A man with an AR-15-style rifle opened fire inside a Target store in Omaha, sending panicked shoppers and employees scrambling for safety before he was fatally shot by police Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said the man had “plenty of ammunition” and that evidence suggests he fired multiple rounds, but it wasn’t immediately known if he fired at anyone.
Schmaderer said no wounded people were found, and police had searched through the store “because there were some people hiding in there.”
Cathy Mahannah, a customer, said the scene inside the store was “sheer panic.”
The 62-year-old was near the store’s entrance picking out Valentine’s Day gifts for her young grandchildren when she heard a banging sound. She thought something had fallen, then saw a mass of people running for the exit.
A shopper told her there was an active shooter, and she fled. She heard at least one more shot in the store and a few more when she was outside.
Mahannah was so rattled she initially couldn’t find her car and jumped into a vehicle with a stranger.
“The moments in that parking lot were terrifying when I heard the shots and thought, ‘Where do I hide? I don’t know what to do.’” she said.
The police chief said there were several 911 calls shortly before noon, and officers were at the store within minutes.
“The first arriving officers went into the building, confronted the suspect and shot him dead,” Schmaderer said, speaking at news conference about an hour after the shooting. “He had an AR-15 rifle with him and plenty of ammunition.”
Target spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo said in a statement all guests and team members were safely evacuated from the store, which would remain closed indefinitely.
Lt. Neal Bonacci, a police spokesperson, said officers are trained to enter such scenes quickly to prevent mass casualties.
“We’ve learned a lot from other jurisdictions, other areas, other cities that have unfortunately experienced this,” he said. “We enter right away. We’re trained to do so. Whether it’s one officer or 10, we go inside and neutralize the threat.”
Target’s Future Collective collection has returned with its second designer, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. “This is a full circle moment. When Target came to me to talk to me about the Future Collective, I was like, 1,000% yes,” Vogue’s global contributing fashion editor-at-large said of the partnership. “I’m very invested in doing projects that feel authentic to who I am and my story, but also honor where I came from. I also was just so excited about being able to create clothing. I’ve done one very small collaboration before, but this was by far the biggest.”
Over the years, Karefa-Johnson has made a name for herself as an editor and stylist, bringing her expertise and personality to publications from Vogue to Vanity Fair. And when she isn’t busy styling A-list stars like Florence Pugh, and hitting the streets with model friends Gigi and Bella Hadid, the former Fashion Director of GARAGE magazine is simply trying to find her joy—which comes in the form of daily dressing.
“For me, fashion should be about fun and it should be about joy. Getting dressed in the morning is one of the most joyous moments of the day for me,” she said, adding that she wanted her Future Collective line to not only be size inclusive, but help diminish the pressures and intimidation that can often surround fashion.
“Learning from past experiences, I was like, okay, this needs to be size inclusive, super accessible, because fashion can be daunting and it can be intimidating,” she explained. “So I wanted people to be able to step outside of their comfort zone, maybe take some risks, but also not feel alienated by this collection.”
The collection, ranging from XXS-4X and 00-30, features transitional dresses, lightweight outerwear, versatile layering pieces like blazers and shirts, as well as matching sets and an array of skirts and trousers—all between a price point of $10-$50, with most items under $35.
And with nearly 100 items, and three seasonal refreshes—the first of which will drop on January 29 on Target.com and in select Target stores—Karefa-Johnson has created colorful and bold pieces that can easily be mixed and matched, allowing the consumer to create a whole new wardrobe solely from the collection itself.
“If you know the way that I style and what my tastes are, I’m always mixing prints and textures,” she said, adding that a lot of color—which can be seen in her pink, drawstring mini dress and her brightly patterned matching top sets—was one of the ways she wanted to bring that sense of happiness and joy to her collection.
Gabriella Karefa-Johnson.Courtesy of Target.
In addition to color, another necessary requirement for the stylist’s collection is denim—one of her favorite outfits from the line being her uniquely patterned denim set featuring an oversized button down shirt and straight-legged pants.
“The denim is super high quality and fab. Whenever I’m dealing with classics, I want there to be some twist, or something that turns it on its head. So having the printed denim, the oversized menswear shirt silhouette… I just love the idea of big on big. I think in general it’s the most stylish,” she explained. “I think the world tells…if you’re wearing a big shirt, you wear smaller pants. Or wearing a smaller shirt, you wear a bigger…I’m just like supersize and maximize. I am seriously a maximalist.”
Though she’s loving trends like Jenna Ortega‘s Wednesday Addams gothic glamour, with several little black dresses featured in her collection, the fashion force is also a fan of the ’90s resurgence. Combining that with her Southern Californian roots, Karefa-Johnson created pieces like chic cargo pants, which she styled with her purple floral crop top design—a nod to Regina Rocket in the early 2000s Nickelodeon series Rocket Power. (Surely a reference millennial fashionistas everywhere will respect).
“I remember growing up, and I was like…I’m not a skater girl, even though I’m from Southern California. I’m not a surfer. I’m not a goth. I’m not a music kid. I could never figure out where I fit in. Then I realized like I was all of those things in some way,” she said. “You want to combine all those aspects. All of those, we contain multitudes. It’s like some days I feel sexiest and most confident and oversized denim. Some days I want to cut out dress!”
Though she can now add designer to her resume, you’ll still be able to find Karefa-Johnson perusing the aisles at Target. “I will always be a Target shopper, was before this collection, will be after this collection,” she said. “It felt like a very unique opportunity for me to connect with an audience that’s really reflective of who I was, who I still am.”
Target will be one of the largest retailers to carry GIMME products, putting the brand front and center to millions of new customers.
Press Release –
updated: Jan 24, 2023 07:00 EST
SALT LAKE CITY, January 24, 2023 (Newswire.com)
– GIMME Beauty, the revolutionary hair solutions company disrupting the beauty industry, announced today that in addition to its cult-favorite hair ties, which are available at Target nationwide, its Detangling Brushes will be available at Target’s online shop, starting February 2023. They aim to gain retail distribution across major retailers for these popular brushes later this year.
The GIMME Detangling Brush is designed with a customized bristle technology that gently glides through differing hair types without pulling or tugging, reducing damage and making detangling a breeze. The brush is available in three varieties for fine, medium, and thick hair types.
“We are thrilled to expand our product menu at Target to make our innovative detangling brushes more accessible to even more customers,” said Jeff Durham, CEO of GIMME Beauty. “Brushes by hair type are lacking in the market, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on people’s unique hair and overall hair care routine.”
The GIMME Detangling Brush is one of the latest additions to the GIMME Beauty product line, which also includes a variety of hair care products and supplements designed to meet the needs of all hair types and promote healthy hair.
Its Tri-blend Bristles are designed with nylon with varying flexibility by hair type. They feature anti-static, anti-frizz properties and are gentle on the hair and scalp to make detangling simple and even tear-free for kids. The bristles are heat resistant, making them perfect for use with hot styling tools such as straighteners and curling irons. The ergonomic velvet grip handle is designed to fit comfortably in one’s hand, reducing hand fatigue and making it easy to find a firm grip for better control while detangling.
GIMME Beauty’s commitment to providing high-quality, innovative hair solutions has made them a favorite among beauty influencers, hair stylists, and customers alike.
“At GIMME Beauty, we believe women shouldn’t have to put up with one-size-fits-all hair products,” said Durham. “We are dedicated to creating products for your unique hair type with a rapidly expanding menu accessible at most major retailers near you.”
The GIMME Detangling Brush will be available at Target’s online shop starting Feb. 5, 2023, and can also be purchased online at gimmebeauty.com.
About GIMME Beauty
GIMME Beauty‘s vision is to design innovative hair solutions that disrupt the status quo of the health and beauty hair care category. The company’s products rank among the industry’s fastest-growth items, according to Nielsen Market Data. Since it launched in 2006, GIMME has become a national brand available at more than 20,000 stores across the United States. Follow GIMME on Instagram or Facebook to learn about its latest collections. To learn more about GIMME Beauty, visit gimmebeauty.com.
In case you needed another reason to add new clothes to your closet, there’s a new inclusive clothing brand on the block at Target that you should know about. Rebdolls is a mid-size and plus-size clothing brand that makes affordable and eye-catching garments in a variety of styles, colors and prints.
The brand, which uses the slogan #sexyforall, was founded in 2014 by former model Grisel Paula, who wanted to see more fashionable clothing available in plus sizes. Rebdolls recently released its size-inclusive wares on Target’s website, including outerwear, dresses, skirts, cardigans and more (all up to size 5X), just in time to get you through the rest of winter.
Below, we rounded up some of the cutest options to add to your cart immediately, but you can shop everything at Target.com. You’d better act fast — some sizes are already sold out.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
One TikToker is going viral after showcasing customers leaving a Target store and struggling with the new anti-theft technology that’s being used on shopping carts.
Essentially, if a cart moves a certain distance away from the store, a censor activates and causes the wheels of the cart to lock, rendering it unmoveable.
In a video that’s been viewed over 4.6 million times, one customer shows viewers what happens when people realized the carts have sensors after first falling victim to the technology herself.
“You probably don’t know this, because it’s clearly a new thing, but Target has installed sensors on the carts, which make it so the carts can’t go outside a certain parameter of Target,” she says.
Frustrated customers took to the comments to talk about how the sensors can be “dangerous” and unfair to shoppers.
“I have ALWAYS put my cart back. As a mother with two kids.. this would infuriate me,” one user said. “I can’t carry my stuff & hold my children’s hands.”
“This is a total fail on your part Target, make the parameter within the plot of your store, not in the middle of the damn parking,” another vented.
In November, the retailer announced that it had lost millions of dollars in profit due to “inventory shrinkage” caused by theft and crime.
“Along with other retailers, we’ve seen a significant increase in theft and organized retail crime across our business,” Target CEO Brian Cornell said during the company’s Q3 2022 earnings call.
Target has not specified what the exact perimeters are in order for the sensors to be activated.
Like a certain once-beloved apricot exfoliator, skinny jeans seem to have developed a bad reputation. If you balked at clicking on this article, I get it. Skinny jeans seem downright passé compared to the other myriad of denim options on the market. But hear me out: Sleeping on this style may mean missing out on a highly versatile category of bottoms.
Think of Audrey Hepburn in a turtleneck and topknot. An effortless French woman like Emmanuelle Alt breezing past in a Breton-stripe top. Evergreen Itgirl Kate Moss slinking around London in yet another flawless outfit. What do these looks have in common? All three are anchored by black skinny jeans, cropped at the ankle. The look is equal parts sophisticated, chic, and cool.
A Target store in Cheektowaga, New York, was turned into an Airbnb of sorts when it played host to two dozen stranded motorists during one the Buffalo area’s worst blizzards on record, according to The Buffalo News.
Facebook/Jessica LeeFrozen doors at Target in Buffalo
One stranded motorist, Jessica Sypniewski, was running what she thought would be a quick errand before the storm (with her boyfriend and two children in the car) when the weather took a turn and the snow began to come down “sooner and heavier than we thought it would,” she told the outlet.
After running into white-out conditions, the group turned into a shopping plaza and were turned away from a grocery store, she said, before trying Target — where they were greeted with warm cocoa and blankets.
“I got so emotional, I just sat down and started crying,” Sypniewski told The Buffalo News. “You never know. People could have died. I truly believe they saved lives.”
A group of seven Target workers was also stranded at the store. They filled carts with inflatable mattresses, linens, water, food, clothes, phone chargers, and personal hygiene items to accommodate what was going to be an unexpected overnight shift for themselves and their new guests.
“They said, ‘Anything you need, it’s on us,’” Sypniewski said. “‘Just let us scan it first.’”
Workers also opened a new TV so everyone could watch the Buffalo Bills game.
A rep for Target confirmed to the New York Post Monday that nobody would have to pay for anything used during the storm.
“Thanks to the compassion and quick thinking of the team members at our Walden Galleria store, they were able to provide shelter to those who were stranded, and also offered care, comfort, and holiday cheer,” said Mark Schindele, an executive vice president with the company. “Their actions are a livingexample of Target’s values and we are thankful to have been able to assist those in need.”
The area has since been plowed and guests have made their way out of the store.
Triangle Securities Wealth Management lifted its stake in Target Co. (NYSE:TGT – Get Rating) by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,069 shares of the retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the period. Triangle Securities Wealth Management’s holdings in Target were worth $1,049,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Blume Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Target during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Operose Advisors LLC raised its stake in Target by 55.8% during the 1st quarter. Operose Advisors LLC now owns 187 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the period. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Target by 75.6% during the second quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 209 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Target by 83.3% in the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 220 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Target during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. 78.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Target Price Performance
Target stock opened at $143.15 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.14. The stock has a market cap of $65.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.01. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $158.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $157.27. Target Co. has a 1 year low of $137.16 and a 1 year high of $254.87.
Target (NYSE:TGT – Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 16th. The retailer reported $1.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.15 by ($0.61). The firm had revenue of $26.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $26.40 billion. Target had a net margin of 3.17% and a return on equity of 30.51%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.03 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Target Co. will post 5.54 earnings per share for the current year.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of brokerages have issued reports on TGT. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Target from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $183.00 to $144.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 17th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Target in a research note on Wednesday, October 12th. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of Target from $205.00 to $175.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 17th. BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Target from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $190.00 to $165.00 in a report on Thursday, November 17th. Finally, Gordon Haskett cut shares of Target from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $132.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, December 21st. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $182.64.
Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers food assortments, including perishables, dry grocery, dairy, and frozen items; apparel, accessories, home décor products, electronics, toys, seasonal offerings, food, and other merchandise; and beauty and household essentials.
See Also
Receive News & Ratings for Target Daily – Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts’ ratings for Target and related companies with MarketBeat.com’s FREE daily email newsletter.
Target is recalling about 204,000 weighted blankets sold nationwide after the suffocation deaths of two girls in April, the retailer and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday.
A 4-year-old and 6-year-old reportedly became entrapped in the cover of the Pillowfort blanket and died due to asphyxia at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, according to a statement posted by the CPSC. Target has received four reports of children getting trapped after unzipping and entering the blanket, including the two fatalities, it stated.
Made in China, the blankets were sold exclusively at Target stores and online from December 2018 through September 2022 for $40.
People should stop using the blankets immediately and contact Target for a refund, which will be in the form of a $40 store credit, the commission said. In addition, Target is “contacting all known purchasers directly to arrange returns,” according to the CPSC.
“This product is deadly, and today’s action to immediately recall the product and offer a refund to consumers is the only acceptable path forward,” CSPC commissioner Richard Trumka said in a statement.
The six-pound blankets are 60-inches long and 40-inches wide and have a removable, waterproof, washable cover. They came in eight prints or colors, including the following:
Consumers need to present their receipt in order to return the blanket.
Target can be contacted online or at 800-440-0680 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central time to get a prepaid return label to return the blankets by mail. The blankets can also be returned to any Target store.
Thanks for reading CBS NEWS.
Create your free account or log in for more features.
Target is recalling about 204,000 weighted blankets sold nationwide after the suffocation deaths of two girls in April, the retailer and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday.
A 4-year-old and 6-year-old reportedly became entrapped in the cover of the Pillowfort blanket and died due to asphyxia at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, according to a statement posted by the CPSC. Target has received four reports of children getting trapped after unzipping and entering the blanket, including the two fatalities, it stated.
People should stop using the blankets immediately and contact Target for a refund.
Made in China, the blankets were sold exclusively at Target stores and online from December 2018 through September 2022 for $40.
The six-pound blankets are 60-inches long and 40-inches wide and have a removable, waterproof, washable cover. They came in eight prints or colors, including the following:
Target can be contacted online or at 800-440-0680 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central time to get a prepaid return label to return the blankets by mail. The blankets can also be returned to any Target store.
Thanks for reading CBS NEWS.
Create your free account or log in for more features.
The holiday season is officially upon us. The neighborhood decorations have gone up and lights are twinkling along rooflines and windows. The party invitations are in the mail. After a few holiday seasons at home, more than a few of us are ready for a festive season. Whether you’re planning a low-key soiree or attending a big New Year’s Ever bash, Target has you covered.
Unexpected picks like electric pink velvet jumpsuits to future favorites like a vintage-inspired feather trim mini dress can shake up your tried and true holiday looks with a festive, bold take. Of course holiday classics like a curve-hugging velvet sheath to a sequin slip dress are in the mix as well. Not only will these spangly pieces shine during the holiday season, but they’re also new styling elements that be incorporated into your wardrobe in the new year.
HuffPost receives a share from retailers on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
GIMME is up 80% year-over-year, and the company expects to be carried in over 20,000 locations by January 2023.
Press Release –
Dec 8, 2022 07:00 EST
SALT LAKE CITY, December 8, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– GIMME Beauty, the innovative hair solutions company disrupting the beauty industry, announces a successful year marked by significant growth through 2022. According to market research company IRI, GIMME is up 80.2% year-over-year (YOY) and currently carried in 15,000 retail locations across the U.S.
Nielsen marketing research data also revealed that GIMME’s product line ranks among the fastest-growth items in the industry, and by January 2023, GIMME is expected to surpass 20,000 locations nationwide. Since its launch in 2006, GIMME has grown into a national brand, with retail partners like ULTA, Dillards, Target, CVS and Walgreens set to carry GIMME products in 2023.
“It’s been a great year for GIMME, and we’re optimistic about what the future holds,” said Jeff Durham, CEO of GIMME Beauty. “We look forward to continuing this momentum into 2023. We’re grateful to our retail partners for trusting our team as thought leaders. The increase in distribution makes the brand more accessible to more of our growing fans.”
GIMME Beauty’s accessories are some of the strongest-selling accessories at ULTA, and as such, GIMME has been recognized among ULTA’s top-performing accessories brands in 2022.
A Global Hair Tie Market Research Report for 2022 by Market Research Guru takes a deep look into the Hair Tie market, its major players, trends and growth drivers, and provides a forecast of the industry through 2029; the report identifies GIMME as a key player in the market.
GIMME aims to close out 2022 strong with new products slated for December: the GIMME Twist™ shower hair towel, available in blue and gray, and the GIMME Vented Styling and Detangling Brush. GIMME Twist™ dries hair with zero heat damage, and its microfiber material creates a frizz-free style for any hair type while preventing breakage. The towel is fitted with two buttons, allowing for a custom fit for all hair types, lengths and thicknesses. The vented brush is the next in the series of GIMME’s premium brushes.
GIMME Beauty‘s vision is to design innovative hair solutions that disrupt the status quo of the health and beauty hair care category. The company’s products rank among the industry’s fastest-growth items, according to Nielsen Market Data. Since it launched in 2006, GIMME has become a national brand available at more than 16,000 stores across the United States. Follow GIMME on Instagram or Facebook to learn about its latest collections. To learn more about GIMME Beauty, visit www.gimmebeauty.com.
Wall Street’s main indexes gained on Tuesday, shaking off an unconfirmed report of Russian missiles crossing into Poland that sparked volatility, as investors seized on softer-than-expected inflation data that raised hopes of a pullback in rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve.
Equities were boosted by Tuesday’s inflation report that showed producer prices rising 8% in the 12 months through October against an estimated 8.3% rise.
The gains built on a rally that was kicked off late last week by a cooler-than-expected report on consumer prices.
“The market has been driven by the inflation number that came out a little bit lower than expected and confirmed last week’s number to some degree that we may have rounded the corner on inflation,” said Peter Tuz, president of Chase Investment Counsel in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The market was “a little bit more volatile this afternoon as news stories came out about the Russian missile landing in Poland,” Tuz said.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 56.22 points, or 0.17%, to 33,592.92, the S&P 500 gained 34.48 points, or 0.87%, to 3,991.73 and the Nasdaq Composite added 162.19 points, or 1.45%, to 11,358.41.
Two people were killed in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, firefighters said as NATO allies investigated reports that the blast resulted from Russian missiles.
The Associated Press earlier cited a senior US intelligence official as saying the blast was due to Russian missiles crossing into Poland. But the Pentagon said it could not confirm that account.
Stocks pulled back around mid-day after the report, with the Dow turning negative before they steadied.
“The decline was triggered by reports of a Russian missile landing in Poland,” said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers. “This could develop into something far worse, but right now markets are nervous, not panicked.”
Shares of Walmart Inc jumped 6.5% after the top US retailer lifted its annual sales and profit forecasts, benefiting from steady demand for groceries despite higher prices.
Shares of other retailers, including Target Corp and Costco, also rose following Walmart’s report. Target, which is due to report on Wednesday, rose 3.9%, while Costco gained 3.3%.
Home Depot shares rose 1.6% after the home improvement chain’s results showed it tapped higher prices to override a drop in customer transactions for the third quarter.
Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 3.25-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.01-to-1 ratio favored advancers.
The S&P 500 posted 5 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 85 new highs and 76 new lows.
About 13.1 billion shares changed hands in US exchanges, compared with the 12.2 billion daily average over the last 20 sessions.
LISBON, PORTUGAL – JULY 22: TAP Air Portugal Airbus A321Neo, first flight using SAF – Sustainable … [+] Aviation Fuel, takes off to Ponta Delgada, Azores, on the day it was signed the partnership by TAP CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener, Galp CEO Andy Brown, and ANA CEO Thierry Ligonnière, at Humberto Delgado International Airport on July 22, 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. TAP, Galp and ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal have entered into a strategic partnership for the development, production and supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuel) on a large scale, from waste, recycled used oils and other sustainable raw materials. This partnership is in line with the European Commission’s Fit for 55 climate package, which includes the ‘RefuelEU Aviation’ legislative initiative aimed at increasing the supply and demand for SAF in the European Union and its use by 2% by 2025, 5% by 2030, and 63% by 2050. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Corbis via Getty Images
Does the aviation sector have its head in the clouds? Indeed, the experts are working hard to make hydrogen a sustainable aviation fuel.
Given the expansion of the production tax credits and the funds for regional hydrogen hubs, hydrogen’s stock is rising. Its possibilities lie in the hard-to-decarbonize industrials or things that cannot quickly electrify. That applies to planes, trains, ships, and long-haul trucks. Electric generators can also run on a blend of hydrogen and natural gas.
“We see the technology coming and the cost coming down. The price of natural gas is lower than today’s price of hydrogen,” says Judith Judson, head of hydrogen at the National Grid, in a webinar hosted by Our Energy Policy. “But with tax credits, the economics are moving in the right direction. Like wind and solar, the prices will come down. In meeting our net zero goals, hydrogen has a role to play. Our goal is to see green hydrogen produced from renewable energy. We plan to eliminate fossil fuels, but we want to do so affordably.”
Green hydrogen-derived sustainable aviation fuels may be a long flight, but that plane will take off within 15 to 25 years. Consider Delta Airlines: Louisiana-based DG Fuels is supplying it 385 million gallons with 75%-85% fewer lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than conventional jet fuel.
Various forms of renewable energy make up sustainable aviation fuels. That includes food waste, animal waste, and sewage sludge, which easily mix with jet fuels. The U.S. Department of Energy says its carbon footprint can be 165% smaller than petroleum-based jet fuel. A study by Clean Sky 2 and Fuel Cells & Hydrogen 2 says that hydrogen-powered aircraft could be ready for flight as early as 2035, although 2050 may be more doable for longer flights.
Azul Airlines, British Airways, Jet Blue, KLM, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Australia, and Virgin Atlantic have already used biofuels for commercial flights. As for Jet Blue, it is using sustainable aviation fuel at its hub in the Los Angeles International Airport. It works with World Energy and World Fuel Services INT to get sustainable aviation fuel.
“Our ultimate goal is to achieve climate-neutral aviation by 2050. Turning this ambition into reality requires the seamless integration of a range of important new technological advancements, one of which is hydrogen-powered aircraft,” says Axel Krein, Executive Director of Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking.
From Airport Hubs to Hydrogen Hubs
A diesel all-aluminum 4-cylinder OM 654 unit combustion engine sits on display beside a … [+] Mercedes-Benz E220 automobile during Daimler AG’s TecDay Road to the Future event in Stuttgart, Germany, on Thursday, June 9, 2016. Mercedes-Benz will start selling a fuel-cell electric version of its GLC sport utility vehicle next year, an effort to broaden the appeal of the technology with the first publicly available battery that can be charged both with hydrogen and at a wall socket. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg
Besides the production tax credits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that passed a year ago includes up to $7 billion to establish between 6 and 10 regional hydrogen hubs across the country. The goal is to create a network of hydrogen producers and industrial consumers with an interconnected infrastructure to accelerate the use of clean hydrogen — part of the White House’s plan to reach net-zero targets by 2050.
For example, the hubs want to optimize each region’s strength — comprised of their natural resources and their industrial base. Some regions are rich in natural gas, while others have a lot of solar and wind energy potential. At the same time, companies must stand ready to buy the resulting hydrogen. Critical to the pursuit: converting legacy infrastructure and building new pipelines.
“The regulatory environment is key,” Thomas Green, a fellow with the Energy Department’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Office, said during the program. “We need to lower barriers and ensure stakeholders are engaged while assuring the highest amount of environmental fidelity.”
Today 99% of all hydrogen is produced in reactions involving coal and natural gas, considered “grey hydrogen” that does nothing to limit CO2 emissions. The aim is to produce hydrogen from low-carbon energy sources — green hydrogen — and expand its use in the transportation and power generation sectors. In its Hydrogen Economy Outlook, Bloomberg New Energy Finance says it could supply 24% of the world’s energy demands by 2050 while cutting CO2 levels by 34%.
For that to happen, the price of green hydrogen has to fall. The Energy Department is taking an “Earthshot,” launched in June 2021. It seeks to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per 1 kilogram in 1 decade.Currently, hydrogen from renewable energy costs about $5 per kilogram. If the program is successful and the price falls, the potential has no bounds: steel manufacturing, clean ammonia, energy storage, and heavy-duty trucks, says the agency.
Providing the Rocket Fuel
The world’s first industrial-scale hydrogen plant, owned by Enel SpA, operates in Fusina, near … [+] Venice, Italy, on Monday, July 12, 2010. Enel over the next five years plans to spend 7.4 billion euros on research and construction of hydrogen plants, wind farms, solar power, and other technologies that are cleaner than its coal, gas and oil-fueled plants. Photographer: Alessandra Benedetti/Bloomberg
National Grid’s Judson says that her utility would be a corporate buyer of the hydrogen fuel. It would help balance the supply and demand, benefiting electricity customers. She says that hydrogen and renewable natural gas derived from organic waste could be blended, powering gas turbines while using the existing wires and substations.
Hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to generate power — a chemical process that splits hydrogen from oxygen. There are no emissions — only water vapor. How? For example, battery-stored solar electricity is run through an electrolyzer to create pure hydrogen gas. While solar costs have dropped by 85% over 10 years, the focus now is on achieving economies of scale for electrolyzers.
While hydrogen can be injected directly into the existing natural gas turbines or the pipelines that carry it, the blending rate is only 20%. The Intermountain Power Project in Utah is converting from a coal plant to a combined cycle natural gas plant, creating a pure form of green hydrogen and transmitting it to Los Angeles.
There are 550 megawatts of fuel cells installed across the country, says Connor Dolan, vice president of external affairs for the Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association. The users are critical faculties that can’t afford to lose power at any time: data centers and hospitals, to name two. Microsoft MSFT Corp. wants to power its new data centers with hydrogen. The cost to do so is high, but those prices will decrease.
The hydrogen hubs are essential to achieving economies of scale. “This will help bring about cost parity and drive adoption,” says Dolan, during the webinar. “We will see hydrogen for export from the U.S. We would see a huge amount of domestic production, and we might have excess to ship around the world.”
Planes, trains, and automobiles are coming. Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota are creating fuel cell-powered cars, while FedEx Express EXPR is running a hydrogen-fueled delivery truck in New York State with a range of 240 kilometers. But more than 20,000 hydrogen-powered forklifts are already here and used by companies like Walmart WMT and Target TGT .
The groundwork is laid and the public policies are in place, providing the rocket fuel for an emerging hydrogen-powered economy.
Target is cutting back on holiday bonuses after touting a $2 per hour bump last year.
Getty Images
Last year, Target TGT made a big deal out of bumping up the pay of holiday employees working the busiest shifts by an extra $2 an hour.
This year, some of the same workers will have to settle for raffle tickets.
Only workers at select stores will receive the extra pay, according to people familiar with the matter. In the stores left out, employees may get a chance to win small prizes for taking on the more demanding shifts.
Target declined to comment but didn’t dispute the plan.
The change in the retailer’s approach to holiday staffing is just one sign of how much has changed in the retail labor market in 12 short months.
In 2021, the Covid-19 Omicron variant was spreading rapidly, and workers were calling in sick in droves. With their pockets still bulging from government stimulus checks, consumers were spending. The two trends collided during the holiday season.
“It seems like forever ago,” Edward Yruma, a senior research analyst at Piper Sandler, told Forbes. “What retailers had to do was effectively overstaff. The absenteeism was off the charts. Holiday work is tough, and attracting seasonal workers was particularly difficult last year.”
The crunch and the uncertainty it brought wasn’t confined to Target. To ensure enough people were operating the registers and stocking shelves, Walmart WMT hired more workers than it needed. Despite a record holiday season, with year-over-year sales growth clocking in at 14.1%, the decision to swell the ranks and pay bonuses weighed on company earnings.
“More of our associates that were out on Covid leave came back to work faster than we expected,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told analysts and investors in May. “We hired more associates at the end of last year to cover for those on leave, so we ended up with weeks of overstaffing.”
Walmart said in September that it would hire 40,000 associates in preparation for the holidays, down from 150,000 last year.
But overstaffing wasn’t the only drag on earnings among big-box retailers.
Target reported a nearly 90% year-over-year drop for its most recently reported quarter. That was largely the result of slashing prices to clear shelves of things like grills and patio furniture that people no longer needed now that going to restaurants once again became a thing.
“If we hadn’t dealt with our excess inventory head on, we could have avoided some short-term pain on the profit line, but that would have hampered our longer-term potential,” Target CFO CFO Michael Fiddelke said on the company’s latest earnings call in August. “While our quarterly profit took a meaningful step down, our future path is brighter.”
Unlike Walmart, however, Target has kept its goal for seasonal hiring constant this year. The company said it would again hire 100,000 seasonal workers.
That’s a good sign for those worried that high inflation will bring spending to a screeching halt.
“It’s been a set of circumstances that’s been unprecedented,” Piper Sandler’s Yruma told Forbes. “But by and large, the consumer is still in good shape. It’s not going to be the holiday we had last year, but on a relative basis, it should be decent.”
will spur debate about whether the consolidation will raise food prices, or lower them.
The Biden administration’s antitrust regulators are scrutinizing mergers more closely than did predecessors, and an old argument against combinations is that they lead to price-gouging.
Forget about Black Friday. Holiday shoppers are already hunting for the best deals.
Half of this year’s gift givers say they plan to start shopping by the end of October, according to a Bankrate survey. That’s why Target rolled out its Deal Days event this week, slashing prices up to 50%. It was timed just days ahead of Amazon’s highly anticipated Prime Early Access Sale.
“Retailers definitely have an arms race to reach shoppers while a shopper still has her or his money to spend on holiday items,” said Burt Flickinger, managing director for Strategic Resource Group, a retail consulting firm.
About 40% of holiday shoppers say inflation will impact their purchases, with many choosing to buy fewer gifts and at a discount, according to the Bankrate survey.
Consumers are going to find the best deals on clothing, consumer electronics, TVs, consumer audio and books, Flickinger said.
For some small business owners like Alen Harikian, the holiday outlook is bleak. His family has owned Speers TV for more than 30 years, but he says big box retailers have made it harder for his shop to get popular TVs, and he can’t compete with their low prices.
“If I buy a Samsung TV, let’s say for $500, a week later, Amazon or Best Buy is selling it for $399,” Harikian said. “So I’ve lost $100. So it just doesn’t make sense.”
The bigger retailers are also staffing up. Amazon announced it’s hiring 150,000 workers ahead of the holiday rush. Walmart’s hiring 40,000 workers because it’s already staffed with more permanent positions this year — a trend that’s expected to continue.
“Companies still need a lot of extra help during the holidays,” said Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement and career transitioning firm. “But in this scenario, some companies are going to be asking people to stay.”
Haileigh Vasquez, one of America’s youngest style icons, model & actress has officially launched her website.
Press Release –
updated: Mar 16, 2017
Los Angeles, CA, March 16, 2017 (Newswire.com)
– Haileigh Vasquez, one of America’s youngest style icons, model and actress of the lifestyle platform “Hails World” has officially launched her own website. The website launch comes as Haileigh actively grows her brand and social platforms by curating relevant content for her followers. The Hails World website will showcase Haileigh’s vast work portfolio in various categories including print, runway, commercials and more. The site also features a blog where she will share all her adventures from fashion week, style tips, and collaborations to trips to new parts of the world with her fans and followers.
At only 7 years old, this dynamic young lady has been featured in national commercials for brands such as Nickelodeon, Motts, and AT&T and has walked the runway for well known designers and fashion houses during NYFW, including Levi’s, Nike, Mischka Aoki, Converse and more. Most recently, Haileigh was selected as one of the notable kids co-designers who launched the capsule collection called Class of 2017 “ART CLASS” for Target and designed two unique pieces for young fashionistas like herself. Haileigh loves expressing herself through fashion and always keeps her looks stylish and fun. In the future she wants to be a designer because she wants to make clothes that can make people look and feel good. To learn more about this mini style guru praised by Essence magazine and Latina magazine as one of the most fashionable kids in the world visit www.hailsworld.com.
For Press, Interview & Social Media Influencer Inquiries:
