WA news LIVE: Warning as whooping cough cases surge into the hundreds among WA school kids; Perth home listings surge to the highest level in three yearsSAN DIEGO, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a groundbreaking move, Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) and Lucky Eagle Casio & Hotel have announced a strategic enterprise partnership that will revolutionize the gaming and hospitality industry in the Washington market, setting the stage for a dynamic synergy between technology and hospitality. The software deployment has been completed and training will begin soon. The state-of-the-art platform is expected to enhance operations, optimize service and ensure guests have an unparalleled experience. JaNessa Bumgarner, CEO of Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, "We at Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with QCI. The QCI platform is a game-changer, and we believe it will not only streamline our operations but also elevate the level of service and entertainment we provide to our valued guests. With QCI's innovative solutions, we are confident in our ability to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience in the Washington market. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence and innovation." Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI, echoed this sentiment, expressing his satisfaction with the newly formed partnership, "At QCI, we value partnerships that are built on mutual respect, shared vision, and commitment. Our collaboration with Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel is the epitome of such a relationship. We've been deeply impressed by the Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel team, their passion for excellence, and their unwavering dedication to enhancing guest experiences. I'm proud and excited about the journey ahead and confident that together, we'll set new standards in the Washington market." ABOUT Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel is proudly owned and operated by The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. The Chehalis Tribe is a vital community with rich cultural traditions that have endured for centuries. They honor their proud history and advance their vision by expanding business opportunities, educational resources and healthcare and outreach services. Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel is an award winning casino resort located in Rochester, Washington. We offer the newest in slots, table games, bingo, sportsbook, pet friendly hotel, award winning restaurants and much more! To learn more about us, please visit our website luckyeagle.com . ABOUT QCI Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 175 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $24 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI's data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com . About Andrew Cardno Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master's level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew's innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today's mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew's impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew's work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors. Contact: Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence Phone: 858-349-8354
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Applied Materials Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors despite daily gains“We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” NFL (National Football League) commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday after the conclusion of the league’s winter meetings. “We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.” A woman who previously sued musician Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game at Christmas. “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” Mr Goodell said. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.”
HOUSTON — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended by the NFL without pay for three games Tuesday for repeated violations of player safety rules following his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion. Al-Shaair’s punishment was announced by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. In his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan noted that he has had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons. Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. In his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan called the hit “unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules.” “Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide,” Runyan wrote. “You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.” Al-Shaair is appealing the suspension, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. Houston general manager Nick Caserio defended Al-Shaair and said he doesn’t believe the league is using consistency in issuing punishments like these. “I probably speak for a lot of teams, not only the Houston Texans, but I think that’s all teams ask for is consistency from the league,” he said. “And I’d say in this situation, quite frankly, there’s no consistency at all relative to the level of discipline that’s been handed down.” Prolific receiver Sterling Sharpe and Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Holmgren have advanced to the final stage of voting for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Sharpe was picked as one of three finalists in the Seniors category for players whose career ended in 1999 or earlier, along with Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer. Holmgren was picked as the lone finalist in the coaching category, and Ralph Hay, who helped found the NFL more than a century ago, was the finalist in the contributor category. BRIEFLY NFL: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has met with congressional leaders to speak to them about the ongoing security issue of drones on game days, according to an AP source. Unapproved drones have become a problem for various sports leagues. PANTHERS: Carolina team president Kristi Coleman was promoted to chief executive officer of Tepper Sports & Entertainment, owner David Tepper announced Tuesday, making her one of the highest-ranking females in the professional sports industry. COMMANDERS: Washington hired Mark Clouse as its new team president. He will oversee all facets of business operations. Clouse joins the NFL club after spending the past five years as president and CEO of the Campbell’s Company.
NoneIt’s been nearly nine years since Bob Cummins Construction filed suit against Bradford Sanitary Authority over an unpaid bill. Since then, there have been two jury trials in McKean County Court, numerous appeals and $3.5 million in attorneys’ fees for the BSA — that, as of now, have been paid by local ratepayers. The lawsuit was filed in 2016. The dispute comes from a rehabilitation project at the wastewater treatment plant. From 2014-15, Cummins Construction was the general contractor for a portion of the rehab project. In December 2015, authority engineer Gannett Fleming certified the project to be substantially complete, with the exception of a few outstanding items. Cummins said they did the work and were owed payment; Sanitary Authority said they withheld payment because the work wasn’t done according to the contract. The local contractor, which has been in business nearly 50 years and employs local people, says this suit seems like a vendetta; they did their jobs and want to be paid. The BSA, the provider of wastewater services to more than 18,000 local residents, says the contractor didn’t follow the contract and should take responsibility for alleged defects. ISSUES The biggest alleged issue was with the sequential batch reactor (SBR) installed by Cummins — one by the second manufacturer, Ashbrook, that was named in the contract specifications — and the Ultraviolet building, where wastewater is treated by exposing it to ultraviolet light. The BSA said the system wasn’t working correctly, with a possibility of moving too much treated water — effluent — to the UV building during the “decant” phase, where water is separated from sludge. Separated water is called decant water. To date in 2024, there is no documentation that such excessive decants have taken place, according to Don Cummins, senior project manager for Cummins Construction. He said both they and Ashbrook offered a free solution to this problem in the form of a plate; it has not been taken by the BSA, which allegedly wants a check valve. It’s important to note, said Nick Cummins, project manager at Cummins, that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been “happy with the effluent quality,” with reports on its website indicating such. In 2015, BSA withheld final payment to Cummins and denied some change orders because they believed the company had not followed the contract’s provisions. Don Cummins said there was $260,000 of the unpaid contract balance, plus about $464,000 in unpaid change orders for a total of $724,000 outstanding. There were 120 change orders on the project, most of which were made by BSA’s engineer, Gannett Fleming. “Some were upgrades after the work started, which is not uncommon, and some were needed because of the unknown circumstances that occur on most large rehabilitation projects, which almost always happens,” Cummins said. “This is not uncommon either because as you dig and demolish portions for new construction, things are uncovered that need addressed including obstructions to new work.” From the BSA’s standpoint, Cummins holds the fault here. “Cummins started this lawsuit in 2016 because it refused to accept responsibility for clear defects in the sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), which was new technology central to BSA’s ability to provide effective wastewater treatment for its approximately 6,000 customer connections,” said Steve Disney, executive director of the BSA. It didn’t perform as required, the BSA said, “Cummins, however, denied responsibility from 2016 through the second trial in 2024, even though the Commonwealth Court specifically found in 2020 after the first trial that Cummins was solely responsible for the SBR defects.” Referring to the solution offered by Cummins and Ashbrook, Disney said the jury rejected it. And, he said, it would interfere with the performance of the SBR and possibly cause the plant to be derated by the DEP. FIRST TRIAL The first trial was held in 2019 before Judge Christopher Hauser. Cummins won 12 out of 16 claims for a judgment of $488,243.24. The BSA won one out of 21 claims for $4,945. Hauser’s decision was reversed by the Commonwealth Court and remanded to McKean County Court, where a second trial was eventually scheduled. Cummins explained the Commonwealth Court ruled the construction company was responsible for the alleged effluent problem with the SBR “because we chose the second-named supplier.” The appeals court ruled that the SBR specifications were not a design spec, but a performance spec. “Therefore it is up to the contractor to supply the system that meets the needs.” In other words, Cummins said, this is a change from the traditional way things are done. With this decision, “It is up to the contractor to use his own ingenuity to make the system work properly.” However, Cummins said, they are not designers, they are builders. They didn’t design the systems, they installed what the BSA wanted. MORE LITIGATION In January 2024, before the second trial, the BSA filed suit against engineers Gannett Fleming, but didn’t act on the suit. When questioned later by Hauser about the lack of progress on the suit, BSA’s attorney John Gisleson allegedly said during a status conference that BSA had filed suit against the engineers in case they lost the suit against Cummins. A second jury trial was held in February 2024, again before Hauser. The verdict was 12 of 14 claims for $398,568.94 in favor of Cummins, and 2 of 13 claims for $636,188 in favor of BSA based on the issue with the SBR and Ultraviolet building. “The jury awarded BSA the necessary money to properly correct the defects that Cummins and its contractor Ashbrook created,” Disney said. Regarding the potential repair to the SBR, he added, “BSA also does not consider Cummins to be a responsible and trustworthy contractor based on the jury’s award and the Court’s findings that Cummins failed to comply with the parties’ contract in multiple ways. Throughout the project, Cummins misinterpreted the contract in ways that benefitted Cummins and sought extra compensation at ratepayer expense that Cummins had no right to receive. BSA therefore does not agree to Cummins performing any further work at BSA’s plant. BSA will have another contractor perform the work after Cummins pays what it owes under the verdict.” For the trial, BSA hired an expert to design a “conceptual solution” to the issue. The concept was a “pinch valve” with a price tag of $695,000, but with no design drawing and no bid from a contractor, Don Cummins explained. In 2019, BSA’s engineer designed and bid out the repair they wanted; the low bidder was for $20,000. However, the successful bidder was stopped from doing the repair — the one that would solve the problem at the base of the lawsuit, Cummins alleged. Again, the BSA said it would have another contractor perform a repair after Cummins pays what it owes under the verdict. CURRENT The latest argument in the case is over attorneys’ fees — the Sanitary Authority wants the judge to order Cummins to pay the $3.4 million in fees they’ve incurred throughout the course of the case. This was filed as a 689-page motion for post-trial relief, including exhibits. “Cummins needs to pay BSA’s fees as bound by the contract,” Disney told The Era. This was always part of the contract, the BSA argued. However, Cummins disagreed, alleging the contract would allow the authority to recover fees only if a third party were to sue, not in the case of the contractor filing suit, their motion stated. From Disney’s standpoint: “Cummins’ refusal to follow the contract and its litigation actions caused those fees. BSA did not start the lawsuit and has always wanted the dispute to be resolved. Cummins, however, has repeatedly obstructed those efforts. BSA sought to resolve the dispute years ago through motions filed with the court, but Cummins opposed those efforts and demanded money it had no right to receive while leaving BSA with a defective SBR and a project that still has not closed out due to the SBR deficiencies.” He added that PENNVEST is still holding money payable to BSA because of the SBR defects caused by Cummins. According to the motion opposing the awarding of fees, Cummins disagreed with the BSA on several points, the first of which was that the request came in Sept. 10 when the deadline for such a request to be made was March 25, as was set by Hauser. Anything not filed by the deadline is considered waived. Cummins’ attorneys also argued that the fees for the authority’s attorneys, Morgan Lewis & Bockius of Pittsburgh, were “grossly excessive” at $3.4 million — $910 an hour for a partner, $575 an hour for a senior attorney and $305 an hour for a paralegal. The total was five times the amount of Cummins’ attorney, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott of Pittsburgh. The billing rates were also more than three times that of McKean County attorney Bob Saunders, who also assisted with the case, at $250 an hour. According to the motion, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must consider the “reasonableness of a party’s requested attorneys’ fees” rather than the billed rate. Senior Judge John Foradora denied the Sanitary Authority’s request for fees on one basis — missing the March deadline by 5 1/2 months. Because the request for fees was not raised in a timely fashion, Foradora didn’t consider the remaining arguments. The BSA filed a notice of appeal to Foradora’s decision, which is currently underway. “If Cummins reimburses those fees to BSA, the litigation ends, at least from BSA’s perspective,” Disney said. “The contract requires Cummins to pay BSA’s fees, and BSA believes it has good grounds to recover them in the current appeal. BSA will seek those fees from Cummins if successful, which should conclude the litigation. “BSA explained its interpretation of the contract from the very beginning of the lawsuit, and that interpretation was upheld by both the Commonwealth Court and the trial court following the second trial,” Disney said. “The lawsuit unfortunately continued far longer than it should have because Cummins refused to comply with the contract and opposed the trial court interpreting the contract.” The case in chief remains on appeal as well.
