffs above downtown St. George, van Garderen bested 116 other riders in the opening day of racing for the weeklong stage race. Pacing was key on the out-and-back 3.3-mile (5.3 kilometer) course, where temperatures soared above 100 degrees. The riders started with a mellow climb for the first two kilometers and continued with a short downhill to the turnaround.
“We started out uphill. The gradient was, I think, higher than people expected, or what it looked like,” van Garderen explained. “So you had to overpace on the way out, and then you're basically screaming at 75k (kilometers) an hour all the way to the finish line. You don't want to blow up, but at the same time gauge your efforts well.”
A total of 36 riders are now separated by 20 seconds at the top of the standings, making for an exciting opening to the 14th edition of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. Finishing fourth, American Neilson Powless of Team LottoNL-Jumbo claimed the WCF Insurance Best Young Rider jersey. Sixth on the day, 11 seconds from the win, Serghei Tvetcov (ROM) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team was voted the America First Credit Union Fan Favorite, in the category of International Rider.
Fifth on the stage, Pascal Eenkhoom (NED) of Team LottoNL-Jumbo was awarded the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey. Rosskopf claimed the Utah Sports Commission Sprint jersey and Bohli was awarded the Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey.
Joe Dombrowski (USA) of EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale, the overall winner of the 2015 Tour of Utah, is 13 seconds back in 12th place, and defending champion Rob Britton (CAN) of Rally Cycling is in 29th place, 18 seconds down.
True to its nickname as “America’s Toughest Stage Race," the 2018 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, Aug. 6-12, will dish out 548 miles of racing and 43,780 feet of elevation gain. The UCI 2.HC-rated stage race began in St. George today with 17 professional teams, representing 20 countries.
Stage 1 presented by America First Credit Union returns to Cedar City for a fourth time on Tuesday, Aug. 7. The 101-mile (162.5 km) Stage 1 route includes 8,950 feet of elevation gain. It also features the highest climb of the week, passing Cedar Breaks National Monument at 10,600 feet. The course is similar to the one used in 2016, this year with a new circuit finish in downtown Cedar City. The first Utah Sports Commission Sprint line will be contested in Parowan, then hit a Category 1 climb at the top of Parowan Canyon at the ski resort town of Brian Head. This ascent climbs 4,500 vertical feet in 15 miles, with some sections challenging riders with a 15 percent gradient.
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah is free to all spectators, making professional cycling one of the most unique professional sports in the world today. The Tour of Utah remains a 2.HC-rated stage race on the UCI America Tour, making it one of the premier events for professional cycling teams in North America. It is also one of the prominent road cycling events that is also part of USA Cycling’s Pro Road Tour.
RESULTS AND STANDINGS
www.tourofutah.com/race/results
PROLOGUE - Top 10
1. VAN GARDEREN Tejay (USA) BMC RACING TEAM - 0:06:27.490
2. ROSSKOPF Joseph (USA) BMC RACING TEAM - 0:06:31.250
3. BOHLI Tom (SUI) BMC RACING TEAM - 0:06:33.960
4. POWLESS Neilson (USA) TEAM LOTTO NL-JUMBO - 0:06:34.420
5. EENKHOORN Pascal (NED) TEAM LOTTO NL-JUMBO - 0:06:38.170
6. TVETCOV Serghei (ROU) UNITEDHEALTHCARE - 0:06:38.580
7. BROWN Nathan (USA) EF-DRAPAC pb CANNONDALE - 0:06:38.760
8. MCCABE Travis (USA) UNITEDHEALTHCARE - 0:06:39.010
9. HUFFMAN Evan (USA) RALLY CYCLING - 0:06:39.430
10. CLARKE William (AUS) EF-DRAPAC pb CANNONDALE - 0:06:39.590
AWARD JERSEYS
About the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, referred to as "America's Toughest Stage RaceTM," is a week-long, professional cycling stage race for the best men’s teams in the world. The 2018 event will be held Aug. 6-12, covering 548 miles of racing and 43,780 feet of elevation gain. Now in its 14th year, the event was elevated in 2015 as a 2.HC-rated UCI stage race, making it one of the premier events in North America. The Tour of Utah is owned by Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment. More information about the Tour of Utah, host venues and professional teams can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com, as well as social channels Facebook (tourofutah), Twitter (tourofutah), Instagram (thetourofutah) and YouTube (tourofutah).
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POINT 1: Marriott International, Inc.® today announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Salt Lake City Airport. Catering to the needs of today’s everyday traveler, the hotel offers approachable design, stylish comfort and all the brand’s popular extras including a 24-hour fitness center, heated pool, fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and the Best Brews & BBQ™ program, detailed below.
POINT 2: Asset managed by TNB Hotels of Boise, Idaho, Four Points by Sheraton Salt Lake City Airport, previously under the name Comfort Inn and Rodeway Inn Salt Lake City Airport, offers 155 spacious guest rooms, over 550 sq. ft. of meeting space, a 24-hour fitness center, business center and fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Guests will enjoy full-service dining at the hotel pub and the brand’s iconic Best Brews and BBQ program, which serves guests refreshing, curated local beers and seasonal BBQ-style appetizers. Polygamy Nitro and Evolution Amber Ale from Wasatach Brewery are the Best Brews at Four Points by Sheraton Salt Lake City Airport.
Four Points by Sheraton Salt Lake City Airport is just a short drive from the Salt Palace Convention Center. It is also within driving distance of Temple Square, downtown Salt Lake City and is roughly four miles from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) for a convenient trip.
POINT 3: “Designed with the everyday traveler in mind, Four Points by Sheraton Salt Lake City Airport will be a convenient stay for anyone looking to enjoy the world-class attractions of Salt Lake City,” said Callette Nielsen, Vice President & Global Brand Manager of Courtyard, Fairfield, Four Points, and SpringHill Suites. “Accessible to families and business travelers alike, the friendly design of the property will make anyone’s stay comfortable.”
Owner of Four Points Salt Lake City Airport, Jay Nijjer, stated, “We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with the Marriott International Family while opening the first Four Points in the vibrant Salt Lake City market. We look forward to welcoming guests to our hotel and The Glowbal Bite, a new restaurant concept to TNB Hotels as a destination of choice for business and leisure travelers from all over the world. TNB Hotels knowledge, experience and management of Four Points Salt Lake City Airport will set us apart and provide a unique and memorable experience for guests.”
POINT 4: Four Points is the most globally distributed brand in Marriott’s Classic Select category, boasting nearly 250 hotels in more than 40 countries and territories. The brand has more than 120 signed hotels in the pipeline, with nearly 50% of Four Points’ current portfolio of rooms located outside of North America, and over 65% of its signed pipeline expected to open outside of North America.
# # #
About Four Points
Four Points by Sheraton, part of Marriott International, Inc., includes nearly 250 hotels in over 40 countries and territories. At Four Points, travel is reinvented and guests can find the timeless style and comfort they’re looking for with genuine service and everything that matters most, all around the world. Four Points hotels can be found in big urban centers, by the airport, near the beach, and in the suburbs. Each hotel offers a familiar place with an authentic sense of the local, and friendly genuine service where guests can relax and unwind, watch local sports, and enjoy the brand’s Best Brews and BBQ™ program. Four Points is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®. Members can now link accounts with Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® at members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. To learn more, visit us online and stay connected to Four Points on Facebook.
Note on Forward-Looking Statements: The statements about the expected future growth of Four Points and Marriott International classic select brands are “forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, not historical facts, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; the availability of capital to finance hotel growth; and other risk factors identified in Marriott International, Inc.'s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual report on Form 10-K; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by our statements. These statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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HELLIONS
ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM RUE
Due Out October 19th via UNFD
Now Available for Pre-Order
New Single "Smile" Released Today
August 7th, 2018 - Genre-melding Australian quartet Hellions have announced their brand-new album Rue will be released on October 19th via UNFD. Rue builds upon the marriage of theatrical dynamics and thoughtful lyricism that defined the band's critically acclaimed previous offering, 2016's third collection Opera Oblivia. The resulting record is deeper and darker, with melodies that are more beautiful, and riffs that are more seismic. The album was recorded at Karma Sound Studios in Thailand with producer Shane Edwards - a man Hellions have worked with for a decade and describe as "our fifth member". Rue is available for pre-order today, here.
In addition to the album announcement, Hellions have given fans another taste of what's to come from Rue with the release of "Smile" today. "Smile" was born late in the creation process and is a dynamic, upbeat tune built around the refrain 'I'm ready to run, are you ready?' that provides a tongue-in-cheek look at the depth of our interactions in the digital age. The track joins previously released tracks from the album, "X (Mwah)" and "Furrow".
On the track, Anthony Caruso (drummer/co-writer) and Matt Gravolin (guitar/vocals/cowriter) shared "The world as we know it wants to be entertained interminably, and now our entertainment often comes at the expense of our compassion. We've all found ourselves speaking in blue, snide language about trivial matters that aren't of any real consequence to us, asserting invalid opinions for the sake of having our voices heard."
It's safe to say Rue is an album in which message and music are often tonally juxtaposed, requiring the listener to really listen. The tracks are divided into the pessimistic and humanitarian sides of life. Tracks like "(Blueberry)" and "Odyssey" deal with the former, examining how the high consciousness we possess has led to a culture of egocentricity and opportunist while being accompanied by jaunty, bombastic guitars reminiscent of Black Parade-era My Chemical Romance. Similarly, the funky, danceable "X (Mwah)" is actually about abandoning hope in favor of recklessness, while "26" is a rousing anthem about the quest for happiness.
Rue Track Listing:
1. (Blueberry)
2. Odyssey
3. X (Mwah)
4. Smile
5. Furrow
6. (Cocoon)
7. Rue
8. (Theatre Of) (feat. Luna)
9. The Lotus
10. Get Up!
11. Harsh Light
12. 26
How can we overcome our struggles with one another if we don't fully understand the one raging inside ourselves? It's this very question Hellions explore on Rue and there's never been a better time for an album that explores this tussling duality the band describe as "the co-existence of a Jekyll and Hyde operating within a person at any one time."
Rue is a timely record that calls for an end to complacency. Whether it's for its remarkable music, or its powerful messages - it needs to be heard.
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Hellionsis Dre Faivre (Vocals), Matthew Gravolin (Guitar/vocals), Josh Campiao (Guitar), Anthony Caruso (Drums/percussion/vocals).
Download Rue Cover Art Here
Download Hellions' Press Photo Here
Download Hellions' Bio Here
Follow Hellions:
twitter.com/hellionsmusic
Instagram.com/hellionsmusic
