Latest news with #Sims
New York Post
2 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Weiner wars — Employee at popular meat company steals its secret recipe and then goes to work for competitor
So that's how the sausage is made. A former employee at Hormel Foods, a Fortune 500 packaged meat company, left with top-secret sausage recipes and market information — and then joined its regional competitor Johnsonville, a new federal lawsuit alleges. The stew started after longtime Hormel employee Brett Sims landed the role of Johnsonville's chief supply chain officer in June 2023, and then allegedly began poaching Hormel employees to also join the staff at the sausage company, based in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, which was in violation of his non-solicitation agreement. Sims brought in his former Hormel co-worker Jeremy Rummel this spring, who left Hormel after 25 years, as per The Star Tribune. Before he broke the news to Hormel that he was about to work for its competitor, Rummel allegedly sent 'product formulas, processing procedures, acquisition-target information and marketing-strategy information' to his personal email address. Hormel Foods was founded 130 years ago. Getty Images 'Rummel was attempting to take Hormel's confidential business information and trade secrets to Johnsonville for the express purpose of exploiting the information for Johnsonville's benefit and to Hormel's detriment,' the suit said. After Hormel confronted Rummel, he fessed up to emailing himself the confidential information and then promptly headed to Sims' house 'with the intent to share the details of his interview with Hormel and develop a plan to protect his new role at Johnsonville,' according to the lawsuit. Hormel is behind brands like Spam, Skippy and Planters. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Hormel, which was founded 130 years ago and is also behind brands like Skippy, Spam and Planters, is accusing Johnsonville and the two ex-employees of conspiring to 'unlawfully obtain Hormel's trade secrets.' 'The sausage market is increasingly competitive, and improper use of confidential, proprietary and trade-secret information, or wrongful competition or solicitation, could cause a manufacturer significant competitive economic disadvantage,' the suit continued. To make matters worse, when Johnsonville was sent a letter from Hormel 'outlining Sims' and Rummel's violations of their agreements, detailing their unlawful behavior and asking for a number of assurances,' the company did not cooperate, the suit claims. Sims and Rummel did not immediately respond to the Star Tribune's email, nor did an attorney named in the lawsuit.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK
Traces of a chemical that researchers fear could harm human reproduction have been found in dozens of Britain's rivers, a new study has warned. Researchers from York University found trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in 98% of locations in 32 rivers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. TFA is one of a family of more than 14,000 man-made chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which have been used since the 1940s in everything from waterproof clothing to non-stick frying pans, as well as cosmetics and food packaging. The chemicals can accumulate in people's bodies (as well as in the water we drink) and can lead to serious health issues including cancer, liver damage and harm to unborn children. The UK government launched an inquiry this year into the issue - but campaigners say not enough is being done. Natalie Sims, from the Royal Society of Chemistry, told Yahoo News: 'There is more that could be being done, and that is why we are calling for action.' The Royal Society of Chemistry has mapped levels of the chemicals in Britain's drinking waters, and is calling for the public to take action to raise the issue. 'The public can be really powerful, and I think we have seen that when we look at tackling sewage overflows, that's really been pushed up the government agenda, because the public is also pushing for it," Sims says. 'That's why we really want to take action now, and that's why there's been much more push for it from organisations like ourselves or others. In addition to developing alternative materials, we urgently need stronger, more robust controls to prevent further pollution and reduce our exposure to harmful substances in the environment.' PFAs are a group of thousands of chemicals that don't occur in nature and are extremely hard to get rid of. They also also toxic, even in small quantities. They have been used in manufacturing and consumer products since the 1940s. 'We've used them so extensively, really since the 1940s they found our way in so many different consumer products," Sims explains. "For example, in your waterproof coat, anything waterproofing, school children's clothing, anything stain resistant. PFAs have some desirable properties, and are so good at what they do in terms of that heat resistance, that water and oil resistance, stain resistance, durability, often a lot of the things that makes it very useful in products. 'Because they're so persistent, they obviously found their way into the environment, into our food, into our water. They are also used in jet engines, medical devices, refrigeration systems, the construction industry and electrical devices. In the environment, they can last for extremely long periods: hundreds or even thousands of years. They also accumulate in human bodies. 'Forever chemicals' have been phased out of some consumer products - but are still used in products such as non-stick frying pans and some packaging, although manufacturers tend to be reluctant to say exactly where they are used. The dangers attached to PFAs often comes when they are used industrially, or when products containing PFAs are disposed of inadequately, meaning they enter the water supply. In the UK, PFAs are most likely to be found in water near industrial sites including airports and areas that produce products which use PFAs. The Royal Society of Chemistry warns that contamination is likely near landfill sites where liquid contaminated with PFAs can leak out of the site, or near incinerators which often are not hot enough to fully burn chemicals can also be found near where firefighting foam is routinely used, including airports, military sites and fire-training areas. Some airports, including Heathrow, have already switched to using foam which does not contain PFAs. Wastewater sites can also leech PFAs into the water. The chemicals have been linked to serious health issues including liver damage, some cancers and harm to unborn children, thyroid disease and fertility issues. Large-scale studies have shown that PFAs in drinking water correlates with increased levels of cancer in multiple parts of the body. A review in the journal eBioMedicine linked PFAs exposure to decreased efficiency in vaccines, premature birth, increased severity of COVID-19, along with cancer, reduced immune function and developmental delays in children. Water companies in England and Wales must monitor and regulate 48 types of PFAs, despite there being thousands of varieties, with many remaining untested. But this Drinking Water Inspectorate ruling actually goes further than EU legislation. Individual PFAs concentrations in drinking water cannot exceed 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). This is 10 times higher than the Drinking Water Inspectorate's own 'low risk' threshold of 10 ng/L. In the US, there are limits of 4 ng/L for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAs, and the EU states that 20 widespread PFAs must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L. The Royal Society of Chemistry has called for new limits on the amounts of PFAs permissible in drinking water. Specifically the RSC has called for a new limit of 10 ng/L for individual PFAs. The RSC has also called for stricter controls over the sources of PFAs including in industrial discharges, with a national chemicals regulator to monitor and regulate discharges. Sims says: 'An RSC survey of more than 4,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov in August showed nine in ten Britons believe it's 'very important' to keep PFAS out of our food, water and environment. The public do want action on this, which I think is really powerful when it comes to speaking to the government. 'In terms of industry, having them push to develop alternatives, because they've had these chemicals that they've been allowed to use for so long, in terms of because they're so good at what they do, it's trying to transition that away into more, safer and sort of sustainable alternatives. Sims says that it's also vital that British people have a clearer picture of the chemicals in the water they drink. She says: 'PFAS are contained in many products and ingredients that are made or imported to the UK for use across many industries. However, we do not have a full picture of how PFAS enter and move within the supply chain. 'It's likely that the exposure you have on the everyday is going to be quite low, but it's that long term build up where, for one thing, it can be really challenging to pinpoint where those adverse effects could come from.'
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Who is Brooks Koepka's wife? All about model Jena Sims, their age difference and more
Jena Sims isn't just the woman cheering behind the ropes. Before marrying five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, she had already carved out a fast-moving career of her own — from winning pageants to filming sci-fi comedies and hosting global charity events. The two met at Augusta in 2015, started dating two years later and tied the knot in 2022. Brooks is 34 years old, and his wife, Jena Sims, is 36 years old. In 2023, they welcomed their first child, a son named Crew. But Sims' story stretches far beyond the fairway. Here's what to know about the woman beside the LIV Golf star. Pageants, acting, and the business hustle Sims was born in Georgia and won Miss Georgia Teen USA in 2007. The early spotlight led her to acting — with roles in Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming, and Last Vegas, where she worked alongside names like Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas. She also made guest appearances on TV shows such as Entourage and One Tree Hill. And then, modelling followed. Sims has featured in multiple Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues and now runs marketing for a luxury rental in the Bahamas, a project she co-owns with her mother. From golf tournaments to diaper bags Koepka proposed to Sims on a beach in Jupiter, Florida in 2021, as reported by Town & Country. They married a year later at Amanyara resort in Turks & Caicos. In July 2023, the couple had their first child, a son named Crew Sims Koepka. He's already been seen courtside or rather greenside with his dad, including at the 2024 Open Championship. A charity with a crown At just 17, Sims launched Pageant of Hope, a nonprofit that organizes beauty pageants for children with cancer or disabilities. Every participant is crowned, and every event is built around confidence, not competition. She's hosted them across the U.S. and internationally — one of her longest-running commitments, even while careers and life moved forward.
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
27 Target Finds To Upgrade Your Home Office Space
A standing desk because, despite how tempting it is to do all day, sitting is so overrated. This one costs less than $100 and is neutral enough to fit in with your existing decor and might, in fact, add to it. Promising review: "This desk is the perfect height for me. I'm 5'11 and it's at the perfect height for me to work on my laptop. It's a good size and is sturdy. It was easy to assemble, too!" —TargetmomPrice: $75 Or a laptop desk tray, because sometimes working from home means working from the couch (or bed). It's got collapsible legs for easy storage, a cup holder, and a slot to hold your phone or tablet. Promising review: "It keeps my laptop at a much more ergonomic height so I'm not hunched over trying to play the Sims." —EvaPrice: $30 A monitor stand with a drawer for anybody who's tired of hunching over to get their work done. Plus, it's got a cute bamboo drawer to add extra storage to your desk, which you can never have too much of. Promising review: "I love this stand. I've been using it for several months and it's been great. It looks really nice, and the storage frees up space on my desk." —DebbiePrice: $30 A smart mug so you don't have to keep taking trips to the microwave to heat up your morning brew. Control the temperature of your beverage using your phone and watch the LED light glow when it's reached (and stays at) your perfect temperature. This mug is designed with a built-in, rechargeable battery and an LED light that indicates when your drink has reached a perfect temperature. Promising review: "I love my Ember mug. Previously, I was reheating my coffee several times in the mornings, and now it stays warm all morning! It makes my life so much easier and mornings more enjoyable!" —Target ReviewerPrice: $129.99 (available in two colors) A cushy, wheeled swivel chair, because your desk chair deserves to look as cool as you are, you stylish person, you. This one is height-adjustable, too, so no matter how long or short your legs are, you'll be able to work in comfort. Promising review: "It's hard to find an aesthetically pleasing office chair. My husband works from home, and this replaced an old dining chair we had. Sturdy and great quality, as are most things from Target. Easy to assemble, too." –FhodgePrice: $225 A desk mat to provide traction and keep your computer, mouse, and anything else in place (well, except your mouse, which will glide smoothly across it). Plus, the color will brighten up your space! Price: $9 Or a traditional mouse pad in a cute but neutral striped pattern, so your mouse will move smoothly without causing wear and tear on your desk. Price: $6 A clear paper tray for organizing all those loose papers cluttering up your desk. It's a great way to wrangle those unruly desk drawers, too! Price: $11 Or a faux-leather wall pocket to get them off your desk altogether. This would also be great to hold things like your unread mail or notebooks. Price: $21 And a matching five-slot desktop organizer that'll hold pretty much all your workday essentials. It's got compartments to hold pens, pencils, scissors, and papers. You're going to be the most organized WFH employee on the block. Price: $21 Or a lazy Susan desktop organizer to twirl around as you look for your favorite pen (you know the one). It's got four compartments to stow all your highlighters, pencils, markers, paint brushes, and other supplies. Promising review: "Love the design of this and the ease of it being able to be placed many different places. I keep my markers and pens in this, and it displays so cute on my table or my desk." —EvePrice: $16 A fabric pin board because it's way more chic than the disintegrating corkboard you had up in your middle school bedroom. Price: $32.99 And a jar of heart-shaped pushpins to use with it. These gold pushpins look luxe, but you can get 50 for less than $10. That's what we call a good investment. Promising review: "These are absolutely adorable. I saw them and had to have them. The shape of the heart is cute and the shade of gold isn't too yellow/green." –Mariah95Price: $7.99 A sleek file cabinet to store printer paper and all those pesky documents that are too important to throw away but too unsightly to keep out on your desk. Promising review: "I bought two of these and placed a desktop across them for a craft table. I needed file storage and a higher work surface, so they took care of two issues for me. Love them." —PattiPrice: $117.99 A clean-line, five-shelf bookcase, so you can finally house all the books, work stuff, and office decor you currently have sitting in storage or scattered around your home. This narrow, 6-foot bookshelf is ideal for those living in shoebox-size apartments, since it doesn't take up much square footage. Promising review: "I got this bookshelf back in 2014 and was able to assemble it by myself. My experience with it has been very positive. I brought it with me when I moved to my apartment, and then from Arizona to Maryland, and it is still standing in great condition. I have too many books, so I am planning on purchasing a second bookshelf." —AnnaPrice: $200 (available in three colors) A handheld Dymo label maker because it's a great way to make your office super-efficient, especially if you share it with other people. It'll make sure you never have a "wait, whose pen is this?" moment again. Promising review: "I absolutely love this new label maker! It is super easy to use! Labels come out great!" —Target ReviewerPrice: $25.49 A pack of Command hooks so you can finally hang up all those cute prints you've been collecting for years without damaging your walls. They can also be used to hang up office supplies like scissors, calendars, clipboards, and rulers. Each hook holds up to 2 pounds. Each pack includes six hooks and eight clear medium indoor review: "You can't go wrong with any Command product. These hooks are the perfect size for our holiday decorations. The best part is they're removable and avoid creating holes in our walls." —Bigred18 Price: $7.79 A set of Sharpie gel pens because they won't smudge or bleed while you're furiously taking notes during a meeting. No more realizing you have ink on your hands and face at the end of the workday. Price: $4.99 for four pens An analog alarm clock that'll help you wake up on time for your 8 a.m. conference call without having to sleep next to your phone. You can also use it as a task timer while you're working, so you can avoid getting distracted by your phone when you're supposed to be just stopping an alarm. Promising review: "If you're looking for a small, inexpensive alarm clock, this is good. The alarm is not annoying, just a simple singing sound. There is no clicking noise of the clock arms. Perfect for my needs." —AZPrice: $14.99 (available in two colors) A scalloped cabinet that'll be a stylish way to store all your unsightly office clutter and display your favorite knickknacks (or your printer). The pine finish is a stunning addition to your existing decor, and will make your space feel much more lavish. Promising review: "I have waited for months for this to come back in stock. I have already gotten so many compliments on this, and just built it a few days ago. I did build it myself, which was totally doable with patience. I did not put the legs on, so that would probably need a second person. The doors are a bit odd, so you have to really work on getting them aligned, but it will work if you keep trying. Def recommend!" –zoegPrice: $320 A pair of gold-toned scissors that will 100% be the most glamorous item in your office. Next time you need them, you won't have to search all over the house, because these will instantly stand out! Promising review: "I use these scissors for my home office, which coordinate perfectly with other gold accents. The scissors are well made, not very sharp, but do the job, and they're pretty." —CynthiaPrice: $13.99 An adorable Swingline and Sugar Paper Essentials stapler, because nothing says "I mean business" more than one of these sitting on your desk. It'll staple up to 20 pages at once, so go ahead and print out that massive PDF. Promising review: "This stapler complements my white, gold, and acrylic decor in my office nicely. It not only looks pretty but is very functional. It is what I expect out of a Swingline brand stapler." —lalaPrice: $19.99 A woven letter sorter so you can keep your papers organized by order of priority and, more importantly, instantly improve the aesthetic of your desk setup. Promising review: "Perfect to hold all those random kitchen important items. So aesthetically pleasing but functional!" —CcPrice: $13 A file box with a handle so you can sort your papers and easily store or carry them with you if you need to. Tax documents from last year? There's a place for those. Promising review: "Great medium-sized portable filing cabinet. Perfect for what I needed it for. Has some small compartments on the top to hold small office supplies." —Target customerPrice: $13.69 A lil' step waste basket so all those pencil shavings, snack wrappers, and sticky notes don't litter your desk, drawers, and floor. No more walking all the way to the kitchen to toss things out! Promising review: "Simple trash can matches any style. I like the step to open the lid, mostly because it keeps my dogs out. Good price point." —House SlippersPrice: $12.75 (originally $15; available in three colors) A lovely scented candle to make your office smell like a watermelon margarita — especially if your "office" is also the kitchen table and your "desk" is a little too close to the smelly trash can. It's 5 o'clock somewhere! Price: $10+ (available in two sizes and 11 other scents) A clear storage bin (or several) to keep all the bits and bobs on your desk organized and in one place where you can actually see them. Promising review: "I have these all over my house! Pantry, closets, play areas, bathroom, you name it. These are perfect for my ADHD mom brain. If I can't see it, it doesn't exist. These solve that for me. They are stackable and a great size." —Target52Price: $13
Indianapolis Star
7 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Friends discover a bear in the back seat of their car … and she wanted out
Nick Trout and Caden Sims heard a car horn honking a few times outside their cabin early Saturday morning, but they didn't think much of it. People honk their car horns. They had no idea .... Then, as they were in the kitchen ready to make breakfast for their crew -- nine former Pendleton Heights High School athletes who decided to take a summer trip together to Gatlinburg -- Trout tapped Sims on the shoulder. "Look, there's a baby cub out on this tree," he said to Sims. The two walked onto the balcony to get a better look at the miniature-sized grizzly. Still, they had no idea ... "Then I looked to my right, and I noticed that Trout's car is shaking. And so I'm thinking, 'What is going on?'" said Sims, 19, who will be a sophomore at Wabash University in the fall. "And then I hear the car horn go." What was going on inside Nick's car? Who was honking his horn? Who was big enough to make a car shake? From the balcony, Sims could see through the front windshield. Something was in the back seat of that car. He went down to check it out, and that's when he saw what seemed inexplicable. Unbelievable. A bear in the back seat. And she wanted out. "First off, I'm thinking, 'How did the bear get in there?' And then my second thought is, 'How am I going to get this bear out?' said Sims. He quickly shot a video of the bear to show Trout and the rest of the guys who, by this time, were all out of bed and going crazy. Unfortunately, Trout knew what he had to do. He had to get that bear out of his car. As his friends huddled by the window, giving him solid, but distanced, support, he ran out from the bottom patio door. He sprinted to the car door, quickly swung it open and then sprinted back in. The bear sat inside the car for another second or two, then she got out, looked around and walked away with her cub. When the guys went down to investigate, that's when they realized this bear wasn't messing around. Mama bear had literally ravaged the inside of Trout's car, destroying the passenger seat door, ripping out the ceiling liner and wreaking havoc on the back seat. Trout's first thought was his mom. "I'm just kind of freaking out because I had no clue what to do," said Trout, 19, who attends the United States Military Academy. "I wasn't expecting anything like this to happen. My first thought was I felt terrible about the car because it's my mom's car." Trout's mom had loaned her son her maroon 2016 Chevy Malibu to drive to Tennessee. He broke the news to her via text. Trout: No way, mom, I am so sorry. Mom: For what? Trout: A bear. Mom: What? Trout: In your car. Mom: Send me pics. And so, Trout sent his mom the photos who wasn't upset at all, just glad all the guys were OK. "My parents actually thought it was kind of funny how it happened," said Trout. How it happened isn't exactly known. Trout is positive when he went down to his car Friday night to get his friend's charger that he had locked the car. "I distinctly remember locking it, and I hadn't been out to the car the rest of the night." So, either Trout is mistaken, or mama bear knows how to pick locks. That, of course, is neither here nor there. The damage was done. The bear left some clues. It was clear she had entered the car from the passenger door. And it was clear she had climbed into the back seat. Trout doesn't think she was trying to destroy the inside of his car, rather she had gotten herself into a pickle and was stranded from her cub. Evidently, she knew how to open a car door from the outside but not from the inside. "So she was stuck in the backseat tearing the roof and all the doors apart," Trout said. "It looks like she was trying to get out." Come to find out, bears breaking into cars is a problem in the area. That's what the regulars told the guys. Amazingly, Trout ended up being one of the lucky ones. His car is drivable now that he finished ripping out the top liner so it wasn't draping down. Trout will drive back home to Indiana in his bear-ravaged car Sunday morning with a story to tell. A story none of them were expecting, but will never forget. "We haven't done anything like this before. So we just thought, 'You know, it's summer. We're all of age to go out somewhere on our own,'" said Sims. "So we just thought, 'What better place than Tennessee?'"
