Latest news with #FamilyTree
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘St. Denis Medical' review: You might find it fresh and funny if you've spent 25 years without watching any television
The first time he does it, it gets a laugh. If he does the same thing again, it also gets a laugh, but not as big a laugh as before. If he does it a third time, the laugh is even smaller still because the audience can see it coming. It's the law of diminishing returns in action. But imagine if, on the third occasion, he spots the manhole and avoids it – only to be struck by someone swinging a ladder that knocks him into the hole again. That gets the biggest laugh of all. The mockumentary format, which displaced sitcoms as the dominant form of TV comedy, is also offering diminishing returns. It's like the man who falls into a manhole, only this time he keeps on doing it again and again, to the point where nobody is laughing anymore. The flood of mockumentary comedies over the last two decades or so means the concept has been flogged to death several times over. They passed their sell-by date a long time ago, yet television will insist on churning them out anyway. The latest is American series St. Denis Medical (BBC1, Friday, June 6, 10.40pm), showing in weekly double bills. It's anything but terrible. Put it this way, there have been plenty of far worse mockumentaries (the pointless and barely credible Family Tree with Chris O'Dowd, for one). It's performed with enthusiasm by a talented and appealing cast. You might even find it fresh and funny, provided you've spent 25 years without watching any television. It's another workplace comedy, and every workplace comedy since the BBC's The Office in 2001 has been a variation on... The Office. But St Denis Medical imitates the formula more rigidly than most, which makes it a particularly unnecessary addition. The quirky characters feel less like original creations in their own right than archetypes assembled from other characters in other mockumentaries. The workplace here is a mid-size hospital in Oregon. It's what's called in America a 'safety net hospital', meaning it's obliged to treat everyone, whether or not they have medical insurance. Consequently, it's overrun with patients, understaffed and in a permanent state of chaos. The only credible character is dedicated supervising nurse Alex, played by the wonderful Allison Tolman, a workaholic whose habit of staying long after her shift is over plays havoc with her family life. Alex fears that if she's not there, the hospital might fall apart. She might be right. The hospital's administrator is Joyce (Wendi McLendon-Covey), who blows most of the budget on a fancy new mammogram machine and suggests the hospital should have a slogan: 'The best breast test in the West.' Meanwhile, her staff are wrestling with an ancient computer system that's no longer fit for purpose. Joyce is basically a female David Brent or Michael Scott. She bustles around the place, trying to perk up the staff and only succeeds in getting on their nerves and embarrassing them. She even does a very Brent-like motivational dance and treats them to an excruciating performance on the marimba. Having one Brent/Scott clone is lazy enough, but St Denis Medical has a second: full-of-himself trauma surgeon Bruce (Josh Lawson), who keeps a guitar and samurai swords in his office. He too has a trademark dance he does before operations. Bruce is a constant irritation to world-weary veteran doctor Ron (David Alan Grier), who's seen it all before. But Ron is often as vain as Bruce and prides himself on dating much younger women. There's also a clueless new nurse called Matt (Mekki Leeper), who grew up in a religious community that doesn't believe in medication. On his first day, he accidentally injects himself with an EpiPen. The rest of the characters, including a very Stanley-from-The Office type nursing administrator, are sketchily drawn. Now and again, St Denis Medical shows flashes of what it could have been were it not a timid NBC network series. We briefly see a racist patient complaining about black doctors, but the curtain is swiftly closed on him, as it is on every opportunity to have a pop at America's brutal, broken healthcare system. Rating: Two stars
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lincoln Avenue Communities Breaks Ground on Affordable Housing Development in Arvada, Colorado
Business and community leaders joined LAC to break ground on Marshall Pointe Apartments. ARVADA, Colo. , June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony last week at the future site of Marshall Pointe Apartments, a four-story, 260-unit affordable housing community in Arvada, Colorado expected to begin leasing in September 2026. "We are proud to commence work today on LAC's second ground-up development in the Denver metro area," said Ben Taylor, LAC vice president and project partner. "Marshall Pointe will provide high-quality, affordable housing for families in one of Colorado's fastest-growing communities." Comprised of mostly one- and two-bedroom units, Marshall Pointe will lease its units to residents earning between 30% and 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Communal amenities will include two courtyards: one for adults featuring a covered dining area, hammock grove, flex lawn space, and lush landscaping; and one for children including a climbing wall, playground, movie wall, and garden. Additional indoor amenities include a fitness center, game room, package and mail rooms, and a lounge with a kitchenette. All units will be equipped with stainless steel Energy Star appliances, balconies, walk-in closets, linen closets, and hard-surface countertops. LAC is partnering with Family Tree, a non-profit human services agency in the Denver Metro Area, to offer full-time permanent supportive housing (PSH) at the site for all 13 units at the property, including eight that will have Project-Based Housing Choice Vouchers from the Arvada Housing Authority (AHA). As a result of the partnership with LAC, residents at Family Tree's nearby under development supportive housing property will have the opportunity to move to Marshall Pointe when ready, creating a Corridor of Housing Advancement between the sites and supporting long-term residency in the area. The project was financed in partnership with AHA and the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), which provided Federal and Colorado State Tax Credits, along with the permanent financing. Additionally, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs provided $5 million of bridge funding for the land acquisition through their Operation Turn Key program, which allowed LAC to acquire the land 18 months ahead of the construction finance closing. Additional partners include the National Equity Fund (NEF) and JP Morgan Chase. About LAC: Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for lower- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. LAC is a mission-driven organization with a presence in 28 states and a portfolio of 170+ properties comprising 30,500+ units housing 80,000+ residents. Media ContactNoah Sachartoffnoahs@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Communities Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
You Can File a Claim for Part of 23andMe's $30 Million Data Breach Settlement Right Now
Claims are now open for individuals impacted by DNA-tracking company 23andMe's 2023 data breach, and we've got all the details about how to opt in and how much you might be able to get paid. The San Francisco-based company, which allows people to submit genetic materials and get a snapshot of their ancestry, announced in October 2023 that hackers had accessed customer information in a data breach, but the company didn't confirm the full extent of the incident until December. Around half of the company's 14 million people saw their personal information exposed in the leak, which first began in April 2023. The lawsuit, filed in January 2024, accused 23andMe of not doing enough to protect its customers. It also accused 23andMe of not notifying certain customers with Chinese or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry that their data was targeted specifically and spread on the dark web. The company opted to settle the suit for $30 million. "We have executed a settlement agreement for an aggregate cash payment of $30 million to settle all US claims regarding the 2023 credential stuffing security incident," a 23andMe spokesman told CNET. "We continue to believe this settlement is in the best interest of 23andMe customers, and we look forward to finalizing the agreement." Now, a few months on, there's finally an official method available for you to make your claim and potentially get paid by 23andMe, in some cases as much as $10,000. Keep reading to get all the details you need, and for more, find out why T-Mobile settlement checks have been delayed and see if you're able to claim a piece of Apple's Siri privacy settlement. Read more: Best Identity Theft Protection and Monitoring Service The settlement could cover roughly 6.9 million 23andMe customers whose data was targeted in the leak. To qualify for the proposed settlement, 23andMe users must also have been a US resident on Aug. 11, 2023. That 6.9 million number includes around 5.5 million users of 23andMe's DNA Relatives profiles, which lets users find and connect with genetic relatives. The other 1.4 million people affected by the breach used another service known as Family Tree, which predicts a family tree based on the DNA users share with relatives, 23andMe said. At the top end, 23andMe has said that it will pay out up to $10,000 with an "Extraordinary Claim" to users who can verify that they suffered hardships as a direct result of their information being stolen in the data breach that resulted in unreimbursed costs. This includes costs resulting from "identity fraud or falsified tax returns," from acquiring physical security systems, or from receiving mental health treatment. Residents of Alaska, California, Illinois and Oregon who were impacted by the breach can also apply for a payment as part of the proposed settlement, since those states have genetic privacy laws with damages provisions. The payments for these individuals are expected to be around $100, depending on how many people file for them, a settlement document said. Also, a smaller subset of affected users whose personal health information was impacted by the breach will be able to apply for a payment of $100. Infographic credit: Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET; Background image:Beyond those payments, 23andMe will also offer impacted users three years of a security monitoring service called Privacy Shield, which filings described as providing "substantial web and dark web monitoring." In order to file a claim electronically, you can do so using this official online portal from the Kroll Restructuring Administration. An additional online form is available if you would like proof of your claim sent to you. Potential claimants can also download and print out hard copies of the claim form and proof of claim form if they wish to submit them by mail. If you're planning to use this method, send your forms to one of the addresses listed on the official claims website. The deadline to make your claim is July 14. For more, read this explainer on how class-action lawsuits work. Protect your personal data and get peace of mind with CNET's top pick for identity theft protection. See at Aura
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma AG to 23andMe consumers: Delete your data
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is alerting the state's consumers the genetic-testing company 23andMe plans to sell all its corporate assets, which could include users' genetic data. The company filed for bankruptcy in March. "The implications of 23andMe selling genetic information to the highest bidder are understandably very concerning to Oklahomans who have used the company's services," Drummond said in a news release May 9. "While the situation is troubling, there are easy steps that consumers can take to proactively safeguard their privacy." In the release, the AG listed a step-by-step process for consumers to delete their data from their 23andMe accounts. The genetics and biotech company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March following a major data breach in 2023 that impacted over 6 million customers, led to a decreased demand of the service and resulted in a $30 million settlement. On its website, 23andMe stated that regardless of who takes ownership of the company, consumers' data will remain private. "The Chapter 11 filing does not change how we store, manage and protect customer data. Our users' privacy and data are important considerations in any transaction, and we remain committed to our users' privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed. Any buyer of 23andMe will be required to comply with our privacy policies and applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data." Related: Why are so many businesses closing? Joann, Hooters bankruptcy; what Oklahomans should know In 2006, 23andMe started selling DNA genetic testing kits to consumers through its website portal and quickly became a leading company in the genotyping industry, which provided consumers a look into their ancestral family tree. By providing additional features focused on health, such as blood testing and health predisposition, the company rivaled its competitors, such as In October 2023, the company experienced a mass data breach, exposing nearly half its users to privacy leaks. In a Notification of Breach to the State of California directed at consumers, the company divulged that an investigation determined a threat actor accessed users' Family Tree profile, including display names, relationship labels, shared DNA percentages with other users, self-reported location, and birth year. The company then worked with third-party response experts to access the damage. "Based on our investigation, we believe a threat actor orchestrated a credential stuffing attack to gain access to certain 23andMe accounts, including your account," the company wrote affected consumers. "Once the threat actor accessed your account, they also accessed certain information in your account." More: Canoo, the electric vehicle startup that was promised $100 million in incentives, files for bankruptcy The company filed for bankruptcy in March after the data breach damaged its reputation and led to shares falling by 50% at that time. In a news release, 23andMe Board Member Mark Jensen released a public statement on behalf of the company. "After a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives, we have determined that a court-supervised sale process is the best path forward to maximize the value of our business," he said. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Drummond alerts 23andMe users to delete their data
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As 23andMe files for bankruptcy, what to know about protecting your data in Michigan
San Francisco-based genetic testing firm 23andMe on Sunday announced that it has filed for bankruptcy, leaving customers wondering what will happen to their data and whether they can protect it — or even delete it. The company explained Sunday in a press release that it has entered a voluntary Chapter 11 restructuring and sale process, saying it intends to continue operations as normal, with no changes to how it stores, manages or protects customer data. The company also addressed data concerns in an open letter to customers posted Sunday on its blog. 'We remain committed to our users' privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed,' the company said. 'Any buyer of 23andMe will be required to comply with applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data.' 23andMe conducted ancestry DNR tests for customers, but MSU Extension notes DNA can be used for such things as paternity, genetic disease detection and other reasons. The company has been dealing with a wave of lawsuits after the personal data of about 7 million customers was accessed by hackers in 2023, compromising data in nearly 6.9 million DNA Relatives and Family Tree profiles. Leaked data included users' account information, location, ancestry reports, DNA matches, family names, profile pictures, birthdates and more. The company's privacy statement covers personal information transferred to a new owner after the sale, but "the new entity could simply change the terms of service, including the privacy statement, and people might agree to it without reading these lengthy documents," said Sara Gerke, associate professor of law at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and lead author of the Journal article. "Customers need to be proactive now and be aware of this issue until Congress intervenes to address this problem at the federal level." The company's consumer agreements offer little comfort, the authors wrote, as the company reserves the right to transfer customer data in the event of sale or bankruptcy, and customers can't fully protect their data from being 'accessed, sold or transferred as part of that transaction.' The genetic and self-reported data, including saliva samples and questionnaires, held by such companies represent some of people's most guarded information, including family history and health-related data. But such companies aren't covered under Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requirements, the authors of the Journal article said. 'From a legal standpoint, people therefore interact with the company as 'consumers,' not 'patients,'' they wrote. While the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prevents discriminatory use of such information by employers and health insurers, it doesn't cover uses by other parties, nor does it prevent companies like 23andMe from selling people's data. On March 21, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert to the state's 23andMe customers given the company's financial distress, reminding them of their right to have their genetic data deleted. 'California has robust privacy laws that allow consumers to take control and request that a company delete their genetic data,' Bonta said. 'Given 23andMe's reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.' 23andme said it is "committed to continuing to safeguard customer dataand being transparent about the management of user data going forward, and data privacy will be an important consideration in any potential transaction.' Bonta, who sent out a "consumer alertfor 23andme customers," outlined these steps to delete your genetic data from 23andme: Log into your 23andMe account on its website. Go to the 'Settings' section of your profile. Scroll to a section labeled '23andMe Data' at the bottom of the page. Click 'View' next to '23andMe Data' Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding. Scroll to the 'Delete Data' section. Click 'Permanently Delete Data.' Confirm your request: You'll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request. The company said the data is deleted once a user submits and confirms the request. According to the 23andme's website, while users can remove their personal information anytime by opting out of the 23andMe data section of account settings, the company is legally required to retain certain information. "23andMe and/or our contracted genotyping laboratory will retain your Genetic Information, date of birth and sex as required for compliance with applicable legal obligations... even if you chose to delete your account," the company's privacy statement said. "If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe, but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under 'Preferences," according to California's attorney general. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: 23andMe bankruptcy: Is customer genetic data safe in Michigan?
