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☆ The least-visited national parks in the United States in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The state of Alaska — which covers 665,384 square miles (426 million acres) — is home to five of the 15 least-visited national parks for 2023. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska - 78,305 recreation visitsAmerica’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias encompasses 13.2 million acres — or about the size of Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined, the Park Service says. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida - 84,285 recreation visitsThis island park in Florida is among 20 National Park Service sites that broke visitation records in 2023. Channel Islands National Park, California - 328,746 recreation visitsStretching over five islands and the surrounding ocean, Channel Islands National Park offer opportunities to hike, snorkel, kayak, birdwatch and more. While Pinnacles may rank among the 15 least-visited national parks, it gets very busy on weekends, holidays and throughout the spring, according to a notice on the park’s website.

Persons: Alaska’s Gates, “, ” Peter Christian, fa’asamoa, Gates, ”, Katmai, Brooks Camp, Elias, Lumir, Nabesna, McCarthy Organizations: CNN, &, CNN Travel, of, Park Service, National Parks, & Preserve, South Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines, Lake Clark, National Park Service, Getty, Isle Royale, NPS, Wolves, Elias, Park & Preserve, Yosemite National, Voyageurs National, Voyageurs National Park, ” Voyageurs, Voyageurs, Service, Channel Locations: Alaska’s, Fairbanks, Alaska, of American Samoa, South, Samoa, Smoky, Wild Rivers, American Samoa, Honolulu, , Alaska, Isle, Lake Superior, Isle Royale, Park , Michigan, Brooks, , Washington, Wrangell, St, Elias, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Switzerland, , Florida, Florida, Key, Fort Jefferson, , Nevada, Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park , Minnesota, Canada, Guadalupe, Park , Texas, Texas, Salt, , South Carolina, South Carolina, Congaree, There’s, Santa Cruz, , California, Southern California

☆ In Alaska, the Rare Thrill of ‘Wild’ Ice Skating
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Elaine Glusac | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I’d been waiting for months when I finally got the call from Alaska last March: Wild ice was on. A roughly two-week high-pressure window of cold and clear weather had frozen Portage Lake, the terminus of Portage Glacier, some 50 miles southeast of Anchorage, and it was solid enough to skate on its wild — or natural — ice. “Skating A-grade ice under a glacier really is a ‘take off work now and just go to it’ type of treat, even for us Alaskans,” said Paxson Woelber, who owns the Anchorage-based skate manufacturer Ermine Skate. A few months earlier, I had purchased a pair of Ermine Nordic skates, long blades similar to speed skates that affix to the bindings of cross-country ski boots. The longer, faster blades require less effort to propel, and their stability makes them more tolerant of natural conditions like bumpy or weedy ice.

Persons: I’d, ”, Paxson Woelber, Woelber, “ Locations: Alaska, Portage, Anchorage

☆ Ansel, a health insurance startup that wants to upend the claims industry, just raised $20 million using this 12-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewHealth insurance startup Ansel has raised $20 million in new funding. Founded in 2019, Ansel is a platform that provides supplemental health insurance via carriers across 48 US states. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Advertisement"We're focused on making health hardships not become financial burdens," Veer Gidwaney, founder and CEO of Ansel, told Business Insider. The new capital will go towards expanding the company's partnerships with leading insurance providers, developing its tech platform, and scaling its marketing and distribution.

Persons: —, Ansel, Veer Gidwaney, Gidwaney Organizations: Service, Business, Gallup, Nationwide, Portage, Sigma Ventures, Brewer Lane Ventures, SixThirty Ventures Locations: New York City

Two accused Moreno and Bernie Moreno Cos. of gender and age discrimination, respectively. The third, in which Moreno was not named, alleged race discrimination against a dealership run by a BMC subsidiary. A campaign spokesman said that the two employees who sued Moreno directly now support his Republican U.S. Senate campaign and that Moreno, who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, prided himself on giving equal opportunities to all his workers. Female former dealership supervisor Cara Wilson, then of Streetsboro, in Portage County, alleged Moreno repeatedly belittled her about being a mother, sometimes in front of her peers. In response to the AP's reporting, the Moreno campaign produced an open letter signed by 23 former female employees vouching that he treated them fairly and respectfully.

Persons: — Bernie Moreno, Moreno, Bernie Moreno Cos, Donald Trump, Frank LaRose, Sen, Matt Dolan, “ Bernie Moreno, MAGA, ” Trump, Jim Jordan, Ohio, Ken Blackwell, Democratic U.S . Sen, Sherrod Brown, Brown, Cara Wilson, Streetsboro, belittled, ”, Wilson, Moreno “, Ronell Thompson, Peter Mabley, Thompson, Dolores Wolfe, Wolfe, Conor McGuinness, “, Bernie, Robert Foehl, Foehl, it's, “ It’s, Andres Gomez Organizations: Trump, Senate, Cleveland, Associated, BMC, Republican U.S, Ohio, GREAT, United States Senate, U.S . Rep, GOP, Democratic U.S ., AP, Akron Infiniti, M9 Motors, Ohio University, M10 Motors, Gables Infiniti Locations: COLUMBUS , Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Bogotá, Colombia, Ohio, Portage County, Akron, Cleveland, Rocky, New York, U.S, Florida

☆ Where Trump Counties in Ohio Voted to Support Abortion Rights
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Lazaro Gamio | Amy Schoenfeld Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Where Trump Counties in Ohio Voted to Support Abortion RightsOhio’s referendum on abortion rights drew support from both liberal and conservative areas of the state and won outright in 18 counties that President Donald J. Trump won in 2020, signaling the issue remains a weakness for Republicans. How Ohio counties voted on Issue 1 Yes, for abortion rights No, against abortion rights Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati Dayton Toledo Akron Shaded areas are the 18 counties that both voted for Trump in 2020 and voted to approve the abortion rights amendment. Across the state, the margin of support for abortion rights was stronger than the margin of support for Mr. Biden three years ago. Among the Trump counties that voted for the amendment, the abortion rights vote was stronger where Mr. Trump won by smaller margins. Against ⭠ Abortion rights ⭢ Trump counties that voted to support abortion rights 18 countiesin Ohio 67 counties insix other states Notes: Circles are sized by vote count.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Joseph R, Biden, Roe, Wade, ⭢ Organizations: Trump, Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati Dayton Toledo, Lorain, Delaware, Trumbull, Erie, Mahoning, Medina, Wood, Geauga, Ashtabula, Stark, Ottawa, Fairfield, Licking, Butler, Clark, Republican, Biden, % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % + Locations: Ohio, Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati Dayton Toledo Akron, Trump, . Ohio, California , Michigan, Vermont, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, California, Maryland, New York, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Midwestern, Southern

☆ Israel's ThetaRay raises $57 mln in private round
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Israel's ThetaRay said on Tuesday it raised $57 million in a private funding round led by global fintech platform Portage. ThetaRay's technology uses artificial intelligence to identify financial cyber threats like money laundering so users can take action against suspicious transactions. "Global payment infrastructure too often fails to accurately differentiate between perfectly legitimate transactions and ones from bad actors dealing with illicit funds," said Peter Reynolds, CEO of ThetaRay. Venture capital funds JVP, the largest investor in ThetaRay, OurCrowd and others also participated in the funding round. (This story has been corrected to remove reference to ThetaRay being a cyber security firm in paragraph 1)Reporting by Steven ScheerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Israel's ThetaRay, Peter Reynolds, Steven Scheer Organizations: Venture, JVP, Thomson Locations: Portage, ThetaRay, OurCrowd

☆ Fintech VCs are readying their checkbooks as cash-strapped startup founders run out of options
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Fintech funding has been on a decline from 2021's peak levels, but VCs see signs of a rebound. VCs are itching to get back to dealmaking as they see early signs of a rebound in the fintech industry. Cash-strapped founders who didn't want to fundraise in a down market and get valuations slashed are running out of options and time. They dominated the fintech market in the past several years, but the shine is wearing off, Shriner said. Fintech VCs will get to spend more time on due diligence, looking beyond so-called "vanity metrics," Fernandez said.

Persons: Cash, didn't, Mark Peter Davis, Davis, We're, Tripp Shriner, Robert Ruark, Ruark, B2C, VCs, Shriner, — crowdedness, Stephanie Choo, Marcos Fernandez, KPMG's Ruark, Fintech, Fernandez Organizations: Interplay, Investors, Point72 Ventures, KPMG, Tiger, Portage Ventures, Fiat Ventures Locations: dealmaking, VCs, overvaluations

☆ Incredible US national park campgrounds you can’t drive to
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Even though most national park campgrounds are easily accessible by motorized vehicles, some of the coolest digs are in places that you can’t drive to. Below are eight incredible national park campgrounds that you can’t drive to. Bright Angel Campground (Grand Canyon National Park)The Bright Angel campground is located next to a creek at the end of the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. Washington Creek (Isle Royale National Park)Washington Creek, part of Michigan's Isle Royale National Park, has 10 camp sites. Sea Camp Beach (Cumberland Island National Seashore)The Cumberland Island National Seashore sits off the coast of Georgia.

Persons: we’re, CNN —, you’ve, doesn’t, Ashley Cooper, John Muir, you’re, Jim West, Weaver, Michael Shi, Joe Yogerst, ” Organizations: CNN, Key West, Yankee, Island Packers, Yosemite Valley, Nature, Washington Creek, Recreation, Washington State, Co, Cumberland, Getty Locations: Florida, Fort Jefferson, Santa Cruz, California, Ventura Harbor, Yosemite, Little Yosemite Valley, Vernal, Nevada, Maui, Palikū, Washington, Michigan's Isle, Lake Superior, Windigo, Isle, Grand Portage , Minnesota, Houghton , Michigan, Chelan, Lake Chelan, Weaver, Beach, Georgia, Stafford Plantation, Parks

☆ From TikTok to partnerships, the best ways fintechs can attract quality customers amid a downturn, according to experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Paige Hagy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Balancing customer acquisition cost and customer lifetime value is difficult. Despite the market downturn, experts say startups need to be more savvy about going after new users. Fintechs need to take a quality over quantity approach when it comes to attracting new customers in a tightening market. One solution is to target customers who will offer greater lifetime value, Ron Shevlin, chief research officer at Cornerstone Advisors, said at the conference. Lifetime value is the amount of revenue a business will generate from a single customer.

☆ Despite a tightening market, fintechs need to be more savvy and selective in how they attract new customers, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Paige Hagy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Balancing customer acquisition cost and customer lifetime value is difficult. Despite the market downturn, experts say startups need to be more savvy about going after new users. Fintechs need to take a quality over quantity approach when it comes to attracting new customers in a tightening market. But despite the difficult market, experts say fintechs shouldn't simply be looking to grow their market share by any means necessary. Lifetime value is the amount of revenue a business will generate from a single customer.

☆ Tuesday Morning says it wants to close 265 stores as part of its bankruptcy filing. See if your local store is on the list.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +30 min

Camarillo: Camarillo Village Square, 2450 Las Posas Road, Ste HCamarillo Village Square, 2450 Las Posas Road, Ste H Roseville: Fairway Commons Shopping Center, 5771A Five Star Blvd. San Diego: Pacific Plaza Shopping Center, 1772‐D Garnet AvenuePacific Plaza Shopping Center, 1772‐D Garnet Avenue Woodland Hills: Pride Shopping Center, 22950 Victory Blvd. Winston-Salem: Whitaker Square Shopping Center, 1947 North Pease Haven Road, Space #1947Whitaker Square Shopping Center, 1947 North Pease Haven Road, Space #1947 Matthews: Windsor Square Shopping Center, 9945 E. Independence Blvd. ; Westhill Village Shopping Center, 7525 WestheimerWeslayan Plaza West Shopping Center, 5442‐A Weslayan Street; Westheimer Commons, 12568 Westheimer Rd. ; Westhill Village Shopping Center, 7525 Westheimer El Paso: West Towne Marketplace, 6450 N. Desert Blvd., Ste.

☆ See the 12-slide presentation that a health-insurance startup used to land $58 million after its public competitors tumbled
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Angle Health wants to use tech to transform health insurance where other upstarts have failed. Angle Health raised $58 million to disrupt employer-sponsored health benefits using this pitch deck. Companies like Oscar Health, Clover Health, and Bright Health raked in investor cash on the promise that they could transform health plans with tech, and each went public in 2021 at a lofty valuation. Angle Health provided Insider with the pitch deck it used to raise $58 million in Series A funding from Portage and other investors. Here's the pitch deck Angle Health used to land a $58 million Series A.

☆ A fire at a Wisconsin dairy factory melted butter and clogged up a canal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A fire at a Wisconsin dairy factory caused melted butter to run into a nearby canal. A hazmat team tried to stop the butter flowing into the canal with absorbent material and booms. Nevertheless, the melted butter escaped from the factory into the adjacent canal. The fire department said that Wisconsin's Department for Natural Resources was due to assess damage to the canal and storm drains on Wednesday. The Portage canal is an historic site, with references to its use by Indigenous Americans, and early French explorers and fur trappers as early as 1640.

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