The Top Four Leasing/Finance Funder Websites
In North America

It should be noted bank-owned and subsidiaries often are in the bank internet listing, therefore they are not counted. Brokers and super brokers are also excluded. Only funders who pass the requirements to be listed in Leasing News are utilized.
https://leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/Funders.htm

The cutoff of ratings is 1,000, meaning among those counted, the lower the rate, the better standing in visits, similar to golf, where the lowest  count is the winner and those higher rankings follow.

Note: Visiting the sites can give those in the industry the view of the website, but not their marketing ability to receive so many visitors. Information about the company with what they offer is noted belo the ratings and might give an inroad to their marketing.

The program used is https://www.similarweb.com

Clicklease
145,227
https://www.clicklease.com/
https://leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/New_Broker.htm#click

National Funding
300,148
https://www.nationalfunding.com/
Information on company being updated

Balboa Capital
640,952
https://www.balboacapital.com/
https://leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/New_Broker.htm#balboa

TimePayment
904,471
www.timepayment.com/lease-brokers

Note: If your company is listed in the Leasing News Funder list and has a rating under 1,000, please email: kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Barry Hart was hired as Vice President of Business Development, Wintrust Specialty Finance, Irvine, California. He is located in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Metropolex. Previously, he was Vice President, Relationship Manager, Verdant Commercial Capital (February, 2021 - May, 2023); Vice President and Territory Manager, Wells Fargo (November, 2017 - February, 2021); Strategic Account Executive, Penske Truck Leasing (April, 2016 - November, 2017). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barryhart1/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7069400279107911680/

Cameron McClure was hired as Senior Account Executive, Equipment Leasing Group of America, LLC., Northland, Illinois. He is located in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Previously, he was Inside Sales Manager, Commercial Funding, Inc. (October, 2021 - January, 2023); Senior Business Relationship Manager, Axos Bank (September, 2015 - January, 2022); Associate, Lease Advisory Group, Varilease Finance (March, 2013 - August, 2015); Sales Representative, Marquette Financial Companies (2004 - 2012).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-mcclure-finance-sales-leasing-professional/

Jay Saul was promoted Vice President of Sales: West, Mitsubishi HC Capital America, Inc. He is located in Los Angeles County, California. Previously, he was Regional Relationship Manager (May, 2018 - April, 2023); West Coast Marketing Representative, Freedom Truck Finance (February, 2015 - May, 2018). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-saul-735a8477/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-saul-735a8477/

Sarah Uballez was promoted to Director of Operations, Arvest Equipment Finance, Fort Smith, Arkansas. She is located in Bentonville, Arkansas. She joined Arvest February, 2023, as Senior Product Analyst, Arvest Equipment Finance. Previously, she was at AP Equipment Financing, starting February, 2020, Treasury Manager, promoted July, 2020, Vice President, Treasury and Accounting, promoted May, 2022, Vice President, Operations Management.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-u-9265a33a/

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Leasing and Finance Industry Help Wanted
Highly Trained Operation Staff/Work from Home
Excellent Compensation/Marketing Support

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Setting Daily Goals

Sales Makes it Happen by Scott Wheeler, CLFP

Successful commercial equipment finance and leasing originators have a plan and they work their plan on a daily basis. Successful originators know at the start of each day what they plan to accomplish - and they track their ability to complete their tasks efficiently and with measurable results.

Top producing originators' daily goals align with their long-term strategy and annual objectives. In order to reach their long-term goals, each day's accomplishments must directly contribute to the ultimate desired outcomes. Each day counts. Time is money; wasted time creates inefficiencies; and consistently meeting daily goals produces superior results.

A top originator provided the following suggestions:

• The originator's last task of every day is writing down his goals for the following day. The first thing every morning he reviews his goals for the day, and proceeds with the task of meeting his daily goals.
• He measures his accomplishments against his daily goal list; and tracks his daily success rate.
• The originator creates weekly goal lists and tracks his success rate weekly.
• Most importantly, he routinely inspects his daily and weekly goals to ensure that they 100% align with his monthly and annual goals.

This highly successful originator attributes his success to his ability to consistently meet his daily goals which are aligned with his annual expected outcomes.

Wheeler Business Consulting is working with individual originators and sales teams throughout the industry to ensure that they are well positioned in the market, capturing their fair share of business, and outperforming the competition. To schedule a one-on-one meeting contact Scott Wheeler at: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

Sales Makes it Happen articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.htm

Spotting the Scams
By Carol Kando-Pineda, Federal Trade Staff Attorney

During the pandemic, states had to keep people enrolled in Medicaid so they didn’t lose their insurance. Now that the health emergency declaration is over, that requirement has been phased out — which means people eligible for Medicaid have to re-enroll in their state’s program or find new insurance, if they’re not eligible. So, where do the scams come in?

When big changes affect millions of people, scams will follow. That means people who’ve been on Medicaid — including people of modest means, children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with disabilities — will be targeted by health insurance scams. Here’s what to know:

• Medicaid won’t charge you to renew or enroll. You may get a call, text, or email from your state Medicaid agency to renew your enrollment in your state’s program. But the real Medicaid program won’t ask for money or personal information like your credit card or bank account number. Learn more about eligibility for Medicaid in your state at Medicaid.gov (scroll down to find the link to your state’s Medicaid agency).

• Visit HealthCare.gov to compare insurance plans, coverage, and prices. HealthCare.gov lets you compare prices on health insurance plans, check your eligibility for healthcare subsidies, and begin enrollment. HealthCare.gov will ask only for your monthly income and your age to give you a price quote. If anyone asks for your bank account or credit card number to give you a quote for health insurance, that’s a scam. Don’t do it.

• Scammers try to sell you medical discount plans that are not major medical. Medical discount plans charge a monthly fee for supposed discounts on some medical services or products from a list of providers. They’re not a substitute for health insurance, though some plans do give actual discounts. But others just take your money for very little in return. If you’re considering one, find out if your doctor participates in the plan. Check what coverage it gives for major events. And be sure to get the plan’s details in writing before you sign up. If anyone pressures you to sign up quickly or insists you’ll miss out on a special deal, say, “no thanks.”

If you think you’ve spotted a scam, tell your friends and family about it so they can protect themselves. Then tell the FTC at
https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

##### Press Release ############################

FDIC Insured Institutions Reported Net Income
of $79.8 Billion in First Quarter 2023

Merger Activity Continued in the First Quarter: Thirty-one institutions merged, one new bank opened, two banks failed, and one bank self-liquidated in first quarter 2023.

• Net Income Increased From the Prior Quarter, Led By Higher Noninterest Income
• The Net Interest Margin Declined Quarter Over Quarter to 3.31 Percent
• Unrealized Losses on Securities Declined For a Second Consecutive Quarter
• Loan Balances Declined Modestly From Last Quarter, But Grew From a Year Ago
• Total Deposits Declined For a Fourth Consecutive Quarter
• Asset Quality Metrics Remained Favorable Despite Modest Deterioration
• Community Banks Reported Lower Net Income From the Prior Quarter

“The banking industry has proven to be quite resilient during this period of stress.  Net income still remains high in relation to historical measures, asset quality metrics remain favorable, and the industry remains well capitalized.  However, the industry continues to face significant downside risks from the effects of inflation, rising market interest rates, slowing economic growth, and geopolitical uncertainty.”

— FDIC Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg

WASHINGTON— Reports from 4,672 commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reflect aggregate net income of $79.8 billion in first quarter 2023.  Though first-quarter net income increased by $11.5 billion (16.9 percent) from fourth quarter 2022, after excluding the effects on acquirers’ incomes of their acquisition of two failed banks, quarter-over-quarter net income would have been roughly flat.  Strong growth in noninterest income, reflecting the accounting treatment of the acquisition of two failed institutions and record-high trading revenue at large banks, outpaced lower net interest income and higher noninterest expense.  These and other financial results for first quarter 2023 are included in the FDIC’s latest Quarterly Banking Profile released today.

Highlights from the First Quarter 2023 Quarterly Banking Profile

Quarterly Net Income Increased Quarter Over Quarter and Year Over Year: Quarterly net income totaled $79.8 billion in first quarter 2023, an increase of $11.5 billion (16.9 percent) from fourth quarter 2022.  Growth in noninterest income, reflecting the accounting treatment of the acquisition of two failed institutions and record-high trading revenue at large banks, outpaced lower net interest income and higher noninterest expense.  Without the two failed-bank acquisitions, net income would have been roughly flat from the fourth quarter.  Year-over-year net income increased $20.1 billion (33.6 percent) as growth in net interest income exceeded growth in provision expense and noninterest expense.

The banking industry reported an average return on assets (ROA) of 1.36 percent in the first quarter, up from 1.16 percent in fourth quarter 2022 and 1.01 percent in first quarter 2022.

The Net Interest Margin Declined Quarter Over Quarter to 3.31 Percent: The net interest margin (NIM) of 3.31 percent was 7 basis points lower than a quarter ago, but 77 basis points higher than the year-ago quarter.  The NIM is still above the pre-pandemic average of 3.25 percent.

The decline in the NIM reflects the cost of deposits (i.e., the interest banks pay on deposits) rising at a faster rate than yields on loans (i.e., the interest bank charge on loans).  Yields on loans increased 32 basis points from the prior quarter to 6.08 percent, while the cost of deposits increased 43 basis points from fourth quarter 2022 to 1.42 percent.

Unrealized Losses on Securities Declined For a Second Consecutive Quarter: Unrealized losses on securities totaled $515.5 billion in the first quarter, down $102.2 billion (16.5 percent) from the prior quarter. Unrealized losses on held-to-maturity securities totaled $284.0 billion in the first quarter. Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities totaled $231.6 billion in the first quarter.3

Community Bank Net Income Declined From the Prior Quarter, but Improved From a Year Ago: Quarterly net income for the 4,230 community banks insured by the FDIC declined by $306.0 million (4.2 percent) from one quarter ago to $7.0 billion in first quarter 2023.  Lower net interest income and noninterest income were higher than decreases in provision expense and noninterest expense. First quarter net income rose $403.6 billion (6.1 percent) from the year-ago quarter, driven by higher net interest income. The community bank pretax ROA declined 21 basis points from one quarter ago to 1.27 percent, but rose one basis point from a year ago.

The average community bank quarterly NIM declined 22 basis points from the prior quarter, but increased 37 basis points from the year-ago quarter to 3.49 percent.  Yields on loans rose 16 basis points quarter over quarter and 94 basis points year over year, while cost of deposits rose 39 basis points quarter over quarter and 92 basis points year over year.

Loan Balances Declined Modestly From Last Quarter, But Grew From a Year Ago: Total loan and lease balances declined $14.6 billion (0.1 percent) from the previous quarter.  Loans transferred to the FDIC as receiver, combined with a seasonal decline in credit card loan balances (down $26.6 billion, or 2.6 percent) were the major contributors to the quarterly decline in total loan balances for the banking industry.  Without the loans transferred out of the banking system to the FDIC, loan growth would have been 0.4 percent quarter over quarter.

Year over year, total loan and lease balances increased $855.2 billion (7.5 percent), driven by growth in one-to-four family residential mortgages (up $232.1 billion, or 10.2 percent), consumer loans (up $156.4 billion, or 8.3 percent), and commercial and industrial loans (up $138.7 billion, or 5.8 percent).

Community banks reported a 1.8 percent increase in loan balances from the previous quarter and a 15.0 percent increase from the prior year.  Growth in nonfarm, nonresidential commercial real estate and 1-4 family residential mortgages drove both the quarterly and annual increase in loan balances.

Asset Quality Metrics Remained Favorable Despite Modest Deterioration: Loans that were 90 days or more past due or on nonaccrual status (i.e., noncurrent loans) increased to 0.75 percent, up 2 basis points from the prior quarter.  Noncurrent nonfarm, nonresidential commercial real estate loan balances drove the increase in the noncurrent rate.  Total net charge-offs as a ratio of total loans increased 5 basis points from the prior quarter and 19 basis points from a year prior to 0.41 percent. The year-over-year increase was driven by the higher credit card net charge-off rate of 3.09 percent (up 124 basis points).  Despite the increase, the total net charge-off rate remains below the pre-pandemic average of 0.48 percent.  The early delinquency rate (i.e., loans past due 30-89 days) declined 4 basis points from the prior quarter to 0.52 percent.  The total early-stage delinquency rate also was below the pre-pandemic average of 0.66 percent.

The Reserve Ratio for the Deposit Insurance Fund Declined to 1.11 Percent: The Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) balance was $116.1 billion on March 31, 2023, down $12.1 billion from the end of fourth quarter 2022, largely reflecting provisions for actual and anticipated failures in the first quarter, including the recent failures of three institutions.  When combined with insured deposit growth of 2.5 percent over the quarter, the reserve ratio decreased 14 basis points to 1.11 percent.

Merger Activity Continued in the First Quarter: Thirty-one institutions merged, one new bank opened, two banks failed, and one bank self-liquidated in first quarter 2023.

### Press Release ############################

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Watch at Home
by Fernando Croce, Leasing News Movie Reviewer

Football player, actor and Civil Rights activist, Jim Brown (1936-2023) brought his commanding physical presence to the big screen, where he became an icon of muscular action. So check out our list for his most famous (as well as most overlooked) movie roles.

The Dirty Dozen (1967): Brown had one of his earliest roles in this classic blockbuster. Set during World War II, the film charts the training of a most unlikely group of soldiers—a gaggle of death row criminals who’ve been promised commuted sentences in exchange for taking part in a dangerous mission. Led by Major Reisman (Lee Marvin), this bunch (which includes Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas, John Cassavetes and Donald Sutherland) sets out to Europe with little more than their brutal wiles. Directed with matchless grit by Robert Aldrich, this fast-paced, slam-bang, sneakily subversive thriller paints a hellish yet rousing portrait of the barbarism of life at war. Brown draws on his gridiron prowess for the memorable scene where he throws grenades down into the air shafts of a Nazi chateau.

Dark of the Sun (1968): Brown teams up with fellow brawler Rod Taylor in this punchy adventure, set in Congo at a time of violent upheaval. A seasoned mercenary, Bruce Curry (Taylor) is hired by the country’spresident to rescue European residents from revolutionary groups, a supposedly humanitarian mission that turns out to be a cover for a raid on a fortune in diamonds. By his side is patrioticSergeantRuffo (Brown), suspicious ex-Nazi Henlein (Peter Carsten), and alcoholic Dr. Wreid (Kenneth Moore). Along the way they help Claire (Yvette Mimieux), a young woman who’s been traumatized by the killing of her husband. Utterly cynical about the very notion of heroism during wartime, the movie is at once bleak and rousing, robustly directed by cinematographer-turned-filmmaker Jack Cardiff.

Riot (1969): Brown gets a chance to display genuine, easygoing leading-man presence in this overlooked prison drama, which updates many of the classic genre tropes to late-Sixties grit. Brown plays Cully Briston, a convict who finds himself thrust into a prisoner breakout led by Red Fraker (Gene Hackman). Hostages are seized when the cell block is overtaken, but the plan goes awry and the prison is soon surrounded by armed guards. While buying time by pretending the riot is a protest against incarceration conditions, Cully and Red plan to use a hidden tunnel for escape. Are they headed forfreedom, or mayhem? Filmed on location at Arizona State Penitentiary and using many real-life convicts as extras, Buzz Kulik’s movie benefits from claustrophobic realism as well as Brown’s charisma.

Fingers (1978): Controversial writer-director James Toback made a fascinating debut with this brutal character study, which features Brown in a striking supporting role. Harvey Keitel is brilliant as Jimmy “Fingers” Angelelli, a young New Yorker who’s torn between the worlds of culture and violence, between the mentally unstable mother who taught him to play the piano and the loan-shark father (Michael V. Gazzo) who employs him as a debt collector. Determined to make it to Carnegie Hall, Jimmy falls in love with Carol (Tisa Farrow), who turns out to be a call girl working for a pimp named Dreems (Brown). What follows is a remarkable maelstrom of raunchiness and violence that speaks to Toback’s obsessions and demons and reminded numerous critics of the equally volatile work of Martin Scorsese.

I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988): A staple of “blaxploitation” actioners in the 1970s, Brown burlesqued his tough-guy image in this likable, frequently uproarious spoof from “In Living Color” creator Keenen Ivory Wayans. Wayans directs and stars as Jack Spade, a soldier who comes home to the city of Any Ghetto, U.S.A.after his brother dies from an overdose of garish gold chains. Determined to avenge his family and rescue the community from the evils of Mr. Big (John Vernon), Jack embarks on a mission to clean the streets alongside his hero, John Slate (Bernie Casey). To do so, they recruit a group of washed-up action heroes played by a veritable who’s who of blaxploitation cinema, including Isaac Hayes, Antonio Fargas, Steve James, and Mr. “Slaughter” himself, Jim Brown.

Fernando Croce is a nationally recognized film reviewer and has been contributing to Leasing News since the summer of 2008. His reviews appear each Friday.

German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois
Irvine, California Adopt-a-Dog

Daisy
Female
2 Years old
Tan and Black
Adoption Fee: $130
At the shelter since Apr 29, 2023

Shelter Staff made the following comments about this animal:
Say hello to Daisy! This social and friendly girl is looking for a family that can make her the center of their attention. Daisy is very into people, and would love to be someone's new cuddle bug. Because she wants all her humans’ affection, and doesn't do well in social situations with dogs, we recommend Daisy be the only dog in the home. She would benefit from regular training to address her doggy social skills, and help set her up for success in her new home. Daisy has been awarded a Good Pup Scholarship, which is one-on-one training at no cost to the adopter!

Included with Adoption
Spay/neuter.
General veterinary exam.
Vaccinations appropriate to age.
Flea treatment.
Basic de-worming.
Microchip with lifetime registration.
Sample bag of Science Diet (dog or cat) or bag of hay (rabbit).
Free vet check at participating veterinarian.
Adoption Philosophy
A primary goal of the Irvine Animal Care Center is to increase animal adoptions into responsible homes while promoting healthy human and animal relationships. The center incorporates its values throughout the entire adoption process.

Irvine Animal Care Center
6443 Oak Canyon
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: 949-724-7740
animalcare@cityofirv.org

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

ELFA Emerging Talent - Baltimore, MD
July 13 - July 14

What is Emergence?
Now in its 5th year and brought to you by the Emerging Talent Advisory Council (ETAC), Emergence2023 is a two-day leadership program for emerging talent from ELFA member companies.

Why should I send my emerging leaders to Emergence2023?
When employees are engaged and developing, they stick around. It's that simple. And because your employees are your greatest assets, providing them with the leadership skills they need will help your company continue to thrive. Investing in your rising leaders shows them that you value their contribution and future within your organization.

Emergence sessions, discussions, activities and "take-aways" empower attendees with the leadership skills necessary to excel in equipment finance. Because great leaders attract, hire and inspire great people! 

Who Should Attend?
Attendees should be those who have the ability and desire to lead, grow and make a positive impact on others. These are individuals considered to be high-potential future leaders in their respective organizations and the industry.

Schedule:
https://cvdata.elfaonline.org/cvweb/cgi-bin/eventsdll.dll/EventInfo?SESSIONALTCD=EMERGE2023

Registration Fee
The registration fee is $540 for ELFA members. Attendees of Emergence2023 are welcome to attend the Emerging Talent Networking Event the evening of July 13th. Registration closes on July 1st.
https://cvdata.elfaonline.org/cvweb/cgi-bin/memberdll.dll/openpage?wrp=customer_new.htm

Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor
401 W. Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Information:
https://cvdata.elfaonline.org/cvweb/cgi-bin/eventsdll.dll/EventInfo?SESSIONALTCD=EMERGE2023#

News Briefs---

BMO hints at broad layoffs after buying Bank of the West
     as revenue growth lags cost increases
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/finance-banking/bmo-harris-bank-hints-broad-layoffs

Facebook owner Meta will chop 1,100-plus
    additional Bay Area jobs
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/31/facebook-meta-job-cut-layoff-menlo-park-sunnyvale-fremont-tech-economy/

Beige Book: Overall Economic Activity
Little Changed April and Early May
https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/beigebook20230531.htm

The easiest way to get a $7,500 tax credit
for an electric vehicle? Consider leasing.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/30/the-easiest-way-to-get-a-7500-tax-credit-for-an-electric-vehicle-consider-leasing/

Twitter is now worth just 33% of Elon Musk’s
purchase price, Fidelity says
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/31/twitter-is-now-worth-just-33-of-elon-musks-purchase-price-fidelity-says/

Intel stock bucks chip selloff as company
receives a vote of confidence from Nvidia
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/intel-stock-bucks-chip-selloff-as-company-receives-a-vote-of-confidence-from-nvidia-24ec1791

Nearly 4 Million Kia Cars Have Potentially Explosive
Air-Bag Inflators, Document Shows
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nearly-4-million-kia-cars-have-potentially-explosive-air-bag-inflators-document-shows-3043ca63

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

US labor market remains resilient
    as job openings climb, layoffs drop
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-job-openings-unexpectedly-rise-april-2023-05-31/

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Sports Briefs---

Heat: Need 'all five guys' to guard Nikola Jokic, slow Nuggets
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37769617/heat-need-all-five-guys-guard-nikola-jokic-slow-nuggets

A First Look at the NBA Finals Matchup Between the Nuggets and Heat
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/5/30/23742178/nba-finals-2023-preview-denver-nuggets-miami-heat

What Does Bob Myers’s Departure Mean for the Warriors?
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/5/31/23744002/bob-myers-stepping-down-golden-state-warriors-future-joe-lacob

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

California News Briefs---

More than 90% of Calif. pot farms
    infected with ‘severe’ pathogen
https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/cannabis-farms-infectious-pathogen-18115205.php?IPID=SFGate-HP-CP-Spotlight

San Jose Shelter Dealing With
    Record High-level of Animals
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-jose-shelter-record-high-animals/3239593/

BART refuses to make cuts,
    accelerates toward ‘fiscal cliff’
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/05/26/borenstein-bart-officials-accelerating-toward-a-fiscal-cliff

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Gimme that Wine

 

Gloria Ferrer vineyards a Sonoma County pioneer
     in using AI to monitor crops
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/gloria-ferrer-vineyards-a-sonoma-county-pioneer-in-using-ai-to-monitor-crop/

The 15 Best Wines In 2023 So Far
https://www.tastingtable.com/1255933/best-wines-2023/

Archaeologists uncover elaborate ancient
winery among Roman ruins
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/04/archaeologists-uncover-elaborate-ancient-winery-among-roman-ruins/

Oregon State researchers make breakthrough in
   understanding the chemistry of wildfire smoke in wine
https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/oregon-state-researchers-make-breakthrough-understanding-chemistry-wildfire-smoke-wine

This Day in History

     1498 - Christopher Columbus set sail with six ships from Sanlucar in Spain on his third voyage of exploration to the Americas. In reality, he never discovered the mainland, only a group of islands in the Bahamas that he thought were islands off of India, thus he gave to the natives he found the name Indians. The scuttlebutt of the time was that these natives were the lost tribe of the Hebrews (I am not making this up. Read your history.) Historians have also proven that Cristo Colombo was Jewish, as was his navigator who actually is the one who sited the land. Also, Queen Isabella never financed the journey (this was made up by children's story tellers). He actually was financed by two Jewish merchants. 
    1539 - Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed at Tampa Bay, Florida, with 600 soldiers in search of gold. Hernando de Soto returned to the New World at the head of a 1,000-man expedition into North America. He proceeded through what is now Alabama and Tennessee, making treaties with some Indians, viciously fighting with others.
http://www.floridahistory.com/inset11.html
http://www.floridahistory.com/inset44.html
    1734 - Benjamin Franklin published the first American Masonic Book. The Masons were a strong movement for several centuries in America. 
http://members.aol.com/jobiefamly/benfrank.htm
http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/franklin/chamber.htm
    1783 - The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first daily newspaper published in the US. The paper was published at Philadelphia, PA, by Benjamin Towne. 
http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ht/35.1/br_4.html
    1806 - Dueling was common in early America. Future president Andrew Jackson shot and killed Charles Dickson at Harrison's Mills on the Red River, Logan County, KY. The combatants stood 24 feet apart. Dickinson fired first. The shot broke a couple of Jackson's ribs and grazed his breastbone. Despite the injury, Jackson fired and killed Dickinson. It was one of a hundred duels and brawls in which Jackson is said to have participated. Jackson served as President of the United States from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1837.   
http://www.geocities.com/logicalthinker_2000/Freddouglass.html
    1848 - William G. Young of Baltimore, MD patented the “ice cream freezer.” A record of a purchase for a “cream machine for ice” is contained in George Washington's expense ledger under date of May 17, 1784, and there were such machines dated earlier, but this is the first patent and production manufacturing of it followed for two centuries.
http://www.napalinks.com/website/002/page-03.htm
    1854 - The territories of Nebraska and Kansas were established. The governor of the Kansas Territory was James William Denver. Pres. Pierce kept appointing proslavery governors. The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise and opened the north to slavery. This period of Kansas history was incorporated into the 1998 novel “The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton,” by Jane Smiley. 
    1868 - Memorial Day was observed for the first time in the United States, at the request of General John A. Logan, the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first called Decoration Day because the General had seen women decorating graves of Civil War heroes. 
http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bin/frameit.cgi?p=http%3A//www.historychannel.com/
exhibits/memorial/memorial.html 
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may30.html
    1879 - A major outbreak of severe weather occurred in Kansas and Western Missouri. Tornadoes in Kansas killed 18 persons at Delphos and claimed 30 lives at Irving where two twisters struck within minutes of one another, reducing the small community to rubble. The second tornado was perhaps two miles wide and exhibited multiple vortices.
    1886 - Seeing eye dog creator Dorothy Wood Eustis (d. 1946) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a widow, she moved from the U.S. to Switzerland where she continued her experiments in breeding German Shepherd dogs of great intelligence and easy dispositions. Her dogs were soon in great demand all over Europe for police work. A school was developed in Europe to train the intelligent dogs for what we know today as the seeing eye dogs for the blind. She returned to the U.S. to establish the seeing eye dog movement, setting up a training school for dogs and owners. At her death, her school had trained more than 1300 guide dogs for the blind - all based on her breeding acumen.
http://search.eb.com/women/articles/Eustis_Dorothy_Leib_Harrison_Wood.html
    1894 – Bobby Lowe of the Boston Beaneaters became the first player to hit four home runs in one game, in a 20-11 win over the Reds in the second game of a doubleheader. Lowe hits two of his homers in the 3rd inning. 
    1902 - Birthday of actor/comedian Stepin Fetchit, born Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (d. 1985), Key West, FL.  Perry parlayed the Fetchit persona into a successful film career and became a millionaire. He was the first black actor to do so. He was also the first black actor to receive featured screen credit in a film.  Perry's film career slowed after 1939, and after 1953, nearly stopped altogether. Around that time, the actor and the character began to be seen by black Americans and Americans at large as an embarrassing and harmful anachronism, echoing and perpetuating negative stereotypes.  
http://us.imdb.com/Name?Fetchit,+Stepin
    1903 - Birthday of African-American poet Countee Cullen (d. 1946), Baltimore, MD 
http://members.aol.com/hynews/cullen.htm
http://www.nku.edu/~diesmanj/cullen.html
    1905 - Birthday of trumpet player Sidney DeParis (d. 1967), Crawfordsville, IN
http://www.centrohd.com/biogra/d2/sidney_deparis_b.htm 
http://www.centrohd.com/biogra/d2/sidney_deparis_b.htm
    1909 - Benny Goodman (d. 1986) birthday, Chicago.  Known as the "King of Swing," in the mid-1930s, Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America. His concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 16, 1938, is described by the critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music."  Goodman's bands launched the careers of many major jazz artists. During an era of racial segregation, he led one of the first well-known integrated jazz groups. Goodman performed nearly to the end of his life.  In July 1935, a record of the Goodman band playing the Fletcher Henderson arrangements of "King Porter Stomp" backed with "Sometimes I’m Happy" was released by RCA Victor, to ecstatic reviews.  Reports were that in Pittsburgh at the Stanley Theater some of the young members of the audience danced in the aisles, but in general these arrangements had little impact on the band's tour until August 19, when they arrived at McFadden’s Ballroom in Oakland, CA.  There, Goodman and his band, including Gene Krupa, Bunny Berigan, and the singer Helen Ward, found a large crowd of young dancers, raving and cheering the hot music they had heard on the Let's Dance radio show.  Herb Caen wrote that "from the first note, the place was in an uproar."  At the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, Goodman and his band began a three-week engagement. On top of the Let's Dance airplay, Al Jarvis had been playing Goodman records on KFWB radio and Los Angeles fans were primed to hear him in person.  Goodman started the evening with stock arrangements, but after an indifferent response, he began the second set with the arrangements by Fletcher Henderson and Spud Murphy. According to Willard Alexander, the band's booking agent, Krupa said, "If we're gonna die, Benny, let's die playing our own thing."  The crowd broke into cheers and applause. News reports spread word of the exciting new music and the enthusiastic dancing to it.  The Palomar engagement was such a marked success it is often described as the beginning of the swing era.  According to Donald Clarke, "It is clear in retrospect that the Swing Era had been waiting to happen, but it was Goodman and his band that touched it off."  
http://www.duke.edu/~eca/
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~mcneil/cit/citlcgoodmanb.htm
    1909 - A very narrow but intense F4 tornado cut across the sleeping town of Zephyr, Texas shortly after midnight. 34 people were killed and 70 were injured. Many homes were literally swept away with nothing left on the sites, just vacant lot after vacant lot.
    1910 - Birthday of Ralph Metcalfe (d. 1978), Olympic gold medal sprinter born at Atlanta, GA. Metcalfe set world records in the 100 yards, 100 meters and 200 meters between 1932 and 1936. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he finished second to Jesse Owens in the 100 meters and won a gold medal as a member of the 400-meter relay team. After World War II, Metcalfe was very active in Democratic politics, serving as a convention delegate; first Illinois Athletic commissioner; elected four times to the US House of Representatives. He founded the Ralph H. Metcalfe Youth Foundation which provided athletic and educational programs for youth. He was named a member of the President's Commission on Olympic Sports in 1975. The federal building at 77 W. Jackson in Chicago was named for him when it was dedicated in 1991. 
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000675
    1911 - The first Indianapolis 500 took place. The race was created by Carl Fisher, who in 1909 replaced the stone surface of his 2.5-mile racetrack with a brick one—hence the nickname “The Brickyard.” The first long-distance race was won by Ray Harroun, 29 years old, who drove a 16-cyclinder Marmon Wasp over the 2.5-mile oval course for a distance of 500 miles in 6 hours, 41 minutes, 8 seconds, an average of 74.7 miles per hour. Only 38 of the 44 cars entered completed the race. One contestant was killed in an accident. The race was witnessed by 85,000 spectators.
http://www.diecast.org/diecast98/html/asp/list_reviews/xq/ASP/id.CA431/qx/reviewpix.htm
    1912 - During the second running of the Indianapolis 500, driver Ralph Mulford was told he would have to finish the race to collect 10th-place money. Mulford did so, but it took him eight hours, 53 minutes, more than 2 ½ hours longer than the winner. He stopped for fried chicken several times along the way, and the rule was changed the following year.
http://www.bridgestone-usa.com/indexfr.htm
    1922 - Lincoln Memorial was dedicated. If you haven't seen it in person, it is well worth the trip. The memorial is made of marble from Colorado and Tennessee and limestone from Indiana. It stands in West Potomac Park at Washington, DC. The outside columns are Doric, the inside, Ionic. The Memorial was designed by architect Henry Bacon and its cornerstone was laid in 1915. A skylight lets light into the interiors where the compelling statue “Seated Lincoln,” by sculptor Daniel Chester French, is situated between the north and south chambers was carved of Georgia white marble by the Piccirilli Brothers under French’s direction and took four years to complete. The statue is 19 feet tall from head to foot, the scale being such that if Lincoln were standing, he would be 28 feet tall.   It is open to the public 24 hours a day.  Since 2010, approximately 6 million people visit the memorial annually.  http://www.nps.gov/linc/
    1923 - Howard Hanson's 1st Symphony "Nordic," premiered.
    1927 - Birthday of actor Clint Walker, born Norman Eugene Walker, Hartford, IL. (d. 2018). My father, Lawrence Menkin, wrote many of the episodes of TV show “Cheyenne” in which Clint Walker was the star.
http://classicimages.com/1999/april99/walker.html
    1927 – Walter Johnson threw the last of his 110 career shutouts in a 3-0 win over the Red Sox.
    1935 – Babe Ruth played in his final Major League game, for the Boston Braves.  Phillies pitcher Jim Bivin retired Ruth on a groundout in the Babe's final at-bat. 
    1935 - Tommy Dorsey splits from Jimmy after disagreement on tempo on “I'll Never Say Never Again Again” at the Glen Island Casino, New Rochelle, NY. They would not talk to each other until the 1950's, playing only one more time together on a television special.
    1940 – Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants threw a one-hitter and 87 pitches for the 7-0 win over the Dodgers.  
    1943 - Battle of the Aleutian Islands. The islands of Kiska and Attu in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska were retaken by the US 7th Infantry Division. The battle (Operation Land Grab) began when an American force of 11,000 landed on Attu May 12. In three weeks of fighting, US casualties numbered 552 killed and 1,140 wounded. Only 28 wounded Japanese were taken prisoner. Their dead amounted to 2,352 of whom 500 committed suicide.
    1943 - Birthday of Gale Eugene Sayers, pro Football Hall of Fame running back, Wichita, KS.  Sayers spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971, though multiple injuries effectively limited him to five seasons of play. He was known for his elusiveness and agility, and was regarded by his peers as one of the most difficult players to tackle.  Nicknamed the "Kansas Comet," Sayers played for the University of Kansas where he compiled 4,020 all-purpose yards over three seasons and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. In his rookie NFL season, he set a league record by scoring 22 total touchdowns and gained 2,272 all-purpose yards en route to being recognized as the NFL's Rookie of the Year.  Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 and, aged 34, remains the youngest person to receive the honor. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame the same year. His jersey number is retired by both the Bears and the University of Kansas. In March 2017, Sayers' wife, Ardythe, revealed that he had been diagnosed with dementia four years prior.  She stated that a Mayo Clinic doctor confirmed it was likely caused by his football career.
http://communities.msn.com/Blackside/tributetoblackathletes.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=56 
http://search.biography.com/print_record.pl?id=19207
    1950 - Top Hits
“My Foolish Heart” - The Gordon Jenkins Orchestra (vocal: Eileen Wilson)
“Bewitched” - The Bill Snyder Orchestra
“It Isn't Fair” - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Don Cornell)
“Birmingham Bounce” - Red Foley
    1956 - African-Americans in Tallahassee began a bus boycott in that city. They were protesting the system of segregation that required non-whites to ride in the back of busses.
    1956 – In what will be his Triple Crown year, Mickey Mantle of the Yankees almost hit the first fair ball out of Yankee Stadium.  Within a foot-and-a-half clearing the façade on the roof, it hits the upper deck in right field, 370 feet from home plate and 117 feet in the air. Mantle also becomes the first player in Major League history to hit 20 home runs by the end of May as the Yankees beat the Washington Senators, 4-3. 
    1958 - Top Hits
“All I Have to Do is Dream” - The Everly Brothers
“Return to Me” - Dean Martin
“Do You Want to Dance” - Bobby Freeman
“Just Married” - Marty Robbins
    1963 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "It's My Party," Lesley Gore.
    1964 - Wynonna Judd birthday, Ashland, KY.  U.S. country western singer who won the Grammy 1985, ‘86, ‘87, ’89. She was voted top female country artist award in 1994 Judd.  Daughter of Naomi Judd and sister of actress Ashley.
http://www.wynonna.com/
    1964 - The Beatles' "Love Me Do" hits #1 
    1966 - Top Hits
“When a Man Loves a Woman” - Percy Sledge
“A Groovy Kind of Love” - The Mindbenders
“Paint It, Black” - The Rolling Stones
“Distant Drums” - Jim Reeves
    1967 - Daredevil Evel Knievel jumped 16 automobiles lined together in a row in a motorcycle stunt at Ascot Speedway in Gardena, Georgia.
    1970 - Ray Stevens' "Everything Is Beautiful" hits #1 
    1971 - The spacecraft Mariner 9 was launched in the direction of Mars. It became the first craft to orbit another planet, returning many images of Mars. The images revealed what appear to be riverbeds on the surface, suggesting the presence of water on Mars at some point in the past. Mariner 9 photographed the entire surface of Mars.
    1971 - 36 Grateful Dead fans treated for hallucinations caused by LSD they unwittingly ingested from a spiked apple drink served at San Francisco's Winterland. Although group members are suspected of supplying the drug, they are not accused.
    1973 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "My Love," Paul McCartney & Wings. The song is McCartney's first No. 1 song with Wings, a group he formed after the breakup of the Beatles.
    1974 - Top Hits
“The Streak” - Ray Stevens
“Dancing Machine” - The Jackson 5
“The Show Must Go On” - Three Dog Night
“No Charge” - Melba Montgomery
    1975 - Alice Cooper received a gold record for the romantic album, "Welcome to My Nightmare." Alice's real name was Vincent Furnier. He changed his name to Alice Cooper in 1966 and was known primarily for his bizarre stage antics. He appeared in the film "Prince of Darkness" in 1987 and had 11 hits on the pop/rock charts in the '70s and '80s, including a pair of million-selling singles: "I Never Cry" and "Poison.”
    1977 - "In company with the first lady ever to qualify at Indianapolis -- Gentlemen, start your engines." So began the 1977 Indianapolis 500, and the lady in question was the American race car driver Janet Guthrie.
http://www.janetguthrie.com/
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0817858822/avsearch-bkasin-20/
002-0667839-4443242
    1982 - Top Hits
“Ebony and Ivory” - Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
“Don't Talk to Strangers” - Rick Springfield
“I've Never Been to Me” - Charlene
“Just to Satisfy You” - Waylon & Willie
    1982 – Cal Ripken, Jr. began his record-breaking streak of 2,632 consecutive games played.  
    1985 - ABC-TV announced that every game of the baseball World Series would be played under the lights for the biggest baseball audience possible.
    1985 - The temperature in Oklahoma City reached a sizzling 104 degrees, making it the highest ever for so early in the season. Also, this marked the very first time the temperature had reached the 100-degree plateau in the month of May at Oklahoma City.
    1986 - Hanford, Washington hit a scorching 104 degrees, breaking the all-time record high temperature for May for Eastern Washington. Yakima, Washington hit 102 degrees, a record high for the month of May for Yakima. Records also fell at Boise and Reno.
    1988 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "One More Try," George Michael.
    1990 - Top Hits
“Vogue” - Madonna
“All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You” - Heart
“Hold On” - Wilson Phillips
“Walkin' Away” - Clint Black
    2001 - Barry Bonds hits career homer No. 522 passing Willie McCovey and Ted Williams to move up to #11 on the all-time list, and making him the number one lefty home run hitter in National League history. The round tripper is the 17th hit by the Giant outfielder in May breaking the record set by Mickey Mantle (1956) and Mark McGwire (1998).
    2002 - World Trade Center Recovery and Cleanup Ends. A solemn and mostly silent ceremony marked the symbolic end of recovery operations at Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The last standing steel girder was cut down on May 28. An honor guard carried an empty stretcher draped with an American flag to represent those victims who were not recovered from the ruins. Members of the NYPD, NYPD and city, state and federal workers, as well as family members and Ground Zero recovery teams, participated in the ceremony.
    2009 - Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and B.B. King gather for a benefit concert to raise money for New Orleans public schools struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Though too ill to perform, Katrina survivor Fats Domino attends as a special guest.
    2011 - Executing its final mission, Space Shuttle Endeavor successfully undocked from the International Space Station to return to earth.
    2013 - President Barack Obama appointed James Comey as the new director of the FBI. Comey was dismissed by President Donald Trump in May, 2017.
    2014 - Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, revealed the latest Dragon space capsule.  The craft is reusable and will allow astronauts to control re-entry and landing.  The development suggests that full commercialization of space will soon be a reality.  
    2014 – Shelly Sterling, wife of recently barred Donald Sterling, and co-owner with him of the LA Clippers, revealed plans to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion, pending approval from the NBA and her husband.  Both were secured shortly thereafter.