Latest news with #MarshallJones
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Yikes! A look at some of the biggest Burmese pythons caught in Florida snake hunt
The Florida Python Challenge 2025 is in full swing. The annual snake hunt started at 12:01 a.m. July 11. It will end at 5 p.m. July 20. Participants have until July 20 to kill as many Burmese pythons as possible from several locations in South Florida, including the Florida Everglades. The annual event began as a loosely planned scramble in the Everglades, an experiment in incentive-based extermination, a novelty that in subsequent years would help spawn reality TV shows, attract a rock star and entice celebrity chefs. 'The Python Challenge has a cult-like following,' said Marshall Jones, whose family owns Mack's Fish Camp in western Broward County. 'People travel from far and wide to come to it. They camp in tents, bring their RVs, all to catch one of these elusive slithering monsters.' What is the Florida Python Challenge? The Florida Python Challenge is a python removal competition. Participants have nine days to kill as many Burmese pythons as possible. The 2025 python removal competition started at 12:01 a.m. July 11. It will end at 5 p.m. July 20. The competition helps protect the Everglades habitat and all its native animals by removing the invasive Burmese pythons. Why hunt Burmese pythons? Burmese pythons are an invasive species that pose a threat to wildlife in the Everglades. Florida pays hunters annually to catch the snakes. The competition helps protect the Everglades habitat and all its native animals by removing the invasive Burmese pythons. State-approved hunters can win up to $10,000 this year. Here are some of the biggest Burmese pythons caught in the Florida Python Challenge annual snake hunt Can you use a gun to kill a python in the Florida Python Challenge? Participants are not allowed to use firearms to kill pythons during the Florida Python Challenge because there's no established firearm season at the competition locations during the timeframe. Novices must humanely kill their captured pythons immediately after catching them. You can use air guns and captive bolts to kill pythons at any time of day or night. Read more on the rules: Can you use a gun to kill a python in the Florida Python Challenge? Here's the rules Laura Lordi is Digital Editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at llordi@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida python challenge: Biggest snakes caught during Everglades hunt Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
VGS, The World's Leader in Payment Tokenization, Celebrates A Decade of Payments Innovation and 5 Billion Tokens Stored
SAN FRANCISCO, June 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VGS, The World's Leader in Payment Tokenization and a trusted credential management platform for global businesses, celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its founding. In addition to celebrating 10 years of payment innovation, VGS has proudly reached another significant milestone: surpassing 5 billion tokens stored. "We can't be more proud of the milestones achieved," states VGS CEO Chuck Yu. "But we're even more excited about continuing the growth we've seen in the last few years, including this year, which is our best year on record. We plan to continue introducing new network services, additional solutions to agentic commerce, and expand our international reach, setting us up for unprecedented growth over the next 12 months." VGS has continuously leveraged emerging technologies to empower merchants to securely collect, store, and transmit sensitive data in an ever-evolving payments landscape. Central to the company's ongoing mission is VGS's Credential Management Platform, a trusted solution designed to eliminate data security burdens so merchants can focus on securely and efficiently accelerating growth. What began as a bold vision ten years ago has grown into VGS becoming the leading universal token service provider, driven by innovation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to empowering businesses to unlock new possibilities in the ever-evolving payment landscape. Surpassing 5 billion tokens stored is another powerful reminder that VGS's dedicated work is making a meaningful impact for enterprise companies and merchants to solve complex, critical payment challenges confidently. VGS will continue helping businesses — including Robinhood, Rappi, OnePay, Careem, and Bilt — drive growth, streamline operations, and enhance user experience. "For VGS to have reached 5 billion tokens stored is monumental," says VGS CTO and Co-Founder Marshall Jones. "It's an accomplishment I couldn't fathom years ago, but here we are. It took us 3 years to hit 1 billion tokens, and only 3 quarters for us to go from 4 to 5 billion. That is a testament to the comprehensive solutions offered by the VGS product suite, the support from both the VGS team and our clients, and the vision to continue evolving with the payments landscape." The anniversary also coincides with the recent release of the "50 American Leaders" documentary series on CBS News and Fox News. The acclaimed series highlights US-based companies paving the way in their respective industries. VGS's feature in the series highlights its transformative impact on payment security and its longstanding dedication to empowering merchants to control their payment strategy. About VGS Founded in 2015, VGS is the world's leader in payment tokenization and a trusted credential management platform, which is depended on by Fortune 500 companies, merchants, fintechs, and banks alike. VGS's mission is to revolutionize the way sensitive data is stored and secured, enabling organizations to manage information across cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets with ease. VGS stores sensitive data and tackles critical payment acceptance challenges such as multi-PSP management, card issuance, payment orchestration enablement, PCI compliance, and the protection of personally identifiable information (PII). With over 5 billion tokens managed globally, VGS offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, including a composable Card Management Platform, a PCI-compliant Vault, and advanced network value-added services such as Network Tokens, Account Updater, and Card Attributes. Learn more at and by following VGS on LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts For media inquiries, please contact:Laura FurlongSenior Manager, 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
Business Wire
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
VGS, The World's Leader in Payment Tokenization, Celebrates A Decade of Payments Innovation and 5 Billion Tokens Stored
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VGS, The World's Leader in Payment Tokenization and a trusted credential management platform for global businesses, celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its founding. In addition to celebrating 10 years of payment innovation, VGS has proudly reached another significant milestone: surpassing 5 billion tokens stored. 'We can't be more proud of the milestones achieved,' states VGS CEO Chuck Yu. 'But we're even more excited about continuing the growth we've seen in the last few years, including this year, which is our best year on record. We plan to continue introducing new network services, additional solutions to agentic commerce, and expand our international reach, setting us up for unprecedented growth over the next 12 months.' VGS has continuously leveraged emerging technologies to empower merchants to securely collect, store, and transmit sensitive data in an ever-evolving payments landscape. Central to the company's ongoing mission is VGS's Credential Management Platform, a trusted solution designed to eliminate data security burdens so merchants can focus on securely and efficiently accelerating growth. What began as a bold vision ten years ago has grown into VGS becoming the leading universal token service provider, driven by innovation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to empowering businesses to unlock new possibilities in the ever-evolving payment landscape. Surpassing 5 billion tokens stored is another powerful reminder that VGS's dedicated work is making a meaningful impact for enterprise companies and merchants to solve complex, critical payment challenges confidently. VGS will continue helping businesses — including Robinhood, Rappi, OnePay, Careem, and Bilt — drive growth, streamline operations, and enhance user experience. 'For VGS to have reached 5 billion tokens stored is monumental,' says VGS CTO and Co-Founder Marshall Jones. 'It's an accomplishment I couldn't fathom years ago, but here we are. It took us 3 years to hit 1 billion tokens, and only 3 quarters for us to go from 4 to 5 billion. That is a testament to the comprehensive solutions offered by the VGS product suite, the support from both the VGS team and our clients, and the vision to continue evolving with the payments landscape.' The anniversary also coincides with the recent release of the "50 American Leaders" documentary series on CBS News and Fox News. The acclaimed series highlights US-based companies paving the way in their respective industries. VGS's feature in the series highlights its transformative impact on payment security and its longstanding dedication to empowering merchants to control their payment strategy. About VGS Founded in 2015, VGS is the world's leader in payment tokenization and a trusted credential management platform, which is depended on by Fortune 500 companies, merchants, fintechs, and banks alike. VGS's mission is to revolutionize the way sensitive data is stored and secured, enabling organizations to manage information across cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets with ease. VGS stores sensitive data and tackles critical payment acceptance challenges such as multi-PSP management, card issuance, payment orchestration enablement, PCI compliance, and the protection of personally identifiable information (PII). With over 5 billion tokens managed globally, VGS offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, including a composable Card Management Platform, a PCI-compliant Vault, and advanced network value-added services such as Network Tokens, Account Updater, and Card Attributes. Learn more at and by following VGS on LinkedIn.
Associated Press
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
An AP photographer finds a dog resting amid the roots of thirsty trees in the drought-plagued Everglades
MIAMI (AP) — Rebecca Blackwell has worked for The Associated Press since 2007, based first in Senegal, then Mexico and now Miami. Here's what she had to say about this extraordinary this photo? I wanted to shoot pictures that show how above normal drought conditions were impacting areas of the Everglades, a vast wetland ecosystem at the heart of South Florida. I spent many hours over two days driving around to investigate different parts of the Everglades for signs of dryness. Lower water levels were evident in many places, but the grasses and bushes that blanket the terrain can make the effects difficult to see. How I made this photo To get some local expertise, I reached out to Marshall Jones, an airboat tour operator I met a few months earlier who grew up in the Everglades and is involved in environmental protection. I asked him if he would be willing to show me the impact the drought was having in his area. With his airboat tours shut down due to low water levels, he graciously spent two hours walking me through the surrounding area, showing me where depleted canals were growing grass on exposed mud, where normally waterlogged marsh was now dry enough to walk on and where waterways typically navigable year-round by airboat had completely dried up. When we got to this pond apple forest that usually sat in a foot or more of water, I knew I wanted to find a picture there. There was one group of trees set closely together that drew my attention right away, but without another element it wasn't going to make a picture, so I continued following Jones and his two dogs as they explored the area. When one of the dogs went over to lie down on the wet patch of soil amid the trees I'd spotted, I circled back to the framing I'd seen before and knew I had a shot. Why this photo works The root structure of the pond apple trees is so visually striking, and this group has a really nice symmetry. The directional tree roots and the patch of sunlight all point your attention to the middle of the frame where the dog is lying. I don't like the trash present in the shot, but it was still relevant to the overall meaning since it had been exposed by the low waters. For more extraordinary AP photography, click here.
The National
31-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Best photos of May 31: Tribute to Gaza's children in Portugal to protestor kicking riot police in Argentina
Tour boat operator Marshall Jones's dog, Scooby, lies on ground among tree roots and rubbish that is normally under water in the Florida Everglades. The region, which is the largest wetland in the United States, is experiencing severe drought. AP Photo
