Arizona Becomes the Fourth State to Ban Wildlife Killing Contests
Phoenix, AZ- Today the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) voted unamimously (6 to 0) to approve a rule initiated by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to ban wildlife killing contests (WKCs) for predators and other fur-bearing animals in Arizona. A grassroots effort energized by concerned citizens throughout Arizona, along with Animal Wellness Action and other environmental and animal protection organizations, provided the pressure that prompted the rulemaking action. The measure will take effect 60 days from today, preventing the fall WKCs.
"Participants in Wildlife Killing Contests are serial killers of wildlife," said Lain Kahlstrom, Director of State Affairs at Animal Wellness Action. "These are not hunters or damage control agents, but people who revel in slaughtering large numbers of wild animals in competitive hunts for the thrill of it."
Wildlife killing contests like the “Santa SLAY” and the “Fox Frenzy” are slaughter fests where participants compete to win cash and prizes for killing the greatest number, the heaviest, or even the smallest of the targeted species over a certain time frame, usually 24 hours. Hundreds of animals including coyotes, bobcats, foxes and even mountain lions, badgers and coatimundi living on our public lands minding their own business are killed in these contests every year in Arizona. There are at least 23 WKCs in Arizona each year, drawing sponsors, organizers and participants from across state lines to participate in the blood sport and win a shiny belt buckle and a pile of cash.
Wildlife killing contests occur throughout the United States, although they are often hidden from the public's view because of their repugnant features. California passed an agency rule banning the practice in recent years. Vermont enacted a legislative ban in Vermont in 2018 and New Mexico earlier this year. Other states are looking at possible rules and legislation to stop them. Arizona becomes the fourth state to adopt a statewide policy.
“Trophy” Belt Buckle Awarded to the “Winner” of the Contest in 2018
Over the last year in Arizona, in each city where a killing contest organizer advertised a meet-up and in each county where contest participants targeted public lands on which to slaughter and waste animals, council members and county supervisors responded by passing Resolutions and Proclamations condemning them. U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-03), who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, weighed in on the issue a few months ago: “Do you want a coyote-killing contest on your public lands this Saturday? Neither do we. Neither do Arizona locals in the threatened area. Let people know this is happening.”
The public was equally outraged to learn about Wildlife Killing Contests and insisted on action. During a series of public hearings on the issue, the Arizona Game and Fish Department concluded that a new rule banning predator killing contests was in order, and unanimously voted to enact this new rule in June 2019.
Today’s vote by the GRRC formalizes the enactment of this new rule. This council ensures that any proposed agency rule meets the Governor’s and the state’s standards. The Council’s vote today shows confidence that the time is right to stop the slaughter in Arizona.
“I applaud the GRRC for recognizing the value of this new rule for Arizona. The favorable vote underscores the state's role in stopping mass killing of the public's wildlife in our state," added Tina Meredith, Arizona State Director at Animal Wellness Action.
Animal Wellness Action will promote similar bans in other states, especially in the West, where these events often occur on our public lands.
Animal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and that’s why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones don’t. We believe helping animals helps us all.
========================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sep 4, 2019
Sens. Lee and Romney Comment on Emergency Funding Diversions Impacting Utah
WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) issued the following statements Wednesday after the Air Force informed both senators that funding appropriated by Congress for military construction projects at Hill Air Force Base would instead be spent to construct a wall on the southern border, as a result of the February 2019 emergency declaration. Lee and Romney previously urged the Department of Defense to protect funding for these Utah projects.
"Congress has been ceding far too much powers to the executive branch for decades and it is far past time for Congress to restore the proper balance of power between the three branches,” Sen. Lee said. “We should start that process by passing the ARTICLE ONE Act, which would correct the imbalances caused by the National Emergencies Act.”
“In April, Senator Lee and I expressed our significant concerns to the Secretary of Defense regarding the potential diversion of funds for critical military construction projects in Utah,” Romney said. “I’m disappointed that despite those concerns, two key military construction projects totaling $54 million will be delayed as a result of the February 2019 emergency declaration. Funding the border wall is an important priority, and the Executive Branch should use the appropriate channels in Congress, rather than divert already appropriated funding away from military construction projects and therefore undermining military readiness. Congress will have an opportunity to restore this funding in the next budget cycle, and I plan to work with the delegation to fight for funding for these projects, which are essential to Utah’s service members and our national security strategy.”
The Air Force informed Sens. Lee and Romney that $26 million was being diverted from Hill AFB Composite Aircraft Antenna Calibration Facility and another $28 million from the Utah Test and Training Range Consolidated Mission Control Center. The Administration has indicated it plans to request replacement funding for these projects in its FY2020 budget request. Congress would then have to re-appropriate the funds.
The ARTICLE ONE Act, introduced by Sen. Lee and cosponsored by Sen. Romney, would automatically end all future emergency declarations made pursuant to the NEA after 30 days unless Congress voted affirmatively to extend the emergency. Currently Congress can cancel an emergency declaration only by passing a resolution that can withstand a presidential veto.
An online version of this release can be found here.
=========================
DEREK TED
Releases Personal Music Video for "L U C K Y"
Premiering Exclusively with Brooklyn Vegan
Upcoming Tour Dates with Pinegrove and Walter Etc.
Stream and Purchase Better Spirit Today at https://smarturl.it/BetterSpirit
Los Angeles, CA - September 5, 2019 - Derek Ted is welcoming fans into his life with the music video for "L U C K Y." Premiering exclusively with Brooklyn Vegan, the video was shot on his VHS camera while he was writing the track. "L U C K Y is one of the more vulnerable tracks on my new record and I wanted the video to be like a lo-fi journal entry of that time" shares Ted on the very personal video. Fans can stream "L U C K Y" today HERE.
"L U C K Y" comes from recently released Better Spirit, which melds traditional genres like folk and jazz with classic emo and shades of new-millennium pop, all filtered through the lens of modern production. Ted's Pure Noise Records debut expertly blends both old-school and new-school sensibilities able to resonate not only across genres, but generations. "I wrote this record to pull myself out of my own darkness. It was a way to push through and find hope in a time when I felt like I had none" shares Ted. "I wanted this record to be the beginning of a new path for my songs...to let them live aesthetically in a place where they could be their biggest and shiniest form."Better Spirit is available to stream and purchase at https://smarturl.it/BetterSpirit.
Derek Ted is gearing up to play these new songs live for the first time with support slots for Pinegrove on the East Coast. On the upcoming tour, he shares "I'm really stoked for this tour and opportunity to play with Pinegrove. These will be my first full band east coast shows ever." Ted will also be joining Walter Etc. for two shows in Southern California next month. A full list of tour dates are below with more information available at http://derekted.com/.
Upcoming Tour Dates
9.25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
9.26 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club *
9.27 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall *
9.28 - Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle *
9.29 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel *
10.2. - Los Angeles, CA @ Temple of Time +
10.3 - San Luis Obispo, CA @ Satellite of Love +
* - with Pinegrove
+ - with Walter Etc.
While the underground influences that molded Ted as a young songwriter are still tightly embedded in his DNA-namely, his ability to craft a heartbreaking, soul-searching lyric-Better Spirit, his debut album for Pure Noise Records, is closely aligned with his more timeless muses. He's light years away from the screamo bands he used to front as a teenager, but his songs are no less emotionally resonant.
###
Follow Derek Ted:
https://www.facebook.com/derektedmusic
https://www.instagram.com/derekted/
==========================
Hemp, Inc. Increases Pre-Roll Production
Las Vegas, NV, Sept. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP), a vertically integrated global leader in the industrial hemp industry, announced today it has geared up to produce 20,000 hemp pre-rolls per day and, according to executives, is already preparing to increase that amount to 20,000 per hour. The company’s smokable product, to enter the marketplace, is a high-end, top quality product that is both effective and flavorful. With one pre-roll selling for $10 retail, coupled with the infrastructure already in place for fast production, Hemp, Inc. expects to bring in major revenue by quarter’s end.
“Hemp, Inc. made the decision this year to grow hemp predominantly for a smokable product focusing on CBD levels and terpene profiles. While some of Hemp, Inc.’s harvest will go to biomass for oil and isolate production, a significant amount will be used in the production of smokable products. This vertical integration merges seamlessly with Hemp, Inc.’s processing facilities which specialize in drying and curing the flower for smoking,” said Bruce Perlowin, CEO of Hemp, Inc.
While many companies are focusing on biomass, Hemp, Inc. had the foresight to focus its efforts on smokable hemp flower. The revenue per pound of smokable hemp flower is nearly 10-15 times the revenue of biomass per pound so Hemp, Inc. is expecting major revenue returns very soon.
After proof of concept testing, Hemp, Inc. discovered that smoking hemp works faster and lasts longer than other methods of intake. It’s also a great alternative to smoking cigarettes. The pre-roll is packaged in a resealable glass tube allowing for 5 or 6 servings per pre-roll.
Perlowin stated, “The flower cannot be simply heat dried as it is for biomass because the volatile terpenes will be lost along with the flavor and much of the benefit. The flower must be dried slowly and cured over several weeks to bring out the uniqueness in flavor and aroma while maintaining the full spectrum of benefits. We are able to grow, process, dry, cure and package the individual bud at a pace that has positioned us to be a leader in this booming industry.” According to Perlowin, the company will be aggressively marketing the products within a few weeks.
The pre-rolls are compliant with federal regulations and do not exceed 0.3% THC. Most know that the hemp industry is expanding quickly but most may not know that the pre-roll portion of the hemp industry is among the fastest growing segment.
“We have a fantastic opportunity to bring our brand and commitment to quality to states nationwide,” Perlowin added. “Not only do we look forward to positioning Las Vegas as our manufacturing hub to further our footprint across the U.S., we believe our King of Hemp product line will be in high demand.”
Those interested in carrying Hemp, Inc.’s product line should email flower@hempinc.com.
To see one-minute videos of Hemp, Inc.’s current activities, visit Bruce Perlowin’s personal Facebook page, where he shares daily posts of Hemp, Inc.’s activities around the country.
WHAT IS HEMP, INC.?
What is Hemp, Inc.? With a deep-rooted social and environmental mission at its core, Hemp, Inc. seeks to build a business constituency for the American small farmer, the American veteran, and other groups experiencing the ever-increasing disparity between tapering income and soaring expenses. As a leader in the industrial hemp industry with ownership of the largest commercial multi-purpose industrial hemp processing facility in North America, Hemp, Inc. believes there can be tangible benefits reaped from adhering to a corporate social responsibility plan.
FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURES
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. To clarify the issue of OTC placing a stop sign next to Hemp, Inc.’s stock trading symbol, that symbol indicates Hemp, Inc. does not report their financials. As a non-reporting pink sheet company, Hemp, Inc. is not required to report. The company does, however, choose to publicly report its quarterly and yearly financials on its website. According to the company’s CEO, the OTC stop sign is a misrepresentation of that reporting fact. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties.
Contact:
Hemp, Inc.
855-436-7688
ir@hempinc.com
Source: Hemp, Inc.
© 2019 GlobeNewswire, Inc.
