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Pennsylvania overhauled its sentencing guidelines to be more fair and consistent − but racial disparities may not disappear so soon

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Pennsylvania’s new sentencing guidelines went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Key Points: 
  • Pennsylvania’s new sentencing guidelines went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
  • They mark the eighth iteration since the state first introduced such guidelines in 1982 and are perhaps the most comprehensive revision to date.
  • Since Philadelphia has by far the largest share of incarcerated people in the state, the new sentencing guidelines affect many Philadelphia residents.

How do judges determine a person’s sentence?

  • This means that judges are required to consider what the state guidelines suggest a criminal sentence should be, but they are not required to comply with the guidelines.
  • That’s different from other states such as Minnesota and Oregon that have mandatory sentencing guidelines.
  • In Pennsylvania, judges primarily consider what crime the person is charged with along with their prior record or criminal history.

What’s new in the 2024 sentencing guidelines?

  • Probably the most significant change is re-weighting the two categories in the matrix — offense severity and criminal history.
  • These categories are officially known as the Offense Gravity Score and the Prior Record Score.
  • Lapsing policies, for example, have been expanded to reduce the impact of criminal history on sentencing for less serious offenders.

What’s the goal of the new guidelines?

  • The guidelines themselves were created by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing with the the goal of promoting fair and uniform decisions on the severity of people’s punishment.
  • These commission members provide direction and oversight and are unique from commission staff, who collect, analyze and monitor the sentencing data for the state.

What’s been the reaction so far?

  • The new guidelines mirror the federal sentencing guidelines in that there are many offense gravity categories.
  • One critique I’ve heard is that the Offense Gravity Score now has too many categories and adjustments, and that this might complicate things such as plea negotiations.
  • Having more Offense Gravity Score categories could lead to more complicated and slower plea negotiations.

Will the guidelines reduce racial disparities in Pa.’s criminal justice system?

  • For example, a December 2023 analysis by the Rand Corporation, a nonprofit global policy think tank, looked at racial disparities within the criminal justice system in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh and is Pennsylvania’s second-most populated county after Philadelphia.
  • It found that significant racial disparities exist at each of the key stages of people’s encounter with the criminal justice system, from having charges filed against them to having their parole revoked.
  • Courts to some degree inherit disparities from police and prosecutor decision making, though the new guidelines may help to reduce them at later stages, such as sentencing.
  • Racial and ethnic disparities in sentencing are widespread in the U.S. and are almost never entirely explained by legally relevant factors such as type of crime committed or criminal history.


C. Clare Strange receives funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

ADFO Summit Was Held Successfully on 1st of March in Abu Dhabi Setting a New Standard of Networking for Family Offices in the UAE

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - March 5, 2024) - The second edition of ADFO Summit was held in Abu Dhabi on Friday, first of March.

Key Points: 
  • Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - March 5, 2024) - The second edition of ADFO Summit was held in Abu Dhabi on Friday, first of March.
  • Fridays are an unusual day to host a business gathering in the UAE, but not for Abu Dhabi Family Office Summit, known as " ADFO Summit ".
  • Debuting in 2023, the ADFO Summit introduced a fresh paradigm for networking, curated specifically for both local and international families seeking unparalleled connectivity.
  • Following the resounding success of ADFO Summit 2.0, the team is gearing up for ADFO Summit 3.0, scheduled for May 30th & 31st.

NGM Bio Provides Recent Business Highlights and Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 11, 2024

--On February 26, 2024, announced that it had entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger with Atlas Neon Parent, Inc., and Atlas Neon Merger Sub, Inc.--

Key Points: 
  • The combination of NGM707 and pembrolizumab was generally well-tolerated at all four doses (200, 600, 1200, 1800 mg) of NGM707.
  • Additional details can be found in NGM Bio’s recent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
  • NGM Bio anticipates that the Offer and the Merger contemplated under the Merger Agreement will be consummated in the second quarter of 2024.
  • If the Merger is effected, NGM Bio’s common stock will be delisted from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and NGM Bio will be privately held.

BioVie Announces Pipeline Update and Near-Term Clinical Priorities

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 11, 2024

CARSON CITY, Nev., March 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioVie Inc., (NASDAQ: BIVI) (“BioVie” or the “Company”) a clinical-stage company developing innovative drug therapies for the treatment of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders and advanced liver disease, today announced that its recently completed funding round provides opportunity to further the Company’s clinical priorities in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and ascites/liver disease. The Company continues to explore longevity and aging in conjunction with external collaborators. 

Key Points: 
  • The Company continues to explore longevity and aging in conjunction with external collaborators.
  • The trial targets enrolling 100-150 patients in a 6-month trial with the Part 3 (motor) score on the MDS-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) as the primary endpoint.
  • Only one Phase 3 trial is potentially needed as BIV201 has already received Orphan and Fast Track designations.
  • BIV201 remains our most de-risked program, but it unfortunately is a program that will take two years to complete.

Press Release: New Phase 2b results for amlitelimab support potential for best-in-class maintenance of response in atopic dermatitis

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 11, 2024

The safety profile was consistent with Part 1 of the study with amlitelimab being well-tolerated and no new safety concerns identified.

Key Points: 
  • The safety profile was consistent with Part 1 of the study with amlitelimab being well-tolerated and no new safety concerns identified.
  • Overall rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were 69.8% for continued amlitelimab treatment, 71.9% for the amlitelimab withdrawal-arm and 66.7% for placebo.
  • TEAEs more commonly observed included headache (11.6% amlitelimab continuation, 3.9% amlitelimab withdrawal, 6.7% placebo), upper respiratory tract infection (9.3% amlitelimab continuation, 5.5% amlitelimab withdrawal, 20% placebo).
  • Amlitelimab is currently under clinical investigation, and its safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.

GFG Announces Amendment of LIFE Offering Document

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 8, 2024

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GFG Resources Inc. (TSXV: GFG) (OTCQB: GFGSF) (“GFG” or the “Company”) announce that, due to a typographical error, it has filed an amended and restated offering document (“Form 45-106 F19”) dated March 8, 2024 (the “Amended and Restated Offering Document“) in connection with its previously announced private placement pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, previously announced on February 22, 2024 (see news release “GFG Announces Private Placement Financing of up to C$3.3 Million”)

Key Points: 
  • NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRES
    SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GFG Resources Inc. (TSXV: GFG) (OTCQB: GFGSF) (“GFG” or the “Company”) announce that, due to a typographical error, it has filed an amended and restated offering document (“Form 45-106 F19”) dated March 8, 2024 (the “Amended and Restated Offering Document“) in connection with its previously announced private placement pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, previously announced on February 22, 2024 (see news release “ GFG Announces Private Placement Financing of up to C$3.3 Million ”)

BIGG Digital Assets Inc. Announces Upsize of Brokered LIFE Financing for Gross Proceeds of up to C$8 Million

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 8, 2024

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  BIGG Digital Assets Inc. ("BIGG" or the "Company") (CSE: BIGG; OTCQX: BBKCF; WKN: A2PS9W), owner of Netcoins, Blockchain Intelligence Group, and TerraZero is pleased to announce that due to demand from investors and existing shareholders on the President’s List (defined below), it has amended its agreement with A.G.P. Canada Investments ULC (“A.G.P. Canada”), as sole agent and bookrunner, to increase the maximum gross proceeds under the previously announced commercially reasonable efforts private placement (the “Offering”) from $5,000,000 to $8,000,000.

Key Points: 
  • Canada”), as sole agent and bookrunner, to increase the maximum gross proceeds under the previously announced commercially reasonable efforts private placement (the “Offering”) from $5,000,000 to $8,000,000.
  • Under the revised Offering, up to a maximum of 33,333,333 units of the Company (“Units”) may be sold at a price of C$0.24 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$8,000,000.
  • Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the authorized share structure of the Company (a “Share”) plus one Share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”).
  • The Units offered under the LIFE Exemption will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

Pan American Closes First Tranche of Private Placement for Total Proceeds of C$900,000

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta, March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (the “Company” or “Pan American”) (CSE: PNRG) (OTCQB: PAANF) (FRA: SS60) is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche (the “First Tranche”) of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing (the “Private Placement”) for gross proceeds to the Company of C$898,749.88.

Key Points: 
  • CALGARY, Alberta, March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (the “Company” or “Pan American”) (CSE: PNRG) (OTCQB: PAANF) (FRA: SS60) is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche (the “First Tranche”) of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing (the “Private Placement”) for gross proceeds to the Company of C$898,749.88.
  • The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for general and administrative expenditures and to fund expenditures with respect to the Company’s Horizon Lithium Property.
  • Because the Private Placement is being completed pursuant to the LIFE Exemption, the securities issued to subscribers in the Private Placement are not subject to mandatory resale restrictions in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.
  • This offering document contains additional detail regarding the Private Placement, including additional detail regarding the expected use of proceeds from the Private Placement.

Xanadu Mines Ltd (ASX Code: XAM) Notice under section 708A(5)(e) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Xanadu Mines advises that on 4 March 2024, it issued 15,185,328 fully paid ordinary shares at a price of $0.055 per share, to Jinping (Singapore) Mining Pte Ltd (a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Zijin Group Mining Co. Ltd) pursuant to a Share subscription agreement signed on 8 December 2023 (New Shares).

Key Points: 
  • Xanadu Mines advises that on 4 March 2024, it issued 15,185,328 fully paid ordinary shares at a price of $0.055 per share, to Jinping (Singapore) Mining Pte Ltd (a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Zijin Group Mining Co. Ltd) pursuant to a Share subscription agreement signed on 8 December 2023 (New Shares).
  • the New Shares were issued without disclosure under Part 6D.2 of the Act;
    this notice is being given under section 708A(5)(e) of the Act;
    as at the date of this notice, Xanadu Mines has complied with:
    the provisions of Chapter 2M of the Act as they apply to Xanadu Mines; and
    sections 674 and 674A of the Act as they apply to Xanadu Mines; and
    as at the date of this notice, there is no excluded information of the type referred to in sections 708A(7) or 708A(8) of the Act that is required to be set out in this notice.
  • The Company intends to rely on the exemption in section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual in respect of the Placement as an Eligible Interlisted Issuer.

Object Management Group Announces Leading Analyst Speakers for Transform! @ InfoComm 2024

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

BOSTON, MA, March 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Object Management Group ®️ (OMG®️) announced that leading analysts will speak about the digital transformation market, about topics such as compliance, regulations, security, data analytics, and more  at Transform!

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON, MA, March 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Object Management Group ®️ (OMG®️) announced that leading analysts will speak about the digital transformation market, about topics such as compliance, regulations, security, data analytics, and more  at Transform!
  • “We’re excited to have renowned analysts discussing digital transformation and proposing strategies and best practices to assess and manage transformation effectively and efficiently.”
    Jim Morrish.
  • Jim is a respected Digital Transformation and Internet of Things industry expert with over 20 years of experience in strategy consulting, operations management, and telecoms research.
  • @InfoComm 2024, exhibitors will deliver hands-on experiences through an Innovation Hub and solutions showcases, highlighting new technology trends, breakthroughs, products, and services.