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MILWAUKEE, WI (WDJT ) Now you dont get f****** nothing because youre a stupid mother******. You cant read and write and speak the f****** England language.

Those remarks from a UPS driver were captured on a home security camera from a Latino recipient in the Milwaukee area, who was not home to receive a package.

The mother of the recipient reached out to CBS 58 and Milwaukee Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, after she said she was stonewalled by UPS to respond to the incident.

It was offensive, Zamarripa said. I was angry and upset as well when I saw the video.

The family does speak English, and they say theyve never actually communicated with the UPS driver.

The recipient works overnight, and was not home when the package was delivered.

The last name is Aviles.

We can only surmise that he made such a racially charged, racist remark because he saw a Spanish surname on the package, Zamarripa said.

The Latino advocacy group Forward Latino says they are immediately demanding a meeting with UPS.

They want the driver out.

Some other groups have called us wanting to participate as well, Forward Latino President Darryl Morin said. And at this point, I dont see anything other than dismissal being acceptable.

UPS sent CBS 58 the statement: We offer our deepest apologies to the family. There is no place in any community for racism, bigotry or hate. This is very serious and unfortunate, and we are taking appropriate action.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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UPS driver accuses Latino package recipient of being unable to read, write or speak English - KTVZ

A rating of 83 puts Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS) near the top of the Consumer Cyclical sector according to InvestorsObserver.

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc's score of 83 means that it ranks higher than 83% of stocks in the sector. In addition, its overall score of 51 ranks it higher than 51% of all stocks.

Analyzing stocks can be hard. There are tons of numbers and ratios, and it can be hard to remember what they all mean and what counts as good for a given value. InvestorsObserver ranks stocks on eight different metrics. We percentile rank most of our scores to make it easy for investors to understand. A score of 51 means the stock is more attractive than 51 percent of stocks.

This ranking system incorporates numerous factors used by analysts to compare stocks in greater detail. This allows you to find the best stocks available in the consumer cyclical sector with relative ease.

These percentile-ranked scores using both fundamental and technical analysis give investors an easy way to view the attractiveness of specific stocks. Stocks with the highest scores have the best evaluations by analysts working on Wall Street.

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS) stock is higher by 0.47% while the S&P 500 is down -0.73% as of 2:43 PM on Friday, Dec 18. FBHS has gained $0.42 from the previous closing price of $88.89 on volume of 971,132 shares. Over the past year the S&P 500 has risen 15.29% while FBHS has gained 36.85%. FBHS earned $3.51 a per share in the over the last 12 months, giving it a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.3.

Click Here to get the full Stock Score Report on Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS) Stock.

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Can Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS) Stock Rise to the Top of Consumer Cyclical Sector? - InvestorsObserver

A Russian hacking campaign has struck several federal agencies, according to security companies and news reports.

Earlier this year, hackers compromised software made by a cybersecurity company you might not have heard of. The infiltration led to a massive malware campaignthat's now affecting US federal agencies as well as governments around the world, according to the security firm and news reports.

The hacked company, SolarWinds, sells software that lets an organization see what's happening on its computer networks. Hackers inserted malicious code into an updated version of the software, called Orion. Around 18,000 SolarWinds customers installed the tainted updates onto their systems, the company said.

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The compromised update process has had a sweeping effect, the scale of which keeps growing as new information emerges. Based on newspaper reports, the company's statements and analysis from other security firms, a Russian intelligence agency reportedly carried out a sophisticated attack that struck several US federal agencies and private companies including Microsoft.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump floated on Twitter the idea that China might be behind the attack. Trump, who didn't provide evidence to support the suggestion of Chinese involvement, tagged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had earlier said in a radio interview that "we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity."

US national security agencies issued a joint statement Wednesday acknowledging a "significant and ongoing hacking campaign" that's affecting the federal government. It's still unclear how many agencies are affected or what information hackers might have stolen so far, but by all accounts the malware is extremely powerful. According to analysis by Microsoft and security firm FireEye, both of which were also infected with the malware, it gives hackers broad reach into impacted systems.

On Thursday, Politico reported that systems at the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration were also affected. Also on Thursday, Microsoft said it had identified more than 40 customers that were targeted in the hack. More information is likely to emerge about the hack and its aftermath. Here's what you need to know about the SolarWinds hack:

Hackers managed to access a system that SolarWinds uses to put together updates to its Orion product, the company explained in a filing with the SEC. From there, they inserted malicious code into otherwise legitimate software updates. This is known as a supply-chain attack, because it infects software while it's being assembled.

It's a big coup for hackers to pull off a supply-chain attack, because it packages their malware inside a trusted piece of software. Instead of having to trick individual targets into downloading malicious software with a phishing campaign, the hackers could rely on several government agencies and companies to install the Orion update at SolarWinds' prompting.

The approach is especially powerful in this case because hundreds of thousands of companies and government agencies around the world reportedly use the Orion software. With the release of the tainted software update, SolarWinds' vast customer list became potential hacking targets.

According to reports from Reuters, The Washington Post and TheWall Street Journal, the malware affected the US Homeland Security, State, Commerce and Treasury Departments, as well as the National Institutes of Health. Politico reported on Thursday that nuclear programs run by the US Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration were also targeted.

It's still unclear what information, if any, was stolen from the federal agencies, but the amount of access appears to be broad.

Though the Department of Energy and the Commerce Department have acknowledged the hacks to news sources, there's no official confirmation that other specific federal agencies have been hacked. However, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency put out an advisory urging federal agencies to mitigate the malware, noting that it's "currently being exploited by malicious actors."

In a statement Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden said his administration will "make dealing with this breach a top priority from the moment we take office."

In addition to gaining access to several government systems, the hackers turned a run-of-the-mill software update into a weapon. That weapon was pointed at thousands of groups, not just the agencies and companies that the hackers focused on after they installed the tainted Orion update.

Microsoft president Brad Smith called this "an act of recklessness" in a wide-ranging blog post that explored the ramifications of the hack. He didn't directly attribute the hack to Russia, but described its previous alleged hacking campaigns as proof of an increasingly fraught cyber conflict.

"This is not just an attack on specific targets," Smith said, "but on the trust and reliability of the world's critical infrastructure in order to advance one nation's intelligence agency." He went on to call for international agreements to limit the creation of hacking tools that undermine global cybersecurity.

Former Facebook cybersecurity chief Alex Stamos said on Twitter that the hack could lead to supply-chain attacks becoming more common. However, he questioned whether the hack was anything out of the ordinary for a well resourced intelligence agency.

"So far, all of the activity that has been publicly discussed has fallen into the boundaries of what the US does regularly," Stamos said.

Yes. Microsoft confirmed Thursday that it found indicators of the malware in its systems, after confirming Sunday that the breach was affecting customers of its cybersecurity services. A Reuters report also said that Microsoft's own systems were used to further the hacking campaign, but Microsoft denied this claim to news agencies. On Wednesday, the company began quarantining the versions of Orion known to contain the malware, in order to cut hackers off from its customers' systems.

FireEye also confirmed last week that it was infected with the malware and was seeing the infection in customer systems as well.

Other than FireEye and Microsoft, it isn't clear which of SolarWinds' private sector customers saw malware infections. The company's customer list includes large corporations, such as AT&T, Procter & Gamble and McDonald's. The company also counts governments and private companies around the world as customers. FireEye says many of those customers were infected.

Unnamed US government officials have reportedly told news outlets that a hacking group widely believed to be a Russian intelligence agency is responsible for the malware campaign. SolarWinds, cybersecurity firms and US government statements have attributed the hack to "nation-state actors" but haven't named a country directly.

In a statement on Facebook, the Russian embassy in the US denied responsibility for the SolarWinds hacking campaign. "Malicious activities in the information space contradict the principles of the Russian foreign policy, national interests and our understanding of interstate relations," the embassy said, adding, "Russia does not conduct offensive operations in the cyber domain."

Nicknamed APT29 or CozyBear, the hacking group named by news reports has previously been blamed for targeting email systems at the State Department and White House during the administration of President Barack Obama. It was also named by US intelligence agencies as one of the groups that infiltrated email systems at the Democratic National Committee in 2015, but the leaking of those emails isn't attributed to CozyBear. (Another Russian agency was blamed for that.)

More recently, the US, UK and Canada have identified the group as responsible for hacking efforts that tried to access information about COVID-19 vaccine research.

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Microsoft head calls SolarWinds hack 'act of recklessness': What you need to know - CNET

This market research report includes a detailed segmentation of theglobal smart home appliances marketby product type (home appliances [smart home security system, smart lighting, smart speaker, smart plugs, smart thermostat, others], kitchen appliances [smart microwave/oven, smart refrigerators, smart dishwashers, smart washer/dryers, others]), by technology (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF technology, Zigbee, cellular technology, near field communication), and by region (North America, Europe, APAC, and RoW). The market research report identifies Samsung, LG, GE Appliances, Electrolux, Panasonic, Philips, Whirlpool, and BSH as the major vendors operating in the global smart home appliances market.

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Overview of the Smart Home Appliances Market

Infoholics market research report predicts that the global smart home appliances market will grow at a CAGR of around 32% during the forecast period 20192025. The demand for smart home appliances is increasing due to several factors such as increased digitalization, growing consumer awareness of smart hubs, rising living standards, growing consumer purchasing power, and increased consolidation & sustainability.

The shift in consumer buying power is one of the major drivers contributing to the growth of the smart home appliances market. Increase in demand for energy-efficient appliances is anticipated to create new business opportunities for smart home appliances vendors. Advancement in IoT is one of the key factors for smart homes & home automation, which is driving the smart home appliances market. Wider availability of financing options, increasing nuclear families, changing lifestyles, and launch of new & advanced models are few factors leading to the growth of the smart home appliances market.

There are certain challenges being faced by smart home appliances vendors, which may hinder the market growth. Few challenges in the smart home appliances market include concerns about device security, efficiency & durability of products, and high product costs of home appliances. Complete usability & interoperability of connected devices is also one of the factors that can create issues when consumers want to integrate a smart solution from one vendor into the smart hub offered by a different vendor.

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According to the smart home appliances industry analysis, North America accounts for the largest share of the global smart home appliances market in 2019. Drivers supporting the growth of the smart home appliances market in North America include increased focus of consumers toward home security and growing demand for energy management devices. The number of smart homes in the US is expected to increase significantly during the next few years due to growing number of connected devices. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth rate during the forecast period due to the increasing presence of home appliances vendors in this region. With strong economic growth in this region, domestic as well as foreign manufacturers & retailers of home appliances witness potential opportunities for expansion in the APAC market.

Smart Home Appliances Market Research Competitive Analysis and Key Vendors

The report covers and analyzes the global smart home appliances market. Major vendors across different verticals are planning for high investments in this market, and as a result, the smart home appliances market is expected to grow at an impressive rate in the coming years. The key players in the market are adopting various organic as well as inorganic growth strategies, such as mergers & acquisitions, collaborations & partnerships, joint ventures, and few other strategies, to be in the strong position in the market.

Few of the Key Vendors in the Smart Home Appliances Market Research:

SamsungLGGE AppliancesElectroluxPanasonicPhilipsWhirlpoolBSH

Consumer electronics companies, including Samsung and LG, have shifted their focus toward smart technology devices, which could benefit them in their home appliances business. Traditional appliances companies, i.e., Electrolux, BSH, and Whirlpool, have also become key players by acquiring significant capabilities in the smart appliances segment.

There are numerous other vendors that have been studied based on the portfolio, geographical presence, marketing & distribution channels, revenue generation, and significant investments in R&D for analysis of the entire ecosystem.

Smart Home Appliances Market Research By Product Type

Home AppliancesSmart Home Security SystemSmart LightingSmart SpeakerSmart PlugsSmart ThermostatOthers

Kitchen AppliancesSmart Microwave/OvenSmart RefrigeratorsSmart DishwashersSmart Washer/DryersOthers

The home appliances segment is estimated to hold the largest market share and the kitchen appliances segment is expected to witness significant growth at the highest CAGR during the forecast period 20192025.

Smart Home Appliances Market Research By Technology

Wi-FiBluetoothRF TechnologyZigbeeCellular TechnologyNear Field Communication

Wi-Fi technology is estimated to hold the largest market share in 2019 as it is preferred as connectivity for remote control & monitoring, and cellular technology is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period 20192025.

Smart Home Appliances Market Research Benefits

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the smart home appliances market. Globally, the adoption of smart home appliances is expected to increase significantly during the next few years. The report discusses the market in terms of product type, technology, and regions. Further, the report provides details about the major challenges impacting the market growth.

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Smart Home Appliances Market Growth Analysis By Manufacturers, Regions, Types and Application Forecast - LionLowdown

A comprehensive report onLand Mobile Radio (LMR) System Marketwas published by Zion Market Research to understand the complete setup of Land Mobile Radio (LMR) System Market industries. Effective qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques have been used to examine the data accurately. Variable factors that comprise basis for a successful business, such as vendors, sellers, as well as investors are analysed in the report. It focuses on size and framework of global Land Mobile Radio (LMR) System Market sectors to understand the existing structure of several industries. Challenges faced by the industries and approaches adopted by them to overcome those threats has been included. This research report is helpful for both established businesses as well as start-ups in the market. Furthermore, the report is ideally and characteristically punctuated with illustrative presentation. Researchers of this report provide a detailed investigation of the historical records, current statistics, and future predictions.

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Global Connected Home Security Device Market Size |Incredible Possibilities and Growth Analysis and Forecast To 2026 - The Courier

The Apple HomePod is capable of controlling compatible at-home tech like smart cameras and lights through Apple HomeKit. It takes your music streaming to the next level too. With Apple Music and AirPlay, your favorite playlists and Apple device tunes will sound better than ever before, thanks to the HomePods A8 audio chip and 360-degree adaptive sound staging. Then, theres everything you can do with Siri. Ask the voice assistant questions, and shell scour the web to find your answers.

The HomePod can perform most functions without a hitch, but tech is tech. Whether a poor Wi-Fi connection or a holdup with AirPlay pairing, there are some HomePod glitches that pop up again and again. Weve taken a deeper look at some of these bugs (for both the standard HomePod and newly released HomePod Mini) to better understand what can cause these troubles and different things you can try to fix them.

A white screen, Wi-Fi incompatibility, or a -6722 error code. These are all signs that your HomePod cant get through the devices initial setup. Fortunately, there are a few things you can try to work past this. For starters, youll want to confirm your iOS device and HomePod are on the same Wi-Fi network and are both running the latest firmware. If all checks out, and youre still having trouble, check to make sure two-factor authentication is enabled for both your Apple ID and iCloud Keychain.

For two-factor authentication, on your iOS device, go to Settings > Your Name > Password and Security, then make sure the option is turned on. For the iCloud Keychain, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud. If Keychain is disabled, toggle it on.Once youve confirmed everything is enabled and paired correctly, begin the setup process once more. If youre still having trouble, it could be network-related. Well cover that in our next section.

This issue can rear its head for a multitude of reasons and is not all that uncommon for smart speakers in general. For starters, as part of iOS 12, your HomePod will jump on the same Wi-Fi network as your preferred iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch). If youve recently changed your homes Wi-Fi password or relocated your HomePod to a new location, the speaker will need to be re-paired to the network.

To do so, grab the iOS device you plan on using for setup and hold it near the HomePod, then tapSet Upwhen it appears on your device screen. When prompted, select the HomeKit Room you want the HomePod to be placed in, then tapTransfer Settingsto send your iOS device settings (iCloud credentials, Wi-Fi info) to your HomePod. After entering your Apple ID password, your HomePod should be good to go.

Sometimes, Wi-Fi drops may be the result of poor firmware or glitches in the HomePods operating system. Right now, there are numerous reports of HomePod Mini owners experiencing intermittent Wi-Fi drops. Apples current solution is to unplug the HomePod and plug it back in. If the hard reset doesnt fix the issue, you can perform a factory reset. To do so, log into the Home app, select the HomePod in question, and tap Remove. Your HomePod will then un-link from your HomeKit account and reset itself.

If youre operating your HomePod in a home with poor bandwidth or a ton of walls and floors between the speaker and your router, the speaker may kick itself off Wi-Fi now and again. To correct the issue, try moving the HomePod closer to the router. If youre still having trouble, a hard reset of your network gear may do the trick. Unplug your router and modem, wait 10 seconds then reconnect the modem and then the router. Once everything is back online, say Hey, Siri to test your HomePods connection. If the speaker still drops Wi-Fi, it may be worth it to invest in upgraded internet gear. With Wi-Fi, you truly get what you pay for, and a powerful router can make all the difference.

Your HomePod uses Siri to run the show. The voice assistant carries out your smart home commands, connects you to your preferred music services, and searches the web for answers to your questions. But sometimes when you say Hey, Siri, your HomePod may not respond. There could be a few reasons why.

The HomePod uses a six-microphone array (three-mic array for the HomePod Mini) to pick up on your voice commands. In most cases, the speaker should be able to hear you, but too much environmental noise can definitely get in the way. Try moving your HomePod to a quieter location, or away from obstructions that block the speaker, then test by saying Hey, Siri.

If theres still no response, and you know your HomePod is paired to your preferred iOS device, go into the device settings and toggle Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on/off. Doing so may be enough to get Siri back online. If all else fails, you can opt for a hard reset of the HomePod. Unplug, re-plug, then test Siri.

Using Airplay, you can instantly stream music to your HomePod from your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple TV. If youre trying to play content and not getting any audio from the speaker, there could be a couple of culprits.

The first thing youll want to do is make sure your HomePod and Airplay-designated iOS device are both on the same Wi-Fi network and that Bluetooth is enabled. If youre going to be streaming from your Apple TV, youll also need to make sure Airplay is enabled for the device. To do so, using your Apple TV remote, go toSettings, selectAirplay, then make sure the function is turned on.

Still no Airplay? As weve mentioned previously, do a hard reset of both your HomePod and your iOS device, then try using Airplay again.

Your HomePod can be the brains of your entire smart home. From lights to locks and home security, all can be managed and customized in the Home app. But once in a while, you may run into a situation where you cant get your smart gear to respond.

The first thing youll want to do is open your Home app and make sure the devices youre trying to control are available and online. If a device is missing, manually re-add it and then test to see if your HomePod will control it. If theres still trouble, take a look at what firmware both the HomePod and your smart devices are running. If youre one or two updates behind on either device, that may be enough to cause handshake issues between your gear.

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Common HomePod problems and how to fix them - Digital Trends

BOSTON, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Perigee, founded by a former NSA mathematician, combines network exploitation and machine learning expertise to stop malicious threats, improve behavior, and extend the life of connected devices in real-time. Today, Perigee announced the closing of their first institutional capital round of $1.5M.

The round was led by Outsiders Fund's Austin McChord and Teddy Seem, with additional investment from Westport, Contour Venture Partners, BBG Ventures, Innospark Ventures, Ray Rothrock, and Corey Thomas. The newly invested capital will be used to hire new talent, further develop the product, and grow the enterprise within environmental controls and beyond.

McChord, founder and former CEO of data backup service Datto, said, "Teddy and I are incredibly excited to work with such a talented team. This space is clamoring for new thinking and we are really excited to be backing Mollie and her vision around how the ever-changing security landscape can be improved."

Perigee's founder and CEO Mollie Breen previously led a team at NSA where she focused on critical infrastructure. With Perigee, she is extending that expertise to critical infrastructure across enterprises with a specific focus on connected devices.

The same brand of connected thermostats installed in the physician lounge and in the NICU will inevitably be a part of a different workflow and have a different risk profile. Perigee isolates threats unique to a specific thermostat, in real-time, in order to minimally impact an enterprise's critical operations.

"Connected devices are used to increase the ROI of certain critical operations by making them faster and automated, and we focus on increasing the ROI of the devices themselves by making them more trustworthy and longer lasting," Breen said.

Perigee is uniquely positioned to bridge IoT security and IoT analytics.

Breen said: "Analytics solutions are often not built with security in mind. We are a security-first solution, that quantifies improvements in a single device's overall behavior and hygiene, for all devices."

The company is focusing initially on devices within HVAC and environmental controls in critical industries like healthcare at a time when these sensors are of the utmost importance.

"HVAC and Environmental Controls play an important part in patient care. If you don't have those, especially now due to COVID-19, you're not taking care of them. These systems are just as important as your Electronic Medical Record. Secure them like it," said Mitch Parker, CISO of Indiana University Health.

The Perigee team sees HVAC and environmental controls as the optimal starting point to expand into the growing footprint of connected devices.

Breen said: "As real estate developers look to healthcare to set future standards for healthier buildings, working with hospitals means we understand the most critical devices today, and in the future too."

About Perigee

Perigee provides protection and enhancement for connected devices' entire life cycle. Perigee was founded in 2019 by former NSA mathematician Mollie Breen, CEO.Learn more at: http://www.getperigee.com

SOURCE Perigee

https://www.getperigee.com

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Perigee Raises Pre-Seed to Bring Security and Performance to HVAC and Environmental Controls - PRNewswire

Early Years I enrolled in college but quickly decided it wasnt for me. A high school pal convinced me to study to be an electrician, but I failed to land an electrician job after night school. I remember asking Now what? My dad asked me if he ever thought about working for Met-Ed and having a job for life. I signed on with the company in 1985 to work in the York, Pennsylvania, area. I enjoyed learning how to climb poles under the tutelage of the seasoned linemen who helped train me. When the old guys told me get your tools and climb, we did exactly what they told us to do even if we could have used a bucket truck because we had a lot of respect for them. After five years of study in 1990, I topped out as a first-class lineman.

Moving into a Troubleman Position Inow have 35 years of total line experience including more than a dozen years as a troubleman. Earlier in my career, I enjoyed working on a crew with other first-class linemen. It was a coveted position that offered good pay, plenty of opportunity for overtime and weekends off. I would later work up to lead lineman, overseeing my crew with a keen eye for safety. But it was the hands-on nature of the job that spurred me to exchange my lead linemans hard hat for that of a troubleman when the opportunity arose more than a decade ago. I always loved doing the work, and it drove me nuts watching other people doing it from the ground.

Day in the Life A troubleman, by definition, is often the utilitys first responder to an outage or electrical problem. I relish working by myself and getting the job right the first time. Although I work solo most of the time, I know all 40 line workers in the York region. If there is too much work for any one person to handle, Ill arrange for more crews and materials to get the job done easier and safer. I am committed to improving customer service reliability by making repairs so that the problem doesnt reoccur. That might entail adding measures such as squirrel guards to prevent future animal-related interruptions in the same spot.

Memorable Moment Nine or 10 years ago, a call came in from my supervisor one evening. The firemen needed me to pull a deceased man out of a transformer at the Caterpillar plant. Contractors were in the process of subdividing the shuttered heavy equipment assembly plant into spaces for smaller businesses. A man attempting to steal copper wire was killed after contacting energized equipment. My supervisor gave me the choice of not having to retrieve the body since Met-Ed did not own the industrial equipment at the former plant. I accepted the grim task because I wanted to keep the firemen safe. I was the one with testers, rubber sleeves and rubber gloves.

Plans for the Future I plan to retire in five years and work part-time as a home electrician, installing service wiring in houses.

Editors Note: T&D World is excited to partner with Milwaukee Tool on a sponsorship for the linemen profiled in our Lifeline department. To thank the linemen for their dedication to the line trade, Milwaukee will send a tool package to each lineman profiled. If you are interested in being profiled in our monthly Lifeline department or know of a journeyman lineman who would be a good candidate, email T&D World Field Editor Amy Fischbach atamyfischbach@gmail.com.

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Spotlight on the Line Trade: Chris Siford - Transmission & Distribution World

WASHINGTONGoogle was targeted Thursday in an antitrust lawsuit joined by 38 states, which alleged that the Alphabet Inc. unit maintained monopoly power over the internet-search market through anticompetitive contracts and conduct.

The states alleged that Google leverages its position as the dominant search engineand the personal data such a perch allows the company to gatherto limit consumers from using competing search engines, force businesses to use its proprietary advertising tools and foreclose competition from specialized search engines for travel or local businesses.

Consumers have better products and services when theyve got choice in the marketplace, and theyve been deprived, said Democratic Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser at a video-streamed news conference with other state attorneys general.

This will be a unified effort, said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a Republican.

Google has long said it operates in a competitive market. In a blog post Thursday, Google economic policy director Adam Cohen said some of the actions described in the suit were taken to improve search results.

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More States Hit Google Over Alleged Monopoly Conduct - The Wall Street Journal

As many schools across the country continue to manage virtual teaching and learning this school year due to COVID-19, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools has distributed more than 3,500 tool kits to skilled trades teachers to lend to their students.

Like laboratory or other career courses, skilled trades classes can be particularly challenging to teach online because they require the use of tools not always available at home.

With more than one million students studying trades like construction, welding, manufacturing, automotive and electrical, take-home tools are one way to allow students to keep honing their hands-on skills even if their schools operate entirely or partially remotely. Many of the donated tool kits included a tool bag, assorted hand tools, measurement tools, and/or safety gear. Harbor Freight Tools for Schools may expand the tool kit effort to more schools as it evaluates impact and demand over the course of this semester.

We have been humbled by the incredible ingenuity and resilience weve seen from skilled trades teachers and students during the pandemic, said Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. Were providing these tool kits because we believe that skilled trades jobs are essential to our country, now more than ever, and that means skilled trades education is essential, too.

As COVID-19 shuttered businesses across the country this year, skilled tradespeople, particularly those employed in public works and utilities, were deemed essential by many states. Even before the pandemic, eight in 10 American voters agreed that skilled trades jobs are important, according to a NORC poll commissioned by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.

Despite being regarded as crucial, and despite the family-supporting wages they offer, skilled trades jobs routinely ranked among the hardest to fill over the past several years. A forthcoming wave of retirements is expected to worsen existing shortages well into the next decade. That means todays skilled trades students have the opportunity to find meaningful and sustaining work in these fields.

Our country is going to come out of this pandemic strongerand skilled tradespeople and jobs will be essential to that recovery, said Eric Smidt, founder of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. With many high school students preparing to enter a trade immediately after graduation, we want to make sure they can keep learning and growing their skills at home.

The tool kits come courtesy of donated tools from Harbor Freight Tools, the nationwide tool retailer. Smidt, the founder and owner of the company, created the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program in 2014. Today, the program is operated by The Smidt Foundation, established by Smidt in 2016.

Tool kits have been made available to teachers who are past winners of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence and are currently teaching at a U.S. public high school. Also, the prizewinning teachers nominated a trades teacher in their community to receive tool kits. Each teacher was able to customize their requested kits depending on their students course of study and needs. Kits have been distributed to schools, which will lend them to students to take home for the semester or school year, similar to the way schools lend laptops.

The tool kits expand on a project implemented last spring at Enumclaw High School in Washington State by construction teacher Bob Kilmer. Kilmer, a 2017 Prize for Teaching Excellence winner who recently retired and now consults for Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, provided tools to his students to pick up on campus.

These tool kits will be essential to keeping learning on track for students who love thinking with their hands, Kilmer said. We hope these tools make life a little easier and keep students on the path to meaningful post-secondary and career opportunities.

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Skilled Trades Students Nationwide Receive Tool Kits to Practice Hands-On Skills at Home - Transmission & Distribution World