Latest news with #Olsen
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Iowa women's basketball star Lucy Olsen signs with WNBL's Townsville Fire
Yay!!! So excited 🤩🤩 After seldom seeing the floor so far for the Washington Mystics in her first WNBA season, former Iowa women's basketball star Lucy Olsen announced her exciting offseason plans Tuesday evening. Olsen, who was selected with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, has been serving as a depth player off the bench for Washington, where she occasionally contributes scoring outbursts. That included Olsen's 19-point performance against the Minnesota Lynx on July 3. With the Mystics' 2025 campaign still ongoing, Olsen made her offseason plans official Tuesday evening when it was announced that the former Hawkeye would be playing for the Townsville Fire in Australia's Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Given the financial incentives and opportunities to continue competing, it is commonplace for many WNBA players to play overseas or in another domestic league, such as Unrivaled, during the offseason. As Olsen joins the WNBL, she will have an excellent opportunity to develop and showcase her skills while contributing to a Fire squad that made it to the league championship last season. "We're really excited to add Lucy to our team. She's a skilled, versatile guard who can score at all three levels and has excellent vision to create for others. 'What really stood out to me was her character. Everyone I spoke to had nothing but great things to say about her work ethic and the kind of teammate she is. Lucy ticks a lot of boxes for us on and off the floor, and I know she will come in ready to work hard and contribute to our team's success," Fire head coach Shannan Seebobm said of Olsen. Given the new offseason opportunity, Olsen fully embraced the challenge by stating that Townsville's love for the game of basketball perfectly matches her own. 'The Fire organisation has a tremendous reputation here in the US and hearing how beautiful the Townsville area is has me more than excited to be joining this upcoming season! I love to play basketball and it sounds like Townsville loves basketball too – a perfect match! Let's go get the Championship," Olsen said in her statement. With fellow Mystics teammate Jade Melbourne also signed as a member of the University of Canberra (UC) Capitals, Olsen playfully joked that the two may have become "Frenemies" heading into the WNBL's 2025-26 season. @jade_melbourne does this mean we're frenemies now😒🤣 So far in her 19 games played for the Mystics, Olsen is averaging 3.7 points and 1.1 rebounds per game on 43.9% shooting from the floor, 40.0% from 3-point territory, and 90.9% from the free-throw line in 10:30 of playing time per contest. Townsville opens its 2025-26 season on Oct. 19 against the Bendigo Spirit. Ironically, the Fire's second game, scheduled on Oct. 25, will be in Canberra's AIS Arena against Melbourne and the UC Capitals. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
BallotTrax™ Secures Second U.S. Patent for Mail Ballot Tracking and Voter Notification System
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--i3logix, the Denver-based software company behind BallotTrax ™, the country's first and only patented mail-ballot tracking and notification system, has been awarded a second new U.S. patent, solidifying its market position to deliver proactive ballot status alerts to voters. U.S. Patent No. 12,340,633, issued June 24, 2025, with a priority date of February 2, 2010, expands the company's IP protections. BallotTrax™ is now the only system with patented technology to notify voters—via text, email, or voice—of their ballot's status at each step of the mail voting process. 'Ballot status notifications have become one of the most cherished features of vote-by-mail systems,' said Steve Olsen, CEO of i3logix. 'Now that our technology is protected by patent, we're ensuring that counties and states can continue providing these critical alerts legally, reliably, and securely. Voter confidence depends on it.' The BallotTrax™ system receives data from ballot printers, election systems, and USPS scans. An intelligent barcode, linked to the voter's ID, is printed on outbound and inbound envelopes—never on the ballot itself—preserving privacy while enabling transparency. Voters choose how and when to receive alerts, with customizable delivery methods, languages, and notification windows. Counties use BallotTrax™ to automate outreach for issues such as signature mismatches or ballot rejections, and to offer helpful reminders and drop-off options. Vote-by-mail has surged in popularity since 2020, and BallotTrax™ now serves 19 states and nearly 400 counties—tracking approximately one in every four ballots cast in the United States. The company's first patent, issued in 2023, established a foundation for secure mail ballot tracking. The newly awarded patent expands those protections to cover additional aspects of the platform's architecture, alerting mechanisms, and voter customization features—ensuring that the BallotTrax™ intellectual property remains the only fully protected and compliant solution on the market. 'This patent underscores our leadership in secure, compliant, and voter-centric election technology,' Olsen added. 'We're committed to protecting the integrity of our system and ensuring that election officials have the most technologically advanced and protected system on the market.' Counties using BallotTrax™ report reduced administrative costs, improved vendor accountability, and significantly enhanced voter trust. i3logix continues to expand its IP portfolio and work closely with jurisdictions to ensure compliance ahead of upcoming elections. To explore how BallotTrax™ can support your next election, visit or contact Steve Olsen directly at solsen@ Founded in 2005, i3logix is a Denver-based information services and software development company specializing in secure, scalable solutions for elections, healthcare, and business intelligence. With a focus on innovation, transparency, and trust, i3logix empowers government and commercial clients to deliver efficient, user-friendly services that improve outcomes and customer experience. BallotTrax™, its flagship election product, is used by hundreds of jurisdictions nationwide to provide voters with real-time ballot tracking and notification.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Jimmy Olsen spin-off series rumored to explore DC villains in crime anthology format
A new rumor suggests that DC Studios may be developing a spin-off series centered around Jimmy Olsen, played by Skyler Gisondo in the 2025 Superman film. The report, originating from insider ApocHorseman and shared via DCU Leaks on Discord, claims the series would take the form of a crime anthology. Each episode is said to feature a different villain from the DC Universe, with Olsen serving as the host and central narrator. The series would mirror recent successes like The Penguin, which built on Colin Farrell's portrayal in The Batman and earned critical acclaim and award nominations. This approach reflects DC Studios' growing focus on expanding its cinematic universe through character-driven spinoffs. Under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, the studio appears committed to diverse storytelling formats and genres. Olsen, a fixture in DC Comics as Clark Kent's loyal friend and photojournalist, has starred in several titles like Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen. Known for his involvement in strange and adventurous plots, he has long been a beloved secondary character. In the 2025 film, Gisondo portrayed Olsen with a mix of classic charm and new elements, including a past relationship with Eve Teschmacher. His performance received praise for strong chemistry with the ensemble cast. According to the report, the rumored series would explore DC's criminal landscape through the lens of Olsen's investigative journalism. This concept aligns with Gunn's stated goal of blending genres and telling fresh stories within the DC Universe. While the series remains unconfirmed by DC Studios, its reported concept fits naturally within the studio's broader efforts to diversify storytelling under its Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate, which includes Superman, Supergirl, Swamp Thing, and Clayface. If greenlit, the Jimmy Olsen series could offer fans a compelling new angle on the evolving DC narrative universe.
Malaysian Reserve
17-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Dairy giant New Zealand endures butter price shock
WELLINGTON – Butter prices have soared in dairy export giant New Zealand, latest figures showed Thursday, with local supplies cut short as the industry chases fatter profits overseas. The dairy price shock spreads as far as cheese and milk, leading one economist to suggest locals face the grim prospect of cereal without milk if they want to save money. Butter prices leapt 46.5 percent in the year to June to an average of NZ$8.60 (US$5.09) for a 500-gram (1.1-pound) block, according to official data from Stats New Zealand. Milk prices surged 14.3 percent over the same period, while cheese shot up 30 percent. High dairy prices have hit the headlines in New Zealand, with media outlet Stuff reporting that 'exorbitant' prices are unlikely to 'melt away' any time soon. Wholesale and retail store Costco restricted butter sales to a maximum of 30 blocks per customer in June, but still sold out, according to the New Zealand Herald. The prices are hurting consumers, said independent economist Brad Olsen, chief executive of Infometrics. 'At the moment, I'm going with any other alternative I can find,' Olsen said of butter prices. 'I'd also say, the cheap option for breakfast at the moment seems to be to try cereal without the milk.' The phenomenon was driven by international prices and demand, Olsen said. Butter supplies had failed to keep up with rising demand over the past two years, he said. 'New Zealand exports the vast majority of our dairy products. So if you're a company that's exporting butter, you've got to make a decision. Do you sell it at the international price overseas, or do you sell it cheaper in New Zealand?' the economist said. 'No business is going to sell it cheaper… if they can get a better price overseas.' But while New Zealand consumers were feeling the price pinch, the overall economy was benefiting as exporters creamed off larger profits from sales overseas. 'The sort of returns that our farmers and the primary sector more broadly are getting, and the economic benefit that brings, is actually far more substantial,' Olsen said. 'It's an extra NZ$4.6 billion (US$2.7 billion) that has been flowing into the economy from the higher dairy payout. That's a significant boost.' New Zealand butter lovers are actually faring better than some, he said, adding they still pay 46 percent less than Americans. –AFP
Int'l Business Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Dairy Giant New Zealand Endures Butter Price Shock
Butter prices have soared in dairy export giant New Zealand, latest figures showed Thursday, with local supplies cut short as the industry chases fatter profits overseas. The dairy price shock spreads as far as cheese and milk, leading one economist to suggest locals face the grim prospect of cereal without milk if they want to save money. Butter prices leapt 46.5 percent in the year to June to an average of NZ$8.60 (US$5.09) for a 500-gram (1.1-pound) block, according to official data from Stats New Zealand. Milk prices surged 14.3 percent over the same period, while cheese shot up 30 percent. High dairy prices have hit the headlines in New Zealand, with media outlet Stuff reporting that "exorbitant" prices are unlikely to "melt away" any time soon. Wholesale and retail store Costco restricted butter sales to a maximum of 30 blocks per customer in June, but still sold out, according to the New Zealand Herald. The prices are hurting consumers, said independent economist Brad Olsen, chief executive of Infometrics. "At the moment, I'm going with any other alternative I can find," Olsen said of butter prices. "I'd also say, the cheap option for breakfast at the moment seems to be to try cereal without the milk." The phenomenon was driven by international prices and demand, Olsen said. Butter supplies had failed to keep up with rising demand over the past two years, he said. "New Zealand exports the vast majority of our dairy products. So if you're a company that's exporting butter, you've got to make a decision. Do you sell it at the international price overseas, or do you sell it cheaper in New Zealand?" the economist said. "No business is going to sell it cheaper... if they can get a better price overseas." But while New Zealand consumers were feeling the price pinch, the overall economy was benefiting as exporters creamed off larger profits from sales overseas. "The sort of returns that our farmers and the primary sector more broadly are getting, and the economic benefit that brings, is actually far more substantial," Olsen said. "It's an extra NZ$4.6 billion (US$2.7 billion) that has been flowing into the economy from the higher dairy payout. That's a significant boost." New Zealand butter lovers are actually faring better than some, he said, adding they still pay 46 percent less than Americans. While New Zealand consumers are feeling the dairy price pinch, the overall economy is benefiting as exporters cream off larger profits from sales overseas. AFP
