Why are some packaged foods under the scanner?HUMBOLDT – For many residents of Humboldt, attending a council meeting may not be possible. Since 2020, the City of Humboldt started livestreaming all of their council meetings for the public to be able to watch the proceedings. Mayor Rob Muench said, ”BHP contributed money to a number of municipalities in the region around the Jansen Lake project so residents could stay informed when the public wasn’t able to attend meetings.” Livestreaming council meetings have now made it very simple and easy for community members to stay informed on what is upcoming for city projects and what the council is discussing for the City of Humboldt. Muench said the equipment cost approximately $20,000 when it was first purchased. Prior to 2020, the City was already streaming meetings more simply with just audio as they had installed a microphone previously. Muench said, at times, technology doesn’t always work and there was a bit of a learning curve. The benefits Muench said are, “Transparency for the public. Also, the media can cover meetings remotely and record quotes from meeting participants.” For city staff, it has made it easier to do minutes from the recording and provides the ability to refer to past meetings. “I think this has been a positive move overall and has increased council’s transparency.” Since the start of livestreaming council meetings, the public has become more engaged and informed on the decision-making process for various projects. The public can view council meetings by going to the City of Humboldt’s webpage.
Cumberland County libraries could receive a welcome boost in funding next year. During a meeting Wednesday, the county commissioners voted 2-1 to increase the county library tax from the current 0.166 mills to 0.250 mills. The increase will generate an additional $2.3 million in revenue, said Keri Finkenbinder, senior accountant for the county. Commissioners Jean Foschi and Garry Eichelberger voted in favor of the library tax hike, which came in slightly higher than the minimum increase of 0.249 mills as requested in early November by Carolyn Blatchley, executive director of the Cumberland County Library System that distributes tax revenue to the member branches. Rising costs combined with flat state funding is forcing the member branches to cut hours, trim staff, reduce programs and dig deeper into savings to make budget and reduce operating deficits. The problems are escalating amid population growth and an increased demand for services. Commissioners Kelly Neiderer voted against the tax hike, saying that while challenges and needs have been identified by member libraries and the system, she has yet to see detailed long-range planning for the use of the $2.3 million in revenue. “I don’t know if that accomplishes what they need,” Neiderer said. “I can’t tell you with certainty what that additional money will be going for. No numbers have been directly assigned to each category. I don’t have those numbers. I’m not comfortable.” Neiderer said she has serious concerns about the relationship between the commissioners and the library system, adding there appears to be confusion over what version of a memo of understanding is in play between the two entities. Foschi noted that she has been the commissioner liaison to the library system for five years. “They have, in my opinion, been very clear about what they need and why they need it,” Foschi said, adding that the millage increase equates to about .250 on every $100 of assessed value on a taxable property. “I am OK with moving this forward. I was willing to do more of an increase.” The cost of the tax increase to the average taxpayer amounts to about $1.55 a month or $18.65 more per year, said Samantha Krepps, county communications director. Eichelberger said he favors a library tax hike as an interim measure to bolster the support of local libraries while work is done at the administrative level to address the operational issues between the county, the library system and the member branches. “We need to get our hands around that,” Eichelberger said. “I am prepared to support the lifeboat solution that has been put forward. Inflation has had an extraordinary impact on the libraries. There are a lot of questions that we have to work through. We need to buy ourselves time.” A major reason Blatchley requested a tax hike is to bring library wages closer to competitive levels. A compensation study, due out later this month, has found that 86% of the employees in county libraries make less than $16 an hour – the hourly wage needed for a single adult with no children to afford living in the county. As a result, local libraries are having difficulty with recruiting and retaining qualified staff. But to receive state funding, libraries need a stable and adequate workforce to be open a minimum of 45 hours a week, including seven hours during the weekend. Aside from adjusting wages closer to market values, the tax hike will help libraries restore positions lost to attrition in recent years, Blatchley said in November. Other challenges facing local libraries are rising costs tied to the repair and maintenance of aging buildings, eBook licensing, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, shipping on inter-library loan services and state-mandated audits. Without this additional tax revenue, local libraries are looking at a further rollback in services and cuts of up to 16 to 24 hours per week in some cases. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. News Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Another View: There are good reasons to remember the 2020 election
According to "Local Records of Wuzhen", the town's interconnected waterways made it a hub for commerce in ancient times. By the late 1990s, tourism emerged as a new driver of economic growth. In 2014, Wuzhen was chosen as the permanent venue of China's World Internet Conference. Since then, digital technology has strengthened the town's economy, blending traditional industries with innovative sectors.
We’re officially one week out from the Super Bowl of shopping — but it’s already game time for scoring the best deals. During Amazon’s massive early Black Friday sale , several of stars’ favorite skincare solutions are on major markdown — including TruSkin’s gift-ready Face Serum Trio ( $45 $29). The value set includes the brand’s Vitamin C Facial Serum , which Kyle Richards once shouted in an Amazon Live. TruSkin Face Serum Trio The “RHOBH” mainstay called the popular skincare ingredient a “miracle” and raved she can “see a difference” after using it, per Prevention . Alexandra Daddario’s also among TruSkin’s famous fans, as she applied the same serum in a Vogue “Beauty Secrets” video breaking down her routine. And “Descendants” star Kylie Cantrall’s such a fan, she partnered with the brand on her own skincare set in 2023. The on-sale bundle also features the brand’s retinol- and hyaluronic acid-packed serums, both of which have hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon. (The brand recommends working the vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums into your daily skincare routine, while saving the retinol for two or three times a week.) The full trio’s equally top-rated, having earned a 4.5-star average out of a whopping 2,149 reviews (and counting). “Keeps my skin feeling soft and moisturized,” one satisfied shopper raved, while another simply declared them “amazing products.” Whether you’re shopping for yourself or treating a loved one to a new skincare routine this holiday season, be sure to click “add to cart” quick to lock in the best prices. (Plus, for more great deals across the internet, check out our guide to the very best early Black Friday sales .) Black Friday FAQs for savvy shoppers Turkey Day this year falls on Thursday, November 28 , 2024. Get ready to feast to fuel your shopping marathon! The biggest sales of the year kick off on Friday, November 29 , 2024. Shoppers have just 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas for a shortened holiday shopping period — so plan wisely. We only highlight deals we think are worth it. Particularly for hot items that are at high sell-out risk, we recommend shopping early and taking advantage of pre-Thanksgiving discounts on big-ticket gifts like the cult favorite Dyson Airwrap , Kim Kardashian’s Beats , celeb-loved Ugg boots and more. Most stores and retailers now offer both in-store and online Black Friday sales, with matching discounts for those that want to shop IRL or virtually. Despite being a great day for the economy, Black Friday still symbolizes the dark side of American consumerism, drawing memories of violent crowds competing for limited merchandise. However, with the advent of internet shopping, retailers and e-tailers continue to see record-breaking sales without the morbid mob mentality kicking off the holiday shopping season. Monday, December 2 , 2024 will be all about online shopping at retailers across the internet drop prices for Cyber Monday. It depends! Some, though not all, retailers approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday differently, offering discounts on varying brands and products over the post-Thanksgiving weekend. Some stores use Cyber Monday as an opportunity to drop further discounts on on-sale items. But beware: if you wait for Cyber Monday to make your purchases, you do risk the chance of products selling out. Right here, at Page Six ! If you’re in the market for celebrity-worthy styles on a budget, luxury beauty and skincare for less, or gifts so good you’ll want to keep them for yourself, check out our expert-curated Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for the best of the best. Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping This article was written by Hannah Southwick , Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles , puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.“President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has expressed the need to increase the current IT workforce from 85,000 to 250,000 within the next two years to achieve the target of USD 15 billion by 2030,” said Acting Secretary, Ministry of Digital Economy, Waruna Sri Dhanapala. He was speaking at the unveiling of a partnership between MMBL Pathfinder Group and HCLTech, India to transform IT upskilling in Sri Lanka via world-class employment-focused training programmes through a career-shaper platform. “To make this a reality we have to revamp school education, the university system and the industry landscape. Internships and on-the-job training can upskill youth on IT based job needs. The Government’s responsibility is to harness the prevailing knowledge to achieve this,” he said. “Society 5.0 is of paramount importance and we see immense potential being harnessed towards this end globally. India being a multi-lingual country was able to converge and integrate all sectors such as industry, agriculture, education via language and IT. The booming new BPO concept was their game- changer that made emphasis on knowledge input,” Dhanapala said. Corporate Vice President and Global Head, Sri Lanka Technologies and Business Head of Ed Tech of HCL, India Srimathi Shivashankar said, “Sri Lanka is very resilient. Hence capacity and capability building is never an issue. Sri Lanka is truly a global site for India, hence HCLTech commenced expanding operations here. Capacity is always a major concern. India moved from basic education to a skills-based curriculum to adapt technology.” Group Director and CEO, MMBL Pathfinder Group of Companies, K Balasundaram said, “We are committed to offer job-oriented training to our youth and partnered with HCLTech to commission laboratories in Colombo and Jaffna”. The panel discussion on the theme, ‘Accelerating talent potential through Edtech – Mapping a skilled future’ gave many insights to the importance of digitalisation and bridging the gap for the younger generation to commence a digital transformation journey and become job-ready youth. The panelists were KPMG’s Hasitha Karunaratne, Oshada Senanayake of Brandix, B Gunapala of SLASSCOM and Nishan Sembacuttiaratchy of Esoft Metro Campus. They expressed views on challenges organisations face in skilling employees as well as technologies such as AI, data science and analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital marketing, mobile app development, Internet of Things (IoT) that are relevant to the workforce and also on prioritising a resourceful skilling partner.Searching for some ASX 200 shares to buy for 2025? Look no further! Listed below are three shares that Bell Potter rates among its top picks for the year ahead. Here's what the broker is saying about them: ( ) This gaming technology company could be an ASX 200 share to buy according to the broker. It has a buy rating and $180.00 price target on its shares. It commented: We anticipate 8-11% annual growth rates over CY24-26, driven by further R&D investment that enhances game performance and results in market share gains across the North American premium leased market, global outright game sales markets, and online gaming markets. Additionally, we view the recent turmoil surrounding the Dragon Train preliminary injunction as an attractive entry point. ( ) Bell Potter also thinks that Smiggle and Peter Alexander owner Premier Investments could be an ASX 200 share to buy for 2025. Especially with the demerger of its non-core Apparel Brands expected to take place next month. It has a buy rating and $38.00 price target on its shares. Bell Potter said: With the divestment of the non-core Apparel Brands (AB) to Myer (MYR) in an all-script deal expected to be completed in Jan-25, we see PMV retaining the higher margin Smiggle and Peter Alexander (PA) earnings base post-demerger. We view the highly profitable retail business with domestic:offshore exposure of 70:30 (BPe) growing at ~13% (BPe, FY26e), ~26% stake in Breville Group (BRG), together with property assets valued at cost and a strong cash balance (~$327m, BPe), as worthy of a re-rate in the multiple. ( ) Finally, Bell Potter has named building products company Brickworks as an ASX 200 share to buy in 2025. It has a buy rating and $32.00 price target on its shares. The broker believes that the company is well-placed to benefit from interest rate cuts next year. It said: We see BKW as a high delta exposure to interest rate cuts and by extension a stock to own as we edge closer to the cycle pivot point (Bell Potter's base case for our first cut is 1H CY25). Specifically, we see a scenario unfolding where BKW could realise double digit mark-to-market NTA growth p.a. quite comfortably in coming years through positive revals (i.e. cap rate reversal), ongoing property development and rent reversion (BKW remains ~28% underrented and 50% short-WALE), as well as continued SOL outperformance. This is a growth story we think few ASX-200 industrials can currently match.
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Pedestrians and boda boda riders have been named as the leading victims of road crashes in the country, with the number of fatalities continuing to rise during the festive season, raising concerns about their safety. According to a report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), over 4,282 people were killed in road crashes by November 2024, a notable increase compared to the same period. As per the report, the majority of the fatalities recorded for this year are pedestrians and boda boda riders. Those highly affected were 1600 pedestrians killed, followed by 900 motorcyclists. Speaking with the media in Mombasa during a launch of road safety awareness campaign to promote the safety of road users during the December festivities, NTSA Deputy General Manager Coast Region John Parteroi said that they started the journey by December 10, 2024 to caution road users to be vigilant as they use the road. He said the campaign targeted drivers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists, of which drivers of passenger service vehicles signed a declaration to drive safely, slow down, and observe all the traffic regulations. Parteroi said that the campaign is aimed at educating road users on road safety, sensitising motorists to be careful, and following traffic rules during these festive seasons where there is a reported increase in the number of road crashes. He noted that in a joint partnership with the National Police Service (NPS), Bloomberg Philanthropies for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) and Mombasa County Government, the campaign has targeted pedestrians and motorcyclists to be on the lookout while on their day-to-day activities. He urged pedestrians to use the few available footbridges instead of opting to cross the road, leading to deaths. The Kilifi-Malindi road near the Kijipwa area was listed as a high-risk highway with motorists speeding, causing crashes. Boda bodas were also mentioned for contributing highly to pedestrians’ deaths due to traffic misbehaviour that results in hit-and-run accidents. Perteroi said riders can help the authorities bring sanity to the road by following traffic rules, avoiding drunk driving and reckless behaviour, and wearing reflector jackets and helmets when riding at night to avoid not being seen by motorists. He added that NTSA has technological devices that can capture drivers speeding on major roads. “Following traffic rules is critical in promoting road safety; we are here to educate motorists and sensitize them on the importance of adhering to traffic regulations to save lives,” he said. He noted that NTSA will keep on reminding motorists to adhere to traffic measures when it comes to day-to-day ferrying of passengers by not carrying excess. He said passenger service vehicles are only allowed to carry passengers from 9 to 14 for a matatu or minibus. He added Uber, Bolt, and taxi business operators are also designated to carry passengers. He added that private motorists are not supposed to carry passengers for commercial purposes since it is only designated to vehicles that belong to licensed transport Sacco. Coordinator for Bloomberg’s Philanthropies Vipul Patel underscored the need for continued sensitisation on road safety. He highlighted the global challenge of speed management and the need for a sustained and multidisciplinary response. Patel noted that speeding is a major key risk factor in road safety since it increases the risk of a crash and the severity of the injuries sustained when a crash occurs. He said that it is important to engage pedestrians and motorists on the importance of observing road safety and the consequences of not adhering to traffic rules. “We want to remind our people that speeding kills. Many families have been left without their caregivers due to road crashes. Let us all spread the word to our loved ones to observe traffic rules when using the road,” he said.
In a significant move to address youth unemployment, AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine has donated essential tools and equipment to 10 Mastercraft persons—including beauticians and hairdressers—who will train 19 youth apprentices from the Sanso community in the Obuasi Municipality. This initiative is part of the company’s broader commitment to youth empowerment, aligned with its 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP). The project, dubbed the Sanso Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship (A2E) Project, aims to equip the unemployed youth of Sanso with both the practical skills and the entrepreneurial knowledge needed to secure sustainable livelihoods. Over a period of 8 to 12 months, apprentices will receive hands-on training from Mastercraft persons, who themselves will undergo technical and entrepreneurship training to further enhance their teaching capabilities. The beneficiaries of the project will not only acquire vocational skills but also gain valuable entrepreneurship training, ultimately preparing them for the NVTI certification exam. This dual approach is designed to give the youth both the technical expertise and business acumen to thrive in their chosen trades. Daniel Arthur-Bentum, the Economic Development Superintendent of AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine, explained that the project was born out of a series of consultations with the people of Sanso. AGA’s engagement revealed a strong desire among the youth to pursue vocational training, but many lacked the financial means to enroll in such programs. Through the A2E initiative, the company seeks to bridge that gap and ensure that young people in the community have the tools, knowledge, and resources to build successful careers. Arthur-Bentum further emphasized that the project is designed with a well-thought-out exit strategy, ensuring that once the apprentices complete their training, AGA will provide them with startup kits to help them launch their businesses. This commitment aims to ensure that the initiative leaves a lasting impact on the community by fostering long-term economic self-sufficiency. Justice Ofori Amanfo, the Assembly Member for the Sanso electoral area, commended AGA for its proactive efforts in tackling youth unemployment in the area. He noted that by providing the youth with valuable employable skills, the company is playing a crucial role in uplifting the community and promoting economic development. For Alice Twumasi, a local hairdresser, the A2E project represents a step in the right direction for tackling youth unemployment in the region. She urged the beneficiaries to fully capitalize on the opportunity, emphasizing that the project is a pathway to economic independence and long-term success. The Sanso Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship (A2E) Project is one of several youth-focused initiatives under AGA’s 10-year Social and Economic Development Plan, which aims to build resilient and self-sustaining communities in Obuasi. By focusing on skills development and entrepreneurship, the program is poised to significantly improve the livelihoods of youth in Sanso, creating not only jobs but also opportunities for lasting economic growth in the region.QC opens multi-servicecentre in Chad’s Abéché
Over the past few years, Elon Musk has expanded his footprint in Texas, moving his companies from California and building offices, warehouses and manufacturing plants across a growing number of Texas counties. Now Musk is trying to do something that few, if any, titans of industry have done in a century: create his own company town. A man rides a bike down Memes Street, in the proposed city of Starbase, Texas. Credit: Meridith Kohut/The New York Times Musk has long talked about his desire to make a new town – which he hopes to call Starbase – in coastal South Texas, where his rocket launch company, SpaceX, is based. For years, the plan did not appear to be moving forward in any official way, in part because creating a new municipality in Texas requires a certain number of residents and support from a majority of voters. But in that time, SpaceX employees have packed into newly refurbished mid-century homes and temporary housing in the shadow of the company’s rockets. Then this month, company employees who live around its offices and launch site took the first major step towards incorporating a town, gathering signatures and filing an official petition to hold an election. Elon Musk wants to turn a Texas village into a formal town in the shadow of the company’s rockets. Credit: Meridith Kohut/The New York Times If authorised by Cameron County, the election will allow voters to cast a ballot for a slate of three new city officials, including the city’s first mayor. The petition suggests that the mayor will be SpaceX’s security manager, Gunnar Milburn. The Starbase petition describes a community of around 500 current inhabitants, including at least 219 primary residents and more than 100 children, in an area at the very end of State Highway 4 by Boca Chica Beach, where SpaceX launches many of its rockets. The town would be about 3.9 square kilometres, or 390 hectares. Nearly everyone is a renter and works at SpaceX, according to the petition. Loading In a letter filed along with the petition, Kathryn Lueders, SpaceX’s general manager for Starbase, said the company needed “the ability to grow Starbase as a community” and noted that SpaceX “currently performs civil functions” because of its remote location, including managing utilities and providing schooling and medical care. “Incorporation would move the management of some of these functions to a more appropriate public body,” Lueders wrote in her letter to the Cameron County judge, who is the county’s top executive and must approve the petition if it meets all the legal requirements. This article originally appeared in The New York Times . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. US politics USA For subscribers Elon Musk SpaceX Planning Most Viewed in World Loading
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